Four of Salem County’s five high school football teams scrimmage for first time in training camp, results predictable
By Riverview Sports News
Four of Salem County’s five high school football team hit the field for their first scrimmages of training camp. It went about the way you’d expect. There was some good, there was some bad and there was a lot of think about. Here are the coaches’ impressions.
PENNS GROVE vs. Gateway
The Red Devils hosted a team that returns a lot of starters from a team that went 7-3 and held their own. Each team scored once and JaKai Ingram forced and recovered a fumble that would’ve set up the offense in the red zone.
“it was great for us,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “Honestly, it was really good. I was talking to their coach and he expects them to do well this year and we pretty much hung with them. They scored once, we scored once; it was pretty even all the way through the scrimmage. The key for us is playing solid and keeping everything in front of us.“
The Gators had two big runs, but one called back due to a holding penalty. The Red Devils scored their touchdown on a long run by freshman Jaivon Thomas.
“The main thing for us is figuring out who the quarterback is because that’s still an open competition right now,” Ware said. “Once we figure out the quarterback then that’s when we’re going to lock in. All three of them (Avery Batts, Damion Robinson, Brayden Lattig) played today and nobody stood out; they were all kind of the same. They have some promise and they’re going to be solid; they’ll be fine.
“The good thing is we don’t have a Week Zero game so that gives us time. We don’t have to rush into doing things. We can figure things out that next week and figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to move forward.
The Red Devils scrimmage again at 10 a.m. Thursday at home against Wildwood.
PENNSVILLE vs. Triton
Pennsville coach Mike Healy called it an overall good day. Jake Kimani and C.J. Johnson both had a touchdown catch. Tristan Horner didn’t score a touchdown, but had several tough, physical runs.
“I take away a lot of positives from first scrimmage,” Healy said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces out there. Not that it’s a rebuild for us, but there are going to be some growing pains, but I saw a lot of positives. We’ve got to clean some things up, but overall it was a good day.
“We moved the ball, had some nice stops, hurt ourselves with some penalties and mistakes we have to clean up, but I think overall it was a real positive day, a step forward for us.”
The Eagles scrimmage again Friday 4 p.m. at home against Poly Tech (Del.).
WOODSTOWN vs. Clearview
The Wolverines are looking to put a tough 2025 season behind them and Monday’s scrimmage was a good first step. Cole Ware and Ty West scored rushing touchdowns and Andrew White caught a touchdown pass from Mason Middlemiss.
“It was a good first scrimmage for us,” coach Frank Trautz said. “It was structured more like a practice than it was a game. Overall, the object for today was just let’s go out, let’s compete, let’s play with effort. First time against a different opponent here, so I was happy with all that.
“Of course, we did some good things, we did some bad things, lots of stuff to work on, but overall happy with the kids’ effort and what they were able to do today. It was a good start. I was happy. Overall, happy with the direction we’re going.”
The Wolverines scrimmage again 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Audubon.
SALEM vs. Absegami, Pt. Pleasant Boro, Rahway
The Rams played these three teams in this order because what they do was supposed to give the Rams a look at what they’re expected to see in their opener at Ironton (Ohio).
“We took care of business,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “We went down there looking for work. We got good work.”
The Rams scrimmage again Friday at Camde
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