Week 3 Preview: Big Time Matchups + Big Time Players, Part 2

<!-- 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. This article features matchups from across the West Jersey Football League (WJFL), Super Football Conference (SFC), and independent schools not governed by the NJSIAA.</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">West Jersey Football League</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Washington Township (3-0) at Atlantic City (1-2)<br><br>Last year's Group V champion heads to Atlantic City to take on last year's #1 overall seed in South V. In what would have been a game of the year candidate, these two teams, unfortunately, never crossed in 2025. Fast-forward to 2026, Atlantic City has been stifled, albeit by very tough competition, to a 1-2 record; while Washington Township has 3 quality wins in a row.<br><br>The visiting Minutemen are lead by a three-headed rushing attack. [player_tooltip player_id='2399109' first='Elijah' last='Cole'] has been the most productive rusher, just by a hair. Cole has a team-high 191 yards and tied for the team lead with 3 rushing scores on 27 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='910864' first='Drew' last='Dorsey'] leads the way 34 totes that have rendered 183 yards and 3 scores of his home. Lastly, Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2217886' first='Cody' last='Halicks'] has contributed with 27 times netting 135 yards, but has been held out of the endzone. Of the three, Halicks has been the biggest contributor on defensive with 8 tackles (2 solo, 0.5 for loss) and 1 Int. Another ball hawk on defense is [player_tooltip player_id='2399113' first='Lucas' last='McCabe']. Along with his 7 tackles (6 solo), McCabe already has 3 picks - one of which was a pick 6.<br><br>After a stellar sophomore season, [player_tooltip player_id='1938195' first='Marvin' last='Burroughs'] has started his junior campaign very well. The quarterback has gone 33-54 for 528 yards with 6 touchdowns against 2 picks. He likes to link up with [player_tooltip player_id='2217979' first='Kenai' last='Austin'], a senior receiver. Austin is second on the team with 8 catches for 186 yards and has found pay dirt 3 times. The running back, [player_tooltip player_id='2217968' first='Ahmad' last='Chambers'], is a two-way dynamo. Chambers leads the team on the ground, going 30/186/2, while having a nose for the ball with his two fumble recoveries. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id='1552382' first='Omar' last='Kelly'] leads things in the front-7, recording two sacks on the young season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Winslow (3-0) vs. St. Augustine (3-0)<br><br>The storyline writes itself. Bill Belton, formerly the head coach of Winslow, bolts for St. Augustine. In his first game against his former team, how will he fair? St. Augustine looks to improve upon last year's 6-4 record, as the Hermits are 3-0; while, Winslow is in a familiar situation following<br><br>For as torrid a start start [player_tooltip player_id='1561071' first='Javon' last='Thompson'] has had, [player_tooltip player_id='1141023' first='Trey' last='Alexander'] might be just as every bit as good. Alexander, their running back, has scored 4 times and 327 yards on 37 attempts. As there has been for the last several years in South Jersey, [player_tooltip player_id='1055401' first='Karon' last='Ceasar'] has always been a threat anytime he gets the ball in his hands. Ceasar has yet to find the end zone, but he has slashed 10/158 otherwise when targeted, intercepting a pass as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1524890' first='Terrance' last='Washington'] is a new name to Winslow's defensive front. Washington has been a load to reckon with, as he leads the way with 8 tackles for loss and has one of the team's 5 sacks on the season.<br><br>St. Augustine has mostly gotten it done through the air this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1647472' first='Dylan' last='Dellanoce'], a prospect we have already discussed, has gotten the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='1987697' first='Zehkiy' last='DeJesus'] -- often and in big spots. DeJesus is the team's leading receiver with 9 catches for 246 yards and 4 scores. When DeJesus is not getting the ball, look for sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1591242' first='Chase' last='Wilder'] to be the beneficiary. The 2029 graduate, Wilder has gone 5/144/3 when targeted, with his three scores good for second on the team. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1067093' first='Jayden' last='Robinson'] has had a strong start. The defensive lineman is tied for the team lead with 5 tackles for loss, adding 10 total and 3 solo to his credit. Robinson has also sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Super Football Conference</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Union City (1-2) at Ramapo (2-1)<br><br>Welcome to Group V football, Ramapo! With the NJSIAA's new rules regarding choice schools, the historically dominant Group IV program gets bumped up a group, finding immediate success with victories over West Orange and Ridgewood, with their only loss being to also historically dominant Old Tappan. Their Group V odyssey continues as they welcome Union City. The Soaring Eagles are in an unfamiliar situation, since I have been covering them at least, as they enter the game with a two-game losing streak.