Salem County leaders

A look at the statistical leaders in Salem County football for games through Oct. 11

By Riverview Sports News

Here’s a quick look inside the numbers:

Pennsville receiver CJ Johnson needs three catches for 50 this season and 24 yards for 800. The Eagles had 50 receptions as a team all of last season. Malik Rehmer caught 50 balls for 771 yards in 2023. Their last 800-yard receiver was Brady Locke in 2017 (813). Drew Burdsall had 886 yards in 2013. Logan Johnston had 920 yards in 2016. Ryan Hawthorne had 908 in 2011.

Pennsville quarterback Jake Layfield needs 93 yards to become the Eagles’ first 1,500-yard passer since Brandon Morris (1507) in 2017.

Schalick quarterback Kenny Bartee needs 125 yards to become Schalick’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kenai Simmons in 2022 (1225). He’s 17 yards shy of 1,000 career passing yards.

Woodstown quarterback Mason Middlemiss is five yards shy of 500 passing yards this season and needs 239 for 1,000 in total offense. With the 64 passing yards he brought with him from Absegami after his freshman year, the junior quarterback has 1,006 career yards and 16 total touchdowns.

DOING IT ALL: Schalick’s David Stewart has 16 career touchdown across all phases of the game – rushing (8), receiving (3), defense (2 – 1 FR, 1 IR), returns (3 – 1 KOR, 2 PR). The only thing he hasn’t done is throw a touchdown pass. He has 1,306 career all-purpose yards.

TITLE TIME: The winner of Saturday’s Penns Grove-Woodstown came will clinch at least a share of the WJFL Independence Division title. If it’s Penns Grove, it’ll be the Red Devils’ first division crown since 2019.

WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY: Woodstown’s next loss will be the 500th in the history of its program.

FAMILY FEUD: It’ll be brother against brother when Salem plays Pennsville next Friday. Vick Mosher plays for Pennsville. Tony Merendino plays for Salem.

Rushing

PLAYER	CAR.	YARDS	TD
Kenny Bartee, Schalick	95	875	12
Jaivon Thomas, Penns Grove	66	733	10
Cashmir Parsley, Salem	78	658	6
Cole Ware, Woodstown	64	431	2
Terrell Thomas, Penns Grove	71	420	8
David Stewart, Schalick	46	395	5
Mason Middlemiss, Woodstown	53	266	8
Ayden Jenkins, Schalick	48	257	2
Tristan Horner, Pennsville	51	253	4
Aidan Collazo, Pennsville	33	229	4
Adrian Alleyne, Salem	20	164	0
TyRell West, Woodstown	44	145	4
DezYon Purnell, Schalick	24	145	2
Desmund Thomas, Salem	19	139	4
Isiah Santiago, Salem	24	106	1
Kyvion Parsons, Salem	14	81	2
Savior Allah, Penns Grove	6	79	1
Zahvier Reeder, Penns Grove	7	74	0
Freddie Allen, Schalick	13	61	1

Passing

PLAYER	C-A-I	YARDS	TD
Jake Layfield, Pennsville	115-182-10	1407	12
Mason Middlemiss, Woodstown	28-46-5	495	5
Kenny Bartee, Schalick	16-40-0	370	2
Desmund Thomas, Salem	28-37-1	383	4
Mason Middlemiss, Woodstown	18-32-4	342	4
Damien Robinson, Penns Grove	20-34-2	183	2
Owen McDonald, Salem	10-22-2	105	1
Noah Chiu, Woodstown	5-8-0	63	1
Gabriel McFarland, Schalick	3-4-0	49	1
Kyvion Parsons, Salem	3-11-2	41	1

Receiving

PLAYER	NO.	YARDS	TD
Chase Johnson, Pennsville	47	746	7
Lucas Thomas, Pennsville	18	143	2
Andrew White, Woodstown	13	363	5
Jacob Kimani, Pennsville	12	148	1
Aidan Collazo, Pennsville	11	144	0
Tristan Horner, Pennsville	11	43	1
KaiSiere Muhammad, Salem	10	150	0
Jerry Wooton, Penns Grove	9	149	2
Danny Knight, Pennsville	9	133	0
Quemere Bergen, Salem	9	116	2
Ahmad Tucker, Salem	7	101	2
Nehemiah Carter, Woodstown	6	87	0
Omari Robinson, Penns Grove	6	80	1
Isiah Santiago, Salem	5	45	0
Cole Ware, Woodstown	5	30	0
David Stewart, Schalick	4	75	1
Gio Alicea, Schalick	4	66	1
Savior Allah, Penns Grove	4	26	0
Shawn Kelly, Schalick	3	145	2
Evan Elliott, Schalick	3	40	1
Noah Chiu, Woodstown	3	37	0
Javion Sydnor, Pennsville	3	26	0
Dante Cummings, Pennsville	3	13	1

