West Jersey Football League Games of the Week, Week 7

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 Big Central Conference 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">Thursday, October 16</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Gloucester (4-2) vs. Haddonfield (4-2) This matchup ought to be a juicy one for multiple reasons. For starters, a Continental division championship is on the line as the two 4-2 teams square off. Additionally, this is a potential playoff matchup that will have major implications for seeding. Haddonfield, the host, currently sits as the South II's second seed; whereas Gloucester is currently 9th and looking to climb to earn a home game. A strong defense and productive running game has propelled Gloucester to be in the opportunistic position they are in. Their primary ball carrier is [player_tooltip player_id='1958055' first='Ibby' last='Hudwell']. After Hudwell breaks the huddle, on 131 carries he has converted 759 yards and 7 scores. Rushing becomes a luxury when you have defenders like [player_tooltip player_id='1903783' first='Harry' last='Ulmer'] protecting leads. Ulmer has 77 tackles (25 solo) with a team-leading 8 sacks and 3 tackles for loss. Joining Ulmer to make a formidable defense is [player_tooltip player_id='1953617' first='Ashton' last='Wall']. Stonewalling defenders all year long, Wall is tied with Ulmer for a share of the team lead in sacks (3), while also making 4 tackles for loss, 13 solos, and a fumble recovery amongst his 45 stops. Wall holds the outright team-lead with 2 forced fumbles. [player_tooltip player_id='1958056' first='Cole' last='Little'] completes this outstanding linebacker trio, also shares the team lead with 3 sacks, while also recording 34 tackles (6 for a loss, 12 solo) and blocking the team's only kick. Different from year's past, Haddonfield's offense has evolved from a run-centric offense to a more balanced attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1551133' first='Van' last='Lefakis'], their quarterback, is likely a big reason as to why this evolution has occurred. Lefakis has gone 52-82 with 900 yards with 11 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Lefakis has two targets the seems to strongly prefer: [player_tooltip player_id='1958057' first='Mike' last='Keenan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1958058' first='Jack' last='McKeever']. McKeever, who is a tight end, is one of the more productive ones in the state. He leads his team with 16 receptions for 347 yards, while scoring 4 times. Keenan bests McKeever with 5 touchdowns and has 15 receptions for 332 yards. Keenan has a very productive brother in [player_tooltip player_id='1551134' first='Dan' last='Keenan'], a junior. Keenan leadas the team with 5 tackles for loss, while also making 54 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception.</li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, October 17</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Kingsway (6-1) at Washington Township (7-0) Is it just me, or is the weekend playing out as divisional championship weekend across the state? Yet another division title will be on the line - the Classic Division crown - as Kingsway rolls into Washington Township. Currently ranked 6th in the South V standings, Kingsway gets a first bite at the apple against the top seeded Washington Township team. Kingsway has had a fairly balanced attack - rushing more times than passing, but passing for more yards than rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='501876' first='David' last='Oravetz'], a name we have become long familiar with, leads the way with a 70% completion rate, throwing for 1160 yards with 13 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His production also has led to 2 touchdowns on the ground. Speaking of the ground game, the Dragons have a relatively robust backfield, as they have had 12 different ball carriers on the year. The bell cow, however, appears to be [player_tooltip player_id='1533535' first='Cole' last='DeNick']. DeNick, now a junior, has slashed 51/425/12 on the ground, setting the standard. Defensively, and in the trenches, we should keep our eyes peeled for [player_tooltip player_id='1958059' first='Jordan' last='Hernandez']. A senior, Hernandez leads the team with 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss, amongst his 22 total stops. Washington Township, a team we have covered in the past due to the marvelous season they are having, has had the opportunity to play many different prospects. Two defensive prospects I want to focus on are having productive seasons despite modest statistical output. First up is a twitchy, fast, and quick prospect I have seen live in [player_tooltip player_id='1678869' first='Isaac' last='Parra']. The defensive back has had fumble recoveries this year - one he took back for a score. Additionally, he shows that he is good in space with 10 of his 13 total tackles being solo stops - including 2.5 behind the line - wile also scoring twice as a receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='1958060' first='Ethan' last='Binder'], a linebacker, is someone that Kingsway should be aware of. If the ball is on the turf, it is his to have. Binder has forced and recovered a fumble each, while intercepting a pass, making 