Saturday Salem County roundup: Schalick’s Hadfield nipped at the wire in South Jersey XC Shootout
By Riverview Sports News
LOGAN TWP. – It doesn’t get any close than this.
Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield and Voorhees’ Daphne Roskowski were going stride for stride down the stretch in the girls varsity race of the South Jersey Shootout at Dream Park Saturday.
In a heart-pounding finish, Hadfield came home in 18:38.65, but was nipped at the wire by 12-hundredths of a second.
The Cougars finished ninth as a team.In the boys race, Salvatore Longo ran 18:34.95 to finish 35th and lead the Cougars to a 12th-place team finish. Chase Walker was the Cougars’ second-fastest finisher at 19:16.15 (61st).
Briarwood Invitational
PHILADELPHIA – Woodstown sophomore Lilian Norman ran a 22:22.96 to place 17th in the varsity girls race on the Belmont Plateau. Freshman teammate Abby Marino finished 21st at 22:37.83.
The Wolverines finished tenth as a team.
Jacob Marino ran an 18:58.03 to place 56th in the varsity boys race. Cole Lucas was 68th (19:18.56). The Wolverines were 13th as a team.
FIELD HOCKEY
MANTUA – Washington Township scored five goals in the first quarter and went on to beat Woodstown 6-0.
Taylor Zee had a goal and two assists in the uprising. Emma-Rose Phillips, Cecilia LaGreca, Ryli Zee and Karley DuCoin scored the other goals in the quarter. Samantha Boone scored the final goal in the fourth quarter.
Woodstown takes advantage of Schalick’s special teams miscues, wins Diamond Division opener, extends winning streak in series to 12
SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL FRIDAY GAMES Woodstown 26, Schalick 0 SATURDAY GAMES Glassboro at Penns Grove Pennsville at Overbrook Salem at Woodbury
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – If you grew up Down South watching football, especially in the state of Alabama where the sport just means more, there are certain games that just resonate through generations.
One of the most memorable is the 1972 Iron Bowl in which Auburn stunned No. 2 Alabama 17-16, blocking two punts in the fourth quarter and returning both for touchdowns to win a game that is forever known as “Punt, Bama, Punt.”
Woodstown staged its own version of “Punt, Bama, Punt” Friday night, taking advantage of several Schalick miscues in the punting game to win its WJFL Diamond Division opener and extend its dominance in the series with their nearest county rival, 26-0.
All of the Wolverines’ points came as a result of shortcomings on the Cougars’ special teams. There was a safety off a bad punt snap to open the scoring, a short-field touchdown drive with the ensuing free kick, a short-field touchdown drive off a 7-yard punt, a field goal off another bad punt snap and a touchdown off another short punt They almost had another touchdown after a long punt return into Schalick territory, but turned it over on downs after getting inside the 10.
“Special teams is such an emphasis for us,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “We put a huge emphasis on it every week and take it very seriously.
“Any time you can get a special teams turnover it drastically swings momentum and it gives you a real good shot at winning a football game, so that was very big for us in terms of helping us get this one.”
The Wolverines (2-0) gained control of the game early. They went up 2-0 when a snap sailed over punter Shawn Kelly’s head and he ended up falling on it in the end zone after a 27-yard loss. They took Schalick’s free kick near midfield and after Bryce Belinfanti softened up the defense with three hard runs, Alex Torres took a shuttle pass from Jack Holladay and went 35 yards for the game’s first touchdown.
“It’s always about setting the tone and that safety really set the tone for us,” said linebacker Anthony Bokolas, who chased down Kelly in the end zone.
A 7-yard punt gave the Wolverines another short field on their next possession and Belinfanti capped that drive with an 11-yard touchdown run. Another bad punt snap set them up at the Schalick 20 shortly before halftime and kicker Jake Ware salvaged that possession with a 29-yard field goal to make it 19-0.
“On film we did see that their punt team was a little off and we knew if we attacked them, just played physical, they were going to mess up,” Belinfanti said.
Belinfanti scored the game’s final touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter when he caught Holladay’s pass wide open across the middle and scored from 35 yards out. That drive was set up by a 12-yard punt.
Belinfanti finished the game with 85 yards rushing on 17 carries and the one catch for 35 yards. Holladay was 8-of-13 passing for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
“Honestly, I’m unsatisfied,” Belinfanti said. “I’m happy that we won, but I know I’m way better than that. I think I could’ve touched the end zone three times today. The best is yet to come for me.”
The game left Schalick looking for answers. It was a first chance for the Cougars to show they had what it took to play in South Jersey Group I’s toughest division after gaining traction as the beast of a lesser division last season. But the Wolverines never gave them a chance to get going and the special teams mistakes kept them at a disadvantage all night.
