Category: SALEM CC

Flynn’s first, Woodstown’s 500th

Woodstown senior scores first career goal in Wolverines’ 500th all-time win and more from Thursday’s full slate of Salem County games

BOYS SOCCER
Clayton 8, Salem 0
Salem Tech 3, Gloucester Catholic 1
Schalick 2, Pitman 0
Woodstown 4, Penns Grove 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — Aaron Flynn still gets the questions and still hears the comments, but he’s used to them by now and usually just laughs them off.

At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds it’s only natural for people who watch him play futbol to wonder why he’s not protecting Mason Middlemiss’ blind side as an offensive tackle on the Woodstown football team instead of standing his ground as the last line of defense for the Wolverines’ soccer side.

Truth be told, the senior with a big throw-in and even bigger foot never really got introduced to or took an interest in football in his youth. He tells the curious he gets his contact playing lacrosse in the spring, but that doesn’t stop them from asking.

“Oh my God, yes, I get asked all the time why I don’t play football,” Flynn said. “You’d be surprised, almost every game I play in when I throw the ball in from the parents’ side, it’s either comments from parents, comments from kids at the school, they say man, you should be out there playing football or when the game’s chippy I get the usual ‘he’s too big for soccer.’

“I kind of take it like a compliment. It’s not every day you see a kid that’s 6-4 240 running up and down the field playing like I do. It’s fun. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Flynn said none of the current Woodstown football coaches have ever pressured him to crossover, but he did admit he “thought about it” briefly last year when it looked like the Wolverines were going to have some big holes to fill and the comments accelerated. Ultimately his love for the game and playing with his friends pulled him back.

His dedication to the sport was rewarded with the ultimate prize Thursday as he scored his first career goal in the second half of the Wolverines’ milestone 4-2 win over Penns Grove. It was the 500th victory in the 48-year history of the Woodstown soccer program.

RELATED STORY: Huck reacts to two milestones https://riverviewsportsnews.com/2026/09/25/500-reasons-to-smile/

The goal came on a 30-yard free kick that sailed over Penns Grove keeper Ruben Torres Saenz and gave the Wolverines a 4-1 lead.

“I didn’t get to see my player get fouled, but my coach Don Ayars said we’re going to kick it,” Flynn said. “I was surprised he was looking at me getting ready to kick the ball. I sat the ball down and I started to realize the goalie’s out pretty far, I think I’m going to try to shoot. I couldn’t believe it, but when I kicked the ball I saw his hands go up and as soon as I saw him jump I said I think it’s going to go in. I was super excited.

“I’ve never really come close. I’ll take a swing and I usually put it over top., so I don’t necessarily have the green light to rip one from outside usually. I’ll definitely remember it because it was my first one. I make a lot of jokes to the coaches before the games, after the games, that one of these times I kick it over it’s gonna drop in sometimes, so it was great. It was my senior year and I finally get to put one in.”

Penns Grove’s Esvin Padilla (5) makes a defensive save near the goalpost that temporarily keeps the Red Devils’ game with Woodstown scoreless in the first half.

Flynn’s goal was part of a three-goal eruption in the second half that kept Woodstown in control of the game.

The Wolverines had the most opportunities in the first half but only had a 1-0 lead to show for it. Josh Olbrich redirected a Tommy Tucci cross just inside the left post five minutes into the game to put Woodstown on the board. They could’ve had more in the half, but hit a post and a crossbar.

Ethan Cottman scored twice in the second half before Flynn delivered. Cottman’s second goal came on a penalty kick after a handball in the box made made it 3-1. Woodstown peppered Saenz with 33 shots.

“I was really happy with the amount of pressure we applied today and that was the key to some of the opportunities that we had,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said. “I thought we worked well off the ball and we were very unselfish as far as all the passes we linked together.

“For us to be on the road and play a division team like Penns Grove with some of the crazy finishes that we’ve had over the last couple seasons, that (Red Devils coach) Mano (Massari) have been a part of, it was gratifying to see the work pay off.”

Penns Grove picked up its pace in the second half as well. Juan Ortiz scored both of the Red Devils’ goal. The first came after he violently collided with Woodstown midfielder Jake Lewis then took the ball all the way and beat keeper Eddie Fuller, who also was injured attempting to make the save. Lewis returned to the game, Fuller did not.

Ortiz notched his second goal against backup goal Lee Coombs with less than 10 minutes to play, but it only got the Red Devils back to 4-2.

“We took too long to show up today, we really did,” Massari said. “I think the last 20 minutes of that game we took control over it, but we took too long (getting there). We’ve talked about that; it’s been a thing with these guys. Some days they show up, some days they don’t. I don’t know how they don’t show up against a division rival.

“Woodstown plays as a team and that;’ what we talked about that after the game. We don’t play as a team sometimes and that was a total team effort from Woodstown and that’s what showed today. They outworked us today, easily.”

Now that Flynn has established himself as a goal scorer for the Wolverines, will there be more chances coming his way? Don’t wait for it.

“I think we’re good where he’s at right now,” Huck said. “We’ll leave that to some other players, let him continue to grow.”

Top photo: Woodstown senior Aaron Flynn moves in to clear a ball out of harm’s way.

SCHALICK 2, PITMAN 0: Connor McQuade scored in the first half and Tim Koering scored four minutes into the second half for the Cougars. Nick Latona recorded four saves in the shutout.

SALEM TECH 3, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: The Chargers rallied with three goals in the second half. Cross Lopez got the equalizer, Avery Reed put them ahead, and Logan Pace added an insurance goal. Aiden Bobo made a several saves in goal to keep the Charters in it until they go on track.

CLAYTON 8, SALEM 0: Jonathan Rehm scored five goals in the first half to run his career total to 70 and set the Clippers’ all-time scoring record. Kevin Mosley assisted on three of Rehm’s goals.

GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton 6, Salem 0
Gloucester Catholic 7, Salem Tech 0
Pitman 3, Pennsville 1
Woodstown 7, Penns Grove 0

WOODSTOWN 7, PENNS GROVE 0: Seven different players lit the lamp in the Wolverines’ fifth straight win. They’ve outscored their opponents 28-1 during the streak.

PITMAN 3, PENNSVILLE 1: The Panthers scored three goals in the first half to take control. Karsen Cooksey scored Pennsville’s goal in the second half.

GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 7, SALEM TECH 0: Seven different players scored goals for the Rams.

CLAYTON 6, SALEM 0: Mikaela Sciubba had a hat trick and Madi Traister scored a pair of goals for the Clippers.

FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro at Pennsville
Salem Tech 6, Salem 0
Schalick 10, Deptford 0
Woodstown 5, Overbrook 0

SALEM TECH 6, SALEM 0: Hazel Eachus scored twice and Jessilyn Chambers had a goal and two assists to lead the Chargers to their first-ever win over a Salem County opponent. Hayden Crispin, Abigail Beals and Araya DiGregorio scored their other goals.

SCHALICK 10, DEPTFORD 0: Alexa Shimp and Chayce Hedley each scored twice and six others added single goals as the Cougars won their sixth in a row and posted their second straight shutout. Luci Virga had a goal and an assists to reach 150 career points.

