The West Jersey Football League’s Top Games: Week 8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Shore Conference's top games going into Week 8 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 25</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Woodstown (7-0) at Glassboro (7-0), 6pm<br><br>Talk about closing out the regular season with a big game. This, in fact, is actually a HUGE game between the visiting Wolverines and host Bulldogs. A few thing are at stake: undefeated records, a Diamond Division championship, and the #1 seed in all of South I. Woodstown, currently 0.6 behind Glassboro for the #1 seed in UPR, features star running back [player_tooltip player_id='1040432' first='Bryce' last='Belinfanti']. Belinfanti represents a huge part of their offense, having slashed 150/943/10 on the ground and 7/163/2 through the air - serving as his team's leader in both rushing and receiving. Furthermore, Belinfanti has made 40 tackles on the season, including 2 taclkes for loss and 1 fumble recovery. Fellow seniors along the Wolverines defensive line that look to make a difference are [player_tooltip player_id='1055395' first='Walter' last='Carter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1540493' first='Roco' last='String']. Carter is the team leader in sacks and tackles for loss, with 4 and 3 respectively, to go along with his 34 tackles. On the other hand, String is right behind him with 3 sacks and 2 tackles for loss with his 23 total tackles. <br><br>Glassboro, a team we have covered several times in the past, is making it difficult to discuss new players at this point. A big benefactor of the play of the Sabb brothers is [player_tooltip player_id='450021' first='Kristopher' last='Foster Jr.'] The sophomore has had a solid season, going 45-82 for 943 yards with 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. An import from Hammonton for his senior year is [player_tooltip player_id='967081' first='Kenny' last='Smith']. Smith, who after having to sit 3 games, has gone for a 66 carry, 586 yard, and 8 score performance in his finale season. Expect these two to benefit from things that open up because of the Sabb brothers and company.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Cherry Hill East (7-0) at Bridgeton (6-2), 7pm<br><br>In a matchup of South V foes, the Cherry Hill East Cougars head to Bridgeton to play the Bulldogs. Expect Cherry Hill East, currently 12th in their bracket, to come in with a chip on their shoulders as they boast an undefeated record, but yet figure to have to be road warriors for any sort of playoff run. On the other hand, for Bridgeton to even have a shot at the playoffs, this is game is a must win, as they must surpass two other teams since they currently sit in 18th place in a 16 team field.<br><br>A very much run-oriented team, the Cougars feature a talented back in [player_tooltip player_id='1000484' first='Denzel' last='Lee']. Lee, now a senior, has scored 12 times while picking up 1130 rush yards yards on 110 carries. He is an explosive threat with the ball in his hands, as indicated by his gaudy yards per carry average. Teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1540494' first='Isaiah' last='Donaldson'] accounts for the next-single yardage and offensive touchdown total for Cherry Hill East's offense. Donaldson is used in both the run and pass game, toting the rock 43 times for 374 yards and 7 scores, while catching 10 balls for 390 yards and 6 scores. [player_tooltip player_id='690092' first='Jaxson' last='Bowman'] is a prospect I thought I would talk about more as a tight end this year; however, he has developed into an outstanding run suffer and pass rusher. The 2025 graduate, Bowman has sacked the quarterback 4 times, which leads the team, while making 7 tackles for loss on 27 total stops. Moreover, along the defensive line it appears that [player_tooltip player_id='1540495' first='Tony' last='Vega'] is a budding force to be reckoned with. Vega, a junior, is second on the team with 8 tackles for loss to go along with his 2.5 sacks and 35 tackles.<br><br>Bridgeton is a bit more difficult to get a read on, as they have not kept the best statistics this fall. It seems as though they want to run the ball, with [player_tooltip player_id='1540496' first='Eric' last='Hilton'] leading the way. The last update we have on Hilton is that he has ran for 699 yards and 7 scores on 79 carries. Defensively, young sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1540497' first='Jayden' last='Barnett'] is leading the way with 40 tackles. Of those 40 tackles, 2 have been for a loss and 1 was for a sack. Barnett has also intercepted a pass.