Game of the week

The last few weeks have presented several games that I've found very difficult to figure. Last week, Ridge beat Voorhees in overtime in a game we figured would be very close. Two weeks ago, Somerville played Voorhees at Voorhees in a game I figured would go down to the final minutes. Somerville won that one 28-21. There's another matchup this week -- which is very much like the Voorhees-Ridge contest. Ridge travels to North Hunterdon Friday night for a 7 p.m. Skyland Conference West Division game. North Hunterdon, coming off a 27-10 loss at Phillipsburg, is 2-2 after finishing last year at 1-9. Ridge, 4-6 a year ago, is 3-1. Both teams can throw the ball well with Ridge quarterback Rob Monastero and North Hunterdon's Ryan Reed very capable. Ridge runs the ball well with halfback Ben Sciambi and fullback Nick Wilson. North has been getting good games from sophomore Ted Delia and Chris Johns. Johns had a respiratory illness and didn't play last week, North Hunterdon coach Dennis Haughey said. Senior back Blake Robinson, expected to be the team's top runner this year, has been plagued by back spasms all season and hasn't played. He may be back this week along with Johns. How healthy will they be? And lastly, both teams have very good kickers. North's Kyle Van Nostrand boomed a 35-yard field goal last week, his third and longest of the season. Lions' linebacker John Pearson has been outstanding. This is a flip the coin type of game. High scoring? Probably? Will it go into overtime? Maybe. And that would mean Ridge would have played three overtime games in a row. I like Ridge -- barely.