Category: FOOTBALL

Payback is … personal

Salem, Carey take it out on Woodstown after losing to the Wolverines last year and their Homecoming Game last week; Pennsville unloads on Lawrence to enhance its playoff hopes; Schalick falls to Glassboro; includes WJFL standings

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — For Troy Carey, this one was personal.

Carey had a monster game against Woodstown last year, passing for an eye-popping 279 yards, but Salem lost to the other quarterback’s big game.

Salem’s Troy Carey proudly wears the Game MVP chain he won for the second time this season.

Friday night, the senior got a little payback on a lot of counts, rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns and making some big plays on defense as the Rams crushed the Wolverines on their Homecoming and Senior Night, 47-0, a week after losing their own Homecoming game.

It was Salem’s first win in the rivalry since the 2020 season finale, its first at Woodstown since 2019 and its first at Clint Ware Field in the regular season since Thanksgiving 2017. There was talk on the sidelines Woodstown hadn’t lost at Homecoming in years.

“I was definitely hungry because last week was a tough game, I didn’t get any carries last week, but this week was definitely personal, for sure,” Carey said. “We lost our Homecoming (to West Deptford), so we had an opportunity to upset somebody else’s, so it was definitely big. It was personal this week, for sure.”

Carey was part of a balanced offense and a dominating defense. He, Cashmir Parsley and Isiah Santiago all scored a pair of touchdowns. Santiago, normally a receiver, played in the backfield for the first time and rushed for 71 yards. Parsley rushed for 68 yards and quarterback Desmund Thomas had 141 total yards and threw for a score on the final play of a 21-point first quarter.

The defense held Woodstown to minus-14 yards of net rushing and 45 yards total. It was the second opponent in three weeks the Rams held to negative rushing yards.

“I thought the defense played really well,” Rams coach Kemp Carr said. “Offense is for being cute and defense is for winning championship. The guys understood the call. For the most part there was good communication throughout. I heard a lot of pointing, a lot of talking, and that’s what it takes every game.”

Carey has played so many positions in his Salem career it’s hard to pigeon-hole him as any specific type player. You might call him a Swiss Army Knife. Carr just calls him “unicorn.”

He went for 34 yards the first time he touched the ball — on the first snap of the game — and scored on a 19-yard run two plays later. He had a 23-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the third quarter.

“He’s a unicorn, whatever we need him to do he’s willing to do and you can’t ask for anything more than that,” Carr said. “He plays wing, he plays quarterback, he plays running back, he plays Mike linebacker, defense and down line. When you have a unicorn like that you try to use him in the best place you can, but we have multiple of those guys.”

It was another tough night for the Wolverines (2-6), who fell out of the top 16 of the South Jersey Group I power points standings for the first time ever this week and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

They were held to less than 50 yards of net offense and had four turnovers, three of which Salem (4-4) converted into touchdowns. They did have a big play on their first drive when freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst connected on a 63-yard bomb to Sincere Cook-Reese, but the sophomore receiver was stopped short of the end zone and they ended up not scoring, missing a 26-yard field goal attempt.

There was a scary moment in the game involving the quarterback later in the quarter. Hoerst lay still on the 30-yard line after getting crushed by the Salem rush and losing a fumble. The game was delayed nearly 15 minutes while trainers and medical staff treated him for an apparent neck injury.

They stabilized his head and neck area before lifting him on a backboard to an awaiting stretcher. Woodstown coach Frank Trautz reported Hoerst was moving and talking as he was being treated. He did not have an update on the player’s condition immediately after the game.

It was just another in a series of injuries that have befallen the Wolverines this season. At one point this year they had nine starters out because of injury. As it was, they had fewer than a half-dozen of their opening day starters on the field against the Rams.

“It’s unfortunate you have a season (like that),” Trautz said. “You keep telling yourself we’ve made it through and we get some guys back and we can’t seem to stay healthy. It’s part of this game, unfortunately.

“We’re not making excuses here. We’re very confident in the guys we have playing, but it’s no doubt it takes a toll on you. As ironic it sounds I do think it’s still going to help us in the long run here with a lot of these kids who were forced to play different positions this year before stepping into roles they were not expected to play in.”

With backup quarterbacks Mason Middlemiss and Lucas Fulmer among those already sidelined, the Wolverines turned to “Q” for the “A” at the position. Noah Chiu, pronounced like the letter Q, plays a hard-nosed style of ball and did what he could despite being under constant pressure. 

“Noah is as tough as they come,” Trautz said. “He’s one of those kids that every coach would take 100 of. He’d run through a brick wall for you. He’ll do everything you ask of him. Very tough. We asked a lot of him tonight and he didn’t flinch.”

Woodstown coach Frank Trautz (R) gives some instructions to Noah Chiu before sending the junior in at quarterback in the second quarter Friday night against Salem.

