Football: Projected playoff pairings

By Phil Anastasia

Cherry Hill West made the playoffs for the first time in the history of the program in a dramatic unfolding of events on the last day before the post-season cutoff.

CH West (4-4), which has lost three in a row since a season-ending injury to Syracuse-bound, two-way star Rodney Williams, qualified as the No. 8 seed in SJ 4 when Woodrow Wilson defeated Deptford and Toms River East fell to Southern on Saturday afternoon.

Those two results also allowed Moorestown to make the SJ 4 field as the No. 7 seed.

The key for CH West was its comeback, 30-24 victory over Paul VI on opening night. In a sense, the Lions punched their ticket to the post-season in its first game, since PVI is a Group 4 program that went on to win six games -- generating 28 power points.

"You look back on that night and it was huge, especially with the yar Paul VI is having," CH West coach Brian Wright said.

In another dramatic development Saturday, Camden edged Woodstown for the No. 1 seed in SJ 2. Woodstown was projected as the No. 1 and would have grabbed it if Penns Grove had beaten Highland.

But Highland's upset win opened the door for Camden, which got a big boost Friday night from Kingsway's win over Williamstown.

Also in SJ 2, Haddonfield took the No. 5 seed with a win over Paulsboro and will visit No. 4 West Deptford -- the ninth game between the rivals since 2009.

Glassboro (3-5) projects as the No. 5 seed in SJ 1 despite a losing record. The Bulldogs edged Salem on a head-to-head tiebreaker.

Defending champion Delsea is the No. 4 seed in SJ 3 and will host Central. With a win, the Crusaders likely will be looking at a trip to top-seeded Manasquan.

Defending champion Timber Creek looms as the team to beat as the No. 1 seed in SJ 4. That group has an interesting first-round game in No. 6 Shawneeat No. 3 Hammonton.

Kingsway, as the No. 4 seed, probably will get another crack at Timber Creek if the Dragons can handle a slumping No. 5 seed in Lacey Township in the first round.

Eastern is the top seed in SJ 5 and will host dangerous Atlantic City. Cherokee gets the 2 seed and a rematch with Washington Township, a team that the Chiefs beat 45-0 in the regular season.

Millville got the No. 4 seed in SJ 5 with that win over Hammonton on Friday and will host No. 5 Williamstown, the defending champion.

St. Augustine gets the No. 6 seed in NP 4 and will travel to No. 3 St. Joe Metuchen, while Paul VI gets the No. 7 seed and will visit St. Peter's Prep.

Holy Spirit grabbed the No.  seed in NP 2. It's hard to imagine a scenario where the Spartans won't face North Jersey power DePaul, the No. 2 seed in the final.

This group has a great first-round game in No. 5 Bishop Eustace at No. 4 Camden Catholic in a rematch of a game won by the Crusaders by a 10-6 score on Oct. 18. These rivals can't wait to play each other again.

St. Joseph is the No. 1 seed and prohibitive favorite in NP 1. The Wildcats face Marist in the first round.

PROJECTED PLAYOFF PAIRINGS

South Jersey Group 5

No. 8 Atlantic City (4-4) at No. 1 Eastern (8-1)

No. 5 Williamstown (5-3) at No. 4 Millville (6-2)

No. 6 Rancocas Valley (5-3) at No. 3 Jackson (6-2)

No. 7 Washington Twp. (6-2) at No. 2 Cherokee (7-1)

South Jersey Group 4

No. 8 Cherry Hill West (4-4) at No. 1 Timber Creek (7-1)

No. 5 Lacey Twp. (5-4) at No. 4 Kingsway (6-2)

No. 6 Shawnee (5-3) at No. 3 Hammonton (6-2)

No. 7 Moorestown (4-5) at No. 2 Toms River South (6-2)

South Jersey Group 3

No. 8 Wall (3-5) at No. 1 Manasquan (6-2)

No. 5 Central (5-3) at No. 4 Delsea (7-2)

No. 6 Pemberton (4-4) at No. 3 Barnegat (7-1)

No. 7 Highland (4-5) at No. 2 Northern Burlington (6-2)

South Jersey Group 2

No. 8 Cedar Creek (7-1) at No. 1 Camden (8-0)

No. 5 Haddonfield (6-2) at No. 4 West Deptford (8-0)

No. 6 Bridgeton (7-2) at No. 3 Cinnaminson (7-1)

No. 7 Sterling (7-1) at No. 2 Woodstown (8-0)

South Jersey Group 1

No. 8 Gloucester (3-5) at No. 1 Pennsville (7-1)

No. 5 Glassboro (3-5) at No. 4 Paulsboro (7-1)

No. 6 Salem (4-4) at No. 3 Schalick (5-3)

No. 7 Woodbury (5-3) at No. 2 Penns Grove (6-2)

Central Jersey Group 4

No. 5 Middletown South (4-4) at No. 4 Burlington Twp. (5-3)

Central Jersey Group 2

No. 8 Bordentown (4-4) at No. 1 Rumson (8-0)

No. 6 Lakewood (5-3) at No. 3 Delran (7-1)

Central Jersey Group 1

No. 8 Palmyra (4-4) at No. 1 Shore (7-1)

No. 6 Florence (5-3) at No. 3 Pt. Pleasant Beach(7-1)

No. 7 Burlington City (5-3) at No. 2 So. Hunterdon (8-0)

Non-Public Group 4

No. 8 Notre Dame (4-4) at No. 1 Paramus Catholic (7-2)

No. 5 Seton Hall Prep (7-2) at No. 4 Don Bosco Prep (5-3)

No. 6 St. Augustine (7-1) at No. 3 St. Joe Metuchen (9-0)

No. 7 Paul VI (6-2) at No. 2 St. Peter's Prep (8-1)

Non-Public Group 2

No. 8 Pingry (4-5) at No. 1 Holy Spirit (8-0)

No. 5 Bishop Eustace (4-4) at No. 5 Camden Catholic (4-4)

No. 6 Hudson Catholic (5-3) at No. 3 Holy Cross (5-3)

No. 7 Gloucester Catholic (3-5) at No. 2 DePaul (7-2)

Non-Public Group 1

No. 8 Marist (4-5) at No. 1 St. Joseph (7-1)

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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