Four former Burlington County members of last cycle's West Jersey Football League National Division moved over to the new WJFL Patriot to join United Division champion KIPP Cooper Norcross and Camden Catholic.
The blend of familiar foes, plus two comparable newcomers should make for interesting battles through the entire fall.
Bordentown (7-2, 5-1 National) reeled off seven straight wins after an opening day loss to bring excitement to South Jersey's northernmost program. The Scotties scored more than 30 points per game during its WJFL National win streak before falling int he first round of the Group 2 playoffs.
Bordentown returns quarterback Tommy Lee and a solid base to build its receiving and rushing games around. The Scotties have a chance to fatten up on a trio of Colonial Valley opponents in its non-division slate.
Camden Catholic (2-9, 0-5 Patriot) lost its first seven contests before closing out the season with wins in two of its last three games. After going winless in WJFL Patriot play last year, no team welcomes its new division alignment more than the Irish.
Seniors Nymir Dailey and Shane Alessi give the Irish a solid foundation to build its offense around this fall. Camden Catholic is one of the last holdouts to tradition, closing out the season with its Thanksgiving Eve battle with Paul Vi.
Florence (1-8, 1-5 National) won its lone game last fall on Oct. 9 against Pemberton, going winless in WJFL National games. The Flashes scored more in its one win than it did in the rest of its schedule.
KIPP Cooper Norcross (6-3, 6-0 United) won its first title, taking the WJFL United in just its second season in the WJFL. KCN averaged more than 40 points in its six wins but scored just 20 total in three losses.
Davion Ross-Ways had a 1,000-yard passing season last year but there is some rebuilding to be done. A tough opener against Paulsboro should be a good gauge of where the team is for this fall.
Maple Shade (5-4, 2-4 National) ended the season a game over .500 after an up-and-down WJFL National campaign that never saw more than two wins or losses in a row. Finding more consistency will be the first order of business this fall.
Making the most of an opportunity to rebuild most of its offensive firepower will determine how much success the Wildcats will see this fall. A challenging non-division schedule will keep the Wildcats on their toes all season.
Riverside (7-3, 4-2 National) rolled out of the gates with five wins in their first six games, which led to a third-place finish in the WJFL National. Another trip to the Group 1 playoffs is a reachable goal for 2026.
The Rams will be a different-looking team after a key transfer but there is significant returning talent on Hooker Street. Making the most of an ambitious WJFL crossover schedule should help the Rams achieve their playoff ambitions.
Mark the CalendarBordentown at KIPP Cooper Norcross, Saturday, Sept. 26, noon. If things go to form, this should be the WJFL Patriot title game. Both teams put up big offensive numbers last fall so a basketball score could be on offer for this shootout.
Players to WatchBordentown: Connor Bramley, senior, TE, LB (11-336, 3 TDs receiving); Tommy Lee, senior, QB, DB (51-85, 770, 10 TDs passing); Gianni Jones, senior, RB, DL (46-311, TD rushing); Lucas Schwartz, senior, PK (24-28 PATs, 38-yd FG); Carter Stumpf, senior, LB
Camden Catholic: Shane Alessi, senior, QB (63-112, 751, 11 TDs passing); Nymir Daily, senior, RB, DB (254, 1,362, 14 TDs rushing); Kamau Ellis, sophomore, WR, DB (8-102, TD receiving, 3 INTs); Lars Stegner, senior, OL, DL (1 sack, 60 tackles)
Florence: Giovanni Cusmano, sophomore, RB, LB (45.5 tackles); Tanner MacFarland, senior, OL, DL (27.5 tackles); Nahsir Moore, senior, RB, LB (69-466, 2TD rushing); Emmanuel Nagbe, junior, RB, DB (20-100 rushing, 12-139 receiving);
KIPP Cooper Norcross: Jykhai Boyd, senior WR (21-367, 2 TDs receiving); Ahmad Crosson, senior (18-93, 2 TDs rushing); Michael Morton, junior (18-374, 5 TDs receiving); Davion Ross-Ways, junior, QB (60-98 1,268, 11 TDs passing)
Maple Shade: Kai Council, senior, DL; Brayden Howard, junior, WR; Dohnovan Overby-Washington (7-22, 88 yards passing)
Riverside: Max DeAngelo, senior, QB, LB, P (1 sack, 53 tackles); Alton Howell, senior, RB, DB (46-199, 2 TDs rushing); Andrew Weaver, senior, WR, DB (11-119 receiving)
Predicted Order of Finish1. KIPP Cooper Norcross
2. Bordentown
3. Riverside
4, Camden Catholic
5. Maple Shade
6. Florence
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: WJFL '26 preview: Patriot Division Players to Watch, predictions
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