Conwell-Egan looks to keep rolling toward state title
Following a tough week in which Truman and Neshaminy both suffered closes losses in the PIAA District 1 Class 6A quarterfinals, there are now just four area football teams still alive in the playoffs.
One is Conwell-Egan, which remained undefeated and will take on once-beaten North Schuylkill in PIAA Class 3A action on a neutral field Friday night.
The other three teams still in the hunt for titles are from Burlington County. They are undefeated Burlington Township (S.J. Group III), Rancocas Valley (S.J. Group IV) and Willingboro (C.J. Group I).
All three will also be in action Friday night and should they prevail they will advance to the so-called first-year “bowl games,” which pit the Central and South Jersey champs against each other on the weekend after Thanksgiving. CONWELL-EGAN (12-0) VS. NORTH SCHUYLKILL (11-1) AT LEHIGHTON, FRIDAY, 7 P.M. >> Coached by Phil Stambaugh, who gained a lot of respect in Mercer County as a member of the Holiday Jacks team in The Trentonian
Softball Tournament, North Schuylkill has won 11 in a row and is coming off an impressive 36-0 win over Notre Dame Green Pond. It is led by junior quarterback Jaden Leiby and tailback Mitchell Wagner. Conwell-Egan, meanwhile, continued to roll by crushing New Hope in a game in which Pat Garwo raised his Southeastern Pennsylvania-leading rushing total to over 1,800 yards and his TD total to 29. Although Conwell-Egan is ranked No. 1 in the state in one poll and second in another, this could be a test because North Schuylkill has the reputation for knowing how to tackle.
Rancocas Valley at WILLIAMSTOWN: Defense wins championships. Go with the Eagles based on their overall speed. The winner will probably get Middletown (10-1), which is also ranked in the top two of the state. WOODROW WILSON (8-2) AT BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP (10-0), FRIDAY, 7 P.M. >> This is going to be a very interesting game to watch. Woodrow Wilson has a Division I quarterback in Nick Kargman and entered the year ranked very high in South Jersey. In October, however, it stumbled and lost to Delsea, 56-14, and Willingboro, 2914, on consecutive weeks This was followed by two straight wins, including a convincing, 42-14, revenge victory over Delsea. That’s a 70-point turnaround from the first game. Go figure. Township comes in undefeated and is in search of its third sectional title. Woodrow Wilson is shooting for its second. The key would appear to be for Township to run the ball and keep the explosive Tigers off the field. This looks like a toss-up all the way. PAULSBORO(8-2)ATWILLINGBORO(64), FRIDAY, 7 P.M. >> Paulsboro has one of the great traditions in New Jersey football. The Red Raiders have made 32 playoff appearances and have won 19 sectional titles. Its playoff record is a gaudy 60-18. The Chimeras, by contrast, are going for their second sectional crown. The good news for Boro is this is not one of Paulsboro’s most talented teams. Its two losses were to Gateway and Penns Grove, which each beat Florence in competitive games. Last week Willingboro beat Florence, 22-6, by pulling away in the second half in sloppy conditions. You know Paulsboro will be ready and will play a solid game, but Willingboro has the playmakers to pull it off if it can avoid penalties and turnovers. RANCOCASVALLEY(8-2)ATWILLIAMSTOWN (11-0), FRIDAY, 7 P.M. >> This is a rematch from earlier in the year in a game the Braves won at Rancocas Valley by the score of 17-7. Although Williamstown has a productive offense, the real challenge for the Red Devils’ is an outstanding Williamstown defense that has given up seven or less points in 10 of its 11 wins. One of those wins was via shutout and the Braves gave up just a field goal in three others. RV came up just short by three points in last year’s final by the score of 10-7 against Lenape. Both teams are going for their second sectional titles. Look for RV to pull out every trick in its playbook in an attempt to crack one of the best defenses in the entire state.