With the two bad punt snaps sapping a lot of their yardage, the Cougars were held to negative net rushing yardage and 12 yards total in the first half. They managed only 65 net yards in the game. Their deepest penetration into Woodstown territory in the first half was the 32 and that ended in a Garrett Leyman interception. Their most sustained drive came in the opening possession of the second half and reached the Woodstown 22 but ended with a missed field goal attempt.
“The kids played hard all game, they didn’t quit,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “We just couldn’t get out of our way. We spotted them 19 points.
“You can’t have bad snaps like that against good football teams. You have to play clean football in all three phases; we did not do that tonight. We were constantly in bad positions. We’re doing uncharacteristic things.
“I want to play good clean football. We’re giving them points, we’re giving them plays, we’re putting ourselves in bad position. We played on our side of the field all night. I don’t care what level of game, you can’t play like that. You’ve got to play good in all three phases and right now we’re not.”
The win was Woodstown’s 12th in a row in the series. It has been 5,103 days since the Cougars last tasted victory in the rivalry and will be at least another 365 before they have a chance to try again.
Woodstown’s Anthony Bokolas (25) chases down Schalick punter Shawn Kelly for the first-quarter safety that got it all started for the Wolverines Friday night. On the cover, quarterback Jack Holladay and coach Frank Trautz talk over a play on the sideline. (Photos by Ellen Sickler)
Woodstown 26, Schalick 0
SCH (0)
WOO(26)
6
1st Downs
13
28-45
Rush-yards
31-120
4-6-1
Passing (C-A-I)
8-13-0
20
Passing yds
108
2-0
Fum-lost
0-0
4-24.3
Punts-avg
2-43.0
1-0
Pen-yds
6-45
Schalick (1-2)
0
0
0
0-
0
Woodstown (2-0)
9
10
0
7-
26
SCORING SUMMARY W-Safety, punter tackled in end zone, 5:38 1Q W-Alex Torres 35 pass from Jack Holladay (Jake Ware kick), 2:34 1Q W-Bryce Belinfanti 11 run (Jake Ware kick), 6:16 2Q W-Jake Ware 29 FG, 1:28 2Q W-Bryce Belinfanti 35 pass from Jack Holladay (Jake Ware kick), 11:52 4Q
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Woodstown
1-0
2-0
Glassboro
0-0
1-0
Penns Grove
0-0
1-1
Salem
0-0
0-2
Woodbury
0-0
0-1
Schalick
0-1
1-2
FRIDAY GAMES Woodstown 26, Schalick 0 SATURDAY GAMES Salem at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m. Glassboro at Penns Grove, noon
WJFL PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
West Deptford
2-0
2-1
Paulsboro
1-0
2-0
Collingswood
1-1
2-1
Camden Catholic
0-0
1-0
Audubon
0-1
1-1
Overbrook
0-1
1-1
Pennsville
0-1
0-2
FRIDAY GAMES Audubon 8, Bordentown 7 West Deptford 46, Collingswood 6 SATURDAY GAMES Camden Catholic at Paulsboro, 10 a.m. Pennsville at Overbrook, 11 a.m.
Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti looks to make a move around Schalick’s Dylan Sheehan Friday night. (Photo by Heather Papiano)
Results, details from around Salem County in girls soccer, boys soccer, field hockey; Schalick’s Willoughby scores four goals, Woodstown’s Battavio notches her 50th career goal
GIRLS SOCCER Clayton 6, Salem 0 Glassboro 1, Pennsville 0 Pitman 7, Salem Tech 0 Schalick 6, Overbrook 0 Woodstown 4, Penns Grove 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Abby Willoughby has goals. She had four of them Thursday afternoon in Schalick’s 6-0 girls soccer win over Overbrook, but don’t get the idea one of them is the desire to be the Cougars’ next Emily Miller.
The Cougars are on the lookout for their next prolific scorer following Miller’s 48-goal season in 2023, but instead of emulating the record-setting scorer, they simply want Willoughby — and the rest of the players on the team, for that matter — to be the best version of herself she can be. Besides they already have another Emily Miller on the roster.
“I don’t think there is going to be a new Emily,” coach Will Kemp said. “I think that Abby’s Abby. Emily wasn’t the new Kerri Jackson (43 goals in 2022). Kerri Jackson wasn’t Sara Copare (who held all the records before her).
“Everyone’s their own individual, which I actually love. No one’s trying to emulate those players, they’re trying to be themselves. So, Abby’s going to do her job this year and we also have other players who are going to be playing that same type position. Abby just stepped up big-time today, scored the goals, but she also played in the midfield, she also played in the defense.