WOODSTOWN 5, OVERBROOK 0: The Wolverines scored four goals in the first quarter, two by Caroline Sheets, and cruised to their fifth straight win. Lexi Taylor scored their first goal and fifth goal. Shyann Higinbotham scored the other goal and had three assists.

GIRLS TENNIS
GLASSBORO 4, SALEM 1
Taylor Adcock (G) def. Heaven Jones-McCullough, 6-1, 4-6 10-1
JaNye Hubbard (S) def. Virginia Tarasevich, 6-3, 6-0
Amani George (G) def. Erica Brewer, 6-0, 6-0
Sofia Dungca-Conception Soriano (G) def. Aleena Allen-Aniya Lyles-Clark, 6-0, 6-0
Shreeti Sutaria-Lindsay Townsly (G) won by forfeit
Records: Glassboro 6-4, Salem 0-6

PITMAN 4, PENNSVILLE 1
Ava Mollenhauer (PI) def. Graillyn Weber, 6-1, 7-5
Kendall Bennett (PI) def. Naomi Hess, 6-2, 6-2
Jaisley Weber (PV) def. Mikaela Totora, 6-1, 6-3
Listella Eisenhardt-Delaney Pierson (PI) def. Aubrey Hall-Juliana Thomas, 6-1, 6-0
Anna Jones-Mia Gladney (P) def. Yasary Clemente Brito-Mariangela Rangel, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Pitman 10-4, Pennville 7-3

SCHALICK 5, OVERBROOK 0
Olivia Lunemann (S) def. Isabella Sepulveda, 6-1, 6-2
Sebrina Bradford (S) def. Madison Rikard, 6-4, 6-0
Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Sianni Diaz, 6-0, 6-0
Brooke Brown-Jasmin Perez (S) def. Nicola Cusato-Liana Grant-Williams, 6-1, 6-0
River Wojcik-Janae White (S) def. Michaela Sapundzhiev-Aysia Harper Williams, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Schalick 7-3, Overbrook 1-7

WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Madison LaPalomento (WO) def. Adanelys Lopez-Melendez, 6-0, 6-0
Emma West (WO) def. Kavila Pulchard, 6-1, 6-2
Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Valeria Torres, 6-1, 6-1
Emilee Kehr-Elliana Norman (WO) def Cadence Jackson-Clarisleidy Smith, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Woodstown 7-4, Penns Grove 0-8.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Anne Arundel 3, Salem CC 0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-18)

On the MAPS

Accorsi putting Salem CC football ‘on the MAPS’ with Friday’s game with Army Prep at West Point

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Every game means something to someone, but this week’s game has special meaning to Salem CC football coach Jay Accorsi.

Not only are the Mighty Oaks coming off their first win in program history, Accorsi is preparing his players to enter “a whole different world.”

SALEM CC at USMAPS
Michie Stadium, West Point Friday, 6:30 p.m.

The Mighty Oaks hit the road in the regular season for the first time as a program, but that’s not exactly what makes it special. It’s the venue. They take on Army Prep at Michie Stadium on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Actually, it’s the first of two games the fledgling program will play against the service academy prep schools. They play Navy Prep at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis on Oct. 23, giving them the distinction of being the only junior college team in the country playing both Army and Navy prep schools

“That’s why I did it in my previous experience coaching, for the players to understand there’s other student-athletes who do a lot of other things,” Accorsi said. “To go to a service academy and play a service academy team is pretty special. If you look at all the other JUCOs, nobody else is playing Army and Navy Prep. It’s something I wanted to do and it kind of worked out.

“Don’t get me wrong, they’re really good. They beat Nassau 39-19 and it probably could’ve been 60-7, but that wasn’t part of what I wanted to create. I wanted to create an experience where they could go and be exposed to others who are doing a lot more than the normal student-athlete.

“It’s a pretty special place. It’s a historic place. So to be able to be there and be on that campus I think is pretty special. It’s just a different atmosphere, so that’s really what I wanted to bring – and legitimacy to our program. If you’re playing two service academy teams that’s really special, no other JUCO program in the country is doing that, so that’s the part I wanted to legitimize our program early on, we’re doing something nobody else is doing.”

Accorsi, whose brother-in-law, a retired Army colonel, is a West Point grad, had played the Army JV team at Fort Monmouth when he was at Rowan and been to West Point before. When the academy decided to build a prep campus at the north end of West Point, he put it on the bucket list to play there. MAPS already has agreed to play in Salem County next season.

Unlike the trip to Annapolis where the stadium is located outside of the U.S. Naval Academy gates, Michie Stadium is on the U.S. Military Academy campus and as such the travel party has been filling out paperwork for access to the grounds. Accorsi said most of the 60-65 players expected to make the trip have obtained the proper documentation. Player parents and others not part of the official travel party must report to the USMA Visitor Control Center at the opposite end of the campus for clearance..

Of course, there are other internal logistical considerations that go with taking such a large group of the road regardless of the game site. That’s the reason Accorsi scheduled the Mighty Oaks’ preseason scrimmage at Montclair and he said he was “very happy” with how they traveled that day.

Friday’s opponent will be different than any team the Mighty Oaks will play this season, with the exception, of course, of Navy Prep. They’re extremely disciplined, as you might expect, and play a style of football that has the Mighty Oaks installing a new defensive scheme in this short work week. Accorsi expects there will be some players the Mighty Oaks will be seeing on TV suiting up for the Black Knights in the next couple years.

“I told the team you’re excited about (last week’s) win, happy for everybody, everything’s great … but now we’re entering a whole different world and they are so opposite of the junior college programs,” Accorsi said. “That’s why I scheduled these games, so they could understand there are teams that are completely opposite of what junior college football is like but still very successful.”

Speaking of special, the special teams played a big part in the Mighty Oaks’ win over Thaddeus Stevens. They had over 200 yards in returns and both of their go-ahead touchdowns in the second half were set up by huge returns by Demetris Williams (68 yards on a kickoff) and DJ Binck (46 yards on a punt). Three quarterbacks moved the offense fluidly in the second half and won the game with the ball in their hands. The defense held Stevens to less than 90 yards rushing, allowed just one touchdown and came up big several times on third and fourth down.

“The advantage we have is our athletic ability and speed,” Accorsi said. “We’re going to have to use that to our advantage in certain areas and try to create some mismatches and things we’re going to have to do.

“We didn’t have a lot of personal fouls, (in the win), we didn’t have a lot of real bad penalties. I told them we need to do that and even more against this type of team to put ourselves in a position to stay in the game so hopefully at the end of the game we have a chance. That’s what our goal is.”

Salem CC Leaders

PASSING: Aidan Hill 9-28-2, 205 yards, 2 TDs; Malakhai McKenzie 7-16-0, 52 yards; Cam Wright 3-7-1, 19 yards.

RUSHING: Aidan Hill 20-106, Kahmaj Kearney 20-66, Jamar Smith 12-59-1, Jon Pettigrew7-47, Tre McLeod 6-42.

RECEIVING: Jeremiah Russell 3-92-1, Darion Joyner 3-41, Kahmaj Kearney 3-31, Jahfarri Payne 2-46-1, Lamar McCoy 2-29, Jon Pettigrew 2-12

TACKLES: Charlie Shute 13, Zariah Poutre 11, Mark Moore 8, Aidan Alexander 7.

INTERCEPTIONS: Mark Moore 2, Jarrell Burks 2.

