Full results from the last day of state semifinals.

ESSENTIALS
• Friday's results and links
• All brackets | Full semifinal schedule
• 23 sections: Semis previews | Home pages
• Final verdict: Wayne Hills back in playoffs 
• Mega coverage guide: All you need

• SECTIONAL FINALS SCHEDULE SET

FEATURED GAMES

No. 6 St. Peter’s Prep 28, No. 7 Bergen Catholic 7
• Marauders: From Ireland to MetLife
• Lewis leaves Oradell with emotions intact
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Manasquan 31, Roselle 27
• Complete coverage
• 204 for Morgan as Squan stymies Roselle
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

No. 1 St. Joseph (Mont.) 45, No. 8 St. John Vianney 20
• Superior St. rolls into final
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

No. 12 Westfield 21, Union 7
• Westfield wins 23rd straight
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Piscataway 42, Old Bridge 3
• Chiefs get revenge along with final berth
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

• PLAYOFFS: Mega-coverage guide

Paulsboro 49, Pennsville 28
• Raiders finish strong
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Salem 42, Woodbury 0
• Rams roll as Taylor approaches record
•  Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

No. 20 Madison 34, Hanover Park 33
• Complete coverage
• Dodgers take heated semi vs rival
•  2 Videos: Teams exchange words, shoves
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Mater Dei 26, St. Joseph (Hamm.) 0
• Seraphs reach first final since 1999
• Look back at live updates
• Box score

Old Tappan 34, No. 15 Sparta 30
• Complete coverage
• Peaking Knights oust No. 15
• Sparta's stellar season falls short
•  Video: OT seals win with late stop
•  Video: OT coach fires up Knights
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Bernards 34, Lincoln 26
• Mountaineers take to air to stun Lincoln
• Box Score

Cedar Creek 27, Willingboro 26
• Game recap
•  Photo gallery
• Box Score

COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE/SCOREBOARD

Non-Public - Group 4

Non-Public - Group 3

Non-Public - Group 2

North Jersey, Section 1 - Group 5

North Jersey, Section 1 - Group 4

North Jersey, Section 1 - Group 3

North Jersey, Section 1 - Group 2

North Jersey, Section 1 - Group 1

North Jersey, Section 2 - Group 5

North Jersey, Section 2 - Group 4

North Jersey, Section 2 - Group 3

North Jersey, Section 2 - Group 2

North Jersey, Section 2 - Group 1

Central Jersey - Group 5

Central Jersey - Group 4

Central Jersey - Group 3

Central Jersey - Group 2

Central Jersey - Group 1

South Jersey - Group 5

South Jersey - Group 4

South Jersey - Group 3

South Jersey - Group 2

South Jersey - Group 1

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

The driver may have been on prescription drugs, authorities say.

A 63-year-old Lopatcong Township man faces charges after plowing through a mailbox and colliding with a car parked in a driveway Friday evening.

Authorities suspect Brian P. Moscow, of the 500 block of Edward Street, may have been on prescription drugs when the crash happened at 7:18 p.m in the 300 block of South Sixth Street in the township.

No one was injured after Moscow's 2014 Jeep Cherokee left the road and hit a parked, unoccupied Honda Accord, Lopatcong police said.

Moscow was detained and taken to police headquarters where he consented to a blood draw. He is charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to stay in the lane. He was released to a friend pending a court appearance.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Huge temperature drop turned Saturday's beautiful weather into nasty wintry weather.

Mother Nature seemed to be a little confused on Saturday, bringing sunny skies and 70-degree warmth to New Jersey during the daytime, and a cold wintry mess at night and into Sunday morning as a strong cold front whipped through the region.

The end result was a sloppy mix of rain, sleet and snow -- some of which accumulated to more than half a foot in parts of Sussex County and a few inches across Morris County.

Strong winds could spark power outages

Most forecasters had predicted only a coating to 1 or 2 inches of snow in the hilly parts of the state and flurries elsewhere. However, temperatures on Saturday ended up cooling down faster than anticipated, just in time for the moisture that moved in, said Valerie Meola, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's regional office in Mount Holly.

"There was definitely a rapid cooling that occurred, and some squalls developed," Meola said, bringing high snowfall amounts to parts of the Garden State, primarily in high-elevation areas.

In some parts of New Jersey, Meola said, "it's like a winter wonderland right before Thanksgiving."

From follower @cpurdue21 in Sparta, NJ @JayEdwardsWrnj @ABC7NY @DaveCurren @Evansweather @JSHurricaneNews @LensReality @GarySzatkowski #NJwx pic.twitter.com/hUeftYR3ex

-- WxReMarks (@WeatherReMarks) November 20, 2016

It's also very windy, with gusts getting as strong as 45 to 50 mph Sunday afternoon. Forecasters say occasional snow showers could develop Sunday night and overnight in northern New Jersey as temperatures fall to the upper 20s to low 30s.

Snowfall totals

These are among the snowfall totals reported Sunday morning by the National Weather Service and the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network, based at Rutgers University. 