Defense

SACKS — 9.5: Tony Merendino, Salem;; Myshion Barnes, Salem; 8.5: Omari Robinson, Penns Grove; 6.5: JaKai Ingram, Penns Grove; Omari Robinson, Penns Grove; 4: Mahkye Murray, Salem; Bradley Snitcher, Woodstown; Evan Elliott, Schalick; 3: Xavier Csaszar, woodstown; Nick Lopergolo, Schalick; Jerry Wooton, Penns Grove; 2.5: Rex Hannah, Woodstown; 2: Raymond Brown, Salem; Kamal Chatum, Salem; Dillon Garrity, Woodstown; Maliq Reddick, Penns Grove; Terrell Thomas, Penns Grove; Aiden Torres, Schalick; Isaac Wright, Penns Grove

INTERCEPTIONS — 5: Jacob Kimani, Pennsville; 4: Jaivon Thomas, Penns Grove; 3: Grady Sanders, Pennsville; David Stewart, Schalick; 2: Gio Alicea, Schalick; Freddie Allen, Schalick; Noah Blunt, Schalick; Jaivon Thomas, Penns Grove; Danny Knight, Pennsville; Jerry Wooton, Penns Grove

Team Leaders

TEAM	RUSH	C-A-I	PASS	PF	PA
PENNS GROVE (4-2)	1409	22-39-2	252	169	79
PENNSVILLE (4-3)	498	115-182-10	1407	151	114
SALEM (4-3)	1268	41-70-5	529	164	111
SCHALICK (7-0)	1754	22-49-0	453	232	49
WOODSTOWN (3-4)	877	33-54-5	558	146	169

To the nines

Woodstown girls tennis captures ninth division title under Stemberger; will be updated

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – The No. 2 doubles team of Isabella Lindenmuth and Eleanore Lawson scored a straight-set victory Tuesday that not only clinched Woodstown’s 5-0 victory over Timber Creek but also its ninth TCC Diamond Division girls tennis title under coach Jesse Stemberger.

Lindenmuth and Lawson defeated Samantha Bioanelli and Kadie Jabbie 6-2, 6-2. The Wolverines (10-7) also got points from Madison LaPalomento, Emma West, Angelina Lindenmuth and the doubles team of Emilee Kehr-Elliana Norman. All five of their wins in the match came in straight sets.

The title was the Wolverines’ third in a row, the second three-peat in Stemberger’s tenure.

“It’s always nice (to win a division title),” Stemberger said. “It’s always a sign of accomplishment when the girls can pull it off. It takes a lot of hard work. Think of when you start off in August you don’t know how it’s all going to go, but when it falls into place it feels good.

“They (Timber Creek) were definitely better than the first time we played them; we certainly didn’t overlook them. Thankfully, we were up for the take. The girls knew what was at stake and we finished the deal.”

FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown 5, Millville 0: Lexi Taylor scored four goals and Kendall Higgins logged three saves as the Wolverines (9-3) won their third straight with their fifth shutout of the season. Talia Guardacione scored Woodstown’s other goal, off an assist from Taylor.
Bridgeton 10, Salem 0: Ciani Money scored three goals and Laila Melendez and Timer Heard both had had tricks.

BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman 4, Salem Tech 1: Jonas Trum scored the first of his three goals five minutes into the match. Logan Pace scored the Chargers’ goal in the second half to make it 2-1.

GIRLS SOCCER
Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0:

VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech

Little ray of sunshine

Woodstown senior emerges from the gloom to score game-winner as Wolverines clip Clayton

BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Pennsville, ppd.
Woodstown 2, Clayton `1
Glassboro at Salem
Bordentown 5, Schalick 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CLAYTON – It was quite a gloomy day for most of the first half Monday, but when the sun finally did make its appearance it was as if it shone directly on Don Milhomme.

In a moment that bordered on the spiritual, the sun burned through the overcast just as the Woodstown senior broke away from the two Clayton defenders soldered to his shoulders and he scored the tie-breaking goal that propelled the Wolverines to a 2-1 win at Haupt Field.

“It was magnificent; it was really magnificent,” he said, breaking into a broad smile. a broad smile crossing his face. “When I got the ball, I felt like those two guys were like chasing me, they wanted to rip the ball out of my feet and I said oh my goodness I got to take a shot and I just took it. When I shot the ball and I saw it go to the corner, I thought it wasn’t going in, and when it went in I said oh and the weather, like, changed.”

Even Wolverines coach Darren Huck commented on the timing of the sun coming out when the players came off the field after the goal.

Milhomme, who came to Woodstown from Haiti, has three goals this season and four in his career. It was his first game since celebrating his 18th birthday Friday.

