Glassboro takes momentum from Salem early in game, Foster comes off bench to lead Bulldogs’ offense, regain QB1 spot
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
GLASSBORO — Football is such a momentum game. Salem had it early Thursday night after a huge drive-stopping takeaway in the end zone, but Glassboro took it right back with an equally big defensive play and kept Ol’ Mo on its side it the rest of the night.
Salem got the momentum late in the first quarter when William Dunn made an incredible one-handed interception two steps deep in the end zone and returned it out near the 25.
But all that good fortune was taken away when the Rams were hit with a block in the back right as Dunn exited the end zone. So, instead of the offense setting up with some comfortable field position, the Rams had to start from their own 1.
And then on the first play they jumped offside moving the ball back even closer to the goal line. When they finally got set, Glassboro’s defense smothered Terrance Smith in the end zone for a safety.
The Bulldogs returned the free kick to the Salem 33 and three plays later Jack O’Connell hit Amari Sabb for a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter for the game’s first touchdown in an eventual 46-0 victory.
Interestingly, the Bulldogs (3-0) scored touchdowns on the final play of the first, second and third quarters.
“That was the game changer,” Salem coach Kemp Carr said of the safety. “We make a nice play (then) we get penalized. That causes an avalanche. We make an interception in the end zone, we get penalized. We return it to the 24 and we get backed up and they get a safety on the half-inch line.
“You know this game is about momentum. We were playing well up to that point; we caused three turnovers. That was the game changer. Come on, you get a safety down there? We aren’t a team that wants to play from behind. We haven’t had any success this year. You can’t play from behind.”
But even after that frustrating start, the offense showed signs of life. They held the ball for most of the second quarter and in one six-minute drive got down to Glassboro 11 before DayShaun Day blocked Andrew May’s 29-yard field goal attempt inside the final minute.
The Rams (0-4), who have scored only one touchdown in their first four games, had only 100 yards of net offense. Half of that came on two plays in the second half – a 31-yard catch by Smith and a 14-yard run by Jamaal Shockley on their final play of the game.
“We’ve got to get some things getting better,” Carr said. “We’ve got to get in the end zone, man.”
The first-quarter touchdown pass notwithstanding, Glassboro didn’t really move the ball with O’Connell at quarterback. The Rams intercepted him twice, recovered a ball he fumbled and held Glassboro to 59 net yards in the first quarter and a half he directed the offense.
Sophomore Kristopher Foster replaced him on the Bulldogs’ final possession of the second quarter (after the blocked field goal) and threw three touchdown passes and directed four straight touchdown drives the rest of the game. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 137 yards with scoring strikes of 31 and 55 yards to Xavier Sabb on either side of halftime and 13 yards to Day in the fourth quarter.
Foster was basically the only quarterback the Bulldogs had last year and he passed for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns in their run to the state finals, but he was beaten out by Gateway transfer O’Connell in a tight battle this summer in camp.
“All practice I knew (O’Connell) was going to start, but in my head I was thinking if I get in I’m going to make it worthwhile,” Foster said. “I put trust in my teammates and my coaches and once I got in I just showed out. I don’t think we could’ve scripted it up better than that.
“I wasn’t sure (if he’d get another shot), but I knew I was going to keep working hard, doing what I do, studying the playbook, practicing hard, and all that.”
Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker said after the game the Bulldogs have “two varsity quarterbacks,” but the resiliency Foster showed in fighting for his spot and his poise and play against the Rams earned him the start next week against Woodbury.
“We always tell them we have two great quarterbacks, and tonight was just Kris’ night,” Breaker said. “We have two really good quarterbacks, two varsity quarterbacks, we are blessed to get two of them, and either night it could be either of their times and you saw Kris put on a masterful performance.
“Tonight, he showed a resiliency; he showed how to battle back. Even when he didn’t get the call he came to practice to work. I tell them all the time you never know when it’s your time, just be ready when it’s your time; you’ll never have to get ready if you stay ready, and this week has been his best week at practice. He’s the guy next week. He earned that. He outright earned that.”
NOTES: Kaden Robinson had Salem’s other interception and Antwan Robinson had the strip sack and fumble recovery … Day had a 36-yard pick-6 for Glassboro’s final touchdown … The Bulldogs will add to their offensive arsenal next week when Hammonton transfer Kenny Smith becomes eligible. Smith rushed for 1,473 yards and 16 TDs last season and 3,143 yards and 37 TDs over the last two. “I’m excited to have him,” Breaker said. “The stuff he does in practice I can’t wait for everyone to see” … Salem is hoping to see the return of Omarion Pierce and Jared Pew from injuries next week. “We’re going to keep getting better,” Carr said. “It’s a long season. Once we get in, we’ll be a different team. We’ve got three key guys out right now – a coverage guy, a couple receivers – that makes a difference. We’re going to be fine. We’ve just got to get healthy.”
Glassboro 46, Salem 0
| SAL | GLASS | |
| 8 | 1st Downs | 11 |
| 28-56 | Rush-yards | 15-92 |
| 4-12-1 | Passing (C-A-I) | 13-24-2 |
| 44 | Passing yds | 188 |
| 1-1 | Fum-lost | 1-1 |
| 3-30.3 | Punts-avg | 1-28.0 |
| 4-36 | Pen-yds | 3-15 |
| Salem | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 0 |
| Glassboro | 8 | 8 | 16 | 14- | 46 |
SCORING SUMMARY
G-Safety, runner tackled in end zone, 1:30 1Q
G-Amari Sabb 15 pass from Jack O’Connell (kick blocked), 0:05 1Q
G-Xavier Sabb 31 pass from Kristopher Foster (Amari Sabb run), 0:00 2Q
G-Xavier Sabb 55 pass from Kristopher Foster (Hakim Theresa run), 10:18 3Q
G-Amari Sabb 8 run (DayShaun pass from Kristopher Foster), 0:32 3Q
G-DayShaun Day 13 pass from Kristopher Foster (DayShaun Day pass from Kristopher Foster), 9:26 4Q
G-DayShaun Day 36 interception return (PAT failed), 5:10 4Q
| WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION | DIV | ALL |
|---|---|---|
| Glassboro | 2-0 | 3-0 |
| Woodstown | 1-0 | 2-0 |
| Woodbury | 1-0 | 1-1 |
| Penns Grove | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| Schalick | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| Salem | 0-2 | 0-4 |
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 46, Salem 0
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Penns Grove at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Woodbury at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
| WJFL PATRIOT DIVISION | DIV | ALL |
|---|---|---|
| West Deptford | 2-0 | 2-1 |
| Camden Catholic | 1-0 | 2-0 |
| Paulsboro | 2-1 | 3-1 |
| Pennsville | 1-1 | 1-2 |
| Collingswood | 1-2 | 2-2 |
| Audubon | 0-1 | 1-1 |
| Overbrook | 0-2 | 1-2 |
THURSDAY’S GAME
Paulsboro 47, Collingswood 7
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Overbrook at Florence, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
West Deptford at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
Riverview Sports News 