By TOM WILLIAMS

The football teams from twelve Cape-Atlantic League schools are ready for the NJSIAA playoffs – nine public schools starting this weekend and a trio of Non-Publics beginning next week.

Before that happens, however, four other teams play consolation games tonight in a series of “regional invitational” brackets. Absegami goes to Cumberland tonight, Vineland hosts Eastern, Gloucester Catholic is at Lower Cape May and Buena hosts Pennsville.

The real action starts tomorrow night with Atlantic City at Rancocas Valley in Group 5; Lacey at defending champion Millville, Moorestown at Mainland, Ocean City at Shawnee and Hightstown at Hammonton in Group 4; defending champion Cedar Creek at Timber Creek in Group 3; and Johnson at Pleasantville and Middle Township at Raritan in Group 2. In another Group 2 game on Saturday, Oakcrest will host Delaware Valley.

It has been an unusual football season with the regular season ending on Oct. 21. Next weekend, the Non-Public playoffs will begin and this weekend’s public school winners will continue.

You can watch Moorestown-Mainland, Atlantic City-Rancocas Valley, Williamstown-Cherokee and Ocean City-Shawnee HERE.

There have been some great performances during the regular season and Prime Events has compiled its list of stat leaders – 21 leading rushers, 15 quarterbacks and 26 receivers.

Hammonton’s brilliant sophomore, Kenny Smith, leads the rushers with over 1,000 yards. Mainland’s Ja’Briel Mace has scored 20 rushing touchdowns. And Mainland’s Stephen Ordille and Lower Cape May’s Isiah Wing average more than 11 yards per carry. Incidentally, of the 21 top running backs on the list, only three are seniors.

Mainland freshman John Franchini has been the most efficient passer this season but Holy Spirit’s Sean Burns, Millville’s Jacob Zamot, Cedar Creek’s Billy Smith and Ocean City’s Riley Gunnels all have thrown for well over 1,000 yards. In fact, Burns has completed 175 passes this season, approaching the record for a CAL QB. The current mark is 202 completions by Cedar Creek’s J.C. Landicini last season.

Burns’ favorite target – Gavin Roman – is also challenging the CAL record with his 78 pass receptions. The CAL record of 90 was set by JoJo Bermudez of Cedar Creek just last season. Jayden Llanos of Holy Spirit has 11 TD catches to lead all receivers and Nyjere Robinson of Absegami has the top average – 27.8 yards per catch.

You can see the stats for all of these top performers HERE.

Enjoy the action this weekend.