Author: almusky

Breathe it all in

Penns Grove players come out of their comfort zone to learn a valuable lesson about teamwork

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Thursday Games
Overbrook at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Friday Games
Burlington City at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Buena, 6 p.m.
Saturday Game
Paulsboro at Salem, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The players sat around the drivers ed room in a big circle. Some were tapping sticks. Some were banging bongos. Others were shaking an egg.

It might seem like odd exercises for a football team heading towards its season opener, but it carried some valuable lessons Penns Grove coach Damian Ware wanted his players to experience.

It was all about rhythm, timing and knowing how important your role was to the collective good.

“It was good for them boys,” Ware said. “We need all the outside voices that talk about the same thing we preach every day.”

This time the voice was of Cee Truth, a 34-year-old Brooklyn-born former Division I conference champion sprinter who goes by many names and titles depending on the platform and the audience. Ware connected with him through Steve Brown, a former Penns Grove state champion and Truth college teammate, on one of his salsa dancing trips to Puerto Rico.

Truth has taken his non-profit Momentum Music ministry of holistic cultural healing to groups around the United States for about five years and has gotten sports teams involved in the last two. He’s worked with teams from Florida Gulf Coast University, Wagner University and the University of Albany as well as the Santeros de Aguada, a top-tier pro basketball team in Puerto Rico. He recently returned from a campus visit to Clark Atlanta. Penns Grove was his first interaction with a high school team.

He hopes to one day extend his reach into the schools and youth organizations.

“We share holistic cultural healing practices that take the form of nervous system regulation, using breathing and rhythm to achieve that,” he said. “Our intention is to plant a seed in young people that we hope grows into a lifestyle, (that) they’ll be able to take what we teach them that day and for the rest of their life be better equipped to deal with conflict and uncertainty and all of those things that life brings.”

Cee Truth guides the Penns Grove football team through exercise about rhythm.

Ware has been coming up with novel ways to engage his players since becoming their head football coach last winter. Earlier this summer he brought former Eagles receiver and fellow salsa aficionado Jason Avant to impart some wisdom on the players. He may invite another special guest who worked with his Penns Grove basketball team a couple years ago later in the season.

It’s all part of his continuing mission to change the culture of a program that went winless last season and won only two games the last two years.

“Part of that program was something to get them out of their comfort zone because it’s something they would normally not do, and as far as the mental aspect of the game sometimes you’re going to be out of your comfort zone,” Ware said. “How do you handle that situation, can you still thrive and can you still overcome that? So, getting kids out of their comfort zone is something I wanted to do with that program.

“With the instruments, that’s all part of being one, being unified. If you can do that together and have different people playing different parts, that kind of goes along with football. They had the instruments and had to kind of do everything at the same time but make it sound like they were together. That’s how football works. Everybody has to do their job in order for us to have success and that’s kind of the message behind the whole thing there.”

To that end, the players didn’t know what to expect as they watched Truth set up eight sets of drums in the middle of the floor and his assistant Shadura Lee set a relaxing mood carrying a smoldering stick of incense around the room. Junior linebacker-receiver Isaac Wright harkened back to his Jamaican heritage and thought they were going to participate in a ritual of some sort. But they quickly got with the program as Truth took them through a series of breathing exercises to evoke calmness and then incorporated the instruments into his message of working together.

“I was wondering how that was going to help,” receiver-linebacker Jerry Wooten said, “but I figured out breathing is really a key to sports because it helps you maintain focus. When they brought out the drums I felt we were going to start dancing, but that had us working together and that coming together is going to help us on the field. It’s going to help us be in sync with each other, knowing what people are going to do, how they’re going to do it, when they’re going to do it. Now that we’ve done that, everybody has been together and we’ve been doing better.”

It may have been a non-traditional lesson for a group of football players, but by the end of the session they really came around. At least one player said he’d take one of the approaches into Friday’s game at Buena.

“Me, personally, I will be using that breathing method to calm my brain down and my nervous system, (to) think straight so I don’t mess up on the field and actually hear the plays that my QB is telling me,” Wright said.

That, was music to Truth and Ware’s ears.

Shadura Lee keeps a watchful eye on Penns Grove lineman Dairol DeLaCruz DeLosSantos as he works the drum during an exercise on timing and rhythm. Red Devils coach Damian Ware (top photo) looks on approvingly as Isaac Wright participates in the same exercise.


Exciting first win

Eagles girls tennis team hands Buechler her first coaching win in season opener; Woodstown girls soccer opens season with tie suspended by heat

MONDAY TENNIS
Pennsville 3, West Deptford 2
Clearview 4, GCIT 1
Ocean City 4, Kingsway 1
Middle Twp. 5, Cumberland 0

TUESDAY SOCCER
Woodstown 0, Vineland 0 (susp.)
Audubon 7, Glassboro 1
Hammonton 3, Timber Creek 0
Shawnee 3, Kingsway 1

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Brynn Buechler’s first win as a varsity tennis coach was full of emotion.

Senior Naomi Hess won a third-set super tiebreaker to clinch the match and the two other singles players both won extended sets as Pennsville’s girls edged West Deptford 3-2 Monday to give Buechler her first career coaching victory.

Buechler, a 2012 Pennsville grad, took the reins from longtime coach Dan Lamont this season after serving as his assistant since 2023. The Eagles won a team Group 1 title her senior year.

“It was definitely exciting,” said Buechler, an eighth-grade math teacher at Pennsville Middle School. “It was cool to play for Dan and then to coach with him, but I would say it was emotional. I think moreso I was super happy for Naomi getting that win, especially after a couple tough scrimmages she had, for staying composed.

