South Jersey Football Year In Review
It was another great year in South Jersey high school football. Here is one last look at the 2024 season.
Team of the Year
Winslow Township went 14-0, winning the area’s top division (WJFL American) and then winning the school’s first state Group 4 championship. (It was only the third year that the NJSIAA held a state championship for public school teams).
The Eagles won their five playoff games by a 197-29 margin, capped by a 35-0 victory over Phillipsburg in the state Group 4 championship. The only competitive playoff game was a 13-7 state semifinal win over Millville. Coach Bill Belton had an explosive offense and a relentless defense. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker threw for 2,916 yards and 43 touchdowns. Kentucky signee Cam Miller was a force on both sides of the ball with 42 receptions for 722 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with two interceptions. He also had two punt returns for touchdowns.
Winslow Township went 14-0, winning the area’s top division (WJFL American) and then winning the school’s first state Group 4 championship. (It was only the third year that the NJSIAA held a state championship for public school teams).
The Eagles won their five playoff games by a 197-29 margin, capped by a 35-0 victory over Phillipsburg in the state Group 4 championship. The only competitive playoff game was a 13-7 state semifinal win over Millville. Coach Bill Belton had an explosive offense and a relentless defense. Sophomore quarterback Jalen Parker threw for 2,916 yards and 43 touchdowns. Kentucky signee Cam Miller was a force on both sides of the ball with 42 receptions for 722 yards and 14 touchdowns, along with two interceptions. He also had two punt returns for touchdowns.
Player of the Year
Millville senior receiver-defensive back Lotzeir Brooks was a force on offense and defense. This season he had 54 receptions for 1,260 yards and 16 touchdowns. According to South Jersey historian Chuck Langerman, Brooks has the most career receiving yards (4,615), receiving touchdowns (67) and points (506) in state history. This season he also recorded three interceptions. Brooks has signed with Alabama.
Millville senior receiver-defensive back Lotzeir Brooks was a force on offense and defense. This season he had 54 receptions for 1,260 yards and 16 touchdowns. According to South Jersey historian Chuck Langerman, Brooks has the most career receiving yards (4,615), receiving touchdowns (67) and points (506) in state history. This season he also recorded three interceptions. Brooks has signed with Alabama.
Best Single Game Performance
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That would go to Glassboro senior running back Kenny Smith. During Glassboro’s 56-14 state championship win over previously unbeaten Cedar Grove, Smith rushed for 402 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries, a hefty 20.1 yards per carry. Smith had two TD runs of 80 yards, another of two yards and a fourth of 60 yards.
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That would go to Glassboro senior running back Kenny Smith. During Glassboro’s 56-14 state championship win over previously unbeaten Cedar Grove, Smith rushed for 402 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries, a hefty 20.1 yards per carry. Smith had two TD runs of 80 yards, another of two yards and a fourth of 60 yards.
Game of the Year
Mainland earned a berth in the Group 4 state championship game by defeating previously unbeaten Somerville, 36-35 in overtime during a state Group 4 semifinal. After Somerville scored a touchdown to take a 35-28 lead in overtime, Mainland got to within 35-34 on Rocco DeBiaso’s 7-yard run. Mainland coach Chuck Smith elected to go for the two-point conversion and the move paid off when John Franchini hit Jake Blum with the two-point conversion pass for the win. Blum enjoyed a monster game with 10 receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Mainland earned a berth in the Group 4 state championship game by defeating previously unbeaten Somerville, 36-35 in overtime during a state Group 4 semifinal. After Somerville scored a touchdown to take a 35-28 lead in overtime, Mainland got to within 35-34 on Rocco DeBiaso’s 7-yard run. Mainland coach Chuck Smith elected to go for the two-point conversion and the move paid off when John Franchini hit Jake Blum with the two-point conversion pass for the win. Blum enjoyed a monster game with 10 receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown.
Coach of the Year
Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker played on consecutive unbeaten sectional championship teams for the Bulldogs. As Glassboro’s coach, he guided the Bulldogs to this year’s 13-0 and state Group 1 championship, the first for the school (again, it was only the third year of state championships for public schools). Breaker had the Bulldogs hit their stride when it mattered most—during the postseason. In five playoff games, Glassboro outscored teams, 241-38. To demonstrate the improvement, Glassboro beat Woodstown, 20-7 in the regular season and 36-0 in the state Group 1 semifinal.
Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker played on consecutive unbeaten sectional championship teams for the Bulldogs. As Glassboro’s coach, he guided the Bulldogs to this year’s 13-0 and state Group 1 championship, the first for the school (again, it was only the third year of state championships for public schools). Breaker had the Bulldogs hit their stride when it mattered most—during the postseason. In five playoff games, Glassboro outscored teams, 241-38. To demonstrate the improvement, Glassboro beat Woodstown, 20-7 in the regular season and 36-0 in the state Group 1 semifinal.
Photo: Millville's Lotzeir Brooks / Marc Narducci
Author: Marc Narducci
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