BHPRSD Week 9 Football Forecast

It was Black Friday last week for two local football teams, as a pair of standout running backs were knocked out of action with injuries.

Both Triton’s Josh Woods and Timber Creek’s Khalil Pierce will be sidelined today with hopes of recovering in time for the playoffs, which begin next week.

Woods was feared to have the more serious injury and had an MRI on his knee Monday. The good news is that the scan reportedly showed no indication of an ACL tear. Woods will rest and go through rehab for the next week or two before being re-evaluated.

Woods was injured on Friday against Paul VI when he hyper-extended his knee while fighting for extra yards. He was on a pace to surpass 1,000 yards for the season and is currently sidelined at 899 yards.

Pierce suffered a sprained ankle in the Chargers’ 28-7 win over Seneca. He will rest this week as Timber Creek takes on local rival Highland, but is expected to be at or near 100 percent for Timber Creek's playoff opener next week.

Meanwhile, this week features a game with huge playoff implications for Triton, as the Mustangs take on Woodrow Wilson.

Below is a look at some of the players and situations to look for this weekend.

TIMBER CREEK AT HIGHLAND, Tonight, 7 p.m.

Timber Creek (7-0)

Last week: Defeated Seneca, 28-7.

Last game against Highland: Won, 35-0. Damiere Byrd led the offense with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Kevin Potter also rushed for a pair of scores.

Key Player: Running back Kevin Potter. With Khalil Pierce expected to get the night off to recover from a leg injury, Potter will see an increased role in the backfield. Look for the senior to have a big night on the ground and find the end zone a couple of times.

Three Keys to the game:

- Stay healthy. The Chargers have assured themselves of being in the Group III playoffs, so this week’s game will only affect their ability to hold onto the No. 1 seed. Look for the Timber Creek bench to be cleared by halftime if the team gets a big lead as expected.

- Dominate the first quarter. The best way to ensure that the first key can take place is to get out to a big lead. The Chargers are vastly superior on both sides of the ball and need to flex their muscles early to ensure they can rest up the second half of the game.

- Be disciplined. Games that feature two teams on the opposite side of the spectrum often feature sloppy football, in part because the competitive spirit drops a little. With the playoffs ariving next week, Timber Creek must make sure it plays smart, sound football in each phase of the game so it doesn’t develop any bad habits this late in the season.

Highland (0-8)

Last week: Lost to Gloucester Catholic, 26-6.

Last game against Timber Creek: Lost, 35-0. Kyle Twitty had an interception and Vance Shockley had a sack on defense, but the Tartans’ offense mustered just 182 yards.

Key player: Quarterback Daniel Martin. It will be Martin's job to avoid Timber Creek's fierce pass rush and get the ball into the hands of his receivers so they can make plays. The Tartans will need to make a few big plays to force the Chargers' defense to pull back.

Three keys to the game:

- Play with nothing to lose. No one expects Highland to come out and win this game, or even to keep it close. The Tartans need to use that to their advantage and play with a fun energy. This is a chance for Highland to empty its playbook against one of the top teams in South Jersey.

- Load up against the run. While Highland can dig deep into its playbook, one would expect Timber Creek to keep things basic this week. That means a lot of dives, leads and sweeps.

- Max protect. Timber Creek possesses one of the best defensive lines in South Jersey, led by Greg Webb and Dajuan Drennon. The Tartans need to keep an extra man or two at the line to make sure the Chargers do not make a living in their backfield.

TRITON AT WOODROW WILSON, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Triton (6-1)

Last game: Defeated Paul VI, 35-6.

Last game against Woodrow Wilson: Lost, 25-15. Brian Keller completed 11 passses for 134 yards and a touchdown, but the Tigers outscored the Mustangs, 13-0, in the fourth quarter.

Key player: Running back Jim Burns. With Josh Woods sidelined, it is Burns’ time to shine. The junior back does not have the same explosiveness as Woods, but is a hard runner who is not easy to take down with one defender. Look for him to see the bulk of the work this week.

Three keys to the game:

- A big game from Keller. With Woods out, Keller’s role becomes that much more important. The Mustangs will be counting on Keller to pick up the lost yardage both on the ground and through the air. Look for the senior to put the team on his back and lead them into the playoffs.

- Stop Wilson with pressure. Woodrow Wilson was unable to move the football against Timber Creek this season thanks to a relentless Chargers defensive line. The Tigers were held to minus-2 yards in the first half of that game. Triton has the type of defense that can duplicate that effort by stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback early and often.

- Just win. The Mustangs currently sit sixth in Group IV power points heading into their final game before the playoff cutoff. If Triton wins, it is assured of a playoff spot, but a loss would leave them hoping for a couple of other teams to lose, namely Cherokee and Egg Harbor Township, which sit in 9th and 10 place, respectively, but are within striking distance.

Woodrow Wilson (5-2)

Last game: Defeated Cumberland, 41-30.

Last game against Triton: Won, 25-15. Charles Still ran for 130 yards and a touchdown to lead a rushing attack that accounted for 234 yards.

Key player: Running back Anthony Haynes. Haynes doesn’t need many touches to be effective, as evidenced by his three-carry, 89-yard performance last week against Delsea. However, he can also be a workhorse, as he was in a 24-carry, 158-yard effort against Cherry Hill West earlier this season.

Three keys to the game:

- Pressure Keller. With Woods out of the equation, the Tigers can turn their attention to containing Keller. The Mustangs’ QB can beat defenses with his arm or legs, so look for Woodrow Wilson to try to take one of those options away, making Triton one-dimensional.

- Sure up the defense. Over the last two weeks, the Tigers have surrendered 32 points to Delsea and 30 to Cumberland. Neither of those teams have the offensive firepower that the Mustangs possess, so it will take a much better effort on the defensive side of the ball to pull out a win.

- Play for home field. The Tigers currently sit fifth in Group III power points and are a sure bet to make the playoffs with several of the teams behind them having already played their eighth game. Woodrow Wilson is also only four points behind No. 4 Central. The two teams may end up meeting in the playoffs next week, and by winning Saturday, the Tigers could gain the home field for that contest.