The Hammonton High School football team faces another neighbor tonight.
The Blue Devils (8-1) meet Seneca (7-2) in a South Jersey Group III semifinal. Seneca is located a few miles from Hammonton up Route 206.
Hammonton, No. 5 in The Press' Elite 11, beat neighboring Winslow Township 30-0 in last Friday's quarterfinals.
The Blue Devils and Seneca have a history.
Hammonton beat Seneca 37-6 in the 2007 quarterfinals. Seneca beat Hammonton 17-10 in the 2006 semifinals.
Hammonton is trying to win its first South Jersey title since 1996. The Blue Devils lost to Shawnee 28-7 in last year's final.
Seneca beat Burlington Township 27-7 in last Saturday's quarterfinals. Seneca rushed for 332 yards and four touchdowns. The Golden Eagles have won five straight and have not allowed more than 10 points in their last four games.
Key players for Hammonton: Nick Crescenzo, QB/DB, 27-of-50 for 471 yards and 63 carries for 724 yards and 13 touchdowns; David Crescenzo, RB, 94 carries for 563 yards; Josh Baez, FB/DE, 68 carries for 577 yards and nine touchdowns: Jared Sanchez (above), WR/DB; Ian Evans, TE/DE; Antonio Rodriguez, LB.
Key players for Seneca: Steve Greco, RB, 171 carries for 938 yards; Charles Owl, QB; Matt Massucci, RB, 67 carries for 418 yards; Zac Johnson, RB, 99 carries for 743 yards; Ryan Blythe, WR/DE, six sacks; Adam Coppola, LB, 94 tackles ; Derek Pawlikowski, LB, 83 tackles.
Keys to victory: Both teams favor the run. Both teams have stingy defenses. The winner will be whichever team is able to impose its will on the other.
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Game details
Who: Fifth-seeded Seneca (7-2) vs. top-seeded Hammonton (8-1)
What: South Jersey Group III semifinal
When/where: 7 p.m. today at Hammonton
What's next: Winner advances to the championship game the weekend of Dec. 4-5 against the winner of tonight's other semifinal between third-seeded Lacey Township and second-seeded Timber Creek.