“It was really cool to be on the home courts I played on to get a win. We told the girls it was exciting, but it’s just our first match, so we definitely have a lot of work to do.”

Hess defeated Harper Short at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 3-6, 10-1, to clinch the match. She won the first seven points of the tiebreaker. No. 1 singles Graillyn Weber (7-5) and her No. 3 singles freshman sister Jaisley Weber (7-6 (7-5)) posted seven-win sets on their way to victories.

“Naomi had a couple of really close scrimmages and she went to a tiebreaker against Millville and then she had a pretty tough match against Vineland,” Buechler said. “I definitely think those helped her and she kind of settled into that third-set tiebreaker and she won 10-1. It was nice to see her settle in and relax and kind of have that senior moment of not letting the pressure get to her.

“It was nice to see (Jaisley) pick up that win; she seemed like she kind of settled in. Being a freshman coming out and playing singles by yourself is a little nerve-wracking, but she seemed like she settled in a little bit in that second set.”

Somewhere Dan LaMont was smiling. The Salem County Sports Hall of Fame coach was actually playing tennis at the time of the match, but texted his protégé regularly for updates. Buechler now only needs about 299 more wins to catch him.

“He has so much advice to give,” she said. “It’s so strange to be on the court and not with him. I don’t really know Pennsville tennis without him. He was texting during the match, keeping updated and texted congratulations and all that.”

PENNSVILLE 3, WEST DEPTFORD 2
Graillyn Weber (P) def. Jody Wu, 6-4, 7-5
Naomi Hess (P) def. Harper Short, 6-3, 3-6, 10-1
Jaisley Weber (P) def. Anastasia Besar, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
Lily Avila-Najae Budiere (WD) def. Aubrey Hall-Juliana Thomas, 6-4, 6-2
Laura Monticolo-Rylee Hill (WD_ def. Yasary Clemente Brito-Marissa Dowell, 6-2, 6-1
Records: Pennsville 1-0, West Deptford 0-1.

Girls soccer

VINELAND – Woodstown opened its season Tuesday with a scoreless tie at Vineland in a game suspended at halftime by the heat but counted as a full game.

The Wolverines had a half-dozen shots and had momentum swinging in their direction when the game was called.

“I’ve had a game once suspended due to rain, but never heat,” Woodstown coach Kieran Keyser said. “It was a shame it ended early; it would have been a good game.”

It’s the first point the Wolverines have scored on opening day since 2019.

The Wolverines return to action Thursday with a home match against Pennsville.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 21-Sept. 5; weekday events 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, AUG. 31
BOYS SOCCER
x-Absegami at Woodstown
x-Pennsville at Penn Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Penn Tech at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
West Deptford, at Pennsville 3:45 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Gateway, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Gloucester, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem Tech at Paulsboro
Woodstown at Vineland

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2
BOYS SOCCER
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech (NJTAC Tournament)
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Woodstown at Washington Twp.
VOLLEYBALL
Buena at Salem Tech, 5:30 p.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Middlesex at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 3
FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Woodstown at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Paul VI at Delran, 6 p.m.
Wildwood at Lindenwold, 6 p.m.
Egg Harbor at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.
Hunterdone Central at Hillsborough, 6 p.m.
Cherry Hill East at Eastern, 6 p.m.
Camden Eastside at Gloucester, 6 p.m.
Moorestown at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Trenton, 6 p.m.
Bishop Eustace at Gateway, 6 p.m.
Haddon Twp. at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
Timber Creek at Vineland, 6 p.m.
Williamstown at Pennsauken, 6 p.m.
Cedar Creek at Ocean City, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Shawnee, 6 p.m.
Seneca at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick
Pennsville at Pitman
Salem at Glassboro
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Pennsville
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Woodstown

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4
FOOTBALL
Burlington City at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Buena, 6 p.m.
Woodbury at Pitman, 7 p.m.
Cherokee at Burlington Twp., 5 p.m.
Ewing at Hightstown, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Millville at Washington Twp., 6 p.m.
Florence at Bordentown, 6 p.m.
Belmont Charter (Pa.) at Southern, 6 p.m.
Northern Burlington at Lenape, 6 p.m.
Princeton at Allentown, 6 p.m.
Audubon at Sterling, 6 p.m.
Delsea at Rancocas Valley, 6 p.m.
Holy Spirit at Camden, 6 p.m.
St. Joe (Hamm.) at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Bridgeton at Highland, 6 p.m.
Atlantic Tech at Hammonton, 6 p.m.
Absegami at Oakcrest, 6 p.m.
Nottingham at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Clearview at WW-Plainsboro, 6 p.m.
Hamilton West at Lawrence, 6 p.m.
Triton at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Kingsway at Winslow, 6 p.m.
Steinert at Robbinsville, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Willingboro at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Riverside at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Paulsboro
Schalick at Delran
COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY
Salem CC in West Chester Open
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Salem CC at Harcum, 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 5
FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Salem, noon
Collingswood at Haddon Heights, 11:30 a.m.
Maple Shade at KIPP, noon
Holy Cross at Pemberton, noon
St. Augustine vs. Atlantic City, 4 p.m.

Opening Day notebook

There was a dream, there was a plan, and Saturday’s inaugural game is the fruition of Salem CC;s work, includes a list of firsts, inaugural starters

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Mike Gorman was in his customary seat on the top row of the bleachers as he is for every Salem Community College athletics event he attends. As an old lineman he’d rather be in the end zone because he says it gives the best perspective on the game, but where he positioned himself Saturday provided a better chance to mingle with the all the people who came to share this important day in the college’s history.

As the college president looked out on the field at Lou D’Angelo Stadium as he greeted both the well-wishers and the curious, the first Salem CC football team was going through its pre-game warmup. A little over a year ago, the idea of the school having a junior college football team was the vision of only a few. But Saturday afternoon that vision became a reality for all as the Mighty Oaks took on Hudson Valley Community College in the first game in the Carneys Point school’s history.

The Mighty Oaks lost the game 26-18, but they sent the crowd of about 850 home buzzing after Aidan Hill, their third quarterback of the game, threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jahfarri Payne on the final play of the game to tighten the margin.

“It’s been a dream for a long time, it’s been a plan for the last two years, and today is the fruition of all those labors,” Gorman said before the game. “Once the kickoff occurs it’s another game and everything else just kind of leans to the side and we focus on the field and the athletes on the field.

“I was walking the dog early this morning and there was that flavor in the air that tells you football season’s here and guess what – it is.”

Bringing a junior college football program to South Jersey was a vision of former Rowan head coach Jay Accorsi, who would ultimately become the Mighty Oaks’ head coach. Accorsi brought his vision to Gorman, and the proposal went to the college’s board last fall. Their shared vision was one of not just having a football team but changing lives of prospective students who would be attracted to to the college who might not have had the opportunity to attend college otherwise.

The board unanimously approved the project, the school officially launched the program in January and the athletics department spent the next seven month bringing everything together culminating in Saturday’s inaugural game.

“I told the team, last year at this time these guys were all over the place,” Accorsi said. “All the coaches were all over the place. I was trying to convince the school to start football. So, to think in less than a year we’re eight points from a team that went 9-1, that’s crazy. You couldn’t draw up a script, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Gorman; SCC board chairman Jason Supernavage; Pennsville Schools Superintendent Dr. Kyle Baker-Plale; Marc Ray, the college’s new CFO; Billy Mays, an associate professor of mathematics representing the SCC faculty; and Maura Cavanagh Dick, SCC’s associate dean of academic affairs, served as honorary captains for the inaugural game. They stood behind the team’s game captains – Ben Secouler, Jermar Jones, Brian Pritchett and Aidan Alexander – at midfield for the traditional coin toss.

The school also recognized Matt O’Brien and Beth Blohm at halftime. They are two Pennsville Middle School teams who are Pennsville High School and Salem CC alumni.

Honorary captains also will be named for the team’s three other home games later in the season. The honorary captains for the Homecoming Game Oct. 17 will be former alumni association presidents.

The Salem CC defense comes out of the tunnel to take the field for the first ever regular-season game in program history.

A DAY OF FIRSTS

An inaugural game brings a plethora of firsts for the new program. Here are a few for the Mighty Oaks:

Play: Kahmaj Keamey off left tackle for 8 yards, 1Q (Several Riverview Sports News readers suggested a first-play run)
Pass completion: Cam Wright 12 yards to Darion Joyner, 1Q
Touchdown: Jerrell Burns 85-yard interception return, 2:13 2Q
Offensive TD: Malakhai McKenzie 2 run, 6:17 3Q
First Down: by penalty, 1Q
Tackle: Jermar Jones on Jayden Hines for 7-yard loss, 1Q
Sack: Still up for grabs
Turnover: Brian Pritchett fumble, 1Q
Takeaway: Ezzy Poutre fumble recovery, 2Q

SALEM’S INAUGURAL STARTERS

KICKOFF RETURN: Gio Parente, John Pettigrew, Charlie Shute, Terrin Walker, Jermar Jones, Tre McCloud, DJ Binck, Darion Joyner, Stephen Little, Aidan Hill, Jeremiah Russell

OFFENSE: Lamar McCoy, Bryson Cox-Patterson, Kahmaj Kearney, Darion Joyner, Marcus Williams, Brody Selfridge, Hayden Miller, Robert Daly, Jacob Hand, Terrin Walker, Cam Wright

DEFENSE: Raheem Tomoney, Jermar Jones, Charlie Shute, Lee Xavier, Ben Secouler, Sam DaSilva, Mark Moore, Sam Rowley, Ezzy Poutre, Aidan Alexander

SCARY MOMENT

The game was delayed for several minutes with 6:15 left in the fourth quarter as medical personnel attended to Raheem Tomoney, who appeared to have suffered a neck injury in an apparent collision with a teammate. Tomoney, a cornerback who played at Hudson Valley earlier in his career, was transported from the field to a local hospital for evaluation. He had movement in all his extremities when he left the field.

“I think that just precautionary,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “They wanted to make sure he got looked at. They couldn’t get the face mask off because the face mask was twisted, so we couldn’t get the screws off, so that’s what made it challenging. “

ON FAMILIAR GROUND

Salem CC lineman Jacob Hand was back in his old stomping grounds for his first college game and just walking through the gates at Pennsville’s Lou D’Angelo Stadium being back a flood of happy memories.

“Playing here was nice,” he said. “Going back in the locker room and seeing our JV quarterback from last year (now varsity starter Jake Layfield) having my locker kind of fired me up a little bit. See that, it was nice. It brought back some memories.”

Rams on the road

Salem makes trip to Ohio more than a football game; Carr: ‘it’s way bigger than football, things they’ll never forget for the rest of their life’


By Paul Boggs
Ironton Tribune
 
IRONTON, Ohio — The Salem Rams made an eight-hour football business trip to the Tri-State, but as the Ironton Fighting Tigers often do, they simply took care of business.

That’s because Ironton opened by scoring the game’s first 28 points, quickly reached the threshold for the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s running-clock rule, made freshman Owen McDonald’s debut to high school football a difficult one, and simply smoked the Rams 55-14 on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon inside Ironton’s historic Tanks Memorial Stadium.

In fact, this season is the 100th year of football for “The Tank” — as Ironton is, after all, even known nationwide for its gridiron success, history and tradition. The original tenants of the stadium went on to become the NFL Chicago Bears.

The Fighting Tigers (2-0) put on a display of what Ironton football is all about. They took care of what needed to be — starting with defense, then eventually offense, and also some special teams to reach the running clock for almost all of the second half.

“Any time you bring a team in from out-of-state, you see on them on film and film normally tells a lot, but it doesn’t tell the whole story,” said Ironton acting head coach Todd Knipp. “You’re gauging speed, gauging some of these kids’ athletic ability. They have a bunch of guys that are aggressive to the ball and can run and can move. We were able to weather the storm, then we got rolling offensively.”

Five of those guys – Tony Merendino, Kamal Chatum, KyVion Parsons, Quimere Bergen and Ahmad Tucker — were all extended offers by nearby Shawnee University, which is starting a football program in 2028 (top photo). The college exposure was a big part of the Rams’ trip. They had hoped to show the players West Virginia University and Marshall University during the trip, but the NCAA recruiting calendar prevented those visits from happening.

“This trip is huge for us; it’s a lot bigger than wins and losses,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “These kids got an opportunity to travel. You’re doing almost what colleges do. We came down the day before (Friday), stayed in a hotel, get ready and go play a game, the bonding that happens and the brotherhood that occurs.

“This ride made us closer. This is what we want to be. So you go find that. We don’t run from anything. We accept all challenges and experiences that come our way. These guys are bonding from this. We want to bring three teams back here from New Jersey. Football is the greatest sport in the world, but it’s also one of the greatest networks outside of golf. This was a beautiful thing and it’s bigger than wins and losses for us.”

As Ironton opens yet another season 2-0, as it has done so every year now since 2019, the Fighting Tiger defense held another opponent to minus yards in rushing — minus-20 on 22 attempts for the young Rams to be exact.

From the get-go, the Orange and Black attack overwhelmed McDonald — a freshman quarterback in his very first varsity game. Ironton’s blitzkrieg defense sweltered McDonald and the Rams’ rushing game, stymying Salem to minus-42 first-half yards on 16 carries. McDonald only completed three first-half passes on six attempts, resulting in minus-two yards for a minus-44 first-half total.

“We never got moving until late and we gave up short fields all day,” Carr said. “Early on, we made some stops, but you can’t keep stopping a good team and giving them the ball inside the 40-yard-line. You just can’t start the game that slow against a very good team. Getting out of the mud against that type of team is very hard.”

The Rams picked up the game’s first first down on an Ironton pass interference penalty, but they punted four first-half times in the first half. They never got beyond their own 42 until their final possession, which featured four first downs, seven plays and 75 yards — mainly against the Fighting Tigers reserves, as McDonald completed a 34-yard pass prior to the 14-yard touchdown toss to Bergen.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him,” Carr said. “He got tested and took a hell of a shot and got back up. Checked back in and kept fighting. That showed me more than anything as a freshman. He’s learning what this level is all about. Tough lessons against a really good football team but he never quit.

“I know days like this are what makes and builds good football players and he will be one.”

Ironton opened the scoring late in the first quarter on Tyson Harvey’s 6-yard touchdown run, then scored 21 second-stanza points as Salem punted twice and turned the ball over on downs at its own 34.

Wyatt Wolfe capped scoring drives of eight plays and 25 yards and three minutes and 46 seconds, and seven plays and 58 yards and a minute and 32 seconds, with scoring sneaks of two and three yards. The sophomore quarterback was 10-of-13 for 115 yards, throwing two incomplete passes in the second-half after 11 total attempts in the first.

The goal of the second half was to reach the running clock, and Easton Caudill’s carries to open the third quarter quickly accomplished that. He took the first snap for a 56-yard scamper, then ran in the touchdown from 10 yards out to get the running clock started.

The Rams averted the shutout following the Fighting Tigers’ sixth score as Adrian Alleyne returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards to the house.

SAL (14)IRON (55)
5First Downs17
22-(-20)Rushing26-158
6-12-1Passes (C-A-I)10-13-0
45Passing115
2-1Fumbles-lost1-0
5-32.0Punts-avg.2-41.0
10-53Penalties4-17
Salem (0-1)0068-14
Ironton (2-0)7211413-55

SCORING SUMMARY
I-Tyson Harvey 6 run (Beckham Waginger kick), 0:17 1Q
I-Wyatt Wolfe 2 run (Beckham Waginger kick), 7:20 2Q
I-Kayden Edwards 30 pass from Wyatt Wolfe (pass failed), 4:49 2Q
I-Wyatt Wolfe 3 run (Kayden Edwards run), 0:37 2Q
I-Easton Caudill 10 run (Beckham Waginger), 10:39 3Q
I-Brycen Mullins 32 run (Beckham Waginger kick), 6:12 3Q
S-Adrian Alleyne 84 kickoff return (kick failed), 5:01 3Q
I-Ayden Justice 3 run (Barrett Waginger kick), 6:15 4Q
S-Quimere Bergen 14 pass from Owen McDonald (Sincere Cook-Reese pass from Owen McDonald), 1:10 4Q
I-Easton Caudill 83 kickoff return (no attempt), 0:00 4Q

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING — Salem: Adrian Alleyne 4-22, Izaiah Santiago 6-(-9), Owen McDonald 8-(-14), Cashmir Parsley 1-(-3), Quimere Bergen 1-1, Kevin Parsons 1-(-16), Team 1-(-1); Ironton: Easton Caudill 10-85-1, Tyson Harvey 6-26-1, Brycen Mullins 2-56-1, Kayden Edwards 2-5, Wyatt Wolfe 4-(-1)-2, Ayden Justice 1-3-1, Team 1-(-16).
PASSING — Salem: Owen McDonald 6-12-1-45-1; Ironton: Wyatt Wolfe 10-13-0-115-1.
RECEIVING — Salem: KaiSiere Muhammad 1-34, Quimere Bergen 1-14-1, Izaiah Santiago 2-1, Adrian Alleyne (1-(-1), Kevin Parsons 1-(-3); Tyson Harvey 3-37, Kayden Edwards 3-36-1, Bryson Kerns 2017, Easton Caudill 1-18, Bryce Mullins 1-7.

