A closer look at every South Jersey game during Thanksgiving week, with predictions

The state tournaments take a break for Thanksgiving-week football.

Here's a look at every game involving South Jersey teams:

Rancocas Valley (9-1) at Burlington Twp. (6-3), 5: The visiting Red Devils have just five days to lower their heart rate after a dramatic rally for a 15-14 win over defending champion and previously undefeated Millville in the S.J. 5 semifinals. They also need this win to earn sole possession of the WJFL Capitol title.

RV, 32-17.

Cherry Hill East (0-9) at Cherry Hill West (0-9), 6: This series started in 1969. The battle for The Boot always is intense, regardless of the records, and somebody's '0' has to go. The Lions have won four in a row over the cross-town Cougars.

CHW, 20-13.

Schalick (5-4) at Cumberland (1-8), 6: This series started in 2002. Schalick has won six in a row in this rivalry.

Schalick, 26-18.

Glassboro (1-8) at Deptford (3-6), 6: These teams played every year from 1961 (when they battled to a 0-0 tie) through 1968, then resumed the series in 1998. Deptford won last year, snapping Glassboro's nine-game winning streak.

Deptford, 26-22.

Oakcrest (2-7) at Absegami (4-5), 6: This series started in 1976. The host Braves have a chance to get to .500 and finish with four wins in their final five games.

Absegami, 24-14.

Penns Grove (9-1) at Pennsville (4-5), 6: This series started in 1957 and was close right from the jump, as the teams tied 6-6 in both 1958 and 1959. This game is tricky for the Red Devils, who have advanced to S.J. 1 title game and have to decide whether to rest players rather than risk injury.

Penns Grove, 30-20.

New Egypt (6-3) at Bordentown (3-6), 6: Flipped a coin (homage to Want Ad Willie, who used to write that every week).

New Egypt, 22-20.

Pemberton (3-6) at Northern Burlington (4-5), 6: It's always a battle for the Commander's Cup. These teams are 2-2 against each other over the last four seasons.

NBC, 20-19.

Pennsauken (3-6) at Bishop Eustace (5-4), 7: This series started in 1963. They've played every year since 1971, and had a famous 0-0 tie in 1973. The teams are 4-4 against each other in the last eight games.

Pennsauken, 25-21.

Sterling (7-2) at Collingswood (3-6), 7: This series started in 1965. The host Panthers have won two in a row.

Sterling, 21-14.

Highland (5-5) at Triton (3-6), 10: This series between Black Horse Pike school district rivals resumed on Thanksgiving last year. They played in a downpour in the regular season in 2015, and Triton won 2-0.

Highland, 24-20.

Shawnee (7-3) at Lenape (9-1), 10: This series started in 1971, when they played to a 0-0 tie. They're 3-3 in the last six. This game is tricky, since both teams will play in sectional finals the weekend of Dec. 2-3: Lenape in the S.J. 5 final and Shawnee in the S.J. 4 final. Do the coaches rest some guys, go all out, or try to find some middle ground?

Lenape, 17-14.

Winslow Twp. (4-5) at Timber Creek (9-1), 10: This series began on Thanksgiving last year but these teams and schools are natural rivals. This game will be a challenge for the Chargers, as they play the final game of the season after their 25-game winning streak and hopes for a third straight sectional title were ended with a loss to Delsea in the S.J. 3 semifinals on Friday night. This will mark the last high school game for Timber Creek's Devin Leary, the most prolific passer in New Jersey history.

Timber Creek, 35-30.

Mainland (1-8) at Egg Harbor Twp. (1-8), 10: This series started in 1983. Mainland has won 6 of the last 7.

Mainland, 21-20.

Middle Twp. (4-5) at Lower Cape May (1-8), 10: The Anchor Bowl has been played since 1922. Middle has won five in a row.

Middle, 24-14.

Pleasantville (7-2) at Ocean City (6-3), 10: It's been a long time since both of these teams were this competitive at the same time. This is one of South Jersey's oldest rivalries, starting in 1917 (when Pleasantville won 106-7). Ocean City has won three in a row and 9 of 10.

Ocean City, 21-20.

Holy Spirit (8-2) at Atlantic City (5-4), 10: This great old series started in 1926. Holy Spirit has won two in a row, including by a 29-25 score last season.

Holy Spirit, 31-29.

Washington Twp. (2-7) at Williamstown (4-5), 10:30: This natural rivalry has been a Thanksgiving staple since 2010. Williamstown has won six of seven. The Braves have a chance to get to .500 for the season and to finish 4-1 in the WJFL American.

Williamstown, 28-24.

Vineland (7-2) at Millville (9-1), 10:30: They call the Rose Bowl "the granddaddy of them all" but this game actually predates that game by nearly a decade. This is South Jersey's oldest rivalry, starting in 1893. This will be the 146th meeting. For the second year in a row, both teams are strong, and stakes are high: A Vineland win will result in a three-way tie for first place in the WJFL Continental with Vineland, Millville and St. Augustine all at 4-1. A Millville win clinches the title outright for the Thunderbolts. Vineland won last year, snapping Millville's seven-game winning streak.

Millville, 35-34.

Overbrook (6-3) at Lindenwold (3-6), 10:30: The visiting Rams have won four in a row this season and are looking to get to seven victories for the first time since the 2003 team won eight games. Overbrook has won two straight in this series.

Paul VI (5-4) at Camden Catholic (7-2), 10:30: This series started in 1968. Camden Catholic has won three in a row in the rivalry. The visiting Eagles are hot, having beaten plus-.500 teams Eastern and Bishop Eustace in their last two games.

