WJFL scoreboard

Here are all of this weekend’s scores in the West Jersey Football League, all 5 Salem County teams played Saturday

THURSDAY’S GAMES
Bridgeton 63, Deptford 0
Burlington City, 42, Riverside 8
Gloucester 25, Willingboro 15
Holy Cross 35, Buena 30
Pitman 28, Haddon Township 7
St. Joseph 13, Cumberland 3
Triton 26, ACIT 7

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Atlantic City 26, Ocean City 0
Bordentown 21, Lawrence 0
Burlington Twp. 50, Moorestown 2
Camden 28, Holy Spirit 14
Cedar Creek 41, Hammonton 7
Cherry Hill East 50, Egg Harbor 0
Delran 31, Northern Burlington 0
Eastern 28, Cherry Hill West 6
Ewing 31, Robbinsville 25
Haddonfield 14, Seneca 11
Highland 35, Clearview 0
Kingsway 36, Delsea 0
Mainland 42, Cherokee 21
Maple Shade 20, Pemberton 8
Notre Dame 49, Hightstown 21
Oakcrest 46, Middle Twp. 0
Overbrook 48, Florence 6
Pennsauken 33, Vineland 13
Pleasantville 6, Paul VI 0
Rancocas Valley 17, Shawnee 14
Steinert 30, Allentown 21
Sterling 35, Gateway 14
Timber Creek 26, Williamstown 7
Washington Township 21, Millville 10
West Deptford 58, Camden Catholic 16
Wildwood 35, Lindenwold 6
Winslow 19, St. Augustine 6

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 42, Salem 0
Pennsville 22, Audubon 17
Schalick 28, Penns Grove 7
Woodbury 42, Woodstown 6
Bishop Eustace 40, Mastery Camden 6
Camden Eastside 26, Lenape 3
Cinnaminson 14, Haddon Heights 0
Clayton 40, Gloucester Catholic 0
Hopewell Valley 35, Nottingham 6
KIPP Cooper Norcross 48, Palmyra 0
Lower Cape May 33, Absegami 7
Paulsboro 48, Collingswood 28
Princeton 16, Hamilton West 14
Trenton 50, WW-Plainsboro South 7

Stepping up

Salem County Saturday: Pennsville makes good on its second chance for a first win; Woodstown, Salem fall; includes WJFL Diamond, Patriot standings

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Saturday’s Games
Glassboro 42, Salem 0
Pennsville 22, Audubon 17
Schalick 28, Penns Grove 7
Woodbury 42, Woodstown 6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

AUDUBON – The folks in the stands might have thought Pennsville lost its chance to win Saturday when it fumbled near the goal line late in the fourth quarter, but the Eagles weren’t going to be denied. Given a second chance, they weren’t going to miss again.

Freshman Chase Johnson hauled in a 10-yard pass from Robbie McDade and crossed the goal line with 10 seconds to play to lift the Eagles over Audubon 22-17 for their first win of the season.

They had a chance to take the lead a few minutes earlier, but usually reliable Rylan Hardy fumbled at the 7 with the end zone in sight.

“The biggest thing for us this year is we struggle when things go bad getting back and playing the next play,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “Today there were a lot of emotional swings, but our kids kept stepping up, coming back out and playing the next play and playing to the final play.”

The Eagles (1-3) didn’t hang their heads when it looked like their last-minute rally would fall sort for the second week in a row. Instead, their defense dug in and gave them another chance. They held strong after Hardy’s rare fumble and forced the Green Wave to punt.

“That was the big thing the whole day, things we didn’t get done and stepped back up,” Healy said.

McDade went to work at the 40 with less than a minute left and all his timeouts in hand. The first two passes fell incomplete, then Kane Green hauled one in to get them to the 10. McDade finished off the drive with a slant over the middle to Johnson for the go-ahead score.

It was the senior quarterback’s first successful fourth-quarter game-winning drive of his career.

The Eagles led 6-3 at the half and 14-10 after three quarters. Audubon led 17-14 with 3:47 to play.

“My mindset was one play at a time and see where it gets us,” McDade said of the winning drive. “With a minute left all you’re thinking is next play, positive plays, positive plays, one on top of the other, and we got it done. All 11 guys had to do their job and they manned up and we got the outcome we wanted. It was very nice.”

The Eagles were in a similar position last week against Overbrook, but came up empty. They lost a 21-0 first-quarter lead, but had two shots at the end zone from the 34 in the final eight seconds and both fell incomplete.

This time they weren’t going to be denied. McDade agreed last week’s disappointment pushed them to finish this one.

“You’re just emotionally spent after both games, but one you’re excited and the other you’re just devastated,” Healy said. “The feeling after seeing the kids all excited was great.”

The quarterback seconded that emotion.

“It’s a lot better being on the other end of it, for sure,” he said.

Tough day for Wolverines

WOODBURY – When you’re a young football team learning to play on this level sometimes you just run into games like this.

Woodstown ran into a Woodbury team that hadn’t won a game all season and had scored only eight points in its last two, but that’s not the Thundering Herd the Wolverines got Saturday..

The Herd rushed for nearly 300 yards, scored the first five touchdowns of the game and swamped the Wolverines 42-6.

