Category: FOOTBALL

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

Playoff bound turnaround

Salem, winless a year ago, slams Middle Twp. to gain a solid foothold on Group 1 playoff berth; includes WJFL standings

By Al Muskewitz 
Riverview Sports News

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Usually when someone wants to draw your attention to something that might be historically surprising they’ll start by saying something along the lines of “Don’t look now, but …”

Well, it says right here you can go ahead and look now. A team that didn’t win a game all last season and had lost 13 in a row before finally breaking through for their new coach is now solidly in the picture for a South Jersey Group I playoff berth.

Salem won for the second week in a row and third time in the last four games with a 44-0 pasting of winless Middle Twp. way down here Saturday. It’s the latest the Rams (3-3) have been .500 or better in a season since the end of their 2022 state semifinal season, when they started 4-1 and finished 8-5.

The Rams were seventh in the SJ Group I UPR rankings before beating Schalick last Thursday for their second win to become playoff eligible and rose to No. 5 this week before beating the Group 2 Panthers (0-6).

They last made the playoffs in 2023 with a 2-8 record, but missed out in last year’s winless season — the first year with Kemp Carr at the helm — their first oh-fer in 13 years. They can just about start printing their first playoff tickets now.

“It means a lot,” Carr said. “Any time you can get in the playoff and hopefully that happens everybody is 0-0; that’s the greatest thing. Everybody’s record is erased and you have a chance. We’ve got work to do, but we love the fact we have an opportunity.”

“We’re excited, we’re ecstatic,” added sophomore Quimee Bergen. “Last year we were 0-and-9, but we’re winning games now. We’ve got a nice future.”

Bergen, Kai’Siere Muhammad and Torryn Ransome each scored two touchdowns for the Rams. 

Muhammad and Bergen both caught a touchdown pass from Desmund Thomas, but it was their other two scores that caught the most attention.

Bergen broke in a smothered a bad punt snap in the end zone in the second quarter to give the Rams the special team’s touchdown Carr had requested and a 26-0 lead.

“At first I was going to hit him, but he wasn’t picking up the ball, so that was an easy touchdown for us,” Bergen said. “They weren’t blocking me so I was free every time so it was easy to get back there.”

Troy Cater (10) celebrates his second-quarter touchdown with teammates in the end zone. (Photo by Julliana Love)

Muhammad got the running clock started when picked off a pass in traffic over the middle and returned it 25 yards to give the Rams a 38-0 lead.

“It was like an adrenaline rush,” the junior said. “When I saw the ball and felt it touch my hand I had to score. When I saw the ball, I just got it and took off.

“All I saw was the end zone. I was telling myself I have score. I got the one boy off me, then saw the next boy, stiffed on him and the touchdown. My goal for the game was two touchdowns and that’s what I accomplished.”

Somebody in a Rams’ helmet was going to get that interception. Muhammad actually took it off teammate Makhye Murray as they converged and collided on the coverage.

“We talked about it after; it was cool,” Muhammad said. “I said, my fault. I said, you’re going to get it next time. He said he was going to get a pick.”

Ramsome scored the first and last touchdowns of the game. Troy Cater rushed for the Rams’ other touchdown.

The Rams’ defense, meanwhile, was relentless. It locked up the Panthers for minus-25 yards net rushing, minus-1 yard net offense and one first down. It was their first shutout since blanking Florence 42-0 in late October 2022 (29 games).

The Rams had a running clock on their side for the first time in three years from the 7:10 mark of the third quarter. The 44 points were the most they’ve scored in a game since putting 53 on Pleasantville in the third game of the 2022 season.

“I’ve been on that side of the coin before, so it’s nice to be on this side of it,” Carr said. “It’s nice for the guys to be able to enjoy it.”

They had two possessions in the final minute of the second quarter for a chance to have it the entire second half, but major penalties negated two touchdowns and both possessions ended in interceptions at or near the goal line.