Camden Catholic, 27-20.

Clearview (2-7) at Kingsway (3-6), 10:30: This series started in 1987. For years, it was close friends and veteran coaches Dan Pidcock of Clearview and Tony Barchuk of Kingsway on the sidelines. Kingsway has won 9 in a row in the series, including by a 21-20 score in 2016.

Kingsway, 20-17.

Gloucester Catholic (5-4) at Gloucester (4-5), 10:30: This series started in 1948, stopped in 1966 and resumed in 1993. Catholic won last year. Before that, Gloucester won three in a row.

Gloucester Catholic, 14-13.

Salem (7-3) at Woodstown (4-5), 10:30: This old series began in 1911. Salem has won three in a row. The visiting Rams can clinch the WJFL Diamond title with a win.

Salem, 26-20.

Woodbury (6-3) at Gateway (8-2), 10:30: This series started in 1978. It's been a long time since both teams were this competitive in the same season. Woodbury has won 10 in a row over Gateway, with the Gators' last win by 12-8 in 2006.

Gateway, 14-13.

Cherokee (6-3) at Seneca (3-6), 11: This series started in 2004. This might be the end of this rivalry for the foreseeable future, too, since the Group 3 Golden Eagles are not expected to be required to play Lenape district rivals such as the Group 5 Chiefs in the next schedule cycle. Cherokee has won seven in a row in the series. In 2009, the Chiefs were 11-1 and South Jersey Group 4 champions but their lone loss was 14-7 to the Golden Eagles on Thanksgiving.

Cherokee, 27-14.

Audubon (3-6) at Haddon Twp. (3-6), 11: This series began in 1963. The battle for the Curley Cup has a little extra meaning this year, as the trophy's namesake — legendary coach Tom Curley, who led both programs — died in September. Audubon has won four in a row.

Audubon, 20-19.

Palmyra (5-4) at Burlington City (8-2), 11: This old rivalry dates to 1909. Burlington City needs a win to clinch sole possession of the WJFL Freedom title. Palmyra has won four in a row in the series.

Burlington City, 38-33.

Riverside (1-8) at Florence (4-5), 11: This series started in 1942. Florence has won eight in a row. Riverside's last win was 6-0 in 2008. The host Flashes are angling to get to .500 and earn veteran coach Joe Frappolli his 302nd career win.

Florence, 20-12.

Camden (7-2) at Woodrow Wilson (8-2), 11: This series started in 1933. It's been a long time since both teams were this strong in the same season. The Tigers won 14-8 last season. Before that, the Panthers won four in a row.

Woodrow Wilson, 20-19.

Haddonfield (7-3) at Haddon Heights (2-7), 11: This is South Jersey's second-oldest rivalry, starting in 1902. The teams played some famous tie games, including 0-0 in 1944 (when Haddon Heights didn't allow a point all season) and 26-26 in 1970 (when both teams were Top 5 in South Jersey). Haddonfield has won four in a row in the series.

Haddonfield, 28-14.

Cinnaminson (7-3) at Delran (3-6), 11: This series started in 1991. Cinnaminson has a chance to create a three-way tie for the WJFL Liberty with Willingboro and Holy Cross. The visiting Pirates have won six in a row in this series. Delran's last win was 18-15 in 2010.

Cinnaminson, 26-14.

West Deptford (9-1) at Paulsboro (9-1), 11: Purely on combined records, the last game of the weekend is the best game of the weekend. This series began in 1981. The visiting Eagles have won 6 of 7 in the series. This game is tricky as both teams are playing in sectional finals the next weekend — Paulsboro in the S.J. 1 final on Dec. 2 and West Deptford in the S.J. 2 final on Dec. 3. And since this is a Saturday game, there's less time for a player who sustains an injury to recover before championship weekend.

Check out this number: 543. That's the combined career wins for coaches Glenn Howard (283) of Paulsboro and Clyde Folsom (260) of West Deptford heading into this game.

West Deptford, 24-21.

Here's a list of the hardware on the line with various Thanksgiving weekend games:

Woodrow Wilson v. Camden: Whip Wilson Trophy.

Cherry Hill East v. Cherry Hill West: Al DiBart Memorial Trophy, a.ka. "The Boot."

Haddonfield v. Haddon Heights: Mayor's Cup.

Audubon v. Haddon Township: Curley Cup.

Lower Cape May v. Middle Township: Anchor Bowl.

Pennsville v. Penns Grove: Norm "Wild Man" Willey Boot.

Washington Township v. Williamstown: Kennedy Cup.

Oakcrest v. Absegami: Joe Mohr Trophy.

Gloucester v. Gloucester Catholic: Memorial AA plaque.

West Deptford v. Paulsboro: Mayor's Cup.

Holy Spirit v. Atlantic City: Boyd-Marczyk Trophy.

Salem v. Woodstown: Thanksgiving Classic Trophy.

Millville v. Vineland: Daily Journal Victory Cup.

Woodbury v. Gateway: Woodbury-Gateway Thanksgiving Day plaque.

Lindenwold v. Overbrook: Lindenwold-Overbrook Thanksgiving Day Game Trophy.

Mainland v. Egg Harbor Township: Kiwanis Club Trophy.

Clearview v. Kingsway: Clearview-Kingsway Thanksgiving Day Game Trophy.

Ocean City v. Pleasantville: Mike Slaveski-Bob Thomas Trophy.

Pemberton v. Northern Burlington: Commander's Cup.

Timber Creek v. Winslow Township: Cross Key Bowl.