Stars are rising

Salem County has strong representation on the WJFL Horizon, Diamond Division all-star teams

Horizon Division

When you win the division, it’s just about a cinch you’ll have the most players on the all-star team. Undefeated two-time division champion Schalick brought in the largest haul on the Horizon Division first-team offense and defense as voted upon by the division coaches Wednesday night.

The Cougars picked up 11 total spots on the 28-man first-team roster – seven on offense and four on defense. Riverside had seven players and Gloucester Catholic had six. Wildwood had three and Lindenwald one.

The Cougars dominated the offense with quarterback Kenai Simmons, running back Reggie Allen, receivers Jake Siedlecki and Dylan Sheehan, linemen T.J. Hymer and Logan Hancock, and kicker Hunter Dragotta.

They had four players on the defense – linemen Jermaine Loney and Jake Magonagle, linebacker Riley Papiano and defensive back Levi Feeney-Childers.

Siedlecki is the only senior in the bunch.

“Players deserve the recognition and the other coaches in the division recognized their hard work,” Schalick coach Mike Wilson said.

The Cougars (10-0) host Shore Regional Friday in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals. The winner faces either Glassboro or South Hunterdon in the sectional final.

POS	OFFENSE	POS	DEFENSE
QB	Kenai Simmons, Schalick	DL	Jermaine Loney, Schalick
RB	Reggie Allen, Schalick	DL	Chris Hagan, Gloucester Cath.
RB	John Boston, Riverside	DL	Teddy Hawkins, Riverside
WR/TE	Jake Siedlecki, Schalick	DL	Jake Magonagle, Schalick
WR/TE	Dylan Sheehan, Schalick	LB	James Ayers, Wildwood
WR/TE	Kyle Guldin, Gloucester Cath.	LB	Riley Papiano, Schalick
ATH	Isiah Bookman, Lindenwald	LB	Gabe Rossett, Wildwood
ATH	Junior Hans, Wildwood	LB	Isiah Ali-Lewis, Riverside
OL	George Brandon, Riverside	DB	Levi Feeney-Childers, Schalick
OL	T.J. Hymer, Schalick	DB	Kybron Ricks, Gloucester Cath.
OL	Frank Keenan, Gloucester Cath.	DB	Carlos Mendez, Gloucester Cath.
OL	Chase Perry, Riverside	DB	J.J. Mary, Riverside
OL	Logan Hancock, Schalick	ATH	Jamir Brown, Riverside
K	Hunter Dragotta, Schalick	P	Mike Freeman, Gloucester Cath.

Diamond Division

Top overall seed Woodstown and Penns Grove, two Salem County rivals who played for the division title two weeks ago and meet in the South Jersey Group I semifinals Friday night, combined for more than half the picks on this year’s WJFL Diamond Division all-star team.

Woodstown, the champion of the toughest Group I division in the state, pulled down nine spots. division champion, nailed down nine spots: QB Max Webb, RB Bryce Belinfanti, OLs Damien Eichler and Jack Knorr, K Jake Ware, DL Bump Carter, LB Zach Bevis, DB Garrett Leyman and P James Hill.

Penns Grove had six spots: RB Karon Ceaser, OL Isaiah Upshur, DLs Dameon Wilson and Justin Martin, LB Bryce Wright and DB Knowledge Young

Salem, which made a late-season run to get in the playoffs, placed four players on the team: WR-TE Ramaji Bundy, RB Pop Jackson, OL Detric Simmons and DB Omarion Pierce.

POS	OFFENSE	POS	DEFENSE
QB	Max Webb, Woodstown	DL	Bump Carter, Woodstown
RB	Bryce Belinfanti, Woodstown	DL	Dameon Wilson, Penns Grove
RB	Anthony Reagan, Woodbury	DL	Justin Martin, Penns Grove
WR	Marquis Taylor, Woodbury	DL	Javion Payne, Paulsboro
WR/TE	Ramaji Bundy, Salem	LB	Bryce Wright, Penns Grove
WR	Jayden Johnson, Woodbury	LB	Zach Bevis, Woodstown
RB	Pop Jackson, Salem	LB	Jason Solomon, Woodbury
RB	Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove	LB	Robert Meadows, Woodbury
OL	Damien Eichler, Woodstown	DB	Wilson Torres, Woodbury
OL	Detric Simmons, Salem	DB	Omarion Pierce, Salem
OL	Jack Knorr, Woodstown	DB	Garrett Leyman, Woodstown
OL	Isaiah Upshur, Penns Grove	DB	Knowledge Young, Penns Grove
OL	Bryant Banks, Woodbury	ATH	Shariff Green, Paulsboro
K	Jake Ware, Woodstown	P	James Hill, Woodstown

Local playoff angle

In honor of this week’s Penns Grove-Woodstown playoff matchup, here are some notes and charts specifically for Salem County football

Making strides

Three of the five Salem County football teams this season have improved records over the year before with one basically a wash. Woodstown could match its 2022 record with a playoff win over Penns Grove this week. The chart tracks this year’s senior class.