“I know I’m sounding like a broken record, but it’s a young team that is really learning how to play varsity football,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “We’re just not there yet. We’re going to be, we’re going to get there, but we’re learning how to play varsity football right now.”

The Wolverines’ spirit was rocked by devastating injuries to a pair of sophomore linemen in the first half.

Antonio Merendino sustained a serious knee injury chasing down Woodbury running back Dale Thomas , the eventual star of the game, on the Wolverines’ first defensive play of the game.

A more frightening injury occurred midway through the second quarter when Abraxus (Rax) Hannah was knocked to the ground and was motionless for a brief period before being transported from the field by ambulance.

The Wolverines were chasing after Woodbury quarterback Nico Jimenez on a play from inside the 10 when the injury occurred. A broadcast of the play shows from just outside the frame Hannah appearing to take a frontal hit that knocked him backwards onto the field.

The game was delayed nearly 20 minutes while medical officials attended to him. He was said to have briefly lost consciousness on the field, but was moving and talking with Woodstown game personnel before being taken from the field.

“That was a very scary injury,” Trautz said. “Thankfully, though, he’s OK. I just talked to his parents. They have him up, walking, they’re going to discharge him from the hospital. Ultimately, that’s the most important thing, that he’s OK.”

Trautz agreed the injury to Hannah “took a lot of wind out of the sails.” The Wolverines managed just 116 yards of net offense and five first downs after the delay. Woodbury, meanwhile, ran for a touchdown on the first snap after play resumed and the Herd scored all four times it touched the ball in the second half, including returning the second-half kickoff for a touchdown.

Thomas rushed for 135 yards and four touchdowns in the game.

The Wolverines did what they could. They avoided the shutout when quarterback Frankie Hoerst threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to Sincere Cook-Reese in the closing seconds of the third quarter. The Wolverines only got five snaps in the fourth quarter because of the running block.

“Ultimately, our kids battled them; they just continue to fight,” Trautz said. “They’re leaving it all out there every week.

“I give them all the credit in the world. It’s tough when you’re on the wrong end of some of those games and it’s easy to quit at times, but our kids keep battling their butts off and they keep fighting. That’s all you can ask of them.”

Woodbury 42, Woodstown 6

WOODS (6)		WOODB (42)
7	1st Downs	14
33-101	Rushing	27-297
3-8-0	Passing (C-A-I)	7-12-0
73	Passing yds	72
1-0	Fumbles-lost	3-0
3-44.3	Punts-avg	1-16.0
7-41	Penalties-yds	8-80

Woodstown (1-3)	0	0	6	0-	6
Woodbury (1-3)	6	8	21	7-	42

SCORING SUMMAR
WB-Dale Thomas 5 run (kick failed), 4:51 1Q
WB-Elijah Young 17 run (Nico Jiminez run), 6:12 2Q
WB-Samier Pettit 70 kickoff return (PAT run), 11:45 3Q
WB-Dale Thomas 71 run (run failed), 5:13 3Q
WB-Dale Thomas 7 run (Mark Martin kick), 1:42 3Q
WT-Sincere Cook-Reese 67 pass from Frankie Hoerst (pass failed), 12.5 3Q
WB-Dale Thomas 2 run (Mark Martin kick), 5:00 4Q

Glassboro overruns Salem

Glassboro 42, Salem 0

Glassboro (4-0)	8	14	20	0-	42
Salem (1-3)	0	0	0	0-	0

SCORING SUMMARY
G-JoJo DeLecce 21 run (Amari Sabb run)
G-Mehki Parker 2 pass from Jack O;Connell (pass failed)
G-Xavier Sabb 70 punt return (Junior Serrano pass from Amari Sabb)
G-JoJo DeLecce 9 run (run failed)
G-Xavier Sabb 55 pass from Mekhi Parker (pass failed)
G-Safety
G-Amari Sabb 47 run (run failed)

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND	ALL	DIV
Glassboro	4-0	2-0
Schalick	2-2	2-0
Salem	1-3	1-1
Woodbury	1-3	1-1
Woodstown	1-3	0-2
Penns Grove	0-4	0-2
PATRIOT	ALL	DIV
West Deptford	4-0	3-0
Paulsboro	4-0	3-0
Overbrook	3-1	1-1
Pennsville	1-3	1-2
Collingswood	2-2	1-2
Audubon	0-3	0-2
Camden Catholic	0-4	0-2

FRIDAY’S GAMES
Overbrook 48, Florence 6
West Deptford 58, Camden Catholic 16

SATURDAY’S GAMES
Glassboro 42, Salem 0
Paulsboro 48, Collingswood 28
Pennsville 22, Audubon 17
Schalick 28, Penns Grove 7
Woodbury 42, Woodstown 6

Luck on their side

Schalick special on special teams, beats Penns Grove for second straight win; Dragotta sets school PAT mark

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – Sometimes a little luck goes a long way.

Dylan Sheehan was the luckiest soul at Jim Devonshire Field Saturday afternoon. Not in that the senior safety broke in and blocked a punt in the end zone, but that the oblong-shaped ball bounced right up to him like a basketball and all he had to do was grab it for a touchdown.

The play brought some much needed electricity to a WJFL Diamond Division game that up to that point was pretty sleepy and gave the Cougars some breathing room in an eventual 28-7 win over Penns Grove.

“I went in like I usually did all game, the guy stepped out to the right and didn’t block me, wide open, (ball) hit the palms of my hand, bounced it right back into my hands,” Sheehan said. “It’s luck, skill, a lot of things together.

“It feels good, but it feels a little bit undeserved because it’s luck at that point. Some things go your way, some things don’t … but it was definitely necessary to win the game. I’ll take luck any day. I’d like to think that it’s all me, but it’s not. It’s the way you play the game.”

The Cougars (2-2) were leading only 14-7 at the time. They had Penns Grove backed against its end zone thanks in part to a series of penalties that kept moving the Red Devils (0-4) back. Sheehan led a heavy rush against punter Mello Erickson-Hubbard, snuffed the kick and then hardly had to move to score, recovering the ball standing up.

They’ve blocked three kicks in the last two weeks.

“I wouldn’t say the play was lucky, but it was lucky that it came right back up and landed in his lap, it was lucky for the touchdown,” Schalick coach Kevin Leamy said. “I’m not surprised he blocked that kick, but I was surprised with the result.”

Good luck was on the side of Schalick kicker Hunter Dragotta, too. The former soccer player who made himself into a football kicker converted all four of his PATs in the game, setting the school record for career extra points.

He now is 10-of-11 on PAT this season, 29-of-30 over the last two seasons and 85-for-93 in his career. He broke the record with the extra point after Sheehan’s touchdown.

“It definitely took a lot of work, starting in eighth grade, going from a two-step approach to actually learning how to kick a ball,” Dragotta said. “I never really imagined playing football in high school, but here I am.”

“He’s been, especially the past two years, automatic,” Leamy said. “The only time he misses is if it’s blocked. It’s been like an automatic point; if we score we know we’re going to get a point because he’s that good. It’s nice having a weapon like that. Now we’ve got to get him the field goal record.”

That, Dragotta said, is “coming soon.” He hit a career-long 39-yarder earlier this season and has made longer in practice.

**Schalick kicker Hunter Dragotta is recognized for breaking the school’s all-time PAT record in Saturday’s game against Penns Grove. (Schalick photo)**

Quarterback Kenny Bartee again led the Cougars offense. The sophomore directed two touchdown drives behind an ever-improving offensive line and broke for another score on the first play of another possession. He passed for 100 yards, rushed for 46 and ran for two touchdowns.

“I’m getting more comfortable every week,” Bartee said. “My linemen are stepping up. I’m putting my faith in my linemen and they’re getting it done. Their linemen were very aggressive, very big, and I felt our linemen held it down for what they did.”

Terrell Thomas scored Penns Grove’s touchdown on a 48-yard burst early in the third quarter. It made the score 14-7. Beyond that, the Cougars held their hosts to 82 yards of net offense.

“The defense played phenomenal,” Sheehan said. “We’re definitely doing a lot more rotating on defense, just get some more guys in and out, but other than that our defense has been sound all season. We’re closing up the run game. No team has been able to pass on us. We’ll keep getting better.”

Schalick’s David Stewart scored the first touchdown of the game on a 10-yard run in the second quarter. Bartee’s first touchdown, a 2-yard run after getting down there with a 39-yard pass to Sherrod Jones, made it 14-0 at halftime.

Jerry Wooten kept the Red Devils in it to that point with a pair of interceptions. Penns Grove had three takeaways total.

“It wasn’t our best game today, but the goal is to go 1-0 (each week) and we achieved that goal,” Leamy said.

Schalick 28, Penns Grove 7

SCH (28)		PG (7)
10	1st Downs	5
31-120	Rushing	26-128
3-7-3	Passing	3-8-0
100	Passing yds	2
0-0	Fumbles-lost	2-1
1-30.0	Punts-avg	5-26.6
11-55	Penalties	13-114

Schalick (2-2)	0	14	0	14-	28
Penns Grove (0-4)	0	0	7	0-	7

SCORING SUMMARY
S-David Stewart 10 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 9:07 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 2 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 29.5 2Q
PG-Terrell Thomas 48 run (Mello Erickson-Hubbard kick), 7:55 3Q
S-Dylan Sheehan blocked punt recovery in end zone (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:35 4Q
S-Kenny Bartee 31 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 4:52 4Q

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 15-20; all 5 football teams play on Saturday

MONDAY, SEPT. 15
FIELD HOCKEY
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem, 4 p.m.
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Overbrook at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
GCIT at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Camden Catholic, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Clayton, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Haddonfield at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Overbrook at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Triton, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 18
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Salem, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Glassboro at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
WJFL FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Florence at Overbrook
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Cherry Hill West at Schalick, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Delsea
Woodstown at Stockton Univ. Showcase
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Buena, 4 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 20
WJFL FOOTBALL
Collingswood at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Glassboro at Salem, noon
Schalick at Penns Grove, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Bordentown at Schalick, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Perth Amboy Tech at Salem Tech, 1 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Salem CC in RCSJ-Cumberland Showcase, 9 a.m.

Photo by Heather Papiano

Rams break the ice

Salem snaps 13-game losing streak with dominating 31-8 win over Woodbury, hands Carr his first win as its coach

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

SALEM — As a coach, Kemp Carr wasn’t so much focused on how long it’s been since he’s tasted victory on the football field. He was more concerned with its impact on more recent history.

