Category: PENNSVILLE

This week’s schedule

The start of regular-season high school football and Salem CC’s inaugural game highlights the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Aug. 24-29; football games from WJFL, x-scrimmage

MONDAY, AUG. 24
BOYS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Deptford, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Deptford at Penns Grove, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Clearview at Woodstown, 10 a.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 25
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Audubon at Schalick, 10 a.m.
x-Highland at Salem Tech, 10 a.m.
x-Salem at West Deptford, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Vineland at Schalick, 9:30 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
x-Schalick at Vineland, 10 a.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Schalick at Buena

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26
BOYS SOCCER
x-Medford Tech at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Camden Academy Charter at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 9 a.m.
x-Bridgeton at Salem, 10 a.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Williamstown at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Pennsville at Vineland, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Ocean City, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Middle Twp.
VOLLEYBALL
x-Lindenwold at Salem Tech, 10:30 a.m.

THURSDAY, AUG. 27
FOOTBALL
Pitman at Wildwood, 11 a.m.
Woodstown at Pennsville, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Overbrook at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Pope John vs. Washington Twp, 1 p.m.
Princeton vs. Ocean City, 4 p.m.
Donovan Catholic vs. Kingsway, 5:30 p.m.
Nottingham at Northern Burlington, 6 p.m.
Seneca at Lenape, 6 p.m.
WW-Plaiinsboro at J.P. Stevens, 6 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.
Middle Twp. at Gateway, 6 p.m.
Pemberton at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Eastern at Hunterdon Central, 6 p.m.
Rahway at Willingboro, 6 p.m.
Middletown South at Cherokee, 6 p.m.
Lawrence at Lacey, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Vineland at Delsea, 6 p.m.
Burlington Twp. vs. Passaic Tech, 6:15 p.m.
Hightstown at Holmdel, 6:30 p.m.
Sterling at Pt. Pleasant Boro, 6:30 p.m.
Shabazz vs. Atlantic City, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-KIPP at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Millville at Schalick, 10 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Palmyra, 10 a.m.
x-Penns Grove at Highland, 10 a.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Friends Central at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Salem, Bridgeton, Nottingham at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Bridgeton at Salem, 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, AUG. 28
FOOTBALL
Maple Shade at Schalick, 6 p.m.
New Egypt at Buena, 6 p.m.
Woodbury at Deptford, 6 p.m.
Kinnelon vs. West Deptford, 10 a.m.
Camden Catholic vs. Pennsauken, noon
Wayne Valley vs. Rancocas Valley, 1 p.m.
Delran vs. Cherry Hill East, 2:30 p.m.
Shawnee vs. Old Bridge, 4 p.m.
Ewing vs. Franklin, 4 p.m.
Mastery Camden at Haddon Heights, 4:30 p.m.
Barnegat at Absegami, 5 p.m.
Williamstown vs. Timber Creek, 5 p.m.
Highland vs. Oakcrest, 6 p.m.
Conwell-Egan (Pa.) at St. Joe (Hamm.), 6 p.m.
Moorestown at Bishop Eustace, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Paul VI, 6 p.m.
Bonner Predergast (Pa.) at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.
Clearview at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Long Branch at Hammonton, 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Montgomery, 6 p.m.
St. Mary (Ruth.) at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Trenton at Pennsbury (Pa.), 7 p.m.
Warren Hills at Voorheen, 7 p.m.
New Hope-Solebury (Pa.) at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
Egg Harbor at Robbinsville, 7 p.m.
Glassboro vs. Immaculate, 8 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Salem at Camden Academy Charter, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Pennsville at Gloucester, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Deptford, 9 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Cedar Creek at Schalick, 10 a.m.
Woodstown at Audubon, 10 a.m.

SATURDAY, AUG. 29
FOOTBALL
Salem at Ironton (Ohio), 1 p.m.
Paulsboro at KIPP, noon
Burlington City vs. Steinert, 5 p.m.
Southern vs. Bridgeton, 10 a.m.
Skyridge (Utah) at Hun, 11 a.m.
Atlantic Tech at Lakewood, noon
Hamilton West vs. Morris Knolls, noon
Simon Gratz (Pa.) at Camden Eastside, 1 p.m.
Cedar Grove vs. Gloucester, 1 p.m.
Collingswood vs. Pinelands, 2:30 p.m.
Monsignor Farrell (NY) vs. Holy Spirit, 4 p.m.
Camden at Imhotep Charter (Pa.), 6 p.m.
Erasmus Hall (NY) vs. Millville, 7 p.m.
Winslow vs. Neptune, 8 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Woodstown at Williamstown, 9 a.m.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Hudson Valley CC vs. Salem CC, Pennsville H.S., 1 p.m.