They actually had three touchdowns called back by penalties in the game. They’ve now lost nine touchdowns this season because of penalties. 

While the Rams may be firmly on the playoff ladder, Carr insists their focus is squarely on next week’s game with West Deptford.

“We’re very happy, but we ain’t satisfied; we’ve got work to do,” Carr said. “We still have three games in front of us during the regular season and wer’e going to try to get every last one of them and then well post where we’re supposed to be posted at, what seed we’re supposed to be. 

“We’re just going to continue to plug and work our butts off in practice. Fundamentally we need to get a little bit better. I think fundamentally we get better I think we can do some damage in the next couple weeks.”

Salem 44, Middle Twp. 0

 SAL MT
161st Downs1
40-203Rushing12-(-25)
6-16-2Passing4-10-2
100Passing yds24
2-0Fumbles-lost2-2
0-0Punts-avg4-11.0
5-50Penalties5-45
Salem1412126-44
Middle Twp.0000-0

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Torryn Ransome 3 run (Jonathan Bower kick), 6:04 1Q
S-Kai’Siere Muhammad 16 pass from Desmund Thomas (Jonathan Bower kick), 3:50 1Q
S-Troy Carey 3 run (kick failed), 9:56 2Q
S-Quimere Bergen fumble recovery in end zone (run failed), 8:46 2Q
S-Quimere Bergen 38 pass from Desmund Thomas (kick failed), 7:31 3Q
S-Kai’Siere Muhammad 25 interception return (run failed), 7:10 3Q
S-Torryn Ramsome 3 run (kick failed), 8:53 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro6-03-0
Salem3-32-1
Schalick2-42-1
Woodbury2-41-2
Woodstown2-41-2
Penns Grove0-60-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
West Deptford5-14-0
Paulsboro6-04-0
Pennsville3-32-2
Overbrook4-21-2
Collingswood4-21-2
Camden Catholic0-60-3
Audubon1-40-3

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Woodbury 32, Gateway 21
Audubon 58, Gloucester Catholic 0
Haddon Heights 35, Camden Catholic 6
Salem 44, Middle Township 0
OTHER WJFL GAMES
Wildwood 21, Mastery Camden 18
Hamilton West 19, Nottingham 13
Winslow 26, Camden 8
Pennsauken 27, Camden Eastside 0
Bordentown 27, Robbinsville 7
KIPP at Ewing
Steinert 41, Moorestown 15

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 56, Deptford 0
Paulsboro 6, Schalick 0
Pennsville 41, Penns Grove 0
Collingswood 31, Sterling 14
Haddonfield 29, West Deptford 14
Overbrook 38, Clayton 14

Keeping The Boot

Pennsville retains Wildman Willey Boot it took them eight years to get back; Schalick drops close one to Paulsboro

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE — It took Pennsville eight years to get The Boot back. You don’t think the Eagles were going to give it up without a fight.

Pennsville retained the Norm “Wildman” Willey Boot Friday night with a resounding 41-0 victory over Penns Grove. It was the Eagles’ eighth shutout in the 68-year series, but first since 2013, and the first time they’d won back-to-back games in it since 2015-16.

When it was over, Grady Sanders ditched his crutches from an early-game foot injury and handed off the refurbished trophy to Robbie McDade and the senior quarterback ran it over to his teammates to raise in victory.

“We didn’t have it for a long time and getting it last year felt so good for everyone,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “I’ve had in my room for the past week. People would come in and look at it and I’d explain the story of The Boot. Even kids who don’t play football were asking questions and stuff.

“Hopefully it’ll be back on my desk Monday morning. Some of our seniors had some tough matchups against them in the past, so it’s awesome to be able to get this for them.”

Officially, the trophy is called the Pennsville Lions Club Award, but it’s more commonly referred as “The Boot” for the bronzed football cleat once belonging to Willey that sits atop it. Willey was a three-time Philadelphia Eagles’ All-Pro in a bygone era and a teacher in the Pennsville school district for more than 30 years. He passed away in 2011.