Carr’s Salem football team got its first win of the season and snapped a 13-game losing streak that preceded him as its coach Saturday with a dominating 31-8 win over Woodbury.

It was the Rams’ first victory since Oct. 24, 2023, when they beat West Deptford 38-14 under then head coach Danny Mendoza. They had two-game losing streaks on either side of last year’s 0-9.

“It’s like it was a cycle and today we broke the cycle,” senior receiver Kaden Robinson said.

“We came here with the mentality we’ve got to win,” lineman Abdur Jenkins added. “We’re tired of losing.”

For Kemp the drought has been a lot longer — eight years, to be exact, Nov. 9, 2017, when he was coaching at Winslow. Of course, he was out of coaching in private business for seven years before taking the Salem gig last year.

Because it had been so long and it was his first win with the Rams, Salem athletics director Darryl Roberts tossed Carr the game ball. Then, in keeping with his “it’s not about me” mindset, the coach flipped the ball to Jenkins and praised the offensive line for its play in the game.

“It’s never about me,” he said from his office that used to be the team’s weight room when he played here. “I had my time. Those (memory) books over there, I’ve got like five of those books. They’re old. The papers are turning brown. It’s never about me, it’s about how can I move these kids forward and how can I make them get as close to understanding how to be a man. We’re team driven.

“We try to come in and work as hard as we can to win the day and the day we happened to win today. Not just a win on the scoreboard, but a good win for an emotional feeling. We got that good taste in our mouth. Everybody’s gonna sleep a little better. We responded the way this coaching staff is looking for those guys to respond.”

**The Salem players celebrate their first win since 2023 after Saturday’s game with Woodbury goes final. (Photo by Julliana Love)**

Even with four starters out for internal reasons, the Rams (1-2) dominated Woodbury in every phase.

The offense didn’t bleep this time, Carr’s description of it after they anemically lost to Cinnaminson last week 3-0. They racked up 363 yards of offense against the winless Herd (0-3) and scored five touchdowns in a game for the first time since their last win.

Desmund Thomas looked like a different quarterback than he had in the first two games, completing 12-of-19 passes for 217 yards and long touchdowns to Robinson and William Dunn. The ball to Dunn was particularly majestic, dropping it in over the receiver’s shoulder in stride behind the defense for a 78-yard bomb. Thomas also had a 5-yard touchdown run.

“I played my own game,” said Thomas, a Salem kid who was playing in Georgia when the Rams’ losing streak began. “Just being me, being who I am. That’s exactly what it was. I’m still listening (to the coaches), but it’s just feeling to be me.”

**Salem QB Desmund Thomas (7) enjoyed his best game since joining the program, passing for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns and running for a third. (Photo by Julliana Love)**

The Rams scored on their first possession, just like they did in their season-opening loss to Pleasantville and last year’s loss to Cinnaminson, but the difference between those games and Saturday was the offense kept scoring and the defense gave up nothing.

They led 18-0 at halftime. They already had almost 200 yards of offense, Thomas was 10-of-17 passing and the defense held the Herd to just one first down and minus-3 yards of net offense.

“I was extremely impressed,” Robinson said. “They played the way I know that they can play … Back in our groove.”

“I liked how we played the first half of football,” Carr said. “If we could play that first half like that I think we could play against anybody.”

Even in the fourth quarter they were stepping on the accelerator. Senior Troy Carey, the former quarterback, got his first turn at running back and rushed for 65 yards and the Rams’ last touchdown in the quarter.

The defense, meanwhile, was physical and relentless. They held the Herd to minus-49 yards net rushing by keeping quarterback Noel Huertas on the run all day, had at least nine sacks and by the middle of the third quarter had the Woodbury offensive line back-peddling with extended arms.

Of course there were some things that needed to be cleaned up. Like the senseless major penalties that cost them the shutout or took the Herd out of a third-and-51 hole deep in their own territory, but overall the positives of the day far outweighed the shortcomings.

“We just hadn’t put it together; today we put it together,” Carr said. “I’m glad we broke the ice. Who knows where this goes from here.”

Photo: Salem AD Darryl Roberts tosses the game ball to football coach Kemp Carr after earning his first win as coach, and Carr promptly tossed it to a lineman in recognition of the line’s contribution to the win.

Salem 31, Woodbury 8

WOOD (8)		SAL (31)
7	1st Downs	17
17-(-49)	Rushing	32-146
10-28-2	Passing (C-A-I)	12-19-0
86	Passing yds	217
1-0	Fumbles-lost	1-0
5-21.2	Punts-avg	1-31.0
11-78	Penalties-yds	15-155

Woodbury (0-3)	0	0	0	8-	8
Salem (1-2)	6	12	6	7-	31

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Torryn Ransome 4 run (pass failed), 6:03 1Q
S-Kaden Robinson 44 pass from Desmund Thomas (pass failed), 4:03 2Q
S-Desmund Thomas 5 run (pass failed), 0:33 2Q
S-William Dunn 78 pass from Desmund Thomas (pass failed), 5:47 3Q
S-Troy Carey 7 run (Izaiah Santiago kick), 6:19 4Q
WO-Eli Young 13 pass from Noel Huertas (Thomas Lewis pass from Noel Huertas), 3:05 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISION	ALL	DIV
Glassboro	3-0	1-0
Schalick	1-2	1-0
Salem	1-2	1-0
Woodbury	0-3	0-1
Woodstown	1-2	0-1
Penns Grove	0-3	0-1
PATRIOT DIVISION	ALL	DIV
West Deptford	3-0	2-0
Paulsboro	3-0	2-0
Collingswood	2-1	1-1
Overbrook	2-1	1-1
Audubon	0-2	0-1
Camden Catholic	0-3	0-1
Pennsville	0-3	0-2

Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Schalick 33, Woodstown 37
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Saturday’s Games
Salem 31, Woodbury 8
Bordentown 34, Audubon 14

Other Saturday WJFL Games
Allentown 22, Nottingham 6
Burlington City 60, Pemberton 34
Cedar Creek 45, Atlantic City 34
Rancocas Valley 21, Camden Eastside 6
Steinert 34, Hightstown 14
Ewing at Princeton
Trenton at Hamilton West

One that got away

Pennsville scores 3 TDs in first quarter, but can’t hold the lead, falls to Overbrook to remain winless

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Things couldn’t have started better for the Pennsville Eagles in their quest for a first win of the season and then the well went dry.

The Eagles looked well on their way to securing their first Friday night. They scored three touchdowns in the first 10 minutes of the game and opened a 21-point lead in the first quarter, then the points stopped coming and they lost to a Overbrook 22-21 at Lou D’Angelo Stadium.

The Rams (2-1) took the lead on Axcel Bailey’s 14-yard touchdown run and quarterback Tariq Moore’s two-point conversion run 62 seconds into the fourth quarter.

The Eagles (0-3) had three possessions to retake the lead but couldn’t find the end zone. They had two shots to the end zone from the 34 in the final eight seconds and both fell incomplete.

The Eagles took advantage of Overbrook mistakes to set up short fields and scored touchdowns on their first three possessions for a 21-0 lead with 2;22 left in the first quarter.

A botched punt snap set them up at the 10 and moments later Aiden Collazo scored from the 5.

The Rams failed to cover the ensuing kickoff and Pennsville set up at the 26 Six plays later Robbie McDade hit Adrian Alleyne with a 14-yard TD pass. McDade needed 101 passing yard to reach the 3,000-yard career mark and he threw for 53.

The Rams fumbled their next snap at the 30. Five plays and a fourth-down penalty later Rylan Hardy scored from the 5.

The Rams came to life at that point and scored on their next two possessions to make it 21-14 with 7:35 left in the second quarter.

It stayed that way to halftime even though the Eagles had another possession that reached the Overbrook 21 before stalling.

Pennsville’s first 15 plays of the game and 23 plays in the half came in Overbrook territory.

Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21

OVER (22)		PMHS (21)
10	1st Downs	12
34-165	Rushing	38-122
5-10-0	Passing (C-A-I)	7-19-0
13	Passing yds	53
2-1	Fumbles-lost	0-0
3-28.0	Punts-avg	4-24.0
8-85	Penalties	3-20

Overbrook (2-1)	8	6	0	8-	22
Pennsville (0-3)	21	0	0	0-	21

SCORING SUMMARY
P-Aiden Collazo 5 run (Adrian Alleyne kick), 9:25 1Q
P-Adrian Alleyne 14 pass from Robbie McDade (Adrian Alleyne kick), 5:42 1Q
P-Rylan Hardy 1 run (Adrian Alleyne kick), 2:22 1Q
O-Tariq Moore 21 run (Nicholas Duval pass from Tariq Moore), 1:38 1Q
O-Axcel Bailey 23 run (run failed), 7:35 2Q
O-Axcel Bailey 14 run (Tariq Moore run), 10:58 4Q

Friday WJFL scoreboard

FRIDAY’S WJFL GAMES
Schalick 33, Woodstown 27 (3 OT)
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Atlantic Tech 21, Deptford 0
Bergen Catholic 41, Winslow 14
Bishop Eustace 44, Lindenwold 0
Bridgeton 48, Egg Harbor Township 7
Burlington Twp. 41, Haddon Heights 14
Cherry Hill East 28, Triton 14
Cherry Hill West 42, Clearview 6
Clayton 48, Haddon Twp. 0
Cumberland 41, Oakcrest 34
Delran 35, Cinnaminson 0
Haddonfield 39, Willingboro 8
Holy Cross 28, Palmyra 6
Holy Spirit 32, Hammonton 7
Hopewell Valley 34, Notre Dame 14
Kingsway 36, Timber Creek 21
Lawrence 17, Florence 0
Lower Cape May 42, Middle Twp. 0
Millville 22, Mainland 21
Northern Burlington 35, Moorestown 7
Ocean City 22, Lenape 0
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Paul IV 30, Gloucester 14
Pitman 45, Gloucester Catholic 7
Robbinsville 56, WW-Plainsboro South 7
St. Augustine 35, Cherokee 0
Seneca 32, Pleasantville 6
Shawnee 21, Camden 20
Washington Township 40, Delsea 0
Williamstown 28, Chichester (Pa.) 13

Saturday’s Games
Bordentown at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Hightstown at Steinert, 11
Rancocas Valley at Eastside, 11
Allentown at Nottingham, noon
Burlington City at Pemberton, noon
Woodbury at Salem, noon
Atlantic City at Cedar Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Ewing at Princeton, 2 p.m.
Trenton at Hamilton, 2 p.m.

