Category: FOOTBALL

Ready to work

Penns Grove’s Thomas ready to do whatever it takes to have a big senior year and help the Red Devils on the road back

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – When Jason Avant spoke to the Penns Grove football team earlier in the week he talked about some of the sacrifices he had to take his game to the next level. The former Eagles receiver wasn’t specifically talking to Terrell Thomas, but he could have been.

THOMAS

Thomas was an absolute beast for the local youth league powerhouse coming up and the Red Devils were hoping that rep would translate once he got on the high school field last year. He, of course, was hoping that, too.

It hadn’t gone that way for various reasons but as the running back/linebacker approaches his senior year he’s made some sacrifices on and off the field to help him make the most of his football potential.

“I’m going into my senior year, I have to make something shake,” he said. “I can’t settle for anything less. I have to go my hardest. I have to play my hardest. I have to put in work. I have make some sacrifices.

“What stuck with me was when he said he didn’t come in to college football and start; he had to work to get into that position. That was a lot of fuel right there. I’ve got to be better, even if I wasn’t coming in as the starter or whatever. If I’m trying to get better and get where I want to go, I’ve got to be better.”

One of those sacrifices was giving up some hours from his job as a host at a local restaurant. Teens like having their own money to spend, so that was a big move. His supervisors understand and are working with him so everyone’s goals are satisfied. The restaurant keeps a valued employee and Thomas gets to continue his quest to play college football with the ultimate goal of helping his family. 

“I’ve been playing football since I was 6 or 7; I’ve got a lot of love for football,” he said. “I don’t know where I would be without football.”

The Red Devils are looking for Thomas to take them places as well. He is expected to have what head coach Damian Ware calls a “major impact” and as one of only four seniors in the program he needs to.

Thomas, they say, was The Man while he played for the Twins, but since those days life intervened to keep him off the football field until last year. The time away took its toll.

The Red Devils were looking for big things from him last year and he did have flashes, but conditioning issues kept him from being all that he could be.

He led the team in carries and rushing yards, but he had only 293 yards on 73 carries in an offense that struggled to score. He also had 21 tackles on defense.

He went for 94 yards and a 42-yard touchdown against Schalick and had 146 yards on 31 carries in his last two games. But in between had back-to-back games with eight for minus-4 and four for 0. 

“Last year his conditioning didn’t allow him to play at a high level for long periods of time; that’s just the hiatus of not playing for 3, 4 years,” Ware said. “Going from the eighth grade to varsity football no matter what age you are is a big difference if you don’t play for 2, 3 years and I think that was the major difference for him, getting his feet back underneath of him and getting his conditioning right.

“That’s really the crux of what we’re doing right now. We’re out practicing, we’re conditioning, we’re running, we’re doing drills, we’re in the weight room, and that’s all stuff he didn’t really, I guess, take seriously last year. Now he’s taking it more seriously, he’s starting to realize this is my last year, so it’s now or never.”

And to make it all happen it takes making sacrifices.

Words to inspire

Former Eagles receiver Jason Avant visits Penns Grove workout, shares insights of qualities that got him on the field at Michigan, NFL and can help the Red Devils succeed

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Damian Ware wasn’t sure exactly when or where the conversation with Jason Avant took place, but he’s almost certain it happened on, of all places, a salsa dance floor.

The two have known each other for several years in a friendship that’s carried from the basketball court to the salsa circuit. They talk whenever they’re in the same place and it was during one of those conversations Ware shared he was in the running to become Penns Grove’s next head football coach and if it happened he wanted his friend to come talk to his team. If the timing worked out, Avant told him, he’d be there.

The former Eagles receiver fulfilled that promise Tuesday, spending about an hour with the Red Devils as they worked out on the practice field.

This wasn’t one of those call the local NFL Alumni chapter and hope they can send a player to talk to your team kind of things. Ware has a genuine friendship with the 10-year veteran who played eight seasons for the Eagles and finished his career in Kansas City in 2015.

It goes back to their days as teammates in the very competitive Don Polk Basketball League in Camden. Avant, a three-sport athlete growing up in the southside of Chicago before going on to play at the University of Michigan, was the small forward who could take it to the hole and was, Ware said, “a monster on the glass,” Ware, a reserve on an FDU basketball team that nearly upset UConn in the 1998 NCAA Tournament, was the guard who could bury it when Avant kicked it back out.

“He’s a shooter,” Avant said. “He definitely can score, but for our team he was the shooter. I would drive and he was the kick guy and he would splash that thing.”

When Polk died unexpectedly in 2022 and the league disbanded, they reconnected on the Mid-Atlantic salsa dancing circuit.

