A Look At Football Playoff Possibilities
This weekend is the deadline for New Jersey football teams to qualify for the playoffs. Each team is rated on its first eight games and must win at least four. As many as eight will qualify in each group. The official pairings, complete with a series of consolation games for non-qualifiers, will be announced on Monday. But we should really know the playoff lineup on Sunday.
Here is the way it looks for Cape-Atlantic League teams as we approach the final weekend.
In Group 4, Mainland has clinched a playoff spot and will open the playoffs at home if it beats Vineland. Right now Mainland is No. 3. They could drop as far as No. 5 or climb as high as No. 2, pending the results.
There are three other teams who are hoping to join the Mustangs in the Group 4 field. Atlantic City and Absegami will play in Galloway Township Friday night. The winner of that game will qualify for the playoffs if either Williamstown (6-1) loses to Cumberland (6-1) or Lenape (4-3) loses to Timber Creek (4-3). It is also possible that ACHS could qualify by winning if both Williamstown and Lenape win, provided Millville upsets Hammonton. Absegami cannot qualify unless it wins and either Williamstown or Lenape lose.
Egg Harbor Township has a tougher road. The Eagles must beat Oakcrest Friday night in Mays Landing and both Williamstown and Lenape must lose for EHT to reach the playoffs. And, even then, some other games would have to go in EHT’s favor. Right behind Egg Harbor Township is Cherokee, which has faced Absegami in the last two South Jersey Group 4 finals. Cherokee can only qualify is it beats Pennsauken and Williamstown, Lenape and EHT all lose, plus a couple other results help them out.
In Group 3, Hammonton is currently No. 1 and will probably stay there. Winslow Township could move past the Blue Devils if Hammonton loses to Millville and Winslow upsets Eastern (7-0). There is a slim chance Winslow could move to No. 1 if both teams win. Lacey and Cumberland have also clinched playoff spots and five teams – Seneca, Delsea, Shawnee, Clearview and Timber Creek – are competing for the remaining four positions.
In Group 2, Bridgeton has clinched a spot and Buena could join the Bulldogs with a win over Lower Cape May on Friday, though it would still need some help from other games.
Moving to the Non-Public groups, St. Joseph has won an NJSIAA football championship eight straight years, an all-time state record. The Wildcats have qualified again in Group 2 along with Holy Cross, Gloucester Catholic and Morris Catholic. Should St. Joe beat Holy Spirit, it would clinch the No. 1 seed. With a loss, St. Joe could fall as far as No. 3, which might mean playing all its playoff games on the road.
A few weeks ago, St. Augustine Prep was in the No. 1 spot in Group 4. But this group is loaded with impressive teams, including Don Bosco Prep and St. Peter’s Prep, both among the Top 10 in the East in USA Today. After losses to Holy Spirit and St. Joe, The Prep is now in trouble. The only way St. Augustine can qualify is to beat Pleasantville Friday night and get the right result from three other games – Oakcrest must beat EHT, Middle Township must beat Bridgeton and Lower Cape May must beat Buena. And then the Hermits would have to win a complicated tiebreaker.
That brings us to Non-Public 3. Holy Spirit is currently No. 2 behind Immaculata, the team that eliminated the Spartans in last year’s playoffs. But Immaculata has already played eight games and only a team’s first eight games count. So, Holy Spirit has a chance to take over the No. 1 seed, meaning that all of its playoff games would be at Ed Byrnes Stadium. And the Spartans can get some help from a long-time rival – a win by Mainland would give Spirit an important extra point in the standings. It would also help Bill Walsh’s team if Middle Township upsets Bridgeton. And there are three games in North Jersey that could impact the situation.
Check back here over the weekend for a list of the likely pairings. And, if you want more details on this week's lineup of games and how they may affect the playoffs, go here.
Here is the way it looks for Cape-Atlantic League teams as we approach the final weekend.
In Group 4, Mainland has clinched a playoff spot and will open the playoffs at home if it beats Vineland. Right now Mainland is No. 3. They could drop as far as No. 5 or climb as high as No. 2, pending the results.
There are three other teams who are hoping to join the Mustangs in the Group 4 field. Atlantic City and Absegami will play in Galloway Township Friday night. The winner of that game will qualify for the playoffs if either Williamstown (6-1) loses to Cumberland (6-1) or Lenape (4-3) loses to Timber Creek (4-3). It is also possible that ACHS could qualify by winning if both Williamstown and Lenape win, provided Millville upsets Hammonton. Absegami cannot qualify unless it wins and either Williamstown or Lenape lose.
Egg Harbor Township has a tougher road. The Eagles must beat Oakcrest Friday night in Mays Landing and both Williamstown and Lenape must lose for EHT to reach the playoffs. And, even then, some other games would have to go in EHT’s favor. Right behind Egg Harbor Township is Cherokee, which has faced Absegami in the last two South Jersey Group 4 finals. Cherokee can only qualify is it beats Pennsauken and Williamstown, Lenape and EHT all lose, plus a couple other results help them out.
In Group 3, Hammonton is currently No. 1 and will probably stay there. Winslow Township could move past the Blue Devils if Hammonton loses to Millville and Winslow upsets Eastern (7-0). There is a slim chance Winslow could move to No. 1 if both teams win. Lacey and Cumberland have also clinched playoff spots and five teams – Seneca, Delsea, Shawnee, Clearview and Timber Creek – are competing for the remaining four positions.
In Group 2, Bridgeton has clinched a spot and Buena could join the Bulldogs with a win over Lower Cape May on Friday, though it would still need some help from other games.
Moving to the Non-Public groups, St. Joseph has won an NJSIAA football championship eight straight years, an all-time state record. The Wildcats have qualified again in Group 2 along with Holy Cross, Gloucester Catholic and Morris Catholic. Should St. Joe beat Holy Spirit, it would clinch the No. 1 seed. With a loss, St. Joe could fall as far as No. 3, which might mean playing all its playoff games on the road.
A few weeks ago, St. Augustine Prep was in the No. 1 spot in Group 4. But this group is loaded with impressive teams, including Don Bosco Prep and St. Peter’s Prep, both among the Top 10 in the East in USA Today. After losses to Holy Spirit and St. Joe, The Prep is now in trouble. The only way St. Augustine can qualify is to beat Pleasantville Friday night and get the right result from three other games – Oakcrest must beat EHT, Middle Township must beat Bridgeton and Lower Cape May must beat Buena. And then the Hermits would have to win a complicated tiebreaker.
That brings us to Non-Public 3. Holy Spirit is currently No. 2 behind Immaculata, the team that eliminated the Spartans in last year’s playoffs. But Immaculata has already played eight games and only a team’s first eight games count. So, Holy Spirit has a chance to take over the No. 1 seed, meaning that all of its playoff games would be at Ed Byrnes Stadium. And the Spartans can get some help from a long-time rival – a win by Mainland would give Spirit an important extra point in the standings. It would also help Bill Walsh’s team if Middle Township upsets Bridgeton. And there are three games in North Jersey that could impact the situation.
Check back here over the weekend for a list of the likely pairings. And, if you want more details on this week's lineup of games and how they may affect the playoffs, go here.
Comments