“Don is an inspiration for our entire team,” Huck said. “He’s always smiling and just willing to play whatever role, whatever limit, he can to help the team. He’s good at kind of getting into spaces, slithering through some defenders, and, man, what a goal today. That was big. He’s taken advantage of all his opportunities right now.”

“Don’s just a good guy,” teammate Jake Lewis said. “He’s always happy. He’s always lifting the team up. He’s just a good person to be around.”

Another key to the win was keeping Clayton’s Jonathan Rehm off the scoring sheet. The Clippers’ all-time leading goal scorer has 75 goals in his career, 41 against Salem County opponents, including 13 of his 15 this season, but he has scored only two in four years against the Wolverines (and none against Schalick).

Lewis marked Rehm inside the box and made a brilliant sliding tackle to separate him from the ball with 28 minutes to play in a one-goal game. Tommy Tucci and Andrew Lane had him when he got to the outside.

“There was really no specific plan, just make sure there was always me or Tommy on his back,” Lewis said. “Just keep an eye on him wherever he goes on the field, make sure he’s marked. It was pretty much try to make as few mistakes as possible.”

“He’s a player we just have to make sure we know where he is at all times and we have to make sure we are aware of the space that he’s in because he’s dangerous with the ball,” Huck said. “If we can kind of neutralize what’s around him that would make it a little easier for us and we were able to do that. He didn’t get the ball in too many spaces where it was really difficult, and that was to our advantage.”

Woodstown opened the scoring with 19:07 left in the first half when Tyler Robertson scored in traffic in front of the net. The Clippers took advantage of a defensive mistake to get the equalizer about three minutes later. The Wolverines passed the ball back towards the goal and keeper Lee Coombs came out to get it, but Clayton’s King Mosley beat them all to it and scored into an open goal.

Less than two minutes later the clouds parted and the sun lit the way for Milhomme to score.

“I found an opportunity and I just took it,” Milhomme said. “It was a nice goal. I love when I play for my team and help my team to score and win.”

With the win, the Wolverines (8-5-1) jumped to fourth in the South Jersey Group 1 power points standings.

BORDENTOWN 5, SCHALICK 1: Tim Koering scored Schalick’s equalizer, then Cullen Hosszu-Barrett scored twice before the end of the half and the Scotties pulled away to end the Cougars’ six-game winning streak. Kyle Williams and Anthony Crisostomo scored goals in the second half, both assisted by Everett Barrett, who scored Bordentown’s first goal.

**Woodstown’s Jake Lewis (3) clears the ball from harm’s way in the first half against Clayton. Top photo: Don Milhomme (10) scored the Wolverines’ game-winning goal.**

Drawing a bead

Woodstown girls soccer players receive unique rewards for getting things done on the field

GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove
Pennsville 3, Overbrook 1
Woodstown 4, Clayton 0
Pitman at Schalick
FIELD HOCKEY
Maple Shade at Schalick
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CLAYTON – Bella Lucas cradled two small pieces of plastic in the palm of her hand. They were just simple beads, but for what they represented the freshman treated them like diamonds.

The Woodstown girls soccer coaches have come up with a novel way of rewarding their players for success this season – beads to attach to a string that hangs on their bag. Football players get helmet decals, Woodstown girls soccer players get beads.

Different colors for different categories – blue for goals, orange for assists, white for shutouts and silver Player of the Game. Lucas held beads of blue and orange for the goal and assist she recorded in the Wolverines’ 4-0 blanking of Clayton at Haupt Field Monday.

“It’s brand new this year,” Wolverines coach Kieran Keyser said. “It was actually my wife’s idea; it’s nice to have that supportive wife.

“We were just talking about things to build camaraderie, to bond the team and something to work for. Obviously, it’s something you can celebrate and just for the girls to work towards. It’s fun.”

Lucas’ goal was worth more than a couple baubles. It opened the floodgates. The Wolverines (11-2-1) dominated the chances in a scoreless first half, but didn’t have anything to show for it. When Lucas’ swinging-gate goal found the back of the net in the 48th minute, it touched off a flurry of four goals in 18 minutes that carried the Wolverines to their fifth straight victory and 99th since the start of the 2019 season.

Genevieve Flynn got the play started with a free kick to 30 yards out and Lucas kept it moving by swinging her right leg around her body with her back to the goal. It was the defensive center midfielder’s eighth goal of the season. The Wolverines are 8-0 in game she has scored a goal.

Then it started. Ten minutes later sophomore Kyrsten Dussault sent a bouncing ball in on an open goal that Clayton defender Mya Pinkey couldn’t run down in time. Freshman Korynn Hernandez made it 3-0 less than four minutes later (with an assist from Lucas) and sophomore Gabby Maldonado made it 4-0 four minutes after that.

