Category: FOOTBALL

Wearing ’em down

Woodstown keeps the ball on the ground, runs past Pennsville to reach Central Jersey Group I finals

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I
Friday’s Semifinals
Woodstown 21, Pennsville 6
Shore 17, Woodbury 7
Nov. 15 Championship
(2) Shore at (1) Woodstown

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Back in the day when Woodstown football was at its best, the Wolverines would run over, run around and run through opponents to get where they wanted to go. Sometimes it’s good to go back to the past to find the way forward.

The Wolverines went back to their roots Friday night, just pounding play after play on the ground and that strategy carried them past county rival Pennsville 21-6 in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals.

They wound up with 213 yards on 39 time-consuming carries and now will host unbeaten Shore Regional for the sectional championship next week.

“Running has been part of Woodstown football for a very long time – it’s been run, run, run,” running back Alex Torres said. “Then we’ve had amazing quarterbacks come through here and we’ve been in the pass game. They couldn’t stop the run, so we just kept running and we were putting the ball down their throat.”

“It was just working,” quarterback Garrett Leyman said. “We knew we could pound the ball down their throats. We got some long drives in and capitalized.”

Their longest drive of the night actually sealed the game. They put together a 10-minute, 16-play, 90-yard drive that started in the third quarter and ended in the fourth and was capped by Torres’ third short-yardage touchdown of the game. There were 15 running plays in the drive.

The Wolverines threw only four passes in the game. Pennsville coach Mike Healy figured to see a lot of run from them, but nothing quite like that.

“I expected them to be very run heavy; I didn’t think it was going to be that much, but they were having success,” he said. “There was one drive in the third into fourth quarter they just kept getting yards. We knew they could run the ball, we knew they’re tough up front. We still feel like we’re tough up front, too, there were just a couple things kind of went their way.”

The Wolverines (9-1) showed right off the bat they meant business when it came to running the football. Torres took the first snap of the game for 26 yards. In fact, the first play of each of their first six possessions in the first half went for 26, 10, 2 (touchdown), 5, 20 (a pass) and 52 yards.

“We want to establish the run and we want to run the ball,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “And if we’re able to do that and feel like we’re getting what we need to get to, then that’s going to be the plan; we’ll stick with it.”

“I’ve got to give props to our line,” Leyman said. “They were out there grinding. It was a hard-fought win for them, too.”

Woodstown’s Alex Torres (6) bursts through a big hole in the line for one of his three touchdowns against Pennsville. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Once again the Wolverines got big games from their next men up – Torres and Leyman.

Torres, drawing the start at running back ahead of Bryce Belinfanti for the second week in a row, rushed for 111 yards on a career-high 23 carries and scored all three Woodstown touchdowns on short-yardage runs (2, 3, 2). It was his second straight 100-yard game and third of his career.

The Wolverines continue to go slow with the ankle Belinfanti rolled in the Glassboro game. The senior was back in the game Friday, but got most of his time against the Eagles on defense. He did get one carry — late in the third quarter – and picked up a first down with it. He still needs 10 yards for his second straight 1,000-yard season rushing.

“I just knew I couldn’t let my team down,” said Torres, who had 152 yards rushing in the playoff opener against KIPP. “I knew that I worked all summer for this and as soon as they brought me up I knew it was my time to show what I can do and I definitely did. As soon as they said my name I knew I had to put everything out there for my team.”

Leyman, meanwhile, continues to hold the reins at quarterback and he rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries. Most of his yards came on a 52-yard burst that set up Torres’ second touchdown.

It was reminiscent of his days as a running quarterback as an eighth grader, the last time he played the position before being thrust into the role at Salem (with great success) following the shoulder injury to starter Jack Holladay in the Haddon Heights game Oct. 12.

“It definitely reminded me of eighth grade,” he said. “I feel like that’s my strong suit, my running game. I know I just had to do it.”

The Wolverines are hopeful of a full return for both injured players – Belinfanti, Trautz said, is “almost 100 percent,” almost to the point the Wolverines could have used him on offense Friday they needed to, and Holladay is “getting closer” – but they’re also confident they can continue to succeed with these next men up as the go deeper into the playoffs.

“One hundred percent,” Trautz said. “These aren’t backup players who are playing. These are guys who have played a million varsity game for us. If we need to, we’re ready to roll with them and we’re very confident in what they can do.”

“It just shows how dominant we can be,” Leyman said. “We have guys all over the place who can step in and play when their number is called.”

Pennsville came out ready to go. The Eagles put together a five and a half minute, nine-play, 86-yard drive on their first possession with Robbie McDade hooking up with Malik Rehmer on a 53-yard pass play for the game’s first score. But the Eagles missed the extra point.