Salem 47, Woodstown 0

SAL (47) WOOD (0) 
111st Downs2
31-321Rushing19-(-14)
5-7-0Passing2-9-1
88Passing yds59
2-0Fumbles-lost3-3
3-32.0Punts-avg4-29.5
12-101Penalties2-7
Salem (4-4)216137-47
Woodstown (2-6)0000-0

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Troy Carey 19 run (kick failed), 10:36 1Q
S-Cashmir Parsley 2 run (Johnathan Bower kick), 1:07 1Q
S-Kaden Robinson 30 pass from Desmund Thomas (Antwuan Rogers pass from Desmund Thomas), 0:00 1Q
S-Cashmir Parsley 4 run (run failed), 4:40 2Q
S-Isiah Santiago 10 run (run failed), 6:42 3Q
S-Troy Carey 23 run (Johnathan Bower kick), 0:38 3Q
S-Isiah Santiago 4 run (Johnathan Bower kick)

Pennsville 44, Lawrence 6

PENNSVILLE — The homestanding Eagles played one of their most complete games of the season, dominating their Mercer County visitors on both sides of the ball on Senior Night.

Rylan Hardy scored three touchdowns, Robbie McDade scored two and Adrian Alleyne scored once. Perry Meranti had three two-point conversions.

The Eagles led 16-0 in the first quarter and 30-6 at halftime.

“We had everything clicking,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “You know how we’ve talked about getting to play all four quarters? We did that.”

Glassboro 35, Schalick 7

GLASSBORO — Schalick gave Glassboro all it could handle for the better part of three quarters, but then the Bulldogs remembered who they were.

The Cougars held their own with the defending state champions through the first half and into the third quarter, but Xavier Sabb got loose for two late fourth-quarter touchdowns to close out a 35-7 victory.

Schalick had the Homecoming crowd worried for a while. Glassboro scored first, but the Bulldogs answered with an 82-yard drive after a Jase Volovar interception capped by Gary Simonini’s 30-yard TD pass to Sherrod Jones.

The Bulldogs scored again, and the Cougars nearly got the tying touchdown right before halftime. David Stewart set them up with an interception and they got to the 2 with four seconds left but couldn’t punch it in. 

They ran three plays, missed a receiver in the end zone on second down and were stopped on third down. They lined up for a field goal, but it was blocked, so instead of going into the halftime trailing 14-10 they remained down by a touchdown, but not feeling as hurt as the Bulldogs.

“We were right there all through the first half,” Cougars coach Kevin Leamy said. “We had a game plan that the kids executed great and frustrated them on offense. Kids made plays. 

“Everything was going good in the first half. We played well in the second half, too, but you give them enough opportunities, those kids are going to make plays.”

The events of the first half must not have sat well with the Bulldogs (8-0) because they didn’t come out for the second half until there were 30 seconds left in the break.

It was a 20-7 game going into the final four minutes of the fourth quarter, but Xavier Sabb, who hadn’t caught a pass to that point, scored twice to put the game out of reach.

“I don’t think it was anything special,” Leamy said of the approach. “I think it was just a mentality that we came into the game with that we were going to force them to earn everything they get. Pressure them, force them to continue to make plays. Force them to run the ball.

“They run the ball really well, but they refuse to commit to it. They’re always going to revert back to throwing the ball because they have those three kids out there that they can get the ball to. I think we knew that going in and were going to say we dare you to run the ball, we’re going to try everything we have to take away that pass.”

Glassboro 35, Schalick 7

Schalick (2-6)7000-7
Glassboro (8-0)140714-35

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Amari Sabb 42 pass from Jack O’Connell (Sal Esgro kick)
S-Sherrod Jones 30 pass from Gary Simonini (Hunter Dragotta kick)
G-JoJo DeLecce 22 run (Sal Esgro kick)
G-Amari Sabb 3 run (Sal Esgro kick)
G-Xavier Sabb 22 pass from Jack O’Connell (pass failed)
G-Xavier Sabb 25 pass from Jack O’Connell (Mekhi Parker run)

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro8-04-0
Salem4-43-1
Schalick2-62-2
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-61-3
Penns Grove0-70-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
Paulsboro7-05-0
West Deptford6-14-0
Overbrook5-22-2
Pennsville4-42-3
Collingswood5-32-3
Audubon2-41-3
Camden Catholic0-80-5

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 35, Schalick 7
Pennsville 44, Lawrence 6
Salem 47, Woodstown 0
Collingswood 28, Camden Catholic 24

SATURDAY’S GAMES
West Deptford at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Overbrook at Audubon, 11
Woodbury at Penns Grove, noon

WJFL Scoreboard

Here are Friday night’s scores in the West Jersey Football League, includes Thursday’s scores and Saturday’s games; Salem County scores in bold

FRIDAY’S SCORES
Absegami 47, Middle Township 14
Bishop Eustace 25, Wildwood 14
Bordentown 31, Florence 7
Bridgeton 28, Atlantic Tech 0
Burlington City 42, Maple Shade 0
Cedar Creek 49, Timber Creek 14
Cinnaminson 42, Moorestown 7
Collingswood 28, Camden Catholic 24
Delsea 13, Williamstown 7
Eastern 47, Clearview 6
Ewing 63, WW-Plainsboro South 0
Gateway 40, Mastery Camden 20
Glassboro 35, Schalick 7
Holy Spirit 48, Ocean City 0
Hightstown 39, Allentown 6
KIPP 20, Holy Cross 12
Lower Cape May 13, Cumberland 7
Pennsauken 25, Cherry Hill West 7
Pennsville 44, Lawrence 6
Salem 47, Woodstown 0
Seneca 27, Paul VI 14
Shawnee 38, Camden Eastside 14
Sterling 20, Lindenwold 0
St. Joseph (Hamm.) 23, Oakcrest 20
Trenton 27, Princeton 14
Triton 27, Egg Harbor Township 0
Vineland 20, Highland 17
Washington Twp. 39, Kingsway 36
Willingboro 47, Pleasantville 22
Winslow 41, Mainland 6

