The West Jersey Football League Colonial Division has no middle ground. It’s top three teams combined for nearly nine wins each and three sectional finals appearances. The bottom two teams won a single game total.
This year, expectations for each of the Colonial teams come in two forms. The top three teams are looking to break through as a divisional champ. The others are fighting to regain respectability
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Camden saw its playoff hopes end against South Jersey Group 2 champion Point Pleasant Boro. Ther Panthers will build around 1,200-yard rusher Christian Braxton but will have to rebuild its passing game.
It was a tough, winless season for Eastside last fall. The good news is that the Tigers have young and experienced players to build a resurgence around.
Better days are ahead for Lenape, starting with a thousand-yard passing attack built around quarterback Kellen Pierce and Connor Hepperlen. Navigating another tough schedule should be less challenging this season.
Scoreboards shudder at the sight of the Red Devils offense. Rancocas Valley can flash highlights as well as any team in south Jersey. Sayvian Adams put together 3,100 yards and 34 touchdwons last season and could be even better this fall.
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Reaching the South Jersey Group 4 final was a solid step for the Renegades, who return behind senior Joey Cleaver, who will wear the team’s iconic 44 jersey, senior running back Brett Lundberg and sophomore quarterback Cole Anderson.
Mark the Calendar
Camden at Rancocas Valley, September 26, 6 p.m.
Expect fireworks. Two of the most high-flying offenses in South Jersey are sure to put on a show once again as two fo the top three teams in the division try to position themselves to for a run at the title.
Players to Watch
Camden: Christian Braxton, senior RB/DB (1,169 yards rushing, 11 TDs), Will Crisdon, senior OL/DL (1 sack, 1 fumble recovery); Ibn Muhammad, senior WR/DB (20 catches, 3 TDs); Talib Shakir, senior WR/DB (4 interceptions, 57 tackles); Joseph White, senior OL/DL
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Eastside: Montel Anderson, senior DB (2 interceptions); Elijah Satchell, senior DL (2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss)
Lenape: Connor Hepperlen, senior TE (251 yards, 3 TDs receiving); Kellen Pierce, junior QB (970 yards, 7 TDs passing, 6 TDs rushing)
Rancocas Valley: Sayvien Adams, senior QB/DB (2,134 yards passing, 1,036 yards rushing, 34 total TDs); Jordon Evans, senior OL/DL; David Ogunsola, junior DL (9 sacks, 92 tackles); Daniel Rivers-King, senior DB (3 interceptions, 118 tackles)
Shawnee: Cole Anderson, sophomore QB/DB (5 TDs passing, 906 yards, 13 TDs rushing); Joey Cleaver, senior TE/LB (5 sacks, 3 interceptions); Brett Lundberg, senior RB (1,245 yards, 13 TDs rushing); Tyler Nickles, senior RB/DB (24 catches, 2 TDs receiving)
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Predicted order of finish
1. Camden
2. Rancocas Valley
3. Shawnee
4. Lenape
5. Eastside
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: 2025 WJFL Colonial Division preview: Players to Watch, predictions