“I’m not going to say she’s going to be that role, but whatever role she fits in, she does great with it.”
Willoughby, a defensive specialist with one goal (Penns Grove) during last year’s South Jersey Group I finalist season, was one of five players to play striker against the Rams as Kemp seeks to put the best players for the best spots. The others strikers Thursday were freshman Liv Vanacker, sophomores Emily Tramonta-Miller and Helen Lillia and senior Quinn Berger.
Willoughby actually started playing soccer as a goalie, but soon found herself playing all over the field. She started her high school career as an outside back.
As a newly placed goal scorer she only has 44 goals to go to catch Miller’s mark.
“I’m super glad,” she said. “I was playing defense all year last year so getting up top I released my excitement to score. I don’t know if I can be quite as good as her, that’s a pretty tall task, but I guess I can get close and try my best. I have goals.”
Those actual goals include seeing her teammates grow as a team, do the simple things and win the big games.
The junior scored both goals as Schalick opened a 2-0 halftime lead. Her third goal put the Cougars up 4-0 and her fourth – a spinner off her left foot – wrapped the scoring. Cali Fisler and Carly Vicente scored the Cougars’ other two goals.
They were the Cougars’ first goals of the season in their first win after a 5-0 loss to Cherokee in the season opener.
“It was good to see the girls get on the board today,” Kemp said. “They’re going through some stuff. We had a tough preseason … to prepare for the playoffs this year.”
“it’s a bit of a boost of confidence after the last game,” Willoughby said. “It was nice to come back and be strong.”
WOODSTOWN 4, PENNS GROVE 0: Talia Battavio became the fifth player in Woodstown girls soccer history to score 50 career goals when he banged home a rebound off the post for the first of her two goals against the Red Devils. Now with 51 career goals, she remains No. 5 on the Wolverines’ all-time girls goal scoring list.
“It’s a phenomenal career milestone,” Wolverines coach Kieren Keyser said. “The goal itself came in typical Talia fashion. It was a scrap goal and she had to work to get it. That’s the type player she is.
“It came on a cross. It actually hit off the post and Talia was able to be there and square it away and bang it home. That’s the type of player she is.”
Keyser had the good fortune to coach two of the Wolverines’ 50-goal scorers. One of his first players was all-time leading goal scorer Tatum Devault, who scored 75 goals in a career that concluded in 2022.
“What’s cool is Tatum and Talia played together and Talia’s kind of chasing her and they assisted each other a lot,” Keyser said. “I’m not sure if Talia can quite get to No. 1, but certainly getting to 50 is a huge deal, especially for an athlete who is a basketball player first, and to reach that milestone is soccer, that is phenomenal.”
Lia Covely and Emma Perry scored the other two goals for Woodstown, who’ve now won two in a row after dropping their season opener and have an early-season showdown with Schalick Monday. Perry has scored in all three games for the Wolverines.
Penns Grove (0-1-1)
0
0-
0
Woodstown (2-1)
3
1-
4
GOALS – Woodstown: Talia Battavio 2, Lia Covely, Emma Perry.
WOODSTOWN GIRLS CAREER GOALS
GOALS
SR. YEAR
Tatum Devault
75
2022
Tori Malpezzi
70
2008
Amy Gray
69
1993
Chelsea Norbuts
65
2009
Talia Battavio
51
2024
GLASSBORO 1, PENNSVILLE 0: Amina Brown scored the game’s only goal at the 6:04 mark of the second half.
Pennsville (0-2)
0
0-
0
Glassboro (1-1)
0
1-
1
GOALS – Glassboro: Amina Brown.
PITMAN 7, SALEM TECH 0: Emery Sharpnack scored two goals and dished three assists to lead the Panthers. Pitman scored four goals in the first 11 minutes of the match.
CLAYTON 6, SALEM 0: Ava Delaney and Deondria Simon scored two goals apiece for the Clippers. Simon also had a pair of assists.
Salem (0-2)
0
0-
0
Clayton (1-0)
6
0-
6
GOALS – Clayton: Ava Delaney 2, Kyleigh Grigorean, Deondria Simon 2, Madi Traister.
Boys soccer
THURSDAY’S SCORES Clayton at Salem Pennsville 3, Salem Tech 0 Schalick 3, Overbrook 0 Woodstown 4, Penns Grove 1 PENNSVILLE 3, SALEM TECH 0: J.P. Laughrey scored a pair of goals two minutes apart midway through the first half for Pennsville’s first goals of the season and Sam Hassler added a second-half goal as the Eagles earned their first win. Coen Rinnier made eight saves to record the shutout.
“I love a freshman who knows how to be in the right spot,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said of Laughrey. “He had both of his in quick succession where he was in the right place and hammered them home.
