Close to ready

Pennsville, Salem go through final scrimmages before their season openers

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – It was six days before the games begin and Pennsville’s football team continues to get closer to being ready for its season opener.

The Eagles went through their final game-like scrimmage before Thursday’s season opener against Woodstown and had its way with Delaware’s PolyTech in the three quarters of varsity work, 21-8.

Danny Knight set the tone with an interception on the fifth play of the game. Jake Layfield, the presumptive opening-day quarterback threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dante Cummings, Tristan Horner had an 8-yard touchdown run and sophomore safety David Biddle had a 15-yard scoop and score.

Layfield completed his first three passes and was 6-of-9 for 130 yards. Horner rushed for 11 yards on three carries and caught two passes for 72 yards.

“We definitely progressed today,” Healy said. “Every day I feel like they’re getting better and today I saw a lot of growth from them as well. It’s not finished, obviously, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.”

Healy wouldn’t commit to Layfield over Grady Sanders as the opening-day quarterback, but Layfield was working with the first team throughout the scrimmage.

“We’re going to make the decision still,” Healy said. “They’re both working hard. They both did some good things today. Either way we’re going to have them both involved somehow. Eventually one of them will be our starter and the other guy will be playing.”

Salem: Tale of two halves

CAMDEN – Salem looked average in its final scrimmage of camp, and were nothing like coach Kemp Carr expects them to be later in the season.

The Rams held their own at Camden, but it took them a while to get going.

“We played at a C level against a Group 2 state champion who is going to be a contender for Group 3 this year,” Carr said. “I thought we gave up two big plays, a long run and a blown-coverage catch. Outside of that, I thought we played really well. We did answer the bell. The first half we didn’t look like who we are. The second half we came out, we established the run, we almost held the ball the whole quarter.

“Some things I’ll take from this is we were a tale of two halves and we can’t be a tale of two halves. We have to be a consistent four-quarter football team because that’s what I believe this team is.”

The Rams played two quarterbacks, senior Desmund Thomas and Owen McDonald, a freshman who is expected to get most of the reps in the early part of the season.

“When they were given time I thought they played extremely well,” Carr said. “I think they stepped up and when there was pressure a couple times they did step up and took what the defense was giving them. I think they’re understanding, their timing and rhythm is starting to get there.

“It’s cohesiveness, right? We want to hit stride earlier, but I think the best that you’re going to see this team is in the middle of the year. I think we’ll take off and be a different team than we were in the beginning of the year. We’re not leaving the beginning of the year out at all, because we want to come out firing from all cylinders right away, but I think we throw gas on the fire in the middle of the season.”

Salem’s season-opening opponent, Ironton (Ohio), opened its season Thursday night with a 42-0 shutout of Williamsburg. The Fighting Tigers scored three touchdowns in a three-minute stretch late in the first quarter to take control and held their hosts to five yards of net offense for the game.

Three-star receiver Kayden Edwards, who committed to Boston College from 22 Division I offers, caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Wolfe in the first quarter and had a 44-yard punt return to set up another score. Easton Caudill had TD runs for 49 and 40 yards in a 121-yard rushing night. Wolfe was 9 of 15 for 160 yards and two touchdowns passing.

“It was a good overall effort for the first game out,” acting head coach Todd Knipp told the Ironton Tribune. “Our defense did a great job getting off blocks … We were swarming all over the. I am really pleased with how we performed there. Offensively, once we got going and started to establish things we were able to make some plays,. We want to see more consistency in our run game … but for the first game, we’ll take this.”

The Rams leave on the trip at 4 a.m. Friday. They’ll make a stop at West Virginia University on the way down and Marshall University on the way back.

Schalick: Continuing to grow

BUENA – Gary Simonini and Gabe McFarland scored touchdowns and the defense “played very well against the run” as Schalick blanked Buena 14-0 in its second scrimmage of camp.

“All went well,” Cougars coach Kevin Leamy said. “It was a little sloppy on our part, but we continue to grow and get better.”

The Cougars open the season Friday at home against Maple Shade.

Top photo: Tristan Horner takes a handoff from Jake Layfield during Pennsville’s scrimmage with Delaware’s PolyTech.

First look live

Salem CC takes early lead, but falls in its first-ever football scrimmage, Accorsi ‘pleasantly surprised’ at what he observed

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

MONTCLAIR – For the first time sending his team against somebody in a different colored uniform, Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi was impressed. And so was the opposing coach.

