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Winslow Twp. at Highland among games to watch this weekend

Shawnee at St. Augustine, Camden at Delsea and Woodrow Wilson at Cedar Creek also loom as big battles.

Kasim Randall-Dale (left 14), ehre last seasonvs. Woodrow Wilson, and the Highland Tartans meet Winslow Twp. in a key game Friday.
Kasim Randall-Dale (left 14), ehre last seasonvs. Woodrow Wilson, and the Highland Tartans meet Winslow Twp. in a key game Friday.Read moreH Rumph Jr./For the Inquirer

Here are 10 games to watch this weekend in South Jersey football:

Friday

All games at 7 p.m. except Shawnee at St. Augustine at 6 p.m.

No. 15 Shawnee (1-1) at No. 5 St. Augustine (1-2): Both perennial powers are coming off losses, so both will be eager to get back on the right side of the win-loss ledger. That should make for an urgent battle in this WJFL American clash, especially since both teams are 1-0 in the division.

Shawnee lost to Hammonton in a game played in an odd site, Hammonton Middle School. Shawnee will look to bounce back behind senior quarterback Joe Dalsey, who ran for a score, passed for another and kicked a FG in the loss to the Blue Devils.

St. Augustine was hurt by four interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD, in a loss to No. 1 St. Joseph. The Hermits have playmakers on the outside in seniors Jaylen DeCoteau, a Kent State recruit, and Sincere Rhea and a strong defense led by linebackers Joe Bonczek, a Princeton recruit, and Shane Quast.

No. 2 Williamstown (3-0) at  No. 24 Lenape (1-2): This is another WJFL American game, and a matchup of last year's S.J. 5 champion, the Indians, and the team that looks to be this year's favorite, the Braves.

Williamstown's defense has been terrific through the early going, led by front-seven juniors such as Aaron Lewis and Brandon Perkins and secondary seniors such as J.C. Collins and Wade Inge Jr. The Braves have allowed just 19 total points to three teams that went a combined 27-6 as S.J. 5 programs last season (Vineland, Rancocas Valley, and Millville).

Lenape got its season on track with a nice win over Vineland last weekend in the Indians' home opener. Sophomore Xavier Coleman has led the way for Lenape with a touchdown in every game, including two against the Clan.

No. 11 Rancocas Valley (2-1) at Cherokee (0-2): This is still another WJFL American game, and another battle between teams hoping to qualify for the S.J. 5 tournament.

RV is led by senior quarterback Bryce Mangene, who ran for two TDs and passed for two TDs in a win over Trenton. The Red Devils are 21-6 in their last 27 games.

Cherokee should be urgent to avoid dropping to 0-3 in their first season under coach Brian Glatz, a former standout player and long-time assistant for the Chiefs. Junior Elijah Bard ran for a pair of TDs in the team's loss to Winslow Twp. last weekend.

No. 21 Hammonton (1-2) at No. 8 Holy Spirit (2-1): How about the Blue Devils? After an 0-2 start, they stunned then-No. 8 Shawnee, 21-17, as sophomore Jaiden Abrams ran for 267 yards and two TDs. Abrams' 70-yard scoring run was the game's biggest play.

Hammonton will look to keep the momentum going in a WJFL Royal clash with old Cape-Atlantic League rival Holy Spirit. The Spartans are coming off a big win over Camden Catholic as junior Eli'Jah Gray ran for three TDs.

Washington Twp. (1-1) at No. 22 Eastern (1-1): This is an interesting WJFL Royal game between familiar foes from the their days in the WJFL American as well as the Burlco-Olympic American. These teams even used to be Thanksgiving rivals.

Washington Township shut out Atlantic City, 21-0, last weekend for new coach Mike Schatzman's first career win. The Minutemen can make a statement with a victory over the Vikings, who are looking to push their way back into South Jersey prominence.

Eastern is coming off a 52-6 win over Cherry Hill West as Mike Suarez scored four TDs. The 52 points were the Vikings' most since Tom Flacco, who was busy leading Towson past Villanova on Saturday, was their quarterback. That was 45 games ago.

