NJSIAA Football Sectional Semifinals This Weekend
The second round of the NJSIAA public school sectional playoffs are this weekend, with area schools making up the majority of teams competing in the Central Jersey and South Jersey playoffs. Here is a look at Central Jersey and South Jersey sections:
Central Jersey Group 1
(5) Pennsville (6-4) at (1) Woodstown (8-1), Friday, 7
(6) Woodbury (4-5) at (2) Shore (9-0), Friday, 7
Outlook: Both lower seeds beat higher seeded teams in the first round. Woodbury beat No. 3 Middlesex, 35-28 and Pennsville won at No. 4 Burlington City, 41-28. There likely won’t be any upsets in the semifinals as the top seeds should prevail.
(5) Pennsville (6-4) at (1) Woodstown (8-1), Friday, 7
(6) Woodbury (4-5) at (2) Shore (9-0), Friday, 7
Outlook: Both lower seeds beat higher seeded teams in the first round. Woodbury beat No. 3 Middlesex, 35-28 and Pennsville won at No. 4 Burlington City, 41-28. There likely won’t be any upsets in the semifinals as the top seeds should prevail.
Central Jersey Group 2
(4) Delran (9-1) at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven (9-0), Friday 7
(3) Haddonfield (6-3) at (2) Wall (7-1), Friday, 7.
Outlook: Of the two lower seeds, Haddonfield may have the better chance of advancing to the final. Haddonfield escaped with a 14-7 win over No. 6 Hillside. Rumson opened with a 48-0 win over Spotswood and remains the team to beat.
(4) Delran (9-1) at (1) Rumson-Fair Haven (9-0), Friday 7
(3) Haddonfield (6-3) at (2) Wall (7-1), Friday, 7.
Outlook: Of the two lower seeds, Haddonfield may have the better chance of advancing to the final. Haddonfield escaped with a 14-7 win over No. 6 Hillside. Rumson opened with a 48-0 win over Spotswood and remains the team to beat.
Central Jersey Group 3
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(7) Delsea (3-6) at (3) Cedar Creek (8-2), Friday, 6
(4) Ocean City (6-4) at (1) Somerville (10-0), Friday, 7
Outlook: On paper, Delsea’s 29-12 win over No. 2 Burlington Township was an upset, but the Crusaders are playing their best at this stage and have benefited from a difficult regular season schedule. Don’t be surprised if the Crusaders meet Somerville in the sectional final.
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(7) Delsea (3-6) at (3) Cedar Creek (8-2), Friday, 6
(4) Ocean City (6-4) at (1) Somerville (10-0), Friday, 7
Outlook: On paper, Delsea’s 29-12 win over No. 2 Burlington Township was an upset, but the Crusaders are playing their best at this stage and have benefited from a difficult regular season schedule. Don’t be surprised if the Crusaders meet Somerville in the sectional final.
Central Jersey Group 4
(4) Marlboro (6-3) at (1) Millville (7-2). Friday, 6
(6) Jackson (5-5) at (2) Brick Memorial (8-2), Friday, 6
Outlook: Millville remains a favorite after a 49-6 win over Red Bank. Meanwhile Brick beat Jackson, 37-0 two weeks ago in the regular season and the semifinal isn’t expected to be much closer.
(4) Marlboro (6-3) at (1) Millville (7-2). Friday, 6
(6) Jackson (5-5) at (2) Brick Memorial (8-2), Friday, 6
Outlook: Millville remains a favorite after a 49-6 win over Red Bank. Meanwhile Brick beat Jackson, 37-0 two weeks ago in the regular season and the semifinal isn’t expected to be much closer.
Central Jersey Group 5
(5) Cherry Hill East (9-0) at (1) Washington Township (8-2), Friday, 6
(6) Cherokee (5-5) at (2) Atlantic City (7-2), Friday, 6
Outlook: Washington Township will be favored to hand Cherry Hill East its first loss. The other semifinal appears more up in the air. Atlantic City has won seven in a row, but Cherokee benefits from playing in South Jersey’s toughest division, the WJFL American. The Chiefs earned a hard-fought 16-14 win at No. 3 Old Bridge in the first round as Murad Campfield rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown.
