Football: Brick Memorial Gets Ready To Open Playoffs On The Road

(PHOTO: Brick Memorial breaks the huddle before a play against Brick. Credit: Karen Wall)

Brick Memorial opens the 2014 NJSIAA football playoffs on the road.

The Mustangs, seeded fifth in South Jersey Group V, drew fourth-seeded Cherokee in the opening round of the playoffs, according to the official NJSIAA playoff seedings posted on NJ.com. The game is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.

Brick Memorial (6-3) is making its 16th appearance in the state sectional playoffs and is coming in on a good note, having won two straight games after back-to-back losses to Jackson Memorial (21-14 on Oct. 17) and Middletown South (24-21 on Oct. 24), both of which are in the playoffs; Middletown South is the top seed in Central Jersey Group IV, while Jackson is the third seed in that bracket. Crosstown rival Brick, which holds the only other victory over the Mustangs, is the second seed in that same bracket.

Two other teams the Mustangs faced -- Old Bridge and Toms River North -- also qualified for the playoffs, which should bode well for the Mustangs against Cherokee.

The Chiefs (5-3) are coming off back-to-back wins as well, including a shutout Friday night against Cherry Hill East. Cherokee senior running back Marc Woodard has 12 rushing touchdowns and has piled up 975 yards on the ground this season, while junior quarterback Evan Powell has four passing touchdowns and two rushing, and has thrown for 362 yards.

If Brick Memorial gets past Cherokee, the Mustangs will get the winner of the Toms River North at Lenape game. North is the eighth seed and unbeaten Lenape, which beat Cherokee 24-16, is the top seed.

IF YOU GO:

Cherokee High School is in Marlton. The GPS address is 120 Tomlinson Mill Road, Evesham Township 08053. Take Route 70 west through three traffic circles to North Elmwood Road. Turn left on North Elmwood and go 1.8 miles to Tomlinson Mill Road and turn left. Cherokee High School is at the intersection of North Elmwood, Willow Bend and Tomlinson Mill roads. The trip in light traffic should take just over an hour.