Cougars score 63 straight points after having opening-play TD called back and falling behind, Stewart scores 4 TDs in first 18 minutes
FRIDAY’S WJFL SCORES
(Diamond, Independence Divisions)
Schalick 63, Maple Shade 6
Pennsville 28, Woodstown 21 (OT)
New Egypt 23, Buena 22
Deptford 30, Woodbury 6
| WHAT TO KNOW |
| Schalick wins first season opener since 2023, when it started the season 11-0 |
| David Stewart scores the Cougars’ first four touchdowns and had another called back |
| After first play TD called back by a penalty and falling behind, Cougars score 63 straight points, most in more than 20 years |
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — When Schalick’s David Stewart talked about his goals for the season ahead, he let it be known deep down he really wanted to be first team all-state on defense.
If he keeps doing what he did in the Cougars’ season opener Friday night, he just might end up as a two-way honoree, if there is such a thing.
The speedy senior scored four touchdowns in 18 minutes of gametime in the Cougars’ 63-6 pasting of Maple Shade. He would have had a fifth, too — all in the first half — had a 64-yard catch from Kenny Bartee on the first snap of the season not been called back by an odd pass interference penalty.
He scored on runs of 18, 6 and 58 yards and had a 38-yard punt return helping the Cougars open a 42-6 halftime lead.
“The offense tonight, everything came together,” Stewart said. “All of our guys were blocking, everything just really came together and started working. Even though we had some mess-ups in the beginning, which happens, we just came together as a team and I just started running the ball, started getting the yards, started scoring.
“That’s just the way it ended up working out tonight and it definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things, because now I know I can go out, score a lot, get yards when the team needs, so it does change my perspective. Now, I really want to go for first team on offense and maybe defense, too. I don’t know if you can only get one, but go for both.”
Stewart finished with 114 yards rushing on seven carries. The Cougars rushed for 309 yards as a team. Head coach Kevin Leamy joked the line blocked so well against the Wildcats even his 40-year-old body could have gotten through the holes, but Stewart is dangerous anytime he gets the ball in his hands.
He runs from in the backfield, he runs from the outside. He catches passes and runs. He picks off passes and returns kicks. Doesn’t matter. He gets in the clear, he’s gone.
“We have a lot of kids who can carry the football,” Leamy said. “Obviously he looked phenomenal (tonight). All he needs is a step. He’s that special kid where he can accelerate to 100 before anyone else. He gets a step he’s just different.”
Bartee, meanwhile, watched the Cougars’ two preseason scrimmages from the sidelines while a nasty gash on his left big toe was healing. All the while he couldn’t wait to get back on the field and do something big when he finally did.
It didn’t take long. The Wildcats won the toss and deferred putting Schalick’s offense on the field to start the game.
The Cougars had been itching to run the play they called to open the game since Monday. Stewart got behind the defense and Bartee laid a long throw into his arms in the open field for a season-opening score. The play was called back when the officials said Stewart wasn’t lined up properly and it turned into pass interference when he caught the ball.
“The first play tonight was about sending a statement to tell everybody we’re here,” Bartee said. “Last year we folded a little bit, but we’re here to make a statement. Our initial goal was to make a big play and then run the ball down their throat. It was definitely a mood killer (to be called back) because we practiced this play so much to perfect it, came here and perfected it and then it got called back. We just had to get back on the field and just play.”
“I’m happy that it worked because now know we can come out with a big play if we need to,” Stewart said. “It not working hurts your soul a little bit because it was a big play.”
They eventually lost the possession on a fumble and the Wildcats responded with a 39-yard touchdown pass. It was their longest play of the game.
Stewart answered with his first touchdown and it was all Schalick the rest of the way. They scored 63 straight points. They set up the running clock for the entire second half on cornerback Gio Alicea’s 54-yard pick-six on the final play of the second quarter.
“When I caught it I was like, get to the end zone, don’t let anybody tackle me,” he said.
Bartee ran 31 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter and the Cougars turned it over to the JVs for a little fun in the fourth.
Freddie Allen broke off a 26-yard touchdown run on the JV’s first snap to open the quarter and later senior Shawn Kelly, who had been kicking extra points all game, scored his first touchdown since eighth grade when he hauled in a 32-yard pass from Gabe McFarland.
Leamy told him if the Cougars didn’t the get the first down when they put him in the game they would let him test his ample leg for a long field goal. He thwarted those plans when he caught McFarland’s pass along the far sideline and raced into the end zone.
“I loved it,” Kelly said. “I love playing receiver. It’s so much fun. I do it at practice all the time. It’s like practice. I’m just going out there, catching the ball – touchdown. I liked the touchdown way more (than the field goal option). I wanted the touchdown 100 percent.”
| MS (6) | SCH (63) | |
| 6 | First downs | 15 |
| 18-(-4) | Rushing-yards | 27-309 |
| 8-14-2 | Passing (C-A-I) | 2-2-0 |
| 92 | Passing yards | 28 |
| 3-0 | Fumbles-lost | 2-1 |
| 3-35.3 | Punts-average | 0-0 |
| 3-25 | Penalties-yards | 8-80 |
| Maple Shade (0-1) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 6 |
| Schalick (1-0) | 6 | 36 | 7 | 14- | 63 |
SCORING SUMMARY
MS-Brayden Howard 39 pass from Donovan Overby-Washington (kick blocked), 9:24 1Q
S-David Stewart 18 run (kick blocked), 5:50 1Q
S-David Stewart 6 run (Shawn Kelly kick), 11:00 2Q
S-David Stewart 38 punt return (Shawn Kelly kick), 8:52 2Q
S-David Stewart 58 run (Shawn Kelly kick), 5:55 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 22 run (Evan Elliott pass from Ayden Jenkins), 4:29 2Q
S-Gio Alicea 54 interception return (Shawn Kelly kick), 0:00 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 31 run (Shawn Kelly kick), 3Q
S-Freddie Allen 21 run (Shawn Kelly kick), 11:32 4Q
S-Shawn Kelly 32 pass from Gabe McFarland (Shawn Kelly kick), 4Q
Riverview Sports News 