ATLANTIC COUNTY
Folsom: 0.12 inches
Estell Manor: 0.11 inches
Egg Harbor City: 0.11 inches

BERGEN COUNTY
Oakland: 0.60 inches
River Vale: 0.60 inches
Tenafly: 0.57 inches

BURLINGTON COUNTY
Moorestown: 0.17 inches
Medford: 0.11 inches
Mount Holly: Trace

CAPE MAY COUNTY
Sea Isle City: 0.14 inches
Upper Twp.: 0.12 inches
Middle Twp.: 0.10 inches

ESSEX COUNTY
Millburn: 0.55 inches
Cedar Grove: 0.50 inches
Maplewood: 0.49 inches

HUDSON COUNTY
Harrison: 0.42 inches

Nancy Whitty Schultz sent us this morning's view from Vernon, NJ. @GarySzatkowski @NWS_MountHolly #NJwx pic.twitter.com/NAOwbgCSQZ

-- the Weatherboy (@theWeatherboy) November 20, 2016

HUNTERDON COUNTY
Glen Gardner: 3.2 inches
Bethlehem Twp.:  2.0 inches
Mountainville: 1.5 inches
Stockton: 1.3 inches
Lebanon: 1.2 inches

MERCER COUNTY
West Windsor: 0.35 inches
Ewing: 0.3 inches
Robbinsville: 0.25 inches
Princeton: 0.24 inches

MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Woodbridge: 0.51 inches
Metuchen: 0.50 inches
Edison: 0.48 inches
New Brunswick: 0.41 inches
North Brunswick: 0.37 inches
East Brunswick: 0.32 inches

MORRIS COUNTY
Green Pond: 4.0 inches
Schooleys Mountain: 3.5 inches
Randolph: 3.0 inches
Washington Twp.: 2.7 inches
Succasunna:  2.0 inches
Mine Hill: 1.0 inches

PASSAIC COUNTY
West Milford: 4.5 inches

SOMERSET COUNTY
Green Brook: 0.6 inches
Franklin Twp.: 0.37 inches
Bernards Twp.: 0.35 inches
Hillsborough: 0.28 inches

SUSSEX COUNTY
Highland Lakes: 6.7 inches
High Point: 6.5 inches
Vernon: 6.0 inches
Hardyston: 4.7 inches
Glenwood:  3.0 inches
Montague: 3.0 inches
Highland Lakes:  2.0 inches
Sussex Borough:  2.0 inches
Wantage:  0.8 inches

UNION COUNTY
New Providence: 0.4 inches
Westfield:  0.1 inches

WARREN COUNTY
Allamuchy: 1.6 inches
Oxford 1.5 inches
Hackettstown: 0.8 inches
Greenwich: 0.2 inches

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Firefighters pushed the car from the pool house and back to the street, according to a witness.

A male driver lost control of a car, traveled across a front yard, through a fence, crossed the corner of an in-ground swimming pool and crashed into a cabana in Harmony Township.

The man, who appeared to be a senior citizen, at 8:43 a.m. Sunday lost control of the Toyota Camry in the 300 block of Brainards Road, according to a witness.

For an unknown reason, the vehicle left the roadway and initially traveled across the front yard of one home and continued into the back yard of another home. It also side swiped a small pine tree before crashing through the fence, over the covered pool and striking the diving board, the witness said.

After the car came to rest into the pool house, firefighters were able to push the Toyota back to the street. It's unclear if weather was a factor in the crash. Light snow was visible, sticking to the ground and front lawn of the homes during the accident.

The driver appeared hurt and was taken to an area hospital for undisclosed injuries. A trooper with New Jersey State Police's Washington barracks was unavailable Sunday evening to provide more information.

Also responding to the crash was the Greenwich Rescue Squad, Harmony Fire Dept. and paramedics from Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

A gallery of pets throughout New Jersey in need of adoption.

Here is this week's collection of some of the dogs and cats in need of adoption in northern and central New Jersey.

If a nonprofit rescue group or animal shelter in any of the following counties wishes to participate in this weekly gallery on nj.com, please contact Greg Hatala at ghatala@starledger.com or call 973-836-4922:

* Bergen County

* Burlington County

* Essex County

 

* Hudson County

* Hunterdon County

* Mercer County

* Middlesex County

* Monmouth County

* Morris County

* Ocean County

* Passaic County

* Somerset County

* Sussex County

* Union County

* Warren County

More pets in need of adoption can be seen here and here.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Events like the Polar Express could be the gift that keeps on giving.

Phillipsburg is hoping that events like the annual Polar Express will be gifts that keep on giving.

Under a recently approved ordinance, the town will charge for parking weekends at three lots around South Main Street.

While it technically went into effect Friday, the first fees won't be collected until next weekend, just in time for the first runs of the Polar Express -- a Christmas-themed train ride that organizers say sold 30,000 tickets when they went on sale in June.

Municipal parking lots in Phillipsburg may soon get ticket machines, like this one in Bethlehem. (Matt Smith | lehighvalleylive.com file photo) 

"For once, the town will start to make revenue" on the attraction, Mayor Stephen Ellis said.

Delaware River Railroad Excursions -- which brings an estimated 100,000 people to Phillipsburg for the Polar Express and other train events throughout the year -- is on board with the parking fees.