“I feel like sometimes it just takes that one goal for our whole team to go,” Lucas said. “It just takes that one set up all working as a team together and then one person scores and it kind of just happens.”

For Hernandez it was her 17th goal of the season, tying Woodstown’s freshman single-season goal record, held by Tatum Devault, the program’s all-team leading goal scorer (75).

In all, assistant coach Maddi Burlingame passed around 18 beads from the game – four goals, four assists, five to the back line and keeper Mazie Massoni for their eighth shutout and to the same group for Player of the Game. Captains received gold beads at the start of the season.

At this rate, Keyser just might run out of beads before the Wolverines run out of games.

“That would be pretty cool,” Lucas said.

“We’re good so far,” Keyser said. “I think I’ve bought enough, but I’ll have to go back and check.”

PENNSVILLE 3, OVERBROOK 1: Abby Marandola scored twice and Sloan Marquette once for the Eagles (8-5).

Woodstown’s Genevieve Flynn (R) tries to send a ball back into the box after Hailey Kucharczuk (13) just missed a header on a corner kick in the first half against Clayton. Top photo: Woodstown’s Korynn Hernandez (8) tied the Wolverines’ single-season freshman goal-scoring record in the game.

Standings

Here are the WJFL Diamond/Independence and TCC Diamond/Classic division standings through Oct. 11

WJFL Football

DIAMOND	ALL	DIV	INDEPENDENCE	ALL	DIV
Schalick	7-0	4-0	Woodstown	3-4	3-0
Paulsboro	5-2	2-1`	Penns Grove	4-2	3-0
Overbrook	3-4	2-1	Clayton	4-2	1-1
Burlington City	2-4	1-3	Woodbury	2-5	1-2
Salem	4-3	1-3	Pitman	2-4	0-2
Pennsville	4-3	0-3	Buena	3-4	0-3

TCC Boys Soccer

CLASSIC	ALL	DIV	DIAMOND	ALL	DIV
Clayton	7-5	6-0	Schalick	8-2	7-0
Salem Tech	6-6	2-3	Woodstown	7-5-1	4-3
Pennsville	3-7	2-3	Penns Grove	7-3-1	3-3-1
Glou Cath	2-8	2-3	Overbrook	5-6	3-4
Salem	0-7	0-3	Glassboro	5-6-1	2-4-1
			Pitman	3-8-1	1-6

TCC Girls Soccer

CLASSIC	ALL	DIV	DIAMOND	ALL	DIV
Pitman	7-5	7-0	Schalick	9-2-1	7-0
Glou Cath	5-6	4-3	Woodstown	10-2-1	5-1
Pennsville	7-5	4-3	Overbrook	4-7	2-4
Clayton	7-4	4-3	Penns Grove	2-7	1-3
Salem Tech	2-8	2-5	Glassboro	1-10	0-4
Salem	0-11	0-7

TCC Field Hockey

CLASSIC	ALL	DIV	DIAMOND	ALL	DIV
Salem Tech	10-2	6-0	Woodstown	8-3	6-0
Pennsville	4-7	3-2	Overbrook	7-3	3-1
Glou Cath	3-4	2-2	Schalick	8-3	2-2
Salem	1-11	1-3	Glass/Pit	3-5	2-4
Clayton	0-5	0-3	Deptford	4-9	0-6

TCC Girls Tennis

CLASSIC	ALL	DIV	DIAMOND	ALL	DIV
Pitman	14-4	5-0	Woodstown	9-7	6-0
Pennsville	9-4	2-2	Schalick	8-8	4-2
Glassboro	7-7	2-3	Timber Cr	6-6	3-2
Glou Cath	0-0	0-0	Overbrook	2-9	1-4
Salem	0-10	0-5	Penns Grove	1-9	0-6