On Top in OT

Schalick outlasts Woodstown in 3 OTs to get first win of season, first win in series since 2010

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – When the fourth down pass fell incomplete in the end zone, Schalick’s players poured off the bench in celebration like they had just won the Super Bowl.

In a rivalry like this that goes beyond football when you haven’t won in such a long time it really felt like that.

The Cougars had a lot of reasons to celebrate Friday night. They outlasted Woodstown 33-27 in a triple overtime classic that will be memorable for a multitude of reasons.

It was their first win of the season. It was coach Kevin Leamy’s first win as a head coach. Above all, it was the Cougars’ first win over the Wolverines since 2010.

They had lost 12 in a row in the series.

“For me, especially the Class of 2027 and a few of our seniors, the last time Schalick beat Woodstown we were all in diapers; we were young,” junior safety Gary Simonini said. “These seniors, their first-ever playoff game they got their teeth kicked in (by Woodstown) 45-8. All those kids who built this program up and grinded with us for the past years, this was for them. This is for all of Schalick. This is for everyone who came out and supported us. It was a great team win.”

Quarterback Kenny Bartee was a workhorse for the Cougars (1-2) after halftime. He rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns on 23 carries in the game, but had 137 yards and four scores in the fourth quarter and overtime. He scored all three of the Cougars’ OT touchdowns on runs of 12, 16 and 2 yards.

Speedster David Stewart set a tone by bringing back the opening kickoff 94 yards for his first career return touchdown and blocked two potential game-winning kicks late in the game — a 23-yard field goal attempt with 26 seconds left in regulation and an extra point in the first overtime.

“This is one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever felt – ever,” Stewart said. “Going into three overtimes against our rival that we hadn’t beat in like 20 years, it just really felt special.”

**David Stewart (0) had a big night for the Cougars. He returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and blocked two potential game-winning kicks late in the game. (Photo by Heather Papiano)**

Bartee gave the Cougars a 33-27 lead with a 2-yard run in the third overtime. His two-point conversion pass fell incomplete.

The Wolverines (1-2) could have won it with a touchdown and conversion. Had they answered and and didn’t get the conversion the game would have ended in a tie.

The Cougars never gave them a chance. They sacked freshman quarterback Frankie Hoerst on the first two snaps for 14 yards in losses. The Wolverines picked up only 2 yards on third down and their fourth-down Hail Mary to the end zone got knocked away by Stewart to end the game and start Schalick’s celebration.

“This has been a crutch on Schalick’s back for a very long time,” assistant coach Henry Papiano said, speaking on behalf of Leamy who was too overwhelmed with emotion to speak after tearfully addressing the team in the end zone. “This is something we could not get over the hurdle.

“Some of the things Coach Leamy talked about in the offseason, in the spring meetings, was Woodstown. How do we get over that hurdle finally? And today’s our first step.”

Later, when reached by phone, Leamy said, “it was a whirlwind. It was a hell of a way to get your first win, that’s for sure.”

Woodstown coach Frank Trautz was tending to a seriously injured player immediately after the game and unavailable on the field. He later said, “it was an incredibly hard fought high school football game. Both teams battled all night. This is good for our young team to be in games like this and we will continue to learn and grow.”

**Schalick’s Eric Sulik (51) was in on the first down sack that made Woodstown’s third overtime possession more difficult. (Photo by Heather Papiano)**

The Wolverines seemed unfazed by Stewart’s opening burst. The Wolverines answered it with a 70-yard touchdown drive capped by Hoerst’s 7-yard run to tie the game. It stayed that way until the final minute of the half when Hoerst found Bryceton Rooney in the back of the end zone from 21 yards out to make it 14-7.

The Cougars lost a game-tying touchdown pass to Jase Volovar in the third quarter to a penalty, but eventually got the equalizer midway through the fourth at the end of a 14-play, 82-yard drive. Bartee covered the final yard. The sophomore had 42 yards rushing and threw a 21-yard pass in the drive and was just getting started. He had 17 carries in the fourth quarter and overtime.

“I realized I had to step up for my team,” Bartee said. “I had a ter-r-r-r-ible first half. I was in my head. I wasn’t playing with my team. I really had to put my team first. I had to put my body on the line for them. I love them and everything I do is for them.”

“You’ve got to feed the horse,” Papiano said. “He wants to make plays. He’s come to the sideline and he wants to carry the team. We believe in Kenny and we’re going to stand behind him. He doesn’t do anything to tell us not to put him back there.”

The Wolverines came back after Bartee’s tying touchdown and got in position to kick the potential game-winning field goal. Hoerst set up for a 23-yarder, but Stewart scuttled those plans and kept the Cougars alive with his first blocked kick.

He got them again on their first overtime touchdown after Rooney blocked the Cougars’ PAT after their first overtime score.

“Gary runs to the guy and pulls him down kind of to give me enough space to jump through,” Stewart said. “I think my speed and length just helps me really get out there to mess up the kicker.”

“I found a little technique,” Simonini said. “I picked up in our practices that our coaches always tell people block down so I use that to our advantage. I try to make that guy block down and David uses his speed to block the kicks.”

