Holy Cross at Camden Catholic, tonight at 7

McAneney is right. His team is the underdog despite having won the last three meetings by a combined 74-14 score.

Camden Catholic is ranked No. 3 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, while Holy Cross is unranked. The winner of this game assumes control as the heavy favorite to win the Burlco/Olympic National Division.

Records. Holy Cross is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the National Division. The Lancers opened with a 21-14, overtime win over Bishop Eustace and also beat Willingboro, 27-6, and Camden, 14-6.

Camden Catholic is 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the division. The Irish have beaten Camden, 19-2; Delran, 42-14; and Pemberton, 27-7.

Last meeting. Holy Cross won, 21-0, last year.

Coaches. McAneney is in his first season at Holy Cross after serving as defensive coordinator for last year's Non-Public Group 2 state title team. Formerly the head coach at Bishop Eustace for nine seasons, McAneney is 47-48 overall.

Rick Brown is in his fourth season at Camden Catholic with a record of 22-12.

Key injuries. McAneney says that everybody should be ready to go for Holy Cross.

Camden Catholic running back-defensive back Korey Alston, one of the best players in South Jersey, has yet to see action. Alson had arthroscopic knee surgery during the preseason. Brown said Alston would be a game-time decision.

Personnel. Holy Cross senior Dan Dash is among the top running backs in South Jersey, but he missed the first two games with a high-ankle sprain and returned to gain 73 yards on 20 carries in last week's win over Camden. Quarterback Austin Stein has thrown three touchdown passes. Wide receiver Elijah Phillips has caught eight passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Two-way senior tackles Dwayne Glass (6-1, 265) and Michael Howley (6-0, 255) are leaders of both lines, while senior linebackers Aaron Fant and Joe Wojceichowski are true ball hawks.

Camden Catholic has one of South Jersey's most dangerous receivers in Temple recruit Jerry Watters, who has 15 receptions for 294 yards and five touchdowns.

Junior Joe Brennan has completed 45 of 74 passes for 638 yards and eight touchdowns. Senior running back Jahseer Bronson has rushed for 352 yards and four touchdowns on 44 carries. Brown said that senior middle linebacker Ed Tretina is averaging 14 tackles per game. Junior outside linebacker Zach Sheard has eight sacks.

Key to the game. It would have to be turnovers. Holy Cross can't give Camden Catholic extra opportunities. And even though Phillips is a major threat and Stein has done a good job running the team, the Lancers will have to run the ball effectively to have a chance of upsetting the Irish.

Final thoughts. One gets the feeling that McAneney is relishing his role as underdog.

"We're both 3-0 and this is exciting," he said. "It's Friday night football and it should be fun."

Brown, on the other hand, wants to hear nothing about being thrust in the favorite's role.

"Who won the last three games?" he asked rhetorically.

There is only one regular-season game in which the Irish will likely be an underdog - Oct. 24 against No. 1 Shawnee.

Holy Cross' defense will keep the Lancers in the game, but the Irish appear to have too much depth.

Pick: Camden Catholic 24, Holy Cross 18.

or mnarducci@phillynews.com.