Division races preview: The early favorites in the WJFL divisions

The West Jersey Football League will realign again next season, just like the South Jersey super-conference does every two years. So this is the last season of the current format, with some squads likely to move into stronger divisions and others likely to move down to less challenging situations.

Here's a quick early (very early, actually) look at the WJFL division races for 2017:

Last year: Cedar Creek 5-0, St. Joe 4-1, Absegami 3-2, Oakcrest 2-3, Ocean City 1-4 and Mainland 0-5.

St. Joe rates a slight edge on defending champion Cedar Creek on preseason paper. SJ will be led by senior OLB/DE Sencere Tapp as well as senior FB Qwahsin Townsel, who ran for 15 TDs last season. The Wildcats have a top junior lineman in Brad Lomax and reinforcements in a strong sophomore class.

Cedar Creek lost several top players but still will be dangerous, with senior all-purpose Nazir Chapman leading the way and sophomore Malachi Melton projecting as one of SJ's top athetes in the Class of 2020. Absegami will rebuild a bit but has a veteran QB in senior Andrew Marcucci, who threw for 1,056 yards last season. Ocean City has a top two-way player in the versatile Isaac Robertson, who scored 10 TDs and lifted three INTs last season. Oakcrest looms as a dark horse, while Mainland has a top lineman in senior Zack Donovan.

Last year: Cinnaminson 5-0, Willingboro, Holy Cross 3-2,  Bordentown 1-4 and Delran 1-4.

Holy Cross has a deep and talented senior class. The Lancers have been building toward this season, with several seniors seeing major playing time as sophomores and juniors. Senior QB Jeff Undercuffler is an Albany recruit who threw for 1,469 yards and 10 TDs last season. He has top targets in seniors Miles Cook and Jordan Baxter, and a third weapon at RB in Tim Petrucelli.

Watch Willingboro both in this race and SJ 2. The Chimeras return a veteran QB in Trae Greene, who threw for 1,542 yards and 16 TDs. Senior LB Albert Nah had 22 TFL. Cinnaminson has a junior to watch in RB Rashad Raymond and a top lineman in senior Kai Leibfried. Delran has a couple of sophomores to watch in QB Dustin Dresher and RB RJ Moton, the son of a former Eagles LB.

Last year: Pennsville 4-1, Salem 3-2, Woodstown 3-2, Penns Grove 2-3, Deptford 2-3, Glassboro 1-4.

Woodstown rates the favorite's tag by the slightest of margins thanks to senior QB Cody Wolf, who ran for 9 TDs last season, and top C/LB Kennard Hildreth.

Pennsville has new coach in Mike Healy and a top RB in Nick Bard. Salem lost Jon Taylor, the state record holder in single-season rushing yards but the Rams have a top back in senior Zaire Jones, who generated 13 TDs. Penns Grove has one of the top players in the Class of 2019 in all-purpose junior Tyreke Brown. Deptford has a new coach in Steve Scuderi and a top RB in Darius Dowd, who ran for 1,337 yards and 13 TDs. Glassboro looms as a darkhorse, with the Bulldogs hoping for a full recovery from talented junior RB/LB Isom Golden.

Last year: Woodbury 5-0, Paulsboro 4-1, Haddon Heights 3-2, Gateway 2-3, Haddon Twp. 1-4 and Lindenwold 0-5.

Paulsboro is the defending SJ 1 champion and the Red Raiders should make a strong run at both that crown and the division title. Paulsboro has an explosive playmaker in senior RB Dehron Holloway, who ran for 1,291 yards and 21 TDs. Junior Rob Glocker is a top lineman, and junior cousins Santino and Anthony Morina lead a sturdy defense.

Woodbury won the title last season with an opening-week victory over rival Paulsboro. The Thundering Herd should be tough up front with senior two-way linemen Dustin Moore and Picard Messado-Moten. Haddon Heights has a top returning QB in Matt DiOrio, who passed for 1,349 yards and 14 TDs last season. Gateway has a top two-way lineman in senior Tristen Rettig. Senior all-purpose Anthony Rodriguez leads Haddon Twp. while two-way senior lineman John Sacco is a key player for Lindenwold.

Last year: Highland 5-0, Woodrow Wilson 4-1, Moorestown 2-3, Triton 2-3, Bishop Eustace 1-4, Cumberland 1-4.

Highland won the title last year on the strength of a 13-7 win over Woodrow Wilson on opening day. The teams meet again in the first game this season. Highland has a small but talented and accomplished senior class, led by RB DaeJuan Sanders as well as OL/LB Devon Starks, RB/OLB Naiem Furlow and RB/LB Jared Colbert. Junior QB/K/P Brian Cooey is another player to watch for the Tartans.