WJFL scoreboard

Here is the weekend schedule for the West Jersey Football League, Diamond and Independence Divisions games listed first; scores will be updated throughout the day


SATURDAY’S GAMES
Ironton (Ohio) 55, Salem 14
Clayton 28, Riverside 6
Paulsboro 40, KIPP 17
Steinert 47, Burlington City 12
Lenape 26, Seneca 20
Southern 34, Bridgeton 14
Atlantic Tech47, Lakewood 6
Morris Knolls 49, Hamilton West 7
Simon Gratz (Pa.) 37, Camden Eastside 28
Cedar Grove 35, Gloucester 14
Pinelands 40, Collingswood 6
Monsignor Farrell (NY) 28, Holy Spirit 14
Camden at Imhotep Charter (Pa.)
Erasmus Hall (NY) vs. Millville
Winslow vs. Neptune

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Woodstown at Pennsville, ppd.
Haddonfield 34, Overbrook 12
Pitman 28, Wildwood 0
Brick 34, Allentown 7
Cherry Hill West 20, Pemberton 0
Delsea 12, Vineland 6
Donovan Catholic 51, Kingsway 7
Eastern at Hunterdon Central, ppd.
Gateway 34, Middle Twp. 7
Gloucester Catholic at Paul VI, ppd.
J.P. Stevens 21, WW-Plaiinsboro 6
Lacey 12, Lawrence 0
Lower Cape May 28, Cinnaminson 7
Mainland 7, Pleasantville 6
Ocean City 39, Princeton 0
Pt. Pleasant Boro 24, Sterling 10
Rahway 30, Willingboro 28
St. John Vianney 29, Cedar Creek 28
Seneca at Lenape, ppd.
Shabazz 32, Atlantic City 19
Washington Twp. 14, Pope John 6

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Pennsville 28, Woodstown 21 (OT)
Schalick 63, Maple Shade 6
New Egypt 23, Buena 22
Deptford 30, Woodbury 6
Barnegat 26, Absegami 7
Cherokee 42, Middletown South 28
Clearview 27, Cumberland 8
Conwell-Egan (Pa.) 39, St. Joe (Hamm.) 7
Delran 24, Cherry Hill East 17
Eastern 17, Hunterdon Central 14
Egg Harbor 35, Robbinsville 0
Ewing 33, Franklin 21
Glassboro 40, Immaculata 20
Haddon Heights 40, Mastery Camden 6
Hammonton 47, Long Branch 0
Holmdel 45, Hightstown 14
Hopewell Valley 34, Montgomery 0
Moorestown 40, Bishop Eustace 0
Northern Burlington 51, Nottingham 0
Notre Dame 23, St. Mary (Ruth.) 0
Oakcrest 18, Highland 0
Passaic Tech 49, Burlington Twp. 36
Pennsauken 55, Camden Catholic 0
Pennsbury (Pa.) 14, Trenton 0
Rancocas Valle 23, Wayne Valley 0
St. Augustine 24, Bonner Predergast (Pa.) 20
Shawnee 43, Old Bridge 35
Simon Gratz (Pa.) 37, Camden Eastside 28
West Deptford 49, Kinnelon 3
Williamstown 20, Timber Creek 14

A debut to remember

Mighty Oaks lose the inaugural game in their football program’s history, but they send their fans home with something to cheer about

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — After three hours of watching the first-year college football team trying to find its way in its first-ever game, upstart Salem CC sent the crowd home with a game-ending play that laid the claim to their head coach’s desire of being a legitimate college football program.

The Mighty Oaks were going to lose their inaugural game as a program to Hudson Valley regardless what happened when they lined up for a final play from the Vikings’ 44 with eight seconds left on the clock. Aidan Hill, the third quarterback they used, rolled out to his left and with the clock just about to zero found Jahfarri Payne in the end zone to make it a 26-18 final instead of the 14-point deficit it was headed to before the play.

No, it wasn’t a game-winning play, but it may have won something bigger.

HV (26)SCC (18)
19First Downs14
29-149Rushes-yards46
18-34-2Passes (C-A-I)8-17-0
239Passing117
1-1Fumbles-lost3-2
4-26.3Punts-avg7-27.4
15-155Penalties10-68
5-16Third downs4-13
28:51Possession31:09

“I think it just shows the team understands we’re just going to have to play every game to the bitter end,” Mighty Oaks head coach Jay Accorsi said. “I think we easily could have packed it in when they got a pretty good lead, when we gave up the score down there and it was looking bleak, but the coaches didn’t, the players didn’t. We went right down to the end, fought for every last second.

“I think it makes us a legitimate junior college football program, and we did that within less than a year. That one play (did that). But I think it gets when they got up on us. we could’ve easily folded, we could’ve given up, we could’ve stopped. We’re playing (three) different quarterbacks, we’re playing different backs, we’re all trying to figure it out. I think it makes the program legitimate and we’re competitive and the future is really bright. My goal was for this program to be competitive early and I think today we were competitive.”

It was a winnable first game but the Mighty Oaks simply made too many mistakes, first game or otherwise, to keep it from happening. 