“We’re both very good, actually,” Ware didn’t mind saying (and there are YouTube videos to prove it). “We just get out there and have some fun. It comes back to being athletic because you’ve gotta have footwork. If you don’t have footwork, you can’t salsa dance. If you don’t have footwork, you can’t play football. If don’t have footwork, you can’t play basketball. It all ties together.”

There was no dipping into the salsa on this morning. This day was all about football.

Avant spoke to the team for about 15 minutes, sharing the life lessons that got him out of the toughest part of his city and helped get him on the field and become a reliable player on the levels many of the Red Devils aspire to reach.

“You love the opportunity because you try your best to say something that can be impactful to the next generation of kids,” Avant said. “I do it as much as I can. It can become overwhelming with the requests so I kind of limit it to the people I kind of know. It’s a blessing to be able to share as much information as I can. Hopefully it takes root.

“I remember doing a camp when I played and giving a speech after the camp. I was at the Eagles’ facility not too long ago and I get a tap on my shoulder and it’s (first-round draft pick) Jihaad Campbell. I’m like, oooh, you were one of the kids at the camp. He said I want to thank you, man, because what you said at the camp really inspired me, and that was many years ago and now he’s at the Eagles.

“Those are the things that kind of make it realistic for you, and that’s happened to me on maybe 10-15 occasions with guys around the league, so it’s a blessing to be able to do these type things in whatever facet it is. It’s not about the NFL as much as it is we want these kids to be successful in their endeavors in life, whatever that is, and we know football can be an avenue for them to be successful.”

Former NFL receiver Jason Avant points out the nuances of a particular pass pattern to Penns Grove’s Amonte Stone after addressing the team earlier in the day. Isaac Wright (9) listens intently.

The players listened intently as Avant talked about how, as receiver with less-than-NFL receiver speed, he was willing to do all the things it took to become an exceptional player, get on the field at Michigan and kept him in the NFL. It was by having the desire, work ethic and a love of the game that drove him to do what it took, sometimes doing it well into the night with a high school coach who recognized his potential.

It didn’t go unnoticed. Legendary Michigan coach Bo Schembechler recognized that a sophomore receiver named Jason Avant was always open on the film he saw and never dropped a pass, so he asked head coach Lloyd Carr what the player was doing standing between the two coaches and not on the field.

“It wasn’t that I was doing spectacular things,” he said. “It’s just that I got to a point where when you looked at the tape I was always open, so the quarterback and Bo Schembechler and everybody else realized I’m going to make the coaches look dumb (by not playing).

“That’s what you need to do at your position,” he told the players. “Don’t worry about the ball. You can affect the game without the ball. Everyone wants to talk about what they want rather than putting the action and the work in. So you’ve got to think about this: What am I doing to be exceptional?”

The message of working hard to get better is what stuck with the players most, where one day they’ll be the guy tapping Avant on the shoulder the way Jihaad Campbell did in Eagles camp not so long ago.

“It was inspirational,” said freshman quarterback Avery Batts, who raised his hand to answer Avant’s question about the meaning of leadership. “It was helping me out, telling what to do so I can be a better person than I am. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to end up like him, work as hard as I can so I can be on top.”

After addressing the players, Avant spent some time with the Red Devils’ receivers, giving them pointers on one play in particular.

“I ain’t going to lie, it was pretty cool,” junior Isaac Wright said. “It was very cool. Just the way he moved off the line, I could tell that’s an NFL type structure. It’s something different than high school. Kids in high school don’t really move that swiftly, for real. He’s still got it. And he’s not even in cleats.”

Ware was hoping Avant’s visit would be a source of inspiration for his young first team that’s coming off an 0-9 season that relegated them to the WJFL Independence Division. Looks like it has.

“We’re young, we have a lot of guys who are inexperience,” Ware said. “We’re finding out who can play what positions, who has the skills to play at the varsity level. Coming off an 0-9 season everything is fair game.”

Top photo: Penns Grove football coach Damian Ware introduces his friend and former NFL receiver Jason Avant to the Red Devils Tuesday morning.

Alcohol-free zones

Salem CC wants its fans to have an enjoyable college football experience, but will not be promoting tailgating as they’ll be playing on high school campuses 

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

With the countdown clock reading 28 days before camp opens and 54 days before the inaugural game, Salem Community College officials are fine-tuning the details for the first season of football. 

Everyone involved with the start-up want all who come to their four home games this inaugural season to have an enjoyable college football experience, but due in part to the nature of their scheduling the Mighty Oaks will not be promoting one of the more spirited elements of its traditions.

Because all their home games will be played on various high school campuses around the county that are alcohol- and tobacco-free, the college will not be promoting tailgating.

“We can’t do tailgating,” said SCC assistant athletics director Angel Rodriguez, who duties include overseeing game-day operations. “It’s a high school field and it’s a high school complex, ‘tailgating,’ that word, because it’s not an actually college venue, we can’t advertise for tailgating. We’re working through the fan experience so we do have ideas … about what’s going to actually be able to happen, but as far as the word ‘tailgating,’ we’re not promoting tailgating.

“We’re not advertising anything along those lines right now, just because it’s not our full-staff function. If it were an on-campus location, we could be flexible with a lot of that. Because it’s off-site and we’re utilizing a lot of the game-day staff already for each venue, it’s not something that we’re promoting. Plus, we’re on school grounds, so school grounds prohibit drinking and alcohol and all those … things.”

That’s not to say fans can’t create team spirit in spirit-less ways. Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas, whose school hosts the August 29 opener with Hudson Valley CC and the Oct. 17 game against Sussex CC, said he encourages grilling and other tailgating activities in the parking lots before the game, but alcohol is out. Police will have a presence in the lots to enforce compliance.

“We going to do things a little differently than we would do at a high school game,” Thomas said. “Obviously, we are alcohol- and tobacco-free, that’ll be something the police will be looking at, but in terms of the environment and cooking out, bringing a grill, we support all those things and we want people to come to Pennsville, come to our campus, have a good time, but do it in a safe way that follows the rules of a high school venue.

“We’re not going to control what happens off campus. Obviously, we don’t want people coming in super intoxicated, things like that, at games, but we realize it’s a little different environment than high school, but we still have to maintain the laws and the requirements we have when you do host an event on our campus.”

SCC athletics department officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday to solidify their game-day details. Thomas is schedule to meet with them Wednesday.

Ticket prices and packages also are among the items to be finalized. They are expected to fall in the $5-$10 range on a per game basis and purchasable through an electronic ticketing system.

In the games at Pennsville, the Mighty Oaks will use the Eagles’ stadium locker room, while the visiting team will use the middle school for pre- and in-game operations and then have access to the high school locker room and showers post-game.

The Mighty Oaks’ other two first-year home games will be played at Schalick Sept 12 and Penns Grove Sept. 19. Those schools’ game-day operations were not immediately known.

The games at Schalick and Penns Grove are scheduled for noon kickoffs. Game times for the two Pennsville games are not set, but are believed to be 1 p.m. (to accommodate Hudson Valley’s travel) and noon, respectively.

Since the school’s announced its plan to start football last fall, the program has received overwhelming support from within the region. Head coach Jay Accorsi and his evolving staff are expected to welcome more than 80 players when camp opens Aug. 3. Thomas, for one, is “very excited” to have the Mighty Oaks football program on his campus.

“I think this is an awesome opportunity for Salem County,” he said. “It’s an awesome opportunity for Pennsville and our community to really show off our great facility that we have here. There are a lot of our student-athletes who will benefit from this program even in this coming year.

“(Lineman) Jacob Hand is one who has already signed on to play, so we’re excited to be able to see Jacob at the next level on his home field again. I think there are going to be a lot of other kids who come through our program that this opportunity is a great opportunity that then provides further opportunities after the community college setting to move on to a D-I, D-II, D-III school and still have eligibility.”

Countdown continues

Still much to do, but things moving along towards Salem CC football’s first camp, Rodriguez promoted to assistant AD, and more from the notebook

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — The summer is supposed to be a time to unwind, relax and recharge, but when you’ve got a football program to get off the ground and opening day fast approaching there never seems to be enough time.

It’s 44 days before the opening of Salem Community College’s first fall football camp and 47 days before the first practice, and things are moving along.

Boxes of uniforms are all over athletics director Bob Hughes’ office, cartons of gear have been piling up in the field house, major practice equipment and storage containers have arrived, “mysteries” are being solved on the practice field, coaches still need to be hired and players are coming on board in droves.

“It’s still a work in progress,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “There’s so much to do.”

During a conversation earlier in the week Accorsi said the Mighty Oaks have more than 70 players in the fold with the anticipation of hitting their minimum target of 80 during the weekend. He could have more than twice that many if he wanted with all the interest the program has received since it was announced in the fall and launched in January, but he’s trying to be “intentional” in the vetting process to “make sure it’s a quality operation.”

A stable of 110 players would have everyone feeling more comfortable going into camp, 80 gives them sufficient numbers to get underway.

“I was hoping we’d be done (on the player front), just selfishly, so I could get to football and everything else, but we’re going to go all the way into training camp in August; that’s just how it’s going to be,” Accorsi said. “I didn’t want it to be that way, the program’s just not there yet … We’re close, but we’re going to be doing it all the way through camp. It is what it is, but it just shows the numbers … We’re getting four or five emails, I’m getting three or four texts, every day.”

