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)
0
0
0
8-
8
Woodstown (8-1)
7
2
7
15-
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)
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.”
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
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
SALEM
PG
1
1st Downs
16
13-11
Rushing
43-273
8-13-1
C-A-I
3-9-0
38
Passing
29
2-2
Fum-lost
1-1
3-37.3
Punts
0-0
5-50
Penalties
9-50
Salem
0
0
0
0-
0
Penns Grove
6
14
0
7-
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 DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro
5-0
8-0
Woodstown
4-1
7-1
Schalick
3-2
6-3
Woodbury
2-3
3-5
Penns Grove
1-4
2-7
Salem
0-5
0-9
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7 Schalick 27, Woodbury 16 SATURDAY’S GAME Penns Grove 27, Salem 0
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)
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 DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic (NPB-3)
6-0
8-0
Paulsboro (4)
5-1
7-2
West Deptford (G2-14)
4-2
5-4
Pennsville (10)
3-3
5-4
Audubon (16)
1-5
2-5
Collingswood (G2-18)
1-5
3-6
Overbrook (G2-23)
1-5
3-5-1
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)
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
WOOD
GLASS
6
1st Downs
14
27-42
Rushing
27-199
8-13-2
C-A-I
13-21-3
61
Passing
216
1-0
Fum-lost
2-2
4-40.0
Punts
0-0
7-45
Penalties
8-65
Woodstown (7-1)
0
7
0
0-
7
Glassboro (8-0)
0
6
7
7-
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 DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (1)
5-0
8-0
Woodstown (2)
4-1
7-1
Schalick (5)
3-2
6-3
Woodbury (11)
2-3
3-5
Penns Grove (20)
0-4
1-7
Salem (21)
0-4
0-8
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)
Unofficial (but generally pretty accurate) UPR rankings has Penns Grove holding the final spot in the South Jersey Group I playoffs heading into final regular-season game; official list has Red Devils 20th
By Riverview Sports News
Penns Grove’s hopes for a spot in the Group I football playoffs may not be as far off as the final nine minutes of its game Saturday at Woodbury might have led one to believe.
In the South Jersey Group I power ratings updated Sunday by Gridiron New Jersey, the official supplier of the state’s UPR rankings that determine the 16-team playoff brackets, the Red Devils were No. 20, one full UPR point behind current No. 16 Audubon. The outlet noted its rankings would change “slightly” when it finalizes Strength Index Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Central Jersey Sports Radio index, which has been one of the most accurate unofficial UPR sources, has the Red Devils in a more favorable position. It lists them at No. 16, four-tenths of a point ahead of No. 17 Highland Park.
The Red Devils (1-7) wrap up their regular season Saturday at winless Salem (0-8) and will have to win the game to at least meet the minimum wins qualification for playoff consideration.
Their position looked strong early in the second half Saturday. They grabbed a nine-point lead early in the third quarter and carried it into the fourth. They held a two-point lead with less than six minutes to play, then misplayed a punt and fumbled a pitch that led to Woodbury touchdowns.
Woodstown, Schalick and Pennsville all seem safely in the field. If Pennsville gets in, it will be the Eagles’ first playoff appearance since 2019.
Here are the rankings according to the two groups:
SJ Group I power ratings
TOP 16
(as of Oct. 20)
SCHOOL
RECORD
POWER PTS
OSI
UPR
Glassboro
7-0
12.00
57.08
2.4
Woodstown
7-0
11.57
61.83
3.0
Shore
7-0
13.71
45.61
3.4
Paulsboro
6-2
11.81
48.65
4.0
Schalick
5-3
10.13
49.7
5.4
Haddon Twp.
