Prediction: St. Peter's Prep (N.J.) simmers down the stretch

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we head to the Garden State where we examine St. Peter’s Prep. The Marauders are considered one of New Jersey’s top programs annually, but also play one of the tougher schedules around. Can St. Peters Prep upend the state’s other top private schools and win a state championship?

Player Spotlight: QB Tyler Bell

Tyler Bell heads into his senior season with high expectations after a solid 2024 season, completing 132-of-233 passes for 1,884 yards and 26 touchdowns. With the UMass commitment having an experienced pair of receivers in Hunter Watson (Temple commit) and Jordan Rodriguez (Boston College commit), Bell is in line to have a huge fall campaign. Surpassing 2,000 yards and 30-plus touchdowns look to be very attainable goals for Bell with the pieces back in place on offense.

Others to watch: WR Hunter Watson, WR, Jordan Rodriguez, S Ryan Wooten, OL Oluwasemilroe Olubobola

Season Prediction: 5-4

After finishing 4-6 a year ago, the Marauders have been itching to get back on the field and show that 2024 was a fluke. St. Peter’s Prep won’t quite run the table in the regular season slate, but that’s in part due to the kind of schedule they play. The second half of the season is where it gets especially tough, as the Marauders face teams like Don Bosco Prep, Seton Hall and St. Joseph Regional. St. Peter’s will start off 4-0 but simmer down the stretch with a 1-4 finish. With Bell under center for the entire season, St. Peters Prep is however able to notch one more victory than the season before and qualify for the NJSIAA Non-Public A playoffs.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 29 – Paramus Catholic (N.J.) Paladins – W
St. Peter’s Prep opens the season in dominating fashion with a rout of Paramus Catholic.

Sept. 6 – at Union City (N.J.) Soaring Eagles – W
The Marauders keep the good times rolling as they soundly defeat the Soaring Eagles on the road.

Sept. 12 – Malcolm X Shabazz (N.J.) Bulldogs – W
St. Peter’s Prep makes it three in a row to start the season as they romp over Malcolm X Shabazz.

Sept. 20 – at Delabarton (N.J.) Green Wave – L
The winning streak ends on the road with a 16-point loss to the Green Wave.

Sept. 27 – St. Joseph Regional (N.J.) Green Knights – L
The Marauders suffer a second-straight loss in a row at the hands of the Green Knights in a 40-20 decision.

Oct. 4 – at Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) Pirates – W
St. Peter’s Prep gets back in the win column as the team defeats Seton Hall Prep in a 28-25 thriller.

Oct. 17 – DePaul Catholic (N.J.) Spartans – L
The Marauders can’t figure out the Spartans in a 35-21 loss.

Oct. 25 – Pope John XXIII (N.J) Lions – W
St. Peter’s Prep narrowly edge out the Lions for their fifth win over the season.

Oct. 31 – Don Bosco Prep (N.J.) Ironmen – L
Up against one of the top teams in all of the Northeast, the Marauders are no match for Don Bosco Prep in the regular season finale.