Phil's 12 South Jersey games of note this weekend

Week 8 is a crossover week in the WJFL and probably features the deepest slate of good games all season.

Here's 12 games of note:

Friday (All games at 7 except St. Joseph at St. Augustine at 6).

No. 6 Cherokee (4-2) at No. 4 Lenape (6-0): This is the GOTW. Cherokee has won four in a row after an 0-2 start with strong work from RB/DB John Lovett, QB Jake Bodine, two-way end Steve Gervasi and others. Lenape is 23-4 since the start of the 2014 season, including a 1-1 mark vs. Cherokee. The Indians have a sturdy defense with playmakers in the secondary such as seniors Mike Doulong and Tim Montgomery. This has the look of a low-scoring, hard-hitting game decided by a turnover, special-teams play or the ability of one side to sneak a receiver behind defenses loaded up to stop the other's potent ground game.

No. 13 Holy Spirit (6-1) at No. 3 Camden Catholic (6-0): These teams are natural rivals as they represent non-public schools with highly successful athletic programs. The teams last played in the NP 2 state final in 2011, a 51-7 victory by Holy Spirit that ranks as one of most dominating performances by an offense line in recent SJ playoff history. CC is angling for a top-four seed in NP 3 and the Irish have little margin for error given the NJSIAA's rigged power-point system for some NP teams. Senior RB/DB Nazir Streater and senior all-purpose Kyle Dupree are players to watch for the Irish. HS would earn a ton of power points in its drive for a high seed in NP 2 and strengthen its claim as a team that has pushed back into South Jersey prominence with an upset at Shamrock Field. Senior RB Reggie Jean-Charles has scored 12 TDs for the Spartans.

No. 22 Cinnaminson (5-1) at No. 5 West Deptford (6-0): The visiting Pirates are coming off a bye after a 12-8 loss to Collingswood. They face an even more daunting former Colonial Conference foe in perennial SJ 2 power West Deptford. Senior QB/DB Shaun Davilla will lead Cinnaminson into a game in which the Pirates can measure their status as legitimate SJ 2 title contenders. WD is coming off an imposing 48-14 victory over rival Haddonfield. The Eagles' underrated defense features heavy-hitting senior LBs Kyle Garrison and Mike Oldt.

No. 21 Collingswood (5-1) at No. 24 Willingboro (5-2): This is a clash of surging squads and SJ 2 playoff hopefuls. Collingswood has won five in a row since stumbling out of the gate vs. Haddonfield including a victory over a Cinnaminson team that beat Willignboro in Week 2. Senior RB/LB Mike Taulane has led the way. Willingboro also has won five in a row, including an impressive victory over SJ 4 playoff contender Woodrow Wilson. Junior QB Trae Greene is a player to watch for the Chimeras.

No. 23 Oakcrest (5-1) at No. 17 Highland (5-1): Lots of power points on the line in this intriguing crossover clash of surprising teams. Oakcrest is angling for a high seed in SJ 3 and will take a big step in that direction with a win over the Tartans. Seniors Yaier Hinton and Kendall Elliott are playmakers for the Falcons. Highland is locked in a tough battle for a spot in the SJ 4 tournament. Senior RB Orlando Council and senior OL/DL Mike Lovenduski are key guys for the Tartans. Another incentive for Highland: The Tartans can clinch their first winning season since going 7-2 in 1993.

No. 14 St. Joseph (5-2) at No. 1 St. Augustine (7-0): SJ coach Paul Saccco said his team has to face "the big elephant" this week, a hat tip to SA's emergence as a program operating at the top level of the South Jersey rankings. SJ is coming off a 17-14 OT loss to Cedar Creek. The Wildcats are undefeated in regulation; both losses were in OT, both by 17-14 scores, both at home, both on walk-off field goals at the same end of Bill Bendig Field. "Deja vu," Sacco said of the Cedar Creek loss, which echoed his team's Sept. 10 loss to Holy Spirit. This is SA's eighth game, the max before the playoff cutoff. If the Hermits get to 8-0, they still might only get a No. 6 or No. 7 seed in NP 4, thanks to the NJSIAA's nonsensical power-point system for NP teams. The Hermits have won 23 in a row against South Jersey foes. Last loss: 36-6 to St. Joe on Sept. 13, 2014. Senior LB Dean Kolonich leads an underrated SA defense.

Schalick (6-0) at Woodstown (4-20: The surprising Cougars have won nine in a row in a streak that began after they were 0-7 last season. Junior RB Tyreese Snipe and senior QB Jared Fox are players to watch for Schalick, which is pushing hard for a good seed in what should be a loaded SJ 1 playoff field. Woodstown has dropped down to SJ 1 this season, which is one reason the field is likely to be so loaded. The Wolverines' balanced ground attack is led by junior QB Cody Wolf. Senior DB Christian Smith-Coleman is another player to watch for Woodstown.

Saturday

Penns Grove (4-2) at Woodbury (4-2), 10:30: Both of these teams are battling for berths in the SJ 1 tournament. PG has won four in a row after an 0-2 start, including victories over Salem and Glassboro. Junior Semaj Moore has run for 722 yards and 11 TDs for the Red Devils. Woodbury has impressive wins over Paulsboro and Haddon Heights, two other teams jostling for SJ 1 berths. The Thundering Herd has a player to watch in senior all-purpose Daquan Solomon.

No. 15 Burlington Twp. (6-1) at Pemberton (5-2), 11: BT's defense has been sensational, allowing just 13 points in a four-game winning streak and posting three shutouts this season. Senior RB Drew Price is a playmaker on offense for the Falcons. BT's defense will get a challenge from the explosive Hornets, led by senior QB Joe Benson (1,121 yards, 12 TD passes) and senior RB Ja'quay Redding (926 rushing yards, 9 TDs).

No. 16 Delsea (4-3) at Woodrow Wilson (4-2), noon: These are two talented teams battling for playoff berths with little margin for error. Delsea, the four-time SJ 3 champion, has won three in a row to rally from a 1-3 start. Senior LB Jake Hollowell leads the Crusader defense. WW is trying to earn a berth in a crowded SJ 4 tournament field. The Tigers have a playmaker to watch in senior Tyler Parsons.

Florence (3-3) at Paulsboro (5-1), 12:30: No game in South Jersey history has ever featured two coaches with a combined 565 career victories. That's the case with this clash of perenniel Group 1 powers. Florence coach Joe Frappolli enters the game with 296 career wins. Paulsboro coach Glenn Howard has 269 career wins. Both teams are angling for berths in their respective state tournaments -- Central Jersey 1 for Florence and South Jersey 1 for Paulsboro. The Red Raiders have dominated this sporadic series, going 5-0 against the Flashes.

Camden (2-4) at No. 19 Rancocas Valley (6-1), 2: Camden coach Dwayne Savage played for Bruce Lazaruk, now one of his assistant coaches, at RV. The Panthers are a tough team to figure. They looked like world-beaters in 31-12 win over then-No. 3 Cedar Creek and took Top 10 teams Camden Catholic and CH West into overtime. But they've struggled at times as well. Senior two-way lineman Kurtis Huff is a player to watch for the Panthers. RV got a boost from the return of sophomore QB Bryce Mangene, who missed two games with a knee injury. He has 10 TD passes. Inside LBs Matt Konzelman and Kyle Sapp are top defenders for the Red Devils.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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