West Jersey Football League Games of the Week, Week 8

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone's Winter Showcase is back for 2025 with more locations than ever. Looking to attend? Register&nbsp;<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,&nbsp;<strong>MankariousWinterPRZ</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Be sure to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/BrendanScoutsNJ">Twitter</a>&nbsp;for the latest New Jersey high school football prospect news and not miss a beat!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Thursday, September 23</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Willingboro (4-4) at Seneca (6-2)<br><br>This might be a do-or-die game for Willingboro. The Chimeras currently sit 14th in South II and a loss at the hands of Seneca, plus however else the bracket may break could conceivably bounce them from the playoffs. For Seneca, they sit comfortably as the 5th seed in South III, but a loss could bump them out of a home game.<br><br>The best thing Seneca could do is keep having [player_tooltip player_id='212049' first='Anthony' last='Tirico'] be their primary playmaker. A name that I feel we have covered since forever, the now-junior leads the team in rushing with 110 attempts for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns. No doubt solid for a running back; yet when you realize Tirico is a quarterback those numbers suddenly become impressive. When dropping back to pass, he finds himself 86-137 for 1111 yards with 11 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. A player with this much production, at that position, you might figure to be wrapped in bubble wrap. Nope. Tirico is one of Seneca's top defenders with 32 tackles (20 solo), 1 tackle for loss, and a pick-six to his name. Although he spreads the ball all over the place, with four different receivers having at least 14 receptions and no one more with 18, Tirico's big-play threat seems to be [player_tooltip player_id='1557405' first='Kingston' last='Williams']. With his 14 receptions, Williams has produced a team-leading 316 yards and 3 touchdowns, clearly leading the team in yards per reception. Williams also plays defensive line, having made 28 tackles (15 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, and one blocked kick. A duo of two-way linemen are controlling the trenches and consistently winning the line of scrimmage. [player_tooltip player_id='1551257' first='Christian' last='Alexander'] (35 tackles) lead the way with 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Joining him is [player_tooltip player_id='1566415' first='Sean' last='O'Reilly'] with 5 tackles for loss and 50 tackles, good for second on the team. The team leader with 56 tackles (4 for a loss) is junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1561461' first='Robert' last='Livingstone'], who cleans up all in front of him. <br><br>Since Willingboro has not been up-to-date with their statistics, it is hard to determine any breakout performers - especially on defense. On offense, however, we know that [player_tooltip player_id='1453967' first='James' last='Pemberton'] is their quarterback and was off to an efficient start to the season. Three games in, he was 34-54 for 361 yards with 7 touchdowns and 1 interception. Three of Pemberton's touchdowns went to [player_tooltip player_id='1029761' first='Zahir' last='Bryant'], who turned 4 total catches into 3 scores and 129 yards. Their leading rusher was [player_tooltip player_id='1551135' first='Mekhi' last='Cottle'], who in three games, went 50/256/5 on the ground.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, September 24</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Delsea (4-4) at Mainland (4-4)<br><br>Two teams separated by two other. Delsea (12th in South III) travels to reigning Group III State Champion Mainland (9th in South III). A home loss certainly puts Delsea on the road if they wish to repeat and a win; whereas a win conceivably has them host one more game next week. For Delsea, a win gives them a puncher's chance at a home game, and a loss certainly means they will travel the road each week.<br><br>Mainland's main way of moving the ball continues to evolve season-to-season, this year electing to travel primarily on land. With three rushers having significant yardage, we first start with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='855776' first='John' last='Franchini']. Franchini, now a senior, leads the team across the board in rushing with a 78/486/4 stat line on the ground. Furthermore, Franchini has gone 66-125 for 826 yards with 10 touchdowns and 3 interceptions when dropping back to pass. Complementing Franchini is running back [player_tooltip player_id='1547076' first='Lucas' last='Debiaso']. A legacy player of a brother who had an oustanding career at Mainland, Debiaso has gone for 402 yards and 2 scores on 69 carries. As proven last season, Mainland's most dynamic threat continues to be [player_tooltip player_id='1097477' first='Jake' last='Blum']. Now a senior, Blum leads the way with 16 receptions for 207 yards and 3 scores - a far cry from his 52/1287/15 season he produced last year due to the apparent change in offensive approach. A stout defender by his own right, Blum is amongst the team leaders with 30 tackles and 2 interceptions - one he took back for a score. Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1971872' first='Tatum' last='McBall'] has been balling all season long. McBall leads the team with 16 tackles for loss, adding a sack and 30 stops to his name too. McBall is joined by lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1971873' first='Anthony' last='Santos']. Santos, in limited defensive play has only made 14 tackles; however, of those 14 stops 5 have been for a loss and 2 have been good for a team-leading sack total.