South Jersey football: A dozen games to watch this weekend
This is the first big "bye week" of the South Jersey football season, with 28 teams taking a break before returning to action the weekend of Oct. 7-8.
Here's a closer look at 12 games of note this weekend:
Friday (All games at 7 except Cedar Creek at Camden, Williamstown at Millville, Hammonton at Bridgeton and Wildwood at Lower Cape May at 6)
No. 3 Cedar Creek (3-0) at No. 21 Camden (1-1): This is the Pirates' first visit to Farnham Park since the first-round of the South Jersey Group 2 tournament in 2013. Camden won that game by a 48-0 score.
CC seniors Bo Melton and Jesse Milza were freshmen on that team. Milza was the starting quaterback. The Pirates have come a long way since then, as they are the defending S.J. 2 champions as well as the No. 3 team in this season's rankings.
Camden is rebuilding a bit this season but the Panthers are riding high after a 27-7 win over Seneca on Friday. Senior QB Drew Harris threw three TD passes in that game, all to sophomore WR JuJuan Hudson.
Buena (2-1) at Collingswood (1-1): Buena has been one of SJ's top small-school teams in the last two seasons and the Chiefs are angling for a high berth in the SJ 1 tournament, having dropped down from SJ 2.
Buena is led by Jake Maxwell and Sean Rice, who ran for three TDs in Friday's win over Middle Twp.
Collingswood is coming off an early bye. The Panthers are a veteran squad, with a player to watch in senior RB/LB Mike Taulane.
No. 9 Holy Spirit (2-0) at No. 14 Delsea (1-2): Who saw this as a possible cross-over game in the expanded WJFL? It's an interesting matchup between two of the more accomplished programs in South Jersey.
HS is one of the surprise teams of the season, having stunned then-No. 3 St. Joseph a couple of weekends ago. The Spartans are an experienced team with a couple of top RBs in seniors Reggie Jean-Charles and Justin Figueroa.
With a demanding schedule, Delsea started slowly this season, losing to No. 2 Timber Creek and No. 3 Cedar Creek. The Crusaders bounced back in a big way on Friday, beating Paul VI 35-0. Senior RB Charles Walker has gained 277 yards and is averaging 9.2-yards per carry, and senior LB Jake Hollowell leads the defense with 20 tackles.
No. 4 Lenape (3-0) at Seneca (1-2): The Indians are off to a strong start. Junior RB JoJo Kellum ran for 251 yards in Friday's 20-3 win over Burlington Township, with a big assist from a dominating offensive line.
This is a rivalry game between schools in the Lenape district. Seneca is looking to bounce back from a tough loss at Camden on Friday night. Lenape has won three in a row in this series.
No. 12 Hammonton (2-1) at Bridgeton (0-3): The host Bulldogs have one of the state's top athletes in senior all-purpose Markquese Bell.
The Blue Devils are coming off an emotional, 14-13 win over Williamstown on Friday night. Senior WR Victor Solis-Mays made a big play late to spark the victory.
Hammonton might be without senior QB/DB Malachi Winters for the rest of the season. Winters suffered a shoulder injury in the season opener and his status remains in question.
No. 10 St. Joseph (3-1) at No. 20 Pennsville (3-0): This is one of the more interesting cross-over games created by the new WJFL schedule, at least among South Jersey's smaller-school programs.
St. Joe has won seven non-public state titles in a row. The Wildcats are regarded as one of the top programs in the state, regardless of the school's small size.
Pennsville is the defending S.J. 1 champion. Eagles coach Ryan Wood pushed for this game as a "chance to see" where his team stacked up against a program of St. Joseph's stature.
SJ has been getting strong work from junior RB Qwahsin Townsel, who has run for eight touchdowns, and sophomore RB Nate Johnson, who is emerging as big-play man.
Pennsville, which has won 10 games in a row, is a veteran squad. Senior TE/DE Rob Saulin, a UConn recruit, and senior QB P.J. Halter lead the way.
Wildwood (0-3) at Lower Cape May (0-3): This is a natural rivalry that was renewed thanks to the expansion of the WJFL.
These schools are 15 minutes apart and a lot of these kids know each other from youth sports and through other ways.
No. 18 Williamstown (1-2) at No. 17 Millville (2-1): This game is loaded with SJ 5 playoff implications as both teams are angling to qualify for the tournament and the winner will emerge with a lot of power points.
