West Jersey Football League Games of the Week, Week 5

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one – throughout the West Jersey Football League this weekend.   Prep Redzone's Winter Showcase is back for 2025 with more locations than ever. Looking to attend? Register <a href="https://prepredzone.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">here</a>. Save a few dollars off the cost of registration by using my special promo code, MankariousWinterPRZ   Be sure to follow me on <a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a> for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 3</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Burlington Township (5-0) at Burlington City (5-0) In a battle for bragging rights, this ought to be a good one as football is king right now down in Burlington. With 5 wins a piece, Burlington Township makes the mighty 6 minute trek to Burlington City to see who is king of Burlington. The future looks bright for Township, as they have several young pieces playing in key spots, with a running attack that balances it out. [player_tooltip player_id='1523178' first='Aiden' last='Binns'] has been a total workhorse this season, accounting for 84/917/11 of the team's 112/1081/12 output on the ground. This is important as there appears to be some shuffling at quarterback between [player_tooltip player_id='402197' first='Bryce' last='Carter'], a junior, and [player_tooltip player_id='1923138' first='Eddie' last='McNair'], a freshman. Carter does have the edge so far this season, going 28-55 for 468 yards with 7 touchdowns and 1 interception; meanwhile McNair has gone 14-27 for 272 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Just my speculation, but because Township has been on the plus-end of so many lopsided games, McNair, the freshman, might be putting up solid numbers in mop up duty. Another freshman who has leaped into action and is seizing the role as "the man" has been receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1396222' first='Gerald' last='Sackie']. Sackie has accounted for 18/358/10 of Township's 41/707/11 total output through the air. For City, their attack is a bit more anchored by the leadership of upper classmen. [player_tooltip player_id='910850' first='Mason' last='Shansey'], a junior, leads the passing attack with 806 yards and 7 touchdowns on 49-75 passing with 4 interceptions. A dual-threat to a degree, Shansey has 3 scores and 113 yards on 14 attempts when rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='1543892' first='Donte' last='Davis'], a senior, gets the majority of work out of the backfield as he has tallied an 86/847/12 stat line. [player_tooltip player_id='1923142' first='Jayvyn' last='Rasberry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1893365' first='Malachi' last='Sadler'] try to out-do one another along the perimeter, wish 18/332/4 and 23/390/3 respective stat lines. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1923145' first='Corey' last='Boykin'] is having a breakthrough season on defense, leading City with 49 tackles and a forced fumble, along with 6 tackles for loss. Boykin has also been one of their primary returners.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Holy Cross Prep (4-1) at Princeton (4-1) In a test-yourself type of game for both squads, after Friday night we will have a better understanding if both Holy Cross and Princeton are contenders or pretenders. Both with one-possession losses they wish they had back on their ledger, 5-1 looks a whole lot better than 4-2. Holy Cross has been paced on both sides of the ball by [player_tooltip player_id='993106' first='Anthony' last='D'Ambrosio']. The senior has accounted for 21 of his team's 34 total completions, accumulating 507 yards and 6 touchdowns through the air; while also being featured in the run game 5 times for 90 yards and a score. Of his team-leading 40 tackles, 30 have been solo stops, while he has also returned his one pick to the house. As if that was not enough, D'Ambrosio is Holy Cross' primary returner, having already taken 2 kickoffs back for scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1923147' first='Shane' last='Reilley'] has made good decisions all season long at quarterback. Reilley has gone 33-55 for 746 yards with a 10:3 touchdown:interception ratio, adding 144 yards on the ground on 51 carries - both good for second on the team - while scoring a team-high 4 times on the ground. There might be some athletic genes in the D'Ambrosio bloodline, as younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='1523185' first='Vincent' last='D'Ambrosio'] has come along as a vital piece to Holy Cross' defense. D'Ambrosio currently sits second on the team with 32 tackles (27 solo), with 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. For Princeton, look for [player_tooltip player_id='1032179' first='Ellinton' last='Hinds'] to break the game open any way he can. While no other teammate has more than 5, Hinds has 17 receptions for 272 yards and 3 scores. Comparatively speaking, no other teammate has more than 54 yards and nobody else has found the endzone. A difference maker on defense, yes, he may only have made 10 stops (7 solo), yet he has found himself being a turnover machine. To-date, Hinds has forced a fumble and intercepted a whopping 6 passes, 2 of which he took back for scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1011813' first='Carmine' last='Carusone'] is the complementary piece to Hinds production. Carusone is Princeton's leading rusher with a 58/270/1 stat line, and leading tacker (46 total, 26 solo, 2 for loss) and recovered a fumble.