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Atlantic City at Hammonton, 11 a.m.
Buena at Palmyra, 11
Camden at Lenape, 11
Hopewell Valley at Steinert, 11
Ocean Twp. at Colts Neck, 11
Overbrook at Audubon, 11
West Deptford at Paulsboro, 11
Delran at Haddon Heights, noon
Rancocas Valley at St. Augustine, noon
Woodbury at Penns Grove, noon
Northern Burlington at Burlington Twp., 1:30 p.m.
Riverside at Pemberton, 2
Robbinsville at Hamilton West, 2
Nottingham at Notre Dame, 6

THURSDAY’S SCORES
Cherry Hill East 42, Deptford 0
Haddonfield 38, Gloucester 9
Haddon Twp. 43, Gloucester Catholic 20
Millville 55, Cherokee 28

Closer to kickoff

Salem CC board takes another step toward starting football, extends consultant’s contract a month, buys time to digest data, close gaps

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The Salem Community College board of trustees heard the most extensive proposal on the athletic department’s plan to bring football to the campus in 2026 Thursday night and although sentiment generally appears favorable the policymakers weren’t quite ready to green light the program.

The board heard a comprehensive 90-minute presentation from athletics director Bob Hughes on the viability of bringing the sport to the college for the first time. The body wasn’t expected to approve the measure at this meeting, but it did keep the door open by extending the contract of consultant Jay Accorsi through Nov. 30 to bring into focus some remaining open questions.

Salem CC athletics director Bob Hughes proudly displays the football proposal he distributed to the college’s board of trustees Thursday night.

“I wasn’t going to push for a decision at this point in time because I don’t feel we were ready to make a recommendation to the level that we wanted,” Salem CC president Mike Gorman said. “I would not push them to reach a premature conclusion. I will ask them to reach a conclusion, but I wouldn’t have forced the issue that we need to know tonight. I don’t think that would have been in their best interest.”

He anticipates taking the question to a vote Nov. 20 “as long as a couple of things fall into place between now and then.”

The extension gives the board’s members time to digest all the data in the 75-page report Hughes presented before it can consider signing off on such a large investment. Research indicates it will cost between $350,000 and $400,000 in initial start-up costs with about one-tenth of that needed by January if the Mighty Oaks plan to play in the fall of 2026.

The November target will allow the new program, if approved, to start hiring coaches, recruiting players, buying equipment and getting the word out.

“The timeline will not wait for us,” Hughes said.

“My biggest concern right now is making sure we do our full due diligence,” board vice chair Jason Supernavage said. “This is a much bigger risk and investment than this college has ever seen when it comes to athletics, at least during my tenure here. This is one of those things I would not want to get wrong just because the emotional side of it looks like it’s something we want to have.

“It’s not that I’m anti the concept of adding. I think it’s a great idea, but before I feel comfortable putting support behind it I think there’s a lot of logistics the board should feel obligated to find out because this number is going to be so large I wouldn’t want to get it wrong. This is a  big boy. This is not monopoly money. This is one of those I’d like to see specifics and not generalities.”

Hughes called football “the next logical step and natural progression” in the college’s growth.
Starting the program could bring an additional 100 students immediately to campus. When the school brought back sports in 2018, it saw an increase of 140 students, only about half of whom were athletes.

“For me, it lines up with our mission and I wouldn’t be talking to you if I didn’t think it did,” Hughes said. “If I didn’t believe that this serves our mission I wouldn’t be so full-throated behind it.

“I believe strongly that this can bring a campus together and I want to see what that looks like here. This is a moment that we have an opportunity to do something that people probably 10 years ago didn’t think was possible. For us it’s a chance to say we have this possibility, that we have a purpose here and we’re ready to partake in the next step.”

Salem CC athletics director Bob Hughes explains to the board of trustees the merits of starting a football program at the school. The top photo is an artist’s rendition of a Mighty Oaks football helmet.

The most immediate question is securing a practice site. The Mighty Oaks will start talking with the National Junior College Athletic Association next week about declaring the sport and hope to hold a spring practice with 20 to 40 players, but they need a place to hold it. The preferred space is the Carneys Point Rec Complex, which currently serves as the home for the Mighty Oaks’ baseball team, but there are logistical issues with the township to consider.

Other venues being considered are the nearby YMCA fields and the Walnut Street Field in Salem City that was once the game-day home of Salem High School. The Carneys Point Complex is appealing because it would allow the Mighty Oaks to unify all their teams in one location.

“If we can’t get a commitment on the site all bets are off,” Gorman said.

Games are expected to be played in local high school stadiums, starting with Pennsville and Penns Grove. Officials expect a short schedule of at least six to eight games the first year.

