By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
On X @GDsullysays
It’s sectional championship weekend! At least, for the public schools in New Jersey it is. Here’s a quick look at the matchups involving South Jersey teams, and what I think each team has to do in order to hoist the blue trophy.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1
(2) Schalick at (1) Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Schalick wins if: This one is simple (or maybe not so?) for Schalick — find a way to somehow contain Glassboro senior Kenny Smith. Of course, he’s one of the best running backs in South Jersey history with more than 4,000 yards. So, good luck with that! But if anybody can do it, the Cougars can. They lost just 20-10 to Glassboro about a month ago.
Glassboro wins if: They don’t get too cute. You have a great defense, lean on that, and just keep giving the ball to No. 3. He’ll carry it 40 times if he has to in order to win a title, and he typically gets better the more carries he gets in a game.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 2
(2) Point Pleasant Boro at (1) Camden, 6 p.m.
Point Boro wins if: They keep Camden to less than 20 points. The Panthers are just 2-2 when their opponent scores more than 20, so they have to play good defense, which won’t be easy considering how talented Camden’s playmakers are.
Camden wins if: QB Mehki Brunson is careful with the ball, but not too careful. He’s a dynamic playmaker, so coach Rob Hinson doesn’t want to tug on the reins too much, but if Camden turns the ball over a couple of times they could be in trouble. Brunson does have 10 picks this season, but if Camden gets the running game going, watch out. They’ve rushed for nearly 2,500 yards this season.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 3
(4) Seneca at (2) Mainland Regional, 6 p.m.
Seneca wins if: QB Anthony Tirico makes enough big plays, with both his arm and legs. He has more than 1,600 yards passing and almost 900 rushing, and is the Golden Eagles’ No. 1 offensive option on every snap.
Mainland wins if: They get enough out of the running game to keep Seneca’s defense honest. The Stangs have rushed for less than 800 yards this season, but if they can stay committed enough to the run that will open things up for QB John Franchini, who has thrown for 1,700 yards and 17 touchdowns in his junior season.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 4
(3) Shawnee at (1) Winslow, Saturday, 1 p.m.
Shawnee wins if: They can get some turnovers and short fields. To have any chance against a top 10 team in the state that is undefeated and shredding everybody, you need a little luck to go your way.
Winslow wins if: They just keep doing what they have been doing. They’ve been outscoring opponents 118-14 in the playoffs, and only two teams (Highland and Mainland) have scored more than one touchdowns against the Eagles all season.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 5
(2) Rancocas Valley at (1) Toms River North, 6 p.m.
Rancocas Valley wins if: The Red Devils get a huge game out of senior receiver Brody Deiter. He’s one of the best in South Jersey with nearly 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns on 63 catches.
Toms River North wins if: They get a lead early and pound the ball on the ground. The Mariners have scored 27 rushing touchdowns this season. If they get a lead, RV will be behind the 8-ball.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 1
(2) Shore Regional at (1) Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Shore wins if: The Blue Devils can run the ball effectively and play stout defense — that’s their calling card.
Woodstown wins if: It uses the momentum of the home crowd and jumps out to an early lead. That’s a really long bus ride Shore has to go on, so if the Wolverines can get out by two scores it’s going to be tough for Shore to come back.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 3
(7) Delsea Regional at (1) Somerville, 7 p.m.
Delsea wins if: It gives the ball to Dan Russo about a million times! Delsea has to stick with Delsea football, and that means going on 9-minute drives that eat up most of a quarter. Keep the ball out of Somerville’s hands and the Crusaders have a shot.
Somerville wins if: They can get the ball into the hands of the offense and QB Braden Pacheco (1,415 yards, 22 TDs, 3 INTs) and RB Terrell Mitchell (1,188 yards, 17 TDs). They have to force a few 3-and-outs on defense to get control of the ball.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 4
(2) Brick Memorial at (1) Millville, 6 p.m.
Brick Memorial wins if: It can find a way to bottle up Millville WR Lotzeir Brooks, one of the best players New Jersey has ever seen and a University of Alabama recruit. He can put the game away anytime he touches the ball.
Millville wins if: They do enough in the running game to make Brick Memorial make a choice about who to defend. If Memorial starts stacking the box to stop the run, it’s Brooks time.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP 5
(2) Atlantic City at (1) Washington Township, 6 p.m.
Atlantic City wins if: The Vikings get some big plays from Ice Cup. Senior WR Sah’nye Degraffenreidt will arguably be the best player on the field, and if A.C. gets a score or two from him, the Vikings will be in business.
Washington Township wins if: The Minutemen get off to a good start. In their two losses, they’ve scored just seven first-half points. They need an early score to get the crowd into it and force Atlantic City to play catch-up.
NOTE: St. Augustine Prep drew the No. 6 seed in Non-Public A and travels to No. 3 Delbarton on Saturday at 1 p.m. In the Non-Public B quarterfinals, Paul VI and Holy Spirit are still alive and play tonight. Paul VI travels to No. 1 DePaul Catholic, while Spirit is the No. 4 seed and hosts No. 5 St. Thomas Aquinas at 6 p.m.
