Cougars offense catches up to defense, together they blank Audubon in the opening round of the playoffs for second year in a row; contains updated material
SOUTH JERSEY GROUP I
Friday’s Games
(1) Glassboro 64, (8) Pt. Pleasant Beach 7
(2) Schalick 24, (7) Audubon 0
Saturday’s Games
(5) Riverside 40, (4) Haddon Twp. 20
(3) Paulsboro 34, (6) Manville 9
Nov. 8 semifinals
Riverside at Glassboro
Paulsboro at Schalick
By Riverview Sports News
PITTSGROVE – Wasn’t it that famous old sage Yogi Berra who once said it was like deja vu all over again?
Schalick played Audubon in the opening round of the Group I playoffs for the second year in a row Friday night and it felt like a rerun.
The Cougars took out the Green Wave 24-0 in their first game in the South Jersey Group I bracket. It was 35-0 last year in the Central Jersey bracket.
The Cougars (7-3) now host Paulsboro in the sectional semifinals Friday. Paulsboro beat Manville 34-9 Saturday. The Cougars shut out Paulsboro 17-0 on Oct. 7.
“If we go out and we play to the level we’re capable of playing … we’re hard to beat when we don’t make mistakes,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “If we don’t mistakes, even if we’re not moving the ball great, we have very good special teams and we’re playing very good defense.”
Schalick held the Green Wave to less than 100 yards of net offense and just 1-of-12 third-down conversions. It was the Cougars’ third shutout of the season.
It was a battle of punters and field position early, which the Cougars really didn’t mind, but they finally broke the ice when Kenai Simmons went on a 9-yard touchdown run with 6:01 left in the first half. Once they adjusted to the way the Wave was playing their unique offense, Simmons threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Levi Feeney-Childers in the third quarter. Simmons passed for 99 yards and rushed for 13.
“Our kids have to learn to be patient that sometimes winning ugly is OK,” Wilson said. “What I mean by ugly is … it’s OK to punt and play defense sometimes.
“One of my buddies said to me even though it was 7-0 (at halftime) the way you guys are playing special teams and defense you weren’t going to lose that game.”
The Cougars extended their lead in the fourth on Dragotta’s 28-yard field goal and Dezyon Purnell’s touchdown run. Dragotta handled both the punting and placements in the game. His leg got a workout in the first half and he came within inches of hitting a school-record field goal late in the half, the ball hitting the left upright.
“It takes us a couple series to figure out how people are going to line up to us,” Wilson said. “If you notice every game once we figure it out and make our adjustments then we start scoring points. We came out the second half and just blew the ball right down the field.
“The kids have to just relax and understand we have great special teams, we have a very good defense and the offense will score points because we’re too talented not to. Just calm down and play football.”
Schalick 24, Audubon 0
| AUD | SCH | |
| 5 | 1st Downs | 9 |
| 17-30 | Rushing | 36-106 |
| 12-27-1 | C-A-I | 4-15-0 |
| 54 | Passing | 99 |
| 1-1 | Fum-Lost | 0-0 |
| NA | Punts | 6-36.3 |
| NA | Penalties | 4-29 |
| Audubon (2-6) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0- | 0 |
| Schalick (7-3) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10- | 24 |
SCORING SUMMARY
S-Kenai Simmons 9 run (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S-Levi Feeney-Childers 70 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick)
S-Hunter Dragotta 28 FG
S-Dez Purnell run (Hunter Dragotta kick)