5-1
11.58
41.19
6.2
Riverside
6-2
12.13
38.32
8.0
Middlesex
6-2
11.38
40.13
8.2
Burlington City
5-3
10.50
39.67
9-2
Pennsville
4-4
8.44
40.94
10.4
Woodbury
3-4
7.71
42.88
10.8
New Egypt
5-2
8.86
38.67
11.0
Manville
6-2
9.25
37.35
11.8
Clayton
4-2-1
8.00
34.00
16.8
Pt. Pleasant Beach
4-3
7.71
35.68
16.8
Audubon
2-4
7.83
34.78
17.0
20. Penns Grove (1-7) 18.0, 21. Salem (0-8) 19.4. Source: Gridiron New Jersey
PROJECTED PLAYOFF MATCHUPS (Based on current standings) SOUTH JERSEY Glassboro vs. Audubon Middlesex vs. Burlington City x-Paulsboro vs. New Egypt x-Schalick vs. Manville CENTRAL JERSEY Shore vs. Clayton Haddon Twp. vs. Woodbury Riverside vs. Pennsville Woodstown vs. Point Pleasant Beach x-Schalick jumps Paulsboro based on head-to-head
CENTRAL JERSEY RADIO RANKINGS South Jersey Group I Top 16 1. Glassboro, 2. Woodstown, 3. Shore, 4. Paulsboro, 5. Schalick, 6. Middlesex, 7. Haddon Twp., 8. Riverside, 9. Burlington City, 10. Woodbury, 11. Pennsville, 12. New Egypt, 13. Manville, 14. Clayton, 15. Audubon, 16. Penns Grove.
If this scenario remains, Penns Grove would play Glassboro or Woodstown in the first round of the playoffs, depending on who wins that game Friday night.
Leyman has game of his life, plugged in at quarterback, throws 4 TD passes, picks two, returns one for TD, in Woodstown rout of Salem; Woodbury dulls Penns Grove’s playoff hopes with late rally
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM — Garrett Leyman has played a lot of games in a Woodstown uniform over the years, but he’s never had a game like he did Saturday.
The senior was responsible for five touchdowns on both sides of the ball as the Wolverines took it to Salem 42-13 to remain unbeaten and set up a WJFL Diamond Division title game at Glassboro next week.
Pressed into action as the Wolverines’ third quarterback this season Leyman threw four touchdown passes on the only varsity passes he’s ever thrown in his life. Then on defense he intercepted two passes and returned one of them for a touchdown.
Leyman threw two touchdown passes to M.J. Hall (55 and 48 yards) and one each to Bobby Donahue (49) and Rocco String (5). The first two completions gave him a passer rating of 866.80 and curiously it dropped with each successive completion. His 4-for-4 for 157 yards and four TDs total netted him a passer rating of 759.70 for the game.
If he isn’t somebody’s dot-com Player of the Week either the voting is flawed or nobody’s paying attention.
“After last week we faced a lot of adversity, I knew I needed to step up,” said Leyman, who was more of a run threat when he last played quarterback in eighth grade. “Coach chose me to play in Jack’s (Holladay) position, so I knew I had to go out and perform and I did.
“I wasn’t expecting it to go how it did, but I was confident going into today. It felt amazing.”
The Wolverines were into their third quarterback after losing starter Holladay to a sprained left shoulder in the first half of last week’s game at Haddon Heights. JV quarterback Lucas Fulmer played the rest of the game and completed the 17-8 victory.
It was the Fulmer’s first varsity action and while the backup checked all the boxes in his relief appearance it was Leyman’s experience and familiarity with the offense that led Trautz to start him against the Rams. Leyman was told he’d be playing quarterback Monday and had all week to prepare himself.
“He’s played a million football games for us; he’s just football smart, he’s got great football IQ and we can trust him in these situations,” Trautz said. “We know that he’s going to make the right decisions and you saw today. He commanded this offense, he was able to run it fully and he shined. It was nice to see him spin it.
“I’m not the least surprised with what he did today. He’s just a great player and he doesn’t back down from the moment. He elevates his game when the lights start shining the brightest.”
The Wolverines used a sanitized version of the playbook for Fulmer last week, but Leyman had full reign of it this week.
“We were going to run our offense the way we run it and take what they give us and we did a good job executing it,” Trautz said.
Salem moved the ball through the air, too. They immediately answered Woodstown’s first touchdown, working the ball downfield through a series of possession passes.
Rams quarterback Troy Carey was 12-of-15 in the first quarter and finished the game 25-for-35 for 241 yards and touchdowns to Kaden Robinson (5) and Terrance Smith (16). Robinson caught seven passes for 53 yards. Smith caught four for 103.
“It was just trusting our receivers, trusting them to make plays, putting the ball in their hands,” Carey said. “We work on certain plays every week just working to get better at things that affect our craft and just finding open men reading the defense.”
The win sets up a titanic battle of unbeatens between Woodstown and Glassboro Friday night. Whether Leyman gets the call again at quarterback depends on Holladay’s status during the week. Both Trautz and Holladay are hopeful of a return at some point this season.