Hurdling Hernandez

Freshman leads Woodstown girls soccer to fourth straight win; includes all of Monday’s Salem Cou

MONDAY’S SCORES
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown 7, Audubon 1
Millville 6, Pennsville 1
Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0
BOYS SOCCER
Audubon 1, Woodstown 0
Salem Tech 1, Paulsboro 0
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem 2, Clayton 1
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 5, Penns Grove 0
VOLLEYBALL
Timber Creek at Salem Tech
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Atlantic Cape 3, Salem CC 0 (25-6, 25-9, 25-6)

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Korynn Hernandez is thinking about going out for track this winter or spring. She’s never run the hurdles before, but she should consider it. She’d be pretty good at it.

Her game, of course, is soccer and she’s pretty good at that, too.

In a fortuitous blend of the two sports, the Woodstown freshman hurdled an Audubon defender at the top of the 18 box like Saquon Barkley, then planted her foot on the other side and fired a shot past a surprised goalie for her 11th goal of the season. It touched off a five-goal eruption over the next 26 minutes that carried the Wolverines to a 7-1 mercy-rule win.

It was their fourth win in a row.

“I don’t think I realized (she did that); I just kind of run and push as hard as I can until something develops,” she said. “At that moment I just got changed into attacking mid from wing, so I was coming from the outside and running in, so I think it’s easier to get the ball and go forward that way. That was a really good idea by my coach to switch me that fast.

“I also think I’m pretty good at checking my surroundings and Ive gotten better at that, so I think I was aware there was a girl behind me and as I turned in front of me, so I think as I was able to get that forward touch on the ball I was able to get over her because I knew she was there in advance.”

Seven different players scored for the Wolverines (5-1-1), the product of their unique rotation that allows opportunities to happen.

Hernandez had a hand in their first two goals. She assisted on the only goal of the first half when Genevieve Flynn headed home the freshman’s perfectly placed corner kick in the ninth minute. Then in the first minute of the second half she sent a quick shot into the middle that Sayumi Gonzalez got a piece of and Aubree Covely finished with her left foot, making it 2-0.

With a goal and three assists against the Green Wave, she now leads Salem County girls in goals and overall points by a wide margin.

“She’s definitely not a one trick pony; I mean she’s good at everything,” Wolverines coach Kieran Keyser said. “She works hard. She obviously can score goals; she has a natural knack to find the back of the net. She’s a good shot. She’s got some speed. She’s got some great skill. Positioning, she’s great. She kind of does everything you needed today. She played in four different positions today.

“The fact she can play anywhere and is so versatile helps us so much. “

Ellie Springer answered Covely’s goal three minutes later when she took advantage of a defensive breakdown and bounced a rebound the Wolverines should have cleared just over the reach of keeper Mazie Mazzoni. It ended a stretch of 335 minutes over five games without allowing a goal and cut the margin in half. But it also lit a fire under the Wolverines.

Hernandez followed with her hurdling goal five minutes later, followed by goals from Mariah Hyman, Hailey Kucharczuk, Bella Lucas and Gabby Maldonado. The game ended with 4:18 still to play.

“That was all credit to our team,” Keyser said. “We made a few subs, talked to our girls about staying home and sticking to our game plan. (The Audubon goal) probably helped us in sense because we realized the game was still a game. That gave us a little motivation to lock in and finish it out.”

MILLVILLE 6, PENNSVILLE 1: Freshman Bailey Hulse scored a hat trick in the second half and Naomi Burkhart scored twice for the Thunderbolts. Abby Marandola scored Pennsville’s goal in the second half.

PITMAN 6, SALEM TECH 0: Junior Elizabeth Heintz scored the first two goals of her career and Emery Sharpnack had three assists.

Woodstown’s Aubree Covely (4) moves in on Audubon keeper Anna Gaspari. Top photo: Wolverines freshman Korynn Hernandez (8) is challenged by Audubon’s Luna Schields.

Boys soccer

SALEM TECH 1, PAULSBORO 0: Josh Woroniak scored the goal and Aiden Bobo recorded his third shutout of the season.

AUDUBON 1, WOODSTOWN 0: Anastasios Novratidis scored in the last five minutes of the first half and a pair of Green Wave goalies kept the Wolverines out of the net.

Field hockey

SALEM 2, CLAYTON 1: The Rams (1-6) scored a goal in overtime to score their first win of the season.

Tennis

SCHALICK 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Olivia Lunemann (S) def. Valeria Torres, 6-0, 6-0
Sebrina Bradford (S) def. Clarisleidy Smith, 6-0, 6-0
Jasmine Hunt (S) def. Stephani Recinos, 6-0, 6-0
Brooke Brown-Jazmin Perez (S) def. Angelica Luna-Savannah Bazemore, 6-0, 6-0
River Wojcik-Janae White (S) def. Alexandra Pantoja-Jackelyn Garcia, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 6-2, Penns Grove 0-6.

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 21-26; all events 4 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY, SEPT. 21
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown at Audubon, 3:45 p.m.
Salem Tech at Paulsboro
GIRLS SOCCER
Audubon at Woodstown
Millville at Pennsville
Pitman at Salem Tech
FIELD HOCKEY
Salem at Clayton
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Kingsway
VOLLEYBALL
Timber Creek at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Atlantic Cape at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 22
(Power points cutoff for girls tennis)
FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro at Schalick
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Salem Tech at Pennsville
BOYS SOCCER
Glassboro at Schalick
Pennsville at Salem
Penns Grove at Overbrook
Pitman at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Penns Grove
Salem at Pennsville
Salem Tech at Pitman
Schalick at Glassboro
GIRLS TENNIS
Mainland at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Penns Grove
Pennsville at Overbrook
Pitman at Schalick
Salem at Timber Creek
CROSS COUNTRY
TCC Batch Meet at Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Lindenwold

