Carchidi
Division games with major title implications highlight the first weekend of the South Jersey football season. Of the 10 games to watch this weekend, nine are division battles that will go a long way toward deciding who wins those championships.
Division games with major title implications highlight the first weekend of the South Jersey football season.
Of the 10 games to watch this weekend, nine are division battles that will go a long way toward deciding who wins those championships.
Here's a closer look.
Friday, 7 p.m.
Holy Spirit at Hammonton.
The new Cape American will feature good games every weekend. This should be a great one, with both teams angling for the high ground in the division race. Hammonton returns QB Christian Mortellite, RBs David Williams and Dom Williams, and WR/DB Alex Padovani from a 9-3 team. Holy Spirit has a new coach, John Iannucci, who specializes in the triple option.
Pick:
Hammonton, 17-13.
Paulsboro at Haddonfield. Paulsboro is still smarting from last year's 35-0 home loss to Haddonfield. The Red Raiders have strong front lines, led by Julien Davenport and Pop Little, and a veteran backfield with QB Zach Funk and RB Dimere Turner. The Bulldogs are rebuilding a bit after winning 32 games the last three seasons. This will be a challenging first game for junior QB Mike McLaughlin. Pick: Paulsboro, 17-10.
Delran at Holy Cross. Crosstown rivals meet in a WJFL Liberty clash. Delran has a top athlete in Justin McFadden. Holy Cross can move the ball with QB Logan Hill and RB Khalid Hendricks. This could be a shootout. Pick: Holy Cross, 27-22.
Penns Grove at Glassboro. This game likely will decide the WJFL Diamond Division title and will have major S.J. Group 1 tournament implications. But last year proved that one game means little, especially the opener. Penns Grove won that one, 54-0, but Glassboro was back 12 weeks later winning the S.J. 1 title. Penns Grove has an edge with senior QB Nick Elmer, as well as WR Jabrail Murray and two-way lineman Sam Harvey. Glassboro will be led by RB Corey Clement, a Pitt recruit who went for a S.J.-record 2,510 yards last season. Pick: Penns Grove, 20-19.
Moorestown at Seneca. Moorestown will miss QB Drew Pederson, out for a month or so with a broken ankle. Junior Tyreek Robinson will run the Quakers' no-huddle spread and look to playmakers Anthony Bonett and Sid Ruffin. Two-way lineman Shane Rafter is a Temple recruit. Seneca seeks to bounce back from a three-win season. The Golden Eagles return several starters, including two-way end Will Flake and top RBs Joe Pawlowski and Alec Flexon. Pick: Seneca, 20-19.
Pennsauken at Triton. These teams met twice last season, with the Indians winning both behind QB Manny Cortez and WR Amar Williams, who have graduated. Triton matches up a little better with Pennsauken's offense this season, as the Indians are likely to run the football behind Marlin Finley. The key in this WJFL National game will be Triton RB Josh Woods, who is recovering from a knee injury that cost him the final four games of last season. Pick: Pennsauken, 13-10.
Cherokee at Lenape. School district rivals meet in an interesting WJFL American opener for both teams. Lenape features RB Arkemus Baskerville and FB Abdul Crowder. Cherokee was 7-3 in a "rebuilding" year, but the Chiefs still are young. They will be better in November than they are in September. Pick: Lenape, 13-7.
Eastern at Washington Township. This WJFL American Division matchup could be a battle of QBs, as Eastern features junior Tom Flacco, brother of the Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco, and Washington Twp. will be led by Tom Hildebrand. Township has a solid LB corps led by Joe Cotton, D.J. Brown, and Andrew O'Neil. Eastern's secondary features CB Eli Woodard, an Ohio State recruit. Pick: Washington Twp., 24-17.
Saturday, noon
Burlington Township at Willingboro.
This is a key WJFL Patriot battle between Burlco rivals. Burlington Township will feature RB Mike Thomas, LB Joe Machado, and a highly touted junior in RB Jahseim Rover. The Chimeras will be led by QB Anthony Robbins, who missed much of last season with a wrist injury but hopes to bounce back with a big senior year.
Pick:
Burlington Township, 24-16.
Absegami at St. Joseph. St. Joseph opens play in the new Cape American against an Absegami team that will be missing star QB/DB Rashad Kinlaw, a Notre Dame recruit out with a broken leg. The Braves still have lots of talent, led by speedy junior RB David Hood. St. Joseph will be led by QB/DB Anthony Giagunto, who is 17-0 as a starting QB. Pick: St. Joseph, 17-7.