Week 5 Preview Spotlights Thursday Night Football

It’s Week 5 of the NJAC football season, and that brings with it some exciting Thursday night action.

So with that triggering your football impulses, we’re going to focus on a few exciting Thursday night matchups, as well as one or two other games coming up this weekend.

Morristown Looking to Rebound

After starting the season 2-0, Morristown has heading into a Thursday night showdown against Morris Knolls (3-1).

Last weekend, the Colonials (2-2) rode a , but struggled mightily in the second half, allowing Randolph (2-2) to score 22 unanswered points, and earn a 22-14 victory.

Workhorse Zac Carter slashed the Randolph defense for 140 yards in that first half, but finished the day with just 26 yards on three carries in the second.

Carter will need to be more of a factor late in the game if Morristown is going stop a very tough Morris Knolls team. In the Colonials first two wins, Carter was , rushing for 310 yards and finding the end zone seven times.

Morris Knolls heads into Morristown after stoping Randolph in its Week 3 contest, but was thoroughly dominated by Delbarton, 42-7, in Week 2, according to NJ.com. In fairness, the Green Wave has dominated everyone they’ve seen this year, sans a

Mountain Lakes Rolls Toward Win No. 5

It’s been business as usual for Mountain Lakes in 2011, as the Herd has dominated all four of its opponents to the tune of 28 points per game on offense, while allowing just seven points per contest on the defensive end, according to gridironnewjersey.com.

Lakes will look to remain perfect on Thursday night as they face a struggling Boonton High team. Boonton (1-3), hasn’t had the same sort of success as its Week 5 opponent, and enters the contest after losing its last three games by a combined score of 110-69.

Defensively, the Herd is led by Rob Orazietti, who has already grabbed three interceptions through four weeks, according to NJ.com. Offensively, running back Tyler Batesko (286 yards and four touchdowns), and receiver Max Boerstoel (18 catches for 324 yards and five scores) have helped Mountain Lakes to four-straight wins.

Par Hills Looks to Recapture Early Season Success

With losses in , the Par Hills football team has seen what was once a comfortable position near the top of the division, turn itself on its head, as the Vikings now sit just one spot from the basement in the

The Vikings recent slide hasn't been due to a lack of talent, though, as Par Hills quarterback Tyler Simms (459 yards and six touchdowns in the two Viking wins) and running back (103 yards in both wins) have the ablility to take over a game at any time. Par Hills head coach David Albano will be hopingto see his guys regain their early season form this Friday at 3 p.m. in Parsippany.

In the spot below Par Hills in the standings sits the Vikings’ Week 5 opponent, West Morris Mendham (0-4). Mendham’s most recent loss to rival West Morris Central last weekend was highlighted by Minutemen’s deficiencies on offense, as they were unable to get on the scoreboard in a 19-0 loss.

While Mendham’s record shows a struggling club, the stats tell a slightly different story. In three of their four losses, Mendham was at least within one touchdown heading into halftime (they led 7-0 against Roxbury). An inability to respond in the second half, though, has been their Achilles’ heel, as the Minutemen were outscored 59-8 in the second half of the same three games.

Those aren’t the only games happening this week that will impact the standings. Here's the breakdown of some important NJAC games:

Thursday

• Sparta (4-0) @ High Point (1-3), 7 p.m.
• Pequannock (2-2) @ Hopatcong (3-1), 7 p.m.
• Jefferson (3-1) @ Montville (0-4), 7 p.m.
• Vernon (2-2) @ Morris Hills (1-3), 7 p.m.
• Pope John (2-2) @ Mt. Olive (2-2), 7 p.m.

Friday

• Hanover Park (3-1) @ Madison (3-0), 3 p.m.
• Lenape Valley (4-0) @ Chatham (3-1), 2 p.m.
• Butler (3-0) @ Dover (2-2), 7 p.m.
• Morris Catholic (0-4) @ Whippany Park (2-2), 2:30 p.m.

Saturday

• Roxbury (2-2) @ Delbarton (4-0), 3 p.m.
• Parsippany (0-4) @ Kinnelon (3-1), 7:30 p.m.