They held the lead until a muffed punt later in the quarter set up Woodstown at 2. Torres scored his first touchdown on the next snap and Jake Ware’s extra point gave the Wolverines the lead for good.

Woodstown’s Bump Carter (71) is in hot pursuit of Pennsville quarterback Robbie McDade. Carter sacked McDade for a big loss late in the fourth quarter. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Woodstown 21, Pennsville 6

PVILLEWOOD
61st Downs11
17-75Rushing39-213
6-14-1C-A-I2-4-0
77Passing41
2-2Fum-lost2-0
4-28.5Punts5-31.6
1-5Penalties5-35
Pennsville6000-6
Woodstown 7707-21

SCORING SUMMARY
P-Malik Rehmer 53 pass from Robbie McDade (kick failed), 3:29 1Q
WO-Alex Torres 2 run (Jake Ware kick), 1:11 1Q
WO-Alex Torres 3 run (Jake Ware kick), 1:03 2Q
WO-Alex Torres 2 run (Jake Ware kick), 7:18 4Q

Playoff head-to-head

Here are the records of Salem County teams in head-to-head playoff matchups since 2003.

TEAMPGSALPVLWOOSCHTOTAL
Penns Grove—2-10-11-13-06-3
Salem1-2—1-01-01-14-3
Pennsville1-00-1—1-2NA2-3
Woodstown1-10-12-1—1-04-3
Schalick0-31-1NA0-1—1-5

This week’s schedule

The South Jersey Group I & II playoffs in boys soccer, girls soccer, field hockey and volleyball get underway this week. Here is the weekly sports schedule for teams in Salem County for the week of Nov. 4-9

NOV. 4
GIRLS SOCCER
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
(9) Clayton at (8) Gateway, 2 p.m.
(12) Pennsville at (5) Riverside, 3 p.m.
(13) Buena at (4) Haddon Twp., 4 p.m.
(14) Wildwood at (3) Woodstown, 2 p.m.
(11) Maple Shade at (6) Palmyra, 2 p.m.
(10) Pitman at (7) Glassboro, 2 p.m.
(15) Cape May Tech at (2) Schalick, 3 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT 
(16) Audubon at (1) Shore
(9) Florence at (8) Salem, 2 p.m.
(12) Lower Cape May at (5) Gloucester
(13) Haddon Twp. at (4) Haddon Heights
(14) Maple Shade at (3) West Deptford
(11) Bordentown at (6) Gateway, 4 p.m.
(10) Collingswood at (7) Woodstown
(15) South Hunterdon at (2) Schalick, 2 p.m.

NOV. 5
BOYS SOCCER
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
(16) Cape May Tech at (1) Schalick, 2 p.m.
(9) Penns Grove at (8) Pitman, 2 p.m.
(12) Gateway at (5) Audubon, 2 p.m.
(13) Pennsville at (4) Haddon Twp., 4 p.m.
(14) Woodbury at (3) Palmyra, 4 p.m.
(11) Glassboro at (6) Riverside, 4 p.m.
(10) Maple Shade at (7) Wildwood, 2 p.m.
(15) Clayton at (2) Woodstown, 4 p.m.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP II TOURNAMENT
(15) Salem Tech at (2) Haddon Heights
VOLLEYBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP II TOURNAMENT
(14) Salem Tech at (3) Seneca

NOV. 6
FIELD HOCKEY
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Salem at Shore, 4 p.m.
Gloucester at Haddon Heights, 2 p.m.
Bordentown at West Deptford, 2 p.m.
Collingswood at Schalick, 2 p.m.
WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC at Bryn Mawr, 7 p.m.

NOV. 7
GIRLS SOCCER
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Gateway at Audubon
Riverside at Haddon Twp.
Palmyra at Woodstown
Glassboro at Schalick

NOV. 8
FOOTBALL
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I PLAYOFFS
Riverside at Glassboro, 6 p.m.
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 p.m.
CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I PLAYOFFS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Woodbury at Shore, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Pitman at Schalick
Audubon at Haddon Twp.
Riverside Palmyra
Wildwood at Woodstown

NOV. 9
CROSS COUNTRY
NJSIAA Group Championships, Holmdel Park
MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Delaware County CC at Salem CC, noon

Familiar foe, familiar result

Cougars offense catches up to defense, together they blank Audubon in the opening round of the playoffs for second year in a row; contains updated material

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Friday’s Games
(1) Glassboro 64, (8) Pt. Pleasant Beach 7
(2) Schalick 24, (7) Audubon 0
Saturday’s Games
(5) Riverside 40, (4) Haddon Twp. 20
(3) Paulsboro 34, (6) Manville 9
Nov. 8 semifinals
Riverside at Glassboro
Paulsboro at Schalick

By Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Wasn’t it that famous old sage Yogi Berra who once said it was like deja vu all over again?