The Mighty Oaks didn’t win the first scrimmage in program history, falling at NCAA Division III Montclair State 24-8 Friday night, but they did “much better” than the coach’s expectation and even scored their first touchdown to take an early lead in the game.

“I was pleasantly surprised,” Accorsi said. “At the end of the first quarter it’s 8-0 so I’m like ‘wow, we’re competing.’ We had our first Mighty Oaks touchdown, went for the two-point play and got it, and we’re up 8-0.

“You take it for what it’s worth, but I was pleasantly surprised. We competed all the way through, three quarters. The fourth quarter was a running clock. We were able to get everybody in. We had our first Mighty Oaks turnover, first Mighty Oaks tackle, first Mighty Oaks everything. It was fun and I was pleasantly surprised, I really was. We did much better than my expectation.”

Of course, all the official “firsts” take place next Saturday in their inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC at Pennsville High School, but, still, everything that took place Sprague Field was memorable.

Montclair coach Mike Palazzo spoke to the Mighty Oaks at the end of the exercise to pitch what his four-year program had to offer and even he was very impressed how well the first-year program competed.

The Mighty Oaks hit the Red Hawks early. Malakhai McKenzie connected with Darion Joyner on a long pass play that got knocked out near the goal line. Brian Pritchett scored the program’s first touchdown on a short run and Robert Daly caught the two-point conversion pass to make it 8-0. Later in the game, Stephen Little got their first takeaway with an interception.

“It was good to see the first Mighty Oaks touchdown,” Accorsi said.

All three quarterbacks played and did “pretty well” while the coaches mixed and matched a lot of linemen, running backs and receivers.

“I wanted to make sure we got lot of players on film so we could evaluate them and see where we’re at and then start to make some depth chart decisions,” Accorsi said. “It’s still going to be a work-in-progress for us. I think it’s going to be more which players play in which situation and how many reps.

“With a new program and an eight-game season and for everyone doing it for the first time I think we need to really play a lot of players and look at the long run and long haul of the program. I just think that’s going to be the nature of who we are. We’re going to have rely on a lot of players in a lot of different spots.”

Top photo: Screenshot of Brian Pritchett bursting into the end zone for Salem CC’s first ever touchdown and the early lead in its scrimmage at Montclair State.

A coach and NFL owner

Pennsville’s Healy enhances his fandom of the Green Bay Packers as a shareholder of the team

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – The email hit Mike Healy’s in box in early July like it does every year and he knew exactly what it meant. It was time he could tell his players he’s an NFL owner.

The 10th-year Pennsville football coach is one of more than 535,000 stockholders who own a “piece” of the Green Bay Packers. The framed certificate hangs in his home like a diploma. It’s largely ceremonial, mostly a fundraiser for the team with no voting position, but it is a great conversation starter.

“It’s a unique thing; something cool to be part of,” said Healy, the longest-tenured head football coach in Salem County. “It’s fun. It’s cool. It’s something I find entertaining. I have fun with the kids every year. I put some things out there for my freshman classes and they argue with me, like no you’re not, and I say yes I am an NFL owner.

“Usually there’s one kid in each class that kind of knows the background to it and then to the other kids I explain it. They’re like, wait, is that the worse investment of all time? Yeah, financially the worst investment you could ever make, but pretty much you get to say I’m an NFL owner.”

Healy’s fandom for the Packers in deep-rooted. His father grew up in Baltimore and was a huge Colts fan. The family would go to church on Sunday with players like Johnny Unitas and then make their way to Memorial Stadium for the game. The Colts infamously and covertly relocated to Indianapolis in 1984, ending 31 years of football in the city.

“He still gets a little emotional when they talk about the Colts leaving in the middle of the night,” Healy said of his dad

When the family moved to Jersey in broad daylight, they brought their fandom for the Orioles with them but didn’t have a football team to root for. Healy always liked quarterback Brett Favre growing up and by association became a Packers fan. A trip to Green Bay with Dad sealed it for him. The rest of the family, of course, have become Eagles fans.

“I still remember fourth-and-26 (in the 2003-24 NFL divisional playoffs),” he said. “I’ll never forget that. My brothers don’t let me live that down.”

The Packers’ public stock program is one of the most unique arrangements in all of professional sports. The team has been a publicly owned, non-profit corporation since 1923. There are approximately 5.2 million outstanding shares owned by 538,967 stockholders throughout the United States, its territories and Canada, none of whom receives a dividend on the initial investment. There have been six stock sales: 1923, 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011 and 2022. Future offerings are not currently being considered.

