Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 30-Oct. 5; events start at 4 p.m. unless noted
MONDAY FIELD HOCKEY Hammonton at Schalick Woodstown at Cumberland BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove at Schalick Pennsville at Gloucester Catholic Pitman at Woodstown Salem at Salem Tech GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech at Salem Schalick at Penns Grove Woodstown at Pennsville GIRLS TENNIS South Jersey Group I Tournament Audubon at Glassboro Salem at Lower Cape May, 3 p.m. Palmyra at Gateway Wildwood at Haddon Twp. West Deptford at Woodstown, 3 p.m. Buena at Schalick, 3 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Timber Creek at Salem Tech
TUESDAY FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Clayton Salem at St. Joseph Academy Schalick at Gloucester City Woodstown at Glassboro CROSS COUNTRY Pennsville, Penns Grove, Salem, Schalick, Woodstown at Salem Tech, 3:30 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Cumberland at Penns Grove GIRLS TENNIS Cumberland at Schalick Pennsville at Woodstown
WEDNESDAY BOYS SOCCER Glassboro at Salem Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic Pitman at Salem Tech Schalick at Wildwood Woodstown at Pennsville GIRLS SOCCER Gloucester Catholic at Penns Grove Pitman at Woodstown Salem at Glassboro Salem Tech at Pennsville GIRLS TENNIS Overbrook at Pennsville VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Clearview
THURSDAY BOYS SOCCER Collingswood at Pennsville GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Schalick, 6 p.m. FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Pennsville Woodstown at Salem GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Glassboro Wildwood at Salem
FRIDAY FOOTBALL Haddon Heights at Camden Catholic Deptford at Glassboro Penns Grove at Pennsville Pleasantville at Woodstown Sterling at Collingswood West Deptford at Haddonfield Woodbury at Gateway BOYS SOCCER Gloucester City at Salem Tech Penns Grove at Cumberland Sterling at Schalick GIRLS SOCCER Penns Grove at Cumberland
SATURDAY FOOTBALL Schalick at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m. Clayton at Overbrook, 11 a.m. Middle Twp. at Salem, noon BOYS SOCCER Northern Burlington at Woodstown, 10 a.m. CROSS COUNTRY Schalick, Woodstown at Shore Coaches Invitational, Holmdel, 10 a.m.
Schalick gets a Saturday afternoon win, but Salem gets something out of it, too — an emerging quarterback
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM — Mike Wilson still isn’t a big fan of Saturday morning/afternoon football games, but he’ll certainly take the result of his latest one.
Now that his team is playing at least for the next two years in the WJFL Diamond Division where some opponents don’t have lights, the Schalick coach will have to live with these weekend matinees. The Cougars answered the alarm Saturday and were sharp out of the gate on the way to a 37-14 win over Salem.
Early games haven’t been kind of Wilson’s teams in the past. He came into this game 1-4 as a head coach in Saturday Morning Specials (1-5 if you want to count the Cougars’ 9:30 a.m. Friday loss to Cedar Grove in this year’s Battle of the Beach).
As a staunch traditionalist, it’s just not Wilson’s way. But he could be persuaded if he keeps getting results like this.
“If you win, yeah, I love ‘em,” he said. “Just my coaching experience and playing experience, I have coached and played in very little Saturday games.
“We’ll play football whenever you want to play football. Just me, traditionally, I’m just used to playing Friday night. I coached that for 20 years and even when I was in high school we played Fridays.
“But we had a good week of practice and the kids locked in, so we came out and played like I thought we would play. Overall, it’s probably the best game we played all year.”
The Cougars (3-2) may have still been asleep when they played Cedar Grove in the BOTB at Egg Harbor Twp. in their last daytime start, but they were wide awake and ready for this one.
They scored touchdowns on their first two possessions and three of their first four. Five of their first six plays went for 10 yards or more. They had nine plays in the game that covered 15 yards or more. Quarterback Kenai Simmons, another non-fan of early games, made a statement to future opponents about his ability to pass by completing his first four throws in the first quarter for 98 yards.
“Three alarms helped me out,” Simmons said. “I might sleep through the first one, but I’m not going to sleep through three. I woke up wanting to make my grandpop (who he lost to COVID in 2020) proud today.”
“Any day I could play football is a good day,” running back Reggie Allen Jr. said. “I went to bed early last night. I woke up at 5 in the morning with so much energy it was like I took a 5-Hour Energy.”
Allen rushed for 127 yards and scored three total touchdowns. He caught a 59-yard touchdown pass from Simmons on the second play of the game and had scoring runs of 38 and 55 yards. Simmons also had a 12-yard touchdown run.
“That was the idea, we wanted to manufacture big plays today,” Wilson said. “That’s what the offense has been missing the first month of the season. We’ve been moving the ball, scoring points and stuff like that, but we wanted to manufacture big plays.”
Reggie Allen rushed for 127 yards, had 186 yards of total offense and scored three touchdowns to lead Schalick’s offense. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Actually, both teams got something out of the game. The Cougars (3-2) found a way to win a division game in the daylight and despite the loss Salem found a way to get into the end zone, although at a cost.
The Rams (0-5) had been shutout in each of its last two games and scored only seven points all season, but freshman quarterback Quimere Bergen threw touchdown passes to Kaden Robinson on back-to-back possessions in the second half to lift that dark cloud.
Bergen was thrown into the action when junior starter Troy Carrey sustained a hand/wrist injury trying to recover a fumble that was eventually smothered by Schalick’s defensive MVP Riley Papiano on the Rams’ second series of the game. Papiano had 10 tackles and two sacks.
Bergen was 12-of-23 for 173 yards passing. He had played in some of the Rams’ earlier games, but had never thrown a varsity pass until Saturday.
“I just wanted to help my team score,” Bergen said. “We haven’t scored all season but I just wanted to do my part, help my team. I was nervous the first two drives, but then something started clicking; I was doing good. I wanted to catch up (on the scoreboard), but today wasn’t that day, but at least we scored.”