<br><br>The Soaring Eagles Wing-T attack is centered around senior fullback [player_tooltip player_id='1881719' first='Naythan' last='Pena']. Pena, in his second year leading the offense, has carried the ball 75 times for 547 yards, scoring 8 times. No other ball carrier has more than 19 carries and nobody else has cracked 100 yards rushing on the season just yet. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1881720' first='Jordan' last='Peterson'] has been killing it. The linebacker leads Union City with 25 tackles (14 solo, 6 for loss), while adding a sack. In front of Peterson, [player_tooltip player_id='2044196' first='Ethan' last='Ovalles'] controls the line of scrimmage. Ovalles leads the team with 9 tackles for loss, while also recording a sack and 15 tackles (7 solo).<br><br>Ramapo's offense appears pretty balanced in terms of yardage, as they have rushed for just 100 yards more than they have passed for. They are starting a sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='1490249' first='Luke' last='Magerko'], under center. Magerko has already thrown for 400 yards on 35-53 passing with 2 TD and Int each, adding 41 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Their leading rusher is another underclassmen, junior [player_tooltip player_id='2399117' first='Joey' last='Gorga']. Gorga has gone for 335 yards and 6 scores on 75 attempts. Two linebackers who have been on an unbelievable pace for Ramapo's defense are [player_tooltip player_id='1939974' first='Jack' last='Schneider'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2399119' first='Brad' last='Vierheilig']. Both have stopped the run and made disruptive plays. Schneider has made 29 tackles (11 solo, 1 for loss), but also forced a fumble and intercepted two passes so far. While next to him, Vierheilig has made 28 stops (7 solo, with a team-leading 7 for loss) and a sack.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Chatham (2-1) at Mount Olive (2-0)<br><br>Another top teams in their playoff brackets link up as the Cougars head into Flanders to take on Mount Olive. Chatham is off to a strong start, wedging a tough loss to West Essex in between dominant road victories against Randolph and Morristown. Mount Olive on the other hand, sat out Week 0 and has two victories, both in dominant fashion - with one against Randolph. <br><br>Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1881725' first='Ryan' last='Hogan'], now a senior, looks to sling the ball all around the lot. With 7 TD compared to just 1 pick, Hogan has thrown for 590 yards on 42-62 passing. His favorite target has been fellow 2027 graduate [player_tooltip player_id='1552343' first='Nick' last='Lagunowich']. Lagunowich sets the pace and pushes the ball upfield with his 14 receptions for 254 yards and 2 scores. Along the defensive trenches, young sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2399124' first='George' last='Pijut'] has delivered in a big way. Pijut has 21 tackles (4 solo) -- both good for second on the team -- and a team high 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He is second in tackles behind [player_tooltip player_id='2399125' first='Will' last='Richie'], a senior. Richie has 26 tackles (3 solo) with 1 for a loss.<br><br>Mount Olive appears a little bit more open to throwing the ball this year than in prior seasons. They have accumulated about 80 yards more on the ground than through the air. A part of the reason for opening up their attack is the play of senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2399126' first='Justin' last='Reed']. Reed has gone 23-30 for 375 yards with 5 scores, adding a score on 33 yards when rushing. Their primary threat when throwing is Reed's fellow 2027 teammate [player_tooltip player_id='2044233' first='Justin' last='Bullock']. Bullock has slashed 9/203/4 through the air and intercepted a pass to go along with his 6 defensive stops (5 solo). On defensive [player_tooltip player_id='1939965' first='Jared' last='Martini'] has done a strong job at linebacker. The team leader in tackles (10, 2 solo), also leads the way with tackles for loss (4) and forced fumbles (1). Martini has also added 0.5 sacks on the season. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Independents</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The Hun (2-1) at St. Thomas More (CT) (0-1)<br><br>New Jersey's top program for recruits, in my opinion anyway, The Hun School prepares to head up I-95 into Connecticut to test their mettle against St. Thomas More, one of the better schools in the New England region.<br><br>Conversations around The Hun begin and end with [player_tooltip player_id='943155' first='Lukas' last='Prock']. The junior commit to reigning national champion Indiana has gone 74-100 for 1622 yards with 20 touchdowns and just 1 interception. Perhaps the most impressive part of his statline is that Prock has completed passes to 16 different targets. However, more times than not Prock looks to connect with [player_tooltip player_id='1524399' first='JD' last='Teza']. Teza, a senior, has slashed 12/454/6 when targeted. Two defenders that are reigning hell on opposing quarterbacks are [player_tooltip player_id='2381778' first='Brandon' last='Hollingsworth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2399127' first='Weston' last='Kane']. Both seniors, the duo have 6 sacks a piece. Hollingsworth has made a few more plays, recording 8 tackles for loss and recovering a fumble; whereas Kane has 5 tackles for loss. <br><br>St. Thomas More has not reported neither roster nor statistics to provide further insights. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->