Here are the results of Tuesday’s high school sports action in Salem County; includes Wednesday’s schedule
TUESDAY’S SCORES FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 8, Glassboro 0: Ava Scurry scored two goals and assisted on four others. Luci Virga also scored two goals. Woodstown 7, Deptford 0: Zoe Lipovsky scored twice as the Wolverines won the first game in Gloria Byard’s tenure as coach. GIRLS TENNIS WOODSTOWN 5, WEST DEPTFORD 0 Nathalie Neron (WO) def. Gianna Concordia, 6-1, 6-0 Alyssa Berry (WO) def. Alyssa Taylor, 7-5, 6-3 Noelle Neron (WO) def. Jody Wu, 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 Madison LaPalomento-Emilee Kehr (WO) def. Lily Avila-Hayley Dobbins, 6-3 Records: Woodstown 2-1, West Deptford 2-6. CROSS COUNTRY TCC Batch Meet at Cumberland BOYS TOP 20 Dominic Burgio, Williamstown 16:12.59; Logan Pavelik, Williamstown 16:14.25; Trevor Szilier, Washington Twp. 16:15.72; Michael Beaver, Kingsway 16:35.04; Andrew Dopkin, Highland 16:36.39; Jacob Marino, Woodstown 17:00.72; Colin Roznowski, Highland 17:08.61; David Farrell, Woodstown 17:16.87; Wyatt Evans, GCIT 17:20.29; Rhys Blackman, Pitman 17:23.92; Ryan DeVecchis, Washington Twp. 17:27.28; Matthew Littlehales, Delsea 17:37.11; Duke Snyder-Shellito, GCIT 17:37.49; Daniel Gee, Highland 17:38.39; Karson Chew, Woodstown 17:38.66; Oluwanifemi Fadulu, Highland 17:51.16; Tyler Altman, Clearview 17:52.94; Chase Riley, Schalick 17:55.00; Jonathan Delicate, Williamstown 17:55.19; Jayden Denton, Washington Twp. 17:55.95. GIRLS TOP 20 Sophia Aldridge, Williamstown 18:53.69; Aubrey Bishop, Kingsway 19:24.49; Abby Marino, Woodstown 20:29.48; Julia Burgio, Williamstown 20:59.32; Yazmire Bonhomme, Williamstown 21:18.99; Brooke Mashburn, Delsea 21:36.71; Olivia Mashburn, Delsea 21:37.01; Jordan Muczydlowski, GCIT 21:37.31; Isabella Moran, Delsea 21:40.50; Anabel Schaal, Woodstown 21:43.70; Julia Blanchard, Washington Twp. 21:51.95; Dakota Milou, Washington Twp. 22:08.80; Rhea Remaly, Clearview 22:11.01; Sofia Moran, Delsea 22:25.00; Lyana Gutierrez, Highland 22:31.55; Allison Reinherz, Washington Twp. 22:34.24; Ava Buchanan, Kingsway 22:36.59; Kate Yanek, Clearview 22:42.65; Layla Chain, Washington Twp. 22:48.94; Carli Sciotto, Washington Twp. 22:58.51. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE 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.
Monday roundup: Schalick scores 5 quick goals, gives senior three good chances to close it out; includes soccer, field hockey, tennis
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – There’s nothing more rewarding for a coach or energizing to a team than to get a well-liked deep reserve into a game and give them a chance to make something memorable happen.
John Egan V, a career JV player up with the varsity as a senior, didn’t score a goal in Schalick’s 5-0 soccer win over Overbrook Monday, but it wasn’t for his or his teammates’ lack of trying to make it happen.
Egan started the second half on the right wing and it was a popular substitution, not one just for appearances. He led the team’s breakdown coming out of halftime and whenever the Cougars got control of the ball while he was in the game somebody on the pitch would say “Get it to John.”
“He hadn’t scored one in the three years I’ve been here and we tried getting him a goal today the best we can,” senior midfielder Anthony Sepers said. “I think I had an open shot but I tried to pass it to him and it just didn’t really work out. I’m sure we’re going to try the rest of the season to get him a goal.”
“For four years he’s been with us doing all the hard work that everybody else is doing; they know how far John has come and how hard he works in practice,” Cougars coach Joe Mannella said. “He’s got a lot of good players in front of him. We saw other kids in his situation go leave to play another sport … but he loves soccer, he loves the team. I know the guys wanted to get him a goal and they got him a couple chances.”
Schalick senior John Egan (18) awaits a pass from teammate Luke Price in the second half of Monday’s game against Overbrook.
Egan had never scored a goal in his high school career, at least not one that stuck. He’s had a couple JV goals called back for offsides and he buried a penalty kick against Penns Grove last year that got waved off because someone breached the box during the kick.
He had three good chances against the Rams. He had a shot off a run about six minutes into the half that went right of the post. Luke Price crossed it over to him moments later and he just missed again. His best chance came when he took a feed from Price on a 2-on-1 and shot it over the crossbar.
“John went in there and really did some nice things,” Mannella said. “Really what I liked is the way everybody supported him. That team sense was important.”
“I was kind of surprised it would be today that he’d put me into a varsity game as a varsity player; I’m very, very happy about that,” Egan said. “It was very amazing (the scoring opportunities he had), but you get nervous when you’re about to shoot the ball into the goal. I got nervous.”
Had any of the shots found the back of the net it would have set the Cougars (1-0-1) up for a mercy-rule win since they already had a 5-0 lead.
The Cougars, who came from behind twice to tie Washington Twp. in their season opener, were forced to play their home opener on their practice field because of poor conditions in the middle of their regular pitch. They didn’t have any problem making the last-minute adjustment.
They literally scored early and often. All five of their goals came over an 11-minute stretch in the first 17 minutes of the match.
Nolan O’Toole opened the scoring in the sixth minute, followed by Anthony Sepers’ first goal a minute later. Sepers notched his second goal in the 14th minute, with Steve Chomo and Mikey Nelson following in rapid fashion. Jaxon Weber had three assists.
“It was all about getting on them,” Sepers said. “We don’t want to take them easy and then they come in here and score a goal on us and then we’re on our toes the entire rest of the game trying to win and score.”
“They did the things that we’re trying to do in games and they executed,” Mannella said. “That was good to see.”
BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 5, Salem Tech 0: Samuel Hassler had a goal and two assists and five different players scored as the Eagles won their season opener. Coen Rinnier recorded six saves in posting the shutout. Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0: Bryce Ayars converted a pass from Aaron Flynn in the first five minutes for the game’s only goal. Pitman 3, Penns Grove 0: Jonas Trum scored three minutes into the match and the Panthers tacked on two goals in the second half to spoil the Red Devils’ season opener. Clayton 9, Salem 0: The Clippers scored eight goals in the first half.
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 3, Penns Grove 0: Molly Gratz scored two goals and assisted on the other (Taylor Bass) as the Eagles improved to 2-0. Schalick 7, Overbrook 0: Quinn Berger had a hat trick and Cali Fisler had two assists to move within four of the all-time school record (44). Woodstown 7, Glassboro 1: Freshman Hailey Kucharczuk came off the bench to score the first two goals of her career and Emma Perry had two goals and an assist as the Wolverines scored their first win of the season. Ellie Wygand made seven saves in the net before giving way to Mazie Mazzoni. Pitman 7, Salem Tech 0: Carly Razze and Emery Sharpnack each scored twice for Pitman.
FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville 3, Absegami 2: Kendall Hoyt knocked in the game-winner with 5:06 to play as the Eagles improved to 2-0 for the first time since 2018, when they opened the season 3-0. They were 1-0-1 after two games in 2019. Mia Runkiewicz tied the game with 9:44 to play, then Hoyt won it with her second goal of the game. GIRLS TENNIS PENNSVILLE 4, WILDWOOD 1 Lily Edwards (P) def. Angela Wilber, 6-1, 6-2 Izzy Schlenker (P) def. Cydnee Kilian, 6-3, 6-4 Morgan Holt (P) def. Estella Robinson, 6-0, 6-0 Emma Hankin-Naomi Hess (P) def. Antoinette Cooper-Selin Ogden, 6-0, 6-0 Charlotte Baetz-Emma Contreras (WI) def. Yerlian Charon-Graillyn Weber, 2-6, 6-0, 10-5 Records: Pennsville 4-2, Wildwood 2-3.
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.
Anything that could go wrong did early for the Red Devils and they fall tp Deptford, leaving Salem County football with a rare winless weekend
SATURDAY’S SCORE Deptford 27, Penns Grove 6
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE — Salem County football needed a win to avoid a historic shutout. Penn Grove was its final hope for the week Saturday and playing a team it had handled the year before.
But anything that could go wrong early did for the Red Devils and they never recovered, eventually falling to Deptford on a hot day at Jim Devonshire Field 27-6, bringing an end to an ignominious week for county football fortunes. All five Salem County teams lost this week, giving the county its first winless weekend in more than 20 years.
“It tells you the state of Salem County football,” Red Devils coach Marc Maccarone scoffed.
One has to go past the 2003 season, the last year records are publicly available, to find the last time Penns Grove, Pennsville, Salem, Schalick and Woodstown all lost on the same weekend. (The results of this weekend’s games are listed below.)
“It shows you the quality of the programs over the years, especially recent years; it’s an anomaly (what happened this week),” said John Emel, the longtime Penns Grove coach whose current West Deptford team took down one of those Salem County teams Friday night. Look what it took, a lot of close games that went the other way. It’s more of an aberration; it doesn’t happen often. I think there’s a lot of talent in the county and I think you’ll see teams improve dramatically as the year goes on.”
It was a tough start for the Red Devils. They picked up the opening kickoff late thinking it might roll into the end zone and started deep in their end, then fumbled away their first snap from scrimmage. It took three plays for the Spartans to score.
Their second possession ended in a safety when punter Mello Erickson-Hubbard was tackled in the end zone after a high snap, which Maccarone said in hindsight was a pretty good decision on the senior’s part.
It’s the kind of thing Deptford coach Patrick Landis said used to befall the Spartans. They’re 2-0 for the first time since 2022 after winning only one game each of the last two seasons.
“It’s funny you say that,” Landis said. “We as a staff have talked about it. Over the last couple years we’ve been in a lot of close game where those things have gone against us … and we come out on the losing end. It seems like a little bit of luck always helps.”
The Red Devils finally caught a break on the first play of the ensuing possession when Erickson-Hubbard recovered a fumble, but couldn’t capitalize as Luke Vilary broke up their fourth-down pass in the end zone.
Even when they did something good, they took a step back. Nazeer Painter hooked up with Erickson-Hubbard on a 49-yard pass play, then spiked the ball in the end zone drawing a personal foul that kept the Red Devils from tacking on the tying conversion.
It stayed that way until the closing minute of the first half when David Pearson stepped in front of an Erickson-Hubbard pass and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown that gave Deptford a 15-6 halftime lead.
“We were looking for answers a little bit at the end of the first half,” Landis said. “(Pearson) was able to get back on the field before the end of the half and make a huge play for us going in and that kind of opened things up for us.”
Kaden Roane scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. The first came on an 18-yard pass from Noce and the second on a 1-run run in the final minute, capping an 80-yard drive against what Maccarone described as a “tired” team. Roane had a 51-yard run in the drive.
Roane finished with 98 yards rushing, but had 75 in the fourth quarter. The Red Devils’ defense held the Spartans to 29 yards rushing and 49 yards total through the first three quarters and had three takeaways in the first half.
