South Jersey high school football Week 1 games to watch, plus full weekend schedule

The Millville High School football team celebrates its 29-20 victory over Erasmus Hall (N.Y.) in the sixth annual West Jersey Football Coaches Association Battle at the Beach at Ocean City High School in Ocean City, New Jersey on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Aiden Fazzino for D2 Sports Network

Week 0 has experienced an increase in participation since its inception in the state of New Jersey.

Last week's action included the West Jersey Football Coaches Association's 6th annual Battle at the Beach, Rowan University's Battle in the 'Boro and a handful of games throughout the region. Week 0 offers teams an opportunity to compete against nontraditional opponents whether it be through in-state showcases or scheduled out-of-state games.

With Week 0 in the rearview mirror, Week 1 is on deck with plenty of marque matchups lined up. Although Labor Day is still days away, West Jersey Football League divisional showdowns are here. Several matchups scheduled for the coming days will have division title implications. Rivalries will be restored. Pivotal matchups fans are used to seeing in October and November on an annual basis are taking place earlier in the season.

Here's an inside look at five of this weekend's top matchups with players to watch, matchup history, predictions and a complete schedule of games involving WJFL teams located throughout the traditional seven-county (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem) South Jersey region:

Williamstown (1-0 record) at Pennsauken (1-0), Thurs., Sept. 3rd, 6 pm

Sincere Ebanks scored on a 2-yard run with 51 seconds left to lift the Braves to a 20-14 victory over Timber Creek at the Battle in the 'Boro showcase at Rowan University. Ebanks rushed for 106 yards and a TD. It was coach Brian Leary's first win at Williamstown. The deciding score was set up by a 34-yard completion from Kristopher Foster to freshman Daveon Shaw on 3rd-and-11. Foster finished 10-for-17 passing with 175 yards and 2 TDs. Kysheem Prunty caught 4 passes for 78 yards and 2 TDs and intercepted a pass on defense. Shaw finished with 51 receiving yards. Ebanks recorded 2 TFL and Naheem Ballard recovered a fumble.

Senior DaiShaun Lassiter was tasked with filling the shoes of former Indians running back and current Temple RB Randall "R.J." Blount. Through three scholastic seasons, Lassiter ran for 49 yards and a TD. In a 55-0 triumph over Camden Catholic at the Battle in the 'Boro last Saturday, the senior exploded for 150 yards and 5 TDs on the ground in his debut as Pennsauken's workhorse in the backfield. Lassiter added 3 receptions for 41 yards. Quarterback Nazyr Negron rushed for 102 yards and a pair of TDs. He also threw for 127 yards. Blaine Johnson caught 2 passes for 65 yards and tossed a 59-yard TD pass to Jose Flores. Kareem Burns recorded a sack and forced a fumble.

Predictions:

Emmons - Pennsauken

Baker - Pennsauken

Boyd - Williamstown

Egg Harbor Township (1-0) at Lower Cape May (1-0), Thurs., Sept. 3rd, 6 pm

The Eagles scored 28 first-half points in a 35-0 win over Robbinsville. Jahiyd McClellan rushed for 146 yards and 2 TDs. Ta'lik Jackson and Andrew Ollek each rushed for a score. Buffalo recruit Jake Lund hauled in 4 receptions for a game-high 57 yards. It marked the second time during coach Rob Davis' tenure Egg Harbor Township won its season opener. Alex Lazos tallied a team-high 7 tackles. Cristian Lara matched Lazos with 7 tackles and a TFL. Ollek finished with 5 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack. Jacob Chatman and Jayden Rodriguez each charted 6 tackles.

The Caper Tigers have won 8 of their last 10 games dating back to last season under the direction of coach Bill Damiana. Ryan Mallon trotted for 110 yards and 2 TDs as Lower Cape May defeated Cinnaminson, 28-7, last Thursday. Quarterback David Douglas ran for 47 yards and a TD. Jacob Collins recorded a team-high 5 tackles. Jadon Henry tallied 4 tackles, 2.0 sacks and a TFL. Ashton Ray contributed 4.5 tackles. The Caper Tigers dominated EHT, 34-6, in last year's meeting in early October. The Eagles won the prior three matchups in 2014, 2015 and 2024.

