Passing fancy

SJ-I No. 1 Schalick retakes Hars-Lake Trophy, remains undefeated after big passing game from Simmons

HORIZON DIVISION SCORES
Friday’s games
Florence 1, Bishop Eustace 0, forfeit
Haddon Twp. 20, Wildwood 0
Holy Cross 32, Gloucester Catholic 27
Overbrook 48, Lindenwold 12
Schalick 35, Cumberland 8

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SEABROOK – If you ever wondered why Schalick coach Mike Wilson spent so much time in the offseason trying to develop a passing game when the running game has served the Cougars so well, you got the answer Friday night.

It was for games like the latest installment of this neighborhood rivalry with Cumberland and all the games going forward from this point.

Kenai Simmons completed 13 of 17 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two more scores as undefeated Schalick crushed the Colts 35-8 to take back the Hars-Lake Memorial Trophy that goes to the winner of this annual game.

The junior threw touchdown passes to Dylan Sheehan and Reggie Allen and scored on a pair of 5-yard runs. The pass attempts, completions and yardage are all career highs, and the 236 yards is second-best in school history. He threw three touchdowns passes against Pennsville, the last time Schalick played before taking forfeit wins from Lindenwold and Bishop Eustace each of the last two weeks.

Each team names an MVP in the game and Simmons was the Cougars’ choice, Wilson said, “for the obvious reasons.”

And it was obvious why the Cougars went to the air so much this week.

“It was what Cumberland was doing defensively,” Wilson said. “They were stacking eight in the box and we said, OK, you want to stack eight, we’ll throw the ball.

“That’s basically why we did what we did in this offseason, why we put all that work in, because we knew this time of year if people are going to stack the box we’re going to throw the ball. You have to be able to throw the ball. I’ve learned in coaching for 19 years. If you can’t throw the ball and impact the games and playoff games, you’ve got to be able to do it.”

The Cougars (8-0) were playing their first game in 21 days and looked it at times, but they were solid enough to open a 21-0 halftime lead that included a blocked punt (by Simmons) and safety and led 35-0 before the Colts (3-5) finally scored.

“We played a pretty good game,” Wilson said. “Sometimes it felt like it was our first game of the year all over again, but overall we played well. The kids got the trophy back. We played a pretty good game for 21 days off and I’m very happy with the offense. The ability to throw the football is going to help us down the road.”

The Cougars are 8-0 for the first time since 2006 and have won eight games in a season for the first time since 2016. Just three seasons ago they were 0-7.

Schalick 35, Cumberland 8

Schalick (8-0)	12	9	14	0 –	35
Cumberland (3-5)	0	0	0	8 –	8

Scoring plays:
S – Kenai Simmons 5 run (run failed)
S – Reggie Allen 14 run (run failed)
S – Safety, punt blocked/tackle in end zone
S – Dylan Sheehan 32 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S – Kenai Simmons 5 run (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S – Reggie Allen 20 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
C – 4-yard run (Mark Sooy run)