Pennsville: Keep it moving

Eagles expect some growing pains, but still have plenty of players who know what it takes to make the playoffs

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – A couple years back during one of the WJFL realignment cycles Pennsville sought a move into a stronger division because with the team it had been developing there was a feeling the Eagles could win their assigned division and still not make the Group 1 playoffs. It had been known to happen.

PENNSVILLE EAGLES
Aug. 27 – Woodstown, 6 p.m.
Sept. 3 – Overbrook, 7 p.m.
Sept. 11 – at Pitman, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19 – at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Sept. 25 – Burlington City, 7 p.m.
Oct. 2 – Penns Grove, 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 – at St. Joe (Hamm.), noon
Oct. 16 – at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Oct. 23 – Salem, 6 p.m.

Their appeal was granted, they proved worthy of the promotion and made the playoffs each of the last two years. Fast forward to now. The group that got them there has cycled out but the team has stayed in the stronger division to restart the cycle again. But they’re not as short-handed as one might think.

“We’re young, we’re inexperienced, we’re going to have some growing pains here and there, but we believe there’s enough talent there where over the next two years we’re going to be competing,” Eagles coach Mike Healy said. “It’s not bare at all.

“That was a different situation (back then). We were coming off a couple bad years where now I think we have that success as part of our team now. We have a good foundation of what we’ve done the last couple years. The seniors have been part of three straight successful years. They’re bringing back experience and know what it takes to make the playoffs.”

And it’s with that foundation they expect the train to keep moving forward.

“I think it’s only like a half a rebuild,” quarterback Jake Layfield said. “If you look at our skill guys, we have players all around the board.” 

“I thought we were going to be in a major rebuild,” linebacker Dante Cummings said. “And then that first day of practice the freshmen showed up and they didn’t show an ounce of fear from midgets to high school. They came ready to work and I was excited from Day One how much they were eager to learn, how much they wanted to fight and how much they wanted to keep the program where it’s at and make us a better team instead of a rebuild team.”

The Eagles’ offense will look a little different than it has in the past with more experience in the skill positions than on the line, where Hunter Coulbourn is the only returnee and possibly three freshmen will start in the interior. Layfield and Grady Sanders battled for the quarterback spot all camp, just as they have since eighth grade, but Layfield worked with the first unit in their last scrimmage apparently giving him a leg up for Thursday’s season opener against Woodstown. Regardless how it ultimately shakes out, the one not playing quarterback will be involved in the offense in some capacity.

Jake Layfield (L) has been battling with Grady Sanders for the starting quarterback spot and was efficient working with the first offense in the Eagles’ second scrimmage.

Layfield was the backup last year. He usually got in games late, but courageously kept the Eagles in their quarterfinal playoff game with Schalick after starter Robbie McDade got hurt early in the game. 

“I’m happy to come out (of the battle), but I’ve also got to watch out because if I mess up a couple times there’s a guy right there ready to take it,” Layfield said.

The Eagles had been run-heavy in their return to the playoffs even with McDade’s strong arm, producing a 1,000-yard rusher each of the last two years (Rylan Hardy), and will still have that as the foundation, but with a smaller, quicker makeup up front they expect to pass “a little more” this season.

They have weapons — Danny Knight, Jake Kimani and C.J. Johnson on the outside, Lucas Thomas, Aidan Collazo and Cummings on the inside, and rushing threats Tristan Horner and Vic Mosher out of the backfield. Cummings caught a touchdown pass in the scrimmage against Delaware’s PolyTech.

“Last year our offense was a lot of smash-mouth, down-the-middle football with deep play-action taking a shot to one of our fast guys,” Layfield said. “If you think back to my sophomore year, Robbie’s junior year, we threw a lot. I think the only reason we didn’t throw last year was because in wrestling season Robbie hurt his shoulder, so we didn’t have the ability to throw whenever because he wasn’t always 100 percent . This year, now that we have fresh arms I think we’ll be back to it. It will just be a bigger part of our offense.”
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Without the size up front to fill up the run, the Eagles defense will turn to a more aggressive, attacking style to create negative plays.

