Winslow Township braces for challenge against national power IMG Academy

The Winslow Township High School football team engages in a drill during a practice at Winslow Township Middle School in Atco, New Jersey on Friday, August 15, 2025. Joshua Guirguis/D2 Sports Network

ATCO – The Winslow Township High School football team reached new heights in 2024.

The Eagles earned their first state championship in school history with a 35-0 triumph over Phillipsburg in the Group 4 state final at Rutgers University.

The Atco program also captured its third sectional crown in four years along the way with a 32-8 victory over Shawnee. 

14 games. 14 wins.

The sequel begins with a challenge against national power IMG Academy (Fla.) in the West Jersey Football Coaches’ Association’s annual Battle at the Beach high school football showcase on August 28 in Ocean City, New Jersey at 7 pm.

The Ascenders will see The First Academy (Fla.) and Hoover (Ala.) before their trip to Carey Stadium along the Ocean City boardwalk. The program will be led by first-year coach Greg Studrawa. He replaces Delran's Billy Miller, who joined Bill Belichick’s staff as a special teams assistant at North Carolina. Studrawa has collegiate experience as an offensive line coach at Ohio State, Maryland and LSU, among other schools.

To no surprise, IMG Academy’s roster is loaded with Division I talent. Edge rusher Zyron Forstall, the No. 6 ranked 2027 recruit in the nation per 247Sports, forms an explosive edge rushing duo with Oklahoma commit Jake Kreul. The Ascenders’ stacked defensive front also includes Georgia commit Preston Carey, Ohio State signee Cameron Brickle and Indiana commit Cameron McHaney. 

Linebackers Amarri Irvin and D.Q. Forkpa are four-star recruits with an abundance of Power 4 offers. The secondary features Georgia commit Zech Fort, Wake Forest commit A.J. Marks, four-star cornerback Larry Moon, Washington signee Ksani Giles and South Florida safety commit Amari Jones.

The Eagles also feature multiple Division I commits and have other players actively being recruited by Power 4 schools. The coaches and players are excited for the opportunity to compete against a nationally touted program.

"It's all eyes on them at the end of the day," Winslow coach Bill Belton said. "For Winslow Township, this has never been done before. We've never been in a spotlight like that. It's just all about putting them in a game where they can showcase their talents. There's a bunch of guys on our team that are being recruited. Some of them feel like they should be recruited. There's no better time than to go out there and put on. It'll be good for them."

For an out-of-state team, the annual Battle at the Beach showcase provides an opportunity for exploration at the Jersey Shore. Teams may spend the weekend in Ocean City and partake in team-bonding activities off the field.

Carey Stadium sits along the boardwalk 51 minutes from Winslow Township High School.

It makes it just another business trip for the Eagles.

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