The offense and special teams fumbled the Mighty Oaks into some tough spots early in the game, but luckily the defense kept them it in by holding the Vikings to only one field goal in three possessions inside the 17. The first produced the field goal after three straight plays from the 6 netted nothing and the Oaks created a turnover at the 4 to end the second. On the next one the Vikings took themselves out of easy field goal range with a delay penalty on fourth down from the 26.

“It says a lot about our heart up front and as a defensive unit in general,” cornerback Jerrell Burks said. “We’re there to help the offense. We have their back when they slip up and make mistakes just like they’re there for us when we make mistakes. It just showed our heart, man, our heart and how mentally strong we have been, bend but don’t break.”

“We talked all camp that we were going to be the backbone of the team,” linebacker Ben Secouler said. “It confirmed with me that we knew what our identity was as a team and as a defense we knew this unit was going to be big for us.”

Burks scored the Mighty Oaks’ first official touchdown in program history when he returned an interception 85 yards to get his team within 12-6. He had a second pick in the end zone late in the third quarter to keep the Vikings from extending their lead.

“It meant a lot to contribute to the team in general, but it gives you a little bit more to toot your own horn to score the first program touchdown ever,” he said. “I was on a blitz and I saw the QB step back and pop it up. It was in the air for a little bit, so I was waiting for it, caught it and the rest is a done deal.

“I ain’t gonna lie, I’m tired. Once I hit the end zone I was tired. When I came to sideline, it was like being in a room full of little kids yelling. I’m definitely excited about it. I will say I called those shots this whole week, and I called it before the game even started. I told coach I was getting a pick-six today.”

He was reminded that most people don’t believe it when players make those type of predictions. Burks scoffed.

“I know they do now,” he said.

Secouler believed.

“Right before I walked out I told Eric Worley we’re going to get one of them for us and – boom – he picks it off, takes it all the way to the house,” he said.

Jerrell Burks (6) races into the end zone with his pick-six for the first touchdown in Salem CC’s football history. Burks later ended another Hudson Valley threat with an interception in the end zone. (Photo by Zachary Ahl)

The offense, meanwhile, struggled. It had only 48 yards rushing in the first half and surrendered a safety in the second quarter that made it 5-0.

Despite all it did to keep the Mighty Oaks in it, the defense had its problems, too. The Mighty Oaks scored their first two touchdowns of the season, but each time the Vikings answered within two minutes as blown assignments led to big plays.

“I felt, as players, we were better than them, but the mistakes we made were just so major it changed the game,” Secouler said. “We’ve just got to fix that this week.”

The Mighty Oaks used all three quarterbacks. Cam Wright was the surprise inaugural game starter, getting the call about 20 minutes before kickoff. He played the first quarter and put together a drive that ran between the 30s, but that was the extent of his appearance.

“Honestly, it was pretty cool,” he said. “They were very closed off about who was going to be the guy because I’m sure they wanted us all to try our best to compete for that spot. I ended up getting it, so that was very cool to be able to start. I went out there and tried to do my best. I obviously need to do a little better; there’s always room for improvement.”

Cam Wright (7) got the word that he was going to be the Mighty Oaks’ inaugural game starting quarterback about 20 minutes before kickoff. (Photo by Zachary Ahl)

Malakhai McKenzie followed him and played the second, third and most of the fourth quarters. He wasn’t all that effective – his first series ended with the safety – but he did score their first offensive touchdown on a quarterback sneak in the third quarter. He was 5-of-11 for 41 yards passing and netted minus-15 yards rushing on 10 carries.

“It means something to me to be the first person (on offense) to score from Salem,” McKenzie said. “I was looking to get one. I told them to get me that.”

On the offense’s struggles he said, “there’s definitely room for improvement. We’re going to get it together, though.”

Hill got his shot to run the offense when the Mighty Oaks took over at their own 30 with 1:31 to play. He got them across midfield with a 17-yard run and an 18-yard pass to Jeremiah Russell. He then took a 9-yard loss that set the Mighty Oaks on the 44 with only a few seconds left.

They sent everybody out hoping to find just one to make a play. Payne and HV’s Christopher Festa were hand-fighting all the way down the sideline, but Payne wrestled the ball away in the back corner of the end zone for the score that changed everybody’s mood.

“I was just ready for my opportunity,” Hill said. “I knew I wasn’t playing, they told me I wasn’t playing because I had mistakes in the scrimmage. Once my time came, I had to do what I’ve been asked, had do my job. I knew I had to throw a touchdown. That play, it was literally everybody go deep, whoever I see.”

“It was just get it in the end zone, do what you can to be a playmaker,” Payne said. “I just wanted to get down the field as fast as possible. I know he was a little physical, but I just used all my speed and I just made a play. Be a playmaker. It was like don’t drop it, ice in my veins, finish it off strong and make everybody leave excited.”

And he means everybody.

“I was ready to run to the end zone myself it was a great catch,” Burks said.

All in all, the inaugural game “exceeded my expectations,” Accorsi said. “They’re a really good program, established program, it’s one of the better junior college football teams you’ll play against and, shoot, we lost by eight, so in the grand scheme of things, after Montclair (scrimmage), after this, I’m extremely pleased.

“I asked the team, did they beat us or did we beat ourselves. All of them said we beat ourselves. Too many mistakes, too many penalties, too many miscues, too many assignments blown, too many missed calls. Those things are just going to catch up to you when you play a really good team.”

The Mighty Oaks have two weeks to figure it out. They’re open this week before returning to action Sept. 12 against Nassau CC at Schalick High School.

