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Schools

WDHS Football Forecast: Defense Faces Pass-First Team

West Deptford take son Barnegat in the Group 2 semifinals, tonight at 7 p.m.

The NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 playoffs resume tonight for the football team, who takes on No. 3 Barnegat for a right to go to the South Jersey title game.

The Eagles are riding high, winners of six-straight, fueled by a defense that hasn’t allowed a score in the last five games. The Barnegat Bengals also have momentum on their side, having won three-straight games. The Bengals bring a new challenge to the Eagles’ defense, as they average more yards passing than running, something rarely seen in the Colonial Conference.

Below is a glance at some of the key players and situations to keep an eye on during tonight’s semifinal.

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No. 3 BARNEGAT AT NO. 2 WEST DEPTFORD, Tonight, 7 p.m.

Barnegat (6-3)

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Last game: Defeated No. 6 Point Pleasant Boro, 35-31.

Key player: Quarterback Mark McCoy: With his team in a dogfight, McCoy put the squad on his back against Point Pleasant Boro, throwing for over 350 yards and three touchdowns, while also running for a score. West Deptford has yet to see a passing attack quite like what McCoy will be bring to town. He will need to have another monster game if the Bengals are to pull off an upset.

Three keys to the game:

–Get an early score: West Deptford , so to say the defense has been hot would be a major understatement. Barnegat needs to get an early score to knock down the defensive unit’s momentum and make a statement that the Eagles will have their hands full.

–Shore up the run defense: Barnegat was not solid against the run last week, giving up over 300 yards on the ground, including 209 to the opposing quarterback. With Gerald Towns, Josh Cornelius, Arrin Bundy and several others licking their lips to get carries, the Bengals will have to be much stronger at the point of attack to slow down the Eagles' run game.

–Big game from Smithman: Running back David Smithman has been solid this season, averaging over six yards a carry for the Bengals. For the passing game to have success, Barnegat will have to establish the run early to keep West Deptford's linebackers from dropping back in coverage. The Bengals also need to do well on the ground to win the possession game and keep the ball out of the hands of the West Deptford offense.

West Deptford (8-1)

Last game: Defeated No. 7 Pemberton, 43-0.

Key player(s): The secondary. This will be the biggest test the secondary has faced this season. Barnegat will try to spread the Eagles out and make plays downfield, while also setting up the screen on several occasions. West Deptford has been strong in coverage all season and if that trend continues, Barnegat has little chance of pulling an upset.

Three keys to game:

–Pressure from the defensive line: The best way to disrupt a passing attack is to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. Look for Jamil Pollard, Scott Dennis and company to get in the Barnegat backfield and wreak some havoc.

–Ball control: While the Eagles have the ability to strike quick, they can also wear down defenses with long, run-oriented drives. By getting consistent gains on first down, the Eagles can demoralize the Bengals’ defense, while keeping the Barnegat offense off the field at the same time. Expect a heavy dose of Gerald Towns.

–Don’t look ahead. The second the playoff brackets were released, it was hard for fans not to imagine West Deptford and Haddonfield meeting once again for the South Jersey title. However, the players cannot afford to look ahead with a dangerous opponent coming to town this week. The Eagles must remain focused and disciplined tonight. If they do, the rematch will take care of itself.

Sport Editor Eric Schwartz's Prediction: McCoy may make one or two big plays, but he won’t get anywhere near 300 yards against this defense. Look for the defense to collect at least four sacks, while holding the running game well under 100 yards. On the offensive side, the Eagles running game is just too strong for the Bengals' defense. In the end, the home team and fans get the rematch they want: West Deptford 31, Barnegat 7.

Editor Bryan Littel's Prediction: The last time the Eagles faced a powerful quarterback–Haddon Heights' Nick Lundholm–they still rolled up 49 points and nearly pitched a shutout. They'll need to bring the nastiness, as Josh Roane said last week, and let Towns, Cornelius and the rest of the running back committee control the clock. Punch the ticket for Rowan and the title game: West Deptford 27, Barnegat 0.

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