So far the 2008 football season in the Jersey Sports Now area has brought us many thrilling finishes, lots of offensive firepower, tremendous individual performances and even a couple of historical firsts.

Now it's time to really get down to business.

The first six weeks of the season were just the prelude to what promises to be an incredible month or so of games as we head down the homestretch of the regular season and into the New Jersey state playoffs.  That stretch begins this week with a number of critical games that will help decide league champions and playoff qualifiers.

Two huge games are on tap for Friday night, both in Wayne.  At DePaul, the 6-0 Spartans play host to Delbarton in their first serious test of the football season.  Not only is the game important in terms of the Northern Hills Conference-Suburban Division title, but a playoff spot could be at stake too.  Both DePaul and Delbarton are in New Jersey Non-Public Group III, where nine teams are fighting for eight spots.  A loss for the Spartans would leave them in danger of missing the post-season, while Delbarton almost has to win this game in order to qualify.

Also Friday, Wayne Valley travels across town to Passaic Tech for another critical matchup.  A win for the Indians clinches a tie for the NHC-Skyline Division football title and puts them in great shape for a good playoff position.  But Passaic Tech needs this game too--a win gives them a chance to tie for the league and sets them up nicely for the states.  The losing team takes a big hit in both the league and state races.

Saturday also sees a couple of important games.  5-0 Kinnelon will face its biggest hurdle of the football season when it travels to Verona.  If the Colts win, they just about clinch a playoff berth and keep the dream of a league title going.  A loss puts them behind the eight-ball.

Also, West Milford visits West Orange in a battle of two teams trying to bounce back from tough losses.  The Highlanders really need this one after their overtime defeat to Montville.  But the Mountaineers won't be in a giving mood following a one-point loss last week.

And that's just week #7.  After that, the schedule brings us such matchups as Lakeland-DePaul, Wayne Valley-West Orange, Mountain Lakes-Cedar Grove, Pompton Lakes-Glen Rock, Lakeland-West Milford, DePaul-Wayne Valley... not to mention the start of the New Jersey state playoffs!

Fasten your seatbelts, folks.  It's going to be wild. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now