ONE OF THE biggest games on slate this week is Holy Cross at Camden Catholic, a battle of 3-0 teams, tonight at 7.

Unfortunately, injuries could play a big part in this one before the game even starts.

Holy Cross running back Dan Dash has been hampered by an ankle injury that occurred early in the preseason. Though he has been cleared to play, he's still not totally there, according to coach Tim McAneney.

"This is something that he did on Sept. 5, and unfortunately, he's just not 100 percent yet," said McAneney, whose team has allowed just 26 points. "He's basically into the second week of football camp, timewise. It's just been an up-and-down thing. He's still an above-average running back, but he's just missing that burst, that fifth gear that he usually has."

Dash ran for nearly 1,100 yards last season and 12 touchdowns. In his absence, Aaron Fant and Kevin Raymond have picked up most of the carries.

Camden Catholic might be getting a key player back in defensive back/running back Korey Alston, who had knee surgery last month.

"He's literally a game-time decision," Irish coach Rick Brown said. "He jogged a little bit on Wednesday, and he was going to practice some [yesterday]. If he comes to school and there's no swelling throughout the day [today], then he's good to go. If the knee swells up again, then he won't."

Either way, it figures to be a terrific game.

"We'll have to stop their running game with Fant and Dash and Raymond," Brown said. "We have to make sure neither one of those guys has a great game against us."

Brotherly love

When Paul VI sophomore receiver Chris Hutton left Friday's game against Triton after a vicious hit, no one felt worse than senior quarterback Glen Hutton, Chris' brother.

Chris Hutton got drilled while trying to make a catch over the middle late in the Eagles' 18-12 win. The elder Hutton felt he'd hung his brother out to dry with the pass. But nothing could be further from the truth. Triton linebacker Danny McWilliams just timed the play perfectly.

Paul VI trainers said Chris Hutton suffered a dislocated pinkie and slight concussion. He has been cleared to play tomorrow at Burlington Township.

Incredible record

With his team's 37-20 win over Lindenwold on Friday, Paulsboro's Glenn Howard improved his career record at the school to 200-35. To put that into perspective, let's look at some of the other coaching numbers of some South Jersey greats.

Florence coach Joe Frappolli is 238-102-5, the winningest coach in South Jersey history. Paul Sacco, of St. Joseph, has the second most wins among active coaches, with a record of 226-46-5. Howard is third among active coaches.

Howard, only 48 in his 22nd season at Paulsboro, is sixth on the all-time South Jersey list in wins, trailing Delsea's John Oberg (230), Collingswood's Skeets Irvine (223) and Tom Brown (216), who coached at Paulsboro and Washington Township, along with Frappolli and Sacco.

Certainly great company Howard is keeping these days.

Cherry Hill East at home

Cherry Hill East will play host to Winslow Township tomorrow at noon at the school, the first game to be played there. Players from the Cougars' 1988 state championship team will be on hand for the celebration.

Games of the week

* Cherokee (2-1) at Pennsauken

(3-1), noon, tomorrow: Pennsauken will be looking to rebound after first loss to Washington Township. Cherokee isn't a good team to rebound against.

* Shawnee (3-0) at Triton (3-1), 7, tonight: Shawnee can drill you from all angles, while Triton will have to bounce back after tough loss to Paul VI.

* Holy Spirit (4-0) at Mainland

(3-0), 7, tonight. These two have outscored opponents by a combined 305-28. *

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