“He showed poise,” Salem coach Kemp Carr said. “Any time a young kid comes in and he plays with that type of poise when he’s under duress and he’s still able to make a couple plays – sometimes with his feet, sometimes with his arm – and move the chains and move the ball … it’s a win for him.”
For the better part of three quarters the Rams looked in danger of being shut out for a third straight game, something that hasn’t happened in the program in more than 20 years. Their only touchdown of the year was a first-quarter 62-yard Pop Jackson dash that opened the scoring in their 14-7 loss to Cinnaminson in Game Two.
They did threaten at the end of the first half, but ran out of time after two failed shots at the end zone from the 19 in the final 10 seconds. They didn’t miss in the second half. Bergen hit Kaden Robinson on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 41.6 seconds left in the third quarter to end the 13-quarter scoreless drought and lift all their spirits.
“That was a great feeling,” Robinson said. “It was like a relief. It was like, ‘finally,’”
“Everyone felt it,” senior edge rusher Tyler Taylor said.
Bergen connected with Robinson for an 8-yard score on the next drive. They also hooked up for a 57-yard play on the first snap of the next possession, but that drive ended when Bergen was sacked by Aiden Torres and friends on fourth down.
Robinson caught six passes for 100 yards.
“I feel like me and Q we’ve got a good connection,” Robinson said. I feel like him coming in as a freshman and me being an upperclassman I feel like it’s my job to get his confidence built up. He’ll probably be the starting quarterback for the rest of his years in high school, I feel like I have to build his confidence up.”
Carr said he’d wait until Monday before making any determination on position going forward.
Schalick, meanwhile, has one more Saturday morning game this regular season and won’t have to step out of their comfort zone to prepare for it. It’s a cross-division matchup next week at Paulsboro in a game that carries major South Jersey Group I playoff seeding implications. The two teams went into the week ranked 7 (Schalick) and 8 (Paulsboro) in the section’s power points standings and both won Saturday.
“It’s nice we’re playing it back to back,” Wilson said. “We can stay on the same schedule. We get a routine. As coaches, we’re creatures of habit and culture and structure, so to be able to stay on the schedule for the week is nice.”
Cover photo: Schalick linebacker Riley Papiano (16) points the way to another Cougars victory. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Salem freshman quarterback Quimere Bergen (11) and junior receiver Kaden Robinson connected on a pair of touchdown passes on consecutive possessions in the second half to end the Rams’ scoring drought.
Schalick 37, Salem 14
SCH (37)
SAL (14)
16
1st Downs
12
39-250
Rushing
24-12
6-7-0
Passes
13-25-1
98
Passing
190
0-0
Fum-Lost
2-1
1-22.0
Punts
3-33.0
11-129
Penalties
13-80
Schalick (3-2)
14
9
7
7-
37
Salem (0-5)
0
0
6
8-
14
SCORING SUMMARY SC-Reggie Allen 59 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 11:11 1Q SC-Kenai Simmons 12 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:11 1Q SC-Reggie Allen 38 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 9:05 2Q SC-Safety, Nick Lopergolo blocks punt out of end zone, 7:14 2Q SC-Roneem Thomas 31 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:37 3Q SA-Kaden Robinson 7 pass from Quimere Bergen (pass failed), 41.6 3Q SA-Kaden Robinson 8 pass from Quimere Bergen (Pop Jackson pass from Quimere Bergen), 7:36 4Q SC-Reggie Allen 55 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:25 4Q
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (4)
3-0
4-0
Woodstown (1)
3-0
4-0
Schalick (7)
2-1
3-2
Woodbury (13)
1-2
1-3
Salem (21)
0-3
0-5
Penns Grove (19)
0-3
1-4
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Sept. 21
SATURDAY’S GAME Schalick 37, Salem 14 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES FRIDAY’S GAMES Deptford at Glassboro Penns Grove at Pennsville Pleasantville at Woodstown Woodbury at Gateway SATURDAY’S GAMES Schalick at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m. Middle Twp. at Salem. noon
WJFL PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic
3-0
4-0
West Deptford
3-1
3-2
Paulsboro (6)
3-1
4-1
Pennsville (10)
2-2
2-3
Collingswood
1-2
2-3
Audubon (14)
0-3
1-3
Overbrook
0-3
2-3
SATURDAY’S GAMES Haddon Twp. 20, Collingswood 14 Paulsboro 38, Overbrook 26 West Deptford 42, Audubon 3 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES FRIDAY’S GAMES Haddon Heights at Camden Catholic Penns Grove at Pennsville Sterling at Collingswood West Deptford at Haddonfield SATURDAY’S GAMES Schalick at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m. Clayton at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Aiden Torres sacks Salem quarterback Quimere Bergen on fourth down just outside the red zone to end the Rams’ final possession of the day. Bergen was trying to get the Rams into the end zone on a third consecutive drive. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Woodstown kicker Jake Ware keeps Wolverines in front until they get a TD late in the fourth quarter to put away Penns Grove; Pennsville misses chance to get back in Patriot race; Schalick, Salem go head to head Saturday
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNS GROVE – In the football land where yards were hard to come by, a player with a big leg is king.
Woodstown kicker Jake Ware was the biggest element for the longest time for the Wolverines Friday night.
The senior kicked an extra point that gave his team its halftime margin and nailed a not-so-routine field goal in the third quarter before Bryce Belinfanti put it away with his second touchdown of the game late in the fourth and the Wolverines turned back Penns Grove 17-6 to remain undefeated (4-0).
“Coming into this game I knew it was going to be tough, but once I saw how the first half was going I knew it was going to come down to a pretty close game and the kicks were going to be crucial,” Ware said. “You saw in the first half we were leading by one and getting that field goal in there helped us separate our lead a little bit more and build some momentum.”
