Football: 12 games to watch this weekend in South Jersey

Week 8 in South Jersey football is loaded with big games.

It's getting late. One week before the playoff cutoff, teams are jostling for position in their respective tournaments and looking to build momentum heading into November — and, for a few, December, too.

Here's a closer look at 12 WJFL games to watch this weekend:

(All games at 7 except RV at Camden and GC at Pleasantville, both at 6.)

No. 6 Rancocas Valley (7-0) at No. 19 Camden (5-1): Lots of power points on the line in this one in Farnham Park. The game has added significance for Camden coach Dwayne Savage, since he's an RV graduate. He played there under former RV head coach Bruce Lazaruk, now a Camden assistant. Camden has won four in a row behind a sturdy defense, led by senior end Eli Sloan-El, who had four sacks in Saturday's 40-7 win over Pennsauken. And there's no overstating the power points on the line for the Panthers, since RV is a seven-win, Group 5 team. Camden would rocket up the SJ 2 standings with a win. RV has rolled all season behind senior RB/DB Iverson Clement and senior OL/LB Kyle Sapp. This is Game 8 for the Red Devils, so a win could put them in prime position to earn the No. 1 seed in SJ 5.

Gloucester Catholic (5-1) at Pleasantville (5-1): When these teams met last year in Gloucester, the story was that both programs were rebuilding from the basement up with help from some schedule relief from the WJFL. Who could have imagined they both would be 5-1 and battling for playoff berths a year later? GC will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Woodstown on Friday night. The Rams have a sophomore RB to watch in Dashaun Harris. Pleasantville's lone loss was by 36-24 to No. 9 Holy Spirit in a game in which the Greyhounds held the lead in the fourth quarter. The hosts can pick up some significant power points with a win, moving closer to a SJ 2 playoff berth. Junior Mohamed Toure leads Pleasantville with 462 rushing yards and also has made 53 tackles.

No. 7 Lenape (5-1) at No. 8 Cherokee (5-1): Buckle the chin straps for this one. These school-district rivals are Nos. 7 and 8 in the rankings and Nos. 5 and 6 in the South Jersey Group 5 standings. Needless to say, both of those are likely to be shaken up by the result of this game. Lenape's lone loss was by 10-7 to No. 6 RV. Senior RB JoJo Kellum has been hot for the Indians, with eight TDs in the last two games. Cherokee's lone loss was by 35-28 to No. 1 Timber Creek. Senior QB Jack Walters has led the way for the Chiefs.

No. 14 Woodrow Wilson (5-1) at No. 10 Delsea (4-3): This game will go a long way toward determining the brackets for the SJ Group 3 tournament. WW is sitting in the No. 2 seed right now and likely would lock that up with a pair of wins before the cutoff. The Tigers' lone loss was to No. 18 Willingboro in a game in which junior QB Nick Kargman did not play because of a shoulder injury. Kargman has thrown 14 TD passes in the three full games in which he has played. Delsea is 5-2 on the field since the Crusaders forfeited a Week 2 win over Cedar Creek. Junior RB Aidan Borguet has 14 TDs for Delsea, which has scored 131 points in the last three games.

No. 1 Timber Creek (6-0) at No. 13 Williamstown (4-2): The visiting Chargers have won 22 in a row. Their last loss was on Nov. 6, 2015, to Hammonton. TC senior QB Devin Leary is putting the final touches on the most accomplished passing career in state history. Leary has 8,495 career passing yards and 94 career passing TDs. He needs 238 and 3 to break the state records of 8,732 yards and 96 TDs, both set in 1997 by Butler's Scott Brown, according to state sports historian Chuck Langerman. Leary also needs 314 yards to become the first QB in SJ history with three 2,000 seasons, according to Langerman. Williamstown will not be in the mood to serve as background players to Leary's record-setting night. The Braves have won two in a row, are angling for a SJ 5 playoff berth, and are coming off an impressive 27-22 victory at Shawnee. Junior QB J.C. Collins ran for two TDs and passed for another in that game.

No. 3 Camden Catholic (6-0) at No. 9 Holy Spirit (6-1): Set the over/under on this one at 75. Both teams have explosive offenses, and both are battling for the highest possible seed in their respective state tournaments. CC has won 28 in a row against South Jersey teams. The Irish's last loss to a local team was more than three years ago: on Oct. 10, 2014, to Camden in Farnham Park. CC needs a power-points boost to try to avoid the No. 6 seed in NP 3, since that could mean a trip to St. Joseph of Montvale. Senior RB/LB Marcus Hillman has put together a POY-style season for CC. Holy Spirit senior QB Josh Zamot has played at that level as well. Just ask Delsea. Or St. Augustine. The Spartans are jostling for a high seed in NP 2. They would collect a boatload of power points with a win over the Irish.

Gateway (5-1) at Burlington City (6-0): How about the Gators? Once a soft spot on a lot of schedules, Gateway has developed into a small-school program to watch under coach Josh Mason. Gateway's lone loss was by 21-14 to No. 22 Paulsboro, and the Gators could see the Red Raiders again in the SJ 1 tournament. Senior RB Evan Wilkinson is a top player for the balanced Gators, who would get a major power-points boost with a victory over the undefeated Blue Devils. Burlington City is fighting for the top seed in CJ 1. Senior RB Jimmy Browne has 19 TDs for the Blue Devils, who are averaging 41 points.

No. 11 West Deptford (6-0) at Cinnaminson (4-2): The host Pirates might need to spring the upset to make what looks to be a loaded SJ 2 field. Cinnaminson has won three in a row (outscoring opponents by a combined 104-0) after a 1-2 start and is coming off a bye. Sophomore QB Shawn Ruffin is a player to watch for the Pirates. WD is riding high after a 17-14 OT win over archrival Haddonfield on Friday night. The Eagles have won 18 in a row and 29 of their last 30. WD has a junior TE/DE to watch in 6-foot-7 Jason Collier. WD's offensive line was on point Friday night. Senior QB Pete Orio said the work of the guys up front "was the real key" to their victory.

No. 22 Paulsboro (5-1) at Florence (3-3): Both coaches will tell you these games are all about the players on the field, not the older guys walking the sidelines. But think about this: Florence coach Joe Frappolli earned his 300th career victory last week. He's No. 2 on SJ's all-time list, with a record of 300-139-5. Paulsboro coach Glenn Howard is No. 3 on the list, with a record of 279-61. So the two men on the sidelines in this game have coached in 784 games and combined for 579 wins. That's wild.

Woodbury (5-1) at No. 23 Penns Grove (5-1), noon: This game is loaded with SJ 1 playoff implications. Right now, the Thundering Herd are No. 2 in the standings, and the Red Devils are No. 3, both behind Paulsboro. Woodbury has a top junior all-purpose player in Marcus McGruder and a sophomore QB to watch in Andre Parker. The Thundering Herd have been sturdy up front as well. PG is averaging 51.1 points behind sophomore QB Kavon Lewis and junior all-purpose Tyreke Brown. This should be a great game and could set the stage for a rematch in a few weeks in the SJ playoffs.

No. 12 St. Augustine (4-3) at No. 4 St. Joseph (7-0), noon: This is another "Holy War" between former Cape-Atlantic League rivals. The visiting Hermits have won two in a row against the Wildcats, prevailing by 42-0 last season and seeming to tilt the balance of power in the rivalry. Before that, St. Joe had won five in a row and 17 of 19. SA has a top senior all-purpose playmaker in Shamere Collins. SJ has been on a mission, and settling scores from last season has been at the top of the Wildcats' list. They turned the tables on Holy Spirit and Cedar Creek, both of which beat SJ in OT last season. Now they meet the Hermits, who handed them one of the most lopsided losses in recent history last season. The Wildcats are also angling for the No. 1 seed in NP 2, although Hudson Catholic has a big power-points opportunity vs. 6-1 Ramapo, as does Holy Spirit vs. 6-0 Camden Catholic. Senior RB Qwahsin Townsel (18) and sophomore RB Jada Byers (17) have combined for 35 TDs for SJ.

No. 16 Haddonfield (5-1) at No. 24 Cedar Creek (5-2), 1 p.m.: This game will go a long way toward shaking out the SJ 2 playoff field. The visiting Bulldawgs are coming off a tough 17-14 OT loss to West Deptford on Friday night. Junior QB Jay Foley ran for two TDs for Haddonfield and was masterful in directing a two-minute drive at the end of regulation that would have been the story of the night but for a missed FG at the horn. CC is looking to bounce back as well, as the Pirates suffered a tough loss to St. Joe on Saturday. CC beat Haddonfield, 17-14, last season. This one could be close as well, and could be a preview of a potential rematch in the SJ 2 tournament.