The Eagles won it back last year, brought it with them to Friday’s game — it rested on the bench — and it took up the same seat on the team bus going back home. 

“It means a lot,” said running back Rylan Hardy, who scored two touchdowns in the game. “The Boot has been in their hands for like seven years, so being able to go back-to-back years to finally bring it home to us is good. Maybe we can go on a streak now.”

“We’ve got to keep it,” sophomore linebacker Tristan Horner added.

The Eagles (3-3) opened a 14-0 halftime lead, but really came to life in the second half so as not to have a fourth straight game decided in the closing seconds. They scored touchdowns on all four of their possessions in the half – short runs by four different players – sparked by three of their four takeaways.

Hardy, Adrian Allenye and Vicktor Mosher all scored on 3-yard runs in the half and Aiden Collazo pushed in from the 1. Hardy rushed for 104 yards in the game to go over 2,000 total yards for his career. Nine ballcarriers combined to rush for 198 yards against the Red Devils (0-6).

“We’ve had an issue this year of not playing four full quarters and the big difference today was we played four full quarters,” Healy said. “They were able to finish the game when needed instead of letting them back into it.

“The past couple games we’ve gotten out to leads and let teams back in and make it interesting, but today we were able to really just finally execute.”

It might have been different had the Red Devils not had Terrell Thomas’ potential 69-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Lattig called back by a penalty in the first quarter, but the play sapped all of their momentum.

They did pick up 15 yards on their next snap, but managed only 50 yards of net offense after that, and 12 of those came on the final play of the game.

Speaking of plays, Horner turned in a nifty one in the third quarter. Horner blitzed into the Penns Grove backfield and batted down a pitch intended to Zane Thomas and recovered the loose ball. The play led to the Eagles’ third touchdown of the quarter and started the running clock.

“We went over it at film, we went over it at practice, and when I saw it I knew it was happening so I took my opportunity,” Horner said. “I saw him pull his arm back and I did my thing.”

NOTES: Penns Grove leads the overall series 38-26-4 … Penns Grove crowned its Homecoming King (Lacyir Reed) and Queen (Elif Sagir) at halftime.

Photo credit: Amory Alleyne

Pennsville 41, Penns Grove 0

 PV PG
121st Downs5
38-198Rushing12-46
0-2-0Passing8-14-3
0Passing yds59
0-0Fumbles-lost3-1
1-37.0Punts-avg2-32.5
1-15Penalties8-53
Pennsville86207-41
Penns Grove0000-0

SCORING SUMMARY
PV-Robbie McDade 8 run (Robbie McDade run), 8:17 1Q
PV-Rylan Hardy 1 run (pass failed), 1:06 2Q
PV-Rylan Hardy 3 run (run failed), 9:17 3Q
PV-Aiden Collazo 1 run (Perry Meranti pass from Robbie McDade), 3:04 3Q
PV-Adrian Alleyne 3 run (kick failed), 43.9 3Q
PV-Vicktor Mosher 3 run (Hayden Sherman kick), 4:16 4Q

Cougars can’t punch one in

PITTSGROVE — In a game that was basically played between the 30s, Paulsboro scored a touchdown late in the first half and held on to beat Schalick 6-0.

The Red Raiders loaded up the box against Schalick’s wing-T, but the Cougars also were limited by the absence of quarterback Kenny Bartee, injured at the end of last week’s game with Salem, and speedster David Stewart sustaining a back injury in the second half.

It also didn’t help that they ran only eight plays in the first half because Paulsboro controlled the clock. The Cougars had the ball with five minutes left and mounted a threat for the winning score, but the drive was gutted by back-to-back penalties.

“We struggled trying to throw the ball, struggled trying to run the ball and when we had a little bit of success we shot ourselves in the foot,” Cougars coach Kevin Leamy said. “It was rough. It was tough.”

Their defense, however, stood tall and held a Paulsboro team that was undefeated and averaging 35 points a game to just one touchdown.

