Holy Spirit at St. Augustine among top games to watch this weekend

Here are 10 games to watch this weekend in South Jersey football:

Pennsauken (4-2) at No. 6 Camden (4-1), 6: The host Panthers are coming off a bye. They have won four in a row since a "Zero Week" loss at Wise, Md., the three-time Class 4A state champion.

This is a rivalry game, with lots of connections between the schools, coaching staffs and programs. Camden head coach Dwayne Savage teaches in the Pennsauken district. Pennsauken head coach Clint Tabb played at Farnham Park as a youngster.

Pennsauken assistant Cetsh Byrd is a Camden graduate and used to coach the Panthers basketball team. Many of the athletes know each other from youth sports.

Camden's defense has been outstanding. The Panthers are led by tackle Tidaine Bamba as well as linebacker Tirek Austin-Cave and safety Rameer Nock, among others.

Nock also is a dynamic offensive player with nine touchdowns.

Pennsauken's defense is strong as well, so this should be a hard-hitting game. Among the defensive players to watch for the Indians are linebacker Nijhad McCoy, cornerback Donte Jamison, and linemen Jordan Collins, Jalen Brady and Kenneth Corbin.

Running back Nahzir Russell leads Pennsauken with 12 touchdowns.

No. 8 Holy Spirit (4-1) at No. 5 St. Augustine (4-2), 6: This is one of the "Holy Wars" involving Cape-Atlantic League non-public football powers. The others are Holy Spirit vs. St. Joseph and St. Augustine vs. St. Joseph.

There are lots of subplots to this game. Former St. Augustine head coach Mark Reardon and his top assistant, Chalie Roman, both are members of the Holy Spirit coaching staff.

HS won last year thanks in large part to the play of then-senior QB Josh Zamot, who had spent his first three seasons at SA.

Both these teams are angling for good berths in their respective Non-Public tournaments, with St. Augustine hoping to get the No. 5 or 6 seed (and a first-round home game) in NP 4 and Holy Spirit vying for a possible No.1 or 2 in NP 2 (in which it likely will see St. Joseph).

Holy Spirit quarterback Ryan Yost is a top passer. He's emerging as one of South Jersey's top signal-callers in his first season as a starter. Yost tied a Cape-Atlantic League record with five touchdown passes in a win over Washington Twp. on Friday night.

St. Augustine is coming off a 28-0 win over Rancocas Valley. Freshman Nasir Hill ran for 174 yards and a touchdown, and senior quarterback Chris Allen threw a pair of scoring passes, both to senior wide receiver Jaylen DeCoteau.

No. 22 Ocean City (3-1) at Triton (3-2), 7: The visiting Red Raiders are coming off a bye. Their lone loss was to No. 5 St. Augustine.

Quarterback Ian Aungst and wide receiver Brandon Lashley are among the players to watch for Ocean City.

Triton is coming off an impressive win over Cherry Hill West that gave the Mustangs sole possession of first place in the WJFL National Division.

Eric Staton ran for 93 yards and Geff Giancaterino added 86 yards as Triton controlled the game with its ground attack. The Mustangs have won two in a row and will look to build some momentum heading into back-to-back division games with Seneca and Pennsauken with a chance to capture the National crown.

Winslow Twp. (3-2) at Hammonton (2-4), 7: The visiting Eagles have won three of four and are angling for a high berth in the South 4 tournament.

Winslow Twp. is coming off a big win over Paul VI as senior quarterback Prince-Dru Bey passed for four touchdowns, ran for another and caught a pass for another. Junior wide receiver Isaiah Lewis caught a pair of touchdown passes and also returned an interception for a score.

Hammonton will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Kingsway. The Blue Devils still could make the South 4 field but need to get on a run the next few weeks.

Sophomore RB Jaiden Abrams is a player to watch for Hammonton.

Union City (4-1) at Shawnee (2-3), 7: This is an interesting matchup created when the NJSIAA built an opening in every team's schedule for a possible ninth game. Shawnee officials set up a home-and-home series this season and next with Union City, a North Jersey Group 5 power.

Next season, Shawnee will play at Union City, which has one of the oddest home fields in the country: located on top of the school building in one of the most densely populated cities in the state.

Union City is coming off a bye. The Soaring Eagles have a top running back in senior Jean Alvarez, who has rushed for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Shawnee is coming off a tough loss to Woodrow Wilson. Jake Barnett ran for 151 yards and Joe Dalsey and Jon Searcy played strong all-around games as the Renegades pushed the No. 3 Tigers to the brink in a 18-16 setback.

Holy Cross (4-2) at No. 24 Cinnaminson (4-2), 7: The host Pirates are battling for a berth in what looks to be a loaded South 2 playoff field.

Cinnaminson is coming off an impressive win over Bishop Eustace. Senior running back Rashad Raymond generated 136 yards with three rushing touchdowns and a receiving score as well.

Holy Cross has won two in a row. The Lancers beat New Egypt last weekend as freshman Nasir Abney scored three touchdowns to fuel a second-half rally.

No. 2 Williamstown (6-0) at Washington Twp. (2-3), 7: These teams are old rivals and used to play on Thanksgiving. The towns are adjacent, and many of the athletes know each other from youth sports and other connections.

The visiting Braves are looking for a high seed in South 5. They have been led by a sturdy defense that has allowed just 25 points. Senior all-purpose J.C. Collins is coming off a big game with three rushing touchdowns and a passing TD in a victory over Cherokee.

Washington Twp. is trying to lay the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Williamstown represents the level the Minutemen seek to reach in the near future.

Delsea (2-3) at Woodrow Wilson (6-0), 10:30: This is a rematch of last year's South Jersey Group 3 final and a possible preview of another meeting in this year's tournament.

There isn't a lot history between these programs, but this is a fierce rivalry, owing to some competitive recent games as well as some off-the-field stuff.

Delsea got back on the winning track with a big win over Camden Catholic. The Crusaders can change the trajectory of their season with an upset of the Tigers in Camden.

These teams played twice last season, with Delsea winning by 43-12 in the regular season and 29-28 in the S.J. 3 title game at Rowan.

That was Woodrow Wilson's last loss. The Tigers have been putting up big numbers behind senior quarterback Nick Kargman and senior wide receiver Stanley King, who has become the program's all-time leader in career receiving yards with 1,934, per South Jersey sports historian Chuck Langerman.

No. 16 West Deptford (3-2) at No. 4 St. Joseph (5-1), noon: This is another interesting game created by the WJFL in this current, two-year scheduling cycle. Two weeks ago, St. Joseph lost to Colonial Conference and S.J. 2 power Haddonfield. Now the Wildcats meet another Colonial Conference and S.J. 2 power in the Eagles.

West Deptford showed its mettle Friday night, rallying from a 21-0 deficit to push No. 1 Haddonfield to the brink in a 27-21 loss. Junior running back/defensive back Tyshawn Bookman led the way with a touchdown and an interception.

St. Joseph got back to its winning ways with a 21-7 victory over Vineland on Saturday. Jada Byers scored three touchdowns for the Wildcats, who have won 17 of 18.

No. 25 Gateway (4-0) at Glassboro (3-1), 1: This game will go a long way toward shaking out the seeding in South Jersey Group 1.

The visiting Gators are coming off a big win over Audubon as Matt Goetz threw for two touchdowns and Kyle Albeser ran for 129 yards and a score. Gateway has won 12 of its last 15.

Glassboro will look to bounce back from a tough loss to Salem.