“I like it a lot better,” Cummings said. “Obviously, I’m going to miss (Jacob) Hand, Gurney (Jayden Gurnovich), T-Wad (Trevor Waddington), but I like our style a lot better, especially as a linebacker. I can read and attack as much as I want. And these boys up front, just because they aren’t (those guys) doesn’t mean they aren’t willing to attack, which I love as well. They want to get in the backfield and attack.”

Healy, who enters his 10th season as the longest tenured head football coach in Salem County, is looking forward to see how it all comes together.

“It’s going to be exciting to see some of these kids kind of get the opportunity to be the guy,” he said. “I’m excited to see them step up and kind of lead this team in the direction we want to go.”

Close to ready

Pennsville, Salem go through final scrimmages before their season openers

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Salem: Tale of two halves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schalick: Continuing to grow

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

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

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

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

A coach and NFL owner

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

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Preseason Strength Index

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

OVERALL STATESIOVERALL WJFLSI
1. Winslow92.841. Winslow (1)92.84
2. Don Bosco89.712. Glassboro (4)88.12
3. Bergen Catholic88.473. Washington Twp. (5)87.49
4. Glassboro88.124. Camden (7)86.55
5. Washington Twp.87.495. Cedar Creek (10)85.20
6. St. Joe (Mont.)87.376. Kingsway (15)81.81
7. Camden86.557. Atlantic City (17)80.51
8. Ramapo86.188. Millville (21)78.99
9. Old Tappan85.629. Mainland (28)76.17
10. Cedar Creek85.2010. Haddonfield (30)75.81
SALEM COUNTYSI
92. Salem67.48
121. Pennsville64.24
122. Schalick64.21
272. Woodstown50.03
283. Penns Grove48.10
WJFL DIAMONDSI INDEPENDENCESI
40. Burlington City73.69237. Clayton53.37
81. Paulsboro68.66255. Buena52.15
92. Salem67.48256. Woodbury52.10
113. Overbrook65.08272. Woodstown50.03
121. Pennsville64.24280. Pitman48.46
122. Schalick64.21283. Penns Grove48.10

Hitting the field

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

By Riverview Sports News

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

PENNS GROVE vs. Gateway

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

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

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

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

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

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

PENNSVILLE vs. Triton

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

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

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

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

WOODSTOWN vs. Clearview

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

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

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

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

SALEM vs. Absegami, Pt. Pleasant Boro, Rahway

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

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

The Rams scrimmage again Friday at Camde

This week’s schedule

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

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

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

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

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

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

On familiar ground

Hand, Daly looking forward to playing Salem CC games in their old high school stadiums, Tomoney has a connection to the opening-day foe

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – The anticipation around Salem Community College is building for the first football game in the history of the school. But it’s a pretty safe bet two players on the team are probably more excited than anybody because they have connections to either the opening-day opponent or the venue of the historic game.

The Mighty Oaks play their inaugural game against Hudson Valley CC Aug. 29 at Pennsville High School.

Defensive back Raheem Tomoney spent a little time in the Hudson Valley program a couple years ago before leaving and eventually landing with the Mighty Oaks. Right guard Jacob Hand is stoked because he will be playing his first college game in the stadium he played his entire high school career.

“It’s everything to me,” Hand said. “Playing at Lou D’Angelo, it was surreal. Even in high school, under the lights and everything, it’s a beautiful stadium, beautiful setting, but just to be back at home for my first ever collegiate football game its awesome. It really hits back to home and really gets me excited.”

Pennsville athletics officials have said the school is excited to have a Hand homecoming in the stadium as well.

Because the Mighty Oaks don’t have a stadium on campus to call home, they scheduled their four home games this inaugural season in three of Salem County’s five high school stadiums. They play at Pennsville in opener and Oct. 17 for homecoming, and one time each at Schalick (Sept. 12) and Penns Grove (Sept. 19).

“I knew they were going to play at the high school, (but) I was thinking most at Penns Grove,” Hand said. “I didn’t really think we were going to have two games at Pennsville let alone one, but now that we have the two it’s an amazing feeling.”

Tomoney played four games for Hudson Valley in 2023, but left after feeling underutilized. The season opener will give him a chance to show the Vikings what they could have had.

“I don’t want to call anybody out, but it’s (to prove) to the coaches in a sense,” he said. “I feel like they gave up on me. They didn’t give me a chance.”

