Schalick outlasts Woodstown in 3 OTs to get first win of season, first win in series since 2010
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – When the fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone, Schalick’s players poured off the bench in celebration like they had just won the Super Bowl.
In a rivalry like this that goes beyond football when you haven’t won in such a long time it really felt like that.
The Cougars had a lot of reasons to celebrate Friday night. They outlasted Woodstown 33-27 in a triple overtime classic that will be memorable for a multitude of reasons.
It was their first win of the season. It was coach Kevin Leamy’s first win as a head coach. Above all, it was the Cougars’ first win over the Wolverines since 2010.
They had lost 12 in a row in the series.
“For me, especially the Class of 2027 and a few of our seniors, the last time Schalick beat Woodstown we were all in diapers; we were young,” junior safety Gary Simonini said. “These seniors, their first-ever playoff game they got their teeth kicked in (by Woodstown) 45-8. All those kids who built this program up and grinded with us for the past years, this was for them. This is for all of Schalick. This is for everyone who came out and supported us. It was a great team win.”
Quarterback Kenny Bartee was a workhorse for the Cougars (1-2) after halftime. He rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries in the game, but had 137 yards and four scores in the fourth quarter and overtime. He scored all three of the Cougars’ OT touchdowns on runs of 12, 16 and 2 yards.
Speedster David Stewart set a tone by bringing back the opening kickoff 94 yards for his first career return touchdown and blocked two potential game-winning kicks late in the game — a 23-yard field goal attempt with 26 seconds left in regulation and an extra point in the first overtime.
“This is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever felt – ever,” Stewart said. “Going into three overtimes against our rival that we hadn’t beat in like 20 years, it just really felt special.”
Bartee gave the Cougars a 33-27 lead with a 2-yard run in the third overtime. His two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.
The Wolverines (1-2) could have won it with a touchdown and conversion. Had they answered and and didn’t get the conversion the game would have ended in a tie.
The Cougars never gave them a chance. They sacked freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst on the first two snaps for 14 yards in losses. The Wolverines picked up only 2 yards on third down and their fourth-down Hail Mary to the end zone got knocked away by Stewart to end the game and start Schalick’s celebration.
“This has been a crutch on Schalick’s back for a very long time,” assistant coach Henry Papiano said, speaking on behalf of Leamy who was too overwhelmed with emotion to speak after tearfully addressing the team in the end zone. “This is something we could not get over the hurdle.
“Some of the things Coach Leamy talked about in the offseason, in the spring meetings, was Woodstown. How do we get over that hurdle finally? And today’s our first step.”
Later, when reached by phone, Leamy said, “it was a whirlwind. It was a hell of a way to get your first win, that’s for sure.”
Woodstown coach Frank Trautz was tending to a seriously injured player immediately after the game and unavailable on the field. He later said, “it was an incredibly hard fought high school football game. Both teams battled all night. This is good for our young team to be in games like this and we will continue to learn and grow.”
The Wolverines seemed unfazed by Stewart’s opening burst. The Wolverines answered it with a 70-yard touchdown drive capped by Hoerst’s 7-yard run to tie the game. It stayed that way until the final minute of the half when Hoerst found Bryceton Rooney in the back of the end zone from 21 yards out to make it 14-7.
The Cougars lost a game-tying touchdown pass to Jase Volovar in the third quarter to a penalty, but eventually got the equalizer midway through the fourth at the end of a 14-play, 82-yard drive. Bartee covered the final yard. The sophomore had 42 yards rushing and threw a 21-yard pass in the drive and was just getting started. He had 17 carries in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“I realized I had to step up for my team,” Bartee said. “I had a ter-r-r-r-ible first half. I was in my head. I wasn’t playing with my team. I really had to put my team first. I had to put my body on the line for them. I love them and everything I do is for them.”
“You’ve got to feed the horse,” Papiano said. “He wants to make plays. He’s come to the sideline and he wants to carry the team. We believe in Kenny and we’re going to stand behind him. He doesn’t do anything to tell us not to put him back there.”
The Wolverines came back after Bartee’s tying touchdown and got in position to kick the potential game-winning field goal. Hoerst set up for a 23-yarder, but Stewart scuttled those plans and kept the Cougars alive with his first blocked kick.
He got them again on their first overtime touchdown after Rooney blocked the Cougars’ PAT after their first overtime score.
“Gary runs to the guy and pulls him down kind of to give me enough space to jump through,” Stewart said. “I think my speed and length just helps me really get out there to mess up the kicker.”
“I found a little technique,” Simonini said. “I picked up in our practices that our coaches always tell people block down so I use that to our advantage. I try to make that guy block down and David uses his speed to block the kicks.”
Both quarterbacks scored touchdowns in the second overtime and their teams both hit the extra point to send the game a final, third overtime.
Schalick 33, Woodstown 27
| WOOD (27) | SCH (33) | |
| 15 | 1st Downs | 15 |
| 47-189 | Rushing | 44-248 |
| 6-13-0 | Passing (C-A-I) | 2-7-2 |
| 64 | Passing yds | 34 |
| 0-0 | Fumbles-lost | 1-1 |
| 2-33.5 | Punts-avg | 1-34.0 |
| 1-10 | Penalties-yds | 6-45 |
| Woodstown (1-2) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0- | 27 |
| Schalick (1-2) | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6- | 33 |
SCORING SUMMARY
S-David Stewart 94 kickoff return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 11:46 1Q
WO-Frankie Hoerst 7 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), 6:51 1Q
WO-Bryceton Rooney 21 pass from Frankie Hoerst (Frankie Hoerst kick), 0:59 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:46 4Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Brayden Hall 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Frankie Hoerst 1 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 16 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 2 run (pass failed), OT3
WJFL Standings
| DIAMOND DIVISION | ALL | DIV |
| Glassboro | 3-0 | 1-0 |
| Schalick | 1-2 | 1-0 |
| Salem | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| Woodbury | 0-2 | 0-0 |
| Woodstown | 1-2 | 0-1 |
| Penns Grove | 0-3 | 0-1 |
| PATRIOT DIVISION | ALL | DIV |
| West Deptford | 3-0 | 2-0 |
| Paulsboro | 3-0 | 2-0 |
| Collingswood | 2-1 | 1-1 |
| Overbrook | 2-1 | 1-1 |
| Audubon | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Camden Catholic | 0-3 | 0-1 |
| Pennsville | 0-3 | 0-2 |
Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Schalick 33, Woodstown 37
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Saturday’s Games
Woodbury at Salem
Bordentown at Audubon
Top photo: Quarterback Kenny Bartee (1) leaps with joy as the Schalick celebrate their 3-OT victory over rival Woodstown Friday night. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
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