Winter-like weather has arrived in northern New Jersey, but the fall sports season isn't over yet.  Two local football teams and one boys' soccer squad are still looking for titles as we head toward Thanksgiving.

Football -- North Jersey Section 1, Group III:

Lakeland has experienced a number of key injuries and played its first-round state game in conditions that were less than ideal for its lightning-fast quarterback, Dan Deighan.  But the Lancers managed to knock off Ramapo anyway to improve to 10-0 on the football season.  What's more, third-seeded Lakeland will surprisingly host a second-round game after #7 seed Sparta upset Wayne Valley.

The Sparta and Lakeland coaching staffs are familiar with each other--the two teams met in the 2004 football playoffs (with the Lancers winning) and the schools used to scrimmage against each other every year.  The game will come down to who adjusts better to their opponent's weapons.  Can Sparta slow down Deighan and prevent him from making the big plays he has all year?  Will the Lancers be disciplined enough to control the Sparta Wing-T offense?  It promises to be an interesting matchup, with the winner likely to see Wayne Hills in the sectional final.  

Football -- North Jersey Section 1, Group I :

Mountain Lakes simply dominated Kinnelon in their first-round matchup, improving to 9-0 on the year.  Now the second-seeded Herd hosts #6 seed Park Ridge, an upset winner over Westwood in the first round.

The Owls are 7-2, with their only losses coming against unbeaten squads in Hasbrouck Heights and Secaucus, so they can't be dismissed.  But their win against Westwood is by far their best victory of the year.  If Mountain Lakes plays even close to the level they did last week, the Herd should win, setting up a great sectional football final against the winner of the Glen Rock-Hasbrouck Heights game.

Boys' Soccer -- Group I:

Kinnelon is already a champion, having captured its first-ever boys' soccer sectional title with its win last Friday against Wallington.  The Colts don't want to stop now, and faces a state semifinal game Tuesday night against Harrison.  The game is at Ridge High School at 7:00.

Harrison is ranked 10th in the state by the Star-Ledger, but barely escaped its sectional final with a win in a penalty-kick shootout.  The Colts know about beating ranked teams, having upset Morris Hills earlier in the season.  Kinnelon will most surely have to bring its "A" game to knock off the Blue Tide, but this soccer team has been playing on a high level for weeks after a tough start to the season. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now