23 tackles, and 6 solo stops. </li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, October 18</h2>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>West Deptford (6-1) at Paulsboro (7-0) One thing the WJFL does well is schedule meaningful games late in the season. Perhaps the playoffs arrive early for many things, priming them for the state tournament. In this matchup, where the likely Patriot Division champion will be identified, pits South I's 2nd overall seed in Paulsboro against South II's 7th seeded West Deptford. A two-headed running back tandem leads the West Deptford offensive attack on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1267838' first='Zamir' last='Davis'] is the first man-up as he has gone for 827 yards and 13 scores on 85 carries, while intercepting 3 interceptions on defense. On Davis' heels is [player_tooltip player_id='1958061' first='Cole' last='Paskiewicz']. Paskiewicz has scored 8 times on 58 attempts with 635 yards. Additionally, as their primary returner, Paskiewicz has taken two kicks back to the house and is tied for the team lead with 3 interceptions of his own. With the offense paced by two talented juniors, several contributors on defense defend West Deptford's leads. [player_tooltip player_id='1412222' first='Al' last='Dayrell'] is one of their top defenders and most disruptive behind the line of scrimmage. Of his 45 tackles, 18 have been for a loss, 9 for sacks, and 24 solos. Aside from setting the high mark with sacks and tackles for loss, he has forced 2 fumbles, and recovered one for the defense's only score on the year. The team leader in tackles has been [player_tooltip player_id='1958062' first='Colton' last='Sabo'], with 63 (32 on the season). Sabo cleans up much of what is in front of him, but also has 5 tackles for a loss and forced a fumble. With that said, he has also has the biggest nose for the ball as he has recovered 2 fumbles this far. Lastly, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1958063' first='David' last='Shields'] is doing a good job in a limited role. The defensive back has made 28 tackles on the season (12 solo), 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, forced a fumble, and recovered another. Paulsboro tends to rely on the arm of [player_tooltip player_id='1466300' first='Malakhai' last='McKenzie'] to move the ball. McKenzie's prowess has outpaced the team's total rushing output, 1067 to 1006, in terms of yardage, as he has thrown 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions on the season. When you consider the fact that McKenzie has 225 of those 1006 rushing yards on his own - along with 4 scores on the ground - the output gets a bit more skewed. [player_tooltip player_id='1466302' first='Jeremiah' last='Carr'] is his favorite target. He has been credited with 29 receptions for 451 yards with 3 touchdowns. </li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Northern Burlington (5-2) at Burlington Township (7-0) Despite having two losses on the season, with a win Northern Burlington will win the Independence Division crown due to a head-to-head victory. Meanwhile, Burlington Township looks to make a sweep of any opponent with the name "Burlington" in their name, already have defeated City earlier in the season. As Township is sitting pretty with the top seed in their playoff bracket, Northern is looking to get a big boost from 13th with a victory. The key for Northern to continue to find success will be for [player_tooltip player_id='1523192' first='Brent' last='Walulak'] to continue to do [player_tooltip player_id='1523192' first='Brent' last='Walulak'] things. A quarterback, he is actually by far and away their leading rusher with a 72/480/11 stat line. As a passer, he has 7 touchdowns without a pick with 878 yards on 70-127 passing. For defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1893373' first='Josh' last='Melton'] has done a great job living in the backfield. Melton sets the pace with 7 tackles for loss and a team-high 4 sacks, while making 20 tackles in-all. [player_tooltip player_id='1523195' first='Josiah' last='Ruttley'], who like Melton is a junior, is tied for the team lead with 7 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and 50 tackles. The future, and present for that matter, looks bright for Township. Although I am unsure whether it is because of injury or performance, freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1923138' first='Eddie' last='McNair'] finds himself quarterbacking this team down the home stretch. there are certainly some growing pains, but the results have been, at worst, stellar to this point. McNair has gone just about 50% - 34-62 - passing with 513 yards and 6 touchdowns to just 2 interceptions. [player_tooltip player_id='1396222' first='Gerald' last='Sackie'], a fellow freshman, has simply exploded on the scene. Sackie has 11 touchdowns and 464 yards on 26 receptions in his debut season. Enough with the freshman, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1958064' first='Solomon' last='Wesley'] secures the secondary. Aside from his 12 tackles (1 for a loss), Wesley leads the team with 3 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries - on he took back for a score.</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 Big Central Conference this weekend.