The Battle at the Beach - a football showcase that has become the state’s biggest kickoff event since it debuted in 2021 - will add a site familiar to South Jersey football fans this year. Day 2 and 3 of the event on Labor Day weekend will be held at Rowan University in Glassboro, which for years hosted the South Jersey championships before the state added regional and eventually state finals, causing the sectional finals to revert to home sites. The South Jersey finals played over multiple days at Rowan were always well-attended and West Jersey Football Coaches Association president John Emel said it was one of the reasons the organization decided to move the second and third days of the event in-land this year. The first day of the showcase on Thursday, Aug. 28 will continue to be held at Ocean City’s iconic Carey Stadium, which has hosted at least part of the Battle of the Beach every year since its inception. Emel said the plan is to host the entire event at Ocean City the next three years as the calendar will dictate the season starting the week before Labor Day. When the season starts on Labor Day weekend, there are conflicts with the Philadelphia Catholic League, which uses the Ocean City site on Labor Day Friday and Saturday. Last year, the second and third days of the event were held at Egg Harbor Township. The first day of the event this year is arguably the biggest in the showcase’s five-year history as there will be two national games - Bergen Catholic vs. East St. Louis at 4 p.m. and Winslow vs. IMG (Fla.) at 7 p.m. And while Rowan won’t be needed for the Battle of the Beach the next few years, Emel said using the site this year opens up more possibilities for the future - including perhaps holding games at Rowan on Labor Day weekend next season and beyond. “It establishes a relationship with Rowan,” said Emel. “Back in the championship era from 2011-2017 those games at Rowan were well-attended. and Rowan also hosted the Taliaferro (senior all-star) game for years, so there’s that connection there for South Jersey fans. Pat Ruley being the head coach at Rowan now made it a priority. “It will be awesome to have another great partner and who knows? We’re not going to run two venues on the same date, but maybe we do another showcase the following weekend, so it’s very exciting and I think it will be a great turnout.” This will be the smallest number of Battle at the Beach games held as there will be 10 games overall - four on Day 1 and three on Day 2 and Day 3. Last year, there were 14 games. Millville vs. Rancocas Valley will highlight Day 2 of the event and Day 3 will be capped by Group 1 state champion Glassboro facing Haddonfield. “Last year we booked a lot of games without a venue being finalized, so this year we were a lot more selective going to Rowan and fit teams in who were willing to play at times we had available and it worked out for us,” said Emel. Below is the full schedule for the fifth Battle at the Beach. Thursday, August 28 at Ocean City Holy Spirit vs. Northern Highlands, 10 a.m.Ocean City vs. Oakcrest, 1 p.m.Bergen Catholic vs. East St. Louis, 4 p.m.Winslow vs. IMG (Fla.), 7 p.m. Friday, August 29 West Deptford vs. KIPP Cooper Norcross, 9 a.m.Washington Twp. vs. Hillsborough, NoonMillville vs. Rancocas Valley, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, August 30 Delran vs. Bridgeton, NoonCedar Creek vs. Old Bridge, 3 p.m.Glassboro vs. Haddonfield, 6 p.m. The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now! Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter)