HS Foootball: Group 4 Playoff Chase

The race for the South Jersey high school football playoffs is heating up and nowhere is it more exciting than Group 4. What makes the race interesting is not only who’s at the top, but also the bottom teams trying to earn the eighth and final spot.

The eight teams with the highest power ratings following eight games will qualify in each group. A power rating is compiled by multiplying the number two by the Group size of a beaten opponent and then adding a bonus point for every win by that beaten opponent.

For instance, if a team earns a win over a 6-0 Group 4 school, that would be 14 power rating points (2 x 4 plus 6).

Group 4 still has eight undefeated teams, Toms River East, Mainland, Shawnee and Vineland. All those teams are already assured spots as is Cherokee (6-1)

On less they stumble, Winslow Township, Washington Township should also qualify. Both are 4-2 and favored in their final two games before the cutoff. Both teams play Lenape (3-3) and Rancocas Valley (0-6) before the cutoff.

That leaves one spot open with plenty of contenders. The team that earns the eighth and final berth will have at least three losses. It’s possible that a team could qualify with four losses.

The contenders are Eastern (4-3), Absegami (3-3), Egg Harbor Township (3-3) Millville (3-3 and Lenape (3-3). Since Absegami plays Millville this week, the loser is likely out. Absegami also meets Atlantic City (2-4) before the cutoff, while Millville has to play Ocean City (3-3)..

Egg Harbor Township faces Pennsylvania’s Academy Park and Oakcrest before the cutoff and the Eagles will be favored in both games.

Lenape has a difficult task, with games against Winslow Township and Washington Township. The team with the most difficult task, however is Eastern.

The Vikings were upset last week, 20-14 by Pennsauken. That was a Pennsauken team that entered the game 1-4, but had played much better than its record indicates.

Eastern has just one game before the cutoff and it couldn’t have been against a more difficult opponent. The Vikings face a 6-0 Shawnee team that has allowed all of 12 points the entire season. Shawnee also hasn’t surrendered a touchdown in 17 quarters.

"We have out work cut out for us," Eastern coach Dan Spittal understated. "But at least we have a chance and we control our own destiny."

If Eastern wins, the Vikings are likely in, but Absegami would be close if the Braves win their two games. It could come down to the bonus points.

Either way, Eastern can make its season with a win over Shawnee. This has been a difficult season for the Vikings, who were considered a preseason Top 10 team. During the preseason, Eastern wide receiver Matt Spittal, son of the coach, suffered a season-ending knee injury. Spittal was considered one of the top receivers in South Jersey.

"It’s been a tough loss," Dan Spittal said. "He not only was our top receiver, but he returned kicks and punts and played corner for us."

Solving Shawnee’s defense will be a difficult task, but Eastern senior Anthony Orio is among the top quarterbacks in South Jersey and junior running back Jahre Cheeseman has rushed for more than 900 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Cheeseman and his teammates will need a supreme effort to beat Shawnee, a possible but difficult task.

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Author: Marc Narducci