South Jersey football games of the week

Friday 

Delsea (3-0) at Kingsway (2-1), 6. Delsea has played a difficult schedule but was challenged in just tone games, beating Delran, 47-7, Winsow Township, 35-21 and last week a good Ocean City team, 35-6. Luke Maxwell led the rushing attack with two touchdowns against Ocean City. He has rushed for four touchdowns in the first three games. Kingsway is the defending SJ Group 5 champion. The Dragons were an upset opening night in a 28-14 loss to Williamstown but since then have earned wins over Washington Township and Vineland. Quarterback Nate Maiers has thrown for 493 yards and five touchdowns. Delsea rarely throws in its Wing-T offense, so stopping the run will be the key for Kingsway.

Rancocas Valley (3-1) at Burlington Township (2-2), 7. Under first-year coach Garrett Lucas, Rancocas Valley is vastly improved. The Red Devils have already surpassed their win total from last year when they went 2-8. That said, the Red Devils are coming off their first loss of the year, a 28-15 defeat to an improved Timber Creek team. This is a balanced offense, with junior Malachi Castle having rushed for 191 yards (6.0 avg.) and three touchdowns. Burlington Township is coming off a 31-13 loss to Pennsauken, which is among the top teams in South Jersey. Senior running back Naquan Jones has rushed for 550 yards (5.7 avg.) and three touchdowns.

Woodbury (4-0) at Haddonfield (2-0), 7. This is an interdivisional West Jersey Football League game between Colonial Conference schools and defending sectional champions. Woodbury won the Central Jersey Group 1 title last year. Haddonfield was Central Jersey and Regional Group 2 champ. Haddonfield had a bye week and will be well rested. Junior quarterback Delcan McCarthy has thrown for 386 yards and six touchdowns for Haddonfield. He has also rushed for two scores. Woodbury quarterback Bryan Johnson has thrown for 747 yards and nine touchdowns. The Thundering Herd are coming off a 46-8 win over Paulsboro, a team Haddonfield opened the season with a 44-26 win against.

Saturday

Cedar Creek (2-2) at Salem (3-1), noon. Cedar Creek was hit hard by graduation from last year’s 13-0 team that won a sectional and regional Group 3 championship. Still, the Pirates have lost to two talented 2-2 teams, Edison and Ocean City. Cedar Creek is coming off last week’s 7-6 win over Camden Eastside (formerly Woodrow Wilson) in what was a rematch from last year’s regional Group 3 title game when Cedar Creek won 35-34. Salem’s lone loss was a 28-21 defeat to one of South Jersey’s top teams, Camden in a game played at Rutgers University. Senior Jahki Coates, a four-year starter, has thrown for 667 yards and has rushed for 314 yards and six scores. Senior Zaheim Jones has rushed for 301 yards (5.9 avg.) and two scores.

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Author: Marc Narducci