Players on the Glassboro roster believe the Wolverines will be treating the showdown as “their Super Bowl” because of the recent history in the series; the Bulldogs beat them twice last year, once in overtime and once in the Group I state semifinals. The Wolverines, however, are approaching it, as usual, as any other game.
“It’s Week 8 for us,” the usually understated Trautz understated. “We’re going to attack it like we attack every week and we’re looking forward to the challenge next Friday.”
NOTES: Woodstown’s other touchdown was Bryce Belinfanti’s weekly long run, this one going for 94 yards … String’s TD catch was the first of his career … Salem had thrown only 78 passes in their first seven games. The 35 passes and 241 yards Cater threw for Saturday were the most by a Rams quarterback since 2022 when Jahki Coates threw 29 passes against Woodbury in 2022 and for 245 yards against Pleasantville. His game passer rating was 136.70 … The Rams will be looking to avoid their first winless season since 2012 (0-10) next week against Penns Grove.
Cover photo: Woodstown senior Garrett Leyman (10) rolls out in his first career start at quarterback. Leyman threw four passes – all for touchdowns.
Woodstown 42, Salem 13
WOOD(42)
SAL(13)
7
1st Downs
19
15-203
Rushing
17-31
4-4-0
C-A-I
24-35-2
157
Passing
241
1-1
Fum-lost
1-1
1-58.0
Punts
1-38.0
6-58
Penalties
3-35
Woodstown (7-0)
14
21
7
0-
42
Salem (0-8)
7
0
0
6-
13
SCORING SUMMARY WO-M.J. Hall 55 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:26 1Q S-Kaden Robinson 5 pass from Troy Cater (Andrew May kick), 2:21 1Q WO-Bobby Donahue 49 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 2:01 1Q WO-M.J. Hall 48 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:29 2Q WO-Garrett Leyman 33 interception return (Jake Ware kick) WO-Bryce Belinfanti 94 run (Jake Ware kick), 35.6 2Q WO-Rocco String 5 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:32 3Q S-Terrance Smith 16 pass from Troy Cater (kick failed), 9:12 4Q
Woodstown receiver M.J. Hall races towards the end zone with one of his two touchdowns catches Saturday. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Late miscues spoil PG upset bid
WOODBURY — KaRon Caesar’s 68-yard touchdown run on Penns Grove’s first play of the third quarter gave the Red Devils a nine-point lead and hopes for playoff contention. They carried that lead carried into the fourth quarter, but Woodbury took advantage of late Penns Grove mistakes to score three touchdowns in the final nine minutes to hand the Red Devils their sixth straight loss, 37-23.
Tim Holmes’ 34-yard touchdown pass to Jason Solomon cut Penns Grove’s lead to 23-21 with 9:06 left and then the mistakes set in for the Red Devils.
Penns Grove had Woodbury stopped later in the quarter but mishandled a punt and the Herd recovered at the 30. Holmes ran for 20 yards, then Marquis Taylor ultimately scored from 2 yards out to give the Herd their first lead since the game’s opening drive, 29-23 with 2:49 left.
Solomon iced the game with a 10-yard scoop and score with a fumbled pitch.
Caesar rushed for a career-high 228 yards with touchdown runs of 73, 14 and 68 yards.
Had the Red Devils held on, they would have earned their second win of the season with a shot for a third and possibly a playoff spot against struggling Salem next week. They currently hold the 20th spot in the South Jersey Group I power rankings that should be updated Sunday.
