Delsea head coach Sal Marchese nearly pulled off an upset, losing a heart breaker to Timber Creek 39-36 in the season opener for the Crusaders. Photo by Al Thompson

Timber Creek entered its game against area rival Delsea with a 17-game win streak dating back to 2015. The Chargers barely made it it No. 18.

Timber Creek had one close game in 2016, a 28-21 victory over perennial Group 5 powerhouse Cherokee. The last time Timber Creek lost to Delsea was September 25, 2015.

The Chargers lost in a shootout 35-31. Then sophomore quarterback Devin Leary threw three touchdowns in the loss.

In 2016 Leary threw six touchdown passes in a 54-28 blowout win.

But the great rivalry between Leary and Delsea came to an end on September 8 when Crusaders kicker Larry Holdcraft’s field goal attempt bounced off the left upright with :09 left on the clock, helping the Timber Creek hang on for a 39-36 victory.

Leary, a North Carolina State recruit, completed 17-of-26 pass attempts for 254 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half as Delsea coach Sal Marchese employed a three-man front in an effort to take away Timber Creek’s prolific passing attack. It worked as Leary didn’t complete a pass in the second half.

Delsea junior running back Aidan Borguet, rushed for 354 yards on 29 carries and three rushing TDs.

Footballstories 2017 South Jersey Top 20 High School Football Teams as of September 13, 2017.

1. Timber Creek (2-0)

2. Millville (1-0)

3. Lenape (1-0)

4. West Deptford (1-0)

5. Camden Catholic (1-0)

6. Cherokee (1-0)

7. Cedar Creek (1-0)

8. Cinnaminson (1-0)

9. St. Augustine (1-1)

10. Delsea (0-1)

11. Shawnee (0-1)

12. Eastern (1-0)

13. Rancocas Valley (1-0)

14. Paulsboro (1-0)

15. Holy Spirit (1-0)

16. Haddonfield (1-0)

17. Burlington Township (1-0)

18. Vineland (1-0)

19. Cherry Hill West (0-1)

20. Schalick (1-0)

Under consideration (alphabetically): Clearview (0-1), Collingswood (0-1), Haddon Heights (1-0), Highland Regional (0-1) Moorestown, (1-0), Oakcrest (0-1), Pennsauken (1-0),

Pennsville Memorial (1-0), Salem (1-0), St. Joseph, Hammonton (1-0), Williamstown (1-0), Willingboro (1-0), Winslow Twp (1-0), Woodrow Wilson (1-0), Woodstowm (0-1).

Top area players (All seniors unless noted):

QB Devin Leary-Timber Creek, 6-2, 196

RB Jerome Gibson – Timber Creek, 5-8, 160

OL Derryk Sellers – Timber Creek, 6-3, 270

OL Nate Rowe – Timber Creek 5-9, 225

OL Jake Kidwell – Timber Creek, 6-2, 245

OL Patrick McKenna Cherokee, 5-10, 225

RB Clayton Scott – Millville, 5-9, 190

QB Matt Lajoie – Lenape 5-8, 190

QB/DB J.C. Collins – Williamstown, 6-0, 175

QB Rob McCoy – Camden Catholic, 6-0, 178

LB Ryan Parris – Shawnee, 6-0, 190

RB/LB Ryan Brown – Gloucester, 5-8, 175

OT/LB Noah Sansalone – Vineland, 6-3, 250

OL Kyle Murphy – Gloucester Catholic 6-1, 255

QB Peter Orio – West Septford 6-1, 215

WR Shamere Collins – St. Augustine 5-10, 175

RB Kyle Dobbins – Timber Creek 5-10, 190

RB Aidan Borguet – Delsea 5-9, 190 Jr.

References: MaxPrep.com and Courier Post.

Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii