Lenape offensive line (from left): Julian Singh, Tyler Steffa (headed to Marines), Anthony Ruttler, Aaron Acosta, Noah Carroll. Lenape lost to Timber Creek in the Group 4 title game. Photo by Al Thompson

Timber Creek won its second consecutive South Jersey Group 4 Championship on December 3 with a comeback 31-10 win over Lenape. The Charges have been named Footballstories Team of the Year for 2016.

Both teams entered the game undefeated.

The victory gave head coach Rob Hinson his fourth overall Group title and his sixth consecutive trip to the championship game.

It was Lenape’s first appearance in a Group title game in school history.

Hinson says he tries to impress on his players just how special it is to win a championship, let alone back-to-back.

“It really is,” Hinson said during an interview on Footballstories The Radio Show. “We had a coach who played in the NFL a few years ago come in and talk to the kids about how in high school he won a state championship and that was more important and more memorable to him than playing but losing in the Super Bowl.

“This year we are fortunate to have one of our former players Eric Loper, who played for Villanova and won a national championship as a player come back and coach our DBs. He told our players how great it felt to be back at his high school and playing for a state championship. I let our guys know that this a deal they will never forget fo the rest of their lives.”

Junior quarterback Devin Leary was 23 for 34 passing for 357 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound athlete set South Jersey records this season with 48 touchdown passes and 3,688 yards. He had four interceptions.

Ezrah Archie caught seven passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Dante Waugh-Hill caught eight passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.*

Footballstories Final 2016 South Jersey Top 20 High School Football Teams
1. Timber Creek (12-0) NJSIAA SJ Group 4 Champions
2. St. Augustine (9-1) West Jersey-Continental Division Champs
3. Millville (11-2) NJSIAA SJ Group 5 Champions
4. Lenape (11-1) West Jersey-Capitol champs- SJ Group 4 runner up
5. West Deptford (12-0) NJSIAA SJ Group 2 Champions
6. Camden Catholic (9-1) West Jersey – Constitution Division Champs
7. Shawnee (8-3) West Jersey-American Divsion champs
8. Cedar Creek (10-2) West Jersey-Independence Division champs
9. Cinnaminson (7-3) West Jersey-Liberty champs
10. Delsea (7-5) SJ Group 3 runner up
11. Highland Regional (9-2) West Jersey-Royal Division champs
12. Cherokee (6-4)
13. Rancocas Valley (8-4)
14. Paulsboro (11-2) NJSIAA SJ Group 1 Champions
15. Holy Spirit (9-3) West Jersey-United Divsion champs
16. Vineland (11-2)
17. Burlington Township (9-2)
18. Absegami (9-3)
19. Cherry Hill West (8-2)
20. Schalick (8-2) West Jersey-Classic Division champ,
Under consideration (alphabetically), Clearview (6-4), Collingswood (9-3), Haddonfield (6-4), Haddon Heights (6-4), Oakcrest (6-4), Pennsville Memorial (8-4), Salem (10-3), St. Joseph, Hammonton (7-4), Willingboro (7-5), Woodbury (8-4), Woodrow Wilson (6-4), Woodstown (6-4).
Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii
* Stats from Philly.com