Predictions:

Emmons - Lower Cape May

Baker - Lower Cape May

Boyd - Egg Harbor Township

Pleasantville (0-1) at No. 13 Shawnee (1-0), Thurs., Sept. 3rd, 6 pm

Virginia Tech commit Semaj Dozier scored the Greyhounds' lone TD on a 2-yard run in a 7-6 loss to Mainland Regional last Thursday. It was the first time during coach Elijah Glover's tenure Pleasantville dropped its season opener.

The Renegades scored a combined 36 points across the second and third quarters in a 43-35 win over Old Bridge in the Battle at the Beach at Ocean City High School. Cole Anderson rushed for 106 yards and a TD. Niko Fifis finished 6-for-7 passing with 135 yards and 2 TDs. Jack Davis charted 3 receptions for 88 yards and a TD. He also returned a kick for an 85-yard score. Jake Hoerst caught 2 passes for 43 yards and a score as Grayson Santucci ran for a TD. Jackson Hays recorded a team-high 9 tackles. Parker Peluse finished with 8 tackles and a TFL. Connor Deluca had 6 tackles and a forced fumble. Davis and Johnny Sears each snared an INT. Sears finished with 7 tackles.

Thursday night's matchup in Medford marks the first WJFL Colonial Division tilt for both teams this season.

Predictions:

Emmons - Shawnee

Baker - Shawnee

Boyd - Shawnee

No. 4 Millville (1-0) at No. 5 Washington Township (1-0), Fri., Sept. 4th, 6 pm

The Thunderbolts downed New York power Erasmus Hall, 29-20, in the Battle at the Beach. Temple commit Jaden Days shined with 5 receptions for 150 yards and 2 TDs. He also registered 8 tackles, a TFL, a forced fumble and a sack on defense. Quarterback Robert O'Connor finished 10-for-17 passing with 263 yards and 3 TDs. Reginald Holley reeled in 3 receptions for 90 yards and a TD. The 2025 All-State selection also rushed for 47 yards and a score. Darnell Williams led Millville's defense with 12 tackles, 4 TFL and a sack. Nyshon Jones matched Days with 8 tackles. Andrew Pinnock tallied 5 tackles, a TFL, a sack and an INT. The victory improved coach Humberto Ayala's record to 40-12 with the Bolts in his 5th season.

The Minutemen extended their winning streak to 15 games with a 14-6 triumph over Pope John XXIII in the Battle at the Beach. Under the direction of coach Mike Schatzman, Washington Township finished with a 14-0 record and won the New Jersey Group 5 state championship in 2025. Danny Carter finished 8-for-17 passing with 53 yards and a TD in Thursday's win. Drew Dorsey ran for a score and Elliott Seibert caught a 22-yard TD pass. The Minutemen's defense limited the Lions to a pair of field goals. Zain Malik recorded a team-high 10 tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack. All-South Jersey selection Gabe Palaganas charted 8 tackles, a team-high 3.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Tyler Alicea contributed 7 tackles, 3 TFL and 2.0 sacks. Nassir Halty and Caden Hagerty each forced a fumble. Washington Township defeated Millville via a 21-10 decision in 2025. The Thunderbolts won the previous two meetings in 2011 and 2024.

Predictions:

Emmons - Millville

Baker - Washington Township

Boyd - Washington Township

Paulsboro (1-0) at Salem (0-1), Sat., Sept. 5th, 12 pm

A WJFL Diamond Division clash between small-school rivals with major division championship implications.

On Labor Day weekend.

The Red Raiders visit Salem in what could be an early season playoff preview between two sectional title contenders in South Jersey Group 1. Paulsboro cruised to a 40-14 victory over KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy last Saturday. Jeremiah Carr rushed for a 4-yard score, caught a 5-yard TD pass from JiyAyre Thomas and returned a kick for a 90-yard TD. Parris Graves ran for a 3-yard TD and Julian Gaines reeled in a 16-yard TD catch. The Red Raiders have won 14 of their last 17 games dating back to 2024 under the direction of coach Kevin Harvey.

