South Jersey Football Games of the Week

The high school football season opened last week for many South Jersey teams, but this will be the first full week of the season. Once again, we present our South Jersey football games of the week.

Atlantic City (0-1) at Millville (1-0), 6
Does any team in South Jersey have a more difficult opening schedule than Atlantic City? The Vikings opened with a 30-18 loss to defending state Group 4 champion Mainland, which again figures to be among the top teams in South Jersey. Now the Vikings face a Millville team that might be the No. 1 team in South Jersey. Against Mainland Rutgers commit Sah'nye Degraffenreid had five receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Millville opened with a 35-0 win over a Holy Spirit team that entered the season considered among South Jersey’s top teams. Millville receiver Lotzeir Brooks, an Alabama commit, had five receptions for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

Cherokee (1-0) at Lenape (0-1), 6
Cherokee opened with an impressive 30-0 win over Middletown South in the Battle at the Beach. Darwin Walke had a pick-six for a TD and a 38-yard reception, and he also blocked a kick. In addition, Murad Campfield, among the top running backs in South Jersey, rushed for 144 yards and a TD on 22 carries. Lenape opened with a 14-10 loss to Passaic Tech in the debut game for coach Matt Kreider, the former defensive coordinator at Kean University. QB Kellen Pierce had a strong all-around game for Lenape. He completed 14 of 30 for 103 yards and rushed for 35 yards and a TD on 11 carries. Ethan Blackburn also added a 32-yard field goal for the Indians. Both teams are competing in strong divisions. Lenape is in the WJFL Colonial along with Shawnee, Camden, Camden Eastside and Rancocas Valley. Cherokee is in the American, which may be the best in South Jersey and includes Mainland, Millville, St. Augustine and Winslow Township.

Washington Township (1-0) at Pennsauken (0-0), 7

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Pennsauken is expected to be improved from last year’s 5-4 record. The Indians are now in the WFJL Freedom Division and should be among the contenders. Washington Township opened with an impressive 23-8 win over Northern Highlands at the Battle at the Beach. Junior QB Cole Aquino was sharp, completing 14 of 18 for 187 yards. Colin Beeler rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and Paris Pratt had six receptions for 117 yards. It’s this type of diversified offense that will make the Minutemen so dangerous after coming off a 9-3 season.

Delsea (0-0) at Woodstown (0-0), 7
This is the debut game for both head coaches. Jason Volpe replaces the legendary Sal Marchese Jr. at Delsea. Marchese retired after leading Delsea to a 12-1 record and the state Group 1 championship last year. Delsea was hit hard by graduation and isn’t expected to be a Top 10 team, but the Crusaders should be competitive. Leading the way is senior Dan Russo, who rushed for 1,673 yards (6.8 avg.) and 26 touchdowns. Frank Trautz takes over for John Adams at Woodstown. The Wolverines are coming off a 9-3 season that included winning the South Jersey Group 1 championship. Senior RB Bryce Belinfanti is the offensive leader after he rushed for 1,740 yards (8.1 avg.) and 21 touchdowns. 

 

Millville's Lotzeir Brooks / Marc Narducci

Author: Marc Narducci