St. Joseph-Hammonton football rivalry falls by wayside
St. Joseph vs. Hammonton was one of South Jersey's best football rivalries from its inception in 1962 until 2014, when the series was interrupted by the Blue Devils' move from the Cape-Atlantic League to the Tri-County Conference.
Usually played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the game featured two of South Jersey's most accomplished programs and some of the best elements of a spirited annual event: history, crosstown proximity and the always-live undercurrent of public vs. non-public competition.
With the Cape-Atlantic League's merger with the West Jersey Football League, which takes effect at the start of the 2016 season, there has been speculation that the rivalry would be renewed now that both schools are again part of the same conference.
But the teams will not play during the 2016-17 schedule cycle. The WJFL is expected to announce full schedules for its teams later this month.
Hammonton athletic director Marni Parks confirmed in an email this week that the series with St. Joseph will not be renewed in 2016-17. Parks indicated that the game is not in the best interest of the Blue Devils' program.
"With competition being so intense and our crossovers surely to be so demanding, it wasn't so much that St. Joe would be a challenging game in an already demanding schedule, it has more to do with the dynamic of 'What is best for Hammonton football 2016,' " Parks wrote.
Parks noted that Hammonton, a Group 4 program, has been moved up to the WJFL's American Division with Group 5 programs such as Cherokee, Williamstown, Kingsway and Washington Township as well as Group 4 powerhouse Shawnee.
Parks said it was her responsibility to "weigh power points" and try to put Hammonton in the "best position to not only get into the state playoffs but bring home a title."
Parks indicated that playing the game on Thanksgiving weekend was "reckless" because it often caught both teams in the middle of the state tournament.
St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco said the Wildcats were willing to renew the rivalry with Hammonton but also expressed concerns about playing the game on Thanksgiving weekend.
Sacco said St. Joseph would have preferred playing the game on another date, perhaps as the annual season opener. That's something the schools discussed over the years without coming to an agreement.
Parks and Sacco both acknowledged that there is strong sentiment within the town of Hammonton for a renewal of the rivalry.
"I respect and admire what this town holds dear and the great unity this annual game has brought to so many," Parks said.
But Parks said her "concerns with playing St. Joe" were twofold:
1. The game's traditional spot on the schedule. Parks said eliminating a Thanksgiving game would allow the Blue Devils to avoid an emotional and physically demanding game during the middle of a potential playoff run.
2. Distraction. Parks said she fretted that the "hype" of the annual rivalry game would "outweigh any state game or state title."
Parks said Hammonton's primary focus should be trying to advance in the state tournament, not beating its crosstown rivalry.
"Their biggest game isn't Thanksgiving Day across town," Parks said of the Hammonton players and coaches. "Their biggest game is played on a frigid December day at Rowan University," site of the sectional title game."
Parks indicated that she was aware the decision would not be popular to some Hammonton football enthusiasts.
"I hope that people can try to support the young men who are wearing the jersey today . . . even if they don't agree with the schedule," Parks wrote.
New Thanksgiving Day rivalries. The WJFL's schedule for 2016 -17 will feature some new Turkey Day games, including Triton vs. Highland and Timber Creek vs. Winslow Township.
The Triton-Highland game is a renewal of an old rivalry between schools in the Black Horse Pike district.
Triton and Timber Creek have played on Thanksgiving in recent years. Highland has not played on Thanksgiving since its series with Overbrook ended in 2007.
Black Horse Pike athletic director Frank Torcasio said there was strong sentiment in the district to move the Triton-Highland game back to Thanksgiving.
"It was the original matchup prior to Highland leaving for the Tri-County Conference," Torcasio said. "And this new two-year cycle was a great opportunity to rekindle that."
The Timber Creek-Winslow Township game will be a clash between schools that are rivals in many sports. The two teams are in different divisions, so the Thanksgiving game will be a crossover and also will match two teams that could be in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament.
In other Thanksgiving developments, it appears as though West Deptford and Paulsboro will continue their rivalry on the holiday weekend.
There was some consideration given to creating Thanksgiving series featuring West Deptford vs. Deptford and Paulsboro vs. Glassboro - an easy switch, since Deptford and Glassboro play on the holiday - but West Deptford coach Clyde Folsom said the four schools have not yet been able to work out that arrangement.
Interesting crossover. St. Joseph, the seven-time state champion in non-public play, and defending South Jersey Group 1 champion Pennsville are expected to meet in a crossover game during the 2016-17 schedule cycle.
Sacco and Pennsville coach Ryan Wood both confirmed that the game is likely to take place, although crossover games are not official until the WJFL releases its schedule.
St. Joseph was 10-2 last season and won the Non-Public 2 state title. Pennsville was 11-1 and won the South Jersey Group 1 title.
@PhilAnastasia