Field for the second annual Battle at the Beach football showcase is set

This past high school football season, the Battle at the Beach was a successful event, which was only hurt by some inclement weather.

This was a three-day extravaganza of high school football teams, with the majority from the seven-county South Jersey area, playing at Ocean City High.

Due to heavy rain, the first two days had games delayed due to lightning delays. In addition, the field got flooded and the third day’s games had to be moved, with two games switched to Camden Catholic and another to Cherry Hill East, but the event still prospered.

Now, the West Jersey Football Coaches Association, which puts on the event, has announced the teams that will comprise the second year’s event this coming summer, once again with an 11-game schedule. All games are scheduled again for Ocean City High School.

Here is the schedule

Friday, Aug. 26

Egg Harbor Township vs. Mainland, 10 a.m.

Salem vs. Cedar Grove, 1

Downingtown West (PA) vs. Williamstown, 4

Neshaminy (PA) vs. Ocean City, 7

Saturday, Aug. 27

Wayne Valley vs. Delran, 10:30 a.m.

Toms River North vs. Washington Township, 1:30

St. Peter’s Prep vs. St. Augustine, 4:30

Archbishop Wood (PA) vs. Red Bank Catholic, 7:30

Sunday, Aug. 28

Roman Catholic (PA) vs. Millville, 11 a.m.

Holy Spirit vs. Cherokee, 2

Edison vs. Cedar Creek, 5

There is at least one New Jersey team in each game and 10 of the 11, there is at least one team from the seven-county South Jersey area.

The only one without a seven-county team is Archbishop Wood vs. Red Bank Catholic.

One game has both teams from the seven-county area when Holy Spirit meets Cherokee in the 2 p.m. matchup on Sunday, Aug. 28.

This game will feature one of the top returning players in South Jersey's current Cherokee junior running back Brandon Boria, who rushed for 1,694 yards (8.2 avg.) and 23 touchdowns. Holy Spirit will also have a top running back in current junior Gavin Roman.

One of the interesting matchups is between two regional champions of this year when Salem meets Cedar Grove in the second game on Friday, Aug. 26 at 1.

Both teams were Group 1 regional champions.

Central Grove went 12-1 and was the North Jersey regional champion. Salem (11-2) was the Central Jersey Group 1 champion and then beat South Jersey champ, Woodbury, 34-8, in the South/Central regional championship.

Salem will be led by quarterback Jakhi Coates, who will be a senior next season.

With the high school football season-opening earlier, the Battle at the Beach is hoping to become a fixture, where fans can see many of the top teams in one area.

It also shows that teams have to be one their game from the beginning because most of the matchups are against top-flight opponents.

And if the weather cooperates, then the second year should be even better than the first.

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Author: Marc Narducci