RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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How tough is the West Jersey Football League’s Classic Division?
Three defending state champions spearhead the six-team division while Mainland, which has reached four straight sectional finals, along with Holy Spirit and Ocean City, round out the new-look Classic Division.
Glassboro (14-0 last season, 5-0 in Diamond Division), the two-time defending Group 1 state championship, will take a Garden State-best 27-game winning streak into the campaign.
The Bulldogs are loaded from top to bottom and start the season as the top-ranked team in South Jersey. The team’s star-studded offense is led by one of the top players in the country, Xavier Sabb. The Oregon commit was the Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year last fall and is looking to rewrite the Glassboro record books with a big senior season.
Glassboro’s defense will be just as daunting, especially with its linebacker corps that includes veterans Tasheem Butler and Davon Barr along with Winslow transfer Ausar Heard.
Camden (12-2, 3-1 in Colonial Division) is one of the few teams in South Jersey which can match Glassboro in most areas on the field. The Panthers possess plenty of their own star power and are huge in the trenches, especially on offense with Daniel “Bear” Williams (6-5, 370) and Brandon Moreno (6-2, 330), along with three-year starter AJ Spalding (5-10, 255).
Camden’s defense is stout up front with Kaseem Hall, Moyston McIntosh and Anthony Nelson leading the way while Naihem Presbury leads a talented linebacker corps.
Cedar Creek (12-2, 3-1 in Constitution) will look to rebuild after graduation left the roster with just five returning starters. The Pirates will be strong and experienced up front with a trio of three-year starters in Slayton D’Amico, Caleb Pettiford and Elias Blocker. If the younger talent at the skill positions can develop quickly, the rebuilding process will be a lot smoother.
Ocean City (5-5, 2-2 in Constitution) could be a very interesting team in the division. The Red Raiders have a talented defense that could give their opponents fits. Jake Chapman and Aron Desch, a pair of three-year starters, anchor a strong defensive line while Joe Pancoast, Dominic Shultz and Michael Marczyk all return as starting linebackers. Junior quarterback Jackson Becker is coming off a solid campaign and will look to take his dual-threat talents to the next level.
Holy Spirit (7-5, 2-2 in Constitution). The Spartans will have to fill plenty of holes left by graduation, but the hopes are a youthful roster will develop quickly. Holy Spirit boasts experience on the defensive side, especially at linebacker with Freddy Marczyk and Jack Burns. Limiting points will give the Spartans the opportunity to stay competitive in most games this season.
Mainland (7-5, 1-3 in American.) After four straight appearances in the sectional final, the Mustangs appears destined to take a step back this season. The majority of the Mustangs roster is young and inexperienced, a tough combination in a such a talented division.
Mark the Calendar
Camden at Glassboro, Oct. 16, 6 p.m. This showdown could be the most anticipated game of the regular season. The lights will be shining brighter in this one as talent beams throughout both team’s lineups. The Classic Division title will likely be on the line in this contest, but could the penthouse of the South Jersey Mean 15 rankings be up for grabs too?
Players to Watch
Camden: Gregory Wyche Jr., sophomore 6-1, 185 QB (719 passing yards, seven TDs); Roman Duckett , senior, 5-10, 210 RB (730 rushing yards, nine TDs); Naaim Presbery , senior, 5-9, 210 LB (three-year starter); Daniel “Bear” Williams, junior, 6-5, 370 OL (three-year starter on OL); Anthony Nelson , junior 6-1, 280 OL/DL (three-year starter; 10 career sacks, seven last season.
Cedar Creek: Elias Blocker , senior 6-5, 265 OL/DL (three-year starter at LT, two-year starter at DE); Slayton D’Amico , senior 6-0, 250; OL/DL (three-year starter on OL); Caleb Pettiford, senior, 6-0, 255 OL/DL (three-year starter at center); Sandy Thomas , junior, 6-1, 170 WR; Cole Landicini , junior 5-10, 175 QB.
Glassboro: Xavier Sabb , senior, 6-1, 200 WR/S (four-year starter on both sides of the ball; 31 career TD receptions; 13 interceptions); Jojo DeLecce , senior, 5-11, 195 (1,005 rushing yards; 14 rushing touchdowns; Mehki Parker , junior, 6-5, 215 WR (884 receiving yards, 13 TD catches); Davon Barr , senior, 6-1, 205 RB/LB (four -year starter on offense, three-year starter on defense; Ta’sheem Butler , senior, 6-1, 230 MILB (four-year starter, 136 total tackles last season).
Holy Spirit: Freddy Marczyk , senior 6-0, 210 LB (73 tackles, 11 sacks); Dylan Granzow junior 6-1, 175 WR/DB (475 receiving yards, six TD receptions); Jack Burns, senior 5-9, 170, RB/LB ; Ubrig Kurtz , senior 6-1, 245 OL/DL; Dante Franchini , senior, 5-10, 170 WR/DB.
Mainland: Lucas DeBiaso , senior, 5-10, 190 RB/DB (528 rushing yards, four TDs); Eban Kuhns , senior OL/LB (53 tackles, 12 TOL, three sacks); AJ Goukler , junior 5-9, 160 WR/DB (four total TDs, one interception last season); Anthony Santos , senior 5-11, 215 OL/DL; Leo Morales , junior 6-1, 215 OL/DL
Ocean City: Jackson Becker , junior, 6-1, 210 QB (884 passing yards, five TDs; 504 rushing yards, six TDs); Jake Chapman , senior 6-0, 230 DE (three-year starter, nine sacks last season; 12 career sacks); J oe Pancoast , senior, 6-0, 205 LB (returning starter, 96 tackles, two fumble recoveries); Andrew DeFeo, senior, 6-2, 260 OL/DL, (three-year starter at DE; returning starter at LT); Aron Desch , senior 6-1, 250 OL/DL (three-year starter on defense).
Predicted order of finish
1, Glassboro
2. Camden
3. Cedar Creek
4. Ocean City
5. Holy Spirit
6. Mainland
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 40 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email at tmcgurk@usato...
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