Lacey comes face-to-face with one of the state's most dynamic players in Winslow Township quarterback Bill Belton.
Belton, who is headed to the University of Pittsburgh, creates big plays with his arm and legs. Belton threw for 308 yards and ran for two touchdowns as Winslow beat Moorestown 47-21 in last Saturday's quarterfinal.
He threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two scores as Winslow clinched a playoff spot with a 34-27 regular-season win over Williamstown on Nov. 5.
The Lacey defense should be up for the challenge. The Lions, No. 2 in The Press Elite 11, have four shutouts and have not allowed more than seven points in a game this season.
Playoff histories: Lacey and Winslow met in the 2007 South Jersey Group III semifinals with Lacey winning 38-13. Lacey has won three South Jersey titles with the last one coming in 2006. The Lions are 15-13 in 17 playoff appearances. Winslow has never won a sectional title and is 3-3 in four postseason appearances.
Key players for Winslow: Bill Belton, QB, 112-of-194 for 1,846 yards, 115 carries for 1,002 yards; Devante Waugh, WR, 25 catches for 571 yards; Shaun Tuner, RB; Nyzual Streater, OL/DL; Tory Hendrick, OL/DL.
Key players for Lacey Township: Craig Cicardo (above), QB, 61-of-93 for 1,125 yards and 15 touchdowns; Jake Dabal, 99 carries for 774 yards and five touchdowns; Jarrod Molzon, 61 carries for 610 yards; Matt Uveges, LB, 73 tackles and three interceptions; Zach Torrrell, DB, five interceptions.
Keys to victory: Lacey Township needs to keep Belton on the sidelines as much as possible. The Lions must control the ball behind the running of Dabal and Molzon and Cicardo's timely passing. The Lacey defense must limit Belton's big plays. He's too good a player for any team to completely shut down.
Michael McGarry
Who: Fourth-seeded Winslow Township (6-3) vs. top-seeded Lacey Township (9-0)
Where/when: 1 p.m. Saturday at Lacey.
What's next: Winner advances to the South Jersey Group III final the weekend of Dec. 3-4 against the winner of tonight's semifinal between third-seeded Hammonton (7-2) and second-seeded Delsea Regional (8-1).
