Staff Report
Well, we are officially past Week 1 and looking forward to Week 2 in the high school football season. Still way to early to tell who is going to come out on top of the South Jersey Football Frenzy Show Best 11 rankings, but we’re starting to see glimpses of who can do what this season.
The rankings, put together by show hosts Mark Trible and Coach Mac, feature the best 11 teams in the traditional seven South Jersey counties — Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington. Here’s a look at the current rankings, in descending order, heading into games this weekend:
11. Willingboro (2-0): The Chimeras are in a dogfight in the West Jersey Football League’s Continental Division with Gloucester and Haddonfield, as each team is undefeated so far. Willingboro, coached by former Winslow skipper Kenny Scott, beat Camden Eastside last week after a shutout victory over Salem in the opener. The Chimeras have allowed just six points so far this season. NEXT: at Haddonfield, Friday, 7pm.
10. Glassboro (1-0): The Bulldogs weren’t exactly satisfied with their season-opening 22-12 win over Haddon Heights last week, but this is a pretty talented team that will only get better in a few weeks when star Hammonton transfer running back Kenny Smith becomes eligible. He’ll add a dynamic to the Glassboro offense that most teams will be hard-pressed to stop. NEXT: at Penns Grove, Saturday, noon.
9. Cedar Creek (2-0): The Pirates are putting up some numbers early in the season, as they’ve racked up 61 points in two games. Aamir Dunbar looks as though he’s one pace to have one of the best seasons ever by a Creek running back. He rushed for more than 200 yards in last week’s 41-6 win over Absegami and already has 349 yards and five touchdowns in two games. He’s nearly at 2,000 career yards already and hasn’t even hit 300 carries yet. NEXT: at Atlantic City, Friday, 6 p.m.
8. Holy Spirit (1-1): The Spartans took out their frustration from a season-opening, 35-0 loss to Millville on Oakcrest last week, pounding out 265 yards on 40 carries in a 39-0 win over the Falcons. That’s definitely you’re grandpa’s Holy Spirit, ground-and-pound! NEXT: at Hammonton, Friday, 7 p.m.
7. Cherokee (2-0): The Chiefs have certainly taken care of business so far with wins over Middletown South and Lenape, but a different animal comes to ‘The Bowl’ this week in the form of St. Augustine Prep. Cherokee’s defense has been stout so far, allowing just five points per game, but it will be tested against a tough, physical Hermits team on Friday night. NEXT: hosts St. Augustine Prep, Friday, 6pm.
6. Camden (2-0): The Panthers have put up nearly 70 points in two games as the offense is humming right along under the direction of senior QB Mehki Brunson. He threw for 175 yards and a touchdown in a 30-0 win over Kingsway last week, but even more impressive was Camden’s running game. Five different backs combined for 256 rushing yards and three touchdowns. A big game this week on the road at Shawnee. NEXT: at Shawnee, Friday, 6pm.
5. Washington Township (2-0): Schatzy’s crew is finding its groove early with wins over Northern Highlands and Pennsauken. The offense isn’t lighting the world on fire just yet, but Colin Beeler is certainly making a name for himself. Last week he rushed 25 times for 157 yards and three touchdowns, and if Township can keep having success running the ball that will open things up for the combo of Cole Aquino and Dashawn Long in the passing game. NEXT: hosts Delsea, Friday, 6pm.
4. Mainland Regional (2-0): The Stangs lost a lot to graduation from their 14-0 state championship squad, but this team has reloaded and still has plenty of talent. Junior Jake Blum set a program record with 242 receiving yards — on just four catches — and scored three touchdowns in last week’s win over Hammonton. How good is Mainland? We’ll find out Friday night when they travel to No. 1 Millville, a team they took down in the playoffs last year. NEXT: at Millville, Friday, 6pm.
3. Winslow (2-0): One of five teams that are all undefeated in the WJFL American Division, Winslow pounded Highland, 53-14, last weekend, getting 233 passing yards and five touchdowns from sophomore QB Jalen Parker. On defense, Ausar Heard is making an early case for Defensive Player of the Year in the WJFL. He had eight tackles, including seven solo, against the Tartans. NEXT: at Williamstown, Friday, 7pm.
2. St. Augustine Prep (2-0): The Paul VI Eagles thought they could hang with the Hermits last week. They thought wrong. Prep’s defense pitched a shutout, Julian Turney rushed for nearly 100 yards, QB Ryan Stoehr passed for 109 yards and two scores, and the Hermits even got three field goals from Luke Tanzola. That ability to pop in a field goal or two may come in handy against Cherokee this week. NEXT: at Cherokee, Friday, 6pm.
- Millville (2-0): So far the Thunderbolts have looked like men playing against boys, as they have dismantled Holy Spirit and Atlantic City and allowed just six points in two games. The defense had NINE sacks against Atlantic City. Holy smokes! NEXT: hosts Mainland, Friday, 6pm.