Accorsi told the board the climate is right for a junior college football program to flourish in New Jersey and Salem is the “right fit” to get the ball rolling. 

Gorman said he’s never had a negative reaction from anyone in the public arena when he’s brought up the idea of football at Salem. The votes are believed to be there from the board to approve it. Typically the board has supported the president’s recommendation when it finds a proposal is well researched.

There is only one two-year school in New Jersey that currently offers football – Sussex County CC – and the conditions under which it started the program are said to be “vastly different” than the reason Salem is considering it.

Sussex did it to save jobs within the college. Salem is doing it to bring more students on campus. When the Mighty Oaks revived their athletics program in 2018, student enrollment increased by 140, and less than half of those new students were athletes.

The addition of football could open the door for other activities for students, Hughes told the board. He finds the prospect of the first Homecoming football Saturday at Salem CC particularly exciting.

The athletic department already has been fielding calls from prospective football players once word started getting out the school was moving towards the sport.

“There is no way I could get 100 students tomorrow in another way,” Gorman said. “There’s just no other pathways that would bring us 100 students that rapidly.”

Administrators at other JUCOs in the state are watching and selfishly hoping the Mighty Oaks can make a go of it. The thinking there is if Salem can do it, so can they.

Jay Accorsi, the former Rowan head coach serving as the consultant on Salem CC’s exploration of football, tells the college’s board why the time is right for JUCO football to flourish in New Jersey and how the Mighty Oaks are the ‘right fit’ to get the ball rolling.

Closer to fruition

Salem CC expected to approve extending Accorsi’s consulting contract as school moves toward adding football in 2026

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Salem Community College is expected to take another step towards the most significant expansion in the modern era of its athletics program Thursday when policymakers hear a proposal to continue its exploration of bringing football to the campus for the first time in Fall 2026.

GORMAN

Athletics director Bob Hughes is scheduled to make a presentation on the current state of the department’s research at the board of trustee’s monthly meeting and president Mike Gorman is expected to recommend extending the contract of consultant Jay Accorsi in order to bring into focus some unresolved variables that are beyond the school’s control.

Both administrators are in favor of the move, but the ultimate decision rests with the board.

Gorman told the board in August if the school were to move forward with starting football it would need to commit by mid-October. He said Tuesday “things will solidify over the next four weeks” for the Mighty Oaks to move forward with fielding a team in 2026 or not.

“It would be premature (today to say the program is starting), but we’re definitely moving in a direction to bring that to fruition,” Gorman said. “The concept that I anticipate on this (Thursday) is getting the nod from the board to continue the path that we are on with an intent of becoming more deliberate here.

“We still have pieces of this puzzle to assemble, but I need (the board’s) authorization to continue doing that. I’ve got to get these other pieces in place in order to make it happen.”

Accorsi, the retired Rowan University head football coach, has been serving as a consultant researching the feasibility of bringing football to the two-year college for the past two months. He has been interested in the idea of that level of football in New Jersey for several years and brought it to Gorman earlier this spring.

The school considered adding the sport earlier this decade and the idea had support, but it ultimately was decided the time wasn’t quite right to pull the trigger.

The climate appears even more favorable this time. There is only one junior college football program in New Jersey – Sussex County CC – and when Pennsylvania’s Lackawanna CC transitions to NCAA Division II in 2026 there will be no other NJCAA football between Newton and Louisburg, N.C., leaving a wide and fertile ground for attracting players.

It is estimated it would cost $500,000 for the Mighty Oaks to start a football program.

Among the challenges still to be addressed are where the team will play and practice and what schedule will it play. It is believed the team would play its games at the various county high school stadiums against a schedule that likely would include Sussex and teams from New York, North Carolina, nearby trade colleges and four-year junior varsities. Area hotels could be used for the housing needs of the players.

Hughes called the process to date “thorough and exhaustive” and said Accorsi has done “a great job of getting a detailed look of what this investment for the college looks like and I’m happy with the results.” He was looking forward to addressing the board.

“We’ve done a lot of work on this,” Hughes said. “It’ll be great to share it and I’m looking forward to whatever conversation comes from it.

“It’s energized me. It wasn’t something I was expecting to do, but it’s been a great process and I think we’re still just in the infancy, and that’s the fun part – we’re really just getting started.”

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 13-18

MONDAY, OCT. 13
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 14
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at St. Joe (Hamm.), 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 6 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Highland, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Triton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Woodstown at GCIT, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 6 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Wildwood at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 17
WJFL FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Lawrence at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Vineland at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Clearview at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 18
WJFL FOOTBALL
Overbrook at Audubon, 11 a.m.
West Deptford at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Woodbury at Penns Grove, noon
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Wilmington (2), noon
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Salem CC Jamboree at Cristo Rey HS, Philadelphia

Flagged down

Salem has another touchdown brought back by penalty and it was a big moment in Homecoming loss to West Deptford

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — Penalties are the bane of every football coach’s existence. Penalties that take points off the board have a special place in … well … let’s just say, the place that would melt the treat West Deptford’s football team stopped for on the way out of town.