<br><br>Delsea has, rather impressively, had five ball carriers with 20+ carries each, with four having 45+. Their main ball carrier in terms of touches has been [player_tooltip player_id='1551247' first='Adrien' last='Sheppard']. Sheppard's team-leading 75 carries has garnered 288 yards and a score. The team leader, however, is [player_tooltip player_id='1971874' first='Milo' last='Gebhard']. Gebhard has produced 387 yards on 67 carries with a team-high 8 touchdowns. Lastly, Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1971875' first='Imair' last='Chester'] is a prospect to be mindful of both now and in the future. Chester has 2 scores and 256 yards on 45 attempts. Defensively, the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1971877' first='Jayden' last='Reyes'], [player_tooltip player_id='1972113' first='Luke' last='Van Auken'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1972112' first='Choyer' last='Hamm'] form a formidable front for the Chimeras. Starting with Reyes, he leads the team in tackles with 49 and has been disruptive all season long. Reyes has made 8 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and intercepted a pass. Hamm has gone ham at times this season, making 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks of his own of his 17 total stops. Lastly Van Auken is the team leader in sacks with 4.5, adding to his impressive 4 tackle for loss and 32 tackle season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Pleasantville (5-3) at Gloucester (4-3)<br><br>In a game where seeding implications are at play, South III's 6th seeded Pleasantville travels to South II's 10th seeded Gloucester. A win likely propels Gloucester to a top-8 seed and a shot at a home game; whereas on the other side of that coin, a loss could bump Pleasantville out of the top 8.<br><br>Gloucester's [player_tooltip player_id='1958055' first='Ibby' last='Hudwell'] has been the man on the ground. Hudwell has gone 151/842/8 as their leading rusher. A vital defender to their defense, Hudwell has made 19 tackles (6 solo), 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, and 1 scoop &amp; score. Although they do not pass much, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1972116' first='Kevin' last='Boulden'] leads their passing attack. Boulden has gone 15-38 for 327 yards with 5 touchdowns and 1 interception, while scoring 4 times with his legs - good for second-most on the team. When Boulden drops back to throw, [player_tooltip player_id='1972117' first='Rylan' last='Coffigny'] has caught 11 of the team's 15 completions for 274 yards and 3 scores, also finding time to rush the ball 16 times for 149 yards with 1 score. Coffigny does more than contribute on defense, too. He has made 28 tackles (12 solo) with 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception. On defense [player_tooltip player_id='1903783' first='Harry' last='Ulmer'] has been an utter animal. A major - if not centric - piece of their defense. Ulmer is either tied-for or outright owns the team lead in: tackles (88), tackles for loss (9), solo tackles (29), sacks (3), and forced fumbles (2). He also has recovered a fumble too. Patrolling the back-seven is [player_tooltip player_id='1972121' first='Neeko' last='Howard']. the junior defensive back leads the team with 2 interceptions - one of which he took back for a score - to go along with 43 stops (17 solo) and 3 tackles for loss.<br><br>Unfortunately Pleasantville has not kept up with their statistical information this season and thus no preview can be provided.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Bridgeton (6-2) at Cherry Hill East (8-0)<br><br>Cherry Hill East looks to cap off an undefeated season as they host Bridgeton. In a possible playoff matchup due to this year's Northing, a win will all but secure Bridgeton's, who is currently 16th in South V, place in the playoffs. Aside from a perfect season, Cherry Hill East would likely earn a top-half seed with a victory.<br><br>The efficient and highly-productive play of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1972122' first='Josh' last='Greenberg'] has propelled East to an outstanding season. Greenburg has gone 65-93 for 1045 yards with 15 touchdowns to just 1 interception. As this careful-yet-explosive has been, the junior prospect also finds himself their leading rusher, going for 575 yards and 8 scores on 42 attempts. [player_tooltip player_id='1972123' first='Kyle' last='Fisher'] is his favorite target, leading the way with 15 receptions for 404 yards and 4 scores. When in the redzone, however, [player_tooltip player_id='1891421' first='Trevor' last='Levin']. Although he has only 8 catches and 129 yards, Levin has found paydirt a team-leading 5 times. Two outstanding defendersthis year for East have been [player_tooltip player_id='1676460' first='Onanefe' last='Pela'] and [player_tooltip player_id='823165' first='Dominic' last='Canzano']. Both lineman, Pela leads the way with 8 sacks to go along with 12 tackles for loss, 25 solo stops, and a forced fumble amongst his 42 total tackles. Canzano, on the other hand, paces the team with 15 tackles for loss amongst his 4.5 sacks, 20 solo stops, and 41 total tackles. The big beneficiary of all of this is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1552380' first='Dillon' last='Haddock']. The junior linebacker leads the team with 55 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 28 solo tackles. The dynamic defender has made 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as well.<br><br>Bridgeton is the type of team that wants to run the ball... and then run the ball some more. They feature [player_tooltip player_id='1972125' first='Vascell' last='McKoy'] out of their backfield. The sophomore talent has also scored via touchdown reception. He is spelled by senior back [player_tooltip player_id='1972127' first='Dante' last='Howell'], who has scored 6 times despite only mustering 35 carries and 168 yards. Another key piece to their backfield - both future and present - is [player_tooltip player_id='1955266' first='Herron' last='Lee']. Lee, a freshman, is third on the team with 23 carries for 132 yards and 1 score. On defense [player_tooltip player_id='1540497' first='Jayden' last='Barnett'] has totally snapped this year. The junior linebacker has made 83 stops on the season 28 solo, 8 for a loss, 3 sacks), as well as forcing 2 fumbles, and recovering 4 - one he took back for a score. Another junior prospect that terrorizes defenses is [player_tooltip player_id='1938192' first='Aaron' last='Eubanks']. A lineman by trade, Eubanks leas the team with 7 sacks on 38 tackles, with 10 for a loss. Out of the ordinary for lineman, Eubanks has also returned a punt for a score. Like Barnett before him, he has recovered his only fumble for a touchdown, while forcing one loose himself. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1972128' first='Jaycob' last='Pender'] is paying early dividends on defense. The freshman linebacker has made 31 tackles on the season, with 4 solo stops, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->