In time, Salem DBs coach Damon Troy reached out to him through social media channels and “showed me it could be more than what it was.” When Tomoney found out the Mighty Oaks were playing the Vikings “I was totally thrilled.”

He’s currently nursing a shoulder injury but says he’ll be ready for the opener.

The Delaware native had a lot of HVCC gear from his days there, but said he gave it to his younger brother. Perhaps he can find a Hudson Valley tee shirt to wear around practice that week to sharpen his teammates’ focus.

Hand heard about the ploy and yelled across the field.

“Hang that thing up in the locker room,” he said. “Don’t bring it out on the field.”

Tight end Robert Daly shares Hand’s excitement when it comes to the Mighty Oaks playing on his home turf. He said it was going to be a “very cool experience” to return to the stadiums he played in during his high school career at Schalick, and it will be especially meaningful when the Mighty Oaks go to his school for the second game of the season. Both local players are looking forward to being a tour guide that day.

“That’s awesome,” he said. “My last home game was filled with a lot of emotions because I thought it was going to be my last time on the field with my teammates and my friends. That was my school for four years and had a lot of emotion. Coming here and seeing it on my schedule it’s a great opportunity for me to show what I can do there because I know I’m going to have a lot of support, friends, family. I know there are going to be a lot of people going to be there because I played there for four years, so it’ll be an awesome experience.”

Salem CC guard Jacob Hand (42) prepares to hit the shield during an offensive line drill.



The World (Cup) view

Salem County soccer coaches weigh in on Sunday’s World Cup final. Is it Spain or Argentina? It’s a split decision

All the world’s a stage and the biggest stage in the futbol world is set. The FIFA World Cup final.

Spain v. Argentina. Euro champs v defending World Cup champs. Yamal v Messi. Prodigy v Legend.

One can argue whether it’s the best matchup for this year’s final, but after 39 days and 103 matches it’s the one they’ve got. The game already has been dissected and analyzed from every angle in every corner of the globe, and no doubt will be in the weeks that follow.

Riverview Sports News reached out to some of Salem County’s high school soccer coaches to bring some local flavor to the international analysis and provide their pick to raise the golden trophy Sunday night in MetLife Stadium. The consensus is as close as the game is expected to be. Here are their insights, and picks, as told to Al Muskewitz.

Mano Massari, Penns Grove: Passing the torch


THE PICK: Spain.

THE REASON: Spain is going to win the game because of their dominance in their possession and build up play. They are patient with their attack and really do a nice job with their positional rotations. Their midfielders control the pace and tempo of the game. Rodri, Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz, they are great at overloading and work around compact defenses. I also think Lamine Yamal is going to really control the right side of the pitch on the attacking side.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT: It’ll be the passing of the torch from Messi to Lamine Yamal. I think Lamine Yamal is going to take over the game. I think he’s going to put a goal in the back of the net and have an assist as well. I think he’s going to take over. He looked really good in their semifinal game against France. This is going to be like closing the door on Messi and now it’s Lamine Yamal’s turn. I think he’s going to solidify himself in this tournament with this game. I think it’s just going to be like a passing of the torch moment.

As for the best moment of the World Cup it’s got to be the Cape Verde story, with them being the smallest island ever to get to the World Cup, making it out of the knockout round and then going toe-to-toe with Argentina. That goal that kid scored against Argentina to tie the game was absolutely electric. Cape Verde, to me, is the story of the entire World Cup. I just love it. It’s such a good message to send. I look at it like my guys are small-town players and that’s what happens when you’re believing in a goal. You guys can go toe-to-toe with the defending champs if you all believe and you all put the work in. I just think it’s a great message and why the World Cup is so great.

Will Kemp, Schalick: Always my pick


THE PICK: Spain

THE REASON: They were actually inside my original pick. I said it was either going to be Spain or France that could actually be able to win this, just because France is such a powerhouse. But it’s Spain. Their midfield is unbelievable. The same exact thing for their backline. I’m definitely nodding towards Spain.

When you have a team that has only let up two open-play goals inside the entire tournament, especially with one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Unai Simon, you have Rodri, who is probably one of the best midfielders without a doubt pulling the strings, and then you have Lamine Yamal, there are so many different variables that go into this Spanish team. It seems like they’re finally clicking, especially with the way they played against France; that was the best match that they had, they controlled it completely, shut down the best attack inside the world on the international stage and prevented them from even getting any type of hope.