Salem had another touchdown called back by a penalty Saturday and it proved a quite significant turn in their 25-7 Homecoming Day loss to West Deptford and returning son John Emel.

The Rams had a 3-yard short-side pass to Torryn Ransome out of the backfield on what would have been the final play of the first half for what would have been a halftime lead. Coach Kemp Carr said he “can’t call a better play” for the situation. But instead of having the lead, they were flagged for holding and the go-ahead points came off the board.

They did get to run a play with no time on the clock and Desmund Thomas’ threw up a jump ball for KaiSiere Muhammad on the left side that was broken up by Cole Paskiewicz. The half ended not with Salem leading perhaps 15-12, but the Eagles leading 12-7.

It was a mind-numbing tenth time this season the Rams (3-4) have had a touchdown called back by a penalty. It happened three times last week at Middle Township, but they still won that game 44-0.

“I don’t know if some of them are penalties,” Carr said. “They’re question marks. After the ball crosses the goal line then we get a penalty. It’s hard to digest that. Why is that happening.

“Some of them are inevitable, but some of them are in the gray. The kid just put the kid in the ground, wasn’t even a hold. We went back and looked at it; he just got in his number and drove him into the ground. The guy called holding, like that was what made the play work.

“We score, the crowd all went crazy and then he throws his flag. They’re momentum killers. They’re drive killers. They mess with you mentally; they mess with your psyche. We’ve got to cut that stuff out.”

The Rams got in the position to score when Kyvion Parsons intercepted a Brady Cobb pass at the 10 and returned it all the way to 3 before being downed with a half-second left in the half.

What made the sequence even more demoralizing for Salem is the Eagles took the second-half kickoff and drove 70 yards in 12 plays over nearly six minutes to extend their lead. Zamir Davis capped it off with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.

Davis rushed for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Paskiewicz rushed for 146 yards and a score.

“If they go into the lead, it’s obviously a lot of juice for them,” Emel said. “I thought it was big (sequence) for their guys, but at the end of the day it came down to that first drive of the second half. 

“Obviously, it was nice to get the stop there and nice to get the drive to start the second half, but we focused on the next play. I think the drive to start the third quarter on top of that (holding penalty) for them was really physically and mentally exhausting because then they’re down two scores and now our defense can play loose and aggressive when they can do that it’s good for us.”

Emel said his team played what he called “championship defense” from the second quarter on as they kept the Rams out of the end zone after Thomas’ 40-yard touchdown pass to Muhammad on the game’s opening drive. 

The holding call on the Ransome’s touchdown wasn’t the only one the Rams found questionable. There a defensive pass interference call on a Salem receiver in front of the Rams’ bench that wasn’t called. There was an offensive pass interference call that went overlooked on a 34-yard West Deptford completion. Carr vehemently protested an apparent fumble into the end zone by Davis that teammate Michael Joseph fell on for West Deptford’s final touchdown.

And in the fourth quarter with the Rams trying to cut into West Deptford’s lead there was a facemask penalty that took them inside the 5, but didn’t give them a new set of downs. They eventually turned it over on downs without scoring.

After questioning the motivations for such backbreaking calls or non-calls happening, Carr eventually gave Saturday’s officiating crew a failing grade for the game.

While the loss spoiled Salem’s Homecoming celebration, it was a happy homecoming for Emel.

He went to Salem, but was playing in the new football stadium there for the first time. He had been in the stands as a fan or scout a number of times before, but as a player and later Penns Grove’s head coach all of his Salem games were on the old Walnut Street field.

He almost got on the new field during his last season at Penns Grove, the year they opened the stadium, but it wasn’t quite ready for occupancy so their rivalry game was at Walnut Street one last time.

Emel said before Saturday’s game and after his team rushed for 306 yards he liked the playing surface. The venue that is now the football stadium was the school’s soccer field when he was a student there.

After the game, after praising his players for the effort they gave in the victory, Emel promised to take them all for ice cream on the way out of town at one of his old haunts  — Hudock’s Custard Stand on the Salem-Quinton road.

“When you get a big road win the players get rewarded,” Emel said. “I used to work there in high school. It’s a place we look forward to every off season. “

He reported half the players opted for food over the frozen treat.

The West Deptford football teams stops off at the Salem ice cream stand Coach John Emel used to work at growing up on their way out of town after beating Emel’s alma mater Saturday afternoon. (Submitted photo)

West Deptford 25, Salem 7

WD (25) SAL (7) 
181st Downs10
50-306Rushing23-69
2-4-1Passing13-22-0
35Passing yds117
1-0Fumbles-lost1-1
2-30.0Punts-avg2-42.0
2-7Penalties7-55
West Deptford (6-1) 66130-25
Salem (3-4)7000-7

SCORING SUMMARY
S-KaiSiere Muhammad 40 pass from Desmund Thomas (John Bower kick), 7:52 1Q
WD-Zamir Davis 2 run (pass failed), 35.8 1Q
WD-Cole Paskiewicz 60 run (run failed), 3:04 2Q
WD-Zamir Davis 1 run (pass failed), 6:22 3Q
WD-Michael Joseph fumble recovery in end zone (Brady Cobb kick), 12.0 3Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro7-03-0
Salem3-42-1
Schalick2-52-1
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-51-2
Penns Grove0-70-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
Paulsboro7-05-0
West Deptford6-14-0
Overbrook5-22-2
Pennsville3-42-3
Collingswood4-31-3
Audubon2-41-3
Camden Catholic0-70-4

