It's the home stretch for the regular season for most teams across South Jersey.
This weekend is also huge for most squads as they jockey for playoff position.
Here are the top games across the seven-county region.
Games to Watch - Week 8
Ocean City (6-2) at Glassboro (7-1), Thursday, 6 p.m.
It will be the first meeting between these teams in 89 years. According to local historian Chuck Langerman, Ocean City won that meeting 14-6 in 1937 and also boasts two shutouts wins in 1930 and 1936. … Ocean City surrendered a season-worst 35 points in a loss to Holy Spirit last week. After giving up two combined points in its first three games this season, the Red Raiders have given up 119 points over their last five contests (23.8 ppg). … Glassboro rides a five-game winning streak into the contest. The Bulldogs have allowed just one touchdown in the first three quarters of each of the last five games. Junior Aiden Ezeiruaku has had nine-or-more tackles in each of his previous three games, including a season-high 11 tackles and three sacks against Camden last week.
Predictions: Rimback-Glassboro; McGurk-Glassboro.
Cherokee (2-6) at Shawnee (6-2), Thursday, 6 p.m.
How rare was Cherokee’s 4-0 win over Delsea last week? It was the first time a South Jersey game ended with that score since 1975 when Maple Shade defeated Bordentown, according to Langerman. Sophomore linebacker Drew Gable led the defensive performance with a whopping 16 tackles and 4.5 for loss. Cherokee needs a win to qualify for the postseason. … Shawnee has a slim chance at earning the second top seed in South Jersey Group 4, but needs a win here and plenty of help elsewhere. Junior Cole Anderson earned his second straight 1,000-yard season and has over 3,300 rushing yards in his career.
Predictions: Rimback-Shawnee; McGurk-Shawnee.
St. Joseph Academy (3-5) at Timber Creek (6-2), Thursday, 6 p.m.
St. Joseph lugs a two-game losing streak into the game. Seniors Luca Schiano and Christopher Morgan have combined for eight sacks this season. The Wildcats will need to apply heavy pressure if they want to short-circuit the Chargers. … Timber Creek is one of the hottest teams in the region thanks to a six-game winning streak. Sophomore quarterback Keeanu Darji has been one of the area’s breakout players this season, throwing for over 1,700 yards with 20 touchdowns and just two picks. He has 16 TD passes in his last four games, including a pair of six-TD throw games.
Predictions: Rimback-Timber Creek; McGurk-Timber Creek.
Eastern (4-4) at Williamstown (5-3), Thursday, 6:30 p.m.
Despite a three-game losing streak, the Vikings are looking to lock up a home game in the South Group 5 playoffs. Eastern’s offense has dried up in October, failing to score an offensive touchdown over the last three games. Eastern’s lone score during the stretch is a fumble return by Jaheim Alexander against Paul VI on Oct. 2. … Williamstown is looking to lock up a home playoff game too. The Braves saw their four-game winning streak halted with a 29-21 setback last week. The 29 points allowed were a season-worst for the defensive unit, which had played solid football in previous weeks.
Predictions: Rimback-Williamstown; McGurk-Williamstown.
Washington Township (8-0) at St. Augustine (7-1), Friday, 6 p.m.
One of the biggest games of the regular season will be the first-ever meeting between these two titans. … The Minutemen carry a program-record 22-game winning streak into the contest. Township has posted 42 points in each of its last three games. Quarterback Jalen Parker has thrown for 668 yards with 10 touchdowns and one interception in four games with his new team. Now, he’ll get to face his former head coach Bill Belton. … Since a 28-21 loss against Millville, the Hermits have turned things around with a three-game winning streak where they have outscored the opposition, 114-3, over the stretch. Sophomore quarterback Dylan Dellanoce has enjoyed a breakout season with 1,500 passing yards and 19 touchdown passes.
Predictions: Rimback-St. Augustine; McGurk-Washington Twp..
Cherry Hill East (2-6) at Northern Burlington (7-1), Friday, 6 p.m.
If the Cougars want to punch their ticket to the postseason, a win here is an absolute must and they will need help as well. East has won two straight games, scoring 88 points over the stretch. Senior quarterback Josh Greenberg has posted his second consecutive season with over 1,200 passing yards and has 40 career total touchdowns (passing and rushing). … The Greyhounds boast a four-game winning streak and has scored 115 points over the stretch (28.8 ppg). Senior quarterback Brent Walulak has thrown for over 3,500 yards and rushed for over 1,700 yards with 58 touchdowns in his career.
