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Non-public coaches advocate return to South Jersey championships

Camden Catholic vs. St. Augustine Prep in the South A championship game in football at Rowan University? St. Joseph vs. Holy Cross in the South B title game at the same site, on the same night?

Camden Catholic vs. St. Augustine Prep in the South A championship game in football at Rowan University?

St. Joseph vs. Holy Cross in the South B title game at the same site, on the same night?

Several coaches of South Jersey non-public football teams believe those games could be a reality under their proposal to change the current playoff system.

With so much uncertainty about the future for non-public schools in the sport, the coaches are advocating a return to South Jersey championships, with a focus on strengthening rivalries, limiting travel and building fan interest.

"This system will benefit the South Jersey non-public schools by building more excitement, more competition, less travel, more fans for playoff games," the proposal reads.

The coaches, who asked not be identified because of the uncertainty surrounding their programs, said the changes will result in "more hype for South Jersey non-publics and level the playing field for public and non-public schools."

Their proposal comes at a time when non-public schools are unclear of their futures starting in 2016 with regard to conference affiliation and schedules and traditional rivalries with some public schools.

The NJSIAA's advisory and executive committees has approved a proposal made by the organization's public/non-public committee to create a state-wide, non-public football conference, starting in 2016.

The proposal is scheduled to be placed on the ballot for vote by the general membership at the NJSIAA's annual meeting in December.

If approved by a majority vote, the change would take effect for the 2016 season, dramatically changing the landscape of the sport in the state.

At a special meeting of non-public schools at NJSIAA headquarters on May 12, two proposals that outlined possible division alignments and schedules were presented, one by Delbarton School and the other by St. Peter's Prep.

"We feel like the cards are being dealt and we aren't getting a seat at the table," said one South Jersey non-public coach, who asked not to be identified.

The South Jersey coaches' proposal includes 18 non-public schools in South and Central Jersey. The remaining 19 non-public schools that play football in the northern part of the state are not included.

The proposal breaks the 18 schools into two groups of nine each in South Jersey Non-Public A and South Jersey Non-Public B.

The proposal also breaks the 18 schools into three divisions for regular-season play.

The proposal says that divisions could operate under the new state-wide, non-public conference or could operate within a larger league such as the West Jersey Football League if the non-public conference is not approved by the general membership in December.

Under the proposal, a similar set-up in North Jersey could feature competition for North A and North B championships - and state title games between the North and South champions in each section.

The NJSIAA held sectional championships in non-public football - in what was known then as South Jersey Parochial A and B - from 1975-1992.

In 1993, the NJSIAA instituted state-wide competition for the non-public tournaments, eliminating sectional play.

That brought to an end South Jersey titles games that used to feature such rivalries as Holy Cross vs. Holy Spirit and St. Joseph vs. Bishop Eustace.

"Imagine the crowds at Rowan for a Group A final of Paul VI vs. St Augustine or a B final of Immaculata vs St. Joe's Hammonton," the proposal reads.

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

www.philly.com/

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