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 23
VOLLEYBALL
Timber Creek at Salem Tech, 5:15 p.m.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24
FOOTBALL
Camden Catholic at Maple Shade, 6 p.m.
Haddon Twp. at Middle Twp., 6 p.m.
Hopewell Valley at Allentown, 6 p.m.
Riverside at Florence, 6 p.m.
Gloucester at Cinnaminson, 6 p.m.
Williamstown at Cherry Hill East, 6:30 p.m.
Delran at Seneca, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Glassboro at Pennsville
Overbrook at Woodstown
Salem at Salem Tech
Schalick at Deptford
BOYS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem
Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech
Schalick at Pitman
Woodstown at Penns Grove
GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Woodstown
Pitman at Pennsville
Salem at Clayton
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS TENNIS
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 3:45 p.m.
Glassboro at Salem
Pitman at Pennville
Schalick at Overbrook
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Anne Arundel at Salem CC, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25
FOOTBALL
Buena at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
Burlington City at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Cedar Creek at Camden, 6 p.m.
Mastery Camden at WW-Plainsboro, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Burlington Twp., 6 p.m.
Lower Cape May at Absegami, 6 p.m.
Vineland at Bridgeton, 6 p.m.
Atlantic City at Winslow, 6 p.m.
Gloucester Catholic at Wildwood, 6 p.m.
Glassboro at Holy Spirit, 6 p.m.
Delsea at Shawnee, 6 p.m.
Lindenwold at Palmyra, 6 p.m.
Rancocas Valley at Cherokee, 6 p.m.
St. Joe (Hamm.) at Highland, 6 p.m.
Sterling at Collingswood, 6 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Kingsway, 6 p.m.
Ocean City at Mainland, 6 p.m.
Paul VI at Willingboro, 6 p.m.
Hammonton at Oakcrest, 6 p.m.
St. Augustine at Millville, 6 p.m.
Eastern at Lenape, 6 p.m.
Northern Burlington at Pennsauken, 6 p.m.
Trenton at Hightstown, 6 p.m.
Pemberton at Clearview, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Tech at Egg Harbor, 7 p.m.
Notre Dame at Robbinsville, 7 p.m.
Haddonfield at West Deptford, 7 p.m.
Cherry Hill West at Moorestown, 7 p.m.
Audubon at Gateway, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Salem Tech
GIRLS SOCCER
Camden Catholic at Schalick
FIELD HOCKEY
Oakcrest at Pennsville
GIRLS TENNIS
Salem at St. Joe (Hamm.)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Salem CC at Army Prep, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26
FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Schalick at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Overbrook at Salem, noon
Bishop Eustace at Haddon Heights, 11:30 a.m.
Bordentown at KIPP, noon
Lawrence at Nottingham, noon
Ewing at Princeton, noon
BOYS SOCCER
Schalick vs. Shore, 10 a.m.
CROSS COUNTRY
Schalick girls at Wild Safari Invitational, Six Flags Great Adventure
COLLEGE SOFTBALL
Salem CC at Chestnut Hill, noon

Historic day

Salem CC uses robust second half, all three phases to win first game in football program history, beating Thaddeus Stevens 18-13

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT — Jay Accorsi was soaked to the bone. He was a little cold, but he was happy. And proud. And maybe even a little relieved.

It was an historic day for the Salem Community College athletics. The football program Accorsi has been building since he brought the idea to the college president some 18 months ago scored its first win in school history Saturday, an 18-13 come-from-behind victory over Thaddeus Stevens at Penns Grove High School.

The Mighty Oaks used a robust second half fueled by the disappointment of an empty red-zone possession at the end of the first half to rally from deficits of 7-0 (halftime) 10-6 and 13-12 (fourth quarter). They scored on the first play of the third quarter, took the lead on Malakhai McKenzie’s determined 3-yard fourth-down run with 5:15 to play and secured the win with a fourth-down stop with 1:24 to go and driving to run out the clock.

“That group is the first group that ever got the first Mighty Oaks football win, so their legacy is etched forever and I think they understand at,” Accorsi said. “It’s a lot of responsibility but I think they get that. That’s why they were dancing at the end and enjoying it.”

The win brought Accorsi the traditional water bucket bath. He saw spur-of-the-moment perpetrators Mark Moore and Gio Parente coming around the corner with the cooler in tow. There was no escape. 

“At 62, soon to be 63, I ain’t outrunning those dudes, so as long as they don’t hit me in the head – because that happened once before – it’s all fun,” Accorsi said. “It’s good to see. That’s what college football is all about.

“I think it happened a couple times at Rowan and it’s usually for big wins and special moments. It’s good to see them excited, starting to play as a team, pull for one another. It’s always fun when you have that stuff. It doesn’t bother me at all. I actually feel pretty cool right now.”

“We really looking for the Gatorade, but the water was first thing we saw,” Parente said.

Salem CC head coach Jay Accorsi is surrounded by his players in the aftermath of his water cooler bath to celebrate the Mighty Oaks’ first win in program history.

The Mighty Oaks felt they were getting closer to a win each week, but could never put together a complete game to pull it off. They put it together in this last of three straight local dates to open the season. And all three phases made major contributions.

They ran the ball effectively, rushing for a season-high 147 yards. The defense didn’t allow much, giving up a season-low 259 yards and holding the Bulldogs to 5-of-19 on third or fourth down with 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. And they got many happy returns from the special teams, the element that made the biggest difference between Saturday and their previous two games.

“It was a good blend,” Accorsi said. “I think for the most part we played pretty much mistake-free football. We played four good quarters and at times we were dominating with a lot of the return game.”

The offense came alive in the second half, and it started right from the jump. On their first play of the third quarter Aidan Hill unloaded a 68-yard touchdown bomb to Jeremiah Russell for the Mighty Oaks’ first touchdown. They didn’t get the tying extra point, but they let it be known this half was going to be different.

They had only 91 yards at halftime. They nearly doubled that in the second half.

“They said the go ball was there and we were going to go to it,” said Hill, one of three quarterbacks Salem used in the game. “They said the DBs when they think you’re going to run are looking you; you gotta throw it up. Trust your receiver. I got the ball. I trusted my receiver. I threw it up. He caught it and scored.”

It brought the Mighty Oaks such an emotional lift after the way the first half ended. Hill had them knocking on the door for the tying touchdown right before halftime, getting to the Bulldogs 5 with 41 seconds left. They ran five plays and even got a defensive holding penalty on an incomplete fourth-down pass to give them one more chance from the 4 with two seconds left but came away empty.

“They were adjusting to what we were doing, they were predicting what we were doing,” Hill said. “It was too much me. Coach told me to take my time, but I kept rushing, not giving it time to execute.”

It could have been the kind of thing that sent the Mighty Oaks into a second-half tailspin. Instead, with the intermission to talk about it, they turned it into something positive.

“I think they started to believe in themselves,” Accorsi said. “You can only preach and talk to somebody for so long about them and what they’re doing and then it’s got to kind of change. It’s got to be them and they have to believe. As disappointing as it was just before the half, I think they realized they’re that close.

“That heartbreaking stuff that happens, but that’s what creates a team and makes them believe in themselves and each other, and I think that’s really what happened. I think they realized we’re really close, like we can win this, we need to do all these things.

“It’s one of those things you want something and it doesn’t happen and it’s so disappointing and so heartbreaking, but you have to turn that into a positive, and that’s what they did. They started to believe in themselves and they started to believe we can actually win this game. Telling them but having them believe in doing it are completely two different things and I think that’s what occurred today.”

Stevens extended its lead to 10-6 with the first of two Jeremiah Moncreff field goals, but the Mighty Oaks answered with the help of one of those big special teams returns. Demetris Williams brought the ensuing kickoff back 68 yards to get Salem on the edge of the red zone. Two plays later Jamar Smith went 21 yards up the middle to put the Mighty Oaks back in front.

The visitors took a 13-12 lead into the fourth quarter after Moncreff kicked a 32-yard field goal in the final minute of the third.

The Mighty Oaks used another big special teams play to set up their go-ahead touchdown. DJ Binck picked up a punt on the run and returned 46 yards to the Stevens 30. Smith got them inside the 10 with a 23-yard run. They needed all four downs to get in the end zone, but on fourth down from the 3 McKenzie saw open space in front of him and bolted for the end zone.

“It was a wide open hole,” McKenzie said. “I just stepped up in the pocket. I felt a little grab on my jersey, but the touchdown was wide open. I had to dive in there.”

The Mighty Oaks still had to keep the Bulldogs from answering and the defense did that. Linebacker Charlie Shute wrapped up David Akpuru on third down for force a fourth-and-long and when quarterback Thomas McGinnis’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete Shute knew the game was theirs.