A Green Bay Packers fan proudly displays his status as a shareholder during the team’s annual shareholders meeting. Top photo of Pennsville coach Mike Healy by Al Muskewitz; other photos by Keller Nienau, Green Bay Packers

The year Healy bought in, individual shares went for $200. That sale raised more than $24 million to help fund the construction of the five-story Lambeau Field Atrium.

As a stockholder, Healy can attend the annual shareholders meeting, which this year was July 27, but cannot vote. And he can buy gear from the Packers Team Store with “Shareholder” on it. He’s never physically attended a meeting, but has logged into them remotely.

To protect from someone taking control of the team, the articles of incorporation prohibit any person from owning more than 200,000 shares. Recent stock sales have limited purchases to 200. Healy is quite happy with his one.

“The shares are more for the fans,” he said. “I would definitely love it (to get a vote); it’d be cool. It’d be complete chaos if they let everyone vote on it, but it would be kind of fun. Even if there was one thing a year that was really not a big issue and they just kind of let everyone who has a share a vote kind of for entertainment purpose, I would definitely do it.”

Show your stuff

Salem CC football heads to Montclair for first live scrimmage since birth of the program

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – In more established programs, a scrimmage at the end of training camp might be part of the routine, but for the startup Salem Community College football team it’s the most important exercise in the history of the program.

For the first time since the school agreed to launch the program the Mighty Oaks will face a team in a different colored uniform as they scrimmage at Montclair State Friday at 5 p.m. You bet head coach Jay Accorsi thinks it‘s a pretty important.

“It’s the first outside competition ever, so it is a big deal,” he said. “I mentioned that (Sunday) to the team and I’ll mention it leading up. They’re gonna get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it’s got to be in the framework of what we’re trying to do as a team offensively and defensively, too. That’s going to be the challenge: Letting them get an opportunity to show what they can do, but it just can’t be about them, too; it’s gotta be what we need to do as a team.”

That’s the reason he chose Montclair. He’s familiar with the program and its traditions, having faced the Red Hawks many times during his days as Rowan’s head coach, so he knows what he’s going to get. And it’s on the road, so they can teach the players the mechanics of game operations.

Above all, Accorsi wants it to see the Mighty Oaks organized, cohesive and competitive on both sides of the ball.

“We need to find out what players can do in live situations,” he said. “You can simulate it in practice, you can do mini sessions with more hitting, but you don’t know until you put a full 11 out there. So I want it to be organized, I want it to be competitive and I want the players to really compete. I think that’s what we’re really looking for.”

Jobs may not be won, but the coaches will get the strongest indication yet of who’s on track to start in the inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC Aug. 29 at Pennsville High School.

Both coordinators have an idea of who’s rising to the fore, but it’s a lot difference between the big bumps in practice and what happens when the lights come on.

“We’ve thrown a lot at the kids, but they’ve adapted pretty well; we’re pleasantly surprised with where we’re at at this point,” offensive coordinator Chris Crowley said. “I kind of have an idea of what we have but you really don’t know until you get in a game situation. When you get on the field you’ve got to do something with it. Some guys have taken advantage of that and have created a situation where they’re going to get some opportunities. It’s going to be a good test to see where we’re at.”

All three quarterbacks – Malakhai McKenzie, Cam Wright and Aidan Hill – are expected to play as well as multiple running backs and receivers. Receivers Jahfarri Payne and Darion Joyner have been impressive in practice as has big running back Brian Pritchett.

“We have guys who can do different things; there could be a world where we play multiple guys,” Crowley said of the quarterbacks. “It’s great to have one take it, give him the keys and let ‘im go, but we’re probably not in that situation right now, but guys are gonna get chances in situations.”

Likewise, defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty has an idea of the 25 to 30 who ultimately will play in his defense; now, it’s just a matter of determining a rotation. Charlie Shute, Mark Moore, Ben Secouler, Jamar Jones and Hayden Alexander have all shown well in camp.

“I think we have in what we need, what we need to be successful, and then well put in specifics,” Dougherty said. “Our base stuff should be ready to roll and we’ll see what they can do. I just want to see kind of their reactions. It’s different when you’ve got to go make a tackle.”