The program has announced more than 40 signees on its social media channels and that traffic is expected to increase as high school seniors are walking across the graduation stage still uncertain of their football plans and others are learning two potential JUCO landing spots in the region are moving up to the NCAA Division II ranks. The reach has gone into Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, where there is currently no NJCAA football.

The players who have committed/signed fill every position on the team except specifically kicker and punter, and Accorsi said they have players who can handle those specialties if the Mighty Oaks don’t land one in the signing class. Camp opens Aug. 3, with practices to start Aug. 6.

“When we hit the 80 mark it’ll be pretty big,” Accorsi said. “We’re close. We might hit it this week, and then that’ll be pretty big for me.

“That’s the one that’s kept me up. Not that I don’t think we could get to it – we will – it’s just getting there. We went from 60 to 70 just over the  (previous) weekend. That’s the next hurdle. I think when we get to 80-85 I’ll feel good and when we get everything situated down on the practice facility then I’ll feel really good. And then when I get the coaches, for me, that’s probably the last piece.”

He hopes to add two to five more assistants over the next two weeks. Athletic department officials are expected to announced ticket prices and other game-day details around the Fourth of July. They took to social media this weekend to show New Jersey football’s newest jersey.

Salem CC athletic directors Bob Hughes (R) and head football coach Jay Accorsi show off the Mighty Oaks’ new football jerseys.

SUMMERTIME NOTES: Mighty Oaks softball coach Angel Rodriguez has been promoted to assistant athletic director where he’ll be responsible for, among other things in addition to his coaching duties, game management and sports information. Athletics director Bob Hughes said Rodriguez’ previous experiences in the athletic department “have made a tremendous impact on our programs” … The volleyball court has been installed in the field house in the run-up to that program’s maiden season in the fall … Men’s basketball has added depth to its roster in the offseason. The Mighty Oaks’ schedule is expected to have three JUCO Division II regular-season games, including Delaware Tech, no in-season tournament and scrimmages with Goldey-Beacom and Cheyney

ANNOUNCED SALEM CC FOOTBALL PLAYERS
PLAYERHOMETOWN/SCHOOL
Aiden AlexanderKingsway/Kutztown
Rabiou AlidouPhiladelphia/Audenried
Jayden Ali-WardLawnside/Sterling
Maxwell BattenWilmington, Del./St. Marks HS
x-DJ BinckNational Park/Gateway
Jerrell BurksBridgeton
Quyan CadePleasantville
Zahir CobbinsJersey City/Delran
Robert DalyPittsbrove/Schalick
Sam DaSilvaDelran
Jayir DavisCamden/Eastside
Jeremiah DaysMount Laurel/Lenape
Jordan Dozier-PinkettWildwood
Sean FerebeeWest Deptford/Williamstown
Sean GreshamFairfax, Va/Falls Church
Ryan GoodmondNewark, Del./Newark
M.J. HallWoodstown
Jacob HandPennsville
Aidan HillWilmington, Del./Brandywine
Xavier LeeNewark/William Penn HS
Jermar JonesWest Deptford/Chestnut Hill
Eric JordanWildwood
Darion JoynerBlackwood/Washington Twp.
Kahmaj KearneySmyrna, Del.
Ke-Marley MasonMarlton/Cherokee
Lamar McCoyMillsboro, Del./Cape Henlopen
Jamere MettsPhiladelphia/Clearview HS
Hayden MillerGlendora/Triton
John PettigrewBellmawr/Triton
Brian PritchettBridgeton/Sussex CC
Jovanni RiosSalem
Jack RobinsonMaple Shade
Kaleb RossElkton, Md./St. Elizabeth HS
Jeremiah RussellBridgeton
Jayden SanchezSewell/Washington Twp.
Ben SecoulerCherry Hill
x-Brody SelfridgeSewell/Clearview
Noah ShieldsBlackwood/Highland
Charlie ShuteNewark, Del./Conrad HS
Jamar SmithGlasgow
Raheem TomoneyPhiladelphia/Hudson Valley CC
Deven TompkinsBridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
William TorresWillingboro
Tyler WalkerManalapan/New Haven
Quaddi WallsClayton
Demere WhiteMillville
Demetris WilliamsClayton
Kielle WoodardBridgeton/Cumberland Reg.
Erik WorleySicklerville/Winslow HS

From Woodstown to the world

Wolverines recognizes14 more senior athletes who have signed with various colleges and universities to continue their playing, academic careers

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Joe Ursino was getting ready for another day in the life of Woodstown athletics director Thursday morning, but he knew this day felt different than most of the others.