Schalick played Audubon in the opening round of the Group I playoffs for the second year in a row Friday night and it felt like a rerun.

The Cougars took out the Green Wave 24-0 in their first game in the South Jersey Group I bracket. It was 35-0 last year in the Central Jersey bracket.

The Cougars (7-3) now host Paulsboro in the sectional semifinals Friday. Paulsboro beat Manville 34-9 Saturday. The Cougars shut out Paulsboro 17-0 on Oct. 7.

“If we go out and we play to the level we’re capable of playing … we’re hard to beat when we don’t make mistakes,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “If we don’t mistakes, even if we’re not moving the ball great, we have very good special teams and we’re playing very good defense.”

Schalick held the Green Wave to less than 100 yards of net offense and just 1-of-12 third-down conversions. It was the Cougars’ third shutout of the season.

It was a battle of punters and field position early, which the Cougars really didn’t mind, but they finally broke the ice when Kenai Simmons went on a 9-yard touchdown run with 6:01 left in the first half. Once they adjusted to the way the Wave was playing their unique offense, Simmons threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Levi Feeney-Childers in the third quarter. Simmons passed for 99 yards and rushed for 13.

“Our kids have to learn to be patient that sometimes winning ugly is OK,” Wilson said. “What I mean by ugly is … it’s OK to punt and play defense sometimes.

“One of my buddies said to me even though it was 7-0 (at halftime) the way you guys are playing special teams and defense you weren’t going to lose that game.”

The Cougars extended their lead in the fourth on Dragotta’s 28-yard field goal and Dezyon Purnell’s touchdown run. Dragotta handled both the punting and placements in the game. His leg got a workout in the first half and he came within inches of hitting a school-record field goal late in the half, the ball hitting the left upright.

“It takes us a couple series to figure out how people are going to line up to us,” Wilson said. “If you notice every game once we figure it out and make our adjustments then we start scoring points. We came out the second half and just blew the ball right down the field.

“The kids have to just relax and understand we have great special teams, we have a very good defense and the offense will score points because we’re too talented not to. Just calm down and play football.”

Schalick 24, Audubon 0

AUDSCH
51st Downs9
17-30Rushing36-106
12-27-1C-A-I4-15-0
54Passing99
1-1Fum-Lost0-0
NAPunts6-36.3
NAPenalties4-29
Audubon (2-6)0000-0
Schalick (7-3)07710-24

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Kenai Simmons 9 run (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S-Levi Feeney-Childers 70 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S-Hunter Dragotta 28 FG
S-Dez Purnell run (Hunter Dragotta kick)

Another ‘next man’ delivers

Torres steps in as lead running back and has a career night as Woodstown tops KIPP Academy in CJ Group I playoffs; Next up: Pennsville

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — The Woodstown football team has been surviving the second half of the season in a next-man-up kind of world, and Friday night another next-man-up came up big for the Wolverines.

Alex Torres stepped in for injured Bryce Belinfanti as the Wolverines’ lead running back and the senior responded with a career-high 152 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Wolverines got past KIPP Cooper Norcross 31-8 in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group I playoffs.

“He was ready for the moment,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “We were confident in him and we knew he’d be able to deliver for us. He’s a great kid who plays super tough, does everything we ask him and he had his moment tonight.”

It’s not like he came in from left field. Torres has been big part of the rotation the last two years and he came into Friday’s game with 19 carries for 45 yards and no touchdowns. His previous single-game high rushing was 120 yards and two scores last year at Deptford.

The first two times he touched the ball Friday he went for 8 and 9 yards. He had six runs of 10 yards or more in the second half, including consecutive carries of 20, 13 and 15 yards.

The Wolverines’ offensive depth chart has been taking a hit in recent weeks. They already were playing with their third quarterback as Garrett Leyman continued to fill in as senior starter Jack Holladay continues to rehab a sprained shoulder, and that in turn shuffled their receiver rotation. Holladay gets re-evaulated Monday.

Belinfanti hurt his ankle in last week’s Diamond Division championship game at Glassboro and although he spoke confidently after the game of his return this week he didn’t play Friday. He was available if needed, but the coaching staff decided to give him another week’s rest.

“I think it’s a testament to our team,” Trautz said of the Wolverines’ ability to maintain their standard through the adversity. “We have faith and trust in the system, the kids trust the coaching and they trust their rules and Alex was able to execute tonight.

“I know we’re playing some backups at certain positions, but they’re not backup players. They’re really good football players who are doing whatever it takes to help us win right now.”

The Wolverines (8-1) now host county rival Pennsville in the sectional semifinals next Friday night.