“He’s just a good player who sees the field well and isn’t afraid to use his body (and) strength, which is very rare for a freshman.”
SCHALICK 3, OVERBROOK 0: The Cougars got goals from three different players in their season-opening win. Jaxon Weber scored the only goal of the first half, then Bradford Foster and Michael Nelson stretched the lead in the second half.
Schalick (1-0)
1
2-
3
Overbrook (0-1)
0
0-
0
GOALS – Schalick: Jaxon Weber (unassisted), Bradford Foster, (Steve Chomo) Michael Nelson (Anthony Sepers).
WOODSTOWN 4, PENNS GROVE 1: Adrian Ibarra, who scored 26 goals last season, opened the scoring to Woodstown’s season and Grant Prater scored twice in the first half for the Wolverines. Juan Ortiz got Penns Grove on the board before halftime. Ben Lippencott scored Woodstown’s fourth goal in the second half.
Woodstown (1-0)
3
1-
4
Penns Grove (1-1)
1
0-
1
GOALS – W: Adrian Ibarra (Bryce Ayars); W: Grant Prater (Adrian Ibarra); W: Grant Prater (Ben Lippincott); PG: Juan Ortiz; W: Ben Lippincott (Nicholas DiTeodoro).
Field hockey
THURSDAY’S SCORES Salem 3, Pennsville 1 Schalick 7, Glassboro 1 Woodstown 4, Deptford 0 SCHALICK 7, GLASSBORO 1: Ava Scurry scored a scored a hat trick and Luci Virga and Phoebe Alward each scored twice. The Cougars outshot their visitors 32-5.
Glassboro (1-1)
0
0
0
1-
1
Schalick (2-0)
1
3
1
2-
7
GOALS – Glassboro: Karli Pritchett; Schalick: Ava Scurry 3, Luci Virga 2, Phoebe Alward 2.
SALEM 3, PENNSVILLE 1: Audrey Boggs scored twice and Kevana Roman once as the Rams opened their season with a victory in this Battle of Broadway. Sophia Marandola scored Pennsville’s goal in the fourth quarter.
“It was commented by a spectator after the game, ‘It looked like an ‘old school’ hockey game and was enjoyable to watch,'” Rams coach Shanna Scott said. “(It) was a very fast-paced and quick game. There were simple mistakes made and things we can do better for next time – there is always something we could ‘do better or grow in’ – but I am very proud of my girls and give them the credit they deserve for how hard they worked in our season opener.”
WOODSTOWN 4, DEPTFORD 0: Shyann Higinbotham scored two goals and assisted on another in the Wolverines’ season-opening win. Megan Donelson and Bradley DiGregorio scored Woodstown’s other two goals.
PITTSGROVE – Lily Edwards was playing on the farthest of the singles courts in the Schalick tennis complex. There were a handful of spectators on the other side of the fence when she started, but each time she dared look away from the match she noticed more and more people gathering in her little corner of the world so she figured something was up with her match.
It was only the pivotal point of the day.
Edwards won the point at No. 3 singles to clinch undefeated Pennsville’s 3-2 victory over Schalick Thursday in the first leg of what figures to be an intriguing battle among the two teams and Woodstown for supremacy in South Jersey Group I girls tennis.
She handed Miya Watkins her first loss since last year’s state team semifinals 6-3, 6-1 after her Eagles teammates swept both doubles points and Schalick’s Emma Adams and Allyson Green won the first two singles points.
“I did feel that way, honestly,” she said. “I didn’t before I started the match, but we were playing and I did feel that way because everyone was watching me and I could tell (it was an important point). I had like a feeling.”
Actually, the win, her sixth of the year (all in straight sets) and 17th in a row at No. 3 singles over the last two seasons, came at a time she admitted to battling a slump for the first time in her career. She has only lost two matches (with one draw) in 44 varsity starts, but there was just something unfulfilling about her recent success.
“At practice I was just struggling,” she said. “Just hitting the ball and making sure my mechanics are right and I’m hitting it the right way and I was struggling. It’s really stressful because it gets in your head and you have to fight through it… but I came out of it today.
“We all were a little nervous because Schalick is our big competition, but I came out with a positive attitude and fought my way through it.”
It pains Eagles coach Dan LaMont to see his players struggle. He could sense his steady junior’s frustration and had a simple solution – just get out of your head and play your normal aggressive game.
“She does hit a nice tennis ball, but sometimes there are little things we have to correct,” he said. “We worked on it and then we kind of just said let’s keep it simple. Don’t think too much about this. Roll balls back. Be you.
“I told her you’ve won a lot of matches in your three years, let’s remember how you did that. And she did today. She had to, because that girl was tough.”