"We're 100 percent for it as a way of financing and rebuilding the downtown Phillipsburg area," said Chris Cotti, vice president of The New York Susquehanna & Western Technical & Historical Society, the operator of the excursions. The Polar Express runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Nov. 25 to Dec. 18.

The railroad excursions website already directs visitors to the three parking lots where Phillipsburg will now charge.

At first, the parking lots will be manned. Ticket machines will eventually be installed, Ellis said. There is no plan at this point to extend the fees to weekday hours.

PARKING IN P'BURG

Three municipal lots will begin charging daily parking fees between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

1. Market Street lot
Where: Off South Main Street, between Tyndall and Hudson streets
Price: $2

2. Transit lot
Where: Off South Main Street, across from Joe's Steak Shop
Price: $2

3. Riverside Way lot
Where: By the free bridge
Price: $5

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Forecasters say rain is possible across New Jersey on Thanksgiving, but Wednesday's big travel day should be mostly dry.

Whether you're planning to travel out of town or across town for Thanksgiving this week, be prepared for the possibility of some wet weather. 

Forecasters are expecting a low pressure system to move from the Great Lakes to the Northeast region on Wednesday or Thursday, bringing a 40 to 50 percent chance of rain for northern and central New Jersey on the holiday. For South Jersey, the rain probability on Thanksgiving is about 30 percent.

How much snow fell in your area?

For now, Wednesday's big travel day is shaping up to be mostly dry and sunny in New Jersey, with temperatures in the 40s, but there's a possibility the rain could move in late Wednesday night or overnight into early Thursday morning. 

Because of colder temperatures during those hours, an earlier arrival could pose the risk of some snow or sleet mixing in with the rain for a while in hilly areas, primarily north of Interstate 80, the National Weather Service said in a forecast discussion.

"The likelihood of travel impacts from a brief wintry mix is lower if precipitation arrives during the day Thursday," the weather service said.

Skies are expected to be mostly cloudy on Thanksgiving across the Garden State, with high temperatures ranging from the mid-40s in northern areas to the mid-50s in southern areas.

Out-of-state travel outlook

If you're heading out of state for Thanksgiving gatherings, AccuWeather forecasters are predicting a stormy weather pattern that could affect millions of people traveling by car or plane.

The biggest trouble spots will likely be in the Midwest, with snow expected in Minnesota and northern Michigan. 

What will you pay for gas this Thanksgiving?

Stormy weather, mostly in the form of rain, is possible Wednesday in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin, according to AccuWeather. In addition, a line of rain and thunderstorms could extend from Nashville to Houston.

"Severe thunderstorms will not erupt, but the thunderstorms can produce downpours that will lead to reduced visibility and heighten the risk of vehicles hydroplaning when traveling at highway speeds," AccuWeather said in its Thanksgiving travel outlook.

Out-of-state travelers may also want to pay attention to the wildfires that have been burning in the southern Appalachians, which forecasters say could generate thick smoke that could impede drivers in parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Four Phillipsburg High School students could face charges in juvenile court over the graffiti at Easton Area High School

Four Phillipsburg High School girls allegedly spray-painted graffiti messages behind Easton Area High School in anticipation of this week's football rivalry game.

The girls also smeared paint on the engraved alma mater in the front of the school, according to John Remaley, the Easton Area School District Director of Safe Schools.

They blasted the alma mater with sprayable string, left tinsel and toilet paper in the bushes in front of the school and scribbled messages in chalk on the sidewalk, he said.

Palmer Township police officers spotted a car loaded with the girls as it was leaving the school around 1 a.m. Monday, Nov. 21, Remaley said.

"They did a nice job of being alert," Remaley said.

Remaley said the girls admitted the vandalism was planned in advance. They said other groups were supposed to join in but they declined to name those participants. Remaley said authorities are checking surveillance video from that night to see whether other groups were involved.

The level of criminal sanctions the girls face depends on the cost to clean up the mess. School district workers had the alma mater cleaned up by 11 a.m. Monday but had yet to start on the spray paint. The girls could face summary citations in district court or could be charged in juvenile court, Remaley said.

Easton Area High School Principal Kyle Geiger said the sprayable string, toilet paper and chalk writing are easier to justify than the smeared and sprayed paint, which are much harder to clean up.

Geiger said Phillipsburg High School Principal Janice Trent apologized to him early Monday, even before he was aware of the spray paint.

Easton-P'burg powder puff: Meet the Red Rovers

He urged Red Rover students not to retaliate against their New Jersey rivals.

"Although this is a rivalry-filled week, we need to treat it with the mutual respect that it deserves," he said.

This Thursday will be the 110th meeting of Easton Area and Phillipsburg high schools on the football gridiron. The much-anticipated matchup on Thanksgiving is preceded by a parade and bonfire at Easton Area High School.

This isn't the first time students have vandalized the rival school.

In 2006, a statue of Easton's Red Rover bulldog mascot was stolen from the front of the school. A group of teenagers calling themselves "'Liners Empire" claimed responsibility for the dog-napping.

The statue and its pedestal were spray painted garnet, one of Phillipsburg's school colors, in 2010 and 2011. Students swiped the statue again in 2012. The statue now resides inside Easton Area High School.

