Phil's Picks

This might be the best weekend of the season so far, with some teams scrambling for playoff position and others scrambling for their playoff lives.

The envelope, please:

No. 5 Holy Spirit (3-2) at No. 6 Hammonton (5-0). The young Blue Devils have been solid all season. But the Spartans are the key to this game.

Were they wounded for good in that loss to St. Joseph? Or can they recover their passion and purpose?

Hammonton has an emerging offensive line and depth at running back led by Jordan Brown. Holy Spirit running backs Donta Pollock and Nigel Jones are on a state-record-setting pace as far as career yardage. Pick: Holy Spirit, 21-17.

Cherokee (3-2) at No. 7 Shawnee (4-1). The two-time defending South Jersey Group 4-champion Chiefs would be in danger of missing the tournament if they lose this game. Cherokee has received good work from junior running back Zaire Williams, who has 12 touchdowns. Shawnee QB Jamie Jackopin is coming off his best game of the season. Pick: Shawnee, 14-7.

Triton (4-1) at Bishop Eustace (3-2). The Mustangs offense faces a big challenge in Eustace's rock-solid defense. Triton quarterback Brian Keller led a last-minute, game-winning drive against Delsea in his last outing. Pick: Triton, 17-7.

Woodrow Wilson (4-1) at Delsea (2-3). These teams split two games last season. Both are coming off tough losses. Woodrow Wilson might have gained some confidence through its second-half play against No. 3 Timber Creek. Pick: Woodrow Wilson, 20-14.

Lenape (1-4) at Seneca (3-3). Both teams are coming off victories. Both love to run. Lenape's Trevor Terrell is averaging eight yards a carry. Seneca running back Joey Pawlowski leads the Golden Eagles' Wing-T attack. This game could be over in 90 minutes. Pick: Lenape, 23-17.

Camden (1-4) at Cherry Hill West (0-5). This is a big chance for two struggling teams. Camden's young squad is led by freshman quarterback Khalil Williams. Cherry Hill West has a top young quarterback in sophomore Rodney Williams. Pick: Cherry Hill West, 19-13.

Collingswood (2-3) at Woodbury (2-3), 10:30 a.m. The Panthers rallied for a win over Haddon Township last week. The Thundering Herd gave West Deptford all it could handle.

Woodbury sophomore Jeray Demby is a playmaker. Pick: Woodbury, 22-13.

No. 8 Haddonfield (5-0) at Paulsboro (5-0), 11 a.m. The Red Raiders are tough at home and have a weapon in kicker Mike Maccarone. Haddonfield is every bit a Group 2 power. That's tough duty for a Group 1 team. Pick: Haddonfield, 28-13.

Red Lion Christian, Del. (2-4) at Penns Grove (4-1), noon. Red Lion is led by freshman quarterback David Sills, who committed to USC as a seventh grader. The team plays a national-caliber schedule.

Penns Grove rightly sees this game as a better way to prepare for the playoffs than beating a struggling Group 1 program by 60. Pick: Red Lion, 31-20.

Paul VI (2-3) at Winslow Township (1-5), 2 p.m. The visiting Eagles will be without senior running back Johnel Anderson, who has a sprained foot. Pick: Paul VI, 19-13.

Last week's record: 8-2. Year to date: 47-13.