Williamstown is looking to bounce back from a 14-13 loss at Hammonton on Friday night. Sophomore QB J.C. Collins is off to a good start for the Braves.
Millville played well in the second half of a loss to No. 1 St. Augustine on Friday night. Senior all purpose Clayton Scott is a player to watch for the Thunderbolts.
No. 24 Oakcrest (3-0) at Overbrook (1-2): This is a cross-over game that matches a team from the CAL against a team from the Colonial Conference.
Oakcrest is riding high behind senior QB Kendall Elliott, who has run for 6 TDs. The Falcons are 3-0 for the first time since 1986.
Overbrook has a couple of players to watch in junior QB Xavier Martin and senior RB Marques DeShields, a Monmouth recruit.
Paul VI (1-2) at Notre Dame (0-3): These teams are both Non-Public 4 programs, so this game makes sense as a cross-over in the expanded WJFL.
PVI will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Delsea on Friday night.
Washington Twp. (1-2) at No. 11 Rancocas Valley (3-0): Like Williamstown-Millville, this game has major SJ 5 playoff implications.
WT is coming off a 17-14 loss to Shawnee on Friday night. Junior all-purpose Colin Meintel ran for both Minutemen touchdowns.
RV is off to a strong start. The Red Devils can't get caught looking ahead to a showdown with Lenape on Oct. 7.
Senior Rob Hawkins and junior Iverson Clement have been top playmakers for RV, with sophomore QB Bryce Mangene throwing 6 TD passes in his first three games.
Saturday Cherry Hill West (3-0) at Trenton (1-3), 1: The Lions are 3-0 for the first time since 1967.
Coach Brian Wright talked after Saturday's 49-27 win over Pennsauken about the "learning process" of dealing with success. First step: Taking care of business against a dangerous Trenton team that scored 31 in a loss to RV on Saturday.
CHW has been led by senior all-purpose Harrison Hand, one of the state's top athletes. The Lions also have been getting good work from seniors such as two-way linemen Lorenzo Hernandez and George Vyzaniaris, junior RB Nick Divietro and sophomore QB Monte Williams, among others.
-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com
-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter
playoff implications as both teams are angling to qualify for the tournament and the
winner will emerge with a lot of power points. Williamstown is looking to bounce back from a 14-13 loss at Hammonton on Friday night.
Sophomore QB J.C. Collins is off to a good start for the Braves. Millville played well in the second half of a loss to No. 1 St. Augustine on Friday
night. Senior all purpose Clayton Scott is a player to watch for the Thunderbolts.
No. 24 Oakcrest (3-0) at Overbrook (1-2): This is a cross-over game that matches a
team from the CAL against a team from the Colonial Conference. Oakcrest is riding high behind senior QB Kendall Elliott, who has run for 6 TDs. The
Falcons are 3-0 for the first time since 1986. Overbrook has a couple of players to watch in junior QB Xavier Martin and senior RB
Marques DeShields, a Monmouth recruit.
Paul VI (1-2) at Notre Dame (0-3): These teams are both Non-Public 4 programs, so this
game makes sense as a cross-over in the expanded WJFL. PVI will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Delsea on Friday night.
Washington Twp. (1-2) at No. 11 Rancocas Valley (3-0): Like Williamstown-Millville,
this game has major SJ 5 playoff implications. WT is coming off a 17-14 loss to Shawnee on Friday night. Junior all-purpose Colin
Meintel ran for both Minutemen touchdowns. RV is off to a strong start. The Red Devils can't get caught looking ahead to a
showdown with Lenape on Oct. 7. Senior Rob Hawkins and junior Iverson Clement have been top playmakers for RV, with
sophomore QB Bryce Mangene throwing 6 TD passes in his first three games.
Saturday Cherry Hill West (3-0) at Trenton (1-3), 1: The Lions are 3-0 for the first time since
1967. Coach Brian Wright talked after Saturday's 49-27 win over Pennsauken about the
"learning process" of dealing with success. First step: Taking care of business
against a dangerous Trenton team that scored 31 in a loss to RV on Saturday. CHW has been led by senior all-purpose Harrison Hand, one of the state's top athletes.
The Lions also have been getting good work from seniors such as two-way linemen
Lorenzo Hernandez and George Vyzaniaris, junior RB Nick Divietro and sophomore QB
Monte Williams, among others.
-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com
-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter
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