When Halloween rolls around, people will be out in costumes, going to doors and asking for candy. However, for the Knolls faithful, they will be packing the stands at Northern Highlands High School for playoff football. Many players on this team have been here before. Knolls has made the playoffs every year since the 2015-16 season except for the 2020-21 season. Just last season, Knolls went undefeated in the regular season, only falling to Ramapo in the Group 4 final. There were multiple times during the 2025 season where people questioned whether or not Morris Knolls would make the playoffs. After starting 1-0, then dropping three out of their next four, the doubt rose. The 2025 Golden Eagles will not go down as the greatest team Morris Knolls ever had, but they might just be the most perseverant. 

The 2025 campaign began with a matchup vs the Bayonne Bees, played in West Orange as part of the Mountaineer Classic. Knolls won 21–14 to start their season 1–0. The victory gave many hope for the season, and set the team off in the right direction. That changed the following week when they took on West Morris for the home opener. Knolls started strong but eventually fell 41-31 in a rain-soaked battle. The Golden Eagles continued their slide, falling 27-21 to Bridgewater-Raritan on the road. Knolls was able to bounce back, defeating Randolph 13-7 for the home crowd at Caruso. The victory was underwhelming, however, as Randolph (who finished the season 2-7) was considered a weaker team. Knolls looked to start a winning streak. That would not be the case, as in heartbreaking fashion, Knolls fell 16-13 to the Roxbury Gaels. The defeat came at the hands of a 51 yard field goal by Gaels kicker Josh DiPasquale. The team took a moral defeat as well, losing QB Ryan McDonald early in the game. Following the loss, the Eagles went back to home field. The result was not much different though, as Knolls fell to Mount Olive in a 42-21 game that got blown out of proportion in the 4th quarter. Knolls’ season was in danger, and the team desperately needed wins: they got two of them in the form of a 43-14 rout of Clifton and a 27-13 road victory under the lights in Morristown. At 4-4, they went home for one last game. Morris Knolls failed to secure a crucial win, losing 39-26. Most thought the season was over with a 4-5 record (and a disappointing 2-3 record at home), but when NJSIAA released their brackets at noon Sunday, Knolls was listed as the 7 seed in Group 4.

Now, the Golden Eagles have a Halloween matchup vs second seed Northern Highlands. A tough opponent, the 12th ranked Highlanders finished the season 6-2, their only losses coming in one touchdown games vs No. 8 Old Tappan and No. 7 Ramapo (who are also the one seed in the N1G4 bracket). It will be a road game at Northern Highlands High school, located in Allendale, New Jersey. Kickoff is 6:30 on October 31st. No matter what happens, it is sure to be a difficult march through November.