“Having Jake is a huge weapon for us,” Wolverines coach Frank Trautz said. “I’ve said that since the beginning of the season. He just gives us a dynamic that can win us football games. That (field goal) was a huge kick and it was not a short kick. It’s a big-time kick in a big-time moment and he delivered. And I have complete confidence he will.”
Yards were at a premium in the rare Friday night game at Jim Devonshire Field. Penns Grove got the best of it in the second quarter behind Karon Ceaser, putting together two time-consuming possessions for 124 total yards.
The first one, which would have answered Woodstown’s first touchdown, ended in a costly fumble in the red zone — one of three turnovers they had in the game. The other did produce their touchdown in the final minute of the quarter, but the Red Devils failed on the extra point to leave it 7-6 at halftime.
Each drive had a big run – a 36-yarder by Karon Ceasar on the first play of the first and a 26-yarder by Tre Brown midway through the second.
“I thought we controlled the line of scrimmage fairly well defensively, but you can’t turn the ball over against good teams,” Penns Grove coach Mark Maccarone said. “You can’t lose the turnover battle against bad teams, but you really can’t lose the turnover battle against good teams.
“Obviously things are starting to click (offensively). Last week we were missing five starters. It’s tough to win when you’re missing five starters. This week we had all of our starters back, but, again, turnovers are our killers. If we don’t have turnovers, maybe the outcome comes in our favor.”
Woodstown’s Corbin Walz (54) gets himself in position to take on whichever Penns Grove player comes out of the backfield with the ball. The Wolverines defense gave up only 22 yards and no first downs in the second half. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Woodstown didn’t fare much better moving the ball in the first half. The Wolverines scored their touchdown on the first play of the second quarter when Belinfanti worked through some traffic in the backfield and then raced 44 yards to the end zone, but they only had 16 more yards and one other first down the rest of the half.
“Yards were hard,” Belinfanti said. “If I made a move somebody else was there, and then the hard yards were there, but I was getting hit hard every time.”
The Wolverines had better luck in the second half. Their defense got even stronger, holding Penns Grove to zero first downs and 22 net yards while holding their opponent out of the end zone in the second half for the third week in a row. Ceaser rushed for 83 yards in the first half, but had none in the second.
“I think we played really good,” senior defensive lineman Braden Gould-Rugenus said. “Everyone was where they were supposed to be. No one tried to do something they weren’t supposed to. We just played as a unit and together we can stop any team.
“(Ceaser) was the main threat. We had to watch him, make sure we didn’t give him any open looks. Besides that second quarter I think we stopped them really good.”
But their offense came to life. They amassed 144 net yards in the half, largely behind the running of Belinfanti.
Ware kicked a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter complicated by a bad snap to extend the lead to 10-6 and Belinfanti bounced in from the 3 with four minutes left (and Ware hit the PAT) for the final margin. Belinfanti had 107 of his 169 rushing yards and one of his two touchdowns in the second half.
“From the first half we kind of came out dry,” Belinfanti said. “We just have to step it up and not feel our opponent out; we’ve got to come out and just work, really. So at halftime we just had a gut check, really, to see who we were and it was just ground and pound from there.”
Trautz agreed with his senior running back’s terminology.
“I like the word ‘gut check,’” he said. “They’re a tough defensive line. They were tough coming in, they do a lot of tough things to pick up. We made some slight adjustments but ultimately our kids answered the bell. They came out I think with a little attitude in the second half and they were ready to go. I challenged them to come out in the second half and play Woodstown football and that’s what they did.”
Cover photo: Woodstown kicker Jake Ware connects on his 35-yard field goal that gave the Wolverines a 10-6 lead in the third quarter. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Woodstown 17, Penns Grove 6
WOODS (17)
PG (6)
11
1st Downs
5
36-183
Rush-yards
23-148
2-6-0
Passing (C-A-I)
2-8-1
21
Passing yds
13
1-0
Fum-lost
4-2
4-33.5
Punts-avg
3-34.3
3-30
Pen-yds
3-20
Woodstown
0
7
3
7-
17
Penns Grove
0
6
0
0-
6
SCORING SUMMARY WO-Bryce Belinfanti 44 run (Jake Ware kick), 11:47 2Q PG-Melo Erickson 6 run (kick failed), 1:03 2Q WO-Jake Ware 35 FG, 7:17 3Q WO-Bryce Belinfanti 3 run (Jake Ware kick), 4:07 4Q
Bad night in a big game
CHERRY HILL – Pennsville had an opportunity to turn the WJFL Patriot Division into a bottleneck and climb back into the title chance, but Camden Catholic never gave the Eagles a chance.
The Irish jumped out to a 30-0 halftime lead and carried on to complete the shutout 44-0.
Had they won, the Eagles (2-3) would have turned the division race into a four-way tie at the top with all the contenders having one division loss. Instead, they are two games down to the division-leading Irish in the loss column.
“They are a really good football team (and) we did not play our best game today, for sure,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “We’re a better team than that.”
About the only highlight from the Pennsville perspective was freshman Kane Green had his first career interception. The Irish, meanwhile, had two quarterbacks throw for 227 yards and three touchdown and Michael Moritz rushed for two scores.
“We just were not able to get going on offense, get the ball moving, and defensively we weren’t able to get off the field on third and fourth down,” Healy said. “We didn’t get done what we had to get done tonight.
“Obviously, this is a road bump for us, but we still have a good amount of season left; we can still do a lot of good things. We wanted a chance at the division, which is now out of our hands and going to be tough to do, but there’s still a lot to play for in terms of playoffs and seedings and all that stuff. It was a frustrating night, but I still believe in our kids and what we’re doing and can bounce back.”
