Winslow Township Ends Another Season As South Jersey’s Consensus No. 1 Football Team
The year wasn’t quite as dominant as the 2024 season, but Winslow Township ended in the same place – holding a state championship trophy once again.
The Eagles won their second straight state Group 4 championship and were the consensus No. 1 team in South Jersey for the second straight season.
This was only the fourth year of the NJSIAA conducting state championships for football.
In 2024 Winslow Township finished 14-0 and won all but one game by at least two touchdowns. The one exception was a 13-7 state Group 4 semifinal win over Millville.
This year’s team ended 12-2 and had some more competitive games, including a 14-12 nail-biter over Brick Memorial in the state Group 4 semifinal and even the 34-21 state championship win over Ramapo. In that game, Winslow Township trailed 21-18 in the fourth quarter before taking the lead for good 13-yard run by quarterback Jalen Parker and a two-point conversion pass from Parker to Quayd Hendryx that made the score 26-21. NaKeem Powell’s 1-yard touchdown run and a two-point pass from Parker to Nyqir Helton rounded out the scoring.
It must be noted that Winslow Township was 11-0 with Hendryx in the lineup. A Minnesota commit, Hendryx had to sit out the first three games of the season according to NJSIAA transfer rules after coming to Winslow Township from Burlington Township.
In the championship game he had five receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns and added a two-point conversion reception. He also returned a kickoff 88-yard for a touchdown in one of the great championship performances in recent South Jersey history.
Parker, the record-setting junior quarterback, completed 12 of 25 for 240 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 26 yards and a touchdown on two carries.
One reason why Winslow Township lost two games was that the Eagles beefed up the schedule. They opened with a 35-14 loss to nationally ranked IMG Academy of Bradenton, Florida in Ocean City’s Battle at the Beach event.
IMG Academy finished 9-0 and was ranked No. 7 nationally by Max Preps.
After a 47-0 win over Highland, Winslow Township lost to New Jersey power Bergen Catholic, 41-13 at home.
Bergen Catholic finished the season 8-3 but was ranked No. 3 in the final NJ.com state Top 20, two spots ahead of Winslow Township.
After that loss, Winslow Township won its final 11 games.
For the season the Eagles outscored opponents, 505-162.
Parker already owns the state record with 107 career touchdown passes. This season he threw for 3,296 yards and 43 touchdowns.
Helton, a North Carolina commit, had 60 receptions for 1,210 yards and 17 touchdowns. Hendryx added 43 receptions for 878 yards and 12 scores in 11 games.
Powell rushed for 927 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Senior defensive lineman Rob Carstarphen led the Eagles with 17.5 sacks.
Coach Bill Belton has assembled a South Jersey and state powerhouse.
Even though there are key losses to graduation, Winslow Township, led by Parker, will no doubt be a major threat to three-peat next season.
Winslow Township QB Jalen Parker No. 7
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Author: Marc Narducci
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