“I thought the defense played well,” Maccarone said. “We gave up one defensive touchdown. I’ve got no complaints with the defense.”
Penns Grove will have a new quarterback when they play Glassboro, in a game moved to Thursday night. Maccarone said Brayden Lattig will get the call when the Red Devils face the coach’s former team and defending Group I state champion.
Lattig entered Friday’s game with 2:44 in the third quarter after Erickson-Hubbard took a big loss on a scramble and played the rest of the game.
“It’s not a give, it is (getting the shot); that’s who it is,” Maccarone said. “He came in cold, we were able to move the ball a little bit with him, did a fine job. No complaints.”
Deptford 27, Penns Grove 6
DEPT (27)
PG (6)
6
1st Downs
8
24-111
Rushing
23-87
7-12-1
Passing (C-A-I)
7-22-1
38
Passing yds
85
3-2
Fumbles-lost
1-1
5-40.0
Punts-avg
6-37.5
6-35
Penalties-yds
12-113
Deptford (2-0)
8
7
0
12-
27
Penns Grove (0-2)
0
6
0
0-
6
SCORING SUMMARY D: David Noce 1 run (kick failed), 10:34 1Q D: Safety, punter tackled in end zone, 9:13 1Q PG: Nazeer Paynter 49 pass from Mello Erickson-Hubbard (pass failed), 6:31 2Q D: David Pearson 47 interception return (Luke Vilary kick), 34.5 2Q D: Kaden Roane 18 pass from David Noce (pass failed), 10:17 4Q D: Kaden Roane 8 run (PAT failed), 37.7 4Q
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
ALL
DIV
Glassboro
2-0
0-0
Woodstown
1-1
0-0
Penns Grove
0-2
0-0
Salem
0-2
0-0
Schalick
0-2
0-0
Woodbury
0-2
0-0
PATRIOT DIVISION
ALL
DIV
Collingswood
2-0
1-0
West Deptford
2-0
1-0
Paulsboro
2-0
1-0
Camden Catholic
0-1
0-0
Audubon
0-1
0-1
Overbrook
1-1
0-1
Pennsville
0-2
0-1
Thursday’s Games Cinnaminson 3, Salem 0 Friday’s Games Cumberland 14, Schalick 7 Delsea 35, Woodstown 7 Glassboro 52, Haddon Heights 0 Haddonfield 41, Woodbury 0 West Deptford 42, Pennsville 7 Collingswood 27, Overbrook 14 Saturday’s Games Paulsboro 28, Audubon 14 Deptford 27, Penns Grove 6 Newmann Goretti (Pa.) at Camden Catholic
Salem Tech falls to Sterling in its first field hockey game in school history; also includes girls soccer, girls tennis
THURSDAY’S SCORES FIELD HOCKEY Sterling 4, Salem Tech 0 GIRLS SOCCER Washington Twp. 5, Schalick 0 GIRLS TENNIS Overbrook 5, Penns Grove 0 Vineland 3, Schalick 2 Wildwood at Salem
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SOMERDALE — It was the first day of school for the students at Salem County Vo-Tech and a new day in the world of athletics at the school.
The Chargers have expanded their varsity sports offerings this academic year with the additions of field hockey, baseball and softball, and Thursday they played their first official field hockey match in school history.
It was a spirited debut despite losing to Sterling 4-0.
“I think we were all really excited for the game,” Chargers coach Maureen Lewis said. “The score honestly wasn’t a good reflection of how the game was actually played. If someone missed the first 10 minutes they would have thought at the end of the fourth it was 0-0.”
The game came at the Chargers fast, with the Silver Knights scoring all four of their goals in the first 10 minutes of the match. Alexis Johnston, Amelia Champion, Rilynn Eddis and McKenzie Ferrari all scored for the Silver Knights.
After that, Caroline Tighe stoned them in the cage. She was credited with five saves.