TEAM	2020	2021	2022	2023	22-23 +/-	4YR +/-
Pennsville	2-5	3-7	1-8	5-4	+4	+2
Schalick	0-7	4-6	7-3	10-0	+3	+8.5
Penns Grove	6-3	6-5	3-8	5-5	+2.5	-1.5
Woodstown	4-4	9-3	8-2	7-2	-0.5	+2
Salem	6-1	11-2	8-5	2-8	-4.5	-5.5

Playoff head-to-head

Here are the records of Salem County teams in head-to-head playoff matchups since 2003.

TEAM	PG	SAL	PVL	WOO	SCH	TOTAL
Penns Grove	—	2-1	0-1	1-0	3-0	6-2
Salem	1-2	—	1-0	1-0	1-1	4-3
Pennsville	1-0	0-1	—	1-1	NA	2-2
Woodstown	0-1	0-1	1-1	—	1-0	2-3
Schalick	0-3	1-1	NA	0-1	—	1-5

The Games

2022
Woodstown 45, Schalick 8

2019
Woodstown 47, Pennsville 14
Salem 31, Woodstown 6

2018
Penns Grove 40, Woodstown 6
Penns Grove 14, Salem 7

2017
Penns Grove 52, Schalick 30

2016
Pennsville 21, Woodstown 6

2014
Salem 22, Penns Grove 14
Salem 56, Pennsville 7

2013
Salem 41, Schalick 13
Penns Grove 22, Salem 17

2011
Pennsville 21, Penns Grove 14

2009
Penns Grove 14, Schalick 6

2006
Penns Grove 35, Schalick 34

2003
Schalick 7, Salem 0

The Rematches

When the playoff game is a rematch of a regular season meeting, the winner of the regular season game is 8-3, the home team in those playoff game are 8-3 (since 2003). Bold playoff team was at home

YEAR	REGULAR SEASON	PLAYOFF GAME
2023	Woodstown 21, Penns Grove 6	Penns Grove at Woodstown
2019	Woodstown 35, Pennsville 0	Woodstown 47, Pennsville 14
2018	Penns Grove 33, Woodstown 0	Penns Grove 40, Woodstown 6
2018	Penns Grove 26, Salem 20	Penns Grove 14, Salem 7
2016	Pennsville 28, Woodstown 7	Pennsville 21, Woodstown 6
2014	Salem 12, Penns Grove 0	Salem 22, Penns Grove 14
2014	Pennsville 23, Salem 19	Salem 56, Pennsville 7
2013	Schalick 30, Salem 18	Salem 41, Schalick 13
2013	Penns Grove 24, Salem 19	Penns Grove 22, Salem 17
2009	Penns Grove 36, Schalick 0	Penns Grove 14, Schalick 6
2006	Schalick 20, Penns Grove 8	Penns Grove 35, Schalick 34
2003	Schalick 26, Salem 0	Schalick 7, Salem 0

NOTE: The 2019 Salem-Woodstown and 2011 Pennsville-Penns Grove regular season games were played after the playoff meeting

Cover photo: Woodstown and Penns Grove will mix it up for the second time this season Friday night. The first one was for the division title, this one will be to stay alive in the playoffs. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)

Intensity is the word

Woodstown field hockey ramps it up in second half, puts away Maple Shade in sectional
tournament; Salem falls in its opener

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
First-round games
Haddon Twp. 3, Salem 1
Woodstown 2, Maple Shade 1
Collingswood 8, Gateway 1
Middle Twp. 6, Audubon 0
Schalick 3, Bordentown 0
Gloucester 5, Lower Cape May 0
Florence 6, New Egypt 0
Quarterfinals
Haddon Twp. at West Deptford
Woodstown at Collingswood
Schalick at Middle Twp.
Gloucester at Florence

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN — Most teams when they break it down to take their game to the field usually shout out something like their school’s name or mascot.

The Woodstown field hockey team chooses its word with purpose.

The word of the day to start the second half Friday was “intensity,” and the Wolverines brought a lot more of what they already had.

They scored both of their goals in the first 10 minutes of the third quarter to fuel a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Maple Shade in the South Jersey Group I playoffs. The Wolverines now will play at No. 4 Collingswood in the quarterfinals. Collingswood beat Gateway 8-1.