Woodstown 31, KIPP 8

KIPP (6-4)0008-8
Woodstown (8-1)72715-31

SCORING SUMMARY
Wo-Garrett Leyman 7 run (Jake Ware kick), 1:25 1Q
Wo-Safety
Wo-Alex Torres 20 run (Jake Ware kick), 7:55 3Q
Wo-Alex Torres 1 run (Jake Ware kick), 9:11 4Q
Wo-Laitton Roberts 1 run (Bryceton Rooney pass from Carter Orlandini), 5:05 4Q
K-Michael Morton 25 run (Michael Morton pass from YahSan Cosby)

Woodstown’s Corbin Walz (54) comes off the field celebrating another sack in Friday night’s playoff game against KIPP. On the cover, Alex Torres (6) gets to the corner on his way to another big gain. (Photos by Ellen Sickler)



Living the dream

Big-man defensive touchdown kicks off Pennsville’s rout of Burlington City, Eagles’ first playoff win since 2016; Next up: Woodstown

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I
Friday’s Games
(1) Woodstown 31, (8) KIPP Cooper Norcross 8
(5) Pennsville 41, (4) Burlington City 20
(6) Woodbury 35, (3) Middlesex 28
(2) Shore 21, (7) New Egypt 0
Nov. 8 Semifinals
Pennsville at Woodstown
Woodbury at Shore

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News 

BURLINGTON – Jayden Gurnovich has been dreaming of scoring a touchdown his whole life. It’s the No. 1 dream of defensive linemen everywhere.

He just couldn’t believe his good fortune when the Burlington City quarterback just laid the ball in his hands less than two minutes into their playoff game Friday night.

Recognizing the screen pass that was about to come, the big Pennsville junior defensive end jumped the route, got his big paws in the air and simply absorbed the football he couldn’t believe came his way.

Then he effortlessly changed directions and motored his 290-pound frame through 31 yards of open field for the early touchdown that sent his Eagles off on an historic 41-20 win over Burlington City in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs.

“I’ve been dreaming of this my whole life; it’s very rare to happen,” Gurnovich said. “When I caught the ball I thought I was in a dream. When I was running I was just ready to wake up because it didn’t feel real at all. It was something special … the best thing ever.”

“There’s nothing better in football than a big-man’s touchdown,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said.

And once he caught the ball, it wasn’t like he was some big lumbering hulk plodding his way downfield just hoping he’d make it before somebody ran him down. Nobody was catching him.

“Every day in practice we work on jet sweeps, getting the timing down,” senior receiver Malik Rehmer said. “Gurney’s supposed to pull and block for me and every day when I’m running I cannot catch him. It’s unbelievable. I’m pretty fast for my weight, but he gets 10 yards ahead of me and I can’t catch him. 

“He’s a tremendous athlete. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen a big man get a pick-six in high school. He doesn’t practice that. He’s a great athlete.”

Pennsville lineman Jayden Gurnovich (79) is congratulated on the sidelines after returning an interception for a touchdown that sent the Eagles on their way to victory in the Group I playoffs.

What it did was energize the Eagles even more than the day. It was their first playoff game since 2019 and their first playoff win since 2016. They also made the playoffs in 2017. The Eagles (6-4) now play top-seeded Woodstown in the sectional semifinals next week.

“It’s kind of a weight off the back, just like winning The Boot earlier this year,” Healy said, referencing the Eagles’ rivalry win over Penns Grove for the Wildman Willey Trophy. “We set these goals each year and we want to get them. Keep checking them off. It’s kind of a relief. It’s excitement. I’m just really fired up right now, to be honest.”

The Eagles dominated the Blue Devils on both sides of the ball when their regulars were in the game. They started the half with Gurnovich’s defensive score and ended the half with Rehmer’s 58-yard pick-six. In between they scored on three consecutive offensive possessions on 18 total plays, including a 55-yard score by Rehmer on the jet sweep.

Rylan Hardy scored the other two touchdowns, on a 25-yard pass from Robbie McDade and a 2-yard run. Hardy, the Eagles’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2016 (Nick Bard), ran for 61 yards to bring his season total to 1,064.

“Overall in the first half we did everything we set out to do and executed,” Healy said. “Earlier this season that was lacking but the last couple games we’ve been really executing a lot better.”