Both quarterbacks scored touchdowns in the second overtime and their teams both hit the extra point to send the game a final, third overtime.

Schalick 33, Woodstown 27

WOOD (27)		SCH (33)
15	1st Downs	15
47-189	Rushing	44-248
6-13-0	Passing (C-A-I)	2-7-2
64	Passing yds	34
0-0	Fumbles-lost	1-1
2-33.5	Punts-avg	1-34.0
1-10	Penalties-yds	6-45

Woodstown (1-2)	7	7	0	0	6	7	0-	27
Schalick (1-2)	7	0	0	7	6	7	6-	33

SCORING SUMMARY
S-David Stewart 94 kickoff return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 11:46 1Q
WO-Frankie Hoerst 7 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), 6:51 1Q
WO-Bryceton Rooney 21 pass from Frankie Hoerst (Frankie Hoerst kick), 0:59 2Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:46 4Q
S-Kenny Bartee 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Brayden Hall 1 run (kick blocked), OT1
WO-Frankie Hoerst 1 run (Frankie Hoerst kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 16 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), OT2
S-Kenny Bartee 2 run (pass failed), OT3

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISION	ALL	DIV
Glassboro	3-0	1-0
Schalick	1-2	1-0
Salem	0-2	0-0
Woodbury	0-2	0-0
Woodstown	1-2	0-1
Penns Grove	0-3	0-1
PATRIOT DIVISION	ALL	DIV
West Deptford	3-0	2-0
Paulsboro	3-0	2-0
Collingswood	2-1	1-1
Overbrook	2-1	1-1
Audubon	0-1	0-1
Camden Catholic	0-3	0-1
Pennsville	0-3	0-2

Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook 22, Pennsville 21
Schalick 33, Woodstown 37
Paulsboro 38, Camden Catholic 20
Saturday’s Games
Woodbury at Salem
Bordentown at Audubon

Top photo: Quarterback Kenny Bartee (1) leaps with joy as the Schalick celebrate their 3-OT victory over rival Woodstown Friday night. (Photo by Heather Papiano)

A tall order

Glassboro overwhelms Penns Grove 63-0 with touchdowns on all seven offensive possessions and two defensive scores; includes WJFL scoreboard

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO — Penns Grove had just had it handed to them by the best team it was going to play all season. It was the kind of one-sided loss that could sap the spirit of a young team trying to find its way, but it doesn’t have to end here.

The Red Devils were overwhelmed by Glassboro 63-0 Thursday night. As the players gathered on the far end of the field, coach Marc Maccarone reminded them there was still a lot out there in front of them and if they play like they’re capable they could still make something of the season.

“You’ve got at least five of the next six games winnable,” Maccarone said. “The hardest game we have coming up now is going to be Delran. The rest of the teams we match up well with.”

There wasn’t a whole lot the Red Devils (0-3) could do with the Bulldogs (3-0). They’re already working with limited numbers, have four starters out and in some cases had freshman guarded five-star athletes.

The Bulldogs came at them in waves. The Red Devils’ two best plays were a 14-yard run by Terrell Thomas in the first quarter and a 28-yard burst by Jameel Horace in the second for their only two first downs, but they didn’t get much beyond that.

It was a tough ask of junior quarterback Brayden Lattig in his first varsity start. Lattig moved ahead of senior Mello Erickson-Hubbard on the depth chart and played the whole game. Erickson-Hubbard also played the whole game — both ways — and often was seen coming to the sideline with Lattig when they conferred on offensive play calling.

“It comes with a lot of responsibility to be told you’re going to be thrown into the fire with one of the best teams you’ll ever play, so there was definitely a lot of butterflies in my stomach,” Lattig said. “I think I did all right. I wouldn’t say I did the best I could possibly do because I thought I would come out here and do something that would be good, but I feel like I did well. My teammates got yards so I’m just happy we did what we did.”

In a game his team was heavily favored and could’ve been easily distracted, Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker wanted to see execution and communication from his players from start to finish. He got that.

The Bulldogs scored on all seven of their offensive possessions and got their first two defensive touchdowns of the season on turnovers inside the 10.

“That’s not bad,” Breaker said. “They did a really good job from the start of the game to, honestly, the finish, even the JVs, so that was beautiful to see.”

**Glassboro quarterback Jack O’Connell was quite efficient in his two quarters-plus of work against Penns Grove Thursday night.**

Quarterback Jack O’Connell completed his first five passes and was 9-of-14 for 189 yards and four touchdowns — all in the first half before retiring after the opening drive of the third quarter. His first incompletion was caught beyond the end line or he would’ve hit on his first seven.

He threw two touchdowns passes to each of Xavier and Amari Sabb. The second one to Amari covered 61 yards on the opening play of the second quarter and was highlighted by the receiver breaking at least four tackles on his way to the end zone.

“He’s a lot more confident,” Breaker said of his quarterback. “He’s still chipping away at it, but he’s able to run the offense and understand it. Last year he was in and out, there was a quarterback battle,. Right now he’s stepping into the light. Now you get to see Jack O’Connell.”

Xavier even got into the act, taking a handoff and hooking up with Mekhi Parker on a 71-yard touchdown play that was Sabb’s first varsity touchdown pass after several years of trying. The country’s top-rated junior player now has a touchdown rushing, passing and receiving.