Woodbury 37, Penns Grove 23
Penns Grove (1-7)
7
9
7
0-
23
Woodbury (3-4)
7
7
0
23-
37
SCORING SUMMARY WO-Marquis Taylor 4 run (Fabian Gonzalez kick) PG-KaRon Ceaser 73 run (Tre Brown kick) PG-KaRon Caesar 14 run (Tre Brown kick) WO-Marquis Taylor 30 pass from Tim Holmes (Fabian Gonzalez kick) PG-Safety, QB tackled in end zone PG-KaRon Ceaser 68 run (Tre Brown kick) WO-Jasuan Solomon 34 pass from Tim Holmes (Fabian Gonzalez kick), 9:06 4Q WO-Marquis Taylor 2 run (Marquis Taylor run), 2:49 4Q WO-Jasuan Solomon 10 fumble return (Elijah Young pass from Marquis Taylor)
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (1)
4-0
7-0
Woodstown (2)
4-0
7-0
Schalick (5)
2-2
5-3
Woodbury (11)
2-2
3-4
Penns Grove (20)
0-4
1-7
Salem (21)
0-4
0-8
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 19
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 20, Schalick 10 SATURDAY’S GAMES Woodbury 37, Penns Grove 23 Woodstown 42, Salem 13 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES FRIDAY Woodstown at Glassboro, 6 p.m. Woodbury at Schalick, 6 p.m. SATURDAY Salem at Penns Grove, noon
PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic (NPB-3)
5-0
7-0
Paulsboro (4)
5-1
6-2
West Deptford (G2-14)
3-2
4-4
Pennsville (10)
2-3
4-4
Audubon (16)
1-4
2-4
Collingswood (G2-18)
1-4
3-5
Overbrook (G2-23)
1-4
3-4-1
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power rankings through Oct. 19 (G2-Group 2, NPB-Non Public B)
FRIDAY’S GAMES Pennsville 35, Lawrence 8 Camden Catholic 55, Collingswood 0 Paulsboro 18, West Deptford 12 SATURDAY’S GAMES Overbrook 34, Audubon 6 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES THURSDAY Paulsboro at Clayton, 6 p.m. FRIDAY Collingswood at Pennsville, 7 p.m. Overbrook at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Camden Catholic at Audubon, 7 p.m.
SJ Group I power ratings
TOP 16
(as of Oct. 20)
SCHOOL
RECORD
POWER PTS
OSI
UPR
Glassboro
7-0
12.00
57.08
2.4
Woodstown
7-0
11.57
61.83
3.0
Shore
7-0
13.71
45.61
3.4
Paulsboro
6-2
11.81
48.65
4.0
Schalick
5-3
10.13
49.7
5.4
Haddon Twp.
5-1
11.58
41.19
6.2
Riverside
6-2
12.13
38.32
8.0
Middlesex
6-2
11.38
40.13
8.2
Burlington City
5-3
10.50
39.67
9-2
Pennsville
4-4
8.44
40.94
10.4
Woodbury
3-4
7.71
42.88
10.8
New Egypt
5-2
8.86
38.67
11.0
Manville
6-2
9.25
37.35
11.8
Clayton
4-2-1
8.00
34.00
16.8
Pt. Pleasant Beach
4-3
7.71
35.68
16.8
Audubon
2-4
7.83
34.78
17.0
20. Penns Grove (1-7) 18.0, 21. Salem (0-8) 19.4
PROJECTED PLAYOFF MATCHUPS (Based on current standings) SOUTH JERSEY Glassboro vs. Audubon Middlesex vs. Burlington City x-Paulsboro vs. New Egypt x-Schalick vs. Manville CENTRAL JERSEY Shore vs. Clayton Haddon Twp. vs. Woodbury Riverside vs. Pennsville Woodstown vs. Point Pleasant Beach x-Schalick jumps Paulsboro based on head-to-head
Glassboro uses three big pass plays early to seize control, then shuts down Schalick in second half to remain undefeated; Pennsville crushes Lawrence to enhance playoff hopes
FRIDAY SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL Pennsville 35, Lawrence 7 Glassboro 20, Schalick 10
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Every season when the West Jersey Football League schedule comes out the history buffs on the Schalick coaching staff, of which head coach Mike Wilson is a big one, start looking for that one game the Cougars call their “Stalingrad game.”
It’s the kind of game the Cougars look to play in close quarters and wait for their opponent who likes to play in the open field to become impatient.
Sometimes, though, the best laid plans just aren’t enough against superior forces. Instead of getting caught up in the Cougars’ “Rattenkrieg,” Glassboro played “Bombs Away” Friday night.
The Bulldogs hit their hosts with three big pass plays in the first half to either set up or score touchdowns to seize control of the scoreboard in an eventual 20-10 victory that kept them undefeated and sets up a presumptive WJFL Diamond Division title game next week with Woodstown.
“That was 100 percent the game plan, to shorten the game, the only thing we didn’t do, we gave up three big plays – again,” Wilson said. “We didn’t change anything. We stayed patient the entire game. No unnecessary risks. It came down to three big plays, which we coached all week. We just didn’t execute.”
In hopes of frustrating the Bulldogs (7-0) into making a mistake, the Cougars (5-3) wanted to play a ball-control style of offense, picking up three and four yards at a time, to chew up a lot of game clock and play field position. It’s the same approach they took when they played in Bulldogs in last year’s 20-0 Central Jersey Group I title game.
