High School Football Previews: Part II
High School Football Previews: South Jersey Groups 4-5 & Non-Public 2 Timber Creek and Toms River North will be looking to repeat as champions. Here is our preview of South Jersey Groups 4-5 and the Non-Public Group 2, which includes Holy Spirit.
South Jersey Group 4: No. 2 Timber Creek (11-0) vs. No. 1 Lenape (11-0), Sunday, 2:30 p.m. at Rowan.
This is Timber Creek's sixth consecutive championship appearance. The Chargers are the defending South champs. They also won Group 4 in 2012 and Group 3 in 2011 during this run. Timber Creek has the area's most prolific offense, averaging a South Jersey best 48.4 points. Junior quarterback Devin Leary has completed 175 of 282 passes (62.1 percent) for 3,331 yards, 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Senior wide receiver Ezrah Archie has 67 receptions for 1,131 yards and 18 touchdowns. Senior Dante Waugh-Hill has 35 receptions for 732 yards and 11 TDs. Senior defensive end Tony Brown has 62 tackles and eight sacks. The Chargers beat Absegami 59-21 in the first round and Shawnee, 38-14 in the semifinal in a game that was 17-14 after three quarters. Lenape defeated Woodrow Wilson, 21-11 and then Highland 28-6 in the second round. Defensive back Mike Doulong, who has a team-high eight interceptions, is out for the game due to a broken foot. Middle linebacker Mike Galaida is one of the defensive leaders of a unit that has allowed just 77 points all season. Junior JoJo Kellum (5.2 avg.) has rushed for 955 yards on 183 carries and 10 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Matt Lajoie has rushed for 721 yards (8.5 avg.) and 8 TDs. The Indians are seeking their first sectional title.
South Jersey Group 5: No. 3 Millville (9-2) vs. No. 1 Toms River North (11-0), Saturday, 6 p.m. at Rowan.
Millville defeated Cherokee 22-14 and then downed No. 2 Rancocas Valley, 32-15. Junior Tristan Harris has thrown for 1,420 yards and 20 Touchdowns. Junior Clayton Scott has rushed for 1,497 yards and 14 TDs. Defending champion Toms River North struggled in its playoff opener before beating Atlantic City, 27-20 before a semifinal 62-34 win over Howell. Senior Parker Day is the main offensive threat. He has rushed for 1,412 yards (9.7 avg.) and 23 TDs. Quarterback Mike Husni has completed 83 of 132 passes for 1,977 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions.
State Non-Public Group 2: No. 4 Holy Spirit (9-2) vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (11-0), Sunday, 1 p.m. at Kean University.
Holy Spirit advanced with a 42-6 first round win over Montclair Kimberly Academy and a 23-6 semifinal win over Immaculata. The Spartans have won three in a row, which includes a 29-25 win over Atlantic City on Thanksgiving. Justin Figueroa scored two rushing touchdowns to lead the win. Mater Dei has had no trouble in the postseason, winning 51-8 over St. Anthony in the first round and 26-0 against seven-time defending champion St. Joseph in the semifinal. As a comparative score, Holy Spirit beat St. Joseph 17-14 in overtime.
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