Winslow football captures fourth-straight sectional crown behind “Next man up”

Winslow's Trey Alexander scored the go-ahead touchdown for Winslow late in the fourth quarter as Winslow captured its fourth-straight sectional title in the football game against Shawnee, played at Shawnee High School in Medford, New Jersey, on Friday, November 13, 2026. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network

MEDFORD (N.J.)- The Winslow Township High School football team went through a complete regime change this past Spring when former head coach Bill Belton accepted the same role at St. Augustine. 

Enter Jamal White. The former Timber Creek and Woodbury assistant took over for the Eagles in light of the recent overhaul. Many questioned how Winslow would look with lots of players jumping ship to Richland to join Belton. A few key players also stayed.

“I’m a big believer in faith,” White said. “We were going to believe in ourselves first and foremost. We know how good we are; we’re a family here. We work on getting better ourselves, not what others may think.” 

Regardless, White worked with those who wanted to continue the success Winslow had seen in the past few seasons. The Eagles currently still hold reign over Group 4 after winning the past two Group 4 state titles. The questions about the program’s sustainability to live up to those expectations have been answered throughout the course of the season. 

Winslow knocked off key opponents such as Glassboro and Red Bank Catholic during the regular season. Then came the postseason. The Eagles drew the third seed in the South Jersey Group 4 bracket. 

On Friday, the Eagles won their fourth-straight sectional title, defeating Shawnee, 26-23, in the South Jersey Group 4 final on the road. 

Winslow captured the fourth consecutive crown behind the “Next Man Up” mentality it's had to fall on all season. Injuries during the regular season and playoffs have forced the Eagles to pivot in certain situations. Key players who missed time include Monmouth commit Benji Carter and Trey Alexander in big games. 

“We’ve always been big on the next person in line doing their job,” White added. “If someone goes down with injury, the next man needs to step up. It’s been all season. We’ve dealt with lots of bumps and bruises, but no one has waved the white flag and given up.” 

During Friday night’s final, Penn State commit Ka’Ron Ceaser went down with a hamstring injury that has been nagging him during the back half of this season. Ceaser had been torching the Shawnee defense in the wildcat formation, running read option plays with Jayson Nelson for a majority of the first half. On Winslow’s first drive of the second half, Ceaser took a run out to the sideline, where he was on the ground for an extended period of time, holding his hamstring. Ceaser would not return to the game.

Instead, Alexander stepped in and took carries in light of the injury. The junior came up big in a few situations when Nelson needed a quick breather. Alexander ran in a two-point conversion in the first quarter after Winslow’s first touchdown; he’d then score the final touchdown, which gave the Eagles the lead with four minutes left in regulation. 

“Coach has just told everyone to stay ready all year,” Alexander said. “He’s preached it all year to us. Be the next man up, always be ready to step in. A bunch of guys who played today made big plays for us because we’re missing certain players due to injury. As long as we believe in each other, though, we’ll be alright.” 

Winslow’s sectional title defense sets up a date with Central Jersey Group 4 champion, Atlantic City, at home in the Group 4 state semifinal. The Vikings got the best of the Eagles in Atco earlier this season in a 36-30 thriller in week four of the season. Winslow is certainly looking forward to a rematch with the stakes much higher than back in September. 

“It’s great that we get a chance to possibly right our wrong from earlier this year,” White said. “They got us on our home field earlier this season, but we get another chance at them, and it’ll be at home too. We’re going to enjoy this win for now, but we know we have more work to do.”