New Football Playoff Grouping Proposal Faces Vote Today

More local football teams will have an opportunity to play in the high school football playoffs if the NJSIAA Executive Committee approves an expansion proposal at its meeting today.

In early April, the committee approved on first reading a proposal submitted by Northern Highlands High School of Bergen County to create a Group V in each of the four public school sections. Currently, there are four groups in each of the state’s sections: North Jersey Section 1, North Jersey Section 2, Central Jersey and South Jersey.

NJSIAA officials say the proposal would create more opportunities for the players and the teams, while some point out that it also would increase playoff ticket revenue for the organization, which has come under fire in recent years for its ticket prices and past spending practices.

The addition of a fifth group in each section would reduce the groups to 15 teams apiece from the current 19.

It could make a difference for teams like Ocean City, which played in South Jersey Group III last fall. With the addition of a Group V, each of the other groups would have fewer teams.

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The proposed groupings:

SOUTH JERSEY

GROUP V: Absegami; Atlantic City; Cherokee; Cherry Hill East; Eastern; Egg Harbor Township; Lenape; Millville; Rancocas Valley; Southern; Toms River East; Toms River North; Vineland; Washington Township; Williamstown.

GROUP IV: Cherry Hill West; Clearview; Cumberland; Hammonton; Kingsway;Lacey; Mainland Regional; Moorestown; Oakcrest; Seneca; Shawnee; Timber Creek; Toms River South; Triton; Winslow Township.

GROUP III: Bridgeton; Burlington Township; Camden; Central; Delsea; Deptford; Highland; Lower Cape May; Manchester; Ocean City; Pemberton; Pinelands; Point Boro; Sterling; Woodrow Wilson.

GROUP II: Barnegat; Bordentown; Buena; Cinnaminson; Collingswood; Delran; Haddon Heights; Haddonfield; Middle Township; Overbrook; Pleasantville; Robbinsville; West Deptford; Willingboro; Woodstown.

GROUP I: Audubon; Cedar Creek; Clayton; Gateway; Glassboro; Gloucester City; Lindenwold; Paulsboro; Penns Grove; Pennsville; Pitman; Salem; Schalick; Wildwood; Woodbury.