Football State Semifinal Preview
South Jersey public schools are one win away from earning a berth in the state championship games. This weekend will be the state semifinals. Home field goes to the team with the higher power points. In many instances, two South Jersey teams will be meeting since the South Jersey champion faces the Central Jersey champ in the state semifinals. Many teams from South Jersey, regardless of geography, competed in the Central Jersey playoffs. There are no teams from the seven-county South Jersey area competing in Group 2. Here is a look at the state semifinals:
Group 1
Woodstown (10-1) at Glassboro (11-0), Friday, 6 p.m.
These teams are awfully familiar with each other since they compete in the WJFL Diamond Division. This is the fourth time over the last two years that they will meet, with Glassboro having won the previous three. Last year Glassboro beat Woodstown, 14-10 in this same state semifinal game. This season, Glassboro defeated the Wolverines, 20-7 on Oct. 25. The Bulldogs won the game despite committing five turnovers. Glassboro outscored its three playoff opponents, 159-24 to win this year’s South Jersey Group 1 championship. Senior Kenny Smith has rushed for 1,188 yards and 17 touchdowns in just eight games. He sat out the first three in accordance with NJSIAA transfer rules after previously attending Hammonton. Woodstown is coming off a 31-0 win over Shore in the Central Jersey Group 1 final. Senior Bryce Belinfanti rushed for 225 yards and one TD. Belinfanti has rushed for 1,215 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Woodstown (10-1) at Glassboro (11-0), Friday, 6 p.m.
These teams are awfully familiar with each other since they compete in the WJFL Diamond Division. This is the fourth time over the last two years that they will meet, with Glassboro having won the previous three. Last year Glassboro beat Woodstown, 14-10 in this same state semifinal game. This season, Glassboro defeated the Wolverines, 20-7 on Oct. 25. The Bulldogs won the game despite committing five turnovers. Glassboro outscored its three playoff opponents, 159-24 to win this year’s South Jersey Group 1 championship. Senior Kenny Smith has rushed for 1,188 yards and 17 touchdowns in just eight games. He sat out the first three in accordance with NJSIAA transfer rules after previously attending Hammonton. Woodstown is coming off a 31-0 win over Shore in the Central Jersey Group 1 final. Senior Bryce Belinfanti rushed for 225 yards and one TD. Belinfanti has rushed for 1,215 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Group 3
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Mainland (9-3) at Somerville (12-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Mainland is the defending state Group 4 champion. While the Mustangs will be the underdogs, they shouldn’t be counted out. In winning the South Jersey Group 3 title, the Mustangs outscored their opponents, 139-41. Mainland beat Seneca 42-14 in the sectional title game. Junior John Franchini has thrown for 1,919 yards and 19 TDs, while Jake Blum has 39 receptions for 1,059 yards and 13 TDs. Mainland will benefit from competing in the WJFL American Division with the likes of Winslow Township, Millville and St. Augustine. Those three teams account for the Mustangs three losses. Somerville is among the most improved teams in the state after going 5-5 last year. The Pioneers defeated Delsea, 24-6 in the Central Jersey title game. During the regular season, Mainland earned a 21-14 overtime win over Delsea. Somerville senior Brenden Pacheco has thrown for 1,507 yards and 24 TDs and rushed for 348 yards and two scores. Senior Terrell Mitchell has rushed for 1,318 yards and 18 touchdowns. This will be a very tough task for Mainland, but not an impossible one.
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Mainland (9-3) at Somerville (12-0), Friday, 7 p.m.
Mainland is the defending state Group 4 champion. While the Mustangs will be the underdogs, they shouldn’t be counted out. In winning the South Jersey Group 3 title, the Mustangs outscored their opponents, 139-41. Mainland beat Seneca 42-14 in the sectional title game. Junior John Franchini has thrown for 1,919 yards and 19 TDs, while Jake Blum has 39 receptions for 1,059 yards and 13 TDs. Mainland will benefit from competing in the WJFL American Division with the likes of Winslow Township, Millville and St. Augustine. Those three teams account for the Mustangs three losses. Somerville is among the most improved teams in the state after going 5-5 last year. The Pioneers defeated Delsea, 24-6 in the Central Jersey title game. During the regular season, Mainland earned a 21-14 overtime win over Delsea. Somerville senior Brenden Pacheco has thrown for 1,507 yards and 24 TDs and rushed for 348 yards and two scores. Senior Terrell Mitchell has rushed for 1,318 yards and 18 touchdowns. This will be a very tough task for Mainland, but not an impossible one.