“There’s a lot behind the word intensity,” Wolverines coach Bryanna Roberts said. “The second half is when you really have to come out. Obviously you want it in the first half, but it’s now or never at this point.

“As far as the word intensity, all the girls show it and that’s the word that we use because going into that second half it’s now or never and you’ve got to work hard for it.”

It’s not like they weren’t intense in the first half. They actually dominated the play with more corners (11-1) and shots on goal (5-1), but they trailed the Wildcats 1-0.

Lexi Andrada scored on a shot from the top of the circle with 4:26 left in the first quarter to give the Wildcats the lead. Woodstown’s Megan Donelson had the tying goal disallowed by a foot foul in the goalmouth with two minutes left in the half and that seemed to inspire using the key word even more.

“It just gets us all fired up,” Donelson said.

“It really does motivate us to keep moving forward,” goal-scorer Brea DiGregorio said. “If we put that in the air, then it shows on the field.”

Shyann Higinbotham tied the game with a shot from the right side of the circle with only 1:53 gone in the third quarter. The Wolverines continued to press the attack and DiGregorio scored the game-winner with 5:33 left in the quarter.

“I saw the ball coming towards me and I knew I had to be ready and get my stick down in order to hit it back because that was my responsibility,” DiGregorio said. “(Coming from behind) shows our grit and our toughness that we ‘re able to bring it back after they score. We responded.”

HADDON TWP. 3, SALEM 1: The Hawks took control with two goals in the first quarter, added a third before halftime and kept the Rams at arm’s length in the second half. Anna Buzby scored Salem’s goal in the third quarter.

Haddon Twp. now travels to rested West Deptford for the quarterfinals. The top-seeded Eagles drew a first-round bye.

Cover photo: Woodstown’s Taylor Predergast (6) tries to steer clear of the pressure being applied by Maple Shade’s Rachel Loomis during Friday’s South Jersey Group I field hockey tournament game.

Band on the run

Schalick uses running attack, strong defense to shut down Audubon in Central Jersey playoff opener; Salem falls at South Hunterdon

CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I PLAYOFFS
Friday’s games
No. 1 Schalick 35, No. 8 Audubon 0
No. 4 Shore 14, No. 5 Clayton 0
No. 3 Glassboro 28, No. 6 Keyport 0
No. 2 South Hunterdon 16, No. 7 Salem 6
Semifinals games
Shore at Schalick
Glassboro at South Hunterdon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – Old habits die hard.

Whenever he was asked about it, Schalick coach Mike Wilson said the reason the Cougars invested so much time in the offseason improving their passing game was because they got exposed for the lack of one in the playoffs last year.

If you’re going to beat the better teams, especially those you’ll see in the playoffs, he said, you have to throw the football.

But two weeks after quarterback Kenai Simmons set all kinds of career highs passing the football and now in the first round of those playoffs, the Cougars were back to pounding the ground. They ran it 42 times for 269 yards Friday night and threw only five passes (completing three).

But you can’t argue with the results. They beat Audubon 35-0 for their first playoff win since 2007 and their first playoff shutout since 2003.

The undefeated top seed in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs (10-0) will now host Shore Regional (6-3) in the sectional semifinals Friday.

“It was odd because our game plan coming into this week was really to pass the ball more,” Simmons said. “We saw last year, first round of the playoffs, that’s where we failed at. We ran the ball so much and Woodstown stopped us, so we felt we had to step it up and pass the ball.

“But after we saw Reggie Allen breaking a couple plays we figured like he was hungry so let’s feed him and keep it on the ground.”

Allen led the rushing attack with 117 yards on 21 carries. He scored two touchdowns. Simmons had 98 yards, including a 60-yard dash in the fourth quarter that was more than the Green Wave rushed as a team the entire game. Levi Feeney-Childers had 44 yards on eight carries and a touchdown.

Eighteen of the Cougars’ first 19 plays were runs and they only really started throwing it on their last possession of the first half. They threw one pass in the second half, a 34-yard completion to Jake Siedlecki.

“Here’s the thing, as that game went on we threw when we had to,” Wilson said. “Last year we couldn’t do that. So it’s not the volume, it’s can we make the timely pass when you need it.

“We liked the tempo of the game, we were playing great defense, the stuff they gave us was (by) us not them; we were getting a surge all night. The gameplan was with the question mark on Kenai’s (shoulder), we’re just going to run the football this week. And then Kenai looked like his old self so the training wheels are going to come off.”

**Dylan Sheehan looks back into the field after reaching the end zone on his pick-six in the second quarter. (Photo by Heather Papiano)**

The Cougars’ defense also played a big role in the win. It was led by Dylan Sheehan’s one-handed pick-six and three sacks by freshman first-time starting nose Aiden Torres.

