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Breaking down tournament finals for South Jersey teams

Rematches between Delsea and Woodrow Wilson, Rancocas Valley and Lenape, West Deptford and Haddonfield, and Shawnee and Hammonton highlight the action.

Senior RB Iverson Clement leads Rancocas Valley vs. Lenape in Saturday night’s S.J. 5 title game.
Senior RB Iverson Clement leads Rancocas Valley vs. Lenape in Saturday night’s S.J. 5 title game.Read moreAkira Suwa/For the Inquirer

Here's a quick preview of the state tournament finals in football this weekend at Rowan University, in order of the schedule:

Saturday

South Jersey Group 3

Delsea (8-3) vs. Woodrow Wilson (8-3), 11 a.m.

Delsea is seeking its 14th sectional title, second only to Paulsboro's 18 among South Jersey public schools. The Crusaders are making their sixth straight appearance in this game, having won the title four years in a row from 2012-15 before losing to Wall last season. Delsea is led by junior RB Aidan Borguet, who has rushed for a school-record 2,112 yards and has scored 29 TDs. Senior QB Mason Maxwell has run for 561 yards and 9 TDs and also has thrown 8 TD passes. He leads the secondary with 3 interceptions. Woodrow Wilson is making its seventh appearance in the sectional finals but just its second since 1995. The Tigers won their only title in 2001, beating EHT with current coach Preston Brown helping lead the way. Woodrow Wilson has a top passing attack led by junior quarterback Nick Kargman (23 TD passes despite missing 2 full games and most of another) as well as junior WR Stanley King (10 TD catches) and senior all-purpose Jairo Ramos. These teams played Oct. 27 at Delsea, with the Crusaders prevailing 43-12.

South Jersey Group 1

Penns Grove (10-1) vs. Paulsboro (9-2), 2:30 p.m.

Paulsboro is the defending champion and seeking to win its 19th sectional title. The Red Raiders have been led by senior RB Dehron Holloway, who has 26 TDs. Holloway has scored 15 TDs in the last 5 games. Junior Robert Glocker is a top two-way lineman and junior cousins Santino Morina, a defensive end, and Anthony Morina, a linebacker, lead the defense. Penns Grove is making its third appearance in the finals since 2008. The Red Devils won their only title in 2012, completing a perfect 120 season in which they set a state record with 621 points. This season, Penns Grove has won 8 in a row behind junior all-purpose Tyreke Brown (28 TDs) and sophomore QB Kavon Lewis (32 TD passes). Senior RB Semaj Moore (1,081 rushing yards, 13 TDs) and senior WR Josh Martin (35 catches, 996 yards, 9 TDs) also are players to watch.

South Jersey Group 5

Lenape (10-1) vs. Rancocas Valley (10-1), 6 p.m.

The Indians are making their second straight appearance in the sectional finals. Those are the only two championship games in program history. Lenape lost in the SJ 4 finals last season to Timber Creek. Lenape has been led by senior RB JoJo Kellum (1,557 yards, 31 TDs) as well as senior QB Matt Lajoie (11 TD passes, 10 rushing TDs) while senior DL Aaron Acosta and senior LBs Mike Galaida and Zach Cole spark a sturdy defense. RV is making its fourth appearance in the finals. The Red Devils lost o Cherokee in the SJ 5 final in 2014. They won their lone crown in SJ 3 in 1987 behind future NFL player Alonzo Spellman. This season, RV has been led by Florida recruit Iverson Clement (20 TDs) as well as senior OL/LB Kyle Sapp and junior QB Bryce Mangene (11 TD passes). This game is a rematch as RV beat Lenape 10-7 on the Indians' field Oct. 6.

Sunday

South Jersey Group 2

West Deptford (10-1) vs. Haddonfield (8-3), 11 a.m.

This is a renewal of perhaps South Jersey's fiercest rivalry. WD is the defending champion and is making its 13th appearance in the sectional finals, all since 2002. The Eagles have won seven SJ 2 titles. WD is led by senior QB/LB Pete Orio as well as junior RB/DB Kenny Lim (1,036 yards, 13 TDs despite missing 3 games). Junior TE/DE Jason Collier and junior LB Jake Paratore (97 tackles) also are players to watch. Haddonfield is making its 7th appearance in the finals, its 6th since 2009. The Bulldogs won the SJ 2 title in 2010, 2013 and 2014. Haddonfield is led by junior DL Gabe Klaus . Junior QB Jay Foley (1,568 passing yards, 12 TDs, 6 rushing TDs) is a dynamic playmaker. Junior WR/DB Davis Smith, who missed 5 games with a collarbone injury, is another player to watch. This game will mark the fourth time these teams have met in the SJ 2 final since 2010. Haddonfield won in 2010 and 2014; WD won in 2011. This game also is a rematch of an Oct. 20 game at West Deptford, won 17-14 in overtime by the Eagles on senior K Mike Bilodeau's walk-off FG.

Non-Public 2

St. Joseph (11-0) vs. Mater Dei (8-1), 2:30 p.m.

St. Joseph is making its 34th apparance in the finals and seeking its 26th crown, including South Jersey Parochial B titles before the creation of the NP state tournament in 1993. The Wildcats won 7 state titles in a row before losing to Mater Dei in last year's semifinals. This season, St. Joe has been led by senior RB Qwahsin Townsel (1,374 rushing yards, 28 TDs) and sophomore all-purpose Jada Byers (1,373 rushing yards, 566 return yards, 26 TDs). Byers has returned 4 punts for TDs. Senior DE leads the St. Joe defense with 61 tackles, including 22 TFL. Juniors Wisdom Quarshie, Sean Morris and Brad Lomax spark the St. Joe front lines. Mater Dei is the defending champion and has 20 wins in its last 21 games. The Seraphs advanced to the finals by beating St. Joe rival Holy Spirit by 35-34 in the semifinals. Mater Dei is led by senior QB George Pearson, a top run-pass threat and a Central Michigan recruit.

South Jersey Group 4

Shawnee (7-4) vs. Hammonton (5-6), 6 p.m.

Shawnee is making its 12th appearance in the finals and seeking its 7th title. The Renegades most recently won SJ 4 crowns in 2013, and 2014. The Renegades have been led by senior QB Colin Wetterau (128-for-210, 1946 yards, 16 TDs), who is on the brink of becoming the first player in program history to pass for 2,000 yards. Senior LB Dan Falzone (102 tackles) led the defense. Senior WR/LB Daevon Robinson (42 catches, 562 yards, 5 TDs) and senior LB Ryan Parris are players to watch as well senior all-purpose Jake Schillinger (28 catches, 578 yards, 5 receiving TDs, 6 rushing TDs, 9 INTs). Hammonton is making its 16th appearance in the finals and seeking its 6th title. The Blue Devils won their last crown in 2009, in SJ 3. Hammonton is a Cinderella team that entered the tournament with a 3-6 record. Senior RB Dayquan Murray ran for 3 TDs in a 27-21 OT win over Highland in the semifinals. Senior Dan Woelfel is a top two-way lineman. This game is another rematch, as Shawnee beating visiting Hammonton 38-6 on Nov. 3.