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WJFL Freedom Division Preview: Players to Watch, Predictions

The Freedom Division should be another interesting battle for the title in the West Jersey Football League.

All six teams appear to be evenly matched and most have what it takes to fight for the title.

Vineland made great strides in its first season under head coach Jose Guzman. The Fighting Clan won four straight games, including victories over Pennsauken and Eastern by a combined five points and a triumph over playoff qualifier Atlantic City.

More: Football 2024: Check out all our content on the South Jersey high school season

Eastern and Cherry Hill West will look to throw their names into the mix as both teams have their quarterbacks back.

Pennsauken has lost some key players to graduates and transfers, but Code Red always has enough skill to make a difference.

Highland is entering the new season with a new coach for the first time in a decade and will have to fill most of the skilled positions left vacant by the departures.

Clearview's winning record improved by two victories last fall over the previous season, one of those victories being a 17-13 triumph over Vineland. A more competitive schedule will give the Pioneers a chance to continue the upward trend.

Mark the calendar

Vineland at Eastern, September 13, 6 p.m. A victory this Friday the 13thth The matchup will be anything but unlucky, as it could be a deciding factor in the title race. Vineland won 21-19 in the postseason consolation round last fall.

Players in focus

Cherry Hill West: Hayden Baker, junior, QB; Asa McMillan, Sr., LB

Clear view: Sean Ralph, senior, RB/DB; Anthony Salerno, senior, RB/LB

East: Terry Cook, sophomore, WR/DB; Logan Dawson, senior, QB

Highlands: Eli Thompson, Senior, OL/DL

Pennsauken: Giovanni Da Silva, senior, G/DT; Nazyr Negron, Sophomore, QB; Jayden Polk, senior, WR/CB

Wine country: Mason Afanador, senior, WR/S; Noah Cruz, senior, LB; Zha'vian Diaz, senior, WR/CB

New coach

Sean Daniels takes the helm at Highland after Brian Leary led the program to 55 wins in his nine seasons.

Expected order at the finish:

  1. Wine country
  2. East
  3. Cherry Hill West
  4. Pennsauken
  5. Clear view
  6. Highland

Tom McGurk is a regional sports reporter for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times and has covered South Jersey sports for more than 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Support local journalism with a digital subscription

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