South Jersey Football Games of the Week
Five teams from the seven-county South Jersey area will vie for state championships. This is only the fourth year that the NJSIAA has held state championships for public schools. Here is a preview of those games
Friday at MetLife Stadium
Group 5 state final
Passaic Tech (10-3) vs. Washington Township (13-0), 1 p.m.
Jaylen Robinson, who didn’t carry the ball in the first half, scored on runs of 12 and 80 yards in the second half as Washington Township advanced to the state final with a 35-27 state semifinal win over Kingsway. Quarterback Cole Aquino threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns. The Minutemen have scored 35 or more points in 12 of their 13 games. Passaic Tech advanced with a 23-14 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in the North Jersey Group 5 state semifinal. Kadir Younge rushed for nearly 150 yards and three touchdowns. Ahmad Williams contributed two interceptions. The Bulldogs have won seven in a row since losing, 41-7 to Group 4 state finalist Ramapo.
Passaic Tech (10-3) vs. Washington Township (13-0), 1 p.m.
Jaylen Robinson, who didn’t carry the ball in the first half, scored on runs of 12 and 80 yards in the second half as Washington Township advanced to the state final with a 35-27 state semifinal win over Kingsway. Quarterback Cole Aquino threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns. The Minutemen have scored 35 or more points in 12 of their 13 games. Passaic Tech advanced with a 23-14 win over Bridgewater-Raritan in the North Jersey Group 5 state semifinal. Kadir Younge rushed for nearly 150 yards and three touchdowns. Ahmad Williams contributed two interceptions. The Bulldogs have won seven in a row since losing, 41-7 to Group 4 state finalist Ramapo.
Group 3 state final
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Old Tappan (12-0) vs. Cedar Creek (11-2), 4 p.m.
A week after defeating Mainland, 34-28 in a Classic South Jersey Group 3 championship game, Cedar Creek earned a trip to the state final with a 48-38 win at Holmdel in a state Group 3 semifinal. Cedar Creek senior Frenchmon Bethea threw four touchdown passes, ran for two others and intercepted two passes. Old Tappan (12-0) defeated previously-unbeaten West Morris 35-0 in the North Jersey Group 3 semifinal.
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Old Tappan (12-0) vs. Cedar Creek (11-2), 4 p.m.
A week after defeating Mainland, 34-28 in a Classic South Jersey Group 3 championship game, Cedar Creek earned a trip to the state final with a 48-38 win at Holmdel in a state Group 3 semifinal. Cedar Creek senior Frenchmon Bethea threw four touchdown passes, ran for two others and intercepted two passes. Old Tappan (12-0) defeated previously-unbeaten West Morris 35-0 in the North Jersey Group 3 semifinal.
Sunday, Nov. 30 at Rutgers
Group 1 state final
Cedar Grove (10-3) vs. Glassboro (13-0), noon
This is a rematch of last year’s state championship in which Glassboro won, 56-14. Glassboro has now won 26 consecutive games. The Bulldogs haven’t really been challenged since their opening game when the Bulldogs beat eventual South Jersey Group 2 champion Haddonfield, 36-20. Glassboro has won every other game by 28 or more points. The Bulldogs beat Central Jersey Group 1 champ Burlington City, 44-8 in last week’s Group 1 state semifinal. Amari Sabb rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow receiver-defensive back Xavier Sabb, Amari’s brother, is considered among the top juniors in the country. Cedar Grove advanced with a 24-21 win over previously unbeaten Butler in the North Jersey state semifinal. Sebastian Kovacs kicked the game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired. Quarterback Pierce Asfalg completed 22-of-30 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Cedar Grove (10-3) vs. Glassboro (13-0), noon
This is a rematch of last year’s state championship in which Glassboro won, 56-14. Glassboro has now won 26 consecutive games. The Bulldogs haven’t really been challenged since their opening game when the Bulldogs beat eventual South Jersey Group 2 champion Haddonfield, 36-20. Glassboro has won every other game by 28 or more points. The Bulldogs beat Central Jersey Group 1 champ Burlington City, 44-8 in last week’s Group 1 state semifinal. Amari Sabb rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow receiver-defensive back Xavier Sabb, Amari’s brother, is considered among the top juniors in the country. Cedar Grove advanced with a 24-21 win over previously unbeaten Butler in the North Jersey state semifinal. Sebastian Kovacs kicked the game-winning 49-yard field goal as time expired. Quarterback Pierce Asfalg completed 22-of-30 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Group 4 state final
Ramapo (11-1) vs. Winslow (11-2), 3 p.m.
Winslow Township is the defending state champion and the Eagles have won 10 in a row. Most of those wins were by considerable margin, but Winslow Township was tested to the limit in a 14-12 state semifinal win over Brick Memorial. Junior Jalen Parker threw two touchdown passes, giving him 105 for his career. Benji Carter led the defensive effort against Brick with three sacks. Ramapo advanced with a 41-20 state semifinal win over Phillipsburg. Quarterback Casey Grusser completed 16-of-17 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, He also ran for a TD.
Ramapo (11-1) vs. Winslow (11-2), 3 p.m.
Winslow Township is the defending state champion and the Eagles have won 10 in a row. Most of those wins were by considerable margin, but Winslow Township was tested to the limit in a 14-12 state semifinal win over Brick Memorial. Junior Jalen Parker threw two touchdown passes, giving him 105 for his career. Benji Carter led the defensive effort against Brick with three sacks. Ramapo advanced with a 41-20 state semifinal win over Phillipsburg. Quarterback Casey Grusser completed 16-of-17 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, He also ran for a TD.
Wednesday, Dec. 3 at Rutgers
Group 2 state final
Shabazz (11-1) vs. Camden (10-2), 5 p.m.
This game is being played next week because Camden has a Thanksgiving game against long-time city rival Eastside. Camden won 37-18 at Haddonfield in a state Group 2 semifinal. The Panthers’ only losses were to Shawnee, 21-20, and to Group 4 state finalist Winslow Township, 26-8. Senior Ahmad Jones threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns against Haddonfield and ran for another score. Camden set the tone early by jumping out to a 24-0 lead. Shabazz also plays Thanksgiving against Weequahic. The Bulldogs beat Westwood, 36-6 in the state semifinal. Faheem Ausbon led the way with four touchdowns, three on the ground and a fourth on a 30-yard interception return. It was Shabazz’s ninth consecutive win since a lopsided loss to perennial Non-Public A power St. Peter’s Prep.
Shabazz (11-1) vs. Camden (10-2), 5 p.m.
This game is being played next week because Camden has a Thanksgiving game against long-time city rival Eastside. Camden won 37-18 at Haddonfield in a state Group 2 semifinal. The Panthers’ only losses were to Shawnee, 21-20, and to Group 4 state finalist Winslow Township, 26-8. Senior Ahmad Jones threw for 229 yards and two touchdowns against Haddonfield and ran for another score. Camden set the tone early by jumping out to a 24-0 lead. Shabazz also plays Thanksgiving against Weequahic. The Bulldogs beat Westwood, 36-6 in the state semifinal. Faheem Ausbon led the way with four touchdowns, three on the ground and a fourth on a 30-yard interception return. It was Shabazz’s ninth consecutive win since a lopsided loss to perennial Non-Public A power St. Peter’s Prep.
Photo: Cedar Creek's No. 1 Jahmir Campfield returning a kick / Marc Narducci
Author: Marc Narducci
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