They were particularly stout after extending two Paulsboro drives on a roughing the punter penalty and a punt that glanced off a member of the Cougars’ return team.

“Defensively we played fantastic,” Leamy said. “We had a great defensive scheme ready for them and the kids executed phenomenally. It was a defensive battle from both sides.”

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro6-03-0
Salem2-32-1
Schalick2-42-1
Woodbury1-41-2
Woodstown2-41-2
Penns Grove0-60-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
West Deptford5-14-0
Paulsboro6-04-0
Pennsville3-32-2
Overbrook4-21-2
Collingswood4-21-2
Camden Catholic0-50-3
Audubon0-40-3

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 56, Deptford 0
Paulsboro 6, Schalick 0
Pennsville 41, Penns Grove 0
Collingswood 31, Sterling 14
Haddonfield 29, West Deptford 14
Overbrook 38, Clayton 14

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Gateway at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic. 11
Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon
Salem at Middle Township, noon

WJFL scoreboard

Here are the scores from Friday night’s West Jersey Football League schedule, includes Saturday’s schedule

FRIDAY’S SCORES
Burlington Twp. 8, Burlington City 0
Bridgeton 21, Cumberland 7
Cedar Creek 35, Oakcrest 6
Cherokee 22, Shawnee 21
Cherry Hill East 42, Clearview 0
Cinnaminson 20, Florence 0
Collingswood 31, Sterling 14
Delran 45, Hightstown 0
Eastern 35, Trenton 7
Glassboro 56, Deptford 0
Haddonfield 29, West Deptford 14
Hopewell Valley 21, Seneca 14
Kingsway 33, Hammonton 0
Lawrence 52, WW-Plainsboro South 0
Lower Cape May 34, Egg Harbor Township 0
Mainland 20, Ocean City 7
Maple Shade 38, Palmyra 6
Millville at Delsea, Monday
Northern Burlington 43, Allentown 6
Notre Dame 21, Highland 0
Overbrook 38, Clayton 14
Paulsboro 6, Schalick 0
Pennsville 41, Penns Grove 0
Princeton 18, Holy Cross 14
Riverside 36, Bishop Eustace 0
St. Joseph 34, Buena 8
Triton 28, Cherry Hill West 21
Washington Township 48, Lenape 0
Williamstown 21, Rancocas Valley 18
Willingboro 53, Timber Creek 6

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Mastery Charter at Wildwood, 10 a.m.
Gateway at Woodbury, 11
Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon
Hamilton West at Nottingham, noon
Pennsauken at Eastside, noon
Salem at Middle Township, noon
Winslow at Camden, noon
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic, 1 p.m.
KIPP at Ewing, 2
Moorestown at Steinert, 2
Robbinsville at Bordentown, 6

Tough night on road

Not a lot went right for Woodstown in midweek shutout loss at Pleasantville; includes WJFL Diamond, Patriot standings

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PLEASANTVILLE – Frank Trautz just wanted to get to the bus. It was that kind of night.

It wasn’t a good Thursday night from a Woodstown perspective and the sooner the Wolverines and their coach could put it in their rear view mirror the better.

The Wolverines already were down nine starters to injury and had to make a long mid-week bus ride down the AC Expressway to play an aggressive Group 3 opponent designated by the West Jersey Football League. The results were predictable.

The Wolverines lost to Pleasantville 40-0.

“I’ve been doing it long enough now where I’ve been on this end of this before,” Trautz said. “It was just one of those nights where nothing seemed to work.”

Some things did. Max Casszar, in his first game back from injury, forced Pleasantville running back Nazir Griffin to fumble twice on the second play of the game and Noah Chiu recovered it.

Mark Levick intercepted Pleasantville quarterback Semaj Dozier in the final minute of the first half to keep the Greyhounds (4-2) from adding to their 28-0 halftime lead..

The Wolverines (2-4) didn’t have a turnover, either. Other than that, there wasn’t much else.