Group 4
Millville (9-2) at Winslow Township, (12-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
These two teams are very familiar with one another since they both compete in the WJFL American Division. Winslow Township won this year’s regular season meeting 35-7. It was the only game this year that Millville was held below three touchdowns. Millville outscored three teams 150-13 in winning the South Jersey Group 4 title. The Thunderbolts defeated Brick Memorial, 48-7 to win the sectional title. Sophomore Robert O’Conner has thrown for 2,118 yards and 24 TDs. The headliner is Alabama commit Lotzeir Brooks, who has caught 48 passes for 1,159 yards and 14 TDs. He missed the sectional championship game due to illness, but Jamal Wallace Jr. picked up the slack by rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Winslow Township won its three playoff games, 150-22. The Eagles defeated Shawnee, 32-8 in the Central Jersey Group 4 final as sophomore Jalen Parker threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Parker has thrown for 2,547 yards and 40 TDs. In the earlier win over Millville, he completed 13-of-20 passes for 132 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Nyqir Helton has caught 40 passes for 771 yards and 12 TDs while Wisconsin commit Cam Miller has 37 receptions for 641 yards and 12 scores.
Millville (9-2) at Winslow Township, (12-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
These two teams are very familiar with one another since they both compete in the WJFL American Division. Winslow Township won this year’s regular season meeting 35-7. It was the only game this year that Millville was held below three touchdowns. Millville outscored three teams 150-13 in winning the South Jersey Group 4 title. The Thunderbolts defeated Brick Memorial, 48-7 to win the sectional title. Sophomore Robert O’Conner has thrown for 2,118 yards and 24 TDs. The headliner is Alabama commit Lotzeir Brooks, who has caught 48 passes for 1,159 yards and 14 TDs. He missed the sectional championship game due to illness, but Jamal Wallace Jr. picked up the slack by rushing for 156 yards and four touchdowns. Winslow Township won its three playoff games, 150-22. The Eagles defeated Shawnee, 32-8 in the Central Jersey Group 4 final as sophomore Jalen Parker threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Parker has thrown for 2,547 yards and 40 TDs. In the earlier win over Millville, he completed 13-of-20 passes for 132 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Nyqir Helton has caught 40 passes for 771 yards and 12 TDs while Wisconsin commit Cam Miller has 37 receptions for 641 yards and 12 scores.
Group 5
Washington Township (10-2) at Toms River North (12-0), Friday, 6 p.m.
This is a rematch of last year’s Central Jersey Group 5 final that was won by Toms River North, 49-14. Toms River North will be a solid favorite, but the Mariners trailed Rancocas Valley, 20-7 early in the third quarter before scoring 35 unanswered points in a 42-27 victory in the South Jersey Group 5 final. Nasir Jackson led the second half surge by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Toms River North is the two-time defending state Group 5 champion. The Mariners aren’t considered as powerful as those past two teams, but the Mariners will still be awfully difficult to beat. Senior quarterback TJ Valerio has thrown for 2,039 yards and 23 TDs and run for 723 yards and eight scores. Washington Township has won five in a row since a 27-0 loss to Rancocas Valley. The Minutemen won their first sectional title since 1995 during last week’s 27-6 win over Atlantic City. Junior Jaylen Robinson led the way by rushing for touchdowns of 25 and 23 yards. Robinson is also among the team’s top players at linebacker. Junior Colin Bealer has rushed for 1,091 yards and 10 touchdowns while quarterback Cole Aquino has thrown for 1,573 yards and 11 scores.
Washington Township (10-2) at Toms River North (12-0), Friday, 6 p.m.
This is a rematch of last year’s Central Jersey Group 5 final that was won by Toms River North, 49-14. Toms River North will be a solid favorite, but the Mariners trailed Rancocas Valley, 20-7 early in the third quarter before scoring 35 unanswered points in a 42-27 victory in the South Jersey Group 5 final. Nasir Jackson led the second half surge by returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Toms River North is the two-time defending state Group 5 champion. The Mariners aren’t considered as powerful as those past two teams, but the Mariners will still be awfully difficult to beat. Senior quarterback TJ Valerio has thrown for 2,039 yards and 23 TDs and run for 723 yards and eight scores. Washington Township has won five in a row since a 27-0 loss to Rancocas Valley. The Minutemen won their first sectional title since 1995 during last week’s 27-6 win over Atlantic City. Junior Jaylen Robinson led the way by rushing for touchdowns of 25 and 23 yards. Robinson is also among the team’s top players at linebacker. Junior Colin Bealer has rushed for 1,091 yards and 10 touchdowns while quarterback Cole Aquino has thrown for 1,573 yards and 11 scores.
Photo: Coach Mike Schatzman of Washington Twp addressing his team after their sectional championship over Atlantic City / Marc Narducci
Author: Marc Narducci
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