Questions and answers as the football playoffs loom
Here are six questions and answers to kick around as the South Jersey football postseason approaches:
Question: Who is the most dangerous low seed?
Answer: That would probably be Winslow Township, seeded last in the eight-team SJ Group 3 field. The Eagles face top seeded Hammonton in the first round and this is not to suggest an upset is in the making. It's just to say that Hammonton will have plenty of sleepless nights thinking of ways to stop Winslow Township junior QB Bill Belton. He has become one of the most feared players in South Jersey for his ability to hurt teams with his arm or his legs. That said, Winslow Township has been inconsistent on defense, and it's hard to see the Eagles stopping Hammonton's potent ground game. Still, the prospect of facing Belton and the Eagles in the first round, doesn't seem like much of a break for a No. 1 seed.
Question: Will the top seeds prevail in the SJ Public school playoffs?
Answer: It very well could happen. The top seeds are Cherokee in Group 4, Hammonton (Group 3), Delsea (Group 2) and Glassboro (Group 1). A case can be made for all to win championships. In fact all four should be favored. That said, there are always upsets in the playoffs and it could happen this season. Last season three of the four top seeds did win – Delsea in Group 2, Shawnee (Group 3) and Mainland (Group 4). The one exception was in Group 1 where No. 3 seeded Glassboro won. Palmyra was the top seed but was upset, 33-9, in the first round by Haddon Heights. So being the top seed doesn't guarantee success.
Question: What is a good first-round game?
Answer: How about No. 5 Seneca at No. 4 Burlington Township, which will be played 1 p.m. on Saturday. Burlington Township quietly had one of the most impressive wins of the weekend, beating Timber Creek, 38-30. But that win didn't count toward the Falcons' playoff total since it was their ninth game of the season, and only the first eight go toward the playoffs. Still, Burlington Township has been among the most under-the-radar teams around. The Falcons are 7-2, lost just 20-14 to Paul VI and had their only bad outing the next game falling, 40-0, to Pemberton. Coach Tom Maderia is among the best in South Jersey, and he'll have the Falcons ready. Burlington Township, however, will have its hands full stopping Seneca, a team that has won four in a row, including a victory over Group 4 playoff qualifier Shawnee. Seneca has one of the better running attacks in South Jersey, led by junior Steve Greco.
Question: What team is the biggest favorite and what is the toughest Group?
Answer: Don Bosco Prep is the biggest favorite in Non-Public Group 4 and that also happens to be the toughest Group. Bosco's closest game was a 28-20 win over another Non-Pub Group 4 qualifier Bergen Catholic. How tough is Non-Pub Group 4? The top four seeds – Don Bosco, Notre Dame, Paul VI and St. Augustine - are all unbeaten. And even though St. Augustine and Paul will be hosting first-round games, they will have their work cut out against Seton Hall Prep and St. Peter's respectively.
Question: What is a good story line?
Answer: Will Delsea and West Deptford meet again for the SJ Group 2 title? Last year, Delsea won a classic, 17-14. This year, both teams are unbeaten, but Delsea may be even more of a favorite. Unlike last year, when Delsea entered the finals with three losses, this time the Crusaders are playing for the No. 1 spot in South Jersey. And if Delsea gets to the final, the Crusaders will have to face Williamstown the week before in a game that will settle the Tri-County Royal Division title. Rarely has an 8-0 team such as West Deptford been such an underdog in handicapping Group 2. Still, West Deptford shouldn't be discounted. It will all come down to whether either West Deptford or Delsea can stop the other team's running game. At this point, even though Haddonfield has lost just to West Deptford and Cinnaminson is coming on strong, it would be a major surprise if anybody but West Deptford and Delsea meet in a championship rematch.
Question: What team has the most pressure entering the playoffs?
Answer: We've give our vote to Williamstown. The Braves are 8-0, ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer and in the minds of many, still untested. Williamstown has walked through its Trico Royal schedule, although there won't be a bigger challenge than facing Delsea on Thanksgiving. In addition, Williamstown has come close in its previous two SJ Group 4 games. Last year, the Braves lost to Washington Township, 28-24. The year before, the Braves lost in the first round to Eastern, 24-20. In those two games, Williamstown obviously showed it could be competitive against Group 4 competition (that was provided by the Burlco/Olympic American Division). Either way, another first-round loss, and Williamstown forfeits its chance at No. 1 regardless of how if fares against Delsea. So there will be a lot of pressure on the Braves, who host Toms River North in the first round. Then again, there will be a lot of pressure on TR North and the rest of the Group 4 field to stop a Williamstown running game led by Marcus Hampton, a true difference maker and one of the top players in South Jersey.
Contact staff writer Marc Narducci at 856-779-3225 or mnarducci@phillynews.com.







