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.

"It's just business as usual," Belton said. "We don't want to make it nothing more than what it is."

Winslow signal caller Jalen Parker threw for 2,916 yards, 43 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year. He was named South Jersey Sports Zone’s co-Offensive Player of the Year. Delaware commit NaKeem Powell rushed for 478 yards and seven touchdowns. Powell was also a threat as a receiver with 32 catches for 470 yards and seven scores. Boston College commit Nyqir “Boomer” Helton led Winslow with 47 receptions and 852 yards. His 13 touchdowns ranked second on the team. Kentucky wide receiver Cameron Miller had 14. T.J. Maddox started as a freshman and caught 15 passes for 256 yards and two scores. The sophomore holds offers from Penn State, Nebraska, Wake Forest, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, among others.

“Our offense is very fluent,” Parker said.

Winslow quarterback Jalen Parker throws a pass during a practice at Winslow Township Middle School in Atco, New Jersey on Friday, August 15, 2025. Joshua Guirguis/D2 Sports Network

The offensive line returns two starters. Philip Hatfield is a three-year starter at center and Cayden Gray is a four-year starter at right guard with an offer from West Virginia State. Christian Lewis started a few games last season and is set to be the starting left tackle. The Eagles added Burlington Township transfer and UConn commit Quayd Hendryx. The senior reeled in 34 receptions for 531 yards and three scores. Penns Grove transfer KaRon Ceasar is another playmaker primed to boost Winslow’s offense. The junior rushed for 885 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2024.

“We've been getting better one day at a time,” Belton said. "I think from the beginning of the summer to now is night and day. Every year you expect to kind of evolve a little bit and do different things. This will be a fun year for us."

The Eagles’ defense posted five shutouts and limited opponents to 6.2 points per game. Defensive coordinator Myles Nash’s experienced unit returns seven starters aided by a handful of impact transfers. Defensive end Benji Carter led Winslow with 23.5 tackles for loss. He tallied 110 tackles, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Interior lineman Rob Carstarphen charted 114 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. Gray had 5.5 sacks and will start alongside Carstarphen on the inside. Haddon Heights transfer Camaj Matthews is an addition on the edge. Matthews racked up 75 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 19 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Garnets a season ago. His older brother is Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Haason Reddick. 

Powell, Ausar Heard and Nahmir Tucker lead an experienced linebacker group. Heard racked up 118 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Powell and Tucker each recorded 51 tackles and five tackles for loss as hybrid linebackers and safeties. Powell also intercepted four passes. Tucker holds offers from Howard, Rhode Island and Princeton. Haddon Heights transfer Cinque Matthews, Camaj and Reddick’s younger brother, adds experience at inside linebacker. He tallied 62 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and six sacks last season.

“A lot of camaraderie,” Heard said. "Everybody clicked together (last season). Just playing physical. Giving 1,000% every rep. It's a great feeling to be able to go up against IMG and put ourselves on the map. It's a once in a lifetime thing so we have to take advantage of it."

Winslow coach Bill Belton directs his players during a practice at Winslow Township Middle School in Atco, New Jersey on Friday, August 15, 2025. Joshua Guirguis/D2 Sports Network

Penn State commit Julian Peterson is a three-year starter at cornerback for the Eagles. Towson commit KaRon Ali returns at safety after he recorded 59 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception. Helton intercepted four passes at cornerback. The safety rotation includes Timber Creek transfer Erik Worley and Mehki McNair. Worley charted 40 tackles and five interceptions for the Chargers. McNair owns multiple Power 4 offers and cornerback Andrew Kratee holds offers from Howard, Charlotte and Southern Mississippi.

Winslow’s experienced defensive front will face USC commit Keenyi Pope. The 6-foot-7, 320-pound offensive tackle is the No. 7 ranked 2026 recruit in the country, per 247Sports. His counterpart, offensive lineman Breck Kolojay, is also committed to USC. Will Conroy is committed to North Carolina and interior offensive lineman G’Nivre Carr is signed to Florida. IMG’s talented offensive line will look to create running lanes for Louisville signee Lekhy Thompkins in addition to protecting quarterback Jayden Wade.

“They are very big upfront,” Gray said. "We're going to have to use technique more than them. Mentally we just got to be dogs. It's them versus us. We can't let them overpower us. I feel as though New Jersey football is very overlooked. So, to be able to showcase on that national level, it's going to be a show."

Wade is the No. 1 ranked recruit in the class of 2028, per 247Sports. The sophomore holds offers from Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Oregon and Miami, among others. There is no shortage of talent in the Ascenders’ passing game. Four-star wide receiver Osani Gayles is the No. 6 ranked 2027 recruit in the Sunshine State, per 247 Sports. Three-star Christian Ward from Carrollton, Georgia owns 33 scholarship offers. Tight end Judah Lancaster went to Florida State on an unofficial visit in June and received an offer. The 6-foot-4 junior has 37 offers, per 247.

“I'm really excited for the opportunity,” Helton said. "(Defensively), I think they're going to press us a lot. We're coming out here working every day."

The heavyweight bout with IMG Academy serves as a precursor to another showdown with in-state national power Bergen Catholic. A matchup with Camden County rival Highland Regional is sandwiched between the two national opponents. Winslow’s schedule continues with West Jersey Football League American Division opponents St. Augustine and Millville before a trip to Camden. The Eagles host Eastside before a pair of divisional matchups with Mainland and Cherokee to conclude the regular season.

“Playing against those teams last year was rigorous and it's going to be the same thing this year,” Belton said. "I think the biggest thing is staying healthy."