A dead cat found at Phillipsburg High School in 2012 is believed to be linked to the rivalry. Suzy Stateliner, the Phillipsburg mascot, is a cat.

Signs at Easton Area High School were spray painted in 2011.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

The dog escaped from a fenced-in yard sometime Saturday morning.

A miniature poodle once found whimpering inside a trash bag is feared to have been dog-napped 13 years after the rescue.

The poodle, named "Locky," made headlines in December 2007 when she was saved in a chance discovery by owner Tatum Porter of Lopatcong Township. Porter heard the dog weakly barking from inside a trash bag along Lock Street in the township.

Inside was Locky -- named after the street she was found on -- and another male miniature poodle, dead. Porter brought the dog to the Warren Animal Hospital in Phillipsburg, where veterinarian Vincent Zaccheo treated the malnourished animal with matted hair.

Porter ended up adopting the dog and Zaccheo has treated her ever since.

At about 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Porter was at the home of her mother, Phyllis Porter, who lives in the first block of Center Street. Tatum Porter said the dog was in the fenced-in yard -- a place she has routinely left the dog in the past -- when she ran to the bank.

When Porter returned, the dog was vanished from the yard, she said.

"She's a very nervous dog and always wants to be with me," Porter said. "I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to get to me ... if she squeezed out of the space in the fence."

Porter ended up calling the township's animal control officer, who advised there was a sighting of Locky. A man walking along nearby Hunt Avenue reported a silver van pulled up and a couple inside asked if he knew who Locky belonged to.

When the male told the couple he didn't recognize the dog, the couple told him they would call police, Porter said. But police have not fielded any calls from anyone saying they found Locky, she said.

"I bet we probably passed each other," Porter said of the silver van.

Adding to Porter's stress is the 13-year-old dog's health concerns. The dog is blind and partially deaf and wouldn't mix well with larger breeds she said.

Zaccheo, Locky's vet, agreed, saying the dog needs proper medical attention. The animal hospital is offering a $1,000 reward for the safe return of Locky -- no questions asked.

"This is a great family and we wanted to help in any way we could," he said.

Zaccheo said often people find lost dogs with medical issues and believe they are being mistreated by owners and keep them. But with Locky, it was a totally different case.

"She is very loved and missed terribly and our goal is to help Locky come home safely," Zaccheo said. 

The 19-year-old who placed the poodles in the trash back then turned himself in after a $3,000 reward was posted. He pleaded guilty to six of 10 animal cruelty charges brought by the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and received a 14-day jail sentence.

What you can do:

Those with information on Locky's whereabouts are urged to email warren_animal@yahoo.com or call Warren Animal Hospital between 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday at 908-859-0702. The animal hospital is offering a $1,000 reward -- no questions asked -- for the safe return of Locky.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The 2016 edition of the annual tilt between the schools' senior girls was played at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg.

Spirit Week and Rivalry Week are under way at Phillipsburg and Easton Area high schools.

The annual powder puff football game, a precursor to the Thanksgiving Day football game between the schools' football teams, was held Monday night at Maloney Stadium in Phillipsburg.

Phillipsburg ruled the night with a win over Easton in both the game and the halftime cheerleading competition.

The powder puff game is played by senior girls, with boys serving as cheerleaders.

The Stateliners beat the Red Rovers on the gridiron 50-41.

For a look at some of the action, scroll through the photos above. To find out more about the powder puff participants, click on the links below.

Meet the Stateliners

Meet the Red Rovers

Sue Beyer may be reached at sbeyer@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sbeyer_photo. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

The graffiti follows vandalism at Easton just days before the two schools' annual Thanksgiving football game.

Crude messages scrawled on the sidewalk outside Phillipsburg High School greeted students on Tuesday, a possible act of retaliation for vandalism a day earlier at rival Easton. 

The acts come just days before the two schools' annual Thanksgiving football game.

'F--- Pburg' was among the foul language written on the sidewalk below the Phillipsburg High School sign on the road up to the front entrance. School officials and police did not immediately comment on the graffiti.

P'burg girls allegedly behind Easton vandalism

On Monday, four Phillipsburg girls were allegedly involved with spray-painted graffiti messages at Easton Area High School. There was also smeared paint on the engraved alma mater in the front of the school. Sprayable string, tinsel and toilet paper were spread on the property. Messages were scribbled in chalk on the sidewalk.

Easton school officials urged students not to retaliate.

This Thursday will be the 110th meeting of Easton Area and Phillipsburg high schools on the football gridiron. 

Previous cases of pregame vandalism include:

• In 2006 and 2012, a statue of Easton's Red Rover bulldog mascot was stolen from the front of the school.
• In 2010 and 2011, the statue and its pedestal were spray painted garnet, one of Phillipsburg's school colors.
• In 2011, signs at Easton Area High School were spray painted.
• In 2012, a dead cat was found at Phillipsburg High School. Suzy Stateliner, the Phillipsburg mascot, is a cat.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Fans can check out the picks by the NJ.com writers for every Thanksgiving rivalry game in the state including Top 20 teams on Nov. 23-24

THANKSGIVING RIVALRY SCHEDULE/PICKS:

TOP 20 TEAMS

No. 4 Timber Creek (10-0) at Winslow (2-7)
Thursday, 10 a.m.
The Chargers rallied in the second half to beat Shawnee, 38-14, in the South Jersey Group 4 semifinal last week and keep alive hopes of an undefeated season. Winslow has played some top teams tough despite its record. Charger QB Devin Leary can set the state single-season touchdown record with four more scores. Timber Creek 42, Winslow 14.

