Breaking down the S.J. football playoff races

This weekend marks the playoff cutoff in New Jersey football.

The NJSIAA will announce the pairings for the public and non-public tournaments during a seeding meeting Sunday at the organization's headquarters in Robbinsville.

Eight teams will qualify in each group. Teams are seeded based on power points, which are calculated through a formula that credits teams with six points for each victory plus three points for each beaten opponents' victories plus points correlating to each opponent's group size.

Here's a closer look at the groups involving South Jersey teams:

In: Rancocas Valley (7-1, 134 power points), Howell (7-1, 127), Lenape (6-1, 118), Millville (7-0, 108).

On the brink of qualifying: Eastern (5-3, 98), Cherokee (5-2, 93), Vineland (7-0, 90), Williamstown (4-3, 90).

Still alive: Atlantic City (4-3).

Rancocas Valley and Howell have played their eight qualifying games, so Lenape has a chance to move into a top 2 seed with a win over Notre Dame (2-6), which would be worth 15 points.

Much of the cutoff-week intrigue in this group centers on Vineland, which is undefeated but just seventh in power points because the Clan's first seven opponents have a combined record of 9-41.

Vineland can clinch a berth with a win over visiting St. Augustine (4-4) on Friday. But the Clan could be 8-0 and open the tournament on the road as a No. 5 seed or lower.

"We expect to be on the road," Vineland coach Dan Russo said.

The winner of the Williamstown at Cherokee game will clinch a berth, and the loser could qualify as well, depending on the results of other games.

Eastern has played eight games, so the Vikings can only improve their power-point total through residual points (victories this weekend by beaten opponents).

The wild card in this deck is Atlantic City. The Vikings likely would qualify with a win over Millville, because they would earn 32 power points, the highest possible total.

An Atlantic City upset could create a scramble with the Vikings plus Eastern and the Cherokee-Williamstown loser battling for two spots. And if Vineland loses to St. Augustine, it would be four teams battling for three spots based on the results of other games.

Millville, the defending champion, likely will earn a top 4 seed with a victory and could see arch-rival Vineland in the first round depending on the results of other games. The Thunderbolts and Clan also will play on Thanksgiving Day in the 146th renewal of the oldest rivalry in South Jersey.

In: Moorestown (7-1, 118), Central (6-2, 114), Burlington Township (6-2, 111), Shawnee (4-3, 77).

On the brink of qualifying: Hammonton (3-5, 63), Absegami (3-4, 62), Highland (4-3, 58).

Still alive: Bridgeton (3-5, 58), Pennsauken (3-4, 56), Winslow Township (3-4, 45).

Teams to watch this weekend are Winslow Township, Pennsauken and Absegami.

Winslow Township has won two in a row and would pick up 26 power points with an upset of Camden (6-1).

Pennsauken would get 15 power points with a win over Seneca (2-5), while Absegami would get 13 with a win over Mainland (1-6).

Highland can clinch a berth with a win over Bishop Eustace (4-3), which would be worth 19 points.

The top three teams have already played eight games, so they will rely on residual points this weekend to secure those spots.

In: Timber Creek (7-0, 143), Woodrow Wilson (5-2, 115), Lacey (6-2, 107), Delsea (5-3, 93), Ocean City (6-1, 85).

On the brink of qualifying: Lakewood (3-4, 70), Deptford (3-4, 57).

Still alive: Triton (3-4, 63), Seneca (2-5, 50).

Timber Creek, which won the South Jersey Group 4 title in 2015 and 2016, has locked up the No. 1 seed. The Chargers, who play Cherry Hill East (0-7) on Saturday, could see Delsea, which could land the No. 4 or No. 5 seed, in the sectional semifinals.
Deptford would lock up a berth with a win at Salem (5-2), which would be worth 22 power points.

Triton would earn 31 power points with a win over Moorestown which could jack the Mustangs as high as a No. 5 seed, depending on the results of other games.

Seneca has an outside shot with a win over Pennsauken, which would be worth 19 power points.