The offense took over with 3:51 left and they weren’t letting it get away.

“Before that drive I told the offense you guys have had to overcome a lot of adversity,” Accorsi said. “The defense has carried us a lot, you’ve really had to find your way. You now have an opportunity to pay the defense back and win the game – and that’s what they did.”

When Brian Pritchett picked up the last first down with less than 30 seconds left, the Mighty Oaks knew they had it won. That’s when Moore and Parente starting going for the water bucket. And that’s when the celebration began.

“I’m very excited because yesterday was my birthday as well,” Moore said. “The past couple years we’ve lost before my birthday or after, so this is the first time doing it. I’m really excited for the team.”

Salem CC 18, Thaddeus Stevens 13

TSTEVSCC
12First Downs13
34-87Rushing35-147
12-28-1Passing8-20-1
172Passing Yards123
1-1Fumbles-Lost1-1
69Return Yards214
5-30.4Punts-Avg.5-34.4
10-76Penalties-Yards7-74
4-16Third Down2-13
1-3Fourth Down3-5
33:07Time of Possession26:53
Thaddeus Stevens7060-13
Salem CC00126-18

SCORING SUMMARY

TS-Kahyear Whaley 27 run (Jeremiah Moncreff kick), 2:17 1Q
SCC-Jeremiah Russell 68 pass from Aidan Hill (run failed), 12:53 3Q
TS-Jeremiah Moncreff 28 FG, 6:41 3Q
SCC-Jamar Smith 21 run (run failed), 5:57 3Q
TS-Jeremiah Moncreff 32 FG, 0:52 3Q
SCC-Malakhai McKenzie 3 run (pass failed), 5:15 4Q

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Thaddeus Stevens: Kahyear Whaley 13-69-1, David Akpuru 11=3, Tariq Thorton-Trice 3-5, Thomas McGinnis 7-0; Salem CC: Jamar Smith 8-55-1, Aidan Hill 5-40, Jahfarri Payne 1-27, Kahmaj Kearney 9-22, Brian Pritchett 2-5; Demere White 2-5; Malakhai McKenzie 1-3-1, Demetris Williams 3-0, Cam Wright 4-(-10).

PASSING — Thaddeus Stevens: Thomas McGinnis 12-28-1-172-0; Salem CC: Aidan Hill 4-11-0-68-1; Malakhai McKenzie 2-5-0-11-0, Cam Wright 2-4-1-5-0.

RECEIVING — Thaddeus Stevens: Damoj Gray 5-105, Kahyear Whaley 3-44, Victor Schlosser 3-21, David Akpuru 1-2; Salem CC: Jeremiah Russell 2-74-1, Darion Joyner 1-20, Lamar McCoy 1-13, Kahmaj Kearney 1-9, Darrell Baldon 1-3, Jahfarri Payne 1-2, Terrin Walker 1-2.

TACKLES — Thaddeus Stevens: Samuel Kelley 4, Andre Gordon 3, Abubakarr Tholley 3, Victor Toliver 3; Salem CC: Ezriah Poutre 5 (2 TFL), Zaahir McNair 5 (2 TFL), Aidan Alexander 4, Quardell Richards 4 (1 TFL), Noah Shields 4 (1 sack).

Still learning how

Salem CC football plays Thaddeus Stevens Saturday at Penns Grove HS in search of its inaugural win


By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CARNEYS POINT – Jay Accorsi didn’t expect success for his Salem CC football program to come overnight. With any new program trying to find its way, the road to victory is taken in small, incremental steps.

The Mighty Oaks have gotten closer to the desired result each week to that historic first win, but in each of the first two games fell short of pulling it off. 

They fell behind in the opener after staying close early, but made it close with a touchdown on the very last play. Last week they had their first lead and seemed in control of the game for the longest time until buckling under a series of bad penalties and miscues that reached a head in the fourth quarter.

Nothing to do about it now but live and learn. They’ve got another shot at it Saturday against Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology at Penns Grove High School and this time, like every time, they’re looking to complete the deal.

“I know as coaches we talk about teaching everybody how to win,” Accorsi said. “It’s a new program, new coaching staff, so as coaches we talked about it. We talked about with the players. I know the coaches addressed it in all their meetings. We’re trying to learn to do everything and winning is one of those things.

“When you look at the film you’re like what team showed up for the fourth quarter. That’s the part we’re all kind of perplexed about. Maybe we’re tired, maybe we’re not in good enough shape, so we’re looking at that. Maybe we don’t feel confident in ourselves to win games. That was the message we talked about and the part were trying to piece together.

“I knew we weren’t going to get a lot of wins this first year anyway, just being realistic, but we’re much closer than I thought we’d be. Now what do we have to do to get us over the top? That’s kind of what we’re trying to concentrate on. The first game we played around three quarters or less of football. This one we played three and into the fourth quarter of good football. Now what do we need to do to play four quarters of football?

“I was not really going to try to get caught up in the wins and losses (this first year), but now that we’re that close now you kind of have to figure out how to get closer to be able to do it and finish games off.”

After finishing strong against Hudson Valley and having an open week in between to make adjustments, the Mighty Oaks started sharply last week against Nassau CC. They put together an 80-yard drive in their first possession, getting it all on the ground, and finished it off with Demetris Williams’ 13-yard touchdown run for their first lead in a game that counted. (They led throughout the first half in their scrimmage at Montclair). 

They were on their way to a second score and a two-touchdown lead that would’ve made it “a different game,” but were hit with one of those ill-timed penalties and never recovered.

Jamar Smith made a great block to free Jahfarri Payne for a 23-yard touchdown, but the score was called back by a block in the back away from the ball and the Mighty Oaks never scored again. It’s been that kind of thing that’s plagued them the first two games. Nassau scored two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the half and never trailed again.

Later in the game second-half starting quarterback Cam Wright slid too soon on a fourth-down run that stopped a drive in Nassau territory, they dropped a wide open touchdown pass in the end zone and in the fourth quarter trying to make something happen Aidan Hill was intercepted twice leading to two Nassau touchdowns that inflated the final margin.

“The score is the score and it never changes, but I think we’re doing things at the end of the game to try to win the game that we’re not very good at right now, especially offensively,” Accorsi said. “We need to control the clock, run the ball, minimize mistakes, don’t put our defense in harm’s way and we didn’t do that in that fourth quart“

Going forward, the Mighty Oaks will “juggle some guys around” on both sides of the ball to best match abilities with situations, although they didn’t provide specifics.

“That happens with any team all the time all year long,” Accorsi said. “It’s just different for us because, again, these are all really new players. We have a lot of really good players, we’re just still trying to find out who can do what. That’s going to be probably all the way through the season.”

The Bulldogs come into the game with a 1-1 record, having beaten the New Jersey Warriors, a post-graduate football program whose players can attend any New Jersey community college, after opening the season with a 39-9 loss to Erie. They affiliate with something called the Seaboard Conference, but it’s hoped they would join with Salem, Sussex, Hudson Valley, Nassau and Erie, and perhaps others, to form their own conference.

So it’s another week and another chance to break through. The Mighty Oaks are getting close. The first win might not come this week, but Accorsi knows what it’ll do when it does.

