By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
@tortreports on Instagram
SEWELL — Entering Friday night’s highly anticipated contest between Winslow and Washington Township, one thing was certainly inevitable — Inclement weather.
As a packed house of approximately 3,000 fans surrounding Tom Brown Field dispersed after a near-hour long lightning delay at halftime, another thing also proved to be inevitable — Jalen Parker.
Lightning wasn’t the only thing brightening up Sewell on homecoming.
Behind five total touchdowns from the star quarterback, Washington Township, ranked No. 1 in the latest South Jersey Football Frenzy Show Best 11 Rankings, rolled past Parker’s former team, No. 8 Winslow, 42-17, in The Stucco Pros Game of the Week.
“His menu is a diner size,” Washington Township coach Mike Schatzman said of Parker. “The things he can do as far as throwing the ball and the run stuff is huge. Having the ability to do that, on top of what we can do in our run game, it adds to everything we can do. He’s a special talent, and he’s elite in a lot of different facets.”
Parker’s first three scores came on short quarterback keepers in the first half as the Minutemen jumped out to a 28-3 lead on Winslow — the team Parker led to back-to-back state championships in 2024 and 2025. Coming out of the locker room after a long delay, he opened the second half with an 11-yard touchdown run. His lone passing score of the night came on an 8-yard strike to Issac Parra that kickstarted the running clock late in the third quarter.
After building a 42-3 lead, the state’s all-time touchdowns passing leader watched the entire final quarter from the sidelines.
“Everyone knew it was a big thing to me,” Parker said of playing against his former program. “Everyone put their all into this game. It’s my old school. I love them to death, but I had to come out with the win.”
Senior lineman Gabe Palaganas anchored a dominant defensive effort for Washington Township (8-0, 4-0 West Jersey Football League American) that didn’t allow Winslow (4-3, 1-3 WJFL American) to reach the end zone until the 4:12 mark in the third quarter. A four-year starter and key member of last year’s Group 5 state championship squad, Palaganas got pressure early and often, recording four sacks for the Minutemen.
“We were here to make a statement,” Palaganas said. “I think we get underrated almost. In a big game like this, I come to make plays in big games. These are the games I come to play. I’ve been here four years, and these are my last six games, hopefully, coming up.
“As a defense, collectively, we’re coming to make a statement every single time.”
Added Schatzman: “Gabe has taken a selfless role this year because he’s taking more double and triple teams. He’s done that for us for 45-plus games.”
The victory marked the 22nd in a row for Washington Township, which is the state’s longest active winning streak. The mark also broke a school record of 21 consecutive victories, achieved during the 1993 season, according to Washington Township athletic director George Passante.
“That was definitely our best performance to date, for sure, as far as all three phases,” Schatzman said.
Regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in New Jersey history, Parker won two Group 4 state titles over the last two years at Winslow under the direction of coach Bill Belton. During the offseason, Belton departed Winslow for St. Augustine Prep, which led Parker to go through a whirlwind of transfers that ultimately ended with him at Washington Township.
In the final regular season game of the year, the two will face off against each other in a Brady-Belichick type of clash — high school football edition. Washington Township travels to St. Augustine Prep next Friday night in a battle of two of the state’s best teams.
“I’m just looking forward to going out there and trying to find any way to win,” Parker said when asked about facing his former coach. “I know it may be a little hard, (St. Augustine) has good athletes, you can’t doubt them.”
Schatzman said he hopes to extend the program’s winning streak next week and said he looks forward to taking on St. Augustine with Belton at the helm.
“Bill does a great job,” Schatzman said. “Bill and I are friendly and tight. When you have the opportunity to play teams like that, whether it’s Bill at Winslow or St. Augustine, you know they’re the teams you’re going to see in sectional finals and at MetLife (formerly Giants Stadium, site of the state championship game).
“For us, realistically, I don’t want to say it’s another game. It’s not. It’s a divisional game and we have the opportunity to win the division outright. Secure the No. 1 seed in Group 5, which is obviously a big deal for us. It’s going to be a Game-Of-The-Year type of atmosphere. It’s private vs public, it’s cool.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Washington Township travels to St. Augustine Prep on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. Winslow travels to Millville on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m.
