St. Joseph High School quarterback Salaam Horne (1) in action against St. Augustine earlier this season, a 33-14 loss. The Wildcats bounced back from the rare defeat to win two straight. Photo by Andy Lewis/contrastphotography.com

By AL THOMPSON

St. Joseph High School of Hammonton, the defending Footballstories High School football Team of the Year started the season by get pounded by arch rival St. Augustine Prep 33-14. The loss ended a 21-game winning streak for the Wildcats.

But St. Joseph, now No. 4 in the Footballstories Top 20 High School Football rankings, bounced back with two wins starting another streak. First with a 68 – 27 win over Absegami (Galloway, NJ) and a 13-7 slug fest over Millville.

“We just went back to work,” head coach Paul Sacco said recently. “The season is still ours and we can still reach all our goals.”

After facing Vineland on October 3, the Wildcats face a very tough team in Mount St. Joseph of Baltimore, a team ranked No. 8 in the state of Maryland by MaxPrep.com.

St. Joseph High School senior quarterback Salaam Horne is 8 for 27 for 140 yards and one touchdown pass after three games.

Salaam’s twin brother brother A’Laam Horne has rushed 56 times for 374 yards and 6 touchdowns. Salaam has rushed 37 times for 168 yards and three touchdowns.

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No. 15 Palmyra head coach Jack Geisel has the Panthers off to another great start, winning their first two games. Senior quarterback Max Smyth is 29 of 49 for 444 yards, three touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Sophomore Elijah Karnjay leads the team in rushing 224 yards rushing on 23 carries and two touchdowns.

Sophomore Taj Harris has 13 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown.

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No. 3 Delsea (3-0) has avoided its traditional slow start by busting out of the gate with three wins including impressive verdcts over previous No. 1 Camden 25 – 19 (now No. 7, 2-1), and No. 10 Timber Creek (2-1) 35 – 31.

The three-time defending Group 3 champion rarely passes the ball so it is no wonder junior running back Rashaad Williams has rushed 66 times for 453 yards and 4 touchdowns after just three games.

The Footballstories South Jersey Top 20 High School Football Teams (As of October 1)

1. St. Augustine (3-0)
2. Williamstown (3-0)
3. Delsea (3-0)
4. St. Joseph, Hammonton (2-1)
5. Lenape (3-0)
6. Cherokee (2-1)
7. Camden (2-1)
8. Camden Catholic (3-0)
9. West Deptford (3-0)
10.Timber Creek (2-1)
11. Hammonton (3-0)
12. Cedar Creek (3-0)
13. Paul VI (3-0)
14. Haddonfield (2-1)
15. Palmyra (2-0)
16. Winslow Township (3-0)
17. Paulsboro (2-1)
18.. Cinnaminson, (3-0)
19. Egg Harbor Twp. (3-0)
20. Pemberton (3-0)

Best of the Rest: Buena (2-1), Cherry Hill East (2-1), Collingswood (2-1), Kingsway (0-2), Penns Grove (3-0), Salem (3-0), Shawnee (1-2)