The inner light

Schalick scrapped the 7-on-7s, spent all summer working to perfect the things it does best to ‘take the next step’

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Say what you will about 7-on-7 not being real football, but a lot of teams take advantage of the platform over the summer to work on their passing game – on both sides of the ball – even if the big linemen aren’t there to provide protection.

Schalick used to be one of those teams and it still might be in the future, but this summer the Cougars took a step back from the traditional offseason exercise, doing what head coach Kevin Leamy called “staying low key and just putting in a lot of … old-fashioned hard work and getting prepared.”

SCHALICK COUGARS

Aug. 28 – Maple Shade, 6 p.m.

Sept. 4 – Burlington City, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 – at Woodstown, 6 p.m.

Sept. 18 – Salem, 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 – at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.

Oct. 1 – at Cumberland, 6 p.m.

Oct. 9 – Penns Grove, 6 p.m.

Oct. 16 – Pennsville, 6 p.m.

Oct. 22 – at Overbrook, 7 p.m.

The Cougars did four years of 7-on-7s when Mike Wilson was head coach, and they continued last year in Leamy’s first season, but given their approach to offense and the experience of the team they had, the thought was to just keep things in-house and work on making what they do best even better. As such, they didn’t see another color uniform after last year’s South Jersey Group 1 championship game until their first preseason scrimmage against Delsea on Aug. 18.

“Time will tell if it was good,” Leamy said. “We feel like it was the right decision. The kids are on board with it. Everyone has bought in to the reason why we haven’t done it. Now time will tell whether we’re the idiots who are the only ones not doing it or maybe we’re on to something.

“For us, my No. 1 thing is I had a schedule that worked really well that was allowing kids to be kids for their summer and we were going to limit the amount of times we were here. But when you limit time you only have so much time to get things done. So, in my view, taking that extra day we would’ve done a 7-on-7 and making it a practice we were able to get a lot more done in terms of football than you could ever get done in a 7-on-7.”

The Cougars have always been run heavy anyway. They looked to bring more passing into the offense a couple years ago when the coaching staff at the time realized how much not having that part of the game cost them in the playoffs. They’ve always had the weapons to make it work, but that’s not their bread-and-butter.

The skill position players didn’t really miss it and neither did the linemen who weren’t a part of it anyway.

“We know what we have, we know what we are, we know our identity,” backup quarterback and middle linebacker Gary Simonini said. “We can throw the ball if we need to any time we want, but 7-on-7 I feel really distracts people from the game and it wastes a lot of crucial time to where you can be learning in the summer before the season gets to the nitty gritty as opposed to just like going out to these 7-on-7s where you just see guys running unrealistic plays that you’re never going to see on a Friday night.

“We’ve got a lot of guys returning. We know how these plays look. Now, it’s about perfecting them and fine tuning them and making adjustments. It’s not about everyone else, it’s about us. If we can be our best, that’s all we have to worry about.”

That self-examination was particularly good for this team. Last year was their first season under Leamy and that came with the usual learning curve on both sides. Now, the players have a better understanding of the playbook and expectations and the good core of returning players can work on honing the plan rather than learning it while blending the “decent amount of freshmen” they have, several of whom are likely to play, into the fold without the pressure of competition or hype of 7-on-7.

“Staying together and running the plays as a team with everybody together I think helped us,” lineman Aiden Torres said. “When we did 7-on-7 last year and were running our plays the line didn’t have a real look to see what was going on so we had a lot of missed blocks, mistakes; we were all over the place. I think this year us staying together more as a team and getting more of a scout, and looks at what we needed to see and do, helped us.”

That’s not to say they won’t do 7-on-7 again. Leamy said he reviews every year and a lot of it depends on the type of team and leadership it has.

“We just felt this was best for us for this year for this group,” Leamy said.

**Schalick’s offense will run through junior quarterback Kenny Bartee.**

Whatever the Cougars do on offense this season it will all run through quarterback Kenny Bartee. The athletic junior missed the team’s two preseason scrimmages with a nasty gash on his big toe, but he’ll be ready to go for the season opener against Maple Shade. Last year he rushed for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing for 613 yards and six scores.

Their next biggest weapon is David Stewart. The senior track star is a threat to break a long one whether it’s catching a pass or breaking off a run. He caught nine passes for 189 yards last year, with a long of 73, and was the team’s second leading rusher with 373 yards on 41 carries.

