High School football camps are opening this week all across South Jersey and the expectations are starting to brew.

Behind every high school, on the field, thousands of young teens will endure two grueling weeks of torture they will hate but never forget.

All will have visions of glory, winning and championship trophies.

Here is the start of the third annual Footballstories Top 20 High School Football Teams. This is just the starting gate based on our best guess.

Teams will maintain, move up or move down our rankings based on performance. Best of luck to everyone.

I have been given the honor to serve on a panel chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles to help select the High School Coach of the Week and Game of the Week for the entire Delaware Valley.

Check the footballstories.com Footballstories Magazine on Facebook or philadelphiaeagles.com for updates.

The Footballstories 2016 Preseason Top 20 High School Football Teams (2015 record and achievements noted)
1. Timber Creek (9-3) Group 4 champs
Head coach Rob Hinson has guided the Chargers to five consecutive NJSIAA South Group Championship games, winning three titles. To say Hinson will be looking for his sixth title game isn’t just a goal, it’s expected.
Hinson, entering his 12th season as the head coach of the Timber Creek football program brings back a talented group to help keep the streak alive including quarterback Devin Leary, defensive back Naijee Jones, tight end Tony Brown defensive back Ezrah Archie plus linemen .

2. St. Augustine (9-1) Footballstories Team of the Year
Coach Mark Reardon will want to improve on his outstanding 2015 season where the Hermits finished with a 9-1 record, the Cape-Atlantic League title and the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 playoffs where his team fell to St. Joseph’s Montvale 28-0.
Key returnees include junior running back Kyle Dobbins who in 2015 rushed 169 times for 1,613 and 19 touchdowns.

Also returning is senior Ezekiel Ennis who had 70 carries, 550 yards 8 TDs plus 24 catches 564 yards 4 TDs. Sophomore True Robinson 36 carries, 204 yards 3 TDs will be counted on to take more the touches.
On the line, Reardon will be looking for senior Paul Meduri (6-1, 290 pound) and sophomore Christopher Mayo (6-5, 298) to pave the way.

3. Cherokee (8-3)
Long time head coach P.J. Mehigan is looking to bounce back from a three-loss season with a run at a Group 5 title. Says Mehigan, “With a difficult schedule our team needs to remain healthy and have depth at all positions. We return a veteran crew led by QB Jake Bodine, TB John Lovett, TE Steve Gervasi and DB Meikle Bowers.”

4. Delsea (11-1) NJSIAA Group 3 Champs
Delsea head coach Sal Marchese is looking for his fifth consecutive NJSIAA Group 3 South title. Marchese has lost a lot of key players to graduation but never count the Crusaders out.

5. St. Joseph, Hammonton (10-2) Group 2 Non-public champs
It seemed like Salaam Horne and A’laam Horne were around forever, just like the last time the Wildcats lost a playoff game…forever. But they are gone to graduation. No worries though, long time head coach Paul Sacco will no doubt reload for another great season.
The rest of the Top 20:
6. Williamstown (9-3)
7. Shawnee (9-3)
8. Cedar Creek (10-2) Group 2 champs
9. Camden Catholic (9-1)
10. West Deptford (11-1)
11. Lenape (8-3)
12. Haddonfield (9-2)
13. Palmyra (10-2)
14. Pemberton (9-2)
15. Hammonton (9-2)
16. Camden (9-2)
17. Buena (9-2)
18. Paulsboro (8-2)
19. Cinnaminson (8-2)
20. Pennsville (11-1) Group 1 Champs
Under consideration: Bridgeton (7-4), Clayton (9-3), MIllville (6-4), Paul VI (6-4), Salem (8-2),
Seneca (6-5), Washington Township (6-4), Woodrow Wilson (6-4).
Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii