Five questions heading into the 2024 South Jersey high school football season

Over the course of 94 days, or 13-plus weeks, or two months and two days, South Jersey’s high school football teams will battle each weekend.

All things are possible before West Deptford kicks off the statewide schedule on Thursday morning at 10 in the opener of the Battle at the Beach. By Dec. 1. Every question we have will be answered.

Here are five answers to five questions that are at the top of our minds as the season begins.

Which South Jersey team(s) will win state championships?

Camden. The Panthers blitzed their way to 10 wins and a spot in the Group 3 semifinal last fall. That experience should serve them well as they drop down to Group 2 this fall.

Delsea. Speaking of the Crusaders, Delsea won the Group 3 crown last year but repeating will be a different matter with new coach Jason Volpe and a new offense.

Glassboro. The Bulldogs lost in the Group 1 final last year. They’ll return this season a deeper, more talented, hungrier group.

Millville. The Thunderbolts ran into the Mainland buzz saw in Group 4 last fall. A year later, Millville is poised to make a strong run for a title.

Winslow. The Eagles always put up big numbers, that much is well known. An epic meeting with Millville in the Group 4 field could be the springboard to a state title.

Which team will be South Jersey’s No. 1 team?

Camden. You want The High? Then you better be ready for a high-octane fireworks show. The Panthers are loaded once again and intent on making a title run.

Holy Spirit. It won’t take too long to sort out which team is the early leader in the race to No. 1 as the Spartans will face Millville on Friday. Spirit is explosive and talented which makes Friday a must-watch game.

Millville. The Thunderbolts enter the year in the top spot with some of the best returning talent in the entire state. There’s a culture of winning that’s hard to overcome already in place.

St. Augustine. The Hermits are South Jersey’s only Non-Public Group A team, which means they square off against the super teams up north in the playoffs, where they could break through this year.

Winslow. If you like offense, the Eagles are the team for you. Speed and talent makes for the ultimate entertainment on a Friday or Saturday.

Who is South Jersey’s best high school football player?

Lotzier Brooks, Millville. Soon to be the state’s all-time leader in career receiving touchdowns when he adds to his 51 so far. Brooks has been a player to watch since he debuted as a freshman.

Cameron Miller, Winslow. If 57 catches and 13 touchdowns isn’t enough as a receiver, Miller is also one of the best defensive backs in the state.

Daniel Russo, Delsea. It remains to be seen how Russo fits into the new Crusaders’ offense but more than 1,700 yards and 26 touchdowns on 236 carries is a good start.

Brandon Simmons, Glassboro. The heart and soul of the most fearsome defense in all of Group 1, Simmons had 13 sacks last season, leading the Bulldogs to the state title game.

Kenny Smith, Glassboro. With more than 3,500 career yards and 37 touchdowns at Hammonton. Smith figures to be even more productive against a Group 1 schedule.

Which first-year coach will have the best rookie year?

Kemp Carr, Salem. After winning 85 games at Penns Grove and Winslow, Carr returns to the sidelines at his alma mater after a seven-year absence from football.

Stephen Everette, Burlington Township. After returning the Willingboro program back to contention, Everette moves one town over to continue the work Tom Maderia did at Township over the previous two decades.

Joe Frappolli Jr., Florence. The younger Frappolli had served in every possible role from waterboy to assistant coach in this program. Now he takes over after a half century reign by his father.

Frank Fucetola, Williamstown. Seeking to rewind the best era of Williamstown football, Fucetola returns to the sideline for the first time since 2019.

Jason Volpe, Delsea. Just the third coach in Delsea history, Volpe is set to open up the offensive philosophy a bit at one of South Jersey’s premier programs.

What teams could make a surprise return to the playoffs?

Cherry Hill East. The Cougars won five games last fall, which means one or two more wins should get them into the mix.

Clearview. The Pioneers move to the new Freedom Division means teams a slightly easier schedule and a shot to improve on their three 2023 wins.

Delran. The Bears won four games last season. The new WJFL alignment should help bump that total and its power points’ totals into playoff range.

Oakcrest. The Falcons were right at .500 last season and their new division doesn’t include 14-0 Mainland so one more win should do it.

Paulsboro. Face it the South Jersey football world is much better with Paulsboro playing in the postseason. A rare down year last year should mean a bounce-back this fall.

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: Five questions heading into the 2024 South Jersey high school football season