Questions Centering On Another South Jersey Football Season
High school football training camps are open in South Jersey with the season upon us. Some South Jersey teams will open in the first weekend of September, with the majority beginning play the second weekend. Here are three pressing questions as we get ready to begin another season. 1. Can Timber Creek three-peat?
The Chargers have won the last two South Jersey Group 4 titles, last year in convincing style with a 31-10 title game win over Lenape to finish out a 12-0 season. With record-setting quarterback Devin Leary returning, the Chargers should again be formidable on offense. Leary threw 48 TD passes last year but the Chargers may be more well-rounded this year, with the addition of St. Augustine transfer and all-South Jersey running back Kyle Dobbins, a Temple commit. One interesting change is that Timber Creek has moved from SJ Group 4 to SJ Group 3, where the Chargers automatically move into the favorite’s role?
2. What is the best division in South Jersey?
This one is truly subjective, but the West Jersey Football League Continental, is simply loaded. Expected to battle for the title are Millville, Vineland and St. Augustine. The other three teams, Atlantic City, Bridgeton and Egg Harbor Township, are expected to be improved. Millville (10-2) is the defending South Jersey Group 5 champion and the Thunderbolts return most of their regulars, Senior Clayton Scott (5-9, 190) rushed for 1,722 yards (6.2 avg.) and 15 TDs, while also catching four TD passes. Vineland will likely be the biggest challenger to Millville and the Fighting Clan will also be a serious South Jersey Group 5 threat. Even though St. Augustine lost some key transfer such as Dobbins and quarterback Josh Zamot (now at Holy Spirit) first-year coach Pete Lancetta will have a formidable team, led by senior wide receiver-safety Shamere Collins. As always the WJFL American Division, with the likes of defending champ and favorite Shawnee, along with Cherokee and what is expected to be improved Williamstown, Hammonton and Kingsway teams, is always among the best in South Jersey. Cherokee, coming off a 6-4 season, could be a sleeper, especially with a group of relatively unknown but talented running backs.
3. Who is one of the more intriguing players to watch?
That would be Palmyra senior Taj Harris, who has been receiver for most of his career, but is expected to move to quarterback. Harris played some quarterback last season. As a receiver, he was a major threat in earning yards after the catch. Now the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Harris who played quarterback as a youngster, will be able to display the running ability more. Palmyra has most of its team back from a 46 squad and should be a serious contender in the WJFL Freedom. Harris has accepted a scholarship to Syracuse, which plans to use him at receiver. It’s possible he could return to receiver, but it appears the plans at this point are to play him at quarterback.
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Author: Marc Narducci
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