For this was the day he got the enjoyable task of introducing the next wave college-bound Wolverines to the world. This was the day of Woodstown’s spring signing celebration, one of the AD’s favorite days of the year.

Ursino presided over festivities announcing 14 future college athletes to the world. Most had already signed their official paperwork for their programs of choice, but this was a day for collective public recognition and celebration.

“This is one of the days you get up to come to work (and) you’re not coming to work,” Ursino said. “We normally try to do it before the prom, so this is like the first celebration into the celebration season, so I like to be able to take advantage of that as the athletic director.

“Spent a lot of time with these kids. They’re all great kids. They all have different personalities, but like I said it doesn’t matter what their personality is, they all lean on each other, they appreciate each other. For me, I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

The group was impressive for its size, variety of schools chosen and the kaleidoscope of school colors on display.

It included Elizabeth Daly (Ursinus women’s lacrosse), Bryceton Rooney (Rochester football), Kyia Leyman (RCSJ-Gloucester women’s basketball), Ellie Wygand (FDU-Florham softball), Bryce Ayars (RCSJ-Cumberland soccer), Aidan Taulane (Rowan track), Sara Lodge (Rowan track), Anthony Costello (Georgian Court track), Kami Casiano (Wilmington track), Jacob Marino (Bloomsburg track), Emma Morgan (TCNJ women’s lacrosse), Joanna Winchell (TCNJ cheer) and Josh Crawford (Sacred Heart track).

That’s 11 different colleges and seven different sports represented Thursday. Add the group from the signing celebration the school held earlier this year and it’s another three schools and two more sports.

“It definitely impresses me seeing that people reached out to other places besides our local schools,” Ayars said. “It definitely impresses me that people reached out to farther places to see what they want to do in college and where the next home is for them.” 

“It speaks to our individuality,” Marino said. “Everyone’s found something they loved at all these schools and I think that’s really impressive. To find a place you love and want to be at is great, and I feel like it’s amazing that everyone found their home.”

Football Open House

Salem CC to hold informational Open House for interested players Saturday

CARNEYS POINT – With interest growing at an accelerated rate and the difficulty some players may have getting to campus during the week, the Salem CC football program will hold its second informational Open House for prospective players and interested members of the community Saturday in the college’s Davidow Hall.

The event is free and no pre-registration is required. Check-in will open at 9:30 a.m., with the program to begin at 10 a.m. in the theater. There will be an opportunity to ask questions of the coaches and players, who are currently in the middle of their inaugural spring practice, after the formal presentation.

The Mighty Oaks will play their inaugural season this fall.

The program conducted a quickly arranged Open House in February shortly after the program’s formal launch and it drew more than 40 participants. As interest has grown over the following months, as evidenced by the overwhelming number of inquiries that have come into the football office, team officials expect a larger turn out Saturday.

“I was surprised back on Presidents Day how many people showed up and the interest; I was really shocked,” head coach Jay Accorsi said. “I imagine this is going to be a bigger event, too.

“This seems to be the time a lot of players are deciding I’m not going to go to a four-year school, maybe now I want to play (again), things like that. Now seems to be that window for the JUCO players to start to seriously look and see if that’s what they want to do.”

Accorsi hinted they may hold another Open House in late May or June.

Top photo: Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi explains a drill to (from left) Aiden Alexander (5), Jermar Jones (5) and Brian Pritchett (3) during Wednesday’s spring practice session.

Venturing out

Salem Rams get board approval to open 2026 football season in Ohio; also scores and highlights from Wednesday’s Salem County sports schedule

WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
BASEBALL
Penns Grove 21, Salem 4
Woodstown 3, Glassboro 0
SOFTBALL
Salem 23, Penns Grove 0
Woodstown 10, Gloucester Catholic 7
TENNIS
Kingsway 3, Woodstown 2
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Westhampton Tech at Salem Tech
BOYS GOLF
West Deptford 164, Woodstown 194
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Cecil 5-1, Salem CC 0-11

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM – Kemp Carr is the type of coach who will play any team, anytime, anywhere, so when he came up empty going through New Jersey trying to find a Week Zero game for his Salem High School football team he went searching.

Wednesday night, the Salem City school board overwhelmingly approved a trip that will have the Rams opening their 2026 season in southwest Ohio, playing a historically strong program in a stadium that once was home to a team that would become a seminal NFL franchise.

The Rams will open their season Aug. 29 against Ironton, Ohio. The town is on the Ohio River, about eight hours from Salem, in the wedge between Kentucky and West Virginia.

The game will be played in Tanks Memorial Stadium, the original home of the Ironton Tanks, the legendary independent pro team (1919-30) that evolved into the Detroit Lions.