PENNSVILLE 3, SCHALICK 2 Emma Adams (S) def. Megan Morris, 6-4, 6-4 Allyson Green (S) def. Regan Witt, 6-4, 6-0 Lily Edwards (P) def. Miya Watkins, 6-3, 6-1 Emma Cornette-Gabi Farino (P) def. Julia Langley-Helana Tyers, 6-1, 6-4 Naomi Hess-Isabell Schrenker (P) def. Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podeh, 6-2, 6-1 Records: Pennsville 6-0, Schalick 3-1
WOODSTOWN 5, PENNS GROVE 0 Aubrie Rennie (Wo) def. Alease Stewart, 6-0, 6-0 Leah Waterman (Wo) def. Janiyah Cummings, 6-0, 6-0 EvaLouise Thomsen (Wo) def. Elif Sagir, 6-0, 6-0 Julianna Lindenmuth-Noelle Neron (Wo) won by forfeit Alyssa Berry-Melissa Hassler (Wo) won by forfeit Records: Woodstown 3-1, Penns Grove 0-3.
Alward’s hat trick leads Schalick field hockey, Gilligan makes 200th save; Battavio moves closer to 50 goals for Woodstown soccer; Pennsville, Schalick girls tennis stay on track for Thursday’s showdown
FIELD HOCKEY SCHALICK 5, TRITON 3: Phoebe Alward got her junior season off to the same kind of start she did as a sophomore. She had a hat trick in last year’s season opener at Gloucester Catholic and had a hat trick Tuesday as the Cougars came out aggressive and opened the 2024 season with a victory on the road.
Ava Scurry, who had 13 goals and 17 assists last year, had two goals and two assists against the Mustangs (0-2). The Cougars pumped 31 shots on goal and led wire-to-wire.
Keeper Lydia Gilligan also had a milestone game. She recorded her 200th career save during the game and now has 211 in her three seasons guarding the cage.
Schalick (1-0)
2
2
1
0-
5
Triton (0-2)
0
1
2
0-
3
GOALS – Schalick: Ava Scurry 2, Phoebe Alward 3; Triton: Kayla Garofolo, Sofia Morris, Olivia Broome.
GIRLS TENNIS Glassboro at Penns Grove Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown
PENNSVILLE 5, WILDWOOD 0 Megan Morris (P) def. Charlie Cunningham-Hackney, 6-0, 6-2 Regan Witt (P) def. Cydnee Kilian, 6-1, 6-1 Lily Edwards (P) def. Angela Wilber, 6-3, 6-2 Emma Cornette-Gabi Forino (P) def. Kiana D’Antuano-Estella Robinson, 6-0, 6-0 Isabella Schrenker-Morgan Holt (P) def. Emma Contreras-Selin Ogden, 6-1, 6-0 Records: Pennsville 4-0, Wildwood 0-2 BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove at Gloucester Co. Christian GIRLS SOCCER Gloucester Co. Christian at Penns Grove
WOODSTOWN 8, WILDWOOD 1: Talia Battavio and Emma Perry, Woodstown’s two top goal-scorers a year ago, both scored a pair of goals and Lia Covely recorded three assists as the Wolverines scored their first win of the season.
Battavio’s two goals left her with 49 for her career, one shy of becoming only the fifth player in program history with 50 goals or more. Covely, Sophia Wells, Gina Murray and Mary Zarinko scored the other Woodstown goals.
The Wolverines settled this one early, jumping out to a 6-0 halftime lead.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 9-14; all events 4 p.m. unless noted
SEPT. 9 FIELD HOCKEY Paulsboro at Pennsville GIRLS SOCCER Camden County Tech at Salem GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at West Deptford
SEPT. 10 FIELD HOCKEY Schalick at Triton GIRLS TENNIS Glassboro at Penns Grove Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown Salem at Schalick Wildwood at Pennsville BOYS SOCCER Penns Grove at Gloucester Co. Christian, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Gloucester Co. Christian at Penns Grove Woodstown at Wildwood
SEPT. 11 GIRLS SOCCER Salem Tech at Cape May Tech GIRLS TENNIS Triton at Pennsville, 3:45 p.m. Salem at Wildwood
SEPT. 12 FIELD HOCKEY Deptford at Woodstown Glassboro at Schalick Salem at Pennsville BOYS SOCCER Clayton at Salem Salem Tech at Pennsville Schalick at Overbrook Woodstown at Penns Grove GIRLS SOCCER Overbrook at Schalick Pennsville at Glassboro Pitman at Salem Tech Salem at Clayton Penns Grove at Woodstown GIRLS TENNIS Penns Grove at Woodstown Pennsville at Schalick, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
SEPT. 13 FOOTBALL Audubon at Bordentown, 6 p.m. Collingswood at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Schalick at Woodstown, 7 p.m. GIRLS TENNIS Penns Grove at Lindenwold Pennsville at Lower Cape May
SEPT. 14 FOOTBALL Camden Catholic at Paulsboro, 10:30 a.m. Salem at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m. Pennsville at Overbrook, 11 a.m. Glassboro at Penns Grove, noon FIELD HOCKEY Woodstown at Washington Twp., 10 a.m. CROSS COUNTRY South Jersey Open, Dream Park, 8:30 a.m. Woodstown at Belmont Plateau, 10:30 a.m.
