QB Sacca accounts for four first-half touchdowns and Delran goes on to rout Penns Grove 38-8; Red Devils avoid shutout in fourth quarter
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – Delran coach Colin Hewko couldn’t help feeling like a stranger in a strange land and he was sure his players felt the same way.
The Bears were playing a Penns Grove team they’d never faced before, on the road in a stadium they’d never played in before, on a Thursday night in the middle of the season they’d never played on before.
| DEL | PG | |
| 15 | 1st Downs | 8 |
| 28-116 | Rushing | 22-63 |
| 12-16-1 | C-A-I | 7-13-2 |
| 192 | Passing | 81 |
| 0-0 | Fum-Lost | 1-1 |
| 0-0 | Punts | 3-20.0 |
| 3-25 | Penalties | 6-38 |
The best way to combat all that, Hewko told his players, was just focus on being themselves, staying in the moment and doing something that would make them comfortable.
They didn’t wait. On the third play of the game, Bears quarterback Vinny Sacca hit sophomore Jayden Alford with a pass over the middle. The play looked like it was going to get a modest gain, then suddenly Alford rolled off the bodies of his would-be tacklers, regained his footing and raced 50 yards to the end zone.
The Bears went on to score three more times in the first half and eventually hand Penns Grove its fifth straight loss, 38-8.
“That set the tone,” Sacca said.
Hewko said he only called the play to get some space to make the next down a little more manageable. But, he pointed out, when you do the little things right like Alford did, sometimes they turn into big plays.
“I just kept my feet moving and made a great play,” Alford said. “Our coach does a great job telling us to keep our feet moving until you’re down and just dominate. Don’t stop.
“He alligator rolled me and I rolled over his back, then once I was up it was all open because everybody else just gave up on the play and thought I was down. That’s one thing our coach tells us, never give up on the play, always give 100 each play. Once he rolled off me, he thought I was down. He gave up and I didn’t and that’s what it comes down to.”
The play caught everyone by surprise. Hewko, who was dealing with a drone issue on the sideline, didn’t see it until they showed him the replay on the I-pad. Sacca didn’t know what was happening even while it was happening.
“I was surprised because I thought he initially got tackled and I looked at the sticks to see if he got the first down,” the quarterback said. “Then I looked back over at him and he’s still running and people are cheering. I’m thinking what’s going on. It was a great play.”
Sacca connected on his first seven passes in three first-quarter touchdown drives and accounted for four scores total in the first half. He threw touchdown passes to Alford and Justin Mary in the first quarter and ran for a pair of 1-yard scores as the Bears (6-1) opened a 28-0 halftime lead.
The Bears scored on their first three possessions and four of five in the first half. And the one they missed was turned away by Karon Ceaser’s interception in the end zone. Sacca completed 12 of 16 passes for 192 yards in the game. He also rushed for 34 yards.
Alford’s big play was his only reception of the night. Mary caught four passes — all in the first half — for 86 yards.
“I’d say it was a better (start than usual), but my teammates really make it easy for me,” Sacca said. “I knew it was a pretty good start. I just wanted to keep it going. We’ve got a special team here and we’re looking for special things.”
The Delran defense held Penns Grove (1-6) to 83 yards through the first three quarters.
The Red Devils’ offense came to life in the fourth quarter. Knowledge Young caught a 17-yard pass from Melo Erickson for the Red Devils’ touchdown with 2:34 to play. Erickson completed three passes in the 53-yard drive for 40 yards. The Red Devils had three plays of 10 yards or better in the drive.
Cover photo: Delran quarterback Vinny Sacca (9) looks towards the bench for a play during Thursday night’s game at Penns Grove.
Delran 38, Penns Grove 8
| Delran (6-1) | 21 | 7 | 3 | 7- | 38 |
| Penns Grove (1-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8- | 8 |
SCORING SUMMARY
D-Jayden Alford 50 pass from Vinny Sacca (Shane Palena kick), 10:26 1Q
D-Vinny Sacca 1 run (Shane Palena kick), 5:50 1Q
D-Justin Mary 14 pass from Vinny Sacca (Shane Palena kick), 13.3 1Q
D-Vinny Sacca 1 run (Shane Palena kick), 05.0 2Q
D-Shane Palena 22 FG, 4:11 3Q
D-Zahir Cobbins 1 run )Shane Palena kick), 9:45 4Q
PG-Knowledge Young 17 pass from Melo Erickson (Melson Erickson run), 2:34 4Q
| WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION | DIV | ALL |
|---|---|---|
| Woodstown (1) | 3-0 | 5-0 |
| Glassboro (5) | 3-0 | 6-0 |
| Schalick (2) | 2-1 | 4-2 |
| Woodbury (14) | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Penns Grove (20) | 0-3 | 1-6 |
| Salem (22) | 0-3 | 0-6 |
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 8
THURSDAY’S GAME
Glassboro 40, Cinnaminson 10
Delran 38, Penns Grove 8
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Schalick at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
Salem at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAMES
Willingboro at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.
Riverview Sports News 