“I’m extremely excited for the kids having the opportunity to play other schools outside the state,” Carr said, “but also an opportunity for folks to see how we represent and play football for the state of New Jersey coming out of Salem as well as being able to give them some exposure to two colleges … so it’s a recruitable moment.”

Kemp sought out “several” in-state teams to complete the Rams’ schedule, but nothing materialized. He thought he had a game in West Virginia, but it fell through, too. He dropped an inquiry into the Ohio scheduling portal and said six responded positively within 30 minutes. He said he chose the Fighting Tigers because they were the first to respond.

The trip also will include an educational component as the team will make visits to Marshall University and Ohio University while there.

“The biggest thing for us, and it’s not just athletics, we really try to get our kids exposed to things that are outside of Salem County and outside of New Jersey and this is just another example of us being able to do that for our students,” retiring Salem principal John Mulhorn said. “It’s going to be a great opportunity for them.”

The Rams are trending upward after falling on some tough times the last couple years. They had their first winning season since 2022 last year, going 6-5 and reaching the second round of the South Jersey Group I playoffs after going winless the year before.

The last time they played out of state was 2023 when a late-developing scheduling snafu had them opening the season against Allentown’s Executive Education Charter in Lafayette College’s Fisher Stadium. They hosted Conwell-Egan (Pa.) in 2018.

“We’re glad we’re going to have a Week Zero game,” Carr said. “Last year we basically got Pleasantville at the last minute. Knowing that you’re going to have a Week Zero game in April feels a lot better than you getting that game in July or the end of May. This is good stuff.

“This is something that’s happening all over the state; we’re not the only ones. There are multiple teams that are going to be playing out of state. There are some New Jersey teams going to Florida and going to Texas. We’re just happy to get on a bus and go to Ohio.”

Ironton will give them a test. The Fighting Tigers have gone 60-8 since 2021 and produced 14 Division I players the last three years, but in 2026 they will be looking to bounce back from sanctions related to what the Ohio High School Athletic Association called “serious and pervasive” recruiting violations spanning 2018-25. Among its penalties were a ban from defending the 2024 Division V state title it retained, a fine, probation (three years) and coach suspensions for 2026..

District superintendent Sommer McCorkle told Huntington, W.Va., television station WSAZ in a statement last fall there would be “systemic changes” to local policies on enrollment and transfers following the OHSAA’s investigation and findings. Trevon Pendleton was retained as the Fighting Tigers’ head coach but the school board eliminated the athletics director position he held.

Last season they were officially 8-2, but won nine games on the field before having their final game forfeited. They put up 42 points in eight of their nine wins and 55 or more in all four of their games after the loss with a single-game high of 70. They played teams from New York, Virginia, Kentucky and Pennsylvania as well as Ohio.

The Fighting Tigers will have one game under their belt when they play the Rams. Their season opener takes place the same week Salem plays Camden in its preseason scrimmage.

“We don’t duck no smoke,” Carr said. “Iron sharpens iron and it can’t do anything but make us better one way or the other, no matter what the outcome is. We’re going to learn from it. We’re going to have an opportunity for a get-better moment. This is what you want to do. They’re extremely excited about it over there and so are we.”

SALEM RAMS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Week 0: at Ironton, Ohio
Week 1: Paulsboro
Week 2: Audubon
Week 3: at Schalick
Week 4: Overbrook
Week 5: Woodstown
Week 6: at Clayton
Week 7: at Burlington City
Week 8: at Pennsville

Baseball

WOODSTOWN 3, GLASSBORO 0: Drew Sutton’s two-run single to right in the sixth inning extended the lead and two pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout as the Wolverines avenged a walkout loss to the Bulldogs in their last game and snapped a two-game losing streak.

Sutton’s hit, his second of the game, came after Ty Coblentz and Luke Fraley opened the inning with singles. The Wolverines took a 1-0 lead in the second on Noah Williams’ two-out RBI single.

Walker Battavio pitched the first five innings of the shutout for the Wolverines. He allowed three hits, walked none and struck out seven. Freshman Talyn Priore worked the last two innings, giving up a hit and striking out one.

PENNS GROVE 21, SALEM 4: Liam Irvin had two doubles and six RBIs and was the winning pitcher as the Red Devils picked up their first win of the season.

Softball

WOODSTOWN 10, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 7: Senior Ellie Wygand’s first career homer, a two-run shot to left field, capped a five-run seventh inning that broke a 5-5 tie and lifted the Wolverines to victory. The homer came in her 188th career at-bat.

Lila Bowling got the winning rally started with a one-out double. Leah Clark singled home the go-ahead run. Another run scored on an error and Macie Moore singled home another run, setting the stage of Wygand’s homer.