Now they’re going against Argentina and arguably one of the best players ever inside this same format, a struggling Argentina that really only scores goals inside the last 15-20 minutes of a match. I think if Spain gets up early and controls the game they’re going to have a really good shot at winning this thing.

So my bet’s on Spain, just from their forward attack. You’ve got Lamine Yamal, who’s finally starting to really get back into a groove after his hamstring injury. Then you have one of the best, if this were basketball you’d say sixth man, but inside this the 12th man (Mikel Merino), with him coming off the bench and scoring vital goals; plus he’s an Arsenal player, so, of course, I’m going to root for them.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT: I don’t think the championship moment inside this match is going to be a goal; I think it’s going to be a save. I think it’s actually going to come from the goalkeeper to actually save them and win the match. Unai Simon has been actually amazing this whole entire tournament. There’s been a debate between him and David Raya, once again an Arsenal player. I’m not showing any bias right now, but I should, but Unai Simon’s clearly better than David Raya. I think the moment of the match is actually come from a goalkeeper save – in open play. It’s definitely not going to go to PKs.

Derek Foglein, Pennsville: One more magical day


THE PICK: Argentina.

THE REASON: I honestly think it’s going to be a very close game, and it could go either way. I will definitely be watching the match up between the explosive offense of Argentina and Spain’s defense that has already set the record for most shutouts in a single World Cup. It does seem like Messi and Argentina have that something special that has helped them pull out games (maybe even when they weren’t the better team), so I’m going to take them to have one more magical day and Messi can secure his place atop soccer history.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT: I think it’s going to be a close game, will likely go to PKs, so I’ll say the defining moment will be Lamine Yamal missing his PK and that secures the win for Argentina.

Joe Mannella, Schalick: More Messi magic


THE PICK: Argentina.

THE REASON: I think it’s really hard to pick. It can go either way. I’m going to go with Argentina just because they seem to be playing that style that gets you through this type of situation. They remind me of Haddon Twp. They play a lot of those physical mind games that you see and then they have the quality on top of it. They don’t care how they win, they just win. They just seem to get it done and I think they’ll get it done.

I don’t know if technically they’re better than Spain. They’re kind of a complete team in that they all know their roles and are crazy resilient and they just kind of wait for their opportunity. Obviously they’ve got the best player in the world. If Spain can figure out a way to neutralize him, which no one has ever really been able to do, then certainly it’ll be tough for Argentina to score.

Spain’s probably going to have the ball most of the time and it’s not like Argentina is a fast, counter-attacking team, they just kind of wear you down and punish you when you make a mistake. If I’m going to put my money on somebody, I’m going to put it on the team that’s done it and has done it the whole tournament.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT: If you’re going to put money on anything it’s on Messi doing something outrageous. That’s the easy money on Messi scoring some amazing goal or having a ridiculous pass to set up a goal. Not on the conspiracy side, but I’ve seen VAR have too much to say in some of these games and I’d hate the thing to remember about this World Cup final is that VAR pulled a goal back that shouldn’t have been or allowed a goal that shouldn’t have been.

Argentina plays on such of an edge there could be a red card. I could see them going down to 10 men and winning anyway. Just your backs are against the wall – again – red card, a guy getting his second yellow in the second half and them just holding on, holding on and then Messi putting the ball in the box and somebody getting a head on it. Game over.

Darren Huck, Woodstown: Spain is too solid


THE PICK: Spain

THE REASON: I think Spain overall plays very well defensively and I think they’re going to be a little bit better than some of the teams so far that Messi has gone up against. I think they’re going to contain him pretty well. I think they’re going to keep him in front and I think they’re going to not let him all of a sudden break free. Defensively, they stay very tight, very organized, they don’t give up a whole lot of shots let alone goals, so I think with their defense and the way they work together as a team defensively is what’s going to do it. I think Yamal is going to score the game-winner. I think they’re going to win 2-1.

Spain plays a very simplistic game. They keep it very simple and they’re very disciplined. They’ve been through this before, they know the game is not going to be won in the first 10 minutes. It’s not going to be won in the first 20 minutes. It’s not going to be won in the first half. So, they’ve got stay organized, which they will, and they’ll stay compact and they’ll have good possession. This game is not going to be a bunch of risks. It’s not going to be like that England-France game. It’s going to be a very close game. They’re going to stay behind the ball and they’re not going to give any big transition type goals or breakaways. They’re just too good, they’re too solid. Argentina might want to open it up a little bit, but I don’t think they’re going to be able to.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MOMENT: One of Yamal’s gifts, and he’s so young which is so impressive that he can do this, is he’s really good on set pieces. If Argentina gets a little chippy and they play a little too aggressive – it’ll be very interesting to see how the referee calls the game in the beginning – Spain’s going to be looking to take a foul 20-22 yards out and I think the game winner is going to come from something like that. I think he’s going to have a direct kick and he’s going to put it in a spot the Argentinian goalkeeper is not going to be able to get.

