The West Jersey Football Conference’s Top Games: Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the West Jersey Football Conference's top games going into Week 3 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, September 19</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Paulsboro (2-1) @ Collingswood (2-1), 6pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trio of Panthers look to lead the way for an upstart Collingswood team early in 2024. Offensively they are paced on the ground by junior rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1466288' first='Caden' last='Luby']. Through three games Luby has slashed is second on the team with 28 attempts - 18 fewer than the team leader - yet rushed for 232 yards - 75 more than the team's leader. Luby lead the team in touchdowns with 4. Also a key contributor on defense, Luby has made 15 stops, 3 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1466291' first='Nyeim' last='Bennett'] is the team leader in tackles with 20, with 3 TFL, and 1 sack in the early campaign and a sophomore we should perhaps track the next few years, [player_tooltip player_id='1466293' first='Semaj' last='Trotman'] has made 17 tackles, two of which have been for a loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With limited information available for Paulsboro, we can tell that they seem to have a quarterback-receiver tandem they are a fan of with junior signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='1466300' first='Malakhai' last='McKenzie'] and his favorite target, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1466302' first='Jeremiah' last='Carr'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, September 20</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>St. Augustine (3-0) @ Winslow (3-0), 6pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the first of two matchups of undefeated teams within the WJFL, St. Augustine will look to maintain their unbeaten record with a run/pass combo of senior rusher [player_tooltip player_id='1085730' first='Julian' last='Turney'] and junior receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1466297' first='Liam' last='Flynn']. Turney, who also plays defensive line (1 sack on the season), has accounted for just under half of the team's rushing attempts (55) and leads them in yardage with 372 while scoring 4 times on the ground, while also pitching in with 4 catches for 28 yards. Although Flynn has just 7 grabs for 150 yards on the season, three of those seven receptions have gone for scores, proving himself a reliable red zone target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With all the talent we have documented at Winslow, it appears that they have yet <em>another </em>highly productive prospect in running back [player_tooltip player_id='909525' first='Roman' last='Duckett']. Sharing primary running back responsibilities with teammate [player_tooltip player_id='211802' first='KaRon' last='Ali'], Duckett leads the team with 34 carries for 228 yards and 6 scores. Defensively, it should come as no surprise that junior lineman [player_tooltip player_id='284073' first='Rob' last='Carstarphen'] and sophomore linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='212382' first='Ausar' last='Heard'] lead the way. Carstarphen has made 18 tackles (16 solos) on the year with 2 TFLs, 2 sacks, and 1 safety thus far; while Heard leads the team with 23 tackles (20 solo), 2 TFL, 2 sacks, and 1 Int.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Millville (3-0) @ Washington Township (3-0), 6pm</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millville will take their <s>track</s> football team on the road Friday night as they visit Washington Township. It is hard to discuss Millville without talking about [player_tooltip player_id='218554' first='Lotzeir' last='Brooks']; however, this will be the only mention of him for this game preview. During the summer Head Coach Humberto Ayala mentioned to me that their sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='489023' first='Robbie' last='O'Connor'] was the real deal and, arguably, ahead of where [player_tooltip player_id='378676' first='Jacob' last='Zamot'] was at the same point in his career. Thus far, O'Connor has gone 33-56 for 709 yards with 8 TDs and 2 Int. Defensively there are many contributors - [player_tooltip player_id='829409' first='Darian' last='Blachewicz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='825247' first='Jayden' last='Jones'], in particular; however, [player_tooltip player_id='819163' first='Shermar' last='Collins'] seems to be standing out the most thus far in the young campaign. Someone who I evaluated and liked his film as a star/nickel, Collins leads the Thunderbolts with 24 tackles (7 solo), 4 TFL, 1 sack, and 2 FF. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Washington Township will look to keep Millville off the field by controlling the clock with the ground game, looking to junior [player_tooltip player_id='1466305' first='Colin' last='Beeler'] to do so. Beeler has just under 65% of the team's carries, as he has slashed 65/359/6 on the ground thus far, easily making him the team leader by a wide margin. Defensively, two brothers and a defensive linemen will look to slow down the 'Bolts potent offense. Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1466309' first='Caleb' last='Palaganas'] and younger brother, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='910872' first='Gabe' last='Palaganas'], headline an impressive front. Caleb is the team leader in tackles (24), while also making a tackle for loss and recovering a fumble thus far. Gabe, who lines up with his hand in the dirt, has been productive too having made 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 0.5 sacks, and forced a fumble. Joining the younger Palaganas in the trenches is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1466307' first='Andrew' last='Osborn']. Thus far Osborn has made 16 tackles (6) solo and leads the team with 4.5 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, September 21</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Shawnee (2-1) @ Rancocas Valey (2-1), 11am</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be a good barometer as to exactly how good Shawnee is. After handedly beating North Burlington (33-6) and Willamstown (27-7), the Renegades win streak was snapped by Camden (44-3). [player_tooltip player_id='1466333' first='Tyler' last='Nickles'], a junior, leads Shawnees rushing attack. Running behind standout guard [player_tooltip player_id='819153' first='John' last='Prokapus III'], Nickles has amassed 399 yards and 6 touchdowns on 51 carries. Defensively, senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1466330' first='Mason' last='Grabowski'] has been extremely productive early in the season to the tune of a team-leading 21 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 fumble recoveries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rancocas Valley is off to an eerily similar start to Shawnee, only Rancocas Valley lost their first game and have won the last two. Having graduated several defenders that performed at a high level, it seems as though the Red Devils' have shifted to an offensive focus that seems to revolve around junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1466331' first='Sayvien' last='Adams']. Through the first three games of the season, Adams has gone 21-34 for 503 yards and 8 touchdowns without throwing a pick; he has also pitched in with 123 yards on 15 carries, while scoring once. A well-rounded rushing attack might be aiding Adams, as he is one of 4 ball carriers who have ran for 120 yards or more on the season, while no ball carrier has rushed for more than 180 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Allentown (2-1) @ Steinert (2-1), 11am</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allentown is an interesting team coming into the season. The Mercer County squad is led offensively by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1011817' first='Matthew' last='Schweitzer']. Thus far Schweitzer has gone 45-74 for 592 yards with 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions through the air, while tying the team lead in rushes (35) and touchdowns (4) and being second on the team with 262 yards. Defensively the most disruptive Redbird has been senior [player_tooltip player_id='1466337' first='Kassidy' last='Mazza']. With only 11 tackles on the season, Mazza also has 5 TFLs, 4 sacs, 2 FF, and 1 fumble returned for a score to his name.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking to slow down Schweitzer and Mazza will be a senior-sophomore defensive duo in [player_tooltip player_id='1466335' first='Dom' last='DeFrancis'] (sophomore) and [player_tooltip player_id='1466338' first='Sean' last='Mahon'] (senior). DeFrancis leads the Spartans in tackles with 21 for the season, 7 of which have been solos, while making 1 tackle for loss. Mahon, a linebacker, has been credited with 14 tackles (4 solo), with 4 tackles for loss, and 1 interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->