Wilson said the Cougars were back to the form they displayed prior to the slowdown brought on by back-to-back forfeit wins in the middle of the schedule.

“It was a good, complete first-round game,” he said.

Sheehan played with a thick black cushion wrapped around his right hand to protect a fractured knuckle in his pinky he suffered in last week’s game. It didn’t hurt his chances making the interception, though, as he snared it with his left hand and used the pad to help bring it into his body.

Then he took off down the left sideline for the first pick-six of his high school career. It gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead they carried into halftime.

“As soon as it was in my hands I knew it was in the crib,” Sheehan said.

Torres, meanwhile, had been elevated to the varsity three games ago after giving the regulars fits on the scout team and originally was used as a rotational player. He was told after last week’s regular-season finale he was going to start in the playoff game, had a whole week to mentally prepare for the biggest game of his life and made the most of his opportunity.

“First play I’m always nervous, but it wasn’t anything really big, I just had to play like I always play, do what I’ve got to do,” the 5-10, 250-pounder said, clutching a game ball in his massive hands. “It was fun. I like it. I really like it. It’s more intense, everything is more fast paced. I like it way better.”

**Schalick freshman Aiden Torres (70) wraps up Audubon quarterback Breyson McCracken for one of his three sacks in his first varsity start. (Photo by Heather Papiano)**

No. 1 Schalick 35, No. 8 Audubon 0

AUD		SCH
12	1st Downs	16
14-56	Rushing	42-269
11-22-2	Passes	3-5-0
100	Passing	46
0-0	Fum-lost	0-0
2-30.5	Punts	1-44.0
4-33	Penalties	7-62

Audubon (3-5)	0	0	0	0 –	0
Schalick (10-0)	0	14	7	14 –	35

Scoring plays:
S – Reggie Allen 12 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 7:57 2Q
S – Dylan Sheehan 64 interception return (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:28 2Q
S – Levi Feeney-Childers 4 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 3:39 3Q
S – Reggie Allen 1 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 10:15 4Q
S – Kenai Simmons 5 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 3:07 4Q

Salem haunted by missed opportunities

LAMBERTVILLE – Salem missed several opportunities to take control of the game in the first half and it came back to bite it in the end.

Second-seeded and once-beaten South Hunterdon stopped turning the ball over in the second half and scored 16 straight points to end the Rams’ playoff dreams and first season under coach Danny Mendoza 16-6.

The Rams stopped South Hunterdon four times with takeaways in the first half, all of them setting up inside the Eagles’ 30, but had only a 6-0 lead on Jared Pew’s 13-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to show for it. The defense collected three interceptions and a fumble recovery to hold the Eagles (9-1) back. They returned one of the picks for a touchdown, but it got called back for a block in the back.

As the seventh seed in the Central Jersey Group I bracket, the Rams (2-8) were destined to play on the road throughout the playoffs. But it wouldn’t have fazed them. They played four of their previous, but were only scheduled for two before their old field was reopened after undergoing repairs.

South Hunterdon 16, Salem 6

Salem (2-8)	0	6	0	0 –	0
South Hunterdon (9-1)	0	0	7	9 –	16

Scoring plays:
S – Jared Pew 13 run (run failed)
SH – Ryder Manfready 14 run (PAT kick)
SH – Safety, Ramaji Bundy tackled in end zone
SH – Ryder Manfready 12 run (PAT kick)

Quick strike Cougars

Schalick’s attacking style rewarded with quick goals at the start of each half in sectional field hockey opener

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
First-round games
Haddon Twp. at Salem, Fri., 2 p.m.
Maple Shade at Woodstown, Fri., 2 p.m.
Gateway at Collingswood, Fri., 2 p.m.
Middle Twp. at Audubon, Fri., 2 p.m.
Schalick 3, Bordentown 0
Gloucester 5, Lower Cape May 0
Florence 6, New Egypt 0
Second-round games
Haddon Twp.-Salem winner at West Deptford
Woodstown-Maple Shade vs. Gateway-Collingswood
Middle Twp.-Audubon vs. Schalick
Gloucester at Florence

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — If you were late getting to your seat at the start of Schalick’s South Jersey Group I playoff opener or getting back to it at the start of the second half, you missed a lot of the home team’s scoring Thursday.

The Cougars came out fast at the start of each half and rode that momentum to a 3-0 victory over Bordentown.

Proving they mean business in this year’s playoffs, the Cougars scored just over a minute into the match and extended their lead with a goal 30 seconds into the third quarter.

“The girls are pumped up,” Cougars coach Heather Cheesman said. “We always try to go out with intensity and be the aggressors and have pressure on goal constantly.

“We’ve always been a second half team, but this team’s different. This team is not like that. I’ve been coaching 10 years now and Schalick has always been a second half team, but this team is different.”

Leading scorer Phoebe Alward announced the Cougars’ presence in the playoffs. The fans sitting across the way hardly settled into their seats when the sophomore banged home a cross from Ava Scurry 62 seconds into the match. It was her 16^th goal of the season, a surprising number to her that matches her jersey number.

Cheesman couldn’t ever remember scoring that quickly to open a game, regular season or playoffs.

“I was excited,” she said. “I like getting the first goal because it gets them pumped up. They were excited.”

Scurry gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead when she scored with 2:46 left in the first half. It was her 12^th goal, to go with 16 assists.

“I knew this could have been our last game because the playoffs are single elimination,” Scurry said. “So I put it all out there and tried to do what was best for the team.”

Lucy Virga didn’t waste any time when the teams came out the break. She got the Cougars’ third goal being “in the right place at the right time” to bang home a rebound 30 seconds into the second half.

“Our plan is to come out really strong and just not let up after any restart,” Scurry said.

The Cougars, the sixth seed, now play the winner of today’s Middle Twp.-Audubon game at a site and date to be determined. Middle is the third seed.

Record smasher

Schalick’s Miller sets school’s single-season goal-scoring record with five in Cougars’ 7-0 win over Salem

SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I TOURNAMENT
Thursday’s games
Audubon 9, Penns Grove 0
Clayton 2, Glassboro 1
Pitman 5, Gateway 0
Maple Shade 8, Buena 0
Schalick 7, Salem 0
Haddon Twp. 6, Pennsville 0
Gloucester 4, Woodstown 1
Palmyra 9, Woodbury 0
Second-round games
Clayton at Audubon
Pitman at Maple Shade
Haddon Twp. at Schalick
Gloucester at Palmyra

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE – For a player who didn’t want to be a striker, Schalick’s Emily Miller has sure made the most of it playing there.

Miller has turned into a veritable goal-scoring machine this season for the Cougars. She scored five goals Thursday in their 7-0 rout of Salem in the South Jersey Group I girls soccer tournament and set the school record in the process.

The senior now has 45 goals on the season, breaking the record of 43 set by Kerri Jackson last year. It was the second time this season she has scored five in a game.

It was her 14th multi-goal game this year and seventh with three goals or more. She has scored 23 goals in the 10 games since the Cougars (14-4) were shut out by Sterling on Sept. 29, the only game she hasn’t scored in this season.

“She definitely fell into the role,” Schalick coach Will Kemp said. “She had this inside her last year, but I think was a little timid. She had just returned last year (after missing the previous two seasons) and when one of our strikers went out for an injury we moved her there.

“She never wanted to be a striker. I told her she was going to be and she is one, and now she loves it.”

The Cougars scored their seven goals in 15 minutes.

Miller scored their first two to inch closer to the record. She tied the mark by converting a cross from Olivia Bergholz into the upper corner to make it 4-0 and then broke on the goal that made it 5-0.

They stopped the game after she got the record-setting goal and Schalick thletics director Doug Volovar presented her the game ball on the spot. Her teammates all gave her a hug.

“It was a great, great moment,” Kemp said.

But Miller wasn’t finished. She punched in goal No. 45 moments later to make it 6-0.

The Cougars’ other two goals were scored by Cali Fisler and Karlie Bakley.

“Our girls played at the top of their game today,” Kemp said. “I was really impressed with them.”

The third-seeded Cougars will host fourth-seeded Haddon Twp. (8-9-2) in the second round Monday.

Asked if he thought his record-breaking scorer had 50 goals in her, Kemp didn’t hesitate.

“Yes, I definitely believe so,” he said.

GLOUCESTER 4, WOODSTOWN 1: Anabelle Conley scored in the first half to snap a 1-1 tie and the seventh-seeded Lions ((14-5) added two goals in the second half to put away the Wolverines, who had been unbeaten in their last six games.

Talia Battavio scored the tying goal for Woodstown (9-8-1). It was her 15th goal of the season and 10th in the last five games.

AUDUBON 9, PENNS GROVE 0: Nine different players scored for the top-seeded Green Wave (16-1-2). Erin Connelly, Molly Sullivan and Emily Powers all had a goal and an assist. Morgan Wiltsey had a goal and two assists.

HADDON TWP. 6, PENNSVILLE 0: The sixth-seeded Hawks (8-9-2) scored all their goals in the first half with Emerson McDonald getting three. McDonald has 16 goals this season.

