CJI

Three weeks to go until the state playoff precints close, and Manville is sixth and would make the Central Jersey Group I playoffs for the first time if the season ended today. The Mustangs are 5-0 and should be 6-0 after Friday night's game at South Hunterdon. Manville needs to keep winning. Because -- unlike many years in the past -- a 6-2 record may not be enough in CJ Group I. Hey, maybe the Mustangs will run the table and be 8-0 at the Nov. 3-4 cutoff break. That would automatically get them in -- an unbeaten record. But. Shore (3-3), Burlington City (4-2), Middlesex (4-1) and Keansburg (3-2) trail the Mustangs. Manville is three points ahead of Shore and five ahead of Burlington City and Middlesex. Keansburg is also still alive in 10th place with a 3-2 record and 11 points. The Mustangs will probably need to beat Belvidere at home next Friday or North Warren in Blairstown the week after just to be safe. One of the two. Middlesex has a huge game Friday night when it play hosts to Metuchen. Metuchen is currently fifth in the group with 21 points and a 5-1 record. The Bulldogs scored a major triumph last Saturday by beating South River, which is atop the field with 31 points and a 4-2 record.