Backup QB comes in for injured starter, leads Schalick to win that wraps up undefeated regular season, likely secures a No. 1 seed in playoffs
HORIZON DIVISION GAMES
Schalick 42, Gloucester Catholic 20
Riverside vs. Wildwood, Sat.
Bishop Eustace 32, Lindenwold 28
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Matthew LaMazza’s plan for his junior season on the Schalick football team was to take in as much as he could as the backup to a dynamic quarterback, get his regular reps with the JVs and maybe get a little mop-up duty with the varsity when games got out of hand.
But there he was Friday night, in the Cougars’ most important game of the year, under center in a tie game with a lot of time left, responsible for keeping the team’s date with destiny.
Armed with the simplest of instructions, LaMazza did everything required of him in the situation and led the Cougars to a 42-20 win over Gloucester Catholic that completed their first undefeated regular season since 2006 and potentially locked up a No. 1 seed in the South Jersey Group I playoffs.
“I knew Kenai was a really special player, so I just thought I’d be the next-man-up mentality; if I had to step in, I could step in,” LaMazza said. “Kenai’s such a tough player, he takes hits all the time, so I didn’t really expect to go in.
“The first drive I had some butterflies and some jitters, but overall I kind of stepped in. I just wanted to get the win, make history, 9-0, second time in school history, really be a game manager. I just had to run the offense, see what happens. I think I did pretty good for the situation that we were in. I feel like I can always step in now.”
LaMazza was in a 7-7 game because starter and team leader Kenai Simmons hurt his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the first minute of the second quarter and was done for the night. Simmons got knocked around in a fumble that involved all three Schalick backfield principals – Simmons, Reggie Allen and Levi Feeney-Childers – that resulted in an 18-yard loss and turnover.
Simmons walked off under his own power, but he was done for the night. He spent the second half on the sidelines encouraging his teammates to persevere. As soon as it became evident the starter was in trouble, LaMazza started taking snaps with the starting center in the bench area.
He didn’t throw a pass, but he directed eight possessions, which produced 168 yards of offense and three touchdowns.
“Matt did a great job,” Schalick coach Mike Wilson said. “When the year started we had to find a backup quarterback. Matt won the job. And we were confident with our O-line, our running backs, if Matt had to go in there, he’d do what he had to do tonight.
“Any time you have a running quarterback you know in the back of your head you’re No. 2 might play a little bit. Matt’s a junior, he’s a leader and he did a very good job tonight. It’s Homecoming Night, big game, 9-0 was on the line, playoffs are on the line and the kid was cool, calm and collected the whole time. I thought he did a great job under the pressure.”
LaMazza got a lot of help from his friends. Jake Siedlecki had a big night. He caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Simmons in the first quarter, returned an interception 70 yards for a score in the third quarter and was named Homecoming King at halftime.
“It was about the funnest night possible,” Siedlecki said.
Feeney-Childers faked out everyone when he picked up a punt that was about to die near the sideline late in the second quarter and raced 60 yards for a touchdown. A crowd of players from both teams started gathering around the ball as it was just about to roll dead, but Feeney-Childers saw an opening, grabbed the ball before anyone could react and sprinted up the left sideline to the end zone.
It was the Cougars’ second touchdown in less than two minutes and carried them into the Homecoming halftime with a 21-7 lead.
“My team needed something,” he said. “Coach (Frank) Amar told me something back in the summer and I just knew we needed a big play to get more energized. He told me when the punting team backs away from it if you see green take it.”
Allen’s role increased when Simmons went out and he rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He had 117 yards on 19 carries and both of his scores after Simmons left the game. He said he was doing it for his friend.
“As soon as I seen him go down I knew I had to step up and make something happen,” Allen said. “I know I fumbled twice, but I had a goldfish mentality where I just forget it and go on to the next play. I forgot about it, went right back and scored a touchdown. This was for 1. He’s my best friend.”
The post-game report on Simmons was encouraging. His range of motion in the shoulder was good and Wilson was confident if there’s no bone issue he’s “99 percent sure” the quarterback would play in next week’s playoff opener. Simmons is the Cougars’ leading passer (640 yards) and second-leading rusher (337), accounting for 14 touchdowns.
The quarterback injured his other shoulder during the Pitman game earlier this season and after one day of intense pain played the next week against Wildwood with heavy protection.
The win left the Cougars 9-0 for the year, the second winningest season in school history. Four years ago, in Wilson’s first season, they were 0-7.
“Me and (tight end) Ryan Johnson, our freshmen year we went 0-7 and we really got our butts kicked every game,” Siedlecki said. “This game meant a lot for both of us and the program. To go 0-7 to 9-0 in four short years, it’s unbelievable. To play a part in that and have a game like that in front of my school and community that means a lot. It was a lot of fun.”
Cover photo: Quarterback Matthew LaMazza comes to the sideline for a play during the second half of Friday night’s game with Gloucester Catholic.
Schalick 42, Gloucester Catholic 20
| GC | SCH | |
| 15 | 1st Downs | 12 |
| 26-80 | Rushing | 41-191 |
| 9-24-2 | Passes | 1-2-0 |
| 100 | Passing | 175 |
| 2-1 | Fum-lost | 5-3 |
| 5-26.0 | Punts-avg | 3-26.7 |
| 6-60 | Penalties | 11-90 |
| Gloucester Catholic (2-5) | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 – | 42 |
| Schalick (9-0) | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 – | 20 |
Scoring plays:
S – Jake Siedlecki 75 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 8:44 1Q
G – Joncarlo Coia 25 pass from Jack Mustaro (Mike Freeman kick), 4:54 1Q
S – Reggie Allen 35 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 4:44 2Q
S – Levi Feeney-Childers 60 punt return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 2:47 2Q
G – Joncarlo Coia 16 pass from Jack Mustaro (Mike Freeman kick), 5:20 3Q
S – Reggie Allen 15 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 4:18 3Q
S – Jake Siedlecki 70 interception return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 1:28 3Q
S – Sherrod Jones 18 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:14 4Q
G – Kyle Guldin 20 run (PAT failed), 3:03 4Q
Riverview Sports News 