On a roll

Monday roundup: Woodstown boys soccer heading into sectional tournament on five-game winning streak; roundup includes girls soccer, field hockey

MONDAY’S SCORES
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstown 2, Glassboro 1
Pennsville 4, Salem Tech 1
GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown 2, Glassboro 2
Pitman 5, Salem 0
Pennsville 7, Salem Tech 0
FIELD HOCKEY
Clearview 2, Woodstown 0
Gloucester City 7, Pennsville 0
GIRLS TENNIS
Schalick 5, Woodstown 0

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLASSBORO – The Woodstown soccer team goes into the South Jersey Group I tournament feeling good about the turnaround it has put together during the season and on a roll after beating Glassboro 2-1 in its final regular-season game Monday.

Adrian Ibarra and Kaleb Gerace each scored a goal in the second half for the Wolverines in the battle of top four sectional seeds.

Ibarra opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half. Gerace made it 2-0 13 minutes later. Emirhan Kir’s penalty kick off an “unfortunate foul” in the box with 11 minutes left was the only thing that kept the Wolverines from posting a fifth straight shutout.

It was, however, their fifth win in a row, their second over Glassboro in the last four days and their sixth in the eight games (with one tie) since a 6-2 Alumni Night loss to Schalick in the football stadium.

“We had a lot of games over the last two weeks, so it’s been a grind, but we came in and kind of came out on top,” Woodstown coach Darren Huck said. “We didn’t play well against Audubon (the only loss in the home stretch), but when you play Schalick and two Colonial Conference teams, it wasn’t so much about wins and losses in that one, it was to see how we were going to battle and compete.

“We circle the wagons and bring them all back and remind them what the big picture is and remind them how one game doesn’t identify you in a good way or a bad way; let’s stay focused on what we need to do and they responded. I’m happy with my goalkeeper, how he responded from that tough night against Schalick, and defensively I’m happy with where we’re at right now.”

That would be 13-3-1 and the No. 3 seed in the SJ-I tournament;. A year ago they were 5-10-3 with seven one-goal losses and were something like 3-27 in the offseason going all over South Jersey playing larger schools. But they were playing and learning and growing.

Huck never lost faith and he was grateful the players didn’t either.

“I told them it’s not about the now, it’s preparing guys for the future,” he said. “I need all of you to believe and I will take you there, but do not lose confidence in what we’re doing.

“I had a parent today say I remember what you said in August in that last tournament; you said we’ll be just fine. I’m glad it worked this way. It made them believe they believed in me. I said this was going to happen.”

Ibarra’s goal was his 23rd of the season and 30th of his career. The nephew of Woodstown’s all-time leading goal scorer, Oscar Hernandez, Ibarra now has the second-most goals in a season by a junior in school history and has moved into the top 15 on the Wolverines’ all-time goals list.

“He’s really put it together,” Huck said. “He takes a lot of pride in being a complete soccer player, not just a scorer. He’s on the other end of assists, gets back defensively to help out. A lot of times he’ll ask me if I want him to drop back to help out the defense. He’s willing to take himself out of a scoring opportunity so we can get a win.

“He puts a tremendous amount of time into it. Many, many times I can go up to the park and he’ll be out there all by himself with a bag of soccer balls and some cones and he’s just working on his game. It’s good to see it all pay off for him.”

While Woodstown is going into the playoffs on a roll, Glassboro is looking to get back on track. The Bulldogs (12-5) have lost five of their last eight against some of their toughest opposition of the year after starting the season 9-0.

“We had a good regular season,” Huck said. “We can look back and say we had a nice season. We know the second season starts (Wednesday) and we’re going to try to go as far as we can.”

Pennsville 4, Salem Tech 1: Jake Isaac scored two first-half goals and assisted on the Eagles’ other two goals. It was his third multi-goal game of the season and fifth of his career. Stone Mumink gave the Eagles (6-12) a 3-0 lead and Kameron Brown got the Chargers (3-13-1) on the board before the end of the half. Shane Puckett scored Pennsville’s final goal in the second half.

GIRLS SOCCER
Woodstown 2, Glassboro 2: Emma Perry and Talia Battavio scored goals for the Wolverines (9-7-1), but Glassboro scored a goal in the second half to tie the match.

Pitman 5, Salem 0: Emery Sharpnack scored her 15th goal of the season to open the scoring and assisted on Alaina Williams’ goal in the second half. The Classic Division champion Panthers (13-4-1) are one of two teams to go through their Tri-County Conference schedule undefeated (10-0).