Hudson Valley (1-0)31670-26
Salem CC (0-1)0666-18

SCORING SUMMARY
HV-Samuel Locarno 24 FG, 11:18 1Q
HV-Safety, Malakhai McKenzie tackled in end zone, 13:50 2Q
HV-Jayden Hines 29 pass from MaKao Taylor (Connor Jackson kick), 7:08 2Q
SCC-Jerrell Burks 85 interception return (run failed), 2:13 2Q
HV-Julian Colon 12 pass from MaKao Taylor (Connor Jackson kick), 0:20 2Q
SCC-Malakhai McKenzie 2 run (run failed), 6:17 3Q
HV-Tevonte Williams 53 pass from MaKao Taylor (Samuel Locarno kick), 4:23 3Q
SCC-Jahfarri Payne 44 pass from Aidan Hill (no attempt), 0:00 4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Hudson Valley: Tyquan Rush-Esdale 13-103, MaKao Taylor 3-34, Aaron Barnes 3-15, Dylan Maye 2-5, Daniel Olmstead 3-4, Cartier Joshua 1-0, Alex Lenoir 2(-1), Jayden Hines 2-(1-11); Salem CC: Tre McCloud 6-35, Kahmaj Kearney 7-30, Demetris Williams 5-9, Aidan Hill 2-8, Brian Pritchett 1-0, Jamar Smith 4-(-5), Malahkai McKenzie 10-(-15), Team 1-(-16).
PASSING — Hudson Valley: MaKao Taylor 14-28-2, 181 yards, 3 TDs; Daniel Olmstead 4-6-0, 58 yards. Salem CC: Aidan Hill 2-3-0, 44 yards, 1 TD; Malakhai McKenzie 5-11-0, 41 yards; Cam Wright 1-3-0, 14 yards.
RECEIVING — Hudson Valley: Trevonte Williams 1-53-1, Cartier Joshua 5-51, Jayden Hines 3-39-1, Dylan Maye 2-35, Julian Colon 3-30-1, Cameron Margeson 2-15, Raymere Mahadeo 1-15, Myquan Rush-Edsaile 1-1; Salem CC: Jahfarri Payne 1-44-1, Darion Joyner 2-21, Jeremiah Russell 1-18, Lamar McCoy 1-16, Kahmaj Kearney 2-12, Jon Pettigrew 1-6.

The Hudson Valley defense made life difficult for Salem CC quarterback Malakhai McKenzie (10). (Photo by Zachary Ahl)

Schalick, Stewart start strong

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)
6First downs15
18-(-4)Rushing-yards27-309
8-14-2Passing (C-A-I)2-2-0
92Passing yards28
3-0Fumbles-lost2-1
3-35.3Punts-average0-0
3-25Penalties-yards8-80
Maple Shade (0-1)6000-6
Schalick (1-0)636714-63

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

Pennsville wins a thriller

Eagles beat Woodstown in overtime, Layfield passes for 300 yards in first career start at quarterback

FRIDAY’S WJFL SCORES
(Diamond, Independence Divisions)
Pennsville 28, Woodstown 21 (OT)
Schalick 63, Maple Shade 6
New Egypt 23, Buena 22
Deptford 30, Woodbury 6

WHAT TO KNOW
Pennsville’s Tristan Horner scores go-ahead TD in OT, defense holds on through Woodstown’s attempt to match
Pennsville QB Jake Layfield passes for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns (0 INTs) in first start
Woodstown had won last 4 openers, had 5-game win streak in series, Healy beats them for first time since his first game as Eagles head coach


By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Tristan Horner blasted in from the 2 at the start of overtime and Pennsville’s defense knocked away a fourth-down pass in the end zone to deny Woodstown’s bid to tie and outlasted the Wolverines 28-21 in a weather-delayed season-opener for both teams.

It was Pennsville coach Mike Healy’s first win over the Wolverines since his first game as the Eagles’ head coach in 2017. 

“This was a monumental win,” Eagles defensive back Lucas Thomas said.

Indeed. The Wolverines had won the last five games in the series and seemingly had their way in everything in the rivalry the last couple years. This game originally was scheduled for Thursday night, but was postponed to Friday in the fallout of the day’s storms. It gave a handful of Pennsville players a chance to rewatch the 2023 playoff game between the teams together, firing them up even more for a game they’ve had circled on their calendars for a while.

“There’s no other game I wanted to win this year,” quarterback Jake Layfield said. “If we win one, I want it to be Woodstown. Between this and Homecoming. I don’t even care about Senior Night. It was just Woodstown. If anybody I wanted to beat it was Woodstown and we came out here and did it. There’s just no better feeling than beating a county rival.”

Both teams had chances to win the game that Healy said held “the highest of highs and lowest of lows.”.

Woodstown led 14-0 a minute into the second quarter and then 21-14 early in the fourth on Mason Middlemiss’ 33-yard run during which at least two officials’ whistles were heard when the Wolverines quarterback ran into traffic. Layfield brought the Eagles right back with three straight completions, highlighted by a 52-yard throw to C.J. Johnson and capped by a 15-yard scoring pass to Jacob Kimani.

The Eagles had the ball at the end of regulation, but Layfield’s pass to Johnson in the back of the end zone on the final play was incomplete.

Layfield completed 23 of 37 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in his first career start at quarterback. That would translate to a 161.6 NCAA passer rating. Johnson caught 11 balls for 196 yards and a touchdown in what he called “my wakeup game,” his indication of how the season is going to go..Kimani caught four for 68 and a score. Dante Cummings caught the other touchdown pass

“We have 72 plays on the wrist band and all three of those plays (on the tying drive) are plays we don’t normally run,” Layfield said. “Coach (Ryan) Wood says it in the headset and we’ll run it on to the field. I feel like sometimes you kind of just know when things are going to go well.

