Staff Report

As the saying goes, it gets late early in high school football. Although we’re technically only entering Week 2, most teams will be playing their third game, or about 1/3 of their regular season. After this weekend we’ll start to see some divisional races in the West Jersey Football League take shape, and we’ll get the first glimpses of who will be fighting for their playoff lives come October.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s schedule and some key games to watch:

TONIGHT

6pm: Bishop Eustace at Lindenwold; Pemberton at Burlington City.

FRIDAY

6pm: Moorestown at Northern Burlington; Lenape at Ocean City; Vineland at Eastern; Triton at Cherry Hill East; St. Augustine Prep at Cherokee; St. Joseph Academy at Absegami; KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy at Buena; Timber Creek at Kingsway; Delsea Regional at Washington Township; Cedar Creek at Atlantic City; Audubon at Bordentown; Cumberland at Oakcrest; Delran at Cinnaminson; Camden at Shawnee; Mastery Camden at Sterling; Mainland at Millville; Camden Eastside at Rancocas Valley.

7pm: Pleasantville at Seneca; Schalick at Woodstown; Gloucester at Paul VI; Wildwood at Gateway; Winslow at Williamstown; Collingswood at West Deptford; Clayton at Haddon Township; Willingboro at Haddonfield; Holy Spirit at Hammonton.

SATURDAY

10am: Cherry Hill West at Clearview.

10:30am: Camden Catholic at Paulsboro.

11am: Pennsville at Overbrook; Burlington Township at Haddon Heights; Pitman at Gloucester Catholic; Salem at Woodbury.

Noon: Glassboro at Penns Grove; Deptford at Atlantic Tech.

KEY GAMES

No. 4 Mainland at No. 1 Millville, Friday, 6pm — This is a huge rematch from last year’s state playoffs, as Mainland took down the Bolts in Millville on their way to a perfect 14-0 season and a state championship. You know the Bolts are smarting from that loss and want a little payback, but it won’t be easy. Mainland has an experienced quarterback in John Franchini, the Stangs always play tough defense and the coaching staff burns the midnight oil trying to come up with solid game plans. They’ll be ready.

South Jersey Glory Days coverage: Sully (on X @GDsullysays)

No. 2 St. Augustine Prep at No. 7 Cherokee, Friday, 6 p.m. — Another matchup of Top-11 teams in the South Jersey Glory Days/South Jersey Football Frenzy Best 11 rankings, both teams have something to prove. The Hermits want to show they are the best team in South Jersey and can compete with big-time North Jersey parochial powers, while Cherokee will be looking to show what a well-coached and talented public school team can do against the Hermits. Should be a great one!

South Jersey Glory Days coverage: Mark Trible (on X @Mtrible)

Collingswood at West Deptford, Friday, 7 p.m. — Are the Colls the team to beat in the WJFL Patriot? We’ll find out this weekend. Not a big squad but they are gritty, taking on the persona of head coach Mike McKeown. The Panthers are off to a 2-0 start and could take a nice little lead in the division with a win over divisional foe West Deptford. The Eagles lost a tough one at the Battle at the Beach but showed resiliency by bouncing back with a 29-26 win over Pennsville last week. West Deptford ran the ball 30 times for 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns, so Collingswood’s front seven better be ready.

South Jersey Glory Days coverage: Brian Tortella (on X @tortreports)

Pitman at Gloucester Catholic, Saturday, 11 a.m. — A couple of small school’s going at it in this one, jockeying for position in the WJFL Royal Division. Pitman likes to control the clock with the running game, so the Rams will have to do what they can to force some turnovers and get good field position.