Alcohol-free zones

Salem CC wants its fans to have an enjoyable college football experience, but will not be promoting tailgating as they’ll be playing on high school campuses 

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

With the countdown clock reading 28 days before camp opens and 54 days before the inaugural game, Salem Community College officials are fine-tuning the details for the first season of football. 

Everyone involved with the start-up want all who come to their four home games this inaugural season to have an enjoyable college football experience, but due in part to the nature of their scheduling the Mighty Oaks will not be promoting one of the more spirited elements of its traditions.

Because all their home games will be played on various high school campuses around the county that are alcohol- and tobacco-free, the college will not be promoting tailgating.

“We can’t do tailgating,” said SCC assistant athletics director Angel Rodriguez, who duties include overseeing game-day operations. “It’s a high school field and it’s a high school complex, ‘tailgating,’ that word, because it’s not an actually college venue, we can’t advertise for tailgating. We’re working through the fan experience so we do have ideas … about what’s going to actually be able to happen, but as far as the word ‘tailgating,’ we’re not promoting tailgating.

“We’re not advertising anything along those lines right now, just because it’s not our full-staff function. If it were an on-campus location, we could be flexible with a lot of that. Because it’s off-site and we’re utilizing a lot of the game-day staff already for each venue, it’s not something that we’re promoting. Plus, we’re on school grounds, so school grounds prohibit drinking and alcohol and all those … things.”

That’s not to say fans can’t create team spirit in spirit-less ways. Pennsville athletics director Jamy Thomas, whose school hosts the August 29 opener with Hudson Valley CC and the Oct. 17 game against Sussex CC, said he encourages grilling and other tailgating activities in the parking lots before the game, but alcohol is out. Police will have a presence in the lots to enforce compliance.

“We going to do things a little differently than we would do at a high school game,” Thomas said. “Obviously, we are alcohol- and tobacco-free, that’ll be something the police will be looking at, but in terms of the environment and cooking out, bringing a grill, we support all those things and we want people to come to Pennsville, come to our campus, have a good time, but do it in a safe way that follows the rules of a high school venue.

“We’re not going to control what happens off campus. Obviously, we don’t want people coming in super intoxicated, things like that, at games, but we realize it’s a little different environment than high school, but we still have to maintain the laws and the requirements we have when you do host an event on our campus.”

SCC athletics department officials are scheduled to meet Tuesday to solidify their game-day details. Thomas is schedule to meet with them Wednesday.

Ticket prices and packages also are among the items to be finalized. They are expected to fall in the $5-$10 range on a per game basis and purchasable through an electronic ticketing system.

In the games at Pennsville, the Mighty Oaks will use the Eagles’ stadium locker room, while the visiting team will use the middle school for pre- and in-game operations and then have access to the high school locker room and showers post-game.

The Mighty Oaks’ other two first-year home games will be played at Schalick Sept 12 and Penns Grove Sept. 19. Those schools’ game-day operations were not immediately known.

The games at Schalick and Penns Grove are scheduled for noon kickoffs. Game times for the two Pennsville games are not set, but are believed to be 1 p.m. (to accommodate Hudson Valley’s travel) and noon, respectively.

Since the school’s announced its plan to start football last fall, the program has received overwhelming support from within the region. Head coach Jay Accorsi and his evolving staff are expected to welcome more than 80 players when camp opens Aug. 3. Thomas, for one, is “very excited” to have the Mighty Oaks football program on his campus.

“I think this is an awesome opportunity for Salem County,” he said. “It’s an awesome opportunity for Pennsville and our community to really show off our great facility that we have here. There are a lot of our student-athletes who will benefit from this program even in this coming year.

“(Lineman) Jacob Hand is one who has already signed on to play, so we’re excited to be able to see Jacob at the next level on his home field again. I think there are going to be a lot of other kids who come through our program that this opportunity is a great opportunity that then provides further opportunities after the community college setting to move on to a D-I, D-II, D-III school and still have eligibility.”