But they also return playmakers Ayden Jenkins, Dez Purnell and Gary Sinomini, who combined for 356 yards on 139 carries, and most of the offensive line is back. The Cougars graduated a lot of points in record-setting kicker Hunter Dragotta, but they shouldn’t miss a step with Shawn Kelly.

“The biggest thing is it’s Year Two, they know what to do really well,” Leamy said. “Bartee is just in a so much better spot right now than he was last year. He understands the offense more, he’s throwing the ball better, his footwork is better, his reads are better. Everything in light-years better than it was last year.

“The idea is that we take that next step from where we ended last year, which was a really good spot, instead of starting back from the beginning where we had to work our way up throughout the season.”

Most of the offensive starters double up on defense. It will be anchored by the front six that includes Torres and Noah Bermudez up front and middle linebackers Simonini (53.5 tackles) and Purnell (80 tackles). Stewart brings his speed to the secondary, where he had four interceptions last year, and is looking to produce an all-state kind of year.

“I think we’re looking way better than people expected us to,” Stewart said. “People come out here and expect to roll over us because we’re from the country, we’re not that big, but it’s football. We’re going to come out here to hit and play no matter what.”

The Cougars got off to a slow start last year and went through a rough patch in the middle of the season, but they still played in the sectional final for the third year in a row. With a solid group of returnees and an offseason to work exclusively on themselves, they go into this season with high expectations looking for more.

“Overall I think we’re where we need to be,” Leamy said. “The biggest thing, it’s Group 1 football, the biggest thing is depth. Everyone understands it’s going to be the-next-man-up and everyone’s ready to go. Everyone’s ready to play.”

**The Schalick Cougars are looking for a big year from speedy senior David Stewart (12) in all three phases of the game.**

Preseason Strength Index

Here is the preseason Strength Index for the Salem County high school football teams and their divisions in the West Jersey Football League. The SI is a schedule strength component in the formula for the United Power Rank (UPR) used to seed the NJSIAA playoffs. Power points supposedly will be made available by the protectors of the data after Week 2.

OVERALL STATE	SI	OVERALL WJFL	SI
1. Winslow	92.84	1. Winslow (1)	92.84
2. Don Bosco	89.71	2. Glassboro (4)	88.12
3. Bergen Catholic	88.47	3. Washington Twp. (5)	87.49
4. Glassboro	88.12	4. Camden (7)	86.55
5. Washington Twp.	87.49	5. Cedar Creek (10)	85.20
6. St. Joe (Mont.)	87.37	6. Kingsway (15)	81.81
7. Camden	86.55	7. Atlantic City (17)	80.51
8. Ramapo	86.18	8. Millville (21)	78.99
9. Old Tappan	85.62	9. Mainland (28)	76.17
10. Cedar Creek	85.20	10. Haddonfield (30)	75.81

SALEM COUNTY	SI
92. Salem	67.48
121. Pennsville	64.24
122. Schalick	64.21
272. Woodstown	50.03
283. Penns Grove	48.10

WJFL DIAMOND	SI	INDEPENDENCE	SI
40. Burlington City	73.69	237. Clayton	53.37
81. Paulsboro	68.66	255. Buena	52.15
92. Salem	67.48	256. Woodbury	52.10
113. Overbrook	65.08	272. Woodstown	50.03
121. Pennsville	64.24	280. Pitman	48.46
122. Schalick	64.21	283. Penns Grove	48.10

Hitting the field

Four of Salem County’s five high school football teams scrimmage for first time in training camp, results predictable

By Riverview Sports News

Four of Salem County’s five high school football team hit the field for their first scrimmages of training camp. It went about the way you’d expect. There was some good, there was some bad and there was a lot of think about. Here are the coaches’ impressions.

PENNS GROVE vs. Gateway

The Red Devils hosted a team that returns a lot of starters from a team that went 7-3 and held their own. Each team scored once and JaKai Ingram forced and recovered a fumble that would’ve set up the offense in the red zone.

“it was great for us,” Penns Grove coach Damian Ware said. “Honestly, it was really good. I was talking to their coach and he expects them to do well this year and we pretty much hung with them. They scored once, we scored once; it was pretty even all the way through the scrimmage. The key for us is playing solid and keeping everything in front of us.“

The Gators had two big runs, but one called back due to a holding penalty. The Red Devils scored their touchdown on a long run by freshman Jaivon Thomas.