In: West Deptford (6-1, 130), Cedar Creek (6-2, 129), Camden (6-1, 120), Willingboro (6-2, 117), Sterling (6-1, 109), Haddonfield (5-2, 99).

On the brink of qualifying: Cinnaminson (5-2, 87), Pleasantville (6-1, 82).

Still alive: Overbrook (4-3, 74), Middle Township (3-4, 70), Barnegat (4-3, 69).

Sterling plays Haddonfield on Saturday in a game that will go a long way towards determining the seeding in this wide-open group as the winner likely will earn a top 4 berth and a home game in the first round.

Pleasanvtille can earn its first playoff berth since 2005 with a win over Middle Township. The Panthers could qualify with a win over the Greyhounds but will need help.

Wins by West Deptford (over 2-5 Collingswood), the defending champion, and Camden (over Winslow Township) would lock up the top two seeds for the Eagles and Panthers, respectively.

Cedar Creek and Willingboro have played eight games, so they can only add to their power-point total through residuals.

Overbrook would earn 16 power points by beating Audubon (3-4) and could sneak into the field if a lot of things break right with other games.

Barnegat is a darkhorse to watch as the Bengals would earn 29 power points with an upset of Point Pleasant Boro (8-0).

In: Paulsboro (6-1, 97), Penns Grove (6-1, 93), Gateway (6-1, 92), Woodbury (5-2, 80), Salem (5-2, 76), Woodstown (4-3, 74).

On the brink of qualifying: Buena (3-5, 62), Pennsville (3-4, 57).

Still alive: Audubon (3-4, 54), Schalick (4-3, 45), Lindenwold (3-4, 40).

Woodstown visits Penns Grove Saturday for a game that will go a long way toward determining seeding in this tournament.

Gateway can earn the first home playoff game in school history with a win over Haddon Heights (2-5).

Audubon can pick up 20 power points with a win over Overbrook. Schalick can pick up 22 with a win over Gloucester Catholic (5-2).

Paulsboro, which plays Lindenwold, and Penns Grove likely would lock up the top two seeds with victories. Paulsboro is the defending champion.

Lindenwold is a dark horse, but the Lions would get 25 power points with an upset of Paulsboro.

Burlington City (6-1, 106) can lock up a top 2 seed and could earn the No. 1 with a victory over Riverside (0-7).

Florence (3-4, 51) would pick up 22 power points and likely qualify with a victory over New Egypt (5-2).

In: Bergen Catholic (6-2, 195), St. Peter's (6-2, 165), Seton Hall (2-6, 147), St. Josseph Metuchen (8-0, 141), Paramus Catholic (3-5, 140), Delbarton (2-6, 139), Don Bosco (2-6, 112), St. Augustine (4-4, 95).

All the qualifers have played eight games, so the field is set although the seedings could be altered by some residual results this weekend.

But it looks as if St. Augustine will visit Bergen Catholic for the second year in a row. The Hermits lost to the Crusaders, 57-33, in the first round last season.

In: DePaul (6-2, 216), Pope John (5-3, 212), St. Joseph Montvale (5-03, 168), St. John Vianney (8-0, 147), Red Bank Catholic (7-1, 136), Camden Catholic (6-1, 122), Pingry (5-3, 96), Donovan Catholic (2-5, 55).

Opted out: Bishop Eustace (4-3, 65).

Camden Catholic can earn 10 power points with a win over Cherry Hill West (0-7) on Friday. The Irish will need help from residuals to jump Red Bank Catholic for the No. 5 seed and earn a trip to St. John Vianney as opposed to a visit to St. Joseph Montvale.

In: St. Joseph Hammonton (8-0, 150), Holy Spirit (7-1, 143), Hudson Catholic (4-4, 132), Mater Dei (5-1, 113), Immaculata (5-3, 88), Holy Cross (4-4, 77), Gloucester Catholic (5-2, 71), St. Mary (4-4, 77).

This field is set although the seeds will be arranged based on results this weekend. Gloucester Catholic can move up to a 5 or 6 seed with a win over Schalick, which would be worth 19 power points.