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (4)
3-0
4-0
Woodstown (1)
3-0
4-0
Schalick (7)
1-1
2-2
Woodbury (13)
1-2
1-3
Salem (21)
0-2
0-4
Penns Grove (19)
0-3
1-4
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Sept. 21
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 34, Woodbury 0 Woodstown 17, Penns Grove 6 SATURDAY’S GAME Schalick at Salem, noon
WJFL PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic
3-0
4-0
West Deptford
2-1
2-2
Paulsboro (6)
2-1
3-1
Pennsville (10)
2-2
2-3
Collingswood
1-2
2-2
Audubon (14)
0-2
1-2
Overbrook
0-2
2-2
FRIDAY’S GAME Camden Catholic 44, Pennsville 0 SATURDAY’S GAMES Collingswood at Haddon Twp., 10:30 a.m. Overbrook at Paulsboro, 11 a.m. West Deptford at Audubon, 11 a.m.
Despite being lone undefeated team in group section, Pennsville installed as No. 2 seed in girls tennis tournament; Salem Tech’s Seiden wins South Jersey Vo Tech girls race; includes results of Thursday’s high school games involving teams from Salem County
By Riverview Sports News
The Pennsville girls tennis team, despite being the only undefeated team in South Jersey Group I, one of three statewide in Group I and one of six in all of South Jersey, was installed as the No. 2 seed in the South Jersey Group I girls tennis tournament Thursday. Pitman bumped the Eagles for the No. 1 spot.
The Eagles are 9-0 for the first time since 2021 when they started 11-0. They were No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings before the seeding meeting.
Woodstown, defending state semifinalist Schalick and Salem also made the field. They were seeded 6, 7 and 12, respectively, and play their first matches Sept. 30.
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT Sept. 30 Matches No. 1 Pitman bye No. 9 Audubon at No. 8 Glassboro No. 12 Salem at No. 5 Lower Cape May No. 13 Palmyra at No. 4 Gateway No. 3 Haddon Twp. bye No. 11 West Deptford at No. 6 Woodstown No. 10 Buena at No. 7 Schalick No. 2 Pennsville bye
Second-round matches Oct. 8
Cross country
Salem Tech’s Sarah Seiden ran 22:24.14 and won the girls race in the South Jersey Vo Tech Cross Country Championships. She was nearly 45 seconds ahead of runner-up Natalie Pandolfo of GCIT.
GCIT swept the boys and girls team titles. The girls placed five runners in their top 10, while the boys’ five counters all finished in the top 12.
THURSDAY’S RESULTS BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 5, Clayton 0 Penns Grove 2, Overbrook 1 Schalick 2, Pitman 0 Wildwood 9, Salem 0 Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic GIRLS SOCCER Schalick 4, Pennsville 0 Woodstown 2, Glassboro 2 Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech Salem at Wildwood GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0 Schalick 5, Overbrook 0 Woodstown at Cedar Creek
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Kingsway at Salem Tech
CROSS COUNTRY South Jersey Vo Tech Championship BOYS GCIT 32, Medford Tech 53, Camden 63, Salem 105, Cape May 129, Westhampton 130 GIRLS GCIT 31, Atlantic 54, Camden 72, Cape May 100, Salem 113
Algerian import scores 4 more goals in Wildwood’s soccer win over Pennsville; includes results, details of Tuesday games involving Salem County high school teams
BOYS SOCCER Clayton 3, Salem Tech 0 Penns Grove 3, Pitman 1 Salem 1, Gloucester Catholic 0 Schalick 8, Glassboro 0 Woodstown 1, Overbrook 0 Wildwood 6, Pennsville 1
GIRLS SOCCER Clayton 7, Salem Tech 0 Gloucester Catholic 7, Salem 0 Pennsville 2, Penns Grove 0 Schalick 2, Glassboro 0 Woodstown 3, Overbrook 0
GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 5, Salem 0 Glassboro at Pennsville Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic Pitman 5, Schalick 0
FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville 4, Bridgeton 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – You know you’ve got to be living right when a generational talent lands on your doorstep to add to an already generational team.
That’s just how Wildwood soccer coach Sal Zamperri must have felt this summer when Noureddine Bedderi decided to stay in the States, enroll in school and sign on to the Warriors’ soccer team.
“Nunu” has scored at least one goal in six of Wildwood’s first seven games. He scored a career-high four Tuesday – two in each half – as the Warriors overwhelmed Pennsville 6-1 and had several good chances for more.
“Nunu’s a great player, but I would say as a whole we kind of had a generational thing,” Zamperri said. “Nunu’s a new face for us and he just happened upon us and we got lucky with that, but as a class, this senior group that we have I would call generational as a group.
“But Nunu is a fantastic player and we are very fortunate to have come upon him via one of our boys.”
Bedderi had been working in a bike shop right off the boardwalk during the summer and went back to his native Algeria when the Jersey Shore tourist season ended. This year he stayed in town and the Warriors have reaped the benefit.
His impact was felt almost immediately, scoring his first goal in the third minute of the Warriors’ season opener and he hasn’t stopped scoring since. His four goals against the Eagles gave him 12 this season. Their leading scorer last year only had 13 goals.
“I’m really happy about today and there’s more to come this season,” Bedderi said with Warriors center back Ahmed Djellal, his cousin, serving as interpreter. “Over here, I have a lot more motivation to play at the game and I want to go far here. I just want to play.”
The match was arguably the Eagles’ biggest of the season. A win would have kept them in the hunt to win the Tri-County Classic Division crown. Instead, they didn’t answer the bell, giving up two quick goals and falling behind 4-0 in the first 11 minutes.
“The reality is we knew coming in that they jumped on us in the first one and we had to be ready to go; we were down 4-0 in the first 12 minutes of the game,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “We knew No. 9 (Bedderi) was a player. We had multiple conversations about it. He had four goals and an assist today.
“Those were the things we talked. We didn’t execute on the things we talked about, so we have to get better. We’ve still got a long season ahead of us. We have to keep getting better.”
Maddox Efelis scored the Eagles’ lone goal on a free kick with 4:07 left in the first half. It was his first goal of the season. He has scored one each of the last three seasons.
SCHALICK 8, GLASSBORO 0: Steve Chomo had a hat trick and Anthony Sepers scored twice as the Cougars rolled to their fourth straight win and moved coach Joe Mannella within three of 300 career victories. Nolan O’Toole, Luke Price and Louis Sepers had the other three goals.
