Phil's Pigskin Picks: Cross-over games begin
The West Jersey Football League's historic expansion to include every team in South Jersey didn't make for much change in terms of division alignments.
The West Jersey Football League's historic expansion to include every team in South Jersey didn't make for much change in terms of division alignments.
Three divisions contain strictly teams from the Cape-Atlantic League. Two divisions contain strictly teams from the Colonial Conference.
There was some movement among existing WJFL teams to different divisions - Kingsway and Hammonton to the American; Eastern, Paul VI, and Cherry Hill East to the National; Camden and Camden Catholic to the Constitution, among other changes - but nothing too dramatic.
The expanded superconference's biggest impact on the landscape of South Jersey football, at least in the first two-year schedule cycle, comes in crossover games.
They start this weekend.
So there's Washington Township at Atlantic City. And Bridgeton at Clearview. And Cedar Creek at Delsea.
There's Cinnaminson at Sterling. And Lenape at Egg Harbor Township. And Millville at Kingsway.
Almost without exception, these are new games. These are fresh events for the players, the coaches, the fans, the schools.
Will they all be good games? No. But many of them could represent the start of new rivalries, the infusion of fresh blood into a lot of teams' schedules.
Pick Six
No. 13 Haddonfield (1-0) at Holy Cross (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
This is Haddonfield's first game against a non-public opponent since a 41-8 win over St. Joseph of Camden in 1973.
Haddonfield is coming off an impressive win over rival Collingswood in the season opener. Holy Cross also broke from the gate by handling Bordentown.
Both teams have tall, strong-armed quarterbacks to watch in Haddonfield senior Brendan Gilmartin and Holy Cross junior Jeff Undercuffler.
Pick: Haddonfield, 24-14.
No. 14 Burlington Twp. (1-0) at Paul VI (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. Both teams lit up the scoreboard in their opener.
Burlington Township got three touchdown passes from senior quarterback Bryan Pettway in a big win over Notre Dame, while Paul VI marked the debut of coach Phil Brunozzi with an imposing victory over Cherry Hill East.
Paul VI's defense, led by back Erick Robertson, faces a challenge in a wide-open Burlington Township attack featuring Rutgers recruit Everett Wormley.
Pick: Burlington Township, 20-13.
No. 2 Timber Creek (1-0) at No. 9 Cherokee (0-1), Friday, 7 p.m. The Chargers are riding high after putting 54 on the board in the opener against then-No. 5 Delsea. Senior running back Harold Coleman is an underrated threat on the ground.
Cherokee will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Shawnee in the opener. The Chiefs likely will look to ride Rutgers-bound running back Jon Lovett to control the clock and keep the Chargers' offense on the sideline.
Pick: Timber Creek, 27-24.
No. 1 St. Augustine (2-0) at No. 11 Williamstown (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. St. Augustine junior running back Kyle Dobbins, one of South Jersey's top players, is a Monroe Township resident who almost went to Williamstown.
Braves coach Frank Fucetola started his career at St. Augustine.
The visiting Hermits have put 40 on the board in each of their first two games behind Dobbins and junior quarterback Josh Zamot.
Pick: St. Augustine, 30-20.
Deptford (1-0) at Gateway (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. These schools are a long pass away from each other but haven't played in years, with Gateway in the closed-scheduled Colonial Conference.
These athletes know each other, and some of them even played together in youth football.
Deptford senior quarterback Riley Giles is a player to watch.
Pick: Deptford, 27-20.
No. 18 Rancocas Valley (1-0) at No. 8 Hammonton (1-0), Friday, 7 p.m. The visiting Red Devils opened with a big win over Hopewell Valley as Rob Hawkins scored three touchdowns and Iverson Clement scored two.
The Blue Devils beat Washington Township but have to be concerned about the status of senior dual-threat quarterback Malachi Winters, who is nursing an injured shoulder.
Pick: Hammonton, 14-13.
Last week: 6-1. Year to date: 6-1.
@PhilAnastasia
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