The Rams suffered a 55-14 loss to Ironton (Ohio) last Saturday. The Fighting Tigers won the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division V state championship in 2024 and finished with a 9-1 record in 2025. Quarterback Owen McDonald tossed a 14-yard TD to Quimere Bergen for Salem in the setback. Adrian Alleyne returned a kick for an 84-yard score.

The Red Raiders and Rams both have a recent graduate in the NFL. Specifically, the AFC South. 2021 Paulsboro graduate Bhayshul Tuten is the starting running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars. 2017 Salem grad Jonathan Taylor is an All-Pro running back for the Indianapolis Colts.

Saturday is the first meeting between these rivals since 2023. Salem has won three of the last four matchups. Both teams have met four times in a Group 1 sectional final. Paulsboro defeated the Rams in the 2014 and 2016 South Jersey Group 1 final at Rowan. Salem topped the Red Raiders in the 2021 and 2022 Central Jersey Group 1 final.

Predictions:

Emmons - Salem

Baker - Paulsboro

Boyd - Salem

Week 1 Schedule

(Thursday, Sept. 3)

Absegami (0-1) at Oakcrest (1-0), 6 pm

Timber Creek (0-1) at Vineland (0-1), 6 pm

Williamstown (1-0) at Pennsauken (1-0), 6 pm

Cherry Hill East (0-1) at Eastern (1-0), 6 pm

Eastside (0-1) at Gloucester (0-10, 6 pm

Moorestown (1-0) at Cinnaminson (0-1), 6 pm

Woodstown (0-1) at Clayton (1-0), 6 pm

Bishop Eustace (0-1) at Gateway (1-0), 6 pm

Haddon Township (0-0) at Palmyra (0-0), 6 pm

Wildwood (0-1) at Lindenwold (0-0), 6 pm

Egg Harbor Township (1-0) at Lower Cape May (1-0), 6 pm

Paul VI (0-0) at Delran (0-1), 6 pm

Cedar Creek (0-1) at Ocean City (1-0), 6 pm

Pleasantville (0-1) at Shawnee (1-0), 6 pm

Seneca (0-1) at Haddonfield (1-0), 7 pm

Overbrook (0-1) at Pennsville (1-0), 7 pm

(Friday, Sept. 4)

Cherokee (1-0) at Burlington Township (0-1), 5 pm at Wilbur Watts Intermediate School

Penns Grove (0-0) at Buena (0-1), 6 pm

Millville (1-0) at Washington Township (1-0), 6 pm

Florence (0-0) at Bordentown (0-0), 6 pm

Glassboro (1-0) at Mainland Regional (1-0), 6 pm

Delsea (1-0) at Rancocas Valley (1-0), 6 pm

Holy Spirit (0-1) at Camden (0-1), 6 pm

St. Joseph (0-1) at Cumberland (0-1), 6 pm

Northern Burlington (1-0) at Lenape (1-0), 6 pm

Audubon (0-0) at Sterling (0-1), 6 pm

Bridgeton (0-1) at Highland (0-1), 6 pm

Atlantic Tech (1-0) at Hammonton (1-0), 6 pm

Clearview (1-0) at West Windsor-Plainsboro (0-1), 6 pm

Triton (0-0) at Cherry Hill West (1-0), 6 pm

Burlington City (0-1) at Schalick (1-0), 6 pm

Kingsway (0-1) at Winslow Township (1-0), 6 pm

Gloucester Catholic (0-0) at Middle Township (0-1), 6 pm

Deptford (1-0) at Mastery Charter (0-1), 6 pm

Woodbury (0-1) at Pitman (1-0), 7 pm

Willingboro (0-1) at West Deptford (1-0), 7 pm

Riverside (0-1) at Camden Catholic (0-1), 7 pm

(Saturday, Sept. 5)

Collingswood (0-1) at Haddon Heights (1-0), 11:30 am

Maple Shade (0-1) at KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy (0-1), 12 pm

Paulsboro (1-0) at Salem (0-1), 12 pm

Holy Cross Prep (0-0) at Pemberton (0-1), 12 pm

St. Augustine (1-0) at Atlantic City (0-1), 5 pm at Salesianum, Del.