South Jersey Football Scores: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Season

South Jersey Football Scores: What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Season

You think you know how New Jersey football works. North Jersey takes the big private school trophies, South Jersey scraps for the rest, and everybody argues about which region is tougher on some message board from 2004. Well, that script just got shredded. Looking back at the south jersey football scores from the 2025 season, something shifted. It wasn't just a good year. It was a complete takeover.

Honestly, it’s kinda wild. For the first time in NJSIAA history, South Jersey teams didn't just compete; they pulled off a clean sweep of all five public school state championships. If you weren't at Rutgers in early December, you missed a literal changing of the guard.

The Night Camden Finally Kicked the Door Down

People have been waiting for Camden High to win a state title in football for, well, forever. They've always been a basketball school. The "High" is a factory for hoops talent, but the gridiron was usually where the season ended in a "what if."

Then came December 3, 2025.

Camden faced off against a very dangerous Shabazz team at SHI Stadium. Most people expected a defensive grind, but the Panthers' defense decided to turn the game into a highlight reel. Talib Shakir—the Colgate commit who literally scored on every single interception he caught this year—sparked the whole thing with a 54-yard pick-six. Basically, he jumped the route, saw daylight, and didn't stop until he reached the end zone.

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The final was 27-8. It was Camden’s first-ever state championship. Coach Rob Hinson, who left a job at Rutgers to come back to his alma mater four years ago, finally got the one that mattered. He was visibly emotional afterward, telling reporters he just didn't want to let South Jersey down.

Why the Glassboro Dynasty is Different

While Camden was making history, Glassboro was busy being inevitable. The Bulldogs finished 14-0. They didn't just win games; they erased people.

They beat Cedar Grove 29-14 to win the Group 1 title, capping off their second straight undefeated season. Amari Sabb is the name you need to remember here. He’s the younger brother of Xavier Sabb (the Gatorade Player of the Year), and he absolutely tore it up with two touchdowns in the final, including a 78-yarder that made the defense look like they were running in sand.

Glassboro enters the 2026 offseason with a 27-game winning streak. That is the longest in the state. They scored 621 points this year. They only gave up 76. Think about that for a second. That's a "mercy rule" waiting to happen every Friday night.

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Breaking Down the Public School Sweep

When you look at the south jersey football scores across the board, the dominance is almost hard to believe. It wasn't just one or two lucky bounces. It was a region-wide statement.

  • Group 5: Washington Township finished a perfect 14-0. They survived the gauntlet of the West Jersey Football League and proved they were the best of the big schools.
  • Group 4: Winslow Township defended their crown. They beat Ramapo 34-21. Cameron Miller and Marcus Upton are legitimate stars who played their best when the lights were brightest.
  • Group 3: Cedar Creek pulled off what many consider the upset of the year. They were ranked No. 18 going into the final and hammered a previously undefeated Old Tappan team 34-7.
  • Group 2: Camden (as mentioned) handled Shabazz.
  • Group 1: Glassboro kept the streak alive against Cedar Grove.

It’s easy to look at a final score and think you understand the game. You don't. You had to see the way Cedar Creek’s defense swarmed Old Tappan to realize that the "North Jersey is more physical" argument is officially dead. The Pirates weren't even ranked in the top 20 for most of the season. They just got hot at the right time.

Players Who Shattered the Stat Sheet

We talk a lot about teams, but South Jersey is a talent factory right now. Lotzeir Brooks at Millville is basically a human joystick. Even though Millville had a bit of a roller-coaster 7-5 season, Brooks remained the most feared wide receiver in the state. Every time he touches the ball, the entire stadium holds its breath.

Then you have the guys at Winslow. Cameron Miller is a problem for defensive coordinators. He’s one of the top recruits in the class of 2025 for a reason. His ability to create separation is elite. When Winslow needed a big play in the Group 4 final, they didn't overthink it. They just gave him the ball.

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The Reality of the Non-Public Gap

Now, for the "what most people get wrong" part. While South Jersey swept the public titles, the Non-Public landscape is still a different beast. St. Joseph Regional, Don Bosco Prep, and Bergen Catholic are still the "Big Three."

St. Joseph Regional ended up at the top of the heap after a wild 24-21 win over Don Bosco in the final. South Jersey’s best Non-Public hope, St. Augustine Prep, had a solid 6-4 year but couldn't quite bridge the gap to that top tier yet. They’re close. They’ve got the facilities and the coaching, but the depth of the North Jersey privates is still a massive hurdle.

How to Track South Jersey Football Scores Like a Pro

If you’re trying to keep up with this stuff in real-time, you’ve gotta know where to look. NJ.com is the standard for the raw data, but the "High School on SI" (Sports Illustrated) coverage has become much more detailed for the South Jersey beat.

Don't just look at the record. Look at the "Strength of Program" (SI) or "Strength" ratings on MaxPreps. For example, Washington Township had a lower "Power Rating" than some 8-3 teams in North Jersey for half the season, but they were the ones holding the trophy at the end. The eye test matters.

Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason

  1. Watch the Transfer Portal: It isn't just for college anymore. With the way Camden and Winslow are winning, expect to see high-profile players moving around this spring.
  2. Monitor the Glassboro Streak: They are three wins away from 30. That kind of pressure changes how a team plays.
  3. Keep an Eye on the Sophomores: Andre Robinson at Camden is already a ball-hawk. He’s going to be a household name by next September.
  4. Support Local Media: Guys like Mark Trible and the crew at South Jersey Sports Zone provide the context that a box score can't give you.

The 2025 season proved that the center of the New Jersey football universe has shifted south. Whether it stays there depends on if teams like Washington Township and Winslow can reload as well as they've rebuilt. For now, the hardware stays in the 856 and 609.

Check the recruiting rankings for the Class of 2026 early this spring to see which South Jersey underclassmen are picking up Power 4 offers after this historic run. The momentum is real, and it's not slowing down anytime soon.