“I think we needed to get out our first official game jitters,” Lewis said. “Once we called a time out after the fourth goal was scored, we regrouped and they kicked it into gear.”
The Chargers will classify as Group 2 for NJSIAA playoff purposes and play in the Tri-County Conference Classic Division. They will compete as an independent this school year because the conference is in the second year of a two-year schedule cycle, but will be eligible for the state playoffs.
Their roster is a mix of players who may not have had an opportunity to play the sport before and, because the school now has a team to call its own, Vo-Tech students who had been playing at other programs because it had no team.
The plan is to play a schedule that gives the fledgling program every chance at early success. Most of their matches this season are against opponents that did not make the playoffs last year.
“We have some really talented players and I am really excited to see what they are going to do this season,” Lewis said. “Our new players are also doing great and getting better every day. Sometimes I forget some players are brand new to the sport. It’s been really cool to see their progress.
“This team is just really special and I’m lucky to be a part of it. It wasn’t easy for some of them to leave their teams they’ve played on for the last two or three years and I really respect how they have handled that. On the flip side, starting this team has given other players who may not have played for their home district an opportunity to play or try something new.”
The Chargers put their product in front of the home folks Wednesday against Paulsboro in their first-ever home opener.
GIRLS SOCCER WASHINGTON TWP. 5, SCHALICK 0: Corrine Myers scored two goals in the first half and Taylor Stuart scored a pair in the second half as Washington Twp. spoiled Schalick’s season opener.
Scurry, Virga each score twice as Schalick field hockey opens season of high expectations with a win; will be updated
TUESDAY FIELD HOCKEY Schalick 5, Haddon Heights 2 Pennsville 3, Bridgeton 2
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE — Ava Scurry scored a school-record 40 goals on a field hockey team that set a lot of records last season and she wasted little time setting out to break that mark this year.
The Schalick senior scored two goals in the first 100 seconds of the season Tuesday and assisted on another goal, sending the Cougars to a 5-2 win over Haddon Heights.
“We were hyping this game up a lot because we had a target on our backs from last season so we wanted to come out and show everyone we still have it,” Scurry said. “We have our whole team from last year. It was a good way to start the season and a great way to start the game.”
Her goals came on the Cougars’ first two attacks of the season. The first came 20 seconds into the game when Luci Virga lifted a ball into the circle and Scurry knocked in a pass from Phoebe Alward. The second goal came 78 seconds later when she converted a 30-yard flick from Caylen Taylor.
The first goal came so quick Scurry worried that her mother might not have gotten to the game yet to see it.
“That was really quick,” Cougars coach Heather Cheesman said. “The girls made a commitment to themselves, they’re going full force every single time, never giving up. They don’t care how far they’re behind in a game, how far they’re ahead of a game, that was one of their goals. They’re going full force, 100 percent every single time.”
Virga, a 22-goal scorer last year, lit the lamp twice in the second quarter to give the Cougars a 4-0 halftime lead. Addi Shimp scored their final goal in the third off another assist from Alward.
“That forward line (Virga, Alward, Scurry), all three of them are a force to be dealt with,” Cheesman said. “All three of them together have their own strength and just together they get it done.”
NOTES: Lydia Gilligan made 10 saves in the cage on her 17th birthday for the keeper win … The Cougars have been invited to play in the new 16-team South Jersey Field Hockey Coaches Tournament of Championship Oct. 4 at Camden Catholic and Oct. 5 at Clearview.
PENNSVILLE 3, BRIDGETON 2: Izzie Saulin scored twice and Laura Tamburella once as the Eagles won a back-and-forth affair for their first season-opening win since 2020. Kelsey Cook posted her 100th career save during the game while preserving the victory.
Getting to know … Ava Scurry
Schalick senior talks about her love for field hockey, becoming a goal-scoring machine, the expectations for her senior season and playing with his sister.