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 12-17; all games 4 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY, OCT. 12
FIELD HOCKEY
Maple Shade at Schalick, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Clayton, 10 a.m.
Glassboro at Salem, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Bordentown, 2 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Overbrook
Woodstown at Clayton, noon
Pitman at Schalick, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Salem CC at Delaware Tech, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 13
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown at Millville
Salem at Bridgeton, 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Salem Tech at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Pitman, 5 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Timber Creek at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Schalick at Glassboro
Woodstown at Pitman
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Salem
Penns Grove at Overbrook
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Pennsville
Glassboro at Salem Tech
Overbrook at Salem
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 15
FOOTBALL
Millville at Atlantic City, 6 p.m.
Florence at Maple Shade, 6 p.m.
Allentown at Ewing, 6 p.m.
Timber Creek at Bridgeton, 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Hightstown, 6 p.m.
Mastern Camden at Clearview, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Cumberland at Salem Tech
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester at Salem Tech
KIPP at Pennsville
Salem at Cape May Tech
Schalick at Sterling
West Deptford at Penns Grove
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Haddon Twp.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Glassboro, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Kingsway, 4:15 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 16
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Salem at Burlington City, 6 p.m.
Buena at Pitman, 7 p.m.
Northern Burlington at Williamstown, 6 p.m.
Camden Eastside at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Vineland at St. Joe (Hamm.), 6 p.m.
Ocean City at Holy Spirit, 6 p.m.
Pennsauken at Eastern, 6 p.m.
Burlington Twp. at Shawnee, 6 p.m.
St. Augustine at Kingsway, 6 p.m.
Camden at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Rancocas Valley at Pleasantville, 6 p.m.
Lenape at Cherry Hill East, 6 p.m.
Camden Catholic at KIPP, 6 p.m.
Cedar Creek at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Steinert at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at Audubon, 6 p.m.
Gloucester at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Winslow at Washington Twp., 6 p.m.
Middle Twp. at Lindenwold, 6 p.m.
Highland at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Sterling at Bishop Eustace, 6:30 p.m.
Willingboro at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Lawrence at Robbinsville, 7 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
WW-Plainsboro at Holy Cross, 7 p.m.
Paul VI at Seneca, 7 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Gateway, 7 p.m.
Delran at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Cherokee at Delsea, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Salem
Schalick at Glassboro
BOYS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Overbrook
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Glassboro, 3 p.m.
Schalick at Clearview, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Timber Creek
Pitman at Penns Grove
Salem at Woodstown
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Woodbury

SATURDAY, OCT. 17
FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Penns Grove, noon
Clayton at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Overbrook at Paulsboro, 12:30 p.m.
Wildwood at Palmyra, 11 a.m.
Trenton at Princeton, 11 a.m.
Hamilton West at Nottingham, noon
Oakcrest at Atlantic Tech, noon
Lower Cape May at Hammonton, noon
Egg Harbor at Absegami, noon
Triton at Moorestown, 1 p.m.
Bordentown at Riverside, 1:30 p.m.
Deptford at Pemberton, 2 p.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Sussex CC vs. Salem CC, Pennsville H.S., 1 p.m.
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
Salem CC in Border Battle, Dream Park

Weekend update

Both Woodstown teams finish third in South Jersey Open; Marino wins girls Division 2 race; includes results from the Friday and Saturday Salem County sports schedule

SATURDAY’S GAMES
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick 2, Mainland 2
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Nottingham

FRIDAY’S GAMES
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech 4, Maple Shade 0: Chargers win ninth straight, top last year’s win total; Araya DiGregoria scores twice.
Absegami 8, Salem 0: Maya Famelio and Paige Goodwin had two goals apiece.
BOYS SOCCER
NJTAC Quarterfinals
Penn Tech 2, Salem Tech 1: Jose Lopez and Gabriel Lacorte scored second-half goals for the winners. Logan Pace scored for the Chargers.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

LOGAN TWP. – Abby Marino felt even worse than she did in winning the Salem County championship earlier in the week, but she still produced the same result.

The Woodstown junior continued to battle the seasonal stuffiness that plagued her in Wednesday’s county race Saturday, but didn’t let it affect her and won the Girls Division 2 race at the South Jersey Track Coaches Open at DREAM Park. She won the race in 19:43.86, 15 seconds ahead of runner-up Juliana Catalani of Maple Shade (19:58.37).

“It actually was equal to worse today than the other day, unfortunately,” she said. “It truly was amazing to be able to pull through. Once again, the support of everyone around me drove me to the best I could. Sharing the moment with them made it all worth it.”

Earlier in the week she talked about the mental strength it takes to overcome adverse conditions. “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything,” she said. She leaned on her mental discipline as a performance artist to help get her through.

“The performance part of dance does definitely help with needing to adjust if something doesn’t go to plan,” she said.

Among Woodstown’s top five, Reese Madiraca was 23rd (22:59.96), Anabel Schaal was 27th (23:17.65), Kiera Porch was 33rd (24:18.84) and Lucianna Mannella was 45th (25:17.11).

David Farrell, Woodstown’s Salem County boys champion, finished sixth in the Boys Division 2 race. He ran 17:05.49, less than a minute behind race winner Jamar Mack of Middle Twp. (16:17.80). Pacey Hutton (17:10.77) and Torsten Duva (17:12.87) both placed in the top 10.

The Wolverines were the only team in the race with three runners in the top 10.

“Dave went out hard; it was fun to watch,” Woodstown boys coach Steve New said. “Back end needs to step up, but we are moving in the right direction … All things considered, racing on Wednesday (in the county meet) definitely had an effect on us and we still held our own.”