“The main thing for us is figuring out who the quarterback is because that’s still an open competition right now,” Ware said. “Once we figure out the quarterback then that’s when we’re going to lock in. All three of them (Avery Batts, Damion Robinson, Brayden Lattig) played today and nobody stood out; they were all kind of the same. They have some promise and they’re going to be solid; they’ll be fine.

“The good thing is we don’t have a Week Zero game so that gives us time. We don’t have to rush into doing things. We can figure things out that next week and figure out what we’re going to do and how we’re going to move forward.

The Red Devils scrimmage again at 10 a.m. Thursday at home against Wildwood.

PENNSVILLE vs. Triton

Pennsville coach Mike Healy called it an overall good day. Jake Kimani and C.J. Johnson both had a touchdown catch. Tristan Horner didn’t score a touchdown, but had several tough, physical runs.

“I take away a lot of positives from first scrimmage,” Healy said. “We’ve got a lot of new faces out there. Not that it’s a rebuild for us, but there are going to be some growing pains, but I saw a lot of positives. We’ve got to clean some things up, but overall it was a good day.

“We moved the ball, had some nice stops, hurt ourselves with some penalties and mistakes we have to clean up, but I think overall it was a real positive day, a step forward for us.”

The Eagles scrimmage again Friday 4 p.m. at home against Poly Tech (Del.).

WOODSTOWN vs. Clearview

The Wolverines are looking to put a tough 2025 season behind them and Monday’s scrimmage was a good first step. Cole Ware and Ty West scored rushing touchdowns and Andrew White caught a touchdown pass from Mason Middlemiss.

“It was a good first scrimmage for us,” coach Frank Trautz said. “It was structured more like a practice than it was a game. Overall, the object for today was just let’s go out, let’s compete, let’s play with effort. First time against a different opponent here, so I was happy with all that.

“Of course, we did some good things, we did some bad things, lots of stuff to work on, but overall happy with the kids’ effort and what they were able to do today. It was a good start. I was happy. Overall, happy with the direction we’re going.”

The Wolverines scrimmage again 6 p.m. Thursday at home against Audubon.

SALEM vs. Absegami, Pt. Pleasant Boro, Rahway

The Rams played these three teams in this order because what they do was supposed to give the Rams a look at what they’re expected to see in their opener at Ironton (Ohio).

“We took care of business,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “We went down there looking for work. We got good work.”

The Rams scrimmage again Friday at Camde

The numbers game

Salem CC players get their football jerseys, numbers Monday

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The line into the storage room in the fieldhouse stretched all the way back to the lobby. One by one, the players on the Salem Community College football team emerged with a crisp white jersey with their number for the Mighty Oaks’ inaugural season ahead.

And then the games began.

The basketball court looked like the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as players who didn’t get a desired number sought to make a deal. There was more wheeling and dealing going on than at an NFL general managers meeting.

“I think we’re up to four and I think there’s still negotiating going on,” defensive coordinator Joe Dougherty said. “I don’t think we’re in a situation where a star tailback comes over and gives somebody a Mercedes for his number.”

There were at least two trades confirmed by Riverview Sports News. A couple three-way deals were said to be proposed, but were likely to be shot down by management.

Sam Rowley swapped the 54 he was assigned for the 99 defensive linemate Kaden Hood of Kingsway got. And Winslow cornerback Erik Worley traded his 4 for the 3 that went to Woodstown receiver M.J. Hall. Both were amicable trades, made without incentives.

“I wanted something different,” said Rowley, who played at Salem and Haddon Heights. “I wore 54 in high school, but I wanted 99 because I saw that jersey in my high school but I couldn’t wear it because my coach wouldn’t allow it, so I just wanted to wear it now because it was available.”

“I originally wanted 59, but I couldn’t get that,” Hood said. “I had 99 in Little League, but the jersey (here) was a little too big for me, so we agreed to a trade. This one fits me better; that one was a 3X. It’s a good number for me right now.”

That’s not to say there wasn’t another trade coming. He still hoped to lock down the 59.

**Kaden Hood (L) and Sam Rowley negotiate a jersey swap after receiving their Salem CC football numbers Monday. (Top photo) Mark Moore (C) is assigned No. 21 for the Mighty Oaks’ inaugural season.**

Worley had a more permanent reason for seeking the 3. It was his number in high school and he wanted it to match the number he’s had tattooed on his wrist the last two years.

“That’s my lucky number,” he said.

