Both the Wildwood and Southern Regional high school football teams are making history this season.
Wildwood has won three straight for the first time since 1998.
Southern is 6-0 for the first time in school history.
What follows is a preview of this weekend’s games featuring teams from Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Ocean counties:
West Jersey Football LeagueAtlantic City (5-1) at Eastern (4-2)
6 p.m. Friday
Atlantic City is No. 7 in The Press Elite 11 and has won three straight. Senior wide receiver Jaylen Day has caught 30 passes for 601 yards and eight TDs. Senior wide receiver Terry Cook caught two TD passes in Eastern’s 35-7 win over Trenton last week.
Egg Harbor Township (1-5) at Mainland Regional (3-3)
6 p.m. Friday
These teams were once Thanksgiving rivals. EHT hasn’t beaten Mainland since 2017. Mainland senior quarterback John Franchini has rushed for a team-high 405 yards and four TDs and thrown for 567 yards and seven TDs.
Middle Township (0-6) at Ocean City (3-3)
6 p.m. Friday
Ocean City needs a win to boost its South Jersey Group III playoff standing. Triston Schmidt has carried 96 times for 468 yards. Middle has lost four straight to Ocean City with their win against the Red Raiders coming in 2012.
Delsea Regional (3-3) at Holy Spirit (2-3)
6 p.m. Thursday
Spirit has dropped two straight. Senior quarterback Ty Costabile has thrown for 1,119 yards and 14 TDs. Delsea lost at Millville.
Pleasantville (4-2) at Oakcrest (2-4)
6 p.m. Thursday
This is The Press Game of the Week. Pleasantville has won three straight and allowed a total of three points in those wins. Oakcrest freshman quarterback Zane Forest has thrown for 1,031 yards and 11 TDs.
Lower Cape May (5-1) at Cedar Creek (5-1)
6 p.m. Thursday
Cedar Creek has won five straight and is No. 5 in The Press Elite 11. Senior linebacker Justus Peyton has made 56 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Lower Cape May has won four straight. Junior running back Ryan Mallon has rushed for nine TDs.
Deptford (2-4) at Cumberland (4-2)
6 p.m. Friday
Deptford has lost four straight. Cumberland comes off a 21-7 loss to Bridgeton.
Seneca (4-2) at Hammonton (1-5)
6 p.m. Friday
Hammonton has dropped five straight. The Blue Devils feature several talented sophomores, including running back Joseph Scott (574 rushing yards).
St. Augustine Prep (4-1) at Lenape (0-6)
6 p.m. Friday
St. Augustine was off last week. Ohio State recruit Damari Simeon sparks the Hermits on the defensive line with 26 tackles, including 10 for a loss. Sophomore linebacker Kenny Taylor leads the Hermits with 41 tackles.
Absegami (2-4) at Bridgeton (4-2)
7 p.m. Friday
Bridgeton senior quarterback Dante Howell threw for a TD and ran for a score as the Bulldogs beat Cumberland 21-7 last week. Logan Simpson ran for two TDS in Absegami’s 16-0 win over ACIT last Friday.
Kipp Cooper Norcross Academy (3-2) at Wildwood (3-3)
Noon Saturday
Wildwood has won three straight for the first time since 1998. Senior linebacker Liam Carmel leads the Wildwood defense with 34.5 tackles.
St. Joseph (4-1) vs. ACIT (2-3), in Brigantine
1 p.m. Saturday
ACIT has dropped three straight. This will be a pseudo home game for the RedHawks. It will be played at the home of the Brigantine Rams youth team. Senior linebacker David Nixon-Matos leads ACIT with 62 tackles. St. Joe junior linebacker Ryder Willett has 40 tackles.
Shore Conference
Lacey (2-4) at Toms River East (3-3)
6 p.m. Friday
Junior running back Joey Davis has rushed for 647 yards and nine TDs.
Barnegat (3-3) at Pinelands Regional (4-2)
6 p.m. Friday
Barnegat has won three of the last five matchups between these schools. Bengals senior quarterback Jack Haviland has thrown for four TDs and run for
five scores. Pinelands has won four straight. Sophomore running back RJ Taylor has rushed for 509 yards.
Manchester Township (0-6) at Southern Regional (6-0)
7 p.m. Friday
Southern is 6-0 for the first time in school history. The Rams are No. 8 in The Press Elite 11. Southern junior quarterback Carson Abbato has thrown for 770 yards and 10 TDs.
Contact: 609-272-7209
MMcGarry@PressofAC.com
X @ACPressMcGarry
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Mike McGarry
Staff Writer
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