No. 10 Lenape (10-0) at Shawnee (8-2)
Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
This is a tricky game for the Indians, who will be facing No. 4 Timber Creek in two weeks for the South Jersey Group 4 title while the Renegades will look to finish a good season on an impressive win. Two years ago, in a reverse situation, Lenape stunned the undefeated Renegades, who bounced back to beat the Chargers in the championship game. Lenape 14, Shawnee 10.

No. 10 Westfield (10-0) at Plainfield (1-8)
Thursday, 11 a.m.
Westfield will play for a chance to repeat as North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 champions. But before that, the Blue Devils have a chance to knock off rival Plainfield, which was winless in the regular season until a Crossover game with Newark East Side. Westfield will likely take it easy with such a big game on the horizon, but expect Philip Martini to have a big day throwing the ball anyway. Westfield 35, Plainfield 10.

Paulsboro (9-1) at No. 17 West Deptford (10-0)
Friday, 7
The Red Raiders have won nine straight, including a couple impressive victories on the way to reaching the South Jersey Group 1 final in two weeks. The Eagles have been even more dominant on their way to another appearance in the South Jersey Group 2 title game. West Deptford 31, Paulsboro 21.

No. 18 Millville (9-1) at Vineland (7-2)
Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
This Turkey Day rivalry dates back to 1894 and there is certainly a lot of emotion behind it. Throw in the fact both these schools have their best teams in years and it has the makings of a tremendous game, though its possible the Thunderbolts could rest several starters for the Group 5 final in two weeks. The Fighting Clan are looking to finish off their best season in over a decade with a win after losing their last two following a 7-0 start. Vineland 27, Millville 21.

No. 18 Rumson Fair Haven (8-2) at Shore (6-4)
Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Shore, eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in years, has all the motiviation. However, this Rumson-Fair Haven senior class may actually take this one seriously to help cement their legacy. QB Michael O'Connor was slowed by a bad toe most of the season and may want to add some yards to his total. Rumson-Fair Haven 24, Shore 14.

No. 20 Piscataway (8-2) at Franklin (1-8)
Thursday, 10:30 a.m.
Piscataway is riding high after exacting revenge on Old Bridge in the Central Jersey, Group 5 semifinals, and the Chiefs can get even more revenge against Manalapan in the final. But first comes Franklin, which was winless before beating North Brunswick in a Crossover game. Elijah Barnwell is playing very well at running back for Piscataway right now and should be the difference. Piscataway 35, Franklin 7.

QUICK PICKS

X-Denotes winner

WEDNESDAY
MID-STATE 38
North Warren at Belvidere, 5:30pm
NJSFC
North Warren at x-Belvidere, 5:30pm
SHORE CONFERENCE
X-Barnegat at Pinelands, 6:30pm
X-Rumson-Fair Haven at Shore, 7pm
WJFL
X-Cherry Hill West at Cherry Hill East, 6pm
X-Egg Harbor at Mainland, 6pm
Cumberland at X-Schalick, 6pm
Delran at X-Cinnaminson, 7pm
X-Camden Catholic at Paul VI, 7pm

THURSDAY
GMC
North Plainfield at X-South Plainfield, 10am
X-Middlesex at Dunellen, 10:30am
J.P. Stevens at X-Edison, 10:30am
X-South Brunswick at North Brunswick, 10:30am
Metuchen at X-Highland Park, 11am
East Brunswick at X-Old Bridge, 11am
X-Carteret at Perth Amboy, 11am

MID-STATE 38
X-Roselle at Roselle Park, 10am
North Plainfield at X-South Plainfield, 10am
Linden at X-Union, 10am
X-Gov. Livingston at New Providence, 10:30am
X-Easton (PA) at Phillipsburg, 10:30am
X-Johnson at Rahway, 10:30am
New Hope-Solebury (PA) at X-South Hunterdon, 10:30am

NJSFC
X-Paterson Kennedy at Paterson Eastside, TBA
Tenafly at X-Dumont, 10:30am
Teaneck at X-Hackensack, 10:30am
Bloomfield at x-Montclair, 10:30am
x-Clifton at Passaic, 10:30am
Shabazz at x-Weequahic, 10:30am
X-East Orange at Barringer, 11am
Millburn at x-Madison, 11am

SHORE CONFERENCE
Holmdel at X-Raritan, 10am
X-Red Bank Regional at Long Branch, 10:30am
Middletown South at X-Middletown North, 10:30am
Asbury Park at X-Neptune, 10:30am
Wall at X-Manasquan, 11am
Lakewood at X-Toms River South, 11am