Predictions: Rimback-Northern Burlington; McGurk-Cherry Hill East.
West Deptford (8-0) at Seneca (6-2, Friday, 7 p.m.
The Eagles will look to win the Constitution Division title outright with a win here. The team has already locked up a top seed in the South Group 2 playoffs. Senior Cole Paskiewicz has rushed for 200-or-more yards in two of his last three games and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the season. … Seneca has already clinched a top seed in the South Group 3 playoffs thanks to a six-game winning streak. Senior quarterback Anthony Tirico is 158 yards short of the state record for total offense held by Old Tappan’s Devin Fuller (10,737) set in 2014. Tirico needs 21 yards to break Kevin Harvey's South Jersey quarterback rushing record of 4,016 yards, according to Langerman.
Predictions: Rimback-Seneca; McGurk-West Deptford.
Haddonfield (5-2) at Paul VI (4-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
The Haddons still have an outside shot at the Constitution Division title but need a win and a Seneca victory to force a three-way tie. Haddonfield snapped a two-game losing streak with a 35-8 triumph over Willingboro last week. … Paul VI will look to rebound from last week’s 19-7 loss to Seneca. After scoring 35 points in back-to-back wins, the Eagles were grounded to just one touchdown last week.
Predictions: Rimback-Haddonfield; McGurk-Paul VI.
Moorestown (5-3) at Gloucester (6-2), Friday, 7 p.m.
Despite a two-game losing streak, the Quakers should be a cinch for a playoff berth. A victory here would make it a lock. Since Sept. 18, Moorestown’s offense as scuffled a little, producing 20 points just once while behind held to seven-or-fewer points in three of its last five games. … Gloucester has been rolling with six straight wins and 36-or-more points in all six of those games and topped 41 points in each of their last five. The Lions’ ground attack has accumulated over 270 yards in each of their last six games, including a season-best 365 against Triton on Sept. 18.
Predictions: Rimback-Moorestown; McGurk-Gloucester.
Burlington Township (4-4) at Rancocas Valley (8-0), Saturday, 1 p.m.
After winning four straight games, the Falcons have dropped three straight in October. Township had been shut out two weeks in a row before posting 26 points in a 27-26 loss to Shawnee last Friday. … The Red Devils are battling for one of the two top seeds in South Group 5. The team has held opponents to six-or-fewer points in six of eight games this season, which includes five shutouts. RV’s defense has racked up 29 sacks and 11 takeaways.
Predictions: Rimback-Rancocas Valley; McGurk-Rancocas Valley.
Schedule
Thursday, Oct. 22
West Jersey Football League
Gateway at Collingswood, 6
Willingboro at Delran, 6
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Florence, 6
Ocean City at Glassboro, 6
Delsea at Pleasantville, 6
Cherokee at Shawnee, 6
St. Joseph Academy at Timber Creek, 6
Eastern at Williamstown, 6:30
Audubon at Bishop Eustace, 7
Schalick at Overbrook, 7
Highland at Vineland, 7
Friday, Oct. 23
West Jersey Football League
Atlantic County Tech at Absegami, 6
Kingsway at Atlantic City, 6
Cumberland at Bridgeton, 6
Paulsboro at Burlington City, 6
Mainland at Camden, 6
Holy Spirit at Cedar Creek, 6
West Windsor-Plainsboro at Deptford, 6
Hammonton at Egg Harbor, 6
Pemberton at Mastery, 6
Palmyra at Middle Township, 6
Winslow at Millville, 6
Cherry Hill East at Northern Burlington, 6
Salem at Pennsville, 6
Washington Township at St. Augustine, 6
Cinnaminson at Triton, 6
Pitman at Woodstown, 6:30
Bordentown at Camden Catholic, 7
Holy Cross Prep at Clearview, 7
Moorestown at Gloucester, 7
Wildwood at Haddon Township, 7
Haddonfield at Paul VI, 7
West Deptford at Seneca, 7
Saturday, Oct. 24
West Jersey Football League
Lindenwold at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m.
Pennsauken at Lenape, 11 a.m.
Oakcrest at Lower Cape May, 11 a.m.
Riverside at Maple Shade, 11 a.m.
Sterling at Haddon Heights, 11:30 a.m.
Clayton at Penns Grove, noon
Cherry Hill West at Eastside, 1
Burlington Township at Rancocas Valley, 1
Woodbury at Buena, 6
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 40 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Games to Watch, schedule and predictions for Week 8 in South Jersey