Woodrow Wilson will be led by senior LB Jairo Ramos as well as senior WR Travon King and junior WR Stanley King. Junior QB Nick Kargman, a transfer from Pitman, is a key addition for the Tigers.

Bishop Eustace looms as a darkhorse. The Crusaders have a new coach in AJ Johnson and a top two-way lineman in senior Andrew Klitchko. Junior QB Brian McMonagle passed for 1,261 and 14 TDs last season for Moorestown. Junior LB Jack Ginley is another player to watch for the Quakers. Triton will be led by senior RB Gian Liccketto, who ran for 829 yards and 7 TDs last season. Cumberland also has a top senior RB in LaMark Jones.

Last year: Timber Creek 5-0, Clearview 4-1, Delsea 3-2, Eastern 2-3, Paul VI 1-4, Cherry Hill East 0-5.

Timber Creek looms as the favorite, and the Chargers likely will battle Delsea for both the division crown and perhaps for the SJ 3 title as well. TC will be led by senior QB Devin Leary, a North Carolina State recruit who set state records for passing yards and TDs last season. Senior RB Kyle Dobbins, a Temple recruit, is a key transfer from St. Augustine, while seniors Derryk Seller and Jake Kidwell lead the OL.

Delsea has a top lineman in senior C Tom Maxwell and a top all-purpose player in senior Mason Maxwell, his cousin. Clearview has a new coach in Steve Scanlon and some top junior linemen in Aiden Romano and Dave Gies. Eastern has a new coach in former PVI boss John Doherty. He inherits a program on the upswing, with a top lineman in senior Cheston Bulgin and a top all-purpose junior in TJ Franden. PVI coach Glenn Hutton has a full off-season under his belt after taking over midway in the 2016 season. Senior TE/DE Demetrius Hudson is a player to watch for the Eagles. Cherry Hill East has some promising younger players and a top junior LB in Dante Gazzola, who had 51 tackles last season.

Last year (SJ teams): Lenape 5-0, Burlington Twp. 4-1, Rancocas Valley 3-2.

Lenape is coming off an 11-1 season and a berth in the SJ 4 title game. The Indians return several key players, including senior QB Matt Lajoie, senior all-purpose Jake Topolski, senior RB JoJo Kellum and senior two-way lineman Aaron Acosta, among others. The Indians are the favorite in this division and should challenge for the SJ 5 crown, too.

Rancocas Valley might have SJ's most explosive player in senior RB/DB Iverson Clement, a Florida recruit. The Red Devils have a veteran QB as well in junior Bryce Mangene, who passed for 13 TDs last season. Burlington Twp. has a top lineman in senior Alex Desire and looms as a darkhorse threat in this division and SJ 4 as well.

Last year: Shawnee 5-0, Cherokee 4-1, Hammonton 2-3, Kingsway 2-3, Williamstown 2-3 and Washington Twp. 0-5.

Shawnee returns several veterans, led by senior LB Ryan Parris and senior QB Colin Wetterau as well as senior OL Tom Kane and senior WR Daevon Robinson, a North Carolina State recruit. The Renegades are the team to beat in this division and SJ 4, too.

Cherokee is rebuilding a bit but has some veteran muscle up front in senior linemen Patrick McKenna and Will Gross. Williamstown could be a year away from big thunder but the Braves should be improved with junior QB J.C. Collins and junior all-purpose Wade Inge among the players to watch. Kingsway surged late last season and will look to keep that going behind senior QB Joel Scerbo. Hammonton has a top two-way lineman in senior Dan Woelfel. Washington Twp. has entered a new era with new coach Lamont Robinson. The Minutemen have a playmaker in senior Colin Meintel and a couple of lineman of note in seniors Ken Cockerill and James Honey.

Last year: Holy Spirit 4-0, Buena 3-1, Middle Township 2-2, Pleasantville 1-3, Lower Cape May 0-4.

Holy Spirit looms as the heavy favorite in this division and a strong contender for the NP 2 state title too behind senior QB Josh Zamot, a transfer from St. Augustine, as well as senior linemen Dimitris Pali and Anthony Lord and senior all-purpose Lee Dawson.

Buena has a lineman to watch in senior Dom Brunozzi. Middle Township put together a solid season in 2016 and has a player to watch in junior RB Jalen Freeman. Senior Brennan Ray ran or passed for a total of 10 TDs last season.

Last year: Schalick 5-0, Clayton 4-1, Gloucester Catholic 3-2, Gloucester 2-3, Pitman 1-4, Wildwood 0-5.