PENNS GROVE 3, PITMAN 1: Freshman Juan Ortiz broke a 1-1 tie with a sliding goal of the game with just under 10 minutes left in the first half and Frankie Juarez Reynoso buried an insurance goal in the second half to lift the Red Devils out of a three-game losing streak. Pitman opened the scoring on a penalty kick, but Jayden Murga Santos tied it five minutes later. (See related story)
SALEM 1, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Josthen Jimenez scored in overtime off a Jon Bower corner kick for the Rams’ first win of the season. It was the Rams’ first goal of the season after three straight shutouts and Eric Fizur’s first win as head coach.
WOODSTOWN 1, OVERBROOK 0: Blake Bialecki broke a scoreless tie when he converted a pass from Adrian Ibarra in the second half to lift the Wolverines to their second 1-0 win in a row. Ben Stengel made five saves to record his second straight shutout.
Before the game, the parents of the Woodstown program recognized coach Darren Huck for 25 years as head coach. They erected a banner behind the bench that Huck saw for the first time when he arrived at the field and presented him a plaque after the game. Now in his 26th season, Huck has 290 career wins – all at Woodstown.
Woodstown soccer coach Darren Huck was greeted by this banner commemorating his 25 years in coaching when he got to the bench for Tuesday’s match with Overbrook. The Wolverines won it 1-0.
Girls soccer
SCHALICK 2, GLASSBORO 0: Olivia Devoe and Abby Willoughby scored second-half goals and Eve Berger posted the shutout as the Cougars (4-1) won their fourth in a row.
WOODSTOWN 3, OVERBROOK 0: Talia Battavio scored two goals and Gina Murry scored once for the Wolverines (4-3). Ellie Wygand posted her second shutout of the season. Battavio now has 53 career goals.
PENNSVILLE 2, PENNS GROVE 0: The Eagles (2-5) won their second game in a row.
Field hockey
PENNSVILLE 4, BRIDGETON 0: Sophia Marandola scored two goals and Laura Tamberella and Kylie Harris each scored once as the Eagles (2-5) snapped a four-game losing streak. The Eagles scored a goal in each quarter. Kelsey Cook made seven saves for the shutout.
Pennsville wins fourth straight in Foglein Bowl V between coaching brothers, Pennsville girls give Casey Slusher her first coaching win, and more; this story will be updated
MONDAY’S SCHEDULE BOYS SOCCER Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1
GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1
FIELD HOCKEY Salem 2, Clayton 0 Woodstown 5, Pennsville 0 Schalick 8, Overbrook 1
GIRLS TENNIS Pitman 5, Woodstown 0 Schalick at Pennsville, susp. Cumberland at Penns Grove
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE — Derek Foglein won another one in the annual Foglein Bowl between soccer coaching brothers Monday, and this time he won’t have to wait until the Thanksgiving family gathering to enjoy the benefits of his latest success.
Derek’s Pennsville team knocked off brother Doug’s Paulsboro squad 3-1 in Foglein Bowl V. In addition to getting another year of sibling bragging rights, when the family retired to their favorite West Deptford pizza place to revisit the match, it didn’t look like Derek was going to have to go into his pocket.
“We’ll be sitting right next to each,” Doug said. “We’ve got some other friends who were at the game today; I think they’re going to join us. I just know that it’s a good thing I have a black card, even though it has Darth Vader on it, because I think I’ve got the tab tonight.”
“Hey, if that’s the deal, that’s news to me, so I’ll take it,” Derek said. “I like it. I like dinner.”
That’s the fun of what this rivalry has become. It started in 2019 when Doug was at Clayton and both brothers had head coaching job and they’ve made it kind of a red-carpet event. Instead of coming out in coaching attire, they dress for success. Doug was decked out in a dark sport coat, red tie and khakis Monday, while Derek wore a dark suit with a gold patterned tie.
Doug won the inaugural game at Clayton, but Derek has had the best of it since it resumed in 2021 after Doug moved to Paulsboro. The games always made for some good banter at the holiday family gatherings.
“It’s always good fun coaching against him,” Derek said. “Soccer is the thing we’ve grown up with since we were both 5, so any time we get to interact with the game, we love it, but any time we get to interact with the game and interact with each other is even cooler.
“It’s moments like this where we’ll look back on it when we’re sitting down in our old people chairs and telling our grandkids, the next generation of Fogleins, about some of the moments we had and playing in the rain on a random Monday afternoon.”
“Soccer has given so much to my family,” Doug agreed. “A lot of good times, a lot of good memories. We really are a soccer family.”
John Thomas (15) scored two goals in his return to the Pennsville lineup.
Monday’s match was the most competitive game of the series played in misty conditions similar to the inaugural game in 2019. Pennsville scored twice in the first 10 minutes to control the scoreboard, but Paulsboro didn’t fade. The Red Raiders kept the pressure on Pennsville keeper Coen Rinnier and made it a 2-1 game early in the second half before the Eagles got an insurance goal with seven minutes to play.
John Thomas scored two goals for Pennsville in his first game back from a four-game suspension over a red card in the season opener. The senior wasted no time making an impact, scoring the first goal 3:53 into the match on a big bender from 30 yards out. He banged home the insurance goal on a rebound with 7:06 to play.
“I was telling my guys in the locker room it’s great to be back,” Thomas said. “I know I wanted to come out here and I wanted to get a couple goals, and that’s what I really did. I just wanted to accomplish something for my team because I really feel like they missed me a lot in the four games I was suspended.”
“Super happy for him,” Derek said. “Everything with that Wildwood game was pretty messy, but for a senior to learn from his mistakes, to get back on the field the way he should and then not only to do that but to come and take care of business with goals and really hold down the midfield … was really cool.”
As important as the game is to the coaching brothers, the Pennsville side has little time to celebrate the win. The Eagles play an even more important game at home Tuesday, hosting Wildwood in a game they have to win for a chance to win a division title.