Pennsville 7, Salem Tech 0: Reagan Wariwanchik, Molly Gratz and Karsen Cooksey scored first-half goals and Cooksey completed the hat trick in the second half.

FIELD HOCKEY
Clearview 2, Woodstown 0: Marley Dutch scored a goal and assisted on Destiny Joseph’s score. The Group III Pioneers (12-5) peppered Woodstown goalie Shelby Foote with 29 shots.

Gloucester City 7, Pennsville 0: Lauren Perry scored four goals to lead the Lions (12-4).

Sectional tournaments

Here are the first-round pairings in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group I tournaments; boys soccer becomes official at noon Tuesday

BOYS SOCCER
Oct. 25
No. 16 Pennsville (6-12) at No. 1 Schalick (14-4), 4 p.m.
No. 9 Pitman (12-5-1) at No. 8 Maple Shade (10-7), 3 p.m.
No. 12 Penns Grove (6-9-1) at No. 5 Audubon (11-5-2), 2 p.m.
No. 13 Haddon Twp. (5-10-2) at No. 4 Glassboro (12-5), 2 p.m.
No. 14 Burlington City (6-10) at No. 3 Woodstown (13-3-1), 2 p.m.
No. 11 Wildwood (11-5-1) at No. 6 Buena (12-4), 2 p.m.
No. 10 Gateway (9-8-1) at No. 7 Riverside (13-3-2)
No. 15 Woodbury (8-8) at No. 2 Palmyra (15-2-1), 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Oct. 26
No. 16 Penns Grove (1-11-1) at No. 1 Audubon (15-1-2)
No. 9 Clayton (10-5-1) at No. 8 Glassboro (9-6-2)
No. 12 Gateway (7-9) at No. 5 Pitman (13-4-1)
No. 13 Buena (6-9) at No. 4 Maple Shade (11-4)
No. 14 Salem (4-13-1) at No. 3 Schalick (13-4)
No. 11 Pennsville (6-9-3) at No. 6 Haddon Twp. (7-9-2)
No. 10 Woodstown (9-7-1) at No. 7 Gloucester (12-5)
No. 15 Woodbury (1-14-1) at No 2 Palmyra (14-3)

FIELD HOCKEY
Oct. 26
No. 11 Bordentown (4-11-1) at No. 6 Schalick (11-5-1)

Oct. 27
No. 12 Maple Shade (8-4) at No. 5 Woodstown (12-3-1)

Oct. 28
No. 1 West Deptford (10-3-3) bye
No. 9 Haddon Twp. (7-8) at No. 8 Salem (11-4)
No. 13 Gateway (5-10) at No. 4 Collingswood (9-5-2)
No. 14 Audubon (8-6) at No. 3 Middle Twp. (13-2-1)
No. 10 Lower Cape May (6-6-4) at No. 7 Gloucester (12-4)
No. 15 New Egypt (7-5) at No. 2 Florence (13-2-1)

County leaders

With the football playoffs beginning this week, here is a look at the Salem County leaders in rushing, passing and receiving through the end of the regular season

Rushing

PLAYER	ATT	YDS	TD
Bryce Belinfanti, Woodstown	149	1146	14
Pop Jackson, Salem	131	1023	8
Bryce Wright, Penns Grove	155	847	9
Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove	119	743	5
Reggie Allen, Schalick	92	588	10
Sky Eppes, Pennsville	109	547	9
Jared Pew, Salem	83	385	3
Kenai Simmons, Schalick	79	344	8
Robbie McDade, Pennsville	76	330	6
Levi Feeney-Childers, Schalick	50	301	2
Max Webb, Woodstown	61	265	5
Ramaji Bundy, Salem	47	260	1
Alex Torres, Woodstown	38	230	3

Sophomore quarterback Robbie McDade will have a chance to give Pennsville its first 1,000-yard passer since 2019 Thursday when the Eagles host New Egypt in the regional consolation tournament. Top photo: Bryce Belinfanti and Max Webb give Woodstown a dynamic backfield combination. (Photos by Lorraine Jenkins, Ellen Sickler)

Passing

PLAYER	COMP	ATT	INT	YDS	TD
Robbie McDade, Pennsville	70	136	4	948	6
Kenai Simmons, Schalick	33	52	0	715	7
Max Webb, Woodstown	44	74	5	555	5
Ramaji Bundy, Salem	15	53	5	236	1

Receiving

PLAYER	NO.	YDS	TD
Malik Rehmer, Pennsville	39	604	5
Bryce Belinfanti, Woodstown	13	129	0
Zach Bevis, Woodstown	12	189	3
Ty Young, Pennsville	12	118	1
Terrence Smith, Salem	11	146	1
Sky Eppes, Pennsville	11	128	0
Jake Siedlecki, Schalick	9	268	3
Dylan Sheehan, Schalick	9	140	2
Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove	8	113	0