Pleasantville held them to minus-11 yards net rushing and 13 yards total. The two first downs they got came on an 11-yard catch by Sincere Cook-Reese and penalty in the second quarter and an 11-yard run by Tyrell West in the third quarter. They ran one play on Pleasantville’s side of the field and it lost a yard to the 50.

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle,” Trautz said. “They’re a very talented, physical football team.

“I was proud of the way our guys fought. We fought until the end. We got some guys some playing time, some younger guys in. Our guys, there’s no quit in them, and that’s what I love about this group. They’re going to fight to the very last whistle.

“We’re getting better. I know some of these scores don’t look that way, but we can take positives away from all these games and, honestly, just every varsity game experience for these guys is a positive. We’re gonna keep working and get ready for next week.”

While nothing seemed to go right for the Wolverines, most everything did for their hosts. 

Jamil Hudson caught a touchdown pass and threw for two other scores. Dozier ran for the game’s first touchdown and threw 46 yards to Hudson for another on the first play of the second quarter. The defense sacked Woodstown freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst four times in the first half.

It was the first time the Wolverines had been shut out in a regular-season game since losing to St. Thomas Aquinas 6-0 in the 2021 season opener. Glassboro shut them out in last year’s Group I state semifinals.

Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0

 WOOD PLEA
21st Downs11
20-(-11)Rushing21-141
4-6-0Passing8-11-1
24Passing yds225
0-0Fumbles-lost2-1
6-31.3Punts-avg0-0
5-22Penalties8-75
Woodstown0000-0
Pleasantville82066-40

SCORING SUMMARY
P-Semaj Dozier 1 run (Takiesse Barnes run), 5:06 1Q
P-Jamil Hudson 46 pass from Semaj Dozier (Takiesse Barnes run), 11:49 2Q
P-Jamaad Washngton-White 18 run (pass failed), 8:23 2Q
P-Qwasim Jackson 21 pass from Jamil Hudson (kick failed), 4:10 2Q
P-Takiesse Barnes 30 run (kick failed), 7:52 3Q
P-Ralil Wiggins 56 pass from Jamil Hudson (kick failed), 10:10 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMONDALLDIV
Glassboro5-03-0
Salem2-32-1
Schalick2-32-1
Woodbury1-41-2
Woodstown2-41-2
Penns Grove0-50-3
PATRIOTALLDIV
West Deptford5-04-0
Paulsboro5-04-0
Pennsville2-32-2
Overbrook3-21-2
Collingswood3-21-2
Camden Catholic0-50-3
Audubon0-40-3

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Pleasantville 40, Woodstown 0
Other WJFL Games
Absegami 16, Atlantic Tech 0
Atlantic City 55, Vineland 10
Pitman 27, Lindenwold 22

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro at Deptford, 6
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30
Collingswood at Sterling, 7
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7
Overbrook at Clayton, 7

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Gateway at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic. 11
Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon
Salem at Middle Township, noon

WJFL scoreboard

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

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 52, Woodbury 13
KIPP Cooper Norcross 74, Lindenwold 22
Lawrence 49, Pemberton 14
Moorestown 28, Haddon Heights 14
Paul VI 27, Willingboro 24
Pennsauken 35, Eastern 28
Princeton 14, Robbinsville 0
Winslow 49, Millville 6

FRIDAY’S SCORES
Atlantic City 24, Cherokee 20
Bordentown 24, Maple Shade 0
Burlington City 48, Florence 7
Burlington Twp. 22, Delran 10
Camden 8, Rancocas Valley 6
Cedar Creek 43, Holy Spirit 33
Clayton 38, Gateway 22
Collingswood 36, Haddon Twp. 0
Egg Harbor 35, Deptford 21
Ewing 27, Trenton 13
Hamilton West 42, WW-Plainsboro South 0
Highland 13, Cherry Hill West 0
Lower Cape May 31, St. Joseph 19
Nottingham 34, Hightstown 13
Oakcrest 26, Absegami 14
Ocean City 14, Hammonton 7
Pennsville 18, Camden Catholic 16
Pitman 51, Mastery Camden 18
Pleasantville 6, Haddonfield 3
Riverside 28, Holy Cross 21
Seneca 35, Gloucester 7
Shawnee 42, Lenape 14
Steinert 26, Notre Dame 18
Sterling 55, Gloucester Catholic 0
Triton 31, Bridgeton 14
Vineland 49, Clearview 6
Washington Township 38, Williamstown 7
Wildwood 25, Palmyra 6
Woodstown 9, Penns Grove 0