Pennsville 41, Burlington City 20

PVILLEBC
131st Downs9
27-223Rushing27-68
2-3-0C-A-I8-12-2
21Passing97
1-1Fum-lost4-1
1-30.0Punts4-36.0
3-25Penalties6-75
Pennsville132170-41
Burlington City 08012-20

SCORING SUMMARY
P-Jayden Gurnovich 31 interception return (kick failed), 10:05 1Q
P-Malik Rehmer 55 run (Malik Rehmer kick), 1:56 1Q
BC-Caleb Hilton-Ingram 10 pass from Kysir Hodges (Malachi Sadler run), 6:49 2Q
P-Rylan Hardy 25 pass from Robbie McDade (Malik Rehmer kick), 3:48 2Q
P-Rylan Hardy 2 run (Malik Rehmer kick), 31.7 2Q
P-Malik Rehmer 58 interception return (Malik Rehmer kick), 9.3 2Q
P-Jovanni Rios 55 run (Luke Wood kick), 3Q
BC-Malachi Sadler 19 pass from Kysir Hodges (run failed), 8:40 4Q
BC-Malachi Sadler 30 pass from Kysir Hodges (run failed), 5:56 4Q

This week’s schedule

The first round of the NJSIAA football playoffs highlights the schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 28-Nov. 2

MONDAY
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Penns Grove
Salem Tech at Schalick
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Salem
Pennsville at Wildwood
Schalick at Salem Tech
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland

TUESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville
Glassboro at Woodstown
Millville at Schalick
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech

WEDNESDAY
FIELD HOCKEY
Oakcrest at Pennsville
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS SOCCER
Vineland at Woodstown
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Penn State Brandywine at Salem CC, 5:45 p.m.

FRIDAY
FOOTBALL
South Jersey Group I playoffs
Point Pleasant Beach at Glassboro
Audubon at Schalick
Central Jersey Group I playoffs
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Woodstown
Pennsville at Burlington City
Woodbury at Middlesex
New Egypt at Shore

BOYS SOCCER
Schalick at Cumberland

SATURDAY
FOOTBALL
South Jersey Group I playoffs
Riverside at Haddon Twp.
Manville at Paulsboro
CROSS COUNTRY
Sectionals at Dream Park

Playoff bound or missed cut?

Penns Grove remains optimistic about Group I playoff berth after shutting out Salem, awaits official calculations (UPDATE: Late update has Red Devils on the outside)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE — In college basketball, if a team on the bubble hits a buzzer-beater to win the opening game in its conference tournament they used to call it a $250,000 shot because that’s about what a first-round NCAA Tournament game was said to be worth.

Tre Brown delivered the high school football equivalent to Penns Grove Saturday — minus the monetary incentive, of course — in their regular-season game that they hope won’t be their final game of the year. 

Brown’s 25-yard scoop and score in the second quarter was the defining play in the Red Devils’ 27-0 win over Salem that for all intents sent them to the South/Central Jersey Group I playoffs.

At least that’s the way the players felt about it as they left Jim Devonshire Field. In the post-game huddle they talked about playing “a red team or a green team” they had faced previously this season in next week’s opening round. Glassboro is expected to be the No. 1 seed in South Jersey.

“We have a shot; I think we made it,” sophomore running back KaRon Ceaser said.

First-year Penns Grove coach Marc Maccarone wouldn’t speculate on the Red Devils’ fate after the game because the formula for determining the qualifiers is so different than it was when he previously coached.

All of the projections have them landing a spot between 13 and 16 in the UPR ratings based largely on their strength of schedule. One numbers crunch has them landing at No. 15 and winning a tiebreaker over KIPP for the spot and playing Shore Regional in the first round of the Central Jersey bracket.

They went into game No. 16 in the official UPR ratings the state uses to determine the seedings and No. 17 in an unofficial Central Jersey Sports Radio ranking updated Friday night that’s proven to be just as accurate as the official standing. Saturday is the cutoff for calculations and presumptive pairings usually begin appearing in various media as the day wears on.

“Obviously, getting the win was definitely something we needed,” Maccarone said. “We’re down here trying to build a program and if the opportunity for us to get in the playoffs is there you can kind of put your record to bed because everyone is 0-0 going to the playoffs … and it’s not unheard of for a low seed to knock off a top seed. If we’re let into the playoffs, anything can happen.”

(UPDATE: In the 6:45 p.m. Saturday update on Gridiron NJ, the official state UPR source, Penns Grove missed the cut at 17. Projected Group I pairings from the official site are below:)

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP 1 TOP 16: Glassboro, Woodstown, Shore, Paulsboro, Schalick, Burlington City, Middlesex, Riverside, Haddon Twp., Pennsville, Woodbury, Manville, Audubon, KIPP Cooper Norcross, New Egypt, Point Pleasant Beach

SOUTH JERSEY
Point Pleasant Beach at Glassboro
Riverside at Haddon Twp. (Sat.)
Manville at Paulsboro (Sat.)
Audubon at Schalick

CENTRAL JERSEY
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Woodstown
Pennsville at Burlington City
Woodbury at Middlesex
New Egypt at Shore

Oh, there was pressure to get in. The Red Devils had to beat the Rams in order to gain the requisite minimum of two wins to qualify; lose and they wouldn’t have even been in the conversation and Salem could celebrate avoiding its first winless season since 2012. 

The Red Devils (2-7) would have made things easier on themselves had they not blown a nine-point third-quarter lead against Woodbury last week or held on to several games that went sideways late.