Glassboro beat the strategy Friday by holding the Cougars to a three-and-out on the opening possession and then connecting on a 52-yard pass from Kristopher Foster to Mekhi Parker on its first offensive play of the game. The bomb set up Kenny Smith’s 4-yard touchdown run seven plays later to open the scoring.
Later in the half, Foster connected on a 70-yard touchdown pass to Amari Sabb on the first play of the second quarter and a 63-yard scoring strike to Xavier Sabb 3:41 before halftime to make 20-3. Foster was 4-of-7 for 187 yards passing in the first half and threw for 206 yards in the game.
“We trust the players we’ve got,” Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker said. “We knew they were going to load the box. On film they blitz, blitz, blitz, blitz, blitz, so we came out to take a shot first play of the game.”
Xavier Sabb’s touchdown catch was a thing of beauty. He turned in one direction on the pattern to counter the cornerback, Foster put the ball on his other shoulder and Sabb twisted back in midair to catch it and go.
“I really closed my eyes, honestly,” he said. “I just trusted my hands. I knew he was going to dive at me so I picked my legs up and it was over after that.”
“Special kid, special talent and you’ll see a lot of that from him,” Breaker said. “He’s a gamer. Explosive. At any point in time in the game he can take over the game.”
Schalick scored 10 points in the second quarter on Hunter Dragotta’s 32-yard field goal and Kenai Simmons’ 18-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Sheehan.
The Cougars shut out Glassboro in the second half – even made a goal line stand after the Bulldogs returned the second half kickoff 67 yards to the 19 – but they couldn’t generate any offense as the Bulldogs cranked up the defense.
Glassboro held Schalick to just nine yards of net offense in the second half.
“Take those three plays out it’s 10-0,” Wilson said. “That’s the kind of game we wanted to play. We moved the ball decently here and there. Defensively I thought we played well outside of those plays. In a game like that it just came down to a couple plays and we lost them again.”
Cover photo: Glassboro’s Xavier Sabb (0) had a 63-yard touchdown catch against Schalick. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Pennsville bounces back
LAWRENCE – Moments after his team lost to Paulsboro last Saturday, Pennsville coach Mike Healy told his players there was still plenty in the season to play for, but now there was no room for error.
The Eagles bounced back on a long road trip to Mercer County Friday night. They played as if their playoff lives depended on it, jumped out to a big halftime lead and eventually put away Group IV Lawrence 35-7.
“We were very honest with the kids that we didn’t have any more wiggle room, we had to get the job done,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “The big thing for us is from the opening kickoff we showed up.
“I told them before the game we need to be physical the entire game and we need to be aggressive all game, we need to play with effort the entire game. I thought for the first half today we really showed up and did those things. We’ve had some games where we’re lacking one of those things, but I thought today we played up to our potential.”
Quarterback Robbie McDade ran for one touchdown and threw a pair of touchdown passes to Luke Wood and Rylan Hardy rushed for two scores. Hardy remains on track to become the Eagles’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Nick Bard in 2017 (1,657 yards).
The Eagles were up 22-0 with 2:03 left in the first half. They made it 28-0 with 14 seconds left and after the Cardinals fumbled the first play after the kickoff McDade threw his second TD pass to Wood with five second left in the half to make it 35-0.
“It was a pretty cool end to the half,” Healy said
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (4)
4-0
7-0
Woodstown (1)
3-0
6-0
Schalick (6)
2-2
5-3
Woodbury (11)
1-2
2-4
Penns Grove (20)
0-3
1-6
Salem (23)
0-3
0-7
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 12
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 20, Schalick 10 SATURDAY’S GAMES Penns Grove at Woodbury Woodstown at Salem
PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic (NPB-3)
5-0
7-0
Paulsboro (5)
5-1
6-2
West Deptford (G2-13)
3-2
4-4
Pennsville (12)
2-3
4-4
Audubon (13)
1-3
2-3
Collingswood (G2-16)
1-4
3-5
Overbrook (G2-25)
0-4
2-4-1
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power rankings through Oct. 12 (G2-Group 2, NPB-Non Public B)
FRIDAY’S GAMES Pennsville 35, Lawrence 8 Camden Catholic 55, Collingswood 0 Paulsboro 18, West Deptford 12 SATURDAY’S GAMES Audubon at Overbrook
Riverview Sports News 