WJFL preview: Continental Division Players to Watch, predictions

Welcome to the division of champions. With no less than four 2023 division champions and two runners up in the newly formed Continental Division, the West Jersey Football League schedule makers threw down a gauntlet.

Gloucester (Colonial), Paul VI (National), Pleasantville (Patriot) and Willingboro (Liberty) will have to fend off three other division champions to repeat as division champions. Seneca placed second to Paul VI last fall to account for the only duo of teams to play in the same division last year. Haddonfield, which placed second to Camden in the Constitution, is the sixth member of this loaded division.

Seneca and Willingboro will be under new management with coaching changes after long periods of stability.

The most interesting aspect of the impending division race is which team will be able to imprint its style of play onto the division. The first team to take the reins could end up with a new banner in the gym.

Mark Your Calendars

Willingboro at Haddonfield, Sept. 13: The Liberty-champion Chimeras head to the friendly confines of Haddonfield for a pitched battle between teams that have long traditions of excellent play. ‘Boro has a new coach but exceptional talent remains in place. Haddonfield was very senior heavy last fall but should bounce back quickly.

Players to Watch

• Gloucester: Trevin Burkhardt, senior LB; Mason Widman, senior RB
• Haddonfield: Kai Richards, senior RB; Luca Lentini, sophomore WR
• Paul VI: Jaylen Bishop, senior OL; Moe Keshen, senior LB; Tyree Roane, junior WR
• Pleasantville: Amar Coley, junior OL; Ahmad Jones, junior QB; Dejuan Martin, senior LB; Braswell Thomas, senior WR
• Seneca: Jamar Warthen, senior DB; Anthony Tirico, sophomore QB
• Willingboro: Zahir Bryant, junior WR; Jaelen Johnson, senior DL; Terrence Knighton, junior WR; James Pemberton, junior P; Jordan Richardson-Wright, senior DL

New Coaches

Anthony Diorio, Seneca. For just the second coach in Golden Eagles history, Seneca dipped into the well for a coach with a strong sense of Lenape District history. A standout player at Shawnee, Diorio returned to the district six years ago as a special education teacher and assistant coach under Bill Fisher, who founded the program in 2003.

Kenny Scott, Willingboro. The Chimeras have built a culture of success. That culture enters a new era with the addition of Scott as head coach. Scott served int eh same role for a six-year stint at Winslow, before serving as offensive coordinator at Eastside for the previous two seasons. Scott replaces Stephen Everette, who returned the Chimeras to glory in his 10 years there. Everette is now head coach at Burlington Township.

Projected Finish

1. Paul VI

2. Willingboro

3. Haddonfield

4. Pleasantville

5. Seneca

6. Gloucester

Tom Rimback grew up reading the Burlington County Times and Courier Post sports sections and began writing for the BCT in 1996. He has covered everything from Super Bowls and Final Fours to Tri-County Swimming but he’s happiest on a sideline interviewing South Jersey scholastic athletes. Follow him on twitter @Rimbacksports. Email him with story ideas at tomrimback@gmail.com and, most importantly, support local journalism with a subscription to the Courier Post.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: WJFL preview: Continental Division Players to Watch, predictions