Kicking

PLAYER	FGM-FGA	XPM-XPA	PTS
Jake Ware, Woodstown	3-4	25-27	34
Hunter Dragotta, Schalick	2-4	25-27	31
Jackson Leino, Pennsville	4-6	15-19	27

Defense

SACKS
6.5: Dameon Wilson, Penns Grove
5.5: Bobby Donahue, Woodstown
4: Nasir Stewart, Penns Grove
3: Jermaine Loney, Schalick; Mando Johnson, Salem
2.5: Zach Bevis, Woodstown; William Slouch, Penns Grove

TACKLES FOR LOSS
17: Bryce Wright, Penns Grove
15: Nasir Stewart, Penns Grove
11: Dameon Wilson, Penns Grove
9: William Slocum, Penns Grove
8: Justin Martin, Penns Grove
6.5: Bobby Donahue, Woodstown
6: Zach Bevis, Woodstown; Walter Carter, Woodstown; Mando Johnson, Salem
5.5: Bryce Belinfanti, Woodstown
5: Max Webb, Woodstown; Thomas Hymer, Schalick
4.5: Pop Jackson, Salem
4: Jack Knorr, Woodstown; Najee Panter, Penns Grove

INTERCEPTIONS: 2: Malik Rehmer, Pennsville; Karon Ceaser, Penns Grove; Bryce Wright, Penns Grove

FUMBLE RECOVERIES: 2: Connor Ayers, Pennsville; Cole Campbell, Pennsville

This week’s schedule

The opening round of the NJSIAA fall sports playoffs highlight the high school sports schedule for Salem County teams for the week of Oct. 23-28

FOOTBALL
Oct. 26
South Jersey Group I Consolation Tournament
New Egypt at Pennsville, 5 p.m.
Keansburg at Manville

Oct. 27
South Jersey Group I playoffs
Dunellen at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Penns Grove at Florence, 7 p.m.
Burlington City at Middlesex, 7 p.m.

Central Jersey Group I playoffs
Audubon at Schalick, 7 p.m.
Clayton at Shore, 7 p.m.
Keyport at Glassboro, 7 p.m.
Salem at South Hunterdon, TBA

Oct. 28
South Jersey Group I playoffs
Riverside at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m.

FIELD HOCKEY
Oct. 23
Woodstown at Clearview, 3:45 p.m.
Gloucester City at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Oct. 26
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 11 Bordentown at No. 6 Schalick, 2 p.m.

Oct. 27
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 12 Maple Shade at No. 5 Woodstown, 2 p.m.

Oct. 28
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 1 West Deptford bye
No. 9 Haddon Twp. at No. 8 Salem
No. 13 Gateway at No. 4 Collingswood
No. 14 Audubon at No. 3 Middle Twp.
No. 10 Lower Cape May at No. 7 Gloucester
No. 15 New Egypt at No. 2 Florence

GIRLS TENNIS
Oct. 23
Schalick at Woodstown, 4 p.m.

Oct. 24
Woodstown at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 26
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Oct. 27
Schalick at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Oct. 23
Glassboro at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 7 p.m.

Oct. 24
Paulsboro at Salem, 4 p.m.

Oct. 25
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 16 Pennsville at No. 1 Schalick, 4 p.m.
No. 9 Pitman at No. 8 Maple Shade, 3 p.m.
No. 12 Penns Grove at No. 5 Audubon, 2 p.m.
No. 13 Haddon Twp. at No. 4 Glassboro, 2 p.m.
No. 14 Burlington City at No. 3 Woodstown, 2 p.m.
No. 11 Wildwood at No. 6 Buena, 2 p.m.
No. 10 Gateway at No. 7 Riverside
No. 15 Woodbury at No. 2 Palmyra, 4 p.m.

Oct. 28
South Jersey Group I Tournament
Second round games

GIRLS SOCCER
Oct. 23
Woodstown at Glassboro, 3:30 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Pennsville, 5 p.m.

Oct. 26
South Jersey Group I Tournament
No. 16 Penns Grove at No. 1 Audubon
No. 9 Clayton at No. 8 Glassboro
No. 12 Gateway at No. 5 Pitman
No. 13 Buena at No. 4 Maple Shade
No. 14 Salem at No. 3 Schalick
No. 11 Pennsville at No. 6 Haddon Twp.
No. 10 Woodstown at No. 7 Gloucester
No. 15 Woodbury at No 2 Palmyra

CROSS COUNTRY
Oct. 28
Sectionals, DREAM Park