WASHINGTON TWP. – There are plenty of reasons why the Washington Township High School football team has seen so much success over the last three seasons.
The Minutemen found a new one Friday night.
After experiencing one of its roughest quarters of play in recent memory, Washington Township showed the poise of a defending state champion, rattling off 41 straight points en route to a 41-14 win over Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 title game at Tom Brown Field.
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It was Washington Township’s third straight sectional title and sets up the dream matchup with Central Jersey Group 5 champ Rancocas Valley.
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
No. 1 Washington Township and No. 2 Rancocas Valley are both 12-0, and will meet next Friday with the winner going to MetLife Stadium for the state Group 5 championship the following weekend. The game will be played at Township with kickoff set for 6 p.m.
“This feels awesome,” senior Elliott Seibert said about Washington Township’s sectional championship. “Three years in a row feels incredible especially for the seniors. We’re not done yet though.”
Washington Township, which has won a state-best 26 straight games, looked to be in some trouble against Toms River North (8-4), a team that ended the Minutemen’s seasons in 2023 and 2024, the latter coming in the state semifinal round.
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Township turned the ball over three times in the span of four offensive plays and faced a 7-0 deficit going into the second quarter.
Were the Minutemen worried? Not a chance.
“We kinda just brushed it off,” said senior Anthony Forte, who had a pair of TD catches in the game. “Gotta give a lot of credit to our coaches for keeping our heads up and keeping everyone on track. Once we got rolling, we knew they couldn’t stop it.
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
Senior Gabe Palaganas added, “They punched us first, but just like we always do, we stuck together and stayed in the game.”
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker throws a pass during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
“I think we have a no-panic type of thing with this group,” Washington Township head coach Mike Schatzman said. “We’ve been good (at protecting) the ball and we didn’t (Friday). But we didn’t panic, we just figured it out.”
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Senior quarterback Jalen Parker, one of the newest members of the Minutemen corps following his transfer from Winslow (where he won two state titles), helped spark the comeback.
After throwing two picks in the first quarter and a third later in the game, Parker maintained his calm-and-cool persona throughout the contest. He fired four touchdowns and ripped off a jaw-dropping 52-yard TD run to close out the first half, a play that felt like it locked the W up for Washington Township even before the band took the field at intermission.
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Cody Halicks celebrates after making a defensive stop during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Cody Halicks celebrates after making a defensive stop during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker runs the ball during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Anthony Forte celebrates with his teammates after catching a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker carries the ball during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Anthony Forte runs the ball after making a catch during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Elijah Cole runs the ball for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Elijah Cole celebrates after running the ball for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Anthony Forte catches a pass for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Anthony Forte reacts after catching a pass for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker throws the ball during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Nassir Halty catches the ball for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Nassir Halty and Cody Halicks celebrate a touchdown scored during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township takes the field before the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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Washington Township shows poise, secures sectional football crown
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker talks with head coach Mike Schatzman during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Isaac Parra catches a pass for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Isaac Parra reacts after scoring a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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Washington Township shows poise, secures sectional football crown
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker throws a pass during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Jalen Parker carries the ball during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township’s Anthony Forte catches a pass for a touchdown during the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game against Toms River North at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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Washington Township shows poise, secures sectional football crown
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township head coach Mike Schatzman talks with his team after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township head coach Mike Schatzman talks with his team after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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SJ Group 5 football — Washington Township rights ship, sinks TR North
Washington Township head coach Mike Schatzman talks with his team after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
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Washington Township shows poise, secures sectional football crown
Washington Township celebrates after defeating Toms River North in the South Jersey Group 5 Final football game at Washington Township High School in Washington Township, NJ, on Friday, Nov. 13, 2026. Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post.
(Joe Warner/For the Courier-Post)
Parker finished 12-of-19 for 237 yards, becoming just the second quarterback in state history to surpass 9,000 career passing yards, according to local historian Chuck Langerman. He trails only Timber Creek’s Devin Leary, who threw for 9,672 yards from 2014-17.
However, it was his TD run that Washington Township’s football faithful will remember for a long time.
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After an incomplete pass appeared to have ended the first half, officials correctly put two seconds back on the game clock, giving Township one last chance before halftime.
“(Drew) Dorsey and I talked about it in the timeout (right after the incompletion) and I didn’t think we would be able to get the pass off, so we were going to kinda run it,” Parker said.
And that’s exactly what Parker did. The QB got to the left sideline, stutter-stepping past one defender before weaving his way through two more defenders on his way to the end zone. The TD extended Township’s lead to 20-7.
While many were in awe of Parker’s run, nobody on the WT sideline seemed surprised.
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“He doesn’t surprise us with anything he does,” Elliott said. “He knew he wasn’t throwing the ball at all and he just took care of it.”
“I feel like I say it every week, he always seems to put together a best play you’ll ever see,” Schatzman said. “He’s special. It’s to the point where you almost expect the unexpected from him. He’s a gamer and he just wants to win. As much as he puts up the numbers, he doesn’t worry about that stuff. It’s always about the wins. And that play, I think that really rallied us. If we go in 14-7, it’s a different mode then when we went in at 20-7.”
Parker showed off his versatile arm over his four TD passes. He threw a bullet over the middle to Isaac Parra for a 9-yard touchdown to tie the game in the second quarter. With under five minutes left in the first half, he threw a great deep ball to Forte, who hauled the football in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Parker’s best throw might have been his second TD to Forte, who made a perfect over-the-shoulder catch to give Township a 34-7 lead in the third. Parker capped the scoring for the Minutemen with a high-point throw to Nassir Halty in the fourth.
Washington Township, which lost 28 seniors to graduation from last year’s first-ever state championship team, is one win from returning to the swamps of Jersey in the Meadowlands.
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Some didn’t think defending a sectional title would be possible, but Schatzman knew the capabilities of this group.
“We saw it,” he said. “It might not have been clear to other people, but we saw it in every day in practice.”
“We have those X factors, the guys who might have sat behind others for two or three years, but stayed with us. And the biggest thing for us is the offensive and defensive lines. Guys like Gabe Palaganas, who has played in 51 straight games, and Gunner McFall, who has played in 50 straight games, leading the way.”
From the Langerman file
Parker has tied Paulsboro’s Kevin Harvey for the state record with 143 total touchdowns. Parker has 131 TD throws and 12 rushing scores. Harvey had 101 TD throws and 42 rushing scores.
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Parra’s TD catch was his program-record 15th of the season. He’s tied with Kingsway’s Kenny Liles (15 TDs in 2023) and trails Glassboro’s Terrance Holmes (18 in 1999) on the all-time Gloucester County list.
Washington Township’s 26-game winning streak is the 12th longest in South Jersey history. Westfield has the state record for a Group 5 school, winning 37 in a row from 2014-2017.
The Minutemen have scored 426 points this season, the second most in program history. They scored a record 535 points in 2025.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 40 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