THURSDAY’S SCORES
Bishop Eustace 28, Buena 13
Cherry Hill East 42, Atlantic Tech 0
Cumberland 37, Middle Twp. 0
Delsea 21, Timber Creek 6
Kingsway 45, Camden Eastside 6
Northern Burlington 31, Cinnaminson 14
Paulsboro 26, Overbrook 16
Salem 26, Schalick 13
St. Augustine 17, Mainland 7
West Deptford 29, Audubon 0

OCTOBER 2
Woodstown at Pleasantville, 6 p.m.
Lindenwold at Pitman, 7

OCTOBER 3
Mainland at Ocean City, 3 p.m.
Allentown at Northern Burlington, 6
Cherokee at Shawnee, 6
Cinnaminson at Florence, 6
Clearview at Cherry Hill East, 6
Cumberland at Bridgeton, 6
Delran at Hightstown, 6
Glassboro at Deptford, 6
Hammonton at Kingsway, 6
Highland at Notre Dame, 6
Hopewell Valley at Seneca, 6
Lower Cape May at Egg Harbor Twp., 6
Oakcrest at Cedar Creek, 6
Palmyra at Maple Shade, 6
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6
St. Joseph at Buena, 6
Timber Creek at Willingboro, 6
Triton at Cherry Hill West, 6
Vineland at Atlantic City, 6
Williamstown at Rancocas Valley, 6
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30
Burlington Twp. at Burlington City, 7
Collingswood at Sterling, 7
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7
Lenape at Washington Twp., 7
Millville at Delsea, 7
Overbrook at Clayton, 7
Bishop Eustace at Riverside
Eastern at Trenton
Holy Cross at Princeton
KIPP Cooper Norcross at Ewing
Robbinsville at Bordentown

OCTOBER 4
Gateway at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
Mastery Charter at Wildwood, 10
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic. 11
Camden Catholic at Haddon Heights, noon
Pennsauken at Eastside, noon
Salem at Middle Twp., noon
Moorestown at Steinert, 2 p.m.
Winslow at Camden, 2 p.m.
Atlantic County Tech at Absegami
Pemberton at Keansburg

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 28-Oct. 4

SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at RCSJ-Gloucester, 10 a.m.

MONDAY, SEPT. 29
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Oakcrest, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clearview, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Timber Creek, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Cape May Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Moorestown Friends at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Buena, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Medford Tech, 3:45 p.m.
Buena at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Cape May Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m.
Woodstown vs. GCIT at Rowan, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at West Deptford, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Salem, 4 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pitman, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
South Jersey Group 1 Playoffs
No. 11 Buena at No. 6 Schalick, 3 p.m.
No. 14 Palmyra at No. 3 Woodstown, 3 p.m.
No. 13 Salem at No. 4 Pennsville, 3:30 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Batch Meet at Kingsway, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
Triton at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Schalick at Mainland, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Atlantic Tech, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Pleasantville, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Wildwood, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Highland vs. Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 3
WJFL FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Collingswood at Sterling, 7 p.m.
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Glassboro at Deptford
Overbrook at Clayton
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem Tech at Winslow, 3:45 p.m.
OLMA at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Williamstown, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gateway, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4
WJFL FOOTBALL
Salem at Middle Twp., noon
Audubon at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m.
Gateway at Woodbury
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Northern Burlington, 10 a.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC at Felician (2), noon