Both Woodstown teams finished third in their respective team standings. The boys scored 81 points, finishing behind winner Haddon Twp. (60) and Camden Catholic (69). The girls scored 104 points, one ahead of fourth-place Sterling and two ahead of sixth-place Spotswood.

Girls soccer

PITTSGROVE – The goalpost may be a goalkeeper’s friend, but it did nothing to help the Schalick girls soccer team Saturday morning.

The Cougars came within inches of scoring a game-winning penalty kick in the first overtime, but the shot hit the crossbar and they eventually walked away with a 2-2 draw with Mainland.

The Cougars (9-2-1) came out slow against their Group 3 visitors and fell behind 1-0 in the first 10 minutes of the match, but once they settled in they started making things happen. Freshman Nicolette Bloomer got the equalizer and then put her team ahead.

Mainland (7-5-1) drew even with about 16 minutes to play, then the teams battled for the game-winner down the stretch. The Cougars had a couple chances: Emily Miller hit a free kick the keeper pushed over the crossbar and Bloomer broke in for a shot at a hat trick that hit the outside of the net.

In the first four minutes of overtime, Bloomer got pulled down in the box in overtime and the Cougars sent Olivia Vanacker to the spot for the PK winner. Vanacker hit a powerful shot, but it the crossbar.

The Cougars had three breakaways after that PK that the Mustangs’ defense turned away.

“Going against a Group 3 school that beat us last year definitely a lot of major takeaways,” Schalick coach Will Kemp said. “Being able to continue to compete at that level, being able to come back from being a goal down and then showing resilience after missing a crucial moment in a match. Loads to take away for me.”

Friday football roundup

Pennsville, Salem pick up wins on the road, Woodstown comes up short at home

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HAMMONTON – The last time Mike Healy went to St. Joseph Academy here, it was his first year as Pennsville’s head coach and it wasn’t a good day for the Eagles. Nine years later he came back to Salem County with a much better result.

The Eagles scored early to get the lead, made a couple big defensive stops in the second half to stay in front and were able to run out the clock after a clutch leaping catch by C.J. Johnson to beat the Wildcats 20-17 Friday night.

“The last time we played them (a 53-0 loss), that was one of the harder games I coached in my career; they were an unbelievable team,” Healy said. “We knew it was going to be a tough, physical game, but the kids, they played hard. They did what they’ve done all season; they will fight to the end of the game.

“That’s one thing about this team. Doesn’t really matter what’s going on in the game, they’re going to keep coming back, they’re going to keep fighting and they’re going to keep plugging away. They have a belief in themselves that we can get the job done regardless what’s going on.”

The Eagles (4-3) opened a 20-3 lead in the first half on two Aidan Collazo touchdowns and one by Javion Sydnor. The Wildcats made it 20-10 at halftime with a touchdown in the final minute of the second quarter.

The Wildcats cut it to 20-17 in the third quarter after the Eagles gave them a short field with a botched punt. The Eagles’ defense came up with several stops, including a fourth-down tackle for loss by Aidan Clark after the Wildcats had a touchdown called back by a penalty.

“It was kind of the opposite of the rest our season,” Healy said. “We had a great first half, where we usually have a bad first half. What it was we stopped the self-inflicted wounds, the penalties, the negative plays.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game going in. We had a couple injuries going into the game, also, so we had some kids who had to step up and play either more than they’ve ever played or they started when they had never started before … and they got the job done. I couldn’t be prouder of the kids. We wish we were a little better the second half, but we stepped up and took care of business when it mattered most.”

Pennsville’s Vicktor Mosher and Dante Cummings (8) bring down St. Joseph’s Tyson Forman during Friday night’s game. Top photo: Aidan Collazo (23) scored Pennsville’s first two touchdowns. (Photo by Lucky Shot Pix)

Salem’s surge continues

CLAYTON – Salem continued its climb up the South Jersey Group 1 power point standings Friday with a 26-6 road win over Clayton. It was their third straight win, coinciding with the return of quarterback Desmund Thomas.

The Rams (4-3) took control of the game from the start. Cashmir Parsley ran for two touchdowns, Thomas ran for one and Ahmad Tucker scored on a 57-yard punt return. Clayton avoided the shutout with 1:06 left in the game when Nycere Walls got behind the defense and finished off a 50-yard pass play.

Tony Merendino led the defense with had 2.5 sacks.

“Total team effort, total team win,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “Salem’s on the rise.”

Woodstown just short

WOODSTOWN – Woodstown was missing a lot from its lineup, but the Wolverines showed a lot as well.

The Wolverines lost four key players to injury during last week’s game at Salem to injury. They battled throughout the night, but ended up falling to Overbrook on Homecoming 38-35.

Quarterback Mason Middlemiss was the only one of the four to return. He ran for three touchdowns and threw to Nehemiah Carter for another. TyRell West ran for Woodstown’s other score.