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Audubon 31, Collingswood 12
Delran 49, Penns Grove 0
Gloucester City 34, Schalick 6
Overbrook 34, Camden Catholic 20
Glassboro 42, Cinnaminson 0

SATURDAY’S GAME
West Deptford 25, Salem 7

MONDAY’S GAME
Woodbury at Willingboro

Emotional night

Schalick starts strong, then longest-standing rival Gloucester keeps Cougars at bay to spoil their Homecoming, Senior Walk

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Kevin Leamy crouched at the 30-yard line with his face buried in his hands. You know there were tears behind those hands. The Schalick head coach is an emotional coach as it is, but this was a particularly emotional night.

Moments earlier, he watched 13 senior who played through his first year as head coach, a mix of able-bodied like Homecoming King Dylan Sheehan and injured like Exavier Allen, who courageous made the walk both ways on crutches, take the first Senior Walk since 2019 on the field they were playing on barring a home playoff game for the final time.

With Kenny Chesney’s solemn “The Boys of Fall” playing softly through the speakers, the seniors walked the length of the field with their underclassmen teammates lining the hashmarks all the way to their parents in the south end zone. Once they got there, there was enough tears to fill the water bucket.

“It’s a cool tradition,” Leamy said. “These kids put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears. I feel terrible that we just couldn’t get it done, but I’m proud of them. They’re a good football team and I don’t think that scoreboard tells the whole story.”

The Cougars lost to Gloucester, the longest played rivalry in the program’s history, 34-6.

The night couldn’t have started better for them. They scored on their opening drive, a 13-play, 73-yard march that took up a little more than seven minutes and had some on the sidelines calling it the best drive they’ve seen in years.

They had a little help with a fourth-down pass interference penalty that moved the ball into the red zone – one of two fourth-down conversions in the drive – and fell on two of their own fumbles, but culminated in David Stewart’s 4-yard run to open the scoring.

Stewart rushed for 30 yards in the game. Evan Elliott was their workhorse, rushing for 92 bruising yards on 14 carries. He had 20 yards in the opening drive.

“I think we’re starting to get better and it’s finally showing,” Leamy said. “The kids are putting in a lot of work and it’s finally clicking.

“Unfortunately for the seniors it takes time to do things that are new and for it to click. And it’s finally starting to click, but we’re still not there yet. There are still things they’re not executing on and missing here and there. We had a lot of chances that we missed on tonight.”

But they couldn’t maintain it. They did have success moving the ball, but never found the end zone again.

“We could have maintained it,” Leamy continued. “We missed opportunities. We didn’t execute here and there at certain times. It’s hard to be consistent. That’s why good teams are good teams, because they’re consistent more than they are good. We’re not there with the consistency aspect of it, but you can see what it could be if you were consistent.”

The Lions, meanwhile, scored 34 unanswered points. Ibrahim Hudwell rushed for 136 yards over three quarters and scored three touchdowns. He also had a touchdown on the opening kickoff called back for a holding penalty.

Hudwell’s first touchdown and Ashton Wall’s PAT put the Lions ahead for good. It was a 7-6 game until the last two minutes of the first half when Rylan Coffigny got behind the Cougars’ defense and hauled in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Boulden. Hudwell’s second touchdown late in the third quarter made it 21-6.

Gloucester added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter without running an offensive play. Neeko Howard returned a batted pass 71 yards for a score and Hudwell had a 64-yard scoop-and-score with 8:04 to play. The Lions ran their first offensive play of the quarter with 4:04 left in the game.

Hudwell celebrated the victory with a pair of back flips before joining his teammates in the post-game huddle.

“If my teammates want me to do it, I’ll do it,” he said. “I’ll do anything for my teammates.”

Top photo: Schalick football seniors embrace their parents after completing the revival of the Senior Walk in the final home game of their careers.

Gloucester 34, Schalick 6

GLOU (34) SCH (6)
121st Downs15
33-304Rushing38-144
3-4-0Passing8-17-1
74Passing yds77
0-0Fumbles-lost5-3
2-42.0Punts-avg3-37.3
11-105Penalties3-35
Gloucester (4-2)014713-34
Schalick (2-5)6000-6

SCORING SUMMARY
S-David Stewart 4 run (kick failed), 1:06 1Q
G-Ibrahim Hudwell 15 run (Ashton Wall kick), 9:37 2Q
G-Rylan Coffigny 60 pass from Kevin Boulden (Ashton Wall kick), 1:11 2Q
G-Ibrahim Hudwell 13 run (Ashton Wall kick), 1:45 3Q
G-Neeko Howard 71 interception return (Ashton Wall kick), 11:47 4Q
G-Ibrahim Hudwell 64 fumble return (kick failed), 8:07 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro7-03-0
Salem3-32-1
Schalick2-52-1
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-51-2
Penns Grove0-70-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
Paulsboro7-05-0
West Deptford5-14-0
Overbrook5-22-2
Pennsville3-42-3
Collingswood4-31-3
Audubon2-41-3
Camden Catholic0-70-4