Cover photo of Woodstown kicker Jake Ware’s game-winning overtime PAT against Delsea by Ellen Sickler.
Woodstown wins OT thriller over defending state champs in Trautz’ first game as head coach; Schalick, Penns Grove get back in win column
WJFL DIAMOND DIVISION Penns Grove 34, Deptford 0 Schalick 23, Cumberland 0 Woodstown 14, Delsea 13 SATURDAY’S GAME Glassboro at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m. Haddonfield at Woodbury, 11 a.m. Collingswood at Salem, noon
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – No matter how long Frank Trautz stays in the coaching game or how many games he wins along the way, he’ll never forget his first one.
Bryce Belinfanti and Jake Ware hand-delivered their new coach his first win in his first game in overtime, running for a touchdown and nailing the extra point, respectively, to lift Woodstown over defending Group 3 state champion Delsea 14-13.
“I’ll remember this for the rest of my life, that’s for sure,” said Trautz, promoted from quarterbacks coach in the offseason to succeed John Adams who retired from coaching after 14 seasons. “It’s been a very emotional day; I just wanted to get to the game. I was just so proud of the kids, proud of my staff, all the work that they put in; that’s what made this win possible.
“To be able to celebrate that with all them was such a cool moment.”
The Wolverines led from the moment Jack Holladay threw his first career touchdown pass with his second career completion in the second quarter. Delsea forced overtime with a touchdown with 3:21 left in regulation and missed a game-winning field goal with 46 seconds left.
The Crusaders got the ball first in overtime and Dan Russo scored on a 22-yard run on the second snap. But they barely missed the extra point to the left, opening the door for Woodstown to win on the ensuing possession.
The Wolverines didn’t waste any time. Belinfanti took the first snap and went 25 yards to tie the game and Ware drilled the extra point for the win. Belinfanti, a 1,700-yard rusher a year ago, ran for 97 yards in the game.
Holladay had waited his entire life to be the Wolverines’ starting quarterback and seized the opportunity when presented to him. He hadn’t thrown a pass in a varsity game, but connected with Garrett Leyman for his first career touchdown. He was 3-for-5 for 43 yards.
“It was huge for him, huge for his confidence,” Trautz said. “I told him I have confidence in you to open the playbook and we’re going to let it rip, and he did a great job. I know getting that first touchdown pass out of the way is a big deal for a quarterback, so I was very happy for him.”
Carter Orlandini preserved the 7-0 halftime lead when he intercepted a pass at the 2 and the Wolverines stopped Delsea’s seven-minute opening drive of the second half.
“Our defense came up huge all night in a game that was an incredibly physical game and obviously Delsea is such a great team,” Trautz said. “To come up with that interception right there at the end of the half was huge.”
The new coach won’t have a lot of time to enjoy his first win. The Wolverines open their WJFL Diamond Division schedule next week.
“I’m going to go enjoy it with my wife tonight and we’ll celebrate the win,” he said, “and tomorrow it’s back to work and we’re going to get ready for Schalick.”
Woodstown 14, Delsea 13 (OT)
DEL (13)
WTN (14)
40-143
Rush-yards
23-102
2-14-0
Passing (C-A-I)
3-5-1
121
Passing yds
43
Delsea (0-1)
0
0
0
7
6-
13
Woodstown (1-0)
0
7
0
0
7-
14
SCORING SUMMARY W-Garrett Leyman 19 pass from Jack Holladay (Jake Ware kick), 6:28 2Q D-Luke VanAuken 12 pass from Jimmy Reardon (Zack Greer kick), 3:21 4Q D-Dan Russo 22 run (kick failed), OT W-Bryce Belinfanti 25 run (Jake Ware kick), OT
Jack Holladay made the most of his first varsity start. The senior threw his first career touchdown pass and directed the Woodstown offense to an overtime victory. On the cover, the Wolverines celebrate after winning. (Photos by Ellen Sickler)
Simmons returns in Schalick win
PITTSGROVE – Senior quarterback Kenai Simmons returned to the Schalick lineup Friday night and helped the Cougars exorcise the demons of last week’s dud in the Battle at the Beach, 23-0 over Cumberland.