“It finally worked,” he said. “Freshman year didn’t work, sophomore year didn’t work, but this year we finally got a touchdown.”

“You remember the one at Schalick? We dropped that one,” Breaker said. “It’s been three years we couldn’t execute that play at all. To see a big play made like that, Xavier throwing to Mehki, two special talents, for the execution to be that good on that after three years we kind of get to take a deep breath.”

The Bulldogs scored 34 points in the second quarter to open a 48-0 halftime lead. They have now won 16 in a row and 22 of their last 23 since a 6-0 loss to the Red Devils in 2023. The only loss in the stretch came in the 2023 state championship game.

Photo: Brayden Lattig prepares to hand off to Terrell Thomas in the first quarter of his start as Penns Grove’s quarterback Thursday night.

Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0

PG (0)		GLASS (63)
2	1st Downs	12
21-32	Rushing	10-72
1-6-1	Passing (C-A-I)	10-13-0
0	Passing yds	260
1-1	Fumbles-lost	0-0
5-20.6	Punts-avg	0-0
12-105	Penalties-yds	7-70

Penns Grove (0-3)	0	0	0	0-	0
Glassboro (3-0)	14	34	7	8-	63

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Xavier Sabb 32 pass from Jack O’Connell (Amari Sabb run), 7:38 1Q
G-Amari Sabb 5 pass from Jack O’Connell (pass failed), 4:19 1Q
G-Amari Sabb 61 pass from Jack O’Connell (Sal Esgro kick), 11:41 2Q
G-Brandon Simmons fumble recovery in end zone (JoJo DeLecce pass from Jack O’Connell), 10:25 2Q
G-Xavier Sabb 21 pass from Jack O’Connell (pass failed), 6:27 2Q
G-Mekhi Parker 71 pass from Xavier Sabb (kick failed), 3:13 2Q
G-Riley Brown-Dispensa 5 interception return (Sal Esgro kick), 1:55 2Q
G-JoJo DeLecce 15 run (Sal Esgro kick), 5:12 3Q
G-Aveyon Warfield 24 run (Moses Robles run), 11:34 4Q

WJFL Standings

DIAMOND DIVISION	ALL	DIV
Glassboro	3-0	1-0
Woodstown	1-1	0-0
Salem	0-2	0-0
Schalick	0-2	0-0
Woodbury	0-2	0-0
Penns Grove	0-3	0-1
PATRIOT DIVISION	ALL	DIV
West Deptford	3-0	2-0
Paulsboro	2-0	1-0
Collingswood	2-1	1-1
Audubon	0-1	0-1
Overbrook	1-1	0-1
Pennsville	0-2	0-1
Camden Catholic	0-2	0-0

Thursday’s Games
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0
Friday’s Games
Overbrook at Pennsville
Woodstown at Schalick
Paulsboro at Camden Catholic
Saturday’s Games
Woodbury at Salem
Bordentown at Audubon

ALL WJFL GAMES
Thursday’s Games
Eastern 8, Vineland 7
Gateway 35, Wildwood 7
Glassboro 63, Penns Grove 0
KIPP Cooper Norcross 52, Buena 22
Pennsauken 22, Highland 16
Riverside 38, Maple Shade 0
St. Joe (Hamm.) 12, Absegami 5
Sterling 37, Mastery Camden 0
West Deptford 48, Collingswood 0

Friday’s Games
Atlantic County Tech at Deptford, 6 p.m.
Bergen Catholic at Winslow, 6
Bridgeton at Egg Harbor Township, 6
Cherry Hill East at Triton, 6
Cherokee at St. Augustine, 6
Cinnaminson at Delran, 6
Clearview at Cherry Hill West, 6
Gloucester Catholic at Pitman, 6
Haddon Heights at Burlington Township, 6
Hammonton at Holy Spirit, 6
Kingsway at Timber Creek, 6
Lawrence at Florence, 6
Lindenwold at Bishop Eustace, 6
Lower Cape May at Middle Township, 6
Millville at Mainland, 6
Notre Dame at Hopewell Valley, 6
Oakcrest at Cumberland, 6
Ocean City at Lenape, 6
Palmyra at Holy Cross, 6
Seneca at Pleasantville, 6
Shawnee at Camden, 6
Woodstown at Schalick, 6
Haddonfield at Willingboro, 7
Haddon Township at Clayton, 7
Northern Burlington at Moorestown, 7
Overbrook at Pennsville, 7
Paulsboro at Camden Catholic, 7
Washington Township at Delsea, 7
WW-Plainsboro South at Robbinsville, 7
Paul VI at Gloucester

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 8-13

MONDAY, SEPT. 8
FIELD HOCKEY
Absegami at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Schalick at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Deptford, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at West Deptford, 3:45 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Cumberland, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
FIELD HOCKEY
Paulsboro at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
WJFL FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
West Deptford at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem at Deptford, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Palmyra, 4 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 12
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Overbrook at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Paulsboro at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Bridgeton, 4 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Overbrook, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Bridgeton at Salem, 4 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Cumberland, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Middle Twp., 4 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Boys Showcase, White Clay Creek State Park, 2 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 13
WJFL FOOTBALL
Woodbury at Salem, noon
Bordentown at Audubon, 11 a.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
South Jersey Shootout, DREAM Park, 9 a.m.