“The pressure was there, it was there,” Ceaser said. “We felt pressure because we felt like this season could have gone a lot better, a lot better. We feel like we could be a team that could compete for the championship.

“In every game we lost we beat ourselves. Turnovers, missed tackles, penalties. We’re just cleaning everything up to get into the playoffs.”

Brown’s scoop and score came in the second quarter with the Red Devils already leading 7-0. It was his first career touchdown.

“That was nice,” he said. “It was a great play from my teammates who blew the play up and all that. I saw the ball on the floor, just picked it up and ran it in.

“It was really important, it boosted the team’s morale and all that, but just that play alone did not get us in the playoffs. It was all the plays the whole game, but that play was really important.”

“That scoop and score, that’s what really put us over the top and let us know we’ve got to go get this,” sophomore lineman Ray Brown said.

In addition to Brown’s score, the Red Devils got three touchdowns from Ceaser. The sophomore scored on runs of 6 and 27 yards and caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Melo Erickson. He rushed for 151 yards in the game, leaving him 139 yards shy of a second straight 1,000-yard season.

Ceaser’s first touchdown capped a 65-yard drive that took up nearly the first eight minutes of the game. He carried it eight times in the 11-play drive.

“It’s good that you’re starting to finally see the fruits of all the hard work,” Maccarone said. “Changing an offense from last year to this year, being able to start to see really the last three weeks offensive production starting to come. The scoreboard wasn’t necessarily indicative of it, but the offense has been taking strides the last four weeks, so it was good to kind of see it come to blossom.”

Penns Grove’s Isaiah Upshur wraps up Salem quarterback Troy Cater for a sack Saturday. On the cover, Red Devils coach Marc Maccarone talks to his team after they shut out the Rams to enhance their playoff hopes.

Penns Grove 27, Salem 0

SALEMPG
11st Downs16
13-11Rushing43-273
8-13-1C-A-I3-9-0
38Passing29
2-2Fum-lost1-1
3-37.3Punts0-0
5-50Penalties9-50
Salem0000-0
Penns Grove 61407-27

SCORING SUMMARY
PG-KaRon Ceaser 4 run (kick failed), 4:10 1Q
PG-Tre Brown 25 yard fumble return (pass failed), 8:41 2Q
PG-KaRon Ceaser 27 run (Knowledge Young pass from Melo Erickson), 3:08 2Q
PG-KaRon Ceaser 6 pass from Melo Erickson (Tre Brown kick), 10:12 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISIONDIVALL
Glassboro 5-08-0
Woodstown 4-17-1
Schalick 3-26-3
Woodbury 2-33-5
Penns Grove 1-42-7
Salem0-50-9

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7
Schalick 27, Woodbury 16
SATURDAY’S GAME
Penns Grove 27, Salem 0

Finding another way

Blocked punt and end zone recovery propels Schalick to win over Woodbury, Cougars await their seeding in South/Central Jersey Group I playoffs

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – The Schalick football team was looking for something to happen. The Cougars were weren’t as sharp as they could’ve been in the first half and needed something to shake them awake.

Two of their most seasoned veterans answered the call.

Kenai Simmons broke in to block a punt and linebacker Riley Papiano fell on it in the end zone for the touchdown that propelled the Cougars to a 27-16 win over Woodbury to clinch third place in their first season in the demanding WJFL Diamond Division.

The Cougars (6-3) were trailing 15-13 in the third quarter when they had the Herd backed up against the end zone. Simmons broke in to block the punt and Papiano fell on the rebound for his first career touchdown.

“I hit their tight end and I sat there and saw the blocked punt,” Papiano said. “I was looking for the ball everything and it kind of landed at my feet and I just dove on it. My eyes got real wide when I saw it and I just dove on it. I was hoping (getting a touchdown) would happen. I didn’t think it would be off a blocked punt, but I’d take anything.

“I felt like it not only was a game-changer points wise and you could see it in our defense’s faces, but I think it was a game-changer morale-wise for the entire team. You could tell after that recovery all their faces lit up. They all knew at that point we could start winning this game.”

Riley Papiano (16), shown here playing defense, recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for his first career touchdown that gave Schalick the lead for good. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

Simmons also accounted for two touchdowns on offense, both of which gave his team a lead. He threw a 48-yard pass to Nylan Sutton to put his team up 7-3 and had an 11-yard run in the second quarter to give them a 13-9 halftime lead.

Simmons was 4-of-9 for 117 yards passing and rushed for 46 yards on 13 carriers. Reggie Allen was their leading rusher with 62 yards on 11 carries.

The Cougars carried the lead they gained with the blocked punt into the fourth quarter . They held the Herd to a three-and-out, then put together a time-consuming drive with Roneem Thomas scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run to give them some breathing room.

