Battle at the Beach Kicks of H.S. Football Season in Style
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There have been some changes from the original schedule, but the 11-game Battle At The Beach Football extravaganza is set to kick off the South Jersey high school football season on Friday, Aug. 26.
The games will be staged over three days, all at Ocean City High. In addition to this event, several other South Jersey teams are beginning their high school football season on Aug. 26.
The seasons begin earlier because the playoffs start sooner, as well, in late October.
Here is the schedule:
The Battle At The Beach features at least one team from the seven-county South Jersey area in 10 of the 11 scheduled games. The only game without a team from the seven-county area is when Shore Conference teams St. John Vianney and defending NJSIAA Non-Public B state champ Red Bank Catholic meet on Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Here is the schedule.
Friday, Aug. 26
Egg Harbor Township vs. Mainland, 10 a.m.
Cedar Grove vs. Salem, 1
Downingtown (PA) vs. Highland, 4
Neshaminy (PA) vs. Ocean City, 7
Saturday, Aug. 27
Wayne Valley vs. Delran, 10:30
Toms River North vs. Washington Township, 1:30
St. Peter’s Prep vs. St. Augustine, 4:30
St. John Vianney vs. Red Bank Catholic, 7:30
Sunday, Aug. 28
Thomas Jefferson (PA) vs. Millville, 11
Holy Spirit vs Cherokee, 2
Edison vs. Cedar Creek, 5
Some of the highlights include Millville facing a talented Thomas Jefferson PA team to kick off the action on Sunday.
Millville will be guided by first-year coach Bert Ayala, who had been the team’s offensive coordinator but was promoted after Dennis Thomas left to become a member of the Rutgers football staff.
Millville lost several top players, including running back LeQuint Allen, who is now at Syracuse. Last season Allen rushed for 1,913 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Jacob Zamot, a 6-1, 185-pound junior, who was the backup quarterback last year, will take over running the offense for the Thunderbolts.
Millville has one of the most highly recruited players in the state, sophomore receiver-defensive back Lotzeir Brooks.
The 5-11, 175-pound Brooks had a breakout freshman season, with 36 receptions for 956 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also recorded two interceptions. Oregon was the latest Power Five school to make a scholarship offer.
There will be several top players and teams in this tournament. For instance, the Washington Township offensive line is anchored by John Stone (6-4, 280), a Rutgers commit.
Ocean City senior Riley Gunnels is expected to be among the top quarterbacks in South Jersey, as is Salem senior Jahki Coates, a fourth-year starter.
Highland also has one of the more impressive quarterbacks in South Jersey, junior Connor Leary.
A top game featuring Non-Public A heavyweights is St. Augustine vs. St. Peter’s matchup. St. Augustine, despite some heavy losses to graduation, figures to be among the top teams in South Jersey.
All told, there will be 12 teams from the seven-county South Jersey area competing in this three-day event and many of them are expected to be season-long Top 10 fixtures.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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