“I think the kids really battled tonight,” Wolverines coach Frank Trautz said. “Ultimately it just came down to we just had too many self-inflicted wounds. Self-inflicted wounds in the first half put us in the hole.”

The miscues led to a 26-14 Overbrook lead at halftime. The Wolverines cut the deficit by scoring on their opening drive of the second half, but the Rams answered and the teams traded scores after that.

It was a three-point game with two minutes left and it looked as if the Wolverines might get a chance to pull it out. They had Overbrook fourth-and-6 and no timeouts, but the Rams got the first down and ran out the clock.

**Javion Sydnor’s touchdown gave Pennsville a 20-3 lead on St. Joseph. It turned out to be the game-winning score. in the Eagles’ 20-17 victory. (Photo by Lucky Shot Pix)**

WJFL scoreboard

Here are the West Jersey Football League scores for the weekend of Oct. 9-10

FRIDAY, OCT. 9
Overbrook 38, Woodstown 35
Pennsville 20, St. Joseph (Hamm.) 17
Salem 26, Clayton 6
Schalick 27, Penns Grove 0
KIPP 58, Pitman 0
Buena 17, Lindenwold 8
Collingswood 18, Woodbury 6
Burlington City 24, Riverside 19
Delran 17, Ewing 14
Washington Twp. 42, Cherokee 7
Pleasantville 20, Lower Cape May 18
Rancocas Valley 42, Eastern 0
Triton 0, Highland 0
Deptford 48, Gateway 0
Wildwood 30, Mastery Camden 22
Vineland at Oakcrest
Trenton 14, Lenape 9
Camden Eastside 48, Cedar Creek 7
Camden 50, Kingsway 14
Hopewell Valley 18, Steinert 7
Maple Shade at Palmyra
St. Augustine 37, Shawnee 0
Northern Burlington 41, Notre Dame 17
Ocean City 38, Middle Twp. 13
Timber Creek 56, Nottingham 0
Cumberland at Egg Harbor
Hightstown 46, Lawrence 20
Bishop Eustace 37, Holy Cross 7
Williamstown 33, Delsea 6
Clearview 20, Moorestown 13

SATURDAY, OCT. 10
Haddonfield at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Princeton at Hamilton West, 11 a.m.
Gloucester at Haddon Heights, 11:30 a.m.
Absegami at Pemberton noon
Cinnaminson at Willingboro, noon
Florence at Gloucester Catholic, 1 p.m.
Bridgeton at Pennsauken, 1 p.m.
Glassboro at Burlington Twp., 1:30 p.m.
West Deptford at West. Nassau (Fla.), 6 p.m.

Schalick stays unbeaten

Bartee punishes Penns Grove, makes something out of nothing twice, helps Schalick stay unbeaten

By Al Muskewitz/Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — Believe it or not, given the way he takes over a game these days, Kenny Bartee didn’t like playing football when he was little. He wasn’t ashamed to admit he cried before he had to go onto the youth field, but he went anyway — and made the opposition cry.

He’s still doing it today. Well, everything but the crying part.

Friday night, the Schalick junior quarterback rushed for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns leading the Cougars over Penns Grove 27-0 to remain undefeated and solidly atop the South Jersey Group 1 power points standings.

Both of his touchdowns came from creating something out of nothing.

“It gives me an adrenaline rush,” he said. “Back when I was little I never really liked football, so I always had to make plays like that. So that’s not really anything new.

“I didn’t like football at all. I was forced to play because I was pretty good at it. My mom said you’re too good to let this talent go to waste. I said mom, I got you. I would cry before games and then I would come out and score five touchdowns.”

His first touchdown against the Red Devils came on the last play of the first half on a play that looked like it wouldn’t develop before the clock ran out. He rolled right looking for a receiver, but finding none open, he pulled it down and went 16 yards for the score, blasting through a two-level roadblock the Red Devils set up at the 4.

Schalick quarterback Kenny Bartee (1) eludes Penns Grove pursuer Dairol De La Cruz De Las Santos then turns upfield on the way to his first touchdown on the final play of the first half. (Photo by Zach Ahl)

It was do or die, since it was fourth down with four seconds on the clock. Had the Cougars’ regular kicker been available, coach Kevin Leamy admitted he would have tried the 33-yard field goal. But kicker Shawn Kelly was on the sideline in concussion protocol after trying to make a tackle on a kickoff last week at Cumberland, so they went for it and hoped for the best. They didn’t punt either.

“I could be a terrible coach and he makes me look good,” Schalick coach Kevin Leamy said. “He makes me look good. There were times we didn’t call the right play or we didn’t do the right thing and he makes the play; he makes everyone looks good. He does a lot of that.”