WJFL
Triton at X-Highland, 10am
Atlantic City at X-Holy Spirit, 10am
Lower Cape May at X-Middle Township, 10am
Bordentown at X-New Egypt, 10am
Absegami at X-Oakcrest, 10am
Northern Burlington at X-Pemberton, 10am
X-Pennsville at Penns Grove, 10am
X-Ocean City at Pleasantville, 10am
X-Williamstown at Washington Township, 10am
X-Timber Creek at Winslow, 10am
Kingsway at X-Clearview, 10:30am
Gloucester at X-Gloucester Catholic, 10:30am
Lindenwold at X-Overbrook, 10:30am
X-Clayton at Pitman, 10:30am
Woodstown at X-Salem, 10:30am
X-Lenape at Shawnee, 10:30am
Hamilton West at X-Steinert, 10:30am
Millville at X-Vineland, 10:30am
Gateway at X-Woodbury, 10:30am
X-Haddon Township at Audubon, 11am
X-Woodrow Wilson at Camden, 11am
Seneca at X-Cherokee, 11am
Sterling at X-Collingswood, 11am
Haddon Heights at X-Haddonfield, 11am
Burlington City at X-Palmyra, 11am
Bishop Eustace at X-Pennsauken, 11am
X-Florence at Riverside, 11am

FRIDAY
Paulsboro at X-West Deptford, 7

Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.

In Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties, over 500 children live within a child welfare system that was designed as a temporary fix to a family crisis but has become, for many children, a way of life.

To the editor:

As we gather together for Thanksgiving to give thanks for our families, friends, health and wealth, let us not forget those less fortunate, especially those children and youth who will spend this holiday season not with their family but in foster homes, group homes or institutions.

In New Jersey, over 13,000 children live in foster care. In Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties, over 500 children live within a child welfare system that was designed as a temporary fix to a family crisis but has become, for many children, a way of life. Many youth spend years in foster care, moving from one placement to another without ever having a sense of permanency, roots or stability.

Let us remember that children enter foster care, not because of something that they have done, but because of the adults who are supposed to care for them. Parental drug abuse, domestic violence, neglect and mental illness all play a part in why children are removed from their homes.

Access to resources and services often help parents correct issues and thankfully families are reunited. But in those instances where reunification is not an option, others must step in to care for the children. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, distant relatives and adoptive families all play a part in providing a permanent home for some of our children living in foster care.

So, it is fitting that the Thanksgiving season is also a time to celebrate National Adoption Month and give thanks to the people who provide love and stability for the children who need it most by welcoming them into their family through adoption.

National Adoption Month is a collective effort of state, federal and private agencies to draw attention to the more than 100,000 foster children and youth across the country who await permanent families, as well as recognize the families that have chosen to expand their families in this special way.

National Adoption Month is also a call to action. Become a foster family, open your home to adoption, become a CASA volunteer, a youth mentor, or support an organization that helps children living in foster care. By getting involved in some way, not only will you change a child's life, but you will change your own.

Tracey Heisler

Washington

The writer is executive director of CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren

The NTSB released its preliminary report on the Blairstown accident.

There was no warning.

When Samuel Singer started his plane on Nov. 10, it immediately went to full power, taxied at high speed across the Blairstown Airport runway and into a tree, fatally injuring the 73-year-old from Somerset County.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Wednesday released its preliminary report on the accident, which says that no mechanical issues were noticed ahead of time.

Singer -- a grandfather and retired financial executive for a successful laboratory testing company -- owned the plane, a North American Navion fixed-wing, single-engine craft manufactured in 1947. The day of the crash was his first time flying it since a gears-up landing at the Warren County airport last December, the NTSB says in the report.

Pilot was family man who loved to fly

The aircraft remained at Blairstown for repairs and was due to be flown to Capital City Airport in Harrisburg for its annual inspection the day before the crash, the NTSB reports. A different pilot was to fly it, but the flight was postponed a day due to weather. Singer chose to fly the plane himself the next day.

The report also says that the mechanic -- who had never experienced any problems with the throttle or brakes -- taxied the plane to the fuel pumps and performed engine tests without issue.

The plane wreckage was retained for further examination, the report says.

According to records and the report, Singer got his piloting license in 2011 and had logged 1,445 hours of flight experience as of January. The report does not indicate if there may have been a medical issue may have played a role in the crash, as Singer's former colleague and fellow pilot had wondered.

"As a pilot, the first thing you think of is if the plane suddenly went full throttle, what would you do? ... I would assume Sam would have the same mental checklist," Rich Faherty, executive vice president of administration at BioReference Laboratories, previously told lehighvalleylive.com. "The fact that Sam didn't stop the plane before it struck the trees makes me believe that something else prevented him from going through the mental checklist."

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

More than a few childhood memories are tied to shopping trips.

When I think about it, I collected more than a few childhood memories while in tow on shopping trips.

A vintage ad from Garwood'sCourtesy of the Vineland Times-Journal 

In Vineland, there was a department store on Delsea Drive called Garwood Mills where all of the locals shopped. It was a no-frills department store with concrete floors, bright lights and plenty of bargains. It was there ...

...I was introduced to the thrill of riding in the child's seat of a shopping cart. It took quite some time for me to realize that I was actually trapped there, clearly the point of the design from the get-go;

...I was introduced to the sheer boredom of accompanying my mother when she shopped for women's clothing. After outgrowing the cart, though, I was free to discover all of the interesting things people drop on department store floors;

...I was introduced to the sheer terror of getting lost. This episode took place more than 50 years ago, yet I can still vividly remember the countless number of unfamiliar faces, the panic and the tears. By the way, a kind shopper took me to the service desk where I was reunited with my mother.

MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey

Garwood Mills is no longer in business; it went the way of many other small department stores and specialty shops. I mourn the passing of this store and stores like it, where members of my generation were introduced to toy departments, where we argued with our parents over why we had to have the latest "in" thing, where we bought vinyl albums and 8-tracks, and, where we fretted over what gift to buy our girlfriends.

Here's a gallery of vintage stores large and small in New Jersey. Be sure to have captions enabled to read all about them.

Want more? Here's a gallery from last year, and here's a gallery from the year before that.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

A look back at some of the best moments of the N.J. XC season

This week's local news quiz celebrates Thanksgiving by celebrating New Jersey food.

Let's face it: Everybody's mind has been on Thansgiving this week rather than the news. So to celebrate the holiday, this week's NJ.com local news quiz is devoted to food ... specifically New Jersey's own delicacies.

From pork roll to saltwater taffy, there are so many delicious dishes that got their start here. Let's see how well you know New Jersey food. Dig into the quiz and share your score in comments.

John Shabe can be reached via jshabe@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter, and find NJ.com on Facebook. 

From the "Elf" to the Messiah to "Black Nativity," the season's cultural offerings are numerous.

Celebrate the messiah with Handel's "Messiah"

Members of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra celebrate the holiday season with an afternoon performance of performing "Messiah" Dec. 18 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center under the direction of conductor George Manahan. While the work is now a Christmas tradition, it was originally introduced to the world in 1742 as a celebration of Easter. 

$24-79, NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, NJ. 800-GO-NJPAC.

A Rockbilly Christmas

The Brian Setzer Orchestra brings its 13th annual "Christmas Rocks!" show to Bergen Performing Arts Center Nov. 25. joined by the folk duo Beat Root Revival. Guitarist Setzer, best known as founder of the Stray Cats, The 19-piece orchestra will feature songs from their 2015 high-energy holiday album,  "Rockin' Rudolph" and other songs infused with Big Band flair and rockabilly-style. Setzer has said the unique musical fusion dates back to the late 199-s, when he was asked to contribute a song to "Jingle All The Way" starring Schwarzenegger. 

$39-$129, Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ.  201-227-1030.

The "queen of children's music" in Englewood

The Laurie Berkner Band brings its annual holiday show to the Bergen Performing Arts Center Dec. 11 at 2 pm. Berkner, who People magazine dubbed  "the queen of children's music," will offer secular songs like "Jingle Bells," Christmas favorites like "Santa's Coming to MY House Tonight," and Hanukkah hits like "The Dreidel Song." She'll also include some of her band's best known tunes -- like "We Are the Dinosaurs" -- and new material from "Superhero," the band's first album in eight years. Dancing shoes required.

$29-100, Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ. 201-227-1030.

The man whose name is synonymous with 'Felix Navidad' 

Guitarist/singer Jose Feliciano brings his Feliz Navidad Show to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's for two shows Dec. 18. The nine-time Grammy winner will, of course, perform his best-known holiday song -- which consists of 20 words sung in English and Spanish. The Puerto Rico-born American superstar, now 71, has said he never expected the song to have the staying power it has had. 

$45-70, NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark, NJ. 800-GO-NJPAC.

"Mary Poppins" flies into Hackettstown

The perfect nanny and her crew perform 15 shows at Centenary Stage Company's Sitnik Theater beginning Nov. 25 and ending Dec. 11. Based on the book by P.L. Travers and the 1964, this musical features song favorites including "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious." The show is suitable for all ages and features a live orchestra. 

$27-30, with discounts for students and children under 12, Centenary Stage Company, 715 Grand Ave., Hackettstown NJ. 908-979-0900

'A Christmas Carol" at the McCarter in December

Charles Dickens' classic story of miser Ebenezer Scrooge and how a journey through holidays past, present and future change him to a kind man plays the McCarter Theatre Center Dec. 9 -31.  First published in England in 1843, "A Christmas Carol" has never been out of print. The McCarter has featured this tale of redemption and generosity every December since 1990. The ASL interpreted, audio described production is Dec. 17. Dec. 18's performance is open captioned.

Tickets start at $28 and prices vary based on date and time of performance. McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ. 609-258-2787.

Another jolly old elf

Elf the Musical at the State Theatre of New Jersey is the story of Buddy, a human who grows up on the North Pole amongst Santa's helpers, and his journey to find his birth family. Along the way, he reminds his fellow humans that the holiday is about giving and caring for others. Funny and fit for all ages. 

$35-95, with special packages available. State Theatre of New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ. 732-246-7469

The 'greatest story ever told' with a twist

New Brunswick's Crossroads Theatre Company offers Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity" retelling of the story of Christianity's first family with African-American actors Dec. 9-18. The production features Gospel-style original music, traditional carols, and African dances and rituals. The show was titled "Wasn't it a Mighty Day?" when it opened off-Broadway in 1961. A movie version was released in 2013. ""Black Nativity -- In Concert: A Gospel Celebration" is the best-selling gospel holiday album of all time. 

