November 6, 2002
CAL teams should play key role in football playoffs again
By TOM WILLIAMS
Sports Columnist
The Cape-Atlantic League is always well represented in the NJSIAA football playoffs. And this year should
be no different.
Already, Egg Harbor Township, Mainland, Hammonton, Buena and St. Joseph have clinched spots in the
playoffs, which start Nov. 15 on the home fields of the highest seeded teams.
The Eagles should get a home game with a win, the Mustangs are assured of a Group 3 home game in the
first round and so are Hammonton and Buena in Group 2 and St. Joseph in Parochial 1.
Ocean City and St. Augustine Prep can qualify with victories this weekend. Ocean City travels to Millville
and should be the favorite, but that is the kind of game that scares coaches. The Thunderbolts are a more
dangerous team than their 1-6 record indicates.
St. Augustine has a bigger problem. The Prep visits Hammonton on Saturday to play St. Joe. They will
qualify with a win but that win is highly unlikely.
It is not possible for Ocean City or St. Augustine to qualify with a loss.
Pleasantville, despite its frustrating loss to Bridgeton last weekend, is still in the Group 2 picture, though
faintly. The Greyhounds must win at Middle Township Friday night and then hope a few upsets go their
way.
Mainland is back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Mustangs will be playing in the tournament
for the 10th time in its 29-year history. And it might be their last chance in Group 3. If the proposal
concerning alignment of groups that is before the NJSIAA membership next month is approved, Mainland
is likely to move up to Group 4 starting next September.
St. Joseph will be in the playoffs for the 20th straight year and the 24th time in 28 years. The Wildcats
have won 13 playoff championships and have an impressive 21-10 record in playoff games. Hammonton
has qualified for the fifth straight year and 20th time overall. Buena will be playing for the ninth time.
EHT has made it to the post-season for the fifth straight time and eighth time overall. EHT won consecutive
South Jersey championships in 1992-93 and lost in the South Jersey final to Woodrow Wilson last year.
This is the school’s first year in Group 4.
Ocean City is trying to qualify for a ninth straight year and 15th time overall. The Raiders have won four
playoff championships, tying Hammonton for most by a CAL public school.
St. Augustine and Pleasantville are both trying to qualify for the second straight season.
The top four teams in each group will get home games on Nov. 15-16. The four winners will advance to the
semifinals the following weekend on the home fields of the highest seeded teams.
Championship games will be played the first weekend in December on the field selected by the highest
seeded finalist. Most of the public school finals will be played on high school fields.
And that is a shame.
There was nothing like that weekend at The College of New Jersey in 1996 when Ocean City, Mainland
and St. Joseph all won championships. Or that incredible doubleheader in 1999 at Rutgers when both
Ocean City and Atlantic City were upset winners.
But the NJSIAA realized a few years ago that, while those games were great, it doesn’t make much sense
to send both Hammonton and Moorestown all the way to Kean College to play for a South Jersey title. And
there aren’t very many good college fields in close proximity to South Jersey. So, the association adapted
a special regulation to cover just the South Jersey finals.
There is the possibility that Rowan University will construct a new stadium near Route 55 soon that will be
a giant step up from its current facilities. If that happens, it could become a perfect site for some of these
South Jersey finals, hopefully giving the games the championship atmosphere they deserve.
Wherever the games are played, however, you can be sure that the teams from the CAL will play a big part
once again. The league has produced a South Jersey champion each of the last 15 years, a streak that is
likely to be extended during the next month.
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