“I love Foglein Bowl and I love the fact we can do this together as a family, but the reality is I have to turn my boys around for probably our biggest game of the season tomorrow,” Derek said. “We’ve got to be on tomorrow.”
But tonight was a night to relish another win in the rivalry.
Cover photo: Paulsboro coach Doug Foglein (L) settles up with Pennsville coach and brother Derek after Pennsville won the latest installment of the Foglein Bowl 3-1 Monday.
Pennsville 3, Paulsboro 1
Paulsboro (1-6)
0
1-
1
Pennsville (3-3)
2
1-
3
SCORING PV-John Thomas (Shane Puckett), 3:53 PV-Sam Hassler (Shane Puckett), 10:00 PB-Matt Hill (Brandon Hampton-Beverly), 48:47 PV-John Thomas (unassisted), 72:54
Foglein Bowl (Derek Foglein leads, 4-1)
YEAR
PLACE
WINNER
SCORE
2019
Clayton
Clayton
5-2
2021
Paulsboro
Pennsville
3-1
2022
Pennsville
Pennsville
7-1
2023
Paulsboro
Pennsville
6-1
2024
Pennsville
Pennsville
3-1
Girls soccer
PENNSVILLE 3, PAULSBORO 1: Kallie Morrison and Annabella Manning scored goals in the first half and McKenzie Scott scored in the second half as the Eagles scored their first win of the season, giving coach Casey Slusher the first victory of her coaching career. The Eagles (1-5) were aggressive, pumping 22 shots on goal.
Field hockey
SCHALICK 8, OVERBROOK 1: Luci Virga and Ava Scurry both scored a hat trick as the Cougars (5-0) remained undefeated. Alexis Ship and Lena Virga scored their other goals and Phoebe Alward recorded four assists.
SALEM 2, CLAYTON 0: Juliana Love scored a goal in the last 90 seconds of the first half and the final minute of the game. The Rams are 4-0 for the second year in a row.
WOODSTOWN 5, PENNSVILLE 0: Zoe Lipovsky and Megan Donelson scored two goals apiece. Sienna Land netted the other goal for the Wolverines.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 23-28; all games 4 p.m. unless noted, all football games 7 p.m. unless noted
MONDAY BOYS SOCCER Paulsboro at Pennsville (Foglein Bowl) GIRLS SOCCER Pennsville at Paulsboro FIELD HOCKEY Clayton at Salem Pennsville at Woodstown Schalick at Overbrook GIRLS TENNIS Pitman at Woodstown Schalick at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Cumberland at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m.
TUESDAY BOYS SOCCER Glassboro at Schalick Gloucester Catholic at Salem Overbrook at Woodstown Wildwood at Pennsville Pitman at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. Salem Tech at Clayton, 7 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Penns Grove at Pennsville Salem at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Glassboro Woodstown at Overbrook Salem Tech at Clayton, 5 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Glassboro at Pennsville Penns Grove at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Pitman Woodstown at Salem FIELD HOCKEY Bridgeton at Pennsville
WEDNESDAY FIELD HOCKEY Deptford at Schalick, 6 p.m. Gloucester Catholic at Salem Overbrook at Woodstown GIRLS SOCCER Overbrook at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Triton at Salem Tech
THURSDAY BOYS SOCCER Clayton at Pennsville Penns Grove at Overbrook Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Pitman Wildwood at Salem Woodstown at Glassboro GIRLS SOCCER Glassboro at Woodstown Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech Pennsville at Schalick Salem at Wildwood GIRLS TENNIS Overbrook at Schalick Penns Grove at Pennsville Salem at Gloucester Catholic Woodstown at Cedar Creek CROSS COUNTRY Salem Tech at Burlington Tech GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Kingsway at Salem Tech
FRIDAY FOOTBALL Woodbury at Glassboro, 6 p.m. Woodstown at Penns Grove, 6:30 p.m. Pennsville at Camden Catholic FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Cumberland GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Kingsway BOYS SOCCER Salem at Overbrook
SATURDAY FOOTBALL Collingswood at Haddon Twp., 10:30 a.m. Overbrook at Paulsboro, 11 a.m. West Deptford at Audubon, 11 a.m. Schalick at Salem, noon BOYS SOCCER Schalick at Cinnaminson, 11 a.m. GIRLS SOCCER Schalick at Cinnaminson, 9:30 a.m. CROSS COUNTRY Schalick at Six Flags Great Adventure, 9 a.m.
Melo Erickson and his Penns Grove teammates play another Salem County rival Friday night when they host Woodstown. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Glassboro takes momentum from Salem early in game, Foster comes off bench to lead Bulldogs’ offense, regain QB1 spot
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
GLASSBORO — Football is such a momentum game. Salem had it early Thursday night after a huge drive-stopping takeaway in the end zone, but Glassboro took it right back with an equally big defensive play and kept Ol’ Mo on its side it the rest of the night.
Salem got the momentum late in the first quarter when William Dunn made an incredible one-handed interception two steps deep in the end zone and returned it out near the 25.
But all that good fortune was taken away when the Rams were hit with a block in the back right as Dunn exited the end zone. So, instead of the offense setting up with some comfortable field position, the Rams had to start from their own 1.
And then on the first play they jumped offside moving the ball back even closer to the goal line. When they finally got set, Glassboro’s defense smothered Terrance Smith in the end zone for a safety.
The Bulldogs returned the free kick to the Salem 33 and three plays later Jack O’Connell hit Amari Sabb for a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter for the game’s first touchdown in an eventual 46-0 victory.
Interestingly, the Bulldogs (3-0) scored touchdowns on the final play of the first, second and third quarters.
“That was the game changer,” Salem coach Kemp Carr said of the safety. “We make a nice play (then) we get penalized. That causes an avalanche. We make an interception in the end zone, we get penalized. We return it to the 24 and we get backed up and they get a safety on the half-inch line.