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Hopewell Valley (4-1) at Seneca (4-1) After a strong season last season with many seniors, I was unsure how Hopewell Valley would respond. Evidently the process and structure are the same as they have yielded the same results and are off to a 4-1 loss, only stumbling against a strong Montgomery team. Seneca, too, is 4-1 with their only hiccup coming in a 3-point defeat against Haddonfield. Now in year 3 of the [player_tooltip player_id='212049' first='Anthony' last='Tirico'] experience, Seneca's offense appears ready to reach new heights. Quarterbacking the squad since his freshman year, Tirico is an outstanding dual-threat quarterback. Thus far the junior has gone 54-85 for 596 yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Adding to his dominance, Tirico leads the team in all rushing categories, going for a 58/528/5 slash line. [player_tooltip player_id='1551253' first='Brody' last='Phillips'] is the other key piece to this team. Their second-leading rusher, Phillips has scored 4 times on 53 carries with 438 yards. A major player on defense, Phillips leads the team in tackles for loss (5) and interceptions (2), while also having made 19 tackles (10 solo). Look for [player_tooltip player_id='1551257' first='Christian' last='Alexander'] to leave his mark on this contest, too. Alexander has 19 tackles on the season (10 solo), while making 4 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. If Hopewell Valley wins this game, they are oging to run the hell out of the ball. A three-haded attack features [player_tooltip player_id='1923153' first='Lucas' last='Hemmer'] (36/270/3), [player_tooltip player_id='1880324' first='Ethan' last='Valenza'] (68/627/7), and [player_tooltip player_id='1923154' first='Grayson' last='Vlasac'] (44/327/4). Hemmer, however, has made the biggest impact as a target, recording 8 catches for 117 yards and 2 scores - all good for second on the team. Additionally, Hemmer has made a big impact on defense with his team-leading 4sacks to go with 4 tackles for loss, 19 tackles, and 1 blocked kick. Hopewell Valley's most productive defender has been [player_tooltip player_id='1923155' first='Ethan' last='Barker']. Now with a team-leading 36 tackles (5 solo), he also leads the team with 2 fumble recovers and 2 forced fumbles, while also making 2 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Cherokee (2-3) at Shawnee (3-2) In what is probably the WJFL's toughest division, Cherokee exits divisional play and looks to get right against the conference field as they travel to Shawnee team - a Shawnee team that looks to go 2-0 in the last two weeks against Marlton School District opponents. Shawnee gets the job done with a sophomore at quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1529500' first='Cole' last='Anderson']. Anderson is much more of a runner than a traditional quarterback. Despite going 14-38 for 97 yards and 4 interceptions, Anderson leads the team with a 95/448/8 output on the ground. Defensively, several players have coontributed in big ways, however, [player_tooltip player_id='1923158' first='Michael' last='Bartasius'] has been their most disruptive force. Bartasius has leads Shawnee with 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, and 3 picks (1 pick-six); Bartasius' 36 tackles, 8 have been solo stops. Additionally, the senior serves as his team's place kicker, going 14-15 on PATs and nailing his only field goal attempt on the year from 24-yards. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1923161' first='James' last='Gilmartin'] his the backbone to a strong defensive unit. Gilmartin leads the team with 49 tackles (8 solo), has recovered a fumble, recorded one-half tackle for loss, and been credited with 1.5 sacks. In a similar manner, Cherokee has been controlling games with their rushing attack, lead by [player_tooltip player_id='1880326' first='Brendan' last='Markovsky']. In this, his junior season, Markovsky leads the team with 67 carries, 464 yards, and 6 scores, while adding 5 catches for 20 yards to his totals. Look for [player_tooltip player_id='1883025' first='Jonah' last='Lee'] to disrupt the passer with his team-high 2 sacks, as he has also made 22 tackles and an additional tackle for loss. Joining him is his brother [player_tooltip player_id='1552381' first='Micah' last='Lee'], who leads the team in tackles for loss (7), while making 23 total stops. However, [player_tooltip player_id='1923171' first='John' last='Franz'] is the stopping force when defending the run. Franz has a team-high 31 tackles to go along with 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 fumble recovery.</li> </ul>

With as much football action as our Great Garden State has this coming weekend within the high school ranks, here are a handful of games – and as a fan what I am looking for in each one – throughout the West Jersey Football League this weekend.