From Bartee’s perspective he didn’t want to go into halftime with just a 7-0 lead – on a special teams touchdown – and was “very determined” to get in the end zone on the play.

“I really wasn’t too happy about to go into halftime 7-0 on a team like this,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, that is a very good, very disciplined team, but we’re way better than that. We had a bunch of mistakes we didn’t capitalize on. So us going into halftime with 7-0 I wasn’t liking it, so I’m like I’ve gotta make something happen. We tried to throw. It was there, just miscommunication. OK, now I have to go get it. I’ve got to go get us one.”

Bartee’s second touchdown came on a 3-yard run midway through the third quarter, but it was the play before that showed more of his wizardry. He broke off a 27-yard run after picking up a shotgun snap that slid through his hands.

“I just trusted my teammates,” he said. “Once I picked up the ball they were looking at me to throw it. I just told them block for me.”

“He is a tough player,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “We’ve been watching him on film all year. I told the guys he’s going to get 70 percent of the touches. He’s a tough runner, a big strong kid with a little bit of speed, and he knows how to play football.”

Even if he didn’t like to earlier in his life.

The Cougars (7-0) got their other touchdowns on David Stewart’s 79-yard punt return in the first quarter and Ayden Jenkins’ 23-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.

**Schalick’s Aiden Torres (70) and Gary Simonini (9) wrap up Penns Grove ballcarrier Zahvier Reeder. (Photo by Zach Ahl)**

Their defense, meanwhile, was relentless and didn’t yield Penns Grove anything. The shutout was their second of the year. They’ve allowed only 49 points and held five of their seven opponents to a touchdown or less.

The Red Devils (4-2) were missing their main weapon, freshman running back Jaivon Thomas, one of the top rushers in the state, with a collarbone injury. When the team came back to the field after warmups Thomas was carrying his pads and he watched the game from the Penns Grove sideline. He was hopeful of returning next week against Woodstown in what amounts to the WJFL Independence Division championship game.

The Red Devils tried to compensate with Terrell Thomas and several other backs and a bit more throwing, but they managed only 50 yards of offense — minus-5 net on 16 offensive snaps in the second half.

“Today was a day to see what some other guys have,” Ware said. “We knew all week he wasn’t going to play. He didn’t practice all week. We did some more passing stuff today because I wanted to work a little more passing in and we did well with a few passes in the first half. We sustained a couple drives in the first half and if we didn’t have big penalties I feel like we would’ve put some points on the board. But when you’re playing from a deficit and you have a guy who’s, what, the No. 9 rusher in the state not in the game it’s hard because we’re trying to establish offense and then we shoot ourself in the foot with a penalty.

“Ultimately, I got a lot of guys who are young, inexperienced, so some guys got some experience today and got a chance to play who normally wouldn’t have gotten a chance to play. They’re No. 1 for a reason and when we don’t have our No. 1 running back it’s tough. But I felt like we did some really good things. Today was a good barometer for us to see where we stack up and even without our best offensive player we still held our own.”

The Cougars played a little next-man-up as well. They lost their regular center on the opening series, moved tackle Will Johnson to the spot and put freshman quarterback Gabe McFarland — all 5-feet-7, 163 pounds of him — on the offensive line. McFarland played the rest of the game there and was part of three touchdown drives.

“He scored five touchdowns against Cumberland in the JV game and he played tackle today,” Leamy said. “He’s been playing a little bit of defense and he’s been playing well, so this past week, we were like we need some like depth. He’s not the biggest guy, but he’s been great at practice. He’s physical, he attacks, he does exactly what we coach him to do. He’s not the biggest, but he’s just determined.

“It’s funny, he doesn’t want to play like, he wants to play quarterback, he wants to be a skill player, and he’s good at that, too. He’s doing real well with the JVs, he’s doing phenomenal. The coaching staff goes to him and says if we need you (on the line) you willing to play. He said, coach, if you need me to play, I’ll play wherever you want me to play. It says a lot about this team and that environment that these kids have created. Next man up, they’re going to do whatever they need to do, even if it means our JV quarterback is playing center.

Schalick 27, Penns Grove 0

PG		SCH
5	First downs	17
24-19	Rushing	38-230
0-10-1	Passes	4-9-0
31	Passing	58
2-1	Fum-Lost	3-1
2-33.0	Punts-Avg	0-0
5-45	Penalties	4-55

Penns Grove	0	0	0	0-	0
Schalick	7	7	7	6-	27

SCORING SUMMARY

S-David Stewart 79 punt return (Dash Mayne kick), 4:29 1Q

S-Kenny Bartee 16 run (Dash Mayne kick), 0:00 2Q

S-Kenny Bartee 3 run (Dash Mayne kick), 6:32 3Q

S-Ayden Jenkins 23 run (pass failed), 6:51 4Q