“Kimani was telling me, we watched film on them and someone caught a 10-yard in, and he said if I ever catch a ball over the middle in the end zone I’m going to dunk it on the goalpost. I think he forgot to dunk it on the goalpost and got hit pretty hard.

“Sometimes you just know when you’ve got two guys who know they can go up and get the ball the confidence is there. The line was giving me time. CJ, dawg on the outside, he was there for me all game, and then Kimani just finishing in the end zone. I knew he would win the route.”

Pennsville quarterback Jake Layfield (15) passed for more than 300 yards and threw three touchdowns.

Pennsville got the ball first in overtime and needed just two plays to score and take their first lead of the game. Layfield hit Kimani for 23 yards and then Horner punched it in.

“We were pretty efficient in the passing game today so that’s what we wanted to start it with,” Healy said. “We felt those fourth down stops early in the game we actually had the opportunity for the first down but one or two little things (got in the way), so we felt good going with that play. Tristan ran hard, ran into contact. Coach Wood always tells the kids ‘run through the smoke.’ He did it and got in the end zone .”

Woodstown’s bid to tie got off to a balky start with a holding penalty on its first snap. The Wolverines fumbled but recovered the next play. Thomas stopped Cole Ware for a 2-yard gain on the next play and then Middlemiss threw incomplete on third down. 

On the final play of the game, Middlemiss rolled right and found Ware in the end zone, but Thomas, Danny Knight and David Biddle converged on the receiver to knock the ball free and seal the victory

“Honestly, the best thing about it was how we all swarmed to it,” Thomas said. “The QB was rolling out, we already knew it was a pass play –they had to get in the end zone — and we just put our best players in the right positions and broke down the pass. It was the best feeling in the world. I honestly just wanted to lay down there on the ground for a second, that was the best feeling, but I wanted to celebrate with my boys so I was running around the field.”

In the early going it was Pennsville that struggled on fourth down. The Wolverines denied them three times on the make-or-break down in consecutive possessions in the first half and scored their second touchdown of the game on a fourth-down Middlemiss pass to Andrew White to take a 14-0 lead. They also had four sacks between Rax Hannah and Xavier Csazar in the second quarter to disrupt the Eagles even more.

“I was happy with how we played in the first half; we’ve just got to be able to put a full game together,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “I know it’s an old saying, but it is what it is. You can’t just win on a half of football. We had too many busted coverages and missed assignments and things like that that came back to bite us.”

WHSPMHS
9First downs11
27-137Rushing-yards21-13
6-11-2Passing (C-A-I)23-37-0
54Passing yards320
3-0Fumbles-lost2-1
3-26.0Punts-average1-36.0
5-55Penalties-yards4-30
Woodstown (0-1)77070-21
Pennsville (1-0)06877-28

SCORING SUMMARY
WO-Mason Middlemiss 14 run (Jack Bucksar kick), 4:44 1Q
WO-Andrew White 28 pass from Mason Middlemiss (Jack Bucksar kick), 11:01 2Q
P-CJ Johnson 33 pass from Jake Layfield (kick failed), 1:01 2Q
P-Dante Cummings 3 pass from Jake Layfield (Lucas Thomas run), 6:45 3Q
WO-Mason Middlemiss 33 run (Jack Bucksar kick), 10:41 4Q
P-Jake Kimani 15 pass from Jake Layfield (Dante Cummings kick), 8:56 4Q
P-Tristan Horner 2 run (Dante Cummings kick), OT

Woodstown quarterback Mason Middlemiss (3), shown here trying to elude Pennsville’s Danny Knight (2), accounted for all three of the Wolverines’ touchdowns. (Photos by Lucky Shots)


Wednesday roundup

Woodstown, Schalick girls tennis teams suffer losses on the road

GIRLS TENNIS
Ocean City 4, Woodstown 1
Middle Twp. 5, Schalick 0

By Riverview Sports News

OCEAN CITY — Woodstown suffered its second loss of the girls tennis season, 4-1 at Ocean City, but the Wolverines did collect their first point of the year when their first doubles team won a pair of tiebreakers to take a straight-set win.

Emilee Kehr and Elliana Norman scored the Wolverines’ point when they outlasted Annabelle Terruso and Isabella Bailey 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (9-7). The Woodstown juniors fought back in both sets to take 6-5 leads before being extended to the tiebreakers.

“They really pushed through,” Woodstown coach Jesse Stemberger said. “It was a see-saw match with both teams having opportunities, but we were able to win the big points. It was another tough team, but I saw improvement from the first match to the second.”

OCEAN CITY 4, WOODSTOWN 1
Cecelia Mirsky (OC) def. Madison LaPalomento, 6-1, 6-0
Anna Wisnefski (OC) def. Emma West, 6-1, 6-1
Sydney Halliday (OC) def. Angelina Lindenmuth, 6-1, 6-1
Emilee Kehr-Elliana Norman (WO) def. Annabelle Terruso-Isabella Bailey 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (9-7)
Megan Hope-Bridget Higgins (OC) def. Isabella Lindenmuth-Eleanore Lawson, 6-3, 6-3.
Records: Ocean City 1-0, Woodstown 0-2.

MIDDLE TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0: The Cougars were swept in straight sets in their season opener in Cape May Court House.

MIDDLE TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0
Ella Leahy (MT) def. Olivia Lunemann, 6-0, 6-0
Morgan Sharpe (MT) def. Sebrina Bradford, 6-1, 6-3
Lyndsey McDevitt (MT) def. Jasmine Hunt, 6-3, 6-1
Alex Grier-Julianna Sittineri (MT) def. River Wojcik-Janae White, 6-1, 6-1
Casey Day-Blake Barnoski (MT) def. Abigail Sotela Hernandez-Jazmin Perez, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Middle Twp. 3-0, Schalick 0-1.