South Jersey Football Game of the Week: Burlington City at Buena

by Marc Narducci; Photo Marc Narducci | Nov 5, 2019

Burlington City (6-2) at (4) Buena (7-2), Friday, 6 pm.

What: This is the first round of the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs.

Coaches: Burlington City, Ray Robinson (20-19); Buena, Jonathan Caputo (65-46 overall, 55-36 at Buena, 10-10 at Audubon).

Sectional titles: Burlington City (1), 1979 SJ Group 2; Buena, (1), 1988, SJ Group 2.

Background: After a 3-7 season a year ago, Burlington City has been among the most improved teams in South Jersey. Buena returns to the Group 1 playoffs after reaching the semifinals last year. The Chiefs beat Glassboro, 35-12 in the first round and then lost eventual South Jersey champion Penns Grove, 22-6 in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals. That ended the Chiefs season at 9-1.

This season:

BUENA

September 6 at Gateway, 0-35

September 14 at Haddon Township, 42-7

September 20 at Middle Township, 32-0

September 27 Lower Cape May, 48-7

October 4 Lindenwold, 29-0

October 11 at Gloucester, 43-0

October 18 at Clayton, 44-12

October 25 Pleasantville, 14-21

November 1 Gloucester Catholic, 35-0

BURLINGTON CITY

September 7 at Haddon Heights, 20-0

September 13 at New Egypt, 33-3

September 21 Salem, 7-41

September 27 at Bordentown, 35-0

October 4 at Delran, 26-29

October 18 at Pennsville, 28-14

October 25 Florence, 35-0

November 1 Holy Cross, 19-6

Outlook: Buena is the obvious favorite but a key for the Chiefs will be to contain Burlington City senior D.J. Woodbury, who has played a variety of positions. He is a Temple recruit, who is expected to play in the secondary with the Owls, where he is strong on coverage and at 6-foot-3 and 180-pounds he is also a hard hitter.

Woodbury had one of his best games against a playoff bound Delran team, when the Bears beat Burlington City, 29-26. He threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 100 yards and had and recorded an interception.

Woodbury is a difference maker and Burlington City will try to have the ball in his hand any way possible.

In last week’s 19-6 win over Holy Cross Prep, Woodbury threw for 192 yards and two scores.

Buena rebounded from a 21-14 loss to Central Jersey Group 2 top seed Pleasantville to defeat Gloucester Catholic, 35-0 last week.

Sophomore running back Shayron Smithbey (5-11, 195) is a player Burlington City will have to stop. In Buena’s loss to that quality Pleasantville team he scored on TD runs of 50 and 7 yards in rushing for 122 yards.

Buena must limit Woodbury in the air and ground while Burlington City will have its hands full with Smithbey in what looks like an evenly matched game.

Article continues below

- South Jersey Football Games of the Week

Besides the Salem at Woodstown matchup, which we previewed as our South Jersey Football Game of the Week, here are the other playoff games involving teams from the seven-county South Jersey area.

- High School Football Preview

Whether it's a visit to the cardiologist or to the spa for a blueberry facial, there's nothing we won't do for our furry friends.

- South Jersey Football Game of the Week: Woodstown at Salem

This playoff game features two-long time Salem County rivals.

© SouthJersey.com 2019. All rights reserved. This article or parts thereof may not be reprinted or reproduced by any other party without the express written consent of SouthJersey.com. For more information, please call 856-797-9910.

For more Local Sports features, visit our South Jersey Sports page.

Author: Marc Narducci; Photo by Marc Narducci

South Jersey Football Game of the Week: Burlington City at Buena

Related Articles

Archives