RIVERVIEW SPORTS NEWS: You play a lot of sports at Schalick, but you’re a field hockey player first. Why did it rise to the top of your sports menu?
AVA SCURRY: I just enjoy it so much. I’ve been playing with all these people, my teammates, since I started in fourth grade. I played softball since I was like 4. (Field hockey) is just so much more fun to me.
RSN: What was the first success you enjoyed in it that told you this was the sport for you?
AS: Probably winning when we were in fourth and fifth grades, winning big games or big tournaments with all of our team, just celebrating. We made so many fond memories and had so many big moments.
My mom told me when I was like 12 I thought softball was going to be it for you and then field hockey just like kind of sucked it away.
RSN: I remember you early on as a big assist person, but last year you turned into a big goal scorer. Was that a conscious effort on your part or did it just happen?
AS: I think it just happened like that because I’m always trying to assist my teammates. I still try, but now being on the right side helps a lot and I think my teammates do great at sending balls (my way), that’s what changed.
I played on the left when I was a freshman and sophomore and I think that helped a lot with me getting a lot of assists. I moved to right last year and I think that made a huge change.
RSN: You guys had a really big year last year and everybody is back from that team, so what are your expectations for this year?
AS: Very high. I think our goal is to win state championship. It’s our last time as a group being together.
RSN: How much better is it now?
AS: I think we’ve progressed all season. We’ve been working in the offseason. We’ve been with each other all summer. We do camps together.
RSN: You’re playing with your sister Renee this year, a year delayed because of her injury, what will that be like?
AS: When we were little I didn’t really like it that much, but now I think it’s so much fun playing with her. We come to school together every day, we come to practice together, it really strengthens our bond. It’s just so much fun doing something that you love with your best friend.
RSN: What’s recruiting like for you?
AS: I’m committed to Montclair State. I’ve been committed since April. I knew I wanted to stay close to home, but not too close. I thought Rowan was way too close. Montclair is a bigger D-III. I liked the size. And the coaches and team atmosphere were really nice.
Tennis
Tuesday’s matches Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0 Salem at Gloucester Catholic Schalick 5, Overbrook 0 Woodstown 5, Glassboro 0
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 2-6; x-scrimmage
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2 FIELD HOCKEY Haddon Heights at Schalick, 4 p.m. Pennsville at Bridgeton, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Glassboro at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. Penns Grove at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m. Salem at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 3 FIELD HOCKEY x-Gloucester City at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m. x-Salem at Overbrook, 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER x-Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech, 4 p.m. x-Salem at Gloucester City, 4 p.m. x-KIPP at Pennsville, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER x-Salem Tech at Pennsville, 3:30 p.m. x-Cumberland at Penns Grove, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Bridgeton, 3:45 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 WJFL FOOTBALL Salem at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Salem Tech at Sterling, 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Washington Twp. at Schalick, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Gloucester Catholic at Schalick, 4 p.m. Penns Grove at Overbrook, 4 p.m. Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5 WJFL FOOTBALL Schalick at Cumberland, 6 p.m. Pennsville at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Collingswood at Overbrook, 7 p.m. Woodstown at Delsea, 7 p.m. Haddon Heights at Glassboro Woodbury at Haddonfield FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m. BOYS SOCCER x-Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Schalick at Washington Twp., 4 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Bridgeton at Pennsville, 4 p.m. Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m. Woodstown at Audubon, 4 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Kingsway at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 6 WJFL FOOTBALL Audubon at Paulsboro, 11 a.m. Deptford at Penns Grove, noon KIPP at Camden Catholic
Penns Grove sees five starters go down in second quarter alone, then spends rest of the game shuffling personnel to get through the opener
SATURDAY’S SCORE Paulsboro 36, Penns Grove 6
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – When a team doesn’t have a lot of players to begin with, the last thing anyone in the organization wants to see is somebody get hurt.