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Allentown (6-2) at Notre Dame (5-3), 6pm<br><br>The South III bracket's #8 team Allentown looks to secure home field through at least the first round as they face the Irish of Notre Dame. For Notre Dame, a win will go a long way to add to their case before the Non-Public Group B's playoff selection committee. For the traveling Redbirds, although [player_tooltip player_id='1011817' first='Matthew' last='Schweitzer'] has gotten it done in a number of ways, he has not gotten it done by himself. Fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1540498' first='Sean' last='McCaffery'] is actually the overall team leader in offensive touchdowns with 14. Of those 14, 13 have come on 85 carries and 529 yards, and 1 has been through the air for 296 yards and 19 receptions. Similarly, [player_tooltip player_id='1466337' first='Kassidy' last='Mazza'] is not a one-man show on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1540500' first='Mason' last='Marcantonio'] has been a big contributor too with 53 tackles on the year. Of that number, 9 have been for a loss, 5 have come by way of sack, and he managed to force a fumble as well. It is [player_tooltip player_id='1537222' first='Chris' last='Whalen'], however, that is the backbone of the defense with his 91 tackles, 6 for a loss.<br><br>I am not sure if it is the luck of the Irish or the play of [player_tooltip player_id='599571' first='Julian' last='Matera'] that has propelled Notre Dame all season long. Matera, their senior quarterback, has had a fantastic year going 105-178 for 1215 yards with 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. A big part of their ground attack as well, Matera has scored another 8 times on 61 carries for 213 yards. This favorite target is fellow senior classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1529480' first='Wyatt' last='Moore']. Moore has dominated the Irish's passing attack, amassing 582 yards on 54 carries. Moore's most impressive number, however, is probably his 11 receiving touchdowns. In the mean time, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1540503' first='Alex' last='Vilarelle'] gives opposing offenses all they can handle. Vilarelle leads the team with 67 tackles. Additionally, he has 1 forced fumble, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, and 1.5 sacks.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, October 26</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (5-3) at Bishop Eustace (6-2), 11am<br><br>Bishop Eustace finds themselves in a similar spot as the aforementioned Notre Dame: a win strengthens their playoff case for the Non-public selection committee. Kipp, on the other hand, is currently in 17th place in the South I bracket. A win probably gets them in, but a loss by #16 Penns Grove, helps them even more as at 1-7 Penns Grove cannot qualify for the playoffs with less than 2 wins.<br><br>The beat on the visiting Titans is tough to follow, but it seems that when they need a score, junior tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1540506' first='Xyere' last='Brooks'] is the young man they look to. With the last update I received, Brooks had scored 6 times on just 16 rushes, while picking up 259 yards. A freshman paying early returns has been [player_tooltip player_id='1540507' first='Moyston' last='McIntosh']. McIntosh has had limited touches on offense, but has the team lead with 3 sacks.<br><br>The host Crusaders, on the other hand, are playing a slew of youngsters that are producing results. First is [player_tooltip player_id='1540509' first='Terrence' last='Goffney'], a running back. Goffney is the team's second leading rusher with 215 yards on 44 carries with 2 scores. Additionally, Goffney has made 20 tackles and had a pick six on defense. As impressive as that may be, he is outdone by freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1199857' first='Delano' last='Mann'], a receiver, who leads the team with a 15/223/2 slash line. [player_tooltip player_id='1540511' first='Andrew' last='Woods'] typically lines opposite of Mann at receiver, but Woods has been having a bigger impact on defense. Woods has played to the tune of 27 tackles with 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. The team leader in sacks (3.5), tackles (45), fumble recoveries (3), and tackles for loss (9) is actually a sophomore in [player_tooltip player_id='1540513' first='Noah' last='Glenn']. Glenn, to his credit, has also forced a fumble on tye year. Bishop Eustace is quarterbacked by [player_tooltip player_id='1540515' first='Roman' last='Fiaola'], a junior. Fiaola has only really been asked to manage the offense this season, producing a 28-63 season for 348 yards with 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, while adding a 37/100/3 slash line on the ground. Fiaola has only been asked to manage the offense, largely due to the play of [player_tooltip player_id='218562' first='Mekhi' last='Simmons']. Simmons leads the Crusaders with 107 carries, 650 yards, and 7 scores on the ground. An impact player on defense as well, Simmons has made 16 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and has a team-leading 3 interceptions.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->