$25-45. Crossroads Theatre Company, 7 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ. 732-545-8100.

Natalie Pompilio is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. She can be reached at nataliepompilio@yahoo.com. Find her on Twitter @nataliepompilio. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.

Everything you need to stay caught up on N.J.'s Thanksgiving games, plus the North 1, Group 4 semis.

ESSENTIALS

• Thanksgiving rivalry picks
• Top 20 | The Next 10 
• Week 11 helmet stickers
• State playoff brackets | Sectional final schedule
• Playoff section-by-section home pages
• 15 statement wins, upsets and surprises from the semifinals 

(Scroll down for previous days' results)

FRIDAY:

Randolph at Wayne Valley, 7 pm
North 1, Group 4 semifinals
• Full staff report
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Paulsboro at West Deptford, 7 pm
• Full staff report
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

THURSDAY

No. 4 Timber Creek 48, Winslow 12
• QB Leary breaks state record for TD passes
• Box score

Highland Reg. 48, Triton 7
• Highland caps best season in history
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Union 34, Linden 12
• Jones runs amok as Union dominates
• Video interview
• Box Score

Roselle 42, Roselle Park 20
• Byrd cracks 2k as Roselle ends historic season
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Easton (Pa.) 24, Phillipsburg 14
• 110th T-Day game goes to Rovers
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Bordentown 34, New Egypt 22
• Scotties stay unbeaten in holiday series
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Weequahic 22, Shabazz 8
• Weequahic wins playoff final preview
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Edison 35, J.P. Stevens 0
• Crosstown dominance as Edison cruises
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Gov. Livingston 40, New Providence 25
• G-L continues recent T-Day domination
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Clifton 48, Passaic 20
• Clifton caps 1st winning season since 2011
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

• Top football VIDEOS: Send us clips/tips from this weekend's games

Middletown North 24, Middletown South 6
• First win for North over South since 2000
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Middlesex 29, Dunellen 14
• Mx sends seniors out winners
• Box Score

Montclair 30, Bloomfield 23
• Another 200 for Webb lifts Mounties
• Box Score

Salem 36, Woodstown 10
• J-Tayl breaks major SJ record in win
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Steinert 14, Hamilton West 13
• Backup QB spurs Spartans
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Vineland 45, No. 18 Millville 28
• Clan wins 145 edition of T-Day rivalry
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

Gloucester Catholic 34, Gloucester 14
• Rams clinch 1st winning season since '09
• Box Score

Clayton 14, Pitman 12
• Clippers take charge
• Box Score

New Hope-Solebury (Pa.) 45, South Hunterdon 0
• Pa. school wins final T-Day rivalry
• Box Score

Wall 21, Manasquan 3
• Late rally by Wall sinks 'Squan
• Photo gallery
• Look back at live updates
• Box Score

Florence 30, Riverside 12
• Flashes end on high note
• Box Score

Haddonfield 31, Haddon Heights 0
• Dawgs continue holiday dominance
• Photo gallery
• Box Score

SATURDAY

West Morris at No. 15 Wayne Hills, 1
North 1, Group 4 semifinals
• Full staff report
• Photo gallery
• Box Score 

FEATURED GAMES

WEDNESDAY

Schalick 41, Cumberland 0
• Schalick rebounds from playoff loss
• Photo gallery
• Box score

Cherry Hill West 40, Cherry Hill East 0
• Special teams make the difference
• Box score

Camden Catholic 49, Paul VI 7
• Game recap
• Photo gallery
• Box score

Belvidere 45, North Warren 22
• County foes renew rivalry
• Photo gallery
• Box score

NORTH 1, GROUP 4 SCOREBOARD

COMPLETE SCHEDULE/SCOREBOARD

Matt Stypulkoski may be reached at mstypulkoski@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @M_Stypulkoski. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.

Wanted in Pennsylvania, he was found after a minor accident outside a QuickChek.

A minor accident outside a New Jersey convenience store led police to a fugitive wanted for a deadly crash two years ago in Pennsylvania.

Brian Petix (Courtesy photo) 

Brian Petix, 33, is awaiting extradition on charges of vehicular homicide and a slew of related counts from a 2014 wreck in Monroe County that killed his passenger.

The Easton man was arrested Nov. 19 after an accident about 9:40 p.m. in the QuickChek parking lot off Route 57 in Warren County, according to Washington Township police. Officers found he was wanted by Pennsylvania State Police.

On Nov. 10, 2014, Petix was allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree in Chestnuthill Township, according to previous reports and charges filed against him in Pennsylvania. Petix was wearing a seat belt, however his passenger, 22-year-old Saylorsburg resident Casey Ann Hoffman, was not and died of her injuries.

Fugitives of the week Nov. 19, 2016

The pair had pleaded guilty earlier that summer to assaulting a man outside a Nazareth bar after finding it was closed while they were on a six-pack run.

In last weekend's minor accident outside QuickChek, Petix's passenger was also arrested. Katrina Pantuso, 26, of Phillipsburg, is charged with tampering with evidence, hindering apprehension, possession of hypodermic needles and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pantuso was sent to the county jail and has since posted $5,000 bail, according to online records.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.