SALEM 23, PENNS GROVE 0: Julliana Love hit an inside-the-park home run and Avah Brown pitched a four-inning no-hitter with eight strikeouts as the Rams scored their first win of the season.

Love went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs. Her homer came in a seven-run second inning. MMMMM Johnson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

Tennis

KINGSWAY 3, WOODSTOWN 2
Drew Stengel (WO) def. Aidan Shoemaker, 4-6, 6-4, 15-13
Nate Bradley (K) def. Mason Shimp, 6-2, 6-0
Jimmy Wilkes (K) def. Luke Shaw, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4
Shiven Shah-Nolan Steurer (K) def. Vincent Merendino-Nick DiTeodoro, 7-5, 7-5
Connor Miller-Josh King (WO) def. Aiden Barnes-Aiden Totten, 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 10-1
Records: Kingsway 4-0, Woodstown 3-2

Boys golf

WEST DEPTFORD 164, WOODSTOWN 194: Brady Cobb parlayed his local knowledge of Riverwinds Golf Club into two birdies and a 1-under-par 35 to win medalist honors and lead the Eagles to victory. Greyson Hyland posted Woodstown’s low round (42).
WEST DEPTFORD: Brady Cobb 35, Ben Perticari 39, Grayson Ryer 43, Chase Dunda 47.
WOODSTOWN: Nate Valente 50, Alejandro Vazquez 51, Greyson Hyland 42, Lucas Fulmer 51; Blake Bialecki 51, Austin Wood 56.

College softball

NORTH EAST, Md. — The Salem CC softball team split its doubleheader at Cecil College with each team’s winning pitcher delivering a gem.

Jordyn Busch threw a one-hitter as the Mighty Oaks won the nightcap 11-1 to earn the split. Cecil won the opener 5-0 with Taylor Stapleford spinning a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts

The only hit Busch allowed in the five-inning nightcap was a one-out single in the second inning. She gave up an unearned run, walked three and struck out six.

Lilly Peverelle, J.J. Aguirre and Emme Witter all had a pair of hits for the Mighty Oaks. Aguirre and Sawyer Simmons both drove in a pair of runs.

The no-hitter in the opener was Stapleford’s second of the season. The only balls the Mighty Oaks put in play against her were Peverelle’s ground out in the sixth inning and Savannah Palverento’s bunt to the pitcher in the seventh. She retired the last 13 batters she faced.

Historic first day

Accorsi puts 10 enthusiastic players through their paces on first day of Salem CC’s first-ever spring football practice

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – It was another historic day in the Salem CC football program and the best part about it was the players who went through it didn’t want it to end.

Jay Accorsi and his assistants put 10 players through their paces Monday on the first day of the first spring practice in the history of the Mighty Oaks’ fledgling program. They went through an hour and a half of introductions, indoctrinations and drills with the four coaches on the recently acquired Twins Field practice facility and when it was over the players stayed another 20 minutes to do more work on their own.

“It was awesome,” Accorsi said. “There’s a need for this junior college football program in the area. They’re all local players. I think it (the staying after) shows how much they miss football, how much this opportunity is going to provide them to do football again and go to school, and I think it just reaffirms all the things I believe in why to do this program and start it. They were just ecstatic to be out there. It was a great day.”

The group, decked out in shorts and brand-new green practice jerseys, includes defensive backs, wide receivers, two running backs, a lineman and a quarterback – players already enrolled when the program officially launched Jan. 28. Accorsi anticipates more than 80 players when the team reconvenes for its first preseason camp in the summer.

“The newness of the program certainly revealed itself with all the new stuff,” Accorsi said. “I think they were really excited and jazzed up. I think if you were to ask them they had a great time. It’s exactly what they were looking for. We’re really excited to be there.”

Spring practices will continue through the month of April.

The Mighty Oaks open their inaugural season Aug. 29 against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School. They will play a preseason scrimmage at Montclair State Aug. 21.

First schedule set

Salem CC’s inaugural football season to open with three straight home games at three different county high schools

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Three home games to open the season and four in three of Salem County’s five high school stadiums highlight the “traveling road show” that will be Salem Community College’s inaugural football season.

The Mighty Oaks finally matched dates with venues to complete their eight-game first-year schedule. They’ll open the season August 29 at Pennsville High School against Hudson Valley CC. They’ll play Nassau CC at Schalick on Sept. 12 and Thaddeus Stevens at Penns Grove Sept. 19. Their final home game is Oct. 17 at Pennsville against Sussex, the only other JUCO in the state that offers football.