“You know this game is about momentum. We were playing well up to that point; we caused three turnovers. That was the game changer. Come on, you get a safety down there? We aren’t a team that wants to play from behind. We haven’t had any success this year. You can’t play from behind.”
Salem junior William Dunn (0) snatches the ball away from Glassboro’s Amari Sabb with an incredible one-handed interception in the end zone in the first quarter.
But even after that frustrating start, the offense showed signs of life. They held the ball for most of the second quarter and in one six-minute drive got down to Glassboro 11 before DayShaun Day blocked Andrew May’s 29-yard field goal attempt inside the final minute.
The Rams (0-4), who have scored only one touchdown in their first four games, had only 100 yards of net offense. Half of that came on two plays in the second half – a 31-yard catch by Smith and a 14-yard run by Jamaal Shockley on their final play of the game.
“We’ve got to get some things getting better,” Carr said. “We’ve got to get in the end zone, man.”
The first-quarter touchdown pass notwithstanding, Glassboro didn’t really move the ball with O’Connell at quarterback. The Rams intercepted him twice, recovered a ball he fumbled and held Glassboro to 59 net yards in the first quarter and a half he directed the offense.
Sophomore Kristopher Foster replaced him on the Bulldogs’ final possession of the second quarter (after the blocked field goal) and threw three touchdown passes and directed four straight touchdown drives the rest of the game. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 137 yards with scoring strikes of 31 and 55 yards to Xavier Sabb on either side of halftime and 13 yards to Day in the fourth quarter.
Foster was basically the only quarterback the Bulldogs had last year and he passed for 1,036 yards and 13 touchdowns in their run to the state finals, but he was beaten out by Gateway transfer O’Connell in a tight battle this summer in camp.
“All practice I knew (O’Connell) was going to start, but in my head I was thinking if I get in I’m going to make it worthwhile,” Foster said. “I put trust in my teammates and my coaches and once I got in I just showed out. I don’t think we could’ve scripted it up better than that.
“I wasn’t sure (if he’d get another shot), but I knew I was going to keep working hard, doing what I do, studying the playbook, practicing hard, and all that.”
Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker said after the game the Bulldogs have “two varsity quarterbacks,” but the resiliency Foster showed in fighting for his spot and his poise and play against the Rams earned him the start next week against Woodbury.
“We always tell them we have two great quarterbacks, and tonight was just Kris’ night,” Breaker said. “We have two really good quarterbacks, two varsity quarterbacks, we are blessed to get two of them, and either night it could be either of their times and you saw Kris put on a masterful performance.
“Tonight, he showed a resiliency; he showed how to battle back. Even when he didn’t get the call he came to practice to work. I tell them all the time you never know when it’s your time, just be ready when it’s your time; you’ll never have to get ready if you stay ready, and this week has been his best week at practice. He’s the guy next week. He earned that. He outright earned that.”
NOTES: Kaden Robinson had Salem’s other interception and Antwan Robinson had the strip sack and fumble recovery … Day had a 36-yard pick-6 for Glassboro’s final touchdown … The Bulldogs will add to their offensive arsenal next week when Hammonton transfer Kenny Smith becomes eligible. Smith rushed for 1,473 yards and 16 TDs last season and 3,143 yards and 37 TDs over the last two. “I’m excited to have him,” Breaker said. “The stuff he does in practice I can’t wait for everyone to see” … Salem is hoping to see the return of Omarion Pierce and Jared Pew from injuries next week. “We’re going to keep getting better,” Carr said. “It’s a long season. Once we get in, we’ll be a different team. We’ve got three key guys out right now – a coverage guy, a couple receivers – that makes a difference. We’re going to be fine. We’ve just got to get healthy.”
Glassboro 46, Salem 0
SAL
GLASS
8
1st Downs
11
28-56
Rush-yards
15-92
4-12-1
Passing (C-A-I)
13-24-2
44
Passing yds
188
1-1
Fum-lost
1-1
3-30.3
Punts-avg
1-28.0
4-36
Pen-yds
3-15
Salem
0
0
0
0-
0
Glassboro
8
8
16
14-
46
SCORING SUMMARY G-Safety, runner tackled in end zone, 1:30 1Q G-Amari Sabb 15 pass from Jack O’Connell (kick blocked), 0:05 1Q G-Xavier Sabb 31 pass from Kristopher Foster (Amari Sabb run), 0:00 2Q G-Xavier Sabb 55 pass from Kristopher Foster (Hakim Theresa run), 10:18 3Q G-Amari Sabb 8 run (DayShaun pass from Kristopher Foster), 0:32 3Q G-DayShaun Day 13 pass from Kristopher Foster (DayShaun Day pass from Kristopher Foster), 9:26 4Q G-DayShaun Day 36 interception return (PAT failed), 5:10 4Q
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro
2-0
3-0
Woodstown
1-0
2-0
Woodbury
1-0
1-1
Penns Grove
0-1
1-2
Schalick
0-1
1-2
Salem
0-2
0-4
THURSDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 46, Salem 0 FRIDAY’S GAMES Penns Grove at Schalick, 7 p.m. Woodbury at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
WJFL PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
West Deptford
2-0
2-1
Camden Catholic
1-0
2-0
Paulsboro
2-1
3-1
Pennsville
1-1
1-2
Collingswood
1-2
2-2
Audubon
0-1
1-1
Overbrook
0-2
1-2
THURSDAY’S GAME Paulsboro 47, Collingswood 7 FRIDAY’S GAMES Overbrook at Florence, 6 p.m. Audubon at Pennsville, 7 p.m. West Deptford at Camden Catholic, 7 p.m.
Pennsville gives its best effort in Foglein’s six seasons as coach, but falls on an overtime golden goal; includes full schedule of Salem County games
WEDNESDAY’S BOYS SOCCER Pitman 2, Pennsville 1 (OT) Schalick 7, Clayton 0 Woodstown 8, Gloucester Catholic 1 Wildwood 4, Penns Grove 2 Salem at Overbrook Salem Tech at Glassboro
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – Coen Rinnier buried his head in his hands as he sat in the middle of the bench after the game. He was brilliant in the Pennsville goal all afternoon, but there was one shot he just couldn’t get at.