“This week was all about getting a win, that’s all that mattered,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “It didn’t matter how we won or how we looked, it was just about getting our mojo back and getting a W.”
It’s the first time in two years the Cougars faced that kind of adversity and the resiliency of bouncing back from an in-season setback. They haven’t lost back-to-back games since mid-October 2021. Since then, they have gone 22-5.
“It says a lot about the kids’ fortitude, a lot about them being mentally strong, a lot about their work ethic and bouncing back and being honest about what they had to do,” Wilson said.
Simmons returned after a full week of practice and ran for a pair of short-field touchdowns. Reggie Allen scored on a 20-yard run early in the third quarter. Allen rushed for 135 yards.
The defense recorded the Cougars’ first shutout in the series since 2016. They held the Colts to 86 net yards, had four interceptions (two by game MVP David Stewart) and a safety. Riley Papiano led the unit with eight tackles and was in on the safety with Thomas Hymer. Alec Bramell had six tackles.
“In my (five) years here that’s probably the best we played defensively overall,” he said.
It’s the first time either team has won back-to-back games in the Battle for the Hars-Lake Trophy since Schalick won in 2018-19. The Cougars have won 11 of the last 15 meetings.
CUMB (0)
SCHAL (23)
6
1st Downs
10
23-79
Rush-yards
41-123
3-16-4
Passes (C-A-I)
2-4-0
7
Passing
14
0-0
Fum-lost
1-1
12-95
Penalties
6-74
A convincing first win
DEPTFORD – Penns Grove needed a win and got it in convincing fashion.
The Red Devils bounced back from their season-opening loss with a convincing 34-0 win on the road over Deptford Twp. for head coach Mark Maccarone’s first win at the head of the program.
Melo Erickson threw a career-high three touchdown passes – to Knowledge Young, Kylee Goodson and Karon Ceaser – and a two-point conversion to Tre Brown. Ceaser played tailback most of the game and ran for two scores and the defense kept the Spartans out of the end zone.
“I’m happy for the kids,” Maccarone said. “It gives them a confidence build. They start to see the system works. When we say to do X, Y and Z and they do X, Y and Z, it results in good things. You saw when they don’t do what they’re being asked to do, the outcome is not good.
“It was a good win, a good team effort by everybody. It’s a good one for the program … a good win to build confidence in what the system is and how I run a program, how my brother runs an offense and how I run a defense.”
The Red Devils open their WJFL Diamond Division gauntlet next week against Glassboro, where Maccarone was the head coach for seven seasons (2011-17).
“Coming back as a head coach for the first time against Glassboro, not an assistant coach, it’s definitely going to be different for me,” he said. “The current head coach at Glassboro was a player under my brother when I was an assistant coach in 2008.
“It’s going to be different. I don’t really know how to describe it. I really haven’t given much thought to it other than it’s another game on the schedule. I probably would feel different if we were playing them there. It’s been seven years since I’ve been around Glassboro.
“It is going to be different for my brother (Gary). It’s the first time he’s coaching against the guys he coached last year, the kids that he has in class. It’s going to be more (nostalgic) for him than me.”
Penns Grove (1-1)
14
7
0
13-
34
Deptford (0-2)
0
0
0
0-
0
DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro
0-0
0-0
Penns Grove
0-0
1-1
Salem
0-0
0-1
Schalick
0-0
1-1
Woodbury
0-0
0-0
Woodstown
0-0
1-0
Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti rushed for 97 yards and scored a touchdown in overtime that sent the Wolverines to a 14-13 win over Delsea. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Jack Holladay takes over as Woodstown’s quarterback, getting his shot to lead the offense after learning behind cousin Max Webb
FRIDAY’S SALEM COUNTY GAMES Penns Grove at Deptford, 6 p.m. Cumberland at Schalick, 7 p.m. Delsea at Woodstown, 7 p.m. West Deptford at Pennsville, 7 p.m. SATURDAY’S GAME Cinnaminson at Salem, noon
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – It may be a little hyperbole, but Jack Holladay has been waiting for tonight all his life.
Ever since he got to high school, Holladay has dreamed and worked for the day he would become Wolverines’ starting quarterback. The day comes tonight when the Wolverines host Delsea in the first game of Frank Trautz’ tenure as head coach.
The last couple years Holladay’s been on the team but on the quarterback depth chart he was behind his cousin Max Webb as the Wolverines’ lead signal caller.
Well, Max has moved on after leading the Wolverines to three straight deep playoff runs and now it’s Holladay’s time to step up and shine.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Holladay said over the summer. “Since freshman year I’ve wanted to be the quarterback. I know that’d be behind Max, but I was just learn from him and do what I can in practice and I knew I’d be ready for my senior year.
