South Jersey Football Playoff Preview: Part II

Some compelling rematches highlight our South Jersey playoff preview Part II.

Here is a look at more of the semifinal games:
 

South Jersey Group 2
Pleasantville (7-2) at Haddonfield (9-0), Friday, 7 pm.
These two met on opening night with Haddonfield winning 20-7. Pleasantville senior RB-LB Mohamed Toure has lived up to his pre-season billing. He has rushed for 806 yards (8.1 avg.) and 10 TDs. A Rutgers commit, Toure has 58 tackles, including seven tackles for loss and three sacks. He was recruited by Rutgers as a linebacker. Haddonfield is coming off a 41-7 first round win over Sterling. Senior quarterback Jay Foley has completed 58 percent of his passes for 1,301 yards and 20 touchdowns. Senior Chris Brown has rushed for 657 yards (6.0 avg.) and six TDs. Johnny Foley, the twin of Jay, has caught passes 17 for 316 yards and six TDs.

West Deptford (7-2) at Camden (8-1), Saturday, 3 pm.
These two teams won their first-round games by a combined 101-7. West Deptford beat Barnegat 53-7 and Camden defeated Collingswood, 48-0. Both teams have outstanding running games. Camden throws the ball more. Senior Monte Williams has passed for 1,216 yards and 12 TDs. Williams is also a running threat. He has rushed for 376 yards (7.8 avg.) and 4 TDs. Senior Ramer Nock has rushed for 720 yards (9.0 avg.) and 12 touchdowns. West Deptford junior Tyshawn Bookman and senior Kem Lim have been a dynamic running combination. How Camden’s strong defense handles West Deptford’s wing-T offense will be a key. Camden has won eight in a row since an opening loss to three-time Maryland defending state champion Wise. West Deptford has won four in a row.

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South Jersey Group 1
Gateway (8-0) at Salem (7-2), Saturday, 1 pm.
These are two teams coming off shutout wins in the first round. Gateway won the school’s second ever playoff game with last week’s 33-0 win over Schalick. Salem defeated Overbrook, 28-0. A key will be stopping Salem QB Jamael Bundy, who has thrown 23 touchdown passes.

Buena (9-0) at Penns Grove (10-0), Saturday, 1 pm.
There are six undefeated teams left in the seven-county South Jersey area and two of them are in this game. Penns Grove beat Woodstown 40-6 in the first round. Senior Tyreke Brown has rushed for 742 yards (9.3 avg.) and 15 TDs. He has also caught 20 passes for 451 yards and 7 TDs. Buena beat Glassboro 35-12 last week. As a means of comparison, Penns Grove beat Glassboro, 42-6 a few weeks ago, suggesting that this could be a close game based on that common opponent.

Non-Public 4
St. Augustine (7-3) at St. Joseph Montvale (7-2), Saturday, 1 pm.
St. Augustine had no trouble in the first round by beating Notre Dame, 41-7. St. Augustine quarterback Chris Allen will have to have a big day for the Hermits to be competitive. St. Joseph is annually one of the top teams in the state. The only loss to a New Jersey team has been to another power Bergen Catholic, 24-20, so the Green Knights, who have won 18 sectional titles/state titles will be a candidate to win one this year.

Non-Public 2
Hudson Catholic (6-4) at Holy Spirit (6-3), Friday, 7 pm.
Holy Spirit is looking for rematch with St. Joseph and would likely get one with a win over Hudson Catholic. Spirit had no trouble in the first round, beating Morris Catholic, 61-8. Hudson Catholic also had a convincing first-round game, beating Gloucester Catholic 42-0.

Immaculata (5-4) at St. Joseph (8-2), 1 pm.
St. Joseph had no trouble in an opening 56-6 over Immaculate Conception. Jada Byers rushed for 146 yards and five touchdowns on just eight carries. He also had 2 receptions for 51 yards and a sixth TD. Immaculata beat Holy Cross, 55-27 and the key to being competitive is stopping the vaunted St. Joe ground attack.

Central Jersey Group 1
Florence (6-3) at Willingboro (5-4), Friday, 7 pm.
Willingboro has played a tough schedule and it showed in last week’s 54-7 win over Keyport. That was the first Group 1 school that Willingboro has played this season. Florence has a much more difficult time, beating Middlesex, 21-14 in overtime.

Asbury Park (4-4) at Paulsboro (7-2), Saturday, 1 pm.
Asbury Park opened some eyes with an opening 27-0 win over Woodbury, which is one of Paulsboro’s chief rivals. Earlier this season Paulsboro beat Woodbury, 37-0. Paulsboro has one of the better defenses in South Jersey, led by Santino Morina, who has a team-high 10 sacks.

Central Jersey Group 2
Cinnaminson (7-2) at Manasquan (7-1), Saturday, 1 pm.
Cinnaminson scored with one second remaining on a 1-yard TD pass from Shawn Ruffin to Carmen Saginario in last week’s 7-0 win over Shore Regional. It was Ruffin’s 11th touchdown pass of the season. Manasquan has won two in a row after last week’s 40-21 win over Delaware Valley.