“it validates a lot of things we’re doing,” he said. “I think it more than anything it cements and validates all the things we’re trying to do with the coaches and the players. Even in your first year to get a win, that’s not really easy to do. Whenever it comes, it comes. Whether it’s this year or next year, we’re just going to try to do the best we can to get close and try to get one.”

Salem CC leaders

RUSHING: Aidan Hill 15-52, Jon Pettigrew 7-47, Kahmaj Kearney 11-43, Tre McLeod 6-35, Demetris Williams 5-9-1.

PASSING: Aidan Hill 5-17-2, 98 yards, 1 TD; Malakhai McKenzie 5-11-0, 41 yards; Cameron Wright 1-3-0, 14 yards.

RECEIVING: Darion Joyner 2-21, Kahmaj Kearney 2-12, Jon Pettigrew 2-12, Jahfarri Payne 1-44-1.

TACKLES: Charlie Shute 11, Zariah Poutre 6, Mark Moore 6, Ben Secouler 5, Germer Jones 5.

SACKS: Charlie Shute 1.

INTERCEPTIONS: Jarrell Burks 2, Mark Moore 1.


Cougars break through

Schalick field hockey scores first goal, first win against gritty Salem Tech; roundup includes scores, highlights from Monday’s Salem County sports schedule


MONDAY FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick 2, Salem Tech 1
Woodstown 8, Deptford 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – This is a different kind of year for the Schalick field hockey. The Cougars have been the dominant team in Salem County and one of contenders in South Jersey Group 1 for the past couple years, but now they’re in a rebuild.

The core of the group that had won 56 games over last last four years has graduated, off to other pursuits, leaving coach Heather Cheesman with one of the youngest teams in her tenure, but one intent of starting the cycle all over again. Of course, all that comes with growing pains until the light bulb comes on.

The Cougars hadn’t been 0-2 to start a season in 13 years and had yet to score a goal. They finally broke through both barriers Monday when they scored their first goals of the season and secured their first win of the season, 2-1 at Salem Tech.

“It for sure is a different kind of year,” Cheesman said. “I have a lot of young players. We haven’t a team like this in probably the last four years with so many freshmen starting or playing the game at this level. Even when the kids who just graduated were freshmen they had been playing together for years throughout our feeder program so they were already jelled.

“I think once we connect it’s going to be good. It’s just getting them to jell and connect and play together. Individually they’re all good, we’ve just got to bring it together.”

One sure sign it’s a different kind of year is the length of the post-game huddle. The ones the last couple years were brief, if they had one at all. The one down in the far corner Monday lasted 10 minutes – and that wasn’t even the longest one of this season.

“Probably the one against Woodstown was probably more like 20 minutes,” Cheesman said. “The last couple years sometimes we wouldn’t even meet; we’d talk about it the next day. It was a three-minute, five-minute conversation. Now, it’s definitely a lot longer, like what can we do, what can we fix, this is what looked good, this is what we need to work on.”

Ranae Scurry scored the Cougars’ first goal of the season with 4:50 left in the first quarter. Addy Shimp, in her new role as inserter, got the ball to Lucy Virga at the top of the arc. Virga sent it towards the goal and Scurry ripped it into the cage.

“it wasn’t a relief,” Scurry said. “I think it was just a pick-me-up. More like, OK, we can get one, how many more can we get?”

That answer came in the first minute of the second quarter when Shimp made it 2-0. Scurry sent Shimp’s corner into the zone where Virga got it to Morgan DuBois who put a nice touch on it in traffic. Chargers goalie Caroline Tighe made the initial stop, but the ball dropped at her feet where Shimp was “there at the right time” to bang it home.

Both goal scorers are confident the Cougars will return to their old form soon.

“It’s definitely a rebuilding process, but as the season goes on we’re going to learn each other,” Scurry said. “It’s just meshing together. I think it’s kind of hard right now, but we’re learning this game, we’re trying different formations, lineups to deal with. We didn’t have to (before) because we were together for so long.”

“I think the only difference is we’re just not completely used to playing with each other yet,” Shimp said. “We all have the skill, we just have to connect. I think we’ll connect eventually. We definitely have a lot of potential and I think we’re going to connect, it’s just early in season. That was definitely an improvement today because we definitely did a lot better.”

The Chargers, meanwhile, were playing their first game ever against a Salem County opponent and held their own against one of the county’s traditional bests. As an independent in their inaugural season, they could schedule at their leisure for early success and foundational confidence and did just that. Now that they’re in the TCC Classic Division, however, half the schedule is made for them and that includes at least two games each with county rivals Pennsville and Salem. 

They fell behind 2-0 in the first half, but didn’t wilt. Abby Beals got them on the board when she kept Hayden Crispin’s shot moving through the box and inside the left post with 9:45 left in the third quarter.

It looked like they got the tying goal five minutes later, but the whistle blew the play dead before the ball reached the crease. They had another good chance with 2:30 left, when Beals got it in to Crispin, but her shot just missed the right post.

“I think they did great,” Chargers coach Melissa Lewis said. “I felt like they played their game and they were very strong. They didn’t give up and they had a fire in them. They wanted this win and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get it.”

WOODSTOWN 8, DEPTFORD 0: Talia Guardascione had a pair of goals and six other Wolverines scored. Lexi Taylor and Brooke Dillion both had a goal and an assist. The eight goals were the most they’ve scored in a game since a 9-1 win over Cumberland in 2024. It was their third straight shutout.

BOYS SOCCER
Clayton 3, Salem Tech 2: Jonathan Rehm’s second goal, a penalty kick five minutes into overtime, was the game-winner. Logan Pace got the game-tying tying goal for the Chargers on a penalty kick four minutes before the end of regulation.
Penns Grove 6, Pitman 1: Juan Ortiz scores three goals.
Pennsville 2, Gloucester Catholic 0: Sam Hassler and Ugur Elmali scored goals as the Eagles got their first win of the year and extended their unbeaten streak over the Rams to six in a row.
Schalick 8, Overbrook 1: Luke Price and Tyler Vanlier each scored twice and Marco Spinnato had three assists.
Woodstown 1, Glassboro 0 (OT): Ayden Ellis collected his second game-winning goal of the season when he was credited with an own goal midway through OT1. He got the game-winner in the final five minutes against Pennsville in their season opener.

GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton 6, Salem Tech 0: Six players lit the lamp for the Clippers.
Gloucester Catholic 2, Pennsville 0: Alexa Battaglia and Olivia Pisano scored goals, Ruth Cutuli made eight saves in the shutout.
Schalick 6, Overbrook 0: Emily Miller scored three goals and Mackenzie Talarico had a goal and two assists.
Woodstown 7, Glassboro 0: Freshman Korynn Hernandez scored her third hat trick in five games.
Pitman 7, Salem 1: Erin Rudley had two goals and Emery Sharpnack had three assists for Pitman. Jaylynn Dickerson scored Salem’s goal in the fourth minute of the second half.
Woodbury 5, Penns Grove 0

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 3, Buena 2
Woodstown 5, Schalick 0
Salem at Bridgeton
Timber Creek at Penns Grove

WOODSTOWN 5, SCHALICK 0
Madison LaPalomento (WO) def. Olivia Lunemann, 6-1, 6-2
Emma West (WO) def. Sebrina Bradford, 6-4, 6-4
Angelina Lindenmuth (WO) def. Jasmine Hunt, 6-4, 4-6, 10-4
Emilee Kehr-Elliana Norman (WO) def. Brooke Brown-Jasmin Perez, 6-1, 6-2
Eleanore Lawson-Isabella Lindenmuth (WO) def. Riveras Wojcik-Janae White, 6-2, 6-3
Records: Woodstown 4-3, Schalick 4-2

PENNSVILLE 3, BUENA 2
Graillyn Weber (P) def. Caroline Futty, 6-1, 6-2
Naomi Hess (P) def. Kara Horton, 6-0, 6-1
Jaisley Weber (P) def. Makenna Feaster, 6-4, 6-1
SciOni Simmons Laboy-Julie Tomasso (B) def. Aubrey Hall-Mariangela Rangel, 4-6, 6-2, 10-7
Analeigh Nardone-Isabella (B) def. Marissa Dowell-Juliana Thomas, 6-2, 4-6, 10-6
Records: Pennsville 4-2, Buena 1-4.

COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Atlantic Cape 3, Salem CC 0

This week’s schedule

Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 14-19; all events start at 4 p.m. unless noted

MONDAY, SEPT. 14
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Deptford
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville
Overbrook at Schalick
Penns Grove at Pitman
Salem Tech at Clayton
Woodstown at Glassboro
GIRLS SOCCER
Clayton at Salem Tech
Glassboro at Woodstown
Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic
Pitman at Salem
Schalick at Overbrook
Woodbury at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Buena at Pennsville
Salem at Bridgeton
Timber Creek at Penns Grove
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Salem CC at Atlantic Cape, 6 p.m.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 15
FIELD HOCKEY
Clayton at Pennsville
Gloucester Catholic at Salem
GIRLS TENNIS
West Deptford at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at GCIT, 3:45 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16
FIELD HOCKEY
Gateway at Woodstown
Pennsville at Schalick
Salem Tech at Overbrook
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
Pennsville at Glassboro
Salem Tech at Penns Grove
Schalick at Cumberland
GIRLS SOCCER
Cumberland at Salem
Glassboro at Pennsville
Penns Grove at Salem Tech
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Glassboro, 3:45 p.m.
Pitman at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.
Penns Grove at Schalick

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17
FOOTBALL
Buena at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Pleasantville at Cherokee, 6 p.m.
Cumberland at Vineland, 6 p.m.
Gateway at Sterling, 6 p.m.
Bridgeton at St. Joe (Hamm.), 6:30 p.m.
Lindenwold at Haddon Twp., 7 p.m.
West Deptford at Paul VI, 7 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Schalick at Delsea
BOYS SOCCER
Pennsville at Penns Grove, 6 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
Cumberland at Salem
Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic
Schalick at Cherry Hill West
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Millville
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic, 5:15 p.m.
COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL
Salem CC at Morris, 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18
FOOTBALL
Salem at Schalick, 6 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
Burlington City at Overbrook, 7 p.m.
Shawnee at Rancocas Valley, 6 p.m.
Eastern at Northern Burlington, 6 p.m.
Allentown at Trenton, 6 p.m.
Atlantic Tech at Lower Cape May, 6 p.m.
Absegami at Hammonton, 6 p.m.
Gloucester at Triton, 6 p.m.
Lenape at Williamstown, 6 p.m.
Mainland at Holy Spirit, 6 p.m.
Millville at Kingsway, 6 p.m.
Washington Twp. at Atlantic City, 6 p.m.
Pennsauken at Cherry Hill East, 6 p.m.
Lawrence at Notre Dame, 6 p.m.
Highland at Timber Creek, 6 p.m.
Maple Shade at Bordentown, 6 p.m.
Seneca at Willingboro, 6 p.m.
Camden at Ocean City, 6 p.m.
Oakcrest at Egg Harbor, 6 p.m.
Clearview at Deptford, 6 p.m.
Cinnaminson at Cherry Hill West, 6 p.m.
Middle Twp. at Wildwood, 6 p.m.
Collingswood at Bishop Eustace, 6:30 p.m.
Ewing at Hopewell Valley, 7 p.m.
Florence at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
Camden Eastside at Moorestown, 7 p.m.
Delran at Haddonfield, 7 p.m.
Burlington Twp. at Delsea, 7 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER
Salem at Woodstown
GIRLS SOCCER
Bridgeton at Pennsville
FIELD HOCKEY
Absegami at Salem Tech
Pennsville at Bridgeton
Salem at Winslow
GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Salem
Schalick at Timber Creek
Woodstown at Overbrook

SATURDAY, SEPT. 19
FOOTBALL
Woodstown at Woodbury, 11 a.m.
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 11 a.m.
Hightstown at Princeton, 11 a.m.
Mastern Camden at Holy Cross, 11 a.m.
Palmyra at Gloucester Catholic, 11 a.m.
Haddon Heights at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Nottingham at Steinert, 11 a.m. 
Riverside at KIPP, noon
WW-Plainsboro at Pemberton, noon
Glassboro at Cedar Creek, 1:30 p.m.
Robbinsville at Hamilton West, 2 p.m.
Buena at Clayton, 3 p.m.
Winslow at St. Augustine, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
Haddon Twp. at Schalick
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Thaddeus Stevens vs. Salem CC, Penns Grove H.S., noon

Salem CC stumbles again

Mighty Oaks start off strong, grab first lead of the season, but couldn’t finish and falls to Nassau CC, 31-6

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – The game started off with great promise, but it ultimately devolved into a frustrating lesson of what it’s like to be a startup junior college football program where everything, including learning how to win, is a work in progress.

Salem CC enjoyed its first ever lead early in Saturday’s game, but by the end of the day, under the weight of untimely penalties and mistakes that gutted their confidence, the Mighty Oaks left Schalick High School with a 31-6 loss to Nassau CC they were in for the better part of three quarters.

“Frustrated, disappointed,” Mighty Oaks coach Jay Accorsi said. “I thought we played better (than in the opener), but still just too many mistakes.

“I felt we played better in some areas, but you can’t have too many guys in the huddle as you’re driving down. You can’t have penalties on the kickoff return. You can’t have a personal foul as you’re driving the ball. It’s the struggle of junior college football is understanding the team that makes the least amount of mistakes is gonna win.”

The Mighty Oaks came out sharp on offense, having had two weeks of fix the shortcomings in the opener. After surviving a missed field goal attempt on Nassau’s opening drive extended by a fumbled punt, starting quarterback Aidan Hill took them 80 yards in 15 plays for their first lead in program history.

Demetris Williams ran in from 13 yards, but a bad snap cost them the extra point. All the yardage they gained in the drive came on the ground, including a big 14-yard burst up the middle by Hill on fourth down to keep it alive.

“The start started off well,” Hill said. “I was happy. I wanted to get back on the field and score again, but we didn’t get to do that.”

Things looked even better when Raheem Tomoney picked off Nassau quarterback Elijah Outlaw in front of the Salem bench, but the offense couldn’t take advantage of the turnover. The defense stopped the Lions again when Matt Bishop sacked Outlaw just in front of the goal line, forcing the visitors to punt from the back of the end zone.

