Maybe an historic year

If the fates and numbers allow, all five Salem County football-playing schools could make the playoffs for the first time since 2017

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

Salem County is one of the smallest football-playing counties in the state, but if the fates allow and the numbers align it could get 100 percent participation in this year’s Group I playoffs.

That would be nearly one-third of the 16-team South/Central Jersey Group I bracket.

The last time all five Salem County football teams made the playoffs was 2017 and it’s close to happening now. Four of them are currently in the top 16, including the top two. Three are in the top 10 and one is on the cusp and could do a lot for its chances with a win this week.

“For a small county that doesn’t get a lot of press or a lot of hoopla, that’s pretty good,” Schalick head coach Mike Wilson said.

Pennsville coach Mike Healy agrees.

“It’s really cool to see a county that’s not as highly populated as other places have success like that,” he said. “It’s an awesome thing to see.”

Wilson’s undefeated Cougars and Woodstown are currently 1 and 2, respectively, in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings that determine the seedings, so you have to figure they’re a lock regardless of what happens the next two weeks.

Penns Grove appears pretty solid, too, at No. 10 with a win over current No. 3 Glassboro and playing Woodstown for a division title next week. Pennsville’s comeback express has climbed into the top 16 and it would gain even more steam if it beats Penns Grove tonight.

Salem, winners of the last two Central Jersey championships, is right there but not quite in. The Rams currently sit at No. 17, just four-tenths of a point off the cut line. Because they play in the demanding Diamond Division loaded with ratings points, there’s a strong sense they would get in if they beat West Deptford in the first game in their new stadium Saturday even if they lose to Woodbury next week. Their 40.35 OSI is the highest of any team outside of the South Jersey Group I top 10.

Penns Grove got in last year without winning a game in the Diamond and with only two overall wins before the cutoff.

“I think it just shows the quality of the football down here in the Diamond Division and the West Jersey Football League and how it compares to other parts of the state,” first-year Salem coach Danny Mendoza said. “I think it will say a lot for the quality of football that’s played down in this area and will give a good outlook to everybody on what South Jersey football really is if we get all five teams in. You can’t deny the quality of football down here if that happens.”

“Football in South Jersey is as competitive as it’s ever been,” said Penns Grove coach John Emel.

Actually, all five teams made it in 2016 and 2017 and they all played in the South half of the sectional split both years. Salem has won the Central Jersey sectional title each of the last two years and played in the Central each of the last three years it made it.

In 2017, Penns Grove was the 2 seed, Salem 4, Woodstown 6, Schalick 7 and Pennsville 8. Because there were five teams in a four-game bracket, Penns Grove and Schalick met in the first round. Penns Grove played in the sectional final.

The year before, it was Pennsville 3, Salem 4, Woodstown 6, Schalick 7 and Penns Grove 8. Pennsville and Woodstown played in the first round. Salem played in the sectional final.

Pennsville has been away from the playoffs the longest, missing since 2019. Schalick got back in last year after not making it since 2018. Penns Grove, Salem and Woodstown have been fixtures. 

“There are only five schools here but we have some good football down in the county and getting all five of those in would be a way to just showcase it,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “Sometimes people feel like Salem County is down and out of the way, but to have five of those top 16 teams in Group I be from one county that’s pretty special.”

A couple things still have to happen before it all shakes out. Just something to think about as the regular season winds down.

RECENT SALEM COUNTY PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS
2022: Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (C), Schalick (C), x-Salem (C).
2021: Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (S), x-Salem (C)
2020: No playoffs.
2019: x-Penns Grove (S), Salem (C), Pennsville (C), Woodstown (C)
2018: x-Penns Grove (S), Woodstown (S), Schalick (S), Salem (S)
2017: Penns Grove (S), Salem (S), Woodstown (S), Schalick (S), Pennsville (S).
2016: Pennsville (S), Salem (S), Woodstown (S), Schlaick (S) Penns Grove (S)
S-South Jersey bracket, C-Central Jersey bracket, x-won sectional title

CURRENT SJ-I UPR TOP 16
(Through Oct. 12)
1. Schalick (7-0)
2. Woodstown (5-1)
3. Glassboro (3-3)
4. South Hunterdon (6-1)
5. Florence (5-0)
6. Shore (4-2)
7. Middlesex (5-1)
8. Woodbury (3-3)
9. Audubon (3-2)
10. Penns Grove (3-4)
11. Keyport (6-1)
12. Riverside (5-1)
13. Burlington City (5-2)
14. Clayton (3-3)
15. Pennsville (4-2)
16. Dunellen (4-2)

PROJECTED PLAYOFF PAIRINGS
(Based on this week’s UPR)
South Jersey Group I
No. 16 Dunellen (4-2) at No. 1 Schalick (7-0)
No. 9 Audubon (3-2) at No. 8 Woodbury (3-3)
No. 13 Burlington City (5-2) at No. 4 South Hunterdon (6-1)
No. 12 Riverside (5-1) at No. 5 Florence (5-0)
Central Jersey Group I
No. 14 Clayton (3-3) at No. 3 Glassboro (3-3)
No. 11 Keyport (6-1) at No. 6 Shore (4-2)
No. 10 Penns Grove (3-4) at No. 7 Middlesex (5-1)
No. 15 Pennsville (4-2) at No. 2 Woodstown (5-1)
Salem currently No. 17