The jersey swapping was part of the football program’s first media day, an occasion to take the official inaugural team photo and individual shots more than anything. The players submitted their three preferences for numbers. The original six players that went through the spring were locks to get their choice and given green jerseys for the photo to distinguish their position as trailblazers and the rest were accommodated as much as possible.

“With a full roster of guys the numbers are limited,” offensive coordinator Chris Crowley said. “Everybody wants to wear single digits, it’s just not reality when you come to a big program. We have no single digit numbers of like 5-star guys coming in promised No. 9. We don’t have that right now.”

Numbers 0 and 1 are most coveted by players but a lot of programs won’t give them out. The Mighty Oaks assigned both numbers.

The 1 went to running back Brian Pritchett of Bridgeton. He looked too big to fit into a jersey that typically goes to a small player, but he maintained it would be no problem pulling it over his broad shoulders. A couple players approached him about a straight-up trade, but he wasn’t budging.

“I wore No. 1 in high school my senior year,” the 5-10, 230-pound Pritchett said. “I thought it was going to be 5 (his practice jersey) or 7 or something. I can fit in it. I know I can fit in it.”

Vinnie Ringo, a transfer from Lamar University, sought out the 0 because of what it represents.

“I feel like zero comes with a huge responsibility and I feel like I’m the man for it,” he said. “I believe everybody understands I’m in here for the responsibility.”

Regardless what number the players sought or eventually received, head coach Jay Accorsi said they wore them well.

“I like how they look in them,” he said. “It’s hard because you don’t have pads on and stuff, so all the guys are like, ‘Coach, too big; it’s too big.’ Well, wait ‘til you put it on and then see how it is. I thought they looked nice.”

**Salem CC players Omar Rodriguez (51), Jahfarri Payne (14), Charlie Shute (29) and Anthony Hicks (22) show off their new jerseys.**

**The No. 1 jersey fits Salem CC running back Brian Pritchett just fine.**

Woodstown: New season, fresh start

Wolverines eager to put last season behind them with lots of new elements, but the same lofty goals

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – By all measurable standards last season was not a good one for the Woodstown football team. It was a bad dream the Wolverines would just as soon forget.

Their first losing season since 2018 left them out of the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. They had no first-team all-stars within the division and just two senior honorable mentions. There were injuries that put nine starters on the sidelines and disrupted any consistency they hoped to develop. As a result, they were ushered out of the WJFL’s top small-school division for the first time in league history, relegated to the Independence Division for the next two years.

All that to say it’s a new year and a new approach in the house. Call what happened last year a wakeup call for a team that had been a South Jersey contender for the last four full cycles of senior classes.

WOODSTOWN WOLVERINES

Aug. 27 – at Pennsville, 6 p.m.

Sept. 3 – at Clayton, 6 p.m.

Sept. 11 – Schalick, 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 – at Woodbury, 11 a.m.

Sept. 25 – Buena, 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 – at Salem, noon

Oct. 9 – Overbrook, 6 p.m.

Oct. 17 – at Penns Grove, 11 a.m.

Oct. 23 – Pitman, 6:30 p.m.

Like most coaches, Woodstown head coach Frank Trautz will tell you each season is an entity unto itself and what happens one season has no bearing on the next. But to the returning players who endured the pain of last season – literally and emotionally – it’s the motivation to return the program to the form they all remember.

“It’s definitely was like a reality check for me, experiencing that after two years of playing really good football,” defensive back/tight end Noah Chiu said. “Now coming into my senior year I don’t want to lose again. That just kind of rubs off on the whole team. I can look at the guys next to me and we can just see the intensity and desire to play that we didn’t have last year. I don’t want to say it’s anger. There’s a lot more energy, there’s a lot more want to be out here and do great things. We all want to get our get-back from last year. We want to go out and make the school proud.”

From the moment you walk into practice you can tell the Wolverines are trying to put last season as far behind them as possible. Upbeat music from either Bradley Snitcher or Cole Ware’s playlist blasts from the rolling speaker on the sideline during drills (but not during line ball scrimmage periods).

That never used to happen.

“I’ve always wanted music,” Trautz said. “When I played, when I coached previously at Haddonfield, we always had music at practice. I like it. I didn’t want to be the one carrying the speaker out here, so I would kind of get upset when the kids wouldn’t bring it. We’ve got two speakers now, so we have one designated just to come out on the field. I like it because I like the energy being up and I think music helps with that, especially in these summer days.”

“It kicks our mood up,” junior quarterback Mason Middlemiss said.