No. 9 Burlington Twp. (2-0) at Moorestown (0-2): This WJFL Liberty game between old rivals matches two teams off to drastically different starts.

The visiting Falcons have been riding high, with lots of seasoned veterans plus an influx of talent in transfers from Camden Catholic. Senior Dan Grozozski has thrown six TD passes as Burlington Twp. has scored 93 points. Senior WR Tyrese Ware, a former Camden Catholic standout, caught two TD passes covering a combined 87 yards last weekend vs. Triton.

Like Cherokee, Moorestown likely will be urgent to avoid an 0-3 start. The Quakers entered the season with high hopes after returning several key players from last year's nine-win squad.

They've lost a couple of close ones to Winslow Twp. (20-15) and Nottingham (24-21 in OT). Senior Brian McMonagle, who passed for 262 yards and two TDs in the loss to Nottingham, will attempt to rally the Quakers to what would be a season-turning victory.

Cherry Hill West (2-1) at Seneca (1-1): Both these teams are angling for the high ground in the wide-open WJFL National.

CHW has won two in a row behind sophomore quarterback Nick Arcaroli, who ran for two TDs in a victory over Mainland. The Lions defense is solid, as well.

Seneca has been putting up points, scoring 39 in a win over Cumberland and 27 in a loss to Ewing. Quarterback Malin Jasinski threw three TD passes and ran for another score vs. Cumberland.

Collingswood (2-1) at Deptford (2-0): Collingswood is coming off a big win over Bordentown. The Panthers put 27 on the board in the first quarter en route to a 49-21 victory.

Deptford is averaging 29 points in an undefeated start. Senior speedster Khi'on Smith has scored four TDs for the Spartans, who are looking to go 3-0 for the first time since 2005 (when they were coming off back-to-back S.J. 3 titles).

No. 6 Camden (2-01) at No. 14 Delsea (1-1): This is a WJFL Constitution battle with major division and postseason implications.

Camden is riding high. The Panthers' 63-3 win over Paul VI marked the most points in a game in program history, per South Jersey sports historian Chuck Langerman. Camden played its first football game in 1899.

Camden has a strong defense led by seniors such as lineman Tidaine Bamba, cornerback Donald Williams and safety Rameer Nock and a young WR/DB to watch in sophomore Corey Palmer. He had a pick-six in a win over Cedar Creek.

Slow starts are nothing new to Delsea, and the 1-2 record wouldn't be fatal for the Crusaders. But Delsea will look to bounce back from last weekend's sluggish performance in a 27-12 loss to West Deptford. Senior RB/LB Aidan Borguet, a Harvard recruit, leads the Crusaders.

No. 17 Winslow Twp. (2-1) at No. 18 Highland (3-0): This WJFL Liberty clash might be the Game of the Week. Both teams are 1-0 in the division, and both are angling for major power points with a victory.

Winslow Twp. has bounced back from a season-opening loss to No. 4 Woodrow Wilson in a big way. Senior Prince-Dru Bey threw five TD passes last weekend as the Eagles beat Cherokee for the first time in program history, per Langerman's research.

Senior WR/DB Donovan Bunch, a Rutgers recruit, is another player to watch for the Eagles.

Highland has allowed just 13 total points. The Tartans have a seasoned quarterback/kicker in senior Brian Cooey and a top young running back in sophomore Johnny Martin, who scored three TDs in a shutout of Oakcrest last weekend.

Saturday

No. 4 Woodrow Wilson (3-0) at No. 19 Cedar Creek (2-1), 1: The newly formed WJFL Constitution features a lot of interesting games, and this is another one.

Woodrow Wilson is off to a torrid start behind senior quarterback Nick Kargman, who leads South Jersey with 16 TD passes. Kargman, who played his first two seasons at Pitman, also has 61 career TD passes, 10th on the S.J. all-time list (with nine possible games remaining, he could make a run at Dylan Cummings' total of 84 in the No. 2 spot).

Cedar Creek is a perennial S.J. 2 contender. The Pirates are coming off a big win over school-district rival Absegami as senior Kamaal Reed ran for two TDs.