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When Dan Higgins watches Marvin Booker anticipate an inside run, then catch a subtle alignment change and stop a counter run at the line of scrimmage, the Piscataway High School football coach can't help but think of Devraun Thompson.

"The last guy I saw who plays like Marvin was Devraun," Higgins said of the former Piscataway star who was an integral piece of Rutgers' recent revival. "He used to be in the right spot all the time and was almost impossible to block. Marvin's in that same company."

When Higgins hears one of Booker's spirited pregame talks or watches him single-handedly pump enthusiasm into a lackluster practice, he immediately recalls the energy of Malcolm Jenkins. He's another former standout who now starts in the Ohio State secondary.

"We have a lot of seniors who lead, but Marvin is basically a guy who can influence and impact an entire team," Higgins said. "He's always thinking about team first, about what we have to do. Malcolm Jenkins was a lot like that, too."

Higgins and the rest of the Piscataway team hope the similarities between Booker, a 6-2, 205-pound strongside linebacker, and Thompson and Jenkins rise to the surface at 5 p.m. Saturday at Rutgers Stadium. That's when Piscataway (11-0), No. 7 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, will battle No. 8 Hunterdon Central (10-1) of Flemington for the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 title.

Hunterdon Central won the Central Jersey, Group 4 title last year and was shifted to North Jersey, Section 2 before the school year. Piscataway won three straight sectional titles from 2002-04, with players such as Thompson and Jenkins, but has not won since.

Booker wants to change that with one of his exceptional defensive efforts. He averaged 10 1/2 tackles in early-round victories over Woodbridge and Westfield and recorded 12 last Thursday in a 24-7 victory over archrival Franklin.

Thing is, Booker doesn't need a sectional final to stoke his competitive fire. He gets riled if a fellow linebacker is engaged too long by a scout-team guard during a rainy practice. It's far worse if it happens to him.

"He's got a great motor. You can see his passion for football by the way he plays," Higgins said. "He makes all those other guys on defense better. He expects a lot out of them and they always see him play with emotion and purpose."

Two players directly benefiting from Booker's ability are fellow linebackers James White, a senior, and Kyle Polk, an impressive sophomore. Opposing fullbacks and guards are trained to seek out Booker first on runs between the tackles, often giving White and Polk an unimpeded path to the ball.

"When you face us, you know you have to account for Booker. That attention creates opportunities for White and Polk," Higgins said. "You're always seeing Marvin's impact on the offensive game plan."

Next spring Booker will leave high school, turn left onto Hoes Lane and go all of 2 miles to Rutgers. He'll join former Piscataway teammate Anthony Davis, a starting guard as a freshman this year, and follow the footsteps of Thompson and linebacker Brandon Renkart, another Piscataway graduate.

"When Marvin went to coach (Greg) Schiano's camp last summer, he earned a scholarship right on the spot," Higgins said. "They put him at receiver, linebacker, DB and they liked what they saw."