The Eagles had one of their best chances to beat long-time nemesis Pitman and, in fact, played what Derek Foglein called their best full-game effort in his six years as coach. But it just wasn’t to be as Panthers senior Jaiden Ammons headed back a rebound just beyond the keeper’s reach five minutes into overtime to send the Eagles to a bitter 2-1 defeat.
“That was the best 80 minutes of soccer I’ve seen in my six years,” Foglein said. “We were already down guys because I have a guy who was suspended from the first game with Wildwood, one of our center mids went down in the first half with an injury and never came out.
“I made zero subs in the second half. Every single guy on the field gutted out the second half and overtime. And that’s because they were fit. They played soccer every day since May and they were fit enough to hang with them.
“All I needed them to do was battle. We knew this was going to be a battle and they really battled. They battled really hard for 85 minutes.”
The Eagles (2-2) were trying to buck a lot of history. They hadn’t beaten the Panthers since Sept. 13, 2017 – that’s 11 in a row now – and hadn’t beaten them at home since before 2010. But they gave the Panthers (4-1) all they could handle.
And they struck first, and early to show they meant business. Shane Puckett took a through ball from freshman J.P. Laughrey, found Pitman keeper Joey Zubert out of position and ripped it into the back of net just 4:41 into the game.
“We specifically talked in film today about the fact off the tap and early we didn’t want to give up possession in the defensive third,” Foglein said. “We wanted to send the ball down their way quickly and force them to defend or do something with it.
“We’ve seen that other teams have been able to get on them quick. We saw Wildwood scored on them in the first five minutes as well. The first five minutes is going to be our chance to jump on them and then we’ve got to see if we could hold on and we held on for as long as we could.”
The Eagles kept the lead until Owen Hurley converted a throw-in from Nate Newcomb that bounced crazily in the box to tie it. After that the teams battled to keep the other from scoring again, with the Pennsville defense clearing numerous Pitman challenges and Rinnier turning back several shots to keep the game tied.
Newcomb got the game-winning exchange started with a throw-in from deep down the left sideline. Pitman’s Jake Bowen-Ashwin fought through the defensive challenge of Stevie Fatcher to keep it alive along the baseline and flicked it into the middle of the box. It deflected into the air off Pennsville senior Maddox Efelis’ foot, Trevor Leach moved in and headed it off the middle of the crossbar, Eagles’ back Jake Steiner appeared to clear it away, but Ammons charged in from the right side and headed it back into the left side of the goal just past the outstretched arms of a diving goalie.
“It was very hard,” Rinnier said. “It was deflected I think twice. There was just so much going through my head when that happened and unfortunately it just went in.
“As a goalie you know when the ball is going to go in. As soon as he headed that second ball in I know the game’s over. I still dove for it, but as soon as he heads the ball I know the game’s over.”
The goalie agreed with his coach that it was the best the Eagles have played in a while and the loss notwithstanding it bodes well for their fortunes going forward.
“We’ve never been close to Pitman, never, well, besides last year it was 1-0, but we didn’t play well,” he said. “This year we played amazing. He’s right, it’s the best soccer we ever played today.
“I’m just looking forward to the next games now. If we can compete with Pitman, we can compete with every other team. Competing with Pitman, we can beat Wildwood and win our division for the first time in God knows how long.”
Cover photo: Pitman’s Jaiden Ammons heads a shot back towards the Pennsville goal for the game-winner in overtime.
SCHALICK 7, CLAYTON 0: Freshman Marco Spinnato assisted on the Cougars’ final goal against Woodstown in its last game Monday and he followed that with the first two goals of his career against the Clippers. Anthony Sepers also scored twice for the Cougars (3-0), while Steve Chomo, Mikey Nelson and Louis Sepers all scored once.
The shutout was coach Joe Mannella’s 296th career win. The earliest he could reach the 300-win milestone is Sept. 30 against Penns Grove.
WOODSTOWN 8, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: The Wolverines got goals from eight different players. Bryce Ayers, Blake Bialecki, Adrian Ibarra, Great Prater, Tyler Szatny and Brendon Curtis scored in the first half. Sid Leevy and Connor Williams scored in the second half.
The win was the 288th of coach Darren Huck’s career. The earliest he could reach the 300-win milestone is Oct. 16 at Salem Tech.
WILDWOOD 4, PENNS GROVE 2: The Warriors (4-1) scored a pair of goals in each half to win its fourth game in a row. Noureddine Bedderi broke a 1-1 tie in the first half and extended the lead to 3-1 with the first goal of the second half. Edwin Aviles and Edward Swank scored Penns Grove’s two goals.
Girls soccer
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES Glassboro 6, Salem Tech 0 Pitman 2, Pennsville 0 Schalick 2, Clayton 1 Woodstown 2, Gloucester Catholic 1 Overbrook 7, Salem 1 Penns Grove at Wildwood
SCHALICK 2, CLAYTON 1: Quinn Berger scored the game-winner on a free kick in the final 20 minutes of the second half. Abby Willoughby scored the Cougars’ first goal. It was their third straight win.
WOODSTOWN 2, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: Lia Covely and Emma scored goals in the first half for the Wolverines (3-2). Ellie Wygand made 10 saves to turn the Rams away.
PITMAN 2, PENNSVILLE 0: Emery Sharpnack scored her fifth goal of the season in the first half and Madison Peek got her fifth in the second half.
GLASSBORO 6, SALEM TECH 0: Marianna Dempster and Amina Brown both scored a pair of goals for the Bulldogs.
OVERBROOK 7, SALEM 1: Gianna Simon and Maria Olea-Vinalay scored two goals apiece for Overbrook. Isla Bohn scored Salem’s goal in the first half.