“We played sloppy the first half and we came out the second half and did the job,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “I thought our kids played hard and we found a way to win tonight. We physically wore them down as the game went on.

“We took control after the blocked punt. The percentages tell you (if) you block a punt you win 80 percent of the time.”

The Cougars now await their fate in the South Jersey Group I super regional bracket after Saturday’s games. The official UPR ratings that are used for the seedings weren’t updated after Friday’s game, but Central Jersey Sports Radio’s unofficial projection has them fifth overall or the third seed in South Jersey.

They were undefeated going into the playoffs last year, but in many ways they believe they’re better positioned going into the post-season with three more losses than they were a year ago. The three teams they lost to this season are a combined 24-1.

“I like where we’re at,” Wilson said. “We’re getting better every week. We’re peaking at the right time and I think our seniors are on a mission right now. They have done everything else. They want to go 1-0 every week.

“I think we’ve been battle-tested. We’ve played playoff teams all year and I think the harder schedule is going to help us.”

Roneem Thomas (25) scored Schalick’s last touchdown in the fourth quarter to give the Cougars some breathing room. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

Trending upward

Pennsville carries a winning record into its first playoff game since 2019 after routing Collingswood in its Senior Night regular-season finale

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – While it may be a day or two before the Pennsville football team receives formal confirmation of its place in this year’s South Jersey Group I playoffs, the players at least can wait knowing they’re trending in the right direction.

The Eagles, projected to land its third playoff berth under coach Mike Healy and first since 2019, won its second straight game Friday, 47-14 over Collingswood. The win also gave them their first winning regular season since 2016 – the last time they won a first-round playoff game.

“Winning today was huge,” Healy said. “We finished the regular season with a winning record for the first time in a while. Last year was a winning record after the consolation tournament. There have been a lot of big accomplishments for the kids, especially to be able to take ownership for what they’ve done this year.

“Every year we talk about kind of leaving a legacy. Last year’s group got it back to a winning record. Now, this year’s team was to get us back in the playoffs. That was really our goal this year, to get back in the playoffs and see what we can do from there.”

The Eagles are projected anywhere from a 9 to 11 overall seed. The cutoff date for consideration is Saturday. Last year the Eagles missed making the field by one spot. This year they didn’t want to leave any doubt and after winning their final two regular-season game by a combined score of 82-22 probably won’t.

“We kept preaching how we played these last two weeks was what we were going to carry over to the playoffs,” Healy said. “Finally we’re operating at a much higher level all across the board than we have all year. Everybody is playing our best football now.”

The Eagles spread the wealth Friday, partly in order to get some of their seniors the ball on this Senior Night.

Quarterback Robbie McDade threw touchdown passes to Malik Rehmer and Luke Wood, Rehmer also scored on a 28-yard run, Rylan Hardy had a pair of 5-yard TD runs and Danny Knight scored on a 76-yard kickoff return.

WJFL Standings

PATRIOT DIVISIONDIVALL
Camden Catholic (NPB-3)6-08-0
Paulsboro (4)5-17-2
West Deptford (G2-14)4-25-4
Pennsville (10)3-35-4
Audubon (16)1-52-5
Collingswood (G2-18)1-53-6
Overbrook (G2-23)1-53-5-1

NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power rankings through Oct. 19 (G2-Group 2, NPB-Non Public B)

THURSDAY’S GAME
Paulsboro 30, Clayton 7
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Pennsville 47, Collingswood 14
West Deptford 35, Overbrook 12
Camden Catholic 1, Audubon 0 (forfeit)

Bounce back Bulldog

Smith scores 2 long TDs in second half to lift Glassboro over Woodstown for division title, No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I playoffs

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO — Kenny Smith couldn’t have been more mad at himself and he knew he had to do something to make amends.

Twice when the game still was tight Smith fumbled away possessions for his Glassboro football team, but just as coach Timmy Breaker has come to expect, when the Bulldogs needed their senior running back most he delivered.

Smith bounced back from his two fumbles to score on an electrifying 71-yard run and later on a 45-yard fourth-down screen pass to lift the undefeated Bulldogs over Woodstown 20-7 Friday night to clinch the WJFL Diamond Division title and the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I.

“It was definitely a redemption thing,” Smith said. “It’s my team believing in me that drove me to get those touchdowns. I fumbled. I’ve got to make up for that. I know that. They trusted me, so that’s what we did.

“I hadn’t had more than two fumbles in my career let alone one game, so it was definitely a shock. I had to get my mind right and lock in and get the job done.”

Thanks to the big touchdown burst Smith, a senior transfer from Hammonton, rushed for 99 yards in the third quarter and 149 yards in the game. The screen pass for a score was his only reception. 

