Staff Report

We’re through seven weeks of the high school football season, and while there has been virtually no change at the top of the South Jersey Glory Days/South Jersey Football Frenzy Show Best 11 Rankings, there was a bit of musical chairs this week after Washington Township’s dramatic 27-25 win over Winslow on the final play of the game Friday night. Here’s how the list stacks up this week:

(Editor’s note: The Best 11 rankings are made up of teams playing in the West Jersey Football League who hail from the traditional seven South Jersey counties of Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, Camden and Burlington.)

11. Willingboro (5-2): The Chimeras replace Shawnee at No. 11, and for good reason. Willingboro has won four straight — including a tough four-point win over Camden Eastside — and one of its losses is by two points to undefeated Timber Creek. QB Lamar Best has thrown for nearly 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns.

10. Winslow (5-2): The Eagles drop down below Washington Township after their loss on Friday night, but this is still a very good team. The squad had been on a five-game winning streak before the Minutemen drove 99 yards and scored on a Hail Mary as time expired. Freshman QB Jalen Parker threw three touchdowns passes in the loss and has 15 on the year to go along with nearly 1,200 yards.

9. Washington Township (5-2): The Minutemen scored a thrilling win over Winslow when DaShawn Long ran under a tipped ball in the end zone as time expired, completing the Hair Mary throw from sophomore QB Cole Aquino. Township is riding a three-game winning streak, can it keep it going this week at Shawnee? We’ll see Friday night.

8. Holy Spirit (6-1): Sparty has a week off to get healthy for Kingsway, then it’s on to the state playoffs. Sophomore Emir Hicks is starting to emerge as a pretty good running back, as he has nearly 500 yards on 81 carries.

7. Timber Creek (6-0): The Chargers scored a confidence-building 21-14 win over Hammonton last week, limiting all-state running back Kenny Smith to 84 yards while, most importantly, keeping him out of the end zone. Creek has proven it can win close games and blowouts, and finishes its regular season against Williamstown and Eastern, both on the road. The Chargers are knocking on the door of the Top 5.

6. Camden (6-1): The Panthers have ripped off six straight wins and took down previously undefeated Haddonfield last week, registering seven sacks in the victory. Defensively, only Lake Taylor (Va.) has scored more than one touchdown against Camden all year.

5. Delsea (5-1): The Crusaders responded to a September loss to Winslow by winning their next four straight, scoring at least 25 points each time. Delsea has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards in six games, and in typical Crusaders fashion, they have just 22 passing attempts all year.

4. Cherokee (5-1): The Chiefs followed up their only loss of the year, a 3-0 setback against St. Augustine Prep, with three straight shutouts. Murad Campfield is averaging better than six yards per carry and has scored seven touchdowns.

3. St. Augustine Prep (5-2): Prep’s only losses this season have come against No. 1 Millville and Donovan Catholic, one of the top teams in the Shore Conference, on the road in the season opener. Three of the Hermits’ five wins have come against teams who were ranked in our Best 11 when they played. Matthew Bonczek, a junior linebacker and brother of former star Joe Bonczek, leads the defense with 42 tackles and DE Ugo Nwotite just picked up his seventh Division I offer.

2. Mainland Regional (7-0): The Mustangs continue to churn through opponents like a pasta maker, and don’t expect that to change anytime soon. The Stangs have put up 30+ points five times this season and have rushed for more than 1,600 yards to go along with 30 rushing touchdowns.

1. Millville (5-1): The Bolts’ only loss was to Toms River North, one of the top teams in the state, in the season opener. Since then, Millville has answered every challenge, having beaten Irvington, St. Augustine Prep and Shawnee. They have Ocean City next then a big showdown with No. 4 Cherokee on the road on Oct. 20.

ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION: Haddonfield (5-1), Kingsway (5-2), Camden Eastside (4-2), Paul VI (5-1), Atlantic City (6-1).