One injury at an important position (or to a key player) is disruptive enough. Now, have multiple players go down across a varsity of positions and it’s a recipe for disaster. It’s particularly concerning in Group I where most of the players are two-way guys.
That’s what the Penns Grove football team faced in its season opener Saturday.
The Red Devils lost five starters to cramping or worse in the second quarter alone of their 36-6 loss to Paulsboro. It forced them to put players in unfamiliar positions and throw younger players into key roles sooner than anticipated and hope for the best.
“You’ve got guys who now have to step up and play,” head coach Marc Maccarone said. “We had guys who were not offensive linemen get thrown into playing spots on the offensive line. We got guys who were down on defense, guys who were cramping for no reason.
“When you’re Group I and you have a small Group I squad everyone’s got to play the utility spot. We had to go to the well with that a lot today.”
Of all the injuries, the most impactful is the one to Ray Brown. The two-way lineman left with an ankle injury and didn’t return to the game. He was said to be on the way to a local hospital for tests.
Brown was projected to have a big year after 68 tackles and six sacks last season. The double-teams he was expected to command was a key element to the Red Devils’ defensive strategy.
“That’s a huge loss,” Maccarone said. “That’s a big loss to the team morale, too, a kid like that going down. He’s one of the big team leaders.”
The other players who were forced to the sideline moved in and out of the game as their conditions allowed, but it didn’t help whatever consistency the Red Devils hoped to have. They did play without having a turnover, though.
Maccarone had good things to say about the players who did plug the holes.
“I didn’t think we laid down,” he said. “We gave up a couple big plays that led to big touchdowns, but I don’t think we laid down even when the kids got hurt.”
Jameel Horace was determined to overcome it. He picked up the slack at running back and eventually scored the Red Devils’ lone touchdown on a 2-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter.
He got the Red Devils in the red zone with a 32-yard run up the middle one play after Terrell Thomas was carried off by teammates after an apparent leg injury. He rushed for 49 yards on nine carries.
“I was just trying to do what I had to do to get my team going,” he said. “I was trying to do anything to get the intensity up. I was just doing what I had to do.
“It was definitely chaotic, but that’s my job on the team as a senior, as a leader on the team. I’ve got to keep the guys’ heads straight. I’ve got to keep my mind on the prize. The prize when I walk on this field is to get the W and I’ve got to keep my mind on that. If my mind is on anything else it’s not going to work out.”
Malakhai McKenzie threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score and KyAire Harvey ran for 106 yards and two scores to lead Paulsboro.
McKenzie hit 6-of-9 passes for 161 yards. Most of his throws were short- and medium-yardage varieties, but his big throw was an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Robinson that opened the scoring. The quarterback outraced Penns Grove’s heavy pursuit then found Robinson open along the sideline when a defensive back came up to help the rushers. Robinson made a move in front of the Penns Grove bench and then was gone.
“I was just trying to work on the short stuff because it’s usually open,” McKenzie said. “That (big pass) felt good. I already know I can get outside and they can’t keep up with me.”
Penns Grove quarterback Mello Erickson-Hubbard races to the corner in the first half against Paulsboro.
Paulsboro 36, Penns Grove 6
PAULS (36)
PGROVE (6)
13
1st Downs
7
23-138
Rushing
28-90
6-9-1
Passing (C-A-I)
3-11-0
161
Passing yds
15
1-1
Fumbles-lost
0-0
0-0
Punts-avg
3-25.3
7-61
Penalties-yds
7-55
Paulsboro (1-0)
6
14
8
8-
36
Penns Grove (0-1)
0
0
6
0-
6
SCORING SUMMARY PB: Jamal Robinson 80 pass from Malakhai McKenzie (run failed), 1:13 1Q PB: Malakhai McKenzie 8 run (Malakhai McKenzie run), 7:59 2Q PB: KyAire Harvey 6 run (run failed), 5:02 2Q PB: Marques Eli 18 pass from Malakhai McKenzie (Malakhai McKenzie run), 6:13 3Q PG: Jameel Horace 2 run (pass failed), 50.6 3Q PB: KyAire Harvey 4 run (Jay Mears run), 2:31 4Q
Penns Grove has shown signs of progress, now it’s a matter of learning how to win
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – The Penns Grove football team had a lot of learning to do in coach Marc Maccarone’s first season last year. The Red Devils were picking up a new offense, a new defense and some new terminology – the typical stuff that comes with a coaching transition.