(5) Cherry Hill East (9-0) at (1) Washington Township (8-2), Friday, 6
(6) Cherokee (5-5) at (2) Atlantic City (7-2), Friday, 6
Outlook: Washington Township will be favored to hand Cherry Hill East its first loss. The other semifinal appears more up in the air. Atlantic City has won seven in a row, but Cherokee benefits from playing in South Jersey’s toughest division, the WJFL American. The Chiefs earned a hard-fought 16-14 win at No. 3 Old Bridge in the first round as Murad Campfield rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown.
South Jersey Group 1
(5) Riverside (7-3) at (1) Glassboro (9-0), Friday, 6
(3) Paulsboro at (2) Schalick (7-3), Friday, 6
Outlook: Riverside just won the first playoff game in school history in a 40-20 victory over Haddon Township, but beating Glassboro would be a major upset. This should be Glassboro and Schalick in the final.
(5) Riverside (7-3) at (1) Glassboro (9-0), Friday, 6
(3) Paulsboro at (2) Schalick (7-3), Friday, 6
Outlook: Riverside just won the first playoff game in school history in a 40-20 victory over Haddon Township, but beating Glassboro would be a major upset. This should be Glassboro and Schalick in the final.
South Jersey Group 2
(5) Willingboro (7-3) at (1) Camden (7-2), Friday, 6
(3) Manchester Township (8-2) at (2) Point Pleasant Boro (8-2), Friday, 7
Outlook: This should be Camden and Point Pleasant Boro in the final. Boro’s only two losses were Group 5 power Toms River North and Group 2 titan Rumson.
(5) Willingboro (7-3) at (1) Camden (7-2), Friday, 6
(3) Manchester Township (8-2) at (2) Point Pleasant Boro (8-2), Friday, 7
Outlook: This should be Camden and Point Pleasant Boro in the final. Boro’s only two losses were Group 5 power Toms River North and Group 2 titan Rumson.
South Jersey Group 3
(4) Seneca (7-3) at (1) Hopewell Valley (10-0), Friday, 6
(3) Holmdel (8-1) at (2) Mainland, Friday, 6
Outlook: Hopewell Valley beat Seneca 35-12 in the regular season, and will be favored again. Mainland against Holmdel should be a great game. Mainland has played such a tough schedule and that could be the difference because the competition has prepared the Mustangs.
(4) Seneca (7-3) at (1) Hopewell Valley (10-0), Friday, 6
(3) Holmdel (8-1) at (2) Mainland, Friday, 6
Outlook: Hopewell Valley beat Seneca 35-12 in the regular season, and will be favored again. Mainland against Holmdel should be a great game. Mainland has played such a tough schedule and that could be the difference because the competition has prepared the Mustangs.
South Jersey Group 4
(3) Shawnee (7-3) at (2) Middletown North (8-0), Friday, 7
(4) Manalapan (5-5) at (1) Winslow Township (10-0), Saturday, 1
Outlook: The top two seeds should prevail. Winslow Township and Middletown North have won every game by at least two touchdowns.
(3) Shawnee (7-3) at (2) Middletown North (8-0), Friday, 7
(4) Manalapan (5-5) at (1) Winslow Township (10-0), Saturday, 1
Outlook: The top two seeds should prevail. Winslow Township and Middletown North have won every game by at least two touchdowns.
South Jersey Group 5
(5) Kingsway (8-2) at (1) Toms River North (10-0), Friday, 6
(3) Hillsborough (7-3) at (2) Rancocas Valley (8-2), Friday, 6
Toms River North is the two-time defending state champion and a prohibitive favorite in SJ Group 5. The other semifinal between Hillsborough and Rancocas Valley should be a tossup. Both teams enter their semifinal on a five-game win streak.
(5) Kingsway (8-2) at (1) Toms River North (10-0), Friday, 6
(3) Hillsborough (7-3) at (2) Rancocas Valley (8-2), Friday, 6
Toms River North is the two-time defending state champion and a prohibitive favorite in SJ Group 5. The other semifinal between Hillsborough and Rancocas Valley should be a tossup. Both teams enter their semifinal on a five-game win streak.
Photo: Delsea QB No. 12 Jim Reardon / Marc Narducci
Author: Marc Narducci
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