Athletics director Bob Hughes said “it just kind of happened” that the first three games fell at home. The Mighty Oaks wanted to play an early game at home and head football coach Jay Accorsi said they took “what we could get” in order to play “legitimate teams and both military preps.”

During the weekends the Mighty Oaks use the county high school stadiums, the high school schedule for those teams has Pennsville hosting Woodstown, Schalick visiting Woodstown, Penns Grove hosting Pitman and Pennsville is at Schalick.

“All the credit goes to Jay in terms of putting the schedule together,” Hughes said. “We had talked through a lot of the parameters and are grateful to have partners in the local high schools and be able to partner with them to bring this, as we call it, our traveling road show across the county.

“It’s exciting. It makes it feel more real, especially as we go into having our first workouts this week. It’s happening.”

Their road games are Sept. 25 at Army Prep, Oct 3 at Sussex, Oct. 23 at Navy Prep (at Annapolis) and Oct. 31 at Erie CC.

“We thought it was important to have (a home game) early on,” Hughes said. “I am very happy we have this first stretch at home to hopefully establish a little bit of presence with the community.”

SALEM CC 2026 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DATETEAMTIMEVENUE
Aug. 29Hudson ValleyTBDPennsville
Sept. 12NassauNoonSchalick
Sept. 19Thaddeus StevensNoonPenns Grove
Sept. 25at Army Prep6:30 p.m.
Oct. 3at SussexTBD
Oct. 17SussexTBDPennsville
Oct. 23at Navy Prep2:30 p.m.Annapolis
Oct. 31Erie CCTBD



Staff taking shape

Salem CC adds Crowley, Troy to its football coaching staff, Accorsi designates coordinators

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi has added two assistants to his coaching staff and designated coordinator assignments just in time for the start of the program’s first spring practice Monday.

Accorsi on Wednesday confirmed the appointments of Chris Crowley and Damon Troy to join previously hired Joe Dougherty as his assistants. Their contracts are expected to be ratified by the school’s board of trustees April 9.

“I think it’s the start of a really great staff, which I knew would be kind of the easier pieces to put together,” Accorsi said. “I’m super ecited for both. They’re great, great people moreso than just coaches and I know they’re going to be able to mentor our young men here in this process of being in the community college and starting up, so I’m really, really excited that both of them are joining us.”

Crowley, a former head coach at Woodrow Wilson and Deptford high schools, will serve as the Mighty Oaks’ offensive coordinator with his position specialty still to be determined. Dougherty, who has been with the program since Accorsi was approved as head coach, will be the defensive coordinator and coach linebackers. Troy, a former Penn State and Rowan player, will coach defensive backs and likely be the assistant special teams coordinator.

Accorsi will be the special teams coordinator.

“I think it’s important as the head coach that I be involved in all the players,” he said. “Even though I was enticed to be one of either the offensive or defensive coordinator, I think it’s important I get to know all the players, which, really, special teams you’re involved with all the players.”

Crowley was head coach at Woodrow Wilson (now Camden Eastside) from 2008-11 and Deptford’s coach from 2014-2016 with a year as a Paul VI assistant in between. His Woodrow Wilson teams went 21-20, winning a WJFL Independence Division title in 2011. His Deptford teams were 9-21, but each won more games than the year before.

“Chris I’ve known for a long time,” Accorsi said. “He impressed me when he was the head coach at Woodrow Wilson High School (and) personally drove a player over (to Rowan) one day later on in the recruiting process and that player ended up being a really good player for us and a great young man … so that really impressed me when I met him early on.

“I’ve known him for a long time in all his different stints and a lot of different positions he was at, but that one struck me at Woodrow Wilson. He just really impressed me in that environment that he was in that I think will be able to give him some great experience to be in the environment and young men we’re with here. He’s somebody I had on the radar early in the process and certainly it worked out.”

Troy was one of Middle Township’s all-time best quarterbacks and an all-conference defensive back for then-assistant coach Accorsi at Rowan in 1997 and 1998 after transferring from Penn State. He helped the Profs to back-to-back appearances in the Division III national title game. 

“He was a great player for us,” Accorsi said. “What really impressed me about Damon when he was a player was he took a lot of younger players under his wing and really helped them in a lot of other areas besides football. He reached out to me in the process early on and had an interest getting into college coaching and I think it’s just a natural fit. He was somebody I always knew would be a great coach and had an interest in jumping in doing it. He’s going to be phenomenal.”

Accorsi said the next critical piece to building the staff is the offensive line coach and that search is continuing.

Salem CC approved bringing football to campus in November with designs on starting play this coming fall. The school recently purchased a piece of property in Carneys Point to serve as its practice field. The coaches expect about a dozen players already enrolled at school to participate in spring drills.

This story will be updated.