But there was one element they’re still trying to grasp and it’s what this season is all about.
PENNS GROVE
Aug. 30: Paulsboro
Sept. 6: Deptford
Sept. 12: at Glassboro
Sept. 20: Schalick
Sept. 26: at Woodstown
Oct. 3: Pennsville
Oct. 10: at Delran
Oct. 18: Woodbury
Oct. 25: at Salem
Learning how to win.
The Red Devils did win two games last year, including their season finale against Salem, but they lost five others they were in or led going into the fourth quarter and couldn’t close the deal. Any one of them would have gotten them to the playoffs.
It started in Game One with Paulsboro, when they were in position for the game-winning score but sacked on fourth down with 13 seconds left, and carried throughout the year.
But none of the “fourth-quarter fall-aparts” as Maccarone called them was as bad as the one at Woodbury when they were still entertaining hopes for the playoffs. They held a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter then were outscored 23-0 in the final nine minutes with all kinds of disasters.
“It felt terrible,” safety Messiah Allah said. “If there’s one game I can narrow down it was definitely the Woodbury game. That was tragic. I was devastated. “
“It was definitely a horrible feeling, for sure,” lineman Ray Brown agreed.
With that in mind, the Red Devils look at the 2025 season as a revenge tour of sorts.
“It just motivated you to want to do better,” Allah said. “(The game’s) close. It’s right there. You can just grasp it. it just motivates you to want to do more, to want to do better. It lights something inside of you that makes you want to do more. You want to do more. It’s right there.”
The Red Devils look to attack it with a lineup that may be short on experience but long on enthusiasm..
Mello Erickson-Hubbard, one of the team’s six seniors, returns for his fourth year as quarterback eager to embrace the role his position and standing commands. His passing skills have improved every year – he threw the first touchdown passes of his career last year – and with the work he’s done over the summer is “very confident behind my arm” coming into this season.
“I have to be a bigger leader than I have any other year and I have to put on a good image for the young guys,” he said. “As a leader I’ve got to make sure everybody doing what they’re supposed to do. I’ve got to make sure I’m doing my job and everybody is working as fluently as possible.”
Defensively, Brown will be hard to handle. He had 68 tackles, six sacks and four fumble recoveries last year, can play every spot across the front and will provide a formidable force with Isaiah Upshur. “I can’t take any plays off,” he said.
“He’s definitely a very difficult kid to block,” Maccarone said. “That’s not my quote, that’s coming from opposing coaches. I got that from a coach the other night after the scrimmage like ‘that kid’s almost unblockable.’”
Among the newcomers, Terrell Thomas gives the powerful runner they need in the backfield. The Red Devils are hoping the dominant form he showed in the youth leagues will translate to this level.
Of course, the key to it all is conditioning and eliminating the “too many” turnovers that plagued them last year. That’s what they’ve been working on since the end of last season. Between the full year with the coaching staff and what they’ve done so far Maccarone says “we’re a month ahead of where we were last year at this time.”
Win a couple games early and get some momentum and all of a sudden circumstances change.
“Improve on last year, that’s the key,” Maccarone said. “We’ve taken small steps and trying to improve every day. As long as we get better today than we were yesterday we’re moving in the right direction.”
Penns Grove quarterback Mello Erickson-Hubbard is looking to improve on a junior season in which he passed for 568 yards and seven touchdowns.
Riverview Sports News 