John A. Lewis

Burlington County Times

The preseason Mean 15 comes with the usual caveats (some would say excuses). It's just hard to get a read, based on who's back and who graduated. Every team starts with high hopes and it has a way of shaking out properly in the end. There are some teams here on prove-it deals, and some teams just outside – Delsea, Hammonton, Middle Township, Millville, Vineland, West Deptford: same goes.

Here's where we stand at the jumping-off point:

1. Delran (21-2-2 last year, BCSL Liberty Division and Group 2 state champion)

First five: hosts Northern Burlington Thursday, at St. Augustine Saturday, hosts Kingsway (9/13), at Christian Brothers (9/16), hosts Burlington Township (9/21).

2. Cinnaminson (19-2-2 last year, BCSL Patriot Division and South Jersey Coaches Tournament champion)

First five: at Holy Cross Thursday, hosts Haddonfield Saturday, at Burlington Township (9/12), at Bordentown (9/14), hosts Northern Burlington (9/16).

3. Kingsway (16-3-1 last year, Tri-County Royal Division co-champion)

First five: at Williamstown Friday, at Delran (9/13), hosts Triton (9/15), at Washington Township (9/19), hosts Gloucester Tech (9/21).

4. Cherokee (13-5-1 last year)

First five: at Cherry Hill West Thursday, hosts Moorestown (9/13), at Eastern (9/15), hosts Delsea (9/17), at Cherry Hill East (9/20).

5. Shawnee (14-2-2 last year, Olympic Conference American Division champion)

First five: hosts Paul VI Thursday, at Seneca (9/13), at Cherry Hill East (9/17), hosts Cherry Hill West (9/20), at Moorestown (9/22)

6. Clearview (14-5-4 last year, Tri-County Royal Division co-champion)

First five: at Eastern Friday, at Gloucester Tech (9/13), hosts Deptford (9/15), at St. Augustine (9/17), hosts Cumberland (9/19).

7. Egg Harbor (13-7 last year, Cape-Atlantic American Division co-champion)

First five: at Bridgeton Thursday, hosts St. Augustine (9/13), at Vineland (9/15), hosts Millville (9/19).

8. Sterling (18-3-1 last year, Colonial Liberty Division champion)

First five: Collingswood (9/12), at Haddonfield (9/16), at West Deptford (9/20), hosts Gloucester (9/28), hosts Audubon (10/4).

9. Haddonfield (11-6-2 last year)

First five: at Haddon Township Thursday, at Cinnaminson Saturday, hosts West Deptford (9/12), at Collingswood (9/14), hosts Sterling (9/16).

10. St. Augustine (14-5-1 last year, Cape-Atlantic National Division champion)

First five: hosts Atlantic Tech Thursday, hosts Delran Saturday, at Egg Harbor (9/13), hosts Hammonton (9/15), hosts Clearview (9/17).

11. Washington Township (14-4-1 last year)

First five: hosts Gloucester Tech Friday, hosts Williamstown (9/13), hosts Schalick (9/16), hosts Kingsway (9/19), at Clearview (9/21).

12. Cherry Hill West (13-8-2 last year, Olympic Conference National Division champion, Group 3 state finalist)

First five: hosts Cherokee Thursday, at Camden Catholic (9/13), hosts Rancocas Valley (9/15), at Williamstown (9/17), at Shawnee (9/20).

13. Paul VI (12-7-1 last year)

First five: at Shawnee Thursday, hosts Camden Tech (9/13), at Bishop Eustace (9/15), at Winslow (9/20), hosts Seneca (9/22).

14. Haddon Township (16-7-1 last year, Group 1 state runner-up)

First five: hosts Haddonfield Thursday, at West Deptford (9/16), at Collingswood (9/20), hosts Gloucester (9/22), at Cedar Creek (9/23).

15. Ocean City (13-5) last year

First five: hosts Pleasantville Thursday, at Cedar Creek 9/13, hosts Pitman (9/16), at Mainland (9/19), hosts Absegami (9/23).