South Jersey Football Preview Part I
Week 5 of the South Jersey high school football season has a number of matchups between undefeated teams, all in divisional play in the West Jersey Football League. Here is Part I of the top games.
Rancocas Valley (4-0) at Lenape (3-0), Friday, 7. This is expected to be one of the top games this week. Last year Lenape won a 17-13 thriller. Lenape QB Matt Lajoie doesn’t throw much, but he is effective as a dual threat. He has completed 21 of 33 for 636 yards and four TDs. He has also rushed for 211 yards (9.6 avg.) and three TDs. Lenape senior WR-DB Jake Topolski is one of the top all-around players in South Jersey. He has two interceptions from the secondary and has caught 11 passes for 195 yards and 3 TDs. Rancocas Valley junior Bryce Mangene has completed 43 of 61 for 622 yards and 7 TDs. Iverson Clement, a Florida commit, has rushed for 476 yards (7.1 avg.) and five TDs.
Eastern (4-0) at Timber Creek (4-0), Friday, 7. On paper this looks like a tough match, but quite frankly, Timber Creek is a solid favorite. That is to take nothing away from Eastern, which already matched its win total of the two previous years, but the Vikings have beaten teams with a combined 2-12 record. Timber Creek was off last week. The Chargers have South Jersey’s longest current win streak, 20 games. All-SJ QB Devin Leary has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,057 yards and 12 TDs. The Chargers have the best RB combo in South Jersey. Kyle Dobbins has rushed for 338 yards (8.9 avg.) and four TDs, while Jerome Gibson has rushed for 434 yards (6.9 avg.) and 5 TDs.
West Deptford (3-0) at Sterling (3-0), Friday, 7. Sterling has made one of the great turnarounds in South Jersey after going 1-9 last season. The Silvers Knights were more competitive than last year’s record suggested, losing four games by a touchdown or less. Now the team has enjoyed a revival and are coming off a 41-10 win at Deptford as Damire Hutchinson ran for two touchdowns, earned a sack and blocked a punt that led to a touchdown. Of course, West Deptford has long set the standard of excellence in both the WJFL Colonial and in South Jersey Group 2. The Eagles are the defending South Jersey Group 2 champs and have won 15 in a row. Plus, the Eagles had a bye last week. West Deptford has rushed for 13 TDs and junior Ken Lim has 436 rushing yards (10.9 avg.) and 3 TDs. Last year West Deptford won 48-0, giving Sterling even more incentive.
Woodrow Wilson (3-0) at Moorestown (4-0), Friday, 7. The winner would clearly be in the driver’s seat in the WJFL Royal Division, especially since both teams have beaten another contender, Highland. In addition, Moorestown would match its win total from last year with a victory. Moorestown is averaging 28 points per game, and will look to earn revenge after last year’s 20-0 loss to the Tigers. Wilson is a major contender in South Jersey Group 3, while Moorestown looks headed to the SJ Group 4 playoffs.
advertisement
Author: Marc Narducci
Archives
More Articles