“It’ll be different (now as the starter), but I think the coaches will have me prepared and I think I’m ready for it.”
It was always been like that as the two were coming up. Webb would be the starter because he was older and the next year Holladay would follow because Max would move up to the next level.
Holladay always felt he “did good” in the seasons he immediately followed his cousin.
He doesn’t have a lot of game statistics to show for the work he’s put in behind Max because his cousin was so durable – he hasn’t thrown a pass in varsity two seasons and has been credited with just five career carries – but he’s said to have a big upside.
Trautz said every time the Wolverines needed to put the 6-1, 170-pound Holladay in a game they were “completely confident” in his ability.
He’s shown a strong arm in the summer and an even disposition to combat the pressure of his elevated circumstances. In his first 7-on-7 game his first pass was intercepted, then he went 7-for-7 on the next series, culminating in a touchdown to Anthony Bokolas, and ultimately completed eight in a row.
“I’m really excited to see what Jack’s gonna do this year,” said Trautz, Holladay’s quarterback coach before being promoted to succeed John Adams last spring. “He’s a great athlete. He’s got all the tools you want in a quarterback. He can make every throw. He’s a really good athlete, so he’s going to be able to help us out as well in the run game a little bit. I’m excited about the direction this offense can go with him under center.
“He’s definitely ready for this. He got a ton of reps last year in practice and already what I’ve seen from him early on in the summer is a lot of good stuff. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He could have a real special year.”
So tonight’s game has been a lifetime in the making.
When Holladay did allow himself to think of what it would be like to step into the starting role, his dream covered the total package.
“Just playing in front of everyone, the students, everyone at the game,” he said. “I thought that would be fun throwing touchdowns and just winning. I want to win a championship.”
AROUND THE COUNTY: There has been no change in Schalick quarterback Kenai Simmons’ status, coach Mike Wilson said Thursday, so it appears sophomore Ayden Jenkins will draw his second straight start in tonight’s home opener with Cumberland. Jenkins was under center the entire 41-3 loss to Cedar Grove in the Battle at the Beach. “We will be making sure to call the correct stuff to help him,” Wilson said. Tonight’s neighborhood rivals have split the last four games in the battle for the Hars-Lake Trophy, once a staple of the Thanksgiving Day slate … West Deptford coach John Emel may have moved onto a new team this season, but he’ll be looking for a same result when his Eagles take on Pennsville’s Eagles in tonight’s WJFL Patriot Division opener. Emel was 8-2 with a current seven-game winning streak against Pennsville when he was head coach at Penns Grove … Last week was a rarity in Salem County football. It was the first time in more than 20 years the county was shut out of the win column on the opening weekend with four or more teams playing. The county schools went 0-4 last week with Woodstown idle.
Here is the Salem County sports schedule for the week of Sept. 2-7; all events 4 p.m. unless noted; x-scrimmage
SEPT. 3 FIELD HOCKEY x-GCIT at Woodstown x-Overbrook at Pennsville x-Schalick at Haddon Heights BOYS SOCCER x-Clayton at Penns Grove x-Woodstown at GCIT GIRLS SOCCER x-GCIT at Woodstown x-Penns Grove at Clayton GIRLS TENNIS Gloucester Catholic at Salem Pennsville at Penns Grove Schalick at Overbrook Woodstown at Glassboro
SEPT. 4 BOYS SOCCER x-Pennsville at Cumberland Cape May Tech at Salem Tech, 3:45 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER x-Delsea at Pennsville x-Pitman at Penns Grove Woodstown at Deptford, 6 p.m.
SEPT. 5 GIRLS TENNIS Schalick at Gloucester Catholic FIELD HOCKEY Audubon at Pennsville
SEPT. 6 FOOTBALL Overbrook at Collingswood, 6 p.m. Penns Grove at Deptford, 6 p.m. KIPP Cooper Norcross at Camden Catholic, TBA Cumberland at Schalick, 7 p.m. Delsea at Woodstown, 7 p.m. West Deptford at Pennsville, 7 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Pennsville at Wildwood GIRLS SOCCER Deptford at Pennsville, 4:15 p.m.
SEPT. 7 FOOTBALL Paulsboro at Audubon, TBA Haddonfield at Woodbury, 10:30 a.m. Glassboro at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m. Cinnaminson at Salem, noon GIRLS SOCCER Schalick at Cherokee, 1:30 p.m. CROSS COUNTRY Pennsville in Cherokee Challenge, 9 a.m.
def. Ella Killelea, 6-2, 6-1
Riverview Sports News 