Staff Report
The 2024 high school football season is underway, and it’s never too early to kick off the South Jersey Football Frenzy Show’s Best 11 rankings!
Hosted by South Jersey Glory Days Senior Football Writer Mark Trible, the show — broadcast on Facebook.com/sjglorydays each Wednesday night at 7 — finishes each episode with the rankings of the top 11 teams in the traditional seven South Jersey counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington. Last season’s No. 1 team was Mainland Regional, as the Mustangs went undefeated at 14-0 and won a state championship.
Here’s the first edition of this season’s Best 11, in descending order:
11. Cedar Creek (1-0): The Pirates got past Camden Eastside at the Battle at the Beach as stud junior RB Aamir Dunbar bulldozed his way to 147 yards and two scores on 23 carries. Expect a lot of ground game this season for the Pirates, who ran the ball 38 times in the first game. NEXT: host Absegami on Friday at 6 p.m.
10. Glassboro (0-0): The Bulldogs will have to wait a few weeks for star Hammonton transfer Kenny Smith to become eligible, but they are itching to get started. This is a team that won nine games a year ago with its leading quarterback, receiver and running back all freshmen. NEXT: at Haddon Heights on Saturday at 11 a.m.
9. Paul VI (1-0): The Eagles ripped Nottingham, 42-7, in the season opener and get a huge test on Friday night at St. Augustine Prep. Paul VI rushed for nearly 200 yards against Nottingham, but yard won’t come easily against the Hermits. NEXT: at St. Augustine Prep on Friday at 6 p.m.
8. Holy Spirit (0-1): Sparty may have lost by 35 to Millville in the season opener, but Spirit was right there throughout the first half, trailing just 14-0 before Lotzeir Brooks ran wild in the second half. This is still a good football team, and they’ll get a chance to prove it against up-and-comer Oakcrest this week. NEXT: host Oakcrest on Friday at 6 p.m.
7. Cherokee (1-0): Blanked Middletown South, 30-0, at the Battle at the Beach. Cooper Berti threw for nearly 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns while DB Darwin Walker had a pick-6, blocked a field goal and caught a touchdown pass. NEXT: at Lenape on Friday at 6 p.m.
6. Camden (1-0): In a 39-17 win over St. Christopher (Va.) in the opener, QB Mahki Brunson threw for 239 yards and four TDs. Kingsway is gonna have its hands full this week! NEXT: at Kingsway on Friday at 6 p.m.
5. Washington Township (1-0): The Minutemen followed up last season’s impressive record with a 23-8 win over Northern Highlands at the Battle at the Beach. New RB Colin Beeler rushed 25 times for 122 yards and two scores, while junior QB Cole Aquino was 14-of-19 for 184 yards. NEXT: at Pennsauken on Friday at 6 p.m.
4. Mainland Regional (1-0): Mainland was just being Mainland at the Battle at the Beach, fighting back from an early deficit to beat Atlantic City, 30-18. Jake Blum had a pair of touchdowns, QB John Franchini passed for nearly 200 yards and the Stangs had more than 350 total yards. NEXT: host Hammonton on Friday at 6 p.m.
3. Winslow (1-0): The Eagles cruised past Montclair in the season opener, but will have to mind their P’s and Q’s the rest of the season as a second-half scuffle led to a pair of ejections. One more the rest of the season and the Eagles will be disqualified from the state playoffs. On the field, they looked good as Montclair had minus-7 rushing yards. NEXT: host Highland on Saturday at 7 p.m.
2. St. Augustine Prep (1-0): Prep blasted Donovan Catholic, 35-6, in the season opener. Julian Turney, a beast of a RB, racked up 127 yards and two TDs on 18 carries, while the Hermits defense limited the Griffins to just 46 rushing yards. NEXT: host Paul VI on Friday at 6 p.m.
- Millville (1-0): The Bolts will be No. 1 until somebody knocks them off, although that looks like a tough challenge after Millville raced past Holy Spirit, 35-0, in the opener. Alabama commit Lotzeir Brooks might be the best player in the state and now holds the New Jersey all-time receiving touchdown record with 54 in his career. NEXT: host Atlantic City on Friday at 6 p.m.
