Cherry Hill East, West Football Teams on Playoff Bubble

When Cherry Hill West takes the field against Bishop Eustace this week, the Lions won’t just be fighting to go above .500 during a season for the first time since 2005.

They’ll also be fighting for—yes, believe it—playoff position.

After seven weeks of play, West is sitting in ninth place in South Jersey, Group 4. While they’re on the outside looking in right now, they trail Seneca by just a single point for the final spot with two games to go before the cutoff.

But two games might be an eternity.

West’s two remaining opponents are a pair of parochials—Group 2 Bishop Eustace and Group 3 Camden Catholic—that, because of their size, wouldn’t yield the maximum points if the Lions pull off a win in each.

Seneca, meanwhile, has a Group 5 team and a Group 4 team remaining, which could mean the Golden Eagles could pull away in the late going. The bad news for Seneca is those teams are state-ranked Timber Creek (5-2) and Washington Township (5-1).

Just behind West is Toms River South, which gets two Group 5 powerhouses to close out the regular season, hosting Brick Memorial (5-2) and Toms River North (4-2). Even Triton, at 2-4 so far, still isn’t out of it, with games against Group 4 Paul VI and winless Group 4 Winslow still left to play.

The Lions don’t have the luxury of waiting to see what happens elsewhere, though—they need to get at least one more win, and possibly win out to have a shot at making the playoffs for the first time ever.

Cherry Hill East Football

After their loss to Washington Township last week, the Cougars slipped a game under .500—and with a bye week this week, they can only watch the shuffle around the playoff bubble.

East holds the last playoff spot in South Jersey, Group 5 right now, but can only add power points according to what their previous opponents manage this week.

Meanwhile, Millville (3-3), Egg Harbor Township (3-3), Rancocas Valley (3-3) and Cherokee (2-4) all sit within 21 points of the final spot, and all four teams have at least one weak opponent left on the schedule.

East will likely head into the final week of the regular season with a do-or-die game against Cherokee.

South Jersey, Group 4 power points:

1. Lacey (7-0)—110
2. Timber Creek (5-2)—108
3. Clearview (5-2)—89
4. Moorestown (4-3)—89
5. Shawnee (4-3)—78
6. Hammonton (4-2)—68
7. Kingsway (4-2)—68
8. Seneca (3-3)—59
9. Cherry Hill West (3-3)—58
10. Toms River South (3-3)—53
11. Triton (2-4)—49
12. Pennsauken (2-4)—42
13. Mainland (2-4)—28

South Jersey, Group 5 power points:

1. Williamstown (7-0)—137
2. Eastern (5-2)—118
3. Southern (4-2)—84
4. Toms River North (4-2)—81
5. Absegami (4-2)—80
6. Washington Township (5-1)—78
7. Atlantic City (4-2)—76
8. Cherry Hill East (3-4)—69
9. Millville (3-3)—65
10. Egg Harbor Township (3-3)—63
11. Rancocas Valley (3-3)—55
12. Cherokee (2-4)—48