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Audubon 31, Collingswood 12
Delran 49, Penns Grove 0
Gloucester City 34, Schalick 6
Overbrook 34, Camden Catholic 20
Glassboro 42, Cinnaminson 0

SATURDAY’S GAME
West Deptford at Salem

MONDAY’S GAME
Woodbury at Willingboro

WJFL scoreboard

Here is the schedule for Friday night’s West Jersey Football League action, includes Saturday schedule; Salem County games in bold

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Atlantic City 26, Eastern 7
Audubon 31, Collingswood 12
Bishop Eustace 28, Holy Cross 12
Bordentown 47, Riverside 8
Bridgeton 35, Absegami 21
Cumberland 27, Deptford 6
Delran 49, Penns Grove 0
Glassboro 42, Cinnaminson 0
Gloucester 34, Schalick 6
Hightstown 35, WW-Plainsboro South 7
Kingsway 63, Clearview 0
Lindenwold 38, Palmyra 18
Mainland 54, Egg Harbor Twp. 6
Ocean City 48, Middle Twp. 0
Overbrook 34, Camden Catholic 20
Robbinsville 33, Moorestown 25
Seneca 31, Hammonton 15
Shawnee 36, Pennsauken 14
St. Augustine 27, Lenape 0
Sterling 21, Clayton 6
Trenton 28, Northern Burlington 22
Triton 21, Highland 7
Washington Twp.38, Rancocas Valley 17
Williamstown 21, Cherokee 14

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Burlington Twp. at Hopewell Valley, 10:30 a.m.
Gateway at Gloucester Catholic, 11
Nottingham at Princeton, 11
Burlington City at Lawrence, noon
Burlington Twp. at Hopewell Valley, noon
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Wildwood, noon
West Deptford at Salem, noon
Eastside at Winslow, 1 p.m.
St. Joseph at Atlantic Tech, 1 p.m.
Allentown at Ewing, 2 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAME
Woodbury at Willingboro, 5 p.m.

Kicked to the (on)side

Tough ruling on an onside kick saps Pennsville’s growing momentum in Homecoming loss to Paulsboro; Woodstown falls at home to Haddon Heights

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Mike Healy isn’t the type to dwell on what-might-have-beens, so he didn’t spend a lot of energy going over what did or didn’t happen on a particular onsides kick early in the fourth quarter Thursday night that didn’t go his Pennsville team’s way.

Still, it was a big play, maybe even the turning point, in the game. The Eagles had just scored to cut their deficit with Paulsboro to 16 points with plenty of time to mount a comeback. They appeared to recover the ensuing onsides kick at midfield, but after spotting it once the officials conferred and it was decided the ball hadn’t traveled the requisite 10 yards before Pennsville touched it.

Possession was awarded to Paulsboro on the Pennsville side of the 50 and instead of the Eagles getting a chance to make it a one-score game, the Red Raiders went down and scored to regain a three-touchdown lead and eventually won 44-32 to spoil Pennsville’s Homecoming and remain undefeated.

“In any game some things are going to go your way and some things are not,” Healy said. “Obviously, the onsides kick we were very frustrated about the outcome of that. Not that we would have won the game, but that definitely changes where the game is at that point.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating, but there were also other chances where we had opportunities to get the ball and get stuff done and didn’t do it. So it’s all across the board.”

Rylan Hardy’s 6-yard touchdown run and the two-point conversion brought the Eagles (3-4) to 38-22 with 9:59 and all of its timeouts left. 

Of course, they were going to attempt an onsides kick. They hit it to their right side and senior receiver Hayden Sherman appeared to recover it in Paulsboro territory.

The Eagles had the momentum and now they were convinced they had the ball, too. Initially, the officials spotted it on the Paulsboro 49 for the Eagles, talked about it some more and then placed it on the Pennsville 49 for the Red Raiders.

Paulsboro covered the distance in eight plays, with McKenzie pushing in from the 1 for the score. So, instead of it possibly being 38-30, the Red Raiders were back on top 44-24 with 6:15 to play.

“I jumped up in the air and I landed five yards after where the ball would’ve been live, so I think I recovered it,” Sherman said. “You can’t argue with the refs; it’s their game, not mine. 

“If we would’ve got the ball I think we could have gone down and scored and maybe even went for another onsides and got it again. It killed our momentum. It killed everything. It made everybody all upset and killed it.”

Paulsboro coach Kevin Harvey said the play was “kind of huge. We didn’t want to give them the ball back right there. That was a close one there.”

Of course, one play didn’t cause the Eagles to lose. They got the ball to open the third quarter, but didn’t score, losing three yards on a fourth-and-1 from the Paulsboro 31. The Red Raiders took over, used two big plays to get to the 1 and scored. They also turned over their next possession on downs (at the Paulsboro 40) and Red Raiders scored again to take a 38-16 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Red Raiders (7-0), meanwhile, were efficient in their offense. Running back KyAire Harvey rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Malakah McKenzie passed for 210 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score. He was 12-of-20 through the air and completed his last seven passes in a row, two for touchdowns.