“That was big for him,” Breaker said. “That’s a senior. Resilient kid. Tough kid. And it doesn’t matter if he makes mistakes. He’s one of those kids who could fumble four times (and) the very next two – boom – it’ll go the distance, and as a coach I’m going to stay behind him and I’m going to keep giving it to him.”

They didn’t go to him down on the goal line late in the first half after Xavier Sabb returned an acrobatic interception inside the 5, but that’s because of the way Woodstown set its defense and stopped Smith for no gain on the first down play. The goal line stand kept the Wolverines ahead 7-6 at halftime.

The touchdown pass Smith caught, on fourth-and-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter, was the game-breaker. It was the first screen the Bulldogs (8-0) had taken for a touchdown all season.

It came from Jack O’Connell, who replaced Kristopher Foster late in the second quarter after the starter had been intercepted twice. The Bulldogs turned it over in each of their first three possessions and five times total, a circumstance that normally gets a team beat.

O’Connell, who lost the starting job after a similar start against Salem, was 9-of-14 for 182 yards passing and Breaker said it “absolutely” would be O’Connell to start next week’s playoff opener. 

“Not many high schools have two quarterbacks who can play,” Breaker said. “We’re blessed to have two quarterbacks who can really do it and tonight you go with the hot hand. You never know who’s going to have the hot hand. Even in the backfield with the skill we have … somebody’s going to have a hot night and you try to stick with that guy. So, having two quarterbacks who are like brothers it doesn’t matter who’s out there as long as we win.”

The Wolverines, meanwhile, went with their third quarterback for the second week in a row and their offense was impacted even more when leading rusher Bryce Belinfanti hurt his right ankle midway through the first quarter. They didn’t change what they do because of it and Belinfanti did return to the game, but their effectiveness was limited.

Belinfanti had only 34 rushing yards, his lowest single-game output since becoming the headline back last year.

“Obviously he’s a huge part of our offense and when he’s not at 100 percent it’s tough,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “But I have all the confidence in all the kids who come in. We’re going to run our offense the way it’s designed to be run. We just didn’t make enough plays tonight.”

Belinfanti scored Woodstown’s touchdown on a 21-yard run late in the second quarter to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead, but he was limping noticeably as he galloped towards the end zone. The senior said after the game “I’ll be back” next week for the playoffs.

“My ankle is all good,; it was just a game setback,” he said. “I’m good, though, and I’m definitely going to be back.”

The Wolverines are still hoping to get QB1 Jack Holladay back next week from the sprained shoulder he suffered against Haddon Heights, but if he’s not available the offense will be in Garrett Leyman’s hands again.

Leyman was in a different kind of game than his varsity debut at the position last week at Salem. He did complete his first four passes – giving him eight in a row to start his career – but he didn’t throw a touchdown pass after going 4-for-4 with four TDs against the Rams.  He was 8-for-13 for 61 yards with two interceptions.

“He played great tonight,” Trautz said. “You look at the stat sheet and it’s not going to reflect that, but he never lost faith out there; he was confident. He stared down the barrel of the gun a few times in that pocket and he did not waver.”

The presumption is Woodstown (7-1) falls to No. 2 in the power rankings and will be the No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group I bracket, but that will be determined after Saturday’s games.

The official UPR rankings weren’t updated after Friday night’s games, but a usually reliable unofficial list by Central Jersey Sports Radio has Glassboro, Shore, Paulsboro, Woodstown and Schalick as the Top 5. Its formula has Pennsville 9 and Penns Grove, which plays Salem Saturday, 17 – one spot out of the field.

Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker gives quarterback Jack O’Connell (2) instructions before sending him back onto the field in the fourth quarter. On the cover, Kenny Smith takes a breather in the second half.

Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7

WOODGLASS
61st Downs14
27-42Rushing27-199
8-13-2C-A-I13-21-3
61Passing216
1-0Fum-lost2-2
4-40.0Punts0-0
7-45Penalties8-65
Woodstown (7-1)0700-7
Glassboro (8-0)0677-20

SCORING SUMMARY
WO-Bryce Belinfanti 22 run (Jake Ware kick), 4:41 2Q
G-Amari Sabb 4 run (run failed), 2:09 2Q
G-Kenny Smith 71 run (Sal Esgro kick), 6:35 3Q
G-Kenny Smith 45 pass from Jack O’Connell (Sal Esgro kick), 11:46 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISIONDIVALL
Glassboro (1)5-08-0
Woodstown (2)4-17-1
Schalick (5)3-26-3
Woodbury (11)2-33-5
Penns Grove (20)0-41-7
Salem (21)0-40-8

NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 19

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7
Schalick 27, Woodbury 16
SATURDAY’S GAME
Salem at Penns Grove, noon

Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti (3) scored the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter, but played most of the game on a sore ankle. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)