Two South Jersey coaches face alma maters this week
Mark Reardon roots for Holy Spirit. Just not this week. Rob Hinson roots for Camden. Just not this week. The coaches of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in The Inquirer Top 25 are looking at big challenges from quality opponents on Friday night.
Mark Reardon roots for Holy Spirit.
Just not this week.
Rob Hinson roots for Camden.
Just not this week.
The coaches of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in The Inquirer Top 25 are looking at big challenges from quality opponents on Friday night.
They also are coaching against their alma maters.
Reardon will lead No. 1 St. Augustine into Absecon to face No. 8 Holy Spirit in a battle of unbeaten teams and old rivals from the Cape-Atlantic League.
Reardon graduated from Holy Spirit in 1989. He played a starring role as a senior on the undefeated Spartans team that won the 1988 South Jersey Parochial A title with a 25-0 victory over Notre Dame.
Friday night's game will be played at Ed Byrnes Styadium, named after Reardon's late, great coach.
"He made it special," Reardon said of playing for Byrnes.
Reardon said he was happy to see Holy Spirit push back into South Jersey prominence under second-year coach A.J. Russo.
"I'm a huge advocate of programs that work at it, that put the time in, being successful," Reardon said. "That's what those guys [at Holy Spirit] do."
Reardon's top assistant, Chalie Roman, is a 1987 Holy Spirit graduate. Roman was Holy Spirit's head coach from 2008-11, leading the Spartans to a pair of Non-Public state titles.
"When I saw the schedule this year, saw Spirit and St. Joe's, I was excited by that," Reardon said. "It's good for us to play those teams. It helps us to play against this kind of team in what should be a great environment."
Hinson will lead No. 2 Timber Creek against visiting No. 12 Camden in a clash of teams known for high-powered spread offenses.
Hinson is a 1989 Camden graduate. He has coached against Camden twice in his career, leading Timber Creek to victories in 2008 and 2009.
"I'm not really looking at them as Camden or as my alma mater," Hinson said. "I'm looking at them purely as a very good opponent that will test the heck out of us. Hopefully, we do enough to slow them down and win."
Pick Six
1
No. 1 St. Augustine (5-0) at No. 8 Holy Spirit (5-0), Friday, 7 p.m. The Prep has been averaging 46.2 points with an explosive offense led by junior quarterback Josh Zamot and junior running back Kyle Dobbins, who recently picked up a Rutgers offer. Holy Spirit's defense has been stout and the Spartans' ground game has hit another gear in recent weeks behind senior running back Reggie Jean-Charles, who leads South Jersey with 860 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Pick: St. Augustine, 28-14.
2
No. 11 Camden (2-2) at No. 2 Timber Creek (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m. The visiting Panthers are unbeaten in regulation. Their two losses were in overtime to undefeated teams. Camden senior quarterback Drew Harris and junior running back Najyere Edwards have been playmakers for the Panthers. Timber Creek has been led by the combination of junior quarterback Devin Leary (17 touchdown passes) and senior wide receiver Ezrah Archie (nine touchdown catches) along with a sturdy offensive line and solid defense.
Pick: Timber Creek, 34-20.
3
No. 15 Cinnaminson (5-0) at Collingswood (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m. This is one of the new crossover games in the WJFL, matching a traditional Colonial Conference team with a Burlington County team. "We like it," Collingswood coach Jack McConnell said. "It's new. It's fresh." Collingswood has rallied from a tough loss to Haddonfield on opening night with three straight victories, the last two by shutout. Cinnaminson has won every game by at least 22 points. This game offers an interesting matchup of senior all-purpose quarterbacks in Collingswood's Javon Allie and Cinnaminson's Shaun Davilla.
Pick: Cinnaminson, 20-13.
4
Vineland (4-0) at No. 23 Clearview (3-1), Friday, 7 p.m. The Clan is coming off a bye and has been one of the surprise teams of the first half of the regular season. Junior quarterback Isaih Pacheco has run for four touchdowns and passed for three for Vineland. Clearview has scored 36, 49 and 41 points in its three victories with slick senior quarterback Jarret Baker orchestrating the Pioneers' triple-option offense.
Pick: Clearview, 31-27.
5
Deptford (3-1) at Schalick (4-0), Friday, 7 p.m. The host Cougars have won seven in a row since starting last season with an 0-7 record. Senior quarterback Jared Fox is a player to watch for Schalick. Deptford has a top quarterback in senior Riley Giles and a top junior running back in Darius Dowd, who has eight touchdowns.
Pick: Deptford, 27-21.
6
No. 21 Woodrow Wilson (3-1) at Willingboro (3-2), Friday, 7 p.m. Both teams have won three in a row after slow starts. Senior all-purpose Edwin Lopez, a Rutgers recruit, is a player to watch for the visiting Tigers. Willingboro is riding high coming off a 37-0 win over Holy Cross. Junior wide receiver David Green caught two TD passes in that game.
Pick: Woodrow Wilson, 20-13.
Last week: 6-1. Year to date: 30-5.
@PhilAnastasia