11 county teams to play on Friday
Week Seven of the West Jersey Football League features a loaded Mercer County primetime slate, with eleven CVC schools playing Friday night and eight going head-to-head.
Nottingham and Steinert each go for their sixth win of the season with road tests at Lawrence and Allentown, respectively.
CVC schools went 4-8 last week with wins by Trenton (vs. Cherry Hill West), West Windsor South (vs. Princeton), Steinert (vs. Hopewell) and Nottingham (vs. Notre Dame). Lawrence is coming off a bye week.
Friday
HAMILTON (3-3)
AT EWING (2-4)
Both schools desperately need a win to make a run at returning to the playoffs. The Hornets have been upset the last two weeks by Hightstown and Northern Burlington. Meanwhile, the Blue Devils have been unable to get their offense on track and lost four in a row. With injuries to quarterbacks on both sides, depth will play a big part in this one.
HIGHTSTOWN (2-4)
AT WW-P SOUTH (1-5)
Consistency for four quarters has continued to elude the Rams, who feature one of the more dynamic running games in the area but have only two wins to show for it. South is coming off its first win at home in four years.
LENAPE (4-1)
AT HOPEWELL (0-6)
For the Bulldogs, playing in the Capitol Division means facing Group V schools three times a year. Lenape is one of the best programs in the state and has scored at least 47 points in three of five games. This could get ugly in a hurry. NOTTINGHAM (5-1)
AT LAWRENCE (3-3)
Led by dynamic running back Dionte Nicholson, the Northstars have a good shot at their first six-game winning streak since 2012, when the school captured a sectional title. The Cardinals have responded from two close losses at the beginning of the season to win three straight.
NO. BURLINGTON (2-4)
AT PRINCETON (0-6)
After losing by 35 to previously winless West Windsor South, the Little Tigers look poised for their first winless season since 2013. They have yielded at least 48 points in each of their last four games. ROBBINSVILLE (0-6)
AT HOLY CROSS (3-3)
Another tough road matchup in the Liberty Division for the Ravens, who have scored 22 total points all year. Their only game against a Mercer County team awaits next week against Lawrence.
STEINERT (5-1)
AT ALLENTOWN (4-2)
This is a significant litmus test for the Spartans, who have been outstanding defensively all season. But can they hold up against the class of the area? Freshman Dan Merkel is one of the most talented young quarterbacks around. His Redbirds will be looking to respond from a 58-26 humbling loss to St. Joe’s of Hammonton.
Saturday
NOTRE DAME (2-4) AT RANCOCAS VALLEY (6-0)
The Irish share Hopewell’s predicament despite looking like a better team than their record indicates. After three straight losses by six points or fewer, Notre Dame takes a trip to Florida running commit Iverson Clement and the undefeated Red Devils.
BURLINGTON TWP. (5-1)
AT TRENTON (3-3)
In what should be one of the more competitive games of the week, the Tornadoes could use a win to secure one of the final playoff spots in Central Jersey Group V. Defense will be key against the Falcons’ talented receiving corps if Trenton is to produce its first three-game winning streak since 2015.