“We did a good job today, we did a good job,” Coach Harvey said. “The line’s gotta get all the credit. That’s what they’re (Harvey and McKenzie) supposed to do. That’s why they’re out there.”

Harvey the RB scored twice in the first half and Pennsville quarterback Robbie McDade matched it each time. It was a 14-14 game until McKenzie threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kahlil Streeter with 28 seconds left in the first half to give the Red Raiders the lead for good.

Hardy rushed for 85 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Pennsville. McDade rushed for 97 yards and the two first-half scores. Aiden Collazo also gave the Eagles some good yards, especially in the early return game.

Paulsboro 44, Pennsville 32

PBORO (44) PVILLE (32)
221st Downs16
26-248Rushing38-200
13-20-1Passing10-14-1
210Passing yds102
0-0Fumbles-lost1-1
1-23.0Punts-avg0-0
5-55Penalties1-10
Paulsboro814166-44
Pennsville88016-32

SCORING SUMMARY
PB-KyAire Harvey 42 run (Kayden Weber pass from Malakah McKenzie), 8:20 1Q
PV-Robbie McDade 12 run (Rylan Hardy run), 4:52 1Q
PB-KyAire Harvey 28 run (May Mears run), 8:36 2Q
PV-Robbie McDade 1 run (Rylan Hardy run), 2:54 2Q
PB-Khalil Streeter 24 pass from Malakah McKenzie (run failed), 0:28 2Q
PB-KyAire Harvey 1 run (Malakah McKenzie run), 7:07 3Q
PB-Jeremiah Carr 47 pass from Malakah McKenzie), 2:39 3Q
PV-Rylan Hardy 6 run (Aiden Collazo pass from Robbie McDade), 9:59 4Q
PB-Malakah McKenzie 1 run (run failed), 6:15 4Q
PV-Rylan Hardy 9 run (Rylan Hardy run), 3:10 4Q

Haddon Heights 27, Woodstown 6

WOODSTOWN — Kevin Clark ran for one touchdown and threw for another and kicker Jake Dillon booted a pair of field goals as Haddon Heights handed Woodstown a 27-6 loss.

Clark opened the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Lanont Robinson. Dillon kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.

The Wolverines answered with Frankie Hoerst’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Andrew White, but they missed the game-tying extra point. The Garnets scored the next 20 points to secure the win.

Haddon Heights 27, Woodstown 6

Haddon Heights73710-27
Woodstown6000-6

SCORING SUMMARY
HH-Lamont Robinson 17 pass from Kevin Clark (Jake Dillon kick)
W-Andrew White 42 pass from Frankie Hoerst (kick failed)
HH-Jake Dillon 23 FG
HH-Kevin Clark 1 run (Jake Dillon kick), 7:15 3Q
HH-Jake Dillon 23 FG, 9:24 4Q
HH-Amare Ridley 4 run (Jake Dillon kick)

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro6-03-0
Salem3-32-1
Schalick2-42-1
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-51-2
Penns Grove0-60-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
West Deptford5-14-0
Paulsboro7-05-0
Pennsville3-42-3
Overbrook4-21-2
Collingswood4-21-2
Camden Catholic0-60-3
Audubon1-40-3

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Paulsboro 44, Pennsville 32
Haddon Heights 27, Woodstown 6
OTHER WJFL GAMES
Cedar Creek 42, Lower Cape May 0
Cherry Hill East 49, Cherry Hill West 7
Florence 42, Pemberton 36
Haddon Twp. 28, Mastery Camden 14
Maple Shade 32, Pitman 9
Pleasantville 42, Oakcrest 0

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Penns Grove at Delran
Gloucester City at Schalick
Collingswood at Audubon
Overbrook at Camden Catholic
Cinnaminson at Glassboro
Woodbury at Willingboro

SATURDAY’S GAME
West Deptford at Salem

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 5-12

SUNDAY, OCT. 5
FIELD HOCKEY
SJ Tournament of Champions
At Clearview
Schalick vs. Clearview, 3:15 p.m.

MONDAY, OCT. 6
FIELD HOCKEY
Absegami at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Hammonton, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 3:45 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Camden County Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
SJ Group I Quarterfinals
Lower Cape May at Pitman, 2 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 3 p.m.
Wildwood at Haddon Twp., 3 p.m.
Audubon at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8
BOYS SOCCER
Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 7 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Pitman, 5 p.m.
Penns Grove at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Salem County Meet at Schalick, 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 9
WJFL FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Haddon Heights at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Glassboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Burlington City at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Gloucester City at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 10
WJFL FOOTBALL
Gloucester at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Penns Grove at Delran, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at Audubon, 7 p.m.
Overbrook at Camden Catholic
Woodbury at Willingboro
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pitman, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Highland, 4 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SATURDAY, OCT. 11
WJFL FOOTBALL
West Deptford at Salem, noon
CROSS COUNTRY
South Jersey Coaches Meet, Dream Park
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase

SUNDAY, OCT. 12
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC Prospect Showcase
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Morris CC, CCBC at Salem CC, 10 a.m.

Photo credit: Kaitlyn Khairzada