They’re also wearing new white helmets with the blue W, replacing the blue helmets and orange W they wore last season. Another Trautz call. “I just wanted to do something different from last year,” he said. “New season. Fresh start.”

“I actually like them; I think they’re pretty cool,” Middlemiss said. “Coming in here I kind of liked the blue-and-white helmets combined, but last year was obviously new with just all blue. Now, we have all white, which I really like because my favorite NFL team is the Denver Broncos and they have the white alternate helmets and this is kind of that.”

**White helmets are just one thing that’s new about Woodstown’s approach this season.**

But the differences go beyond the tangible. The players say they are more connected this year and have adopted the motto “One Team, One Sound.” To that end, they do all their practice activities to a 14 count, representing the 14 games it takes to win a state championship. Additionally, the offensive line has devised a chant when the team approaches midfield — “All Aboard, Choo Choo” – that can be interpreted as the Wolverines are approaching the scoring zone, climb on the train to Touchdown Station.

“We all sat down and talked with one another and said we were each going to take responsibility for everybody,” Middlemiss said.

“This team this year, we’re all friends,” junior lineman Rax Hannah said. “Last year I feel like the whole team we dreaded coming out here; when a team doesn’t want to succeed they’re never gonna succeed. it was crazy coming into this year. We felt we were going to be good, but we didn’t know what we were going to have. Once we got the pads on and starting working out I was really like, Oh my God, this is gonna be a great year. It’s a new division, a new team. I think it’s a good reset for us.”

What they have is a roster of players who gain earned their experience through tough times. Last year they were forced into situations because of the injuries without much prior experience. The returnees who might not have gotten in the game otherwise, are now among the most veteran.

The offense rests in the hands of Middlemiss. The junior shared the role last year with Frankie Hoerst, a freshman with a lot of potential who has since transferred to St. Augustine. Middlemiss rushed for 177 yards and brought the Wolverines a win at Clayton to end the season on a high note. And he’s surrounded by athletes at all the skill positions who are interchangeable so they’re versatile. Expect a lot from Ware and receiver Andrew White.

“I’m ready to take over and ready to lead this team to where we aspire to be,” Middlemiss said. “I got a lot to take in last year. It wasn’t the kind of season we wanted … but we’re coming into this season with a mentality that we’re going to forget about what happened last year, we’re going to forget about everything and start our own rebuild and nothing is going to happen like last year.”

“He’s a natural leader,” Trautz said. “He’s completely taken ownership; he’s taken this role seriously. Listen, the kid can flat out play. I’m excited for him because a lot of people are going to know his name at the end of this season because of what he can do. I’ve coached a fair share of quarterbacks (and) he’s up there with some of the hardest-working guys that I’ve had.”

A lot of the offensive starters also play on defense. Trautz said he was “excited” to see what this year’s defense can develop into and believes it will return to playing “traditional Woodstown defense.” Chiu will be one of the players to watch, having gone through a dynamic growth spurt since last season and is now 6-1, 170 pounds of intensity.

From the look and sound of things, the Wolverines are firmly focused on looking forward.

“This is a new year, this is a new team and we’re going to face a new set of challenges and highs and lows; that’s all were focused on,” Trautz said. “To be successful in this sport you always have to operate that way. If you’re hanging on things you’ve done in the past, it’s gonna hurt you in the future.

“They’re hungry because they want to prove themselves and show everybody what we can do. I agree with that. We’re excited to get the season started and make a new story for ourselves this year.”

**Junior quarterback Mason Middlemiss (3) will take the reins of the Wolverines’ offense and says he’s ready to lead the team to where it aspires to be.**

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 17-21; x-scrimmage

MONDAY, AUG. 17
FOOTBALL
x-Clearview at Woodstown, 9 a.m.
x-Haddon Twp. at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Salem, Rahway, Pt. Pleasant Boro at Absegami, 10 a.m.
x-Triton at Pennsville, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 18
FOOTBALL
x-Delsea at Schalick, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Pennsville at Middle Twp., 10 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Clearview at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Sterling, 10 a.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 20
FOOTBALL
x-Wildwood at Penns Grove, 10 a.m.
x-Audubon at Woodstown, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 21
FOOTBALL
x-Salem at Camden, 10 a.m.
x-Schalick at Buena, 9 a.m.
x-Poly Tech (Del.) at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Schalick at Cumberland, 9:30 a.m.
x-Millville at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
x-Salem CC at Montclair, 5 p.m.