Egg Harbor Township will try to avenge two years of frustration tonight.
Cherokee beat EHT 14-0 in last year's South Jersey Group IV final and 34-18 in the 2008 South Jersey Group IV quarterfinals. Cherokee is No. 3 in The Press Elite 11.
The Chiefs are 29-3 since 2008. Cherokee beat Absegami 35-14 in last Friday's quarterfinal as quarterback Andrew Martin threw two touchdown passes.
Egg Harbor Township beat Shawnee 22-7 in the quarterfinals. Stephan Thomas ran for two touchdowns.
Playoff histories: Few state public schools can match Cherokee's playoff success. The Chiefs have made 23 playoff appearances and won seven South Jersey championships. Cherokee is 28-15 in the postseason. EHT won South Jersey Group III titles in 1992-93. The Eagles have reached four sectional finals. They are 10-8 in 11 playoff appearances.
Key players for EHT: Stephan Thomas (No. 4 above), RB/LB, 153 carries for 559 yards; Jon Kopistecki, QB, 78-of-137 for 1,079 yards and six touchdowns; Dominic Moody, RB/LB; Kevin Marquez, WR/LB, 32 catches for 516 yards.
Key players for Cherokee: Andrew Martin, QB, 79-of-126 for 1,145 yards and 16 touchdowns; Mike Zeuli, RB, 46 carries for 478 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 catches for 134 yards, five touchdowns; Jon Bonilla, RB, 71 carries for 423 yards, seven touchdowns; Brett Miller, 23 catches for 334 yards.
Keys to victory: EHT had trouble moving the ball against Cherokee in last year's South Jersey Group IV final. The Eagles need to establish the run and generate offense. An early touchdown would spark the Eagles.
If Cherokee grabs the lead, the Chiefs will be able to control the ball with their powerful running game and timely passing.
Michael McGarry
Who: Fourth-seeded Egg Harbor Township (6-3) at top-seeded Cherokee (9-0)
What: South Jersey Group IV semifinal
When/where: 7 p.m. today at Cherokee, Evesham Township
Radio: 94.3 FM
What's next: Winner advances to the South Jersey final the weekend of Dec. 3-5 against the winner of tonight's other semifinal between seventh-seeded Oakcrest (7-2) and third-seeded Atlantic City (7-2).
