Advice for winning football titles

Since all the playoff games have been dissected, we decided to give our formula for success in this weekend's championship contests, and all it costs is the price of The Inquirer.

Of course, it's much easier dispensing advice than actually going on the field and playing, but it's the best we can offer:

What Penns Grove must do to win:

The Red Devils must run the ball effectively, mainly because they have just about abolished the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Jay Brown has continued to improve, and he is a major threat running the ball.

What Glassboro must do to win:

Have the defensive line win the battle up front. Penns Grove has a strong offensive line led by senior Ken Jefferson (6-foot-3, 290 pounds), and the Bulldogs can't let Penns Grove's fleet backs break to the outside.

X factor:

Ricky Tunstall, Glassboro's wide receiver/defensive back, has returned two punts for touchdowns and one interception for a score, and has 33 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns.

What West Deptford must do to win:

Stop Delsea's running game.

What Delsea must do to win:

Stop West Deptford's running game.

Does one get the impression that these two wing-T teams like to carry the ball? The one that has the fewer pass attempts should win.

X factor:

Last season, Bryan Jackson, West Deptford's receiver/defensive back, scored three touchdowns in the Eagles' 31-17 sectional-final win over Point Pleasant Borough. Jackson has caught 24 passes for 676 yards and six touchdowns, and he is also a dangerous return man.

What Hammonton must do to win:

Run the ball effectively. The Blue Devils' strength is the offensive line, and juniors Dave Crescenzo and Josh Baez have combined for 24 touchdowns. Hammonton needs to control the clock and limit the time that Shawnee's offense can take the field.

What Shawnee must do to win:

Throw the ball effectively. Everybody, including Hammonton, realizes that running back Chris LaPierre will be the focal point of the Renegades' offense. Why shouldn't he be, after scoring 40 touchdowns this year, including 38 on the ground? That means quarterback Kody Smith, who has enjoyed a banner senior season, will likely get opportunities to showcase his arm.

X factor:

Shawnee senior linebacker Justin Miller doesn't make every tackle; it only seems that way. He can demoralize an offense, and Hammonton must do its best to block him.

What Southern must do to win:

Limit Mainland quarterback Brent Caprio from taking off and running. Caprio is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arm, and for somebody who has thrown 24 touchdown passes, that's saying something.

What Mainland must do to win:

Stop the Southern running attack. The Rams aren't known for their passing game.

X factor:

Southern running back/linebacker Glenn Carson is a Penn State recruit whose future is on defense. He will have a lot to say about how Mainland's offense operates.

What Hudson Catholic must do to win:

Get untracked offensively early. The Hawks beat St. Joseph, 3-0, in the semifinals, but a field goal isn't going to get it done against Holy Cross.

What Holy Cross must do to win:

Get the running game going. Holy Cross has gone from a pass-happy offense a year ago to a running attack this season. That has worked well, for the most part, but the Lancers are coming off their second-lowest offensive output in last Friday's 28-7 loss to Moorestown.

X factor:

Hawks offensive tackle Kadeem Williams. At 6-7 and 335 pounds, he will be expected to open some big holes for quality running back Jason Hendricks.