Schalick returns several veterans led by senior RB Tyresse Snipes, who scored 13 TDs. The Cougars are the favorites in this division and could compete in SJ 1 as well.

Gloucester Catholic was a surprise team last season and the Rams could keep things going behind senior linemen Kyle Murphy and TJ Logan. Gloucester has a top LB in Ryan Brown and a playmaker in SaiMere Colon. Clayton will rebuild a bit under new coach Corey Harvey. Wildwood has a player to watch in senior all-purpose Bryan Hernandez. Pitman has decided not to play a varsity schedule this season after a few key transfers and the decision by some other athletes not to come out left the program with a dangerous shortage of experienced players.

Last year: Camden Catholic 5-0, Cherry Hill West 4-1, Pennsauken 2-3, Seneca 2-3, Camden 2-3, Winslow Township 0-5.

Camden Catholic is 26-4 in three seasons under coach Nick Strom, including a 26-1 mark and a 22-game winning streak against SJ teams. The Irish show no signs of slowing down. Senior all-purpose Marcus Hillman leads the way along with junior QB Rob McCoy. Sophomore LB Tirek Austin-Cave is a young player to watch.

Cherry Hill West has a top young QB in junior Monte Williams, who threw for 14 TDs last season, and a top senior RB in Nick DiVietro. Camden is a darkhorse in this division. The Panthers have a strong OL led by seniors Dayvohn Washington and Jamel Coley and a RB to watch in senior Najere Edwards. Pennsauken's strength is up front behind senior lineman Jermaine Young. Seniors John Murphy, Steve Rodeshin and Kevin Gsell should led the way for Seneca. Winslow has a player to watch in junior QB Prince-dru Bey.

Last year: West Deptford 5-0, Haddonfield 4-1, Collingswood 3-2, Overbrook 2-3, Sterling 1-4, Audubon 0-5.

West Deptford lost 22 seniors from a 12-0 team but the Eagles have restocked the shelves and should contend again for this division title and the SJ 2 crown, too. Senior QB Pete Orio and junior RB Kenny Lim were key players in last year's sectional title game. Junior TE/DE Jason Collier is a player to watch.

Haddonfield looms as West Deptford's top challenger, as usual. The Bulldogs have a top senior RB in Ben Klaus and a top senior LB in Will Ciemny. Junior WR/DB Davis Smith is a player to watch. Collingswood returns several veterans including seniors such as Rob Upshur, Malik Dunbar and two-way lineman Matt Meloni. Overbrook has a playmaker in senior WR/DB Damon Matthews and a veteran QB in Xavier Martin, who threw for 8 TDs last season. Sterling has some muscle up front led by senior two-way lineman Lamar Price and a seasoned QB in senior CJ Barrett. Audubon has some top skill-position players led by senior RB Shane Snyder and senior QB Matt Connelly.

Last year: St. Augustine 5-0, Vineland 4-1, Millville 3-2, Atlantic City 2-3, Egg Harbor Twp. 1-4, Bridgeton 0-5.

This might be South Jersey's strongest division, at least in terms of top-end power. Three teams project in the Top 10, with Millville and Vineland looming as legitimate contenders for the SJ 5 title as well as the division crown, and St. Augustine entering the season with a 26-game winning streak over area opponents.

Millville is the defending SJ 5 champion despite finishing third in this division last year. The Thunderbolts have some of the top skill-position athletes in South Jersey, led by seniors such as RB Clayton Scott, QB Tristan Harris, WR/RB/QB Marcial Ramos and WR Carlton Lawrence. If the Thunderbolts get sturdy line play, they will be tough to beat.

Vineland is loaded, too. The Clan has a top QB in senior Isaih Pacheco, a Rutgers recruit. Senior Nihym Anderson, a Maryland recruit, will move to RB on offense and stick at OLB on defense. Junior TE/DE Anthony Reyes is a player to watch.

St. Augustine has a new coach in veteran Pete Lancetta. His value in calming what could have been a disruptive situation after the surprising departure of most of the previous coaching staff and the loss of some top athletes as transfers can't be overstated. The Hermits still are a top team, with big-time players such as seniors Shamere Collins and Xavier File and a top junior RB in Tru Robinson. Senior LB Joe Bonzcek leads a solid defense.

Atlantic City has a talented pass-catch combo in senior QB Nazir Derry and senior WR Nahsir Morgan, who had 5 TD  receptions last season. Senior LB Yvandy Rigby and senior DB Shaquille Boyd led EHT's defense, and senior Revel Williams is a top RB for Bridgeton.