Then it got crazy with penalties. Jeremiah Russell appeared to return to the punt to the Nassau 23, but a pair of personal foul penalties on the return brought it back to the Salem 47. The Mighty Oaks recovered from that and appeared to score a second touchdown on Hill’s 23-yard pass play with Jahfarri Payne, the same receiver he connected with on the last-play touchdown in the opener, but the score was called back for a block in the back on the block that sprung him.

They came up empty when Hill missed Russell over the middle on fourth down from the 26 with 7:22 left in the half.

That set the Lions in motion to score two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the quarter to sap the Mighty Oaks’ momentum and take a 14-6 halftime lead. They went in front with 1:52 left in the half when Mekai Henderson blasted in from the 10. Hill fumbled away Salem’s next possession and the Lions extended their lead when Outlaw eluded heavy pressure by Jermar Jones and hit tight end Justin Betz in the back corner of the end zone with 33 seconds left in the half.

“I thought (scoring on the opening possession) was really good,” Accorsi said. “Maybe we started too well early on and started to feel too good about ourselves because certainly we didn’t finish like we started. Again, you can’t make those mistakes.

“But, yeah, we showed flashes offensively of doing some stuff, which we didn’t even do anything two weeks ago. There’s a lot of plus things there. I still think it’s trying to get a bunch of individuals to play as a team … I have to do a better job of figuring out how to make us more of a team. I think the pieces are there, I think the players are there. There are some other things I think we need to do and I need to do to just get it better and more cohesive.”

Cam Wright started the second half at quarterback for the Mighty Oaks after Hill had an incident unbecoming of a leader in the locker room at halftime. Wright led the Mighty Oaks on two drives, the second of which almost produced a touchdown but ended when he got caught from behind on fourth down from the 15 short of the line to gain to end the third quarter.

The game was a homecoming of sorts for Salem tight end Robert Daly. The Mighty Oaks played their second “home” game at Daly’s high school, giving the freshman one more chance to play on a field he never thought he’d play on again.

The team gave him a chance to make it a special return, setting him up for a play in the red zone. Daly was wide open in the end zone and, although he had to come back for the pass, had the touchdown that could have tied the game in his hands, but couldn’t hold it.

“It was a go ball,” Daly said. “I found myself open in the end zone. Wide open. Wide open. Ball was a little short so I came back to it and just bobbled it a little low. Not the way I wanted to go. It was a catchable ball. I blame myself.”

It went downhill for the Mighty Oaks from there. Lions kicker Matias Perez Herrera kicked a 48-yard field goal on the ensuing possession to make it 17-6. 

Hill returned to quarterback in the fourth quarter, but just couldn’t generate the same kind of offense he did in the first half. He also threw two interceptions out of his comfort zone passing from behind. One the Lions nearly returned for a touchdown but scored a few snaps later and one they did bring all the way back that brought out the Mighty Oaks’ frustration with the day.

“I feel defeated right now,” said safety Mark Moore, who had a fourth-quarter interception to give the Mighty Oaks some hope. “It was slowly slipping away from us,. You could tell by the third quarter everybody’s energy was down. It just wasn’t good.”

“It was frustrating,” Hill said. “Honestly, we just collapsed as a team. Our momentum was there, but it wasn’t there all the way. It just wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t good.”

NCCSCC
10First Downs11
29-40Rushing40-
12-18-2Passes5-17-2
188Passing41
2-0Fumbles-Lost5-2
3-35.3Punts-Avg4-38.8
13-110Penalties-Yds11-105
Nassau CC (2-1)014314-31
Salem CC (0-2)6600-6

SCORING SUMMARY
S-Demetris Williams 13 run (kick blocked), 1:21 1Q
N-Mekai Henderson 10 run (Matias Perez Herrera kick), 1:52 2Q
N-Justin Betz 8 pass from Elijah Outlaw (Matias Perez Herrera kick), 0:33 2Q
N-Matias Perez Herrera 48 FG, 10:47 3Q
N-Tito Ruiz 3 pass from Elijah Outlaw (Matias Perez Herrera kick), 1:44 4Q
N-Antonio Washington 40 interception return (Matias Perez Herrera kick), 0:48 4Q

Top photo: Salem CC quarterback Aidan Hill (3) rears back to fire a pass in Saturday’s game with Nassau CC.


Friday roundup

Here are the scores and highlights from Friday’s Salem County sports calendar

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
FIELD HOCKEY
Bridgeton at Salem
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester at Salem
Salem Tech 1, Camden Academy Charter 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 3, Haddon Heights 2
Trenton at Penns Grove
VOLLEYBALL
Salem Tech 2, Highland 0

By Riverview Sports News

NEWARK, Del. — Woodstown’s Abby Marino finished second and David Farrell placed third in their respective races at the White Clay Creek Cross Country Invitational that drew more than 50 schools from the four-state area.

Marino ran through the White Clay Creek State Park course a 20:18.9 to finish second in the junior girls race behind Tatnall’s Krissa Woods (19:28.8). Farrell ran a 17:04.5 to finish third in the senior boys race, about a second behind runner-up Carter Brown of Newark Charter.

Also in the senior boys race, Woodstown’s Pacey Hutton finished 17th (19:03.4) and Salem Tech’s Anthony Morano was 21st (19:20.9). Woodstown’s Anabel Schaal was 21st in the senior girls race (25:41.1).

In the junior boys race, Woodstown’s Torsten Duva was 11th (19:23.1) and teammates John Hearst and Jackson Perry finished in the top 25. Salem Tech’s Joseph MacNeil was 25th.

Salem Tech’s Levin Seals was 13th among sophomore boys. Woodstown’s Reese Madiraca was 13th among the freshmen girls.

BOYS SOCCER

SALEM TECH 1, CAMDEN ACADEMY CHARTER 0: Logan Pace scored on a pass from Lucca Picci in the second half for the only goal of the match. Aiden Bobo made six saves in recording his second straight shutout. The Chargers are 2-0 for the first time in the history of their program.

VOLLEYBALL

SALEM TECH 2, HIGHLAND 0: Jadelynn Stiffen had seven kills, Shelby Liber had 10 digs and Cecelia Venello had 13 assists for the Chargers. Venello and Liber both had three aces. The set scores were 25-17, 25-10.

GIRLS TENNIS

PENNSVILLE 3, HADDON HEIGHTS 2
Ellie Mazzucco (H) def. Graillyn Weber, 6-3, 6-0
Naomi Hess (P) def. Molly Walker, 6-1, 6-3
Jaisley Weber (P) def. Erin Lewandowski, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3
Lucy Durand-Ruby Grieve (H) def. Aubrey Hall-Mariangela Rangel, 6-4, 7-5
Marissa Dowell-Juliana Thomas (P) def. Isla Harkins-Alison O’Brien, 6-3, 6-4
Records: Pennsville 3-2, Haddon Heights 1-2.

COLLEGE CROSS COUNTRY

LOGAN TWP. — Salem CC’s Izzy Saulin ran a 21.27.54 for 4000 meters to finish 24th in the women’s race of Bill Fritz Open at Dream Park. The Pennsville product set the school record at 5000 meters in her last race and this was the team’s first race at 4K. Eliyah Smith was 29th.

In the men’s 6K race, Danny Zellner and Mu’adh Johnson-Ibn Jabbar led the Mighty Oaks across the line with top 10 finishes. Zellmer ran 28:12.3 for ninth and Johnson-Ibn Jabbar ran 28:13.9 for tenth.