Holy Spirit coach Chalie Roman doesn't downplay the significance of the game.
"This is our Super Bowl," Roman said of Saturday's 2 p.m. matchup in Hammonton between the Spartans, the No. 1 team in The Inquirer Top 10, and No. 2 St. Joseph.
Holy Spirit is 2-1, although the Spartans have beaten all three opponents on the field. They forfeited their first victory for use of an ineligible player.
St. Joseph is 2-0. The Wildcats had a bye this past weekend.
"We need to play better against them than we have," said St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco, referring to Holy Spirit's 35-0 victory last season.
That game was 0-0 late in the first half, but turnovers doomed St. Joseph.
The teams are perennial rivals in the Cape-Atlantic League and also compete to attract top youth players from the region.
Holy Spirit is the defending Non-Public 3 state champion, although the Spartans have been reclassified to Non-Public 2 this season.
St. Joseph won the Non-Public 1-2 title last season - when the groups were combined - but the Wildcats are in Non-Public 1 this season.
Holy Spirit has a powerful offensive line, led by Villanova recruit Nico D'Angelo, and a bruising ground game, led by running backs Donta Pollock and Nigel Jones.
St. Joseph's defense is led by ends Max Valles, a Virginia recruit, and Kaiwan Lewis, a South Carolina recruit.
"We need to win this game," Roman said. "If we . . . win the Non-Public 2 title and still lose to St. Joe's, it's a hollow season."
- Phil Anastasia
