Here are scores from Friday’s non-football high school action involving Salem County schools

FRIDAY’S SCORES
FIELD HOCKEY
Gloucester Tech 5, Salem 1: Rams suffer third straight loss
Schalick at Woodstown

BOYS SOCCER
Audubon 4, Woodstown 0
Schalick 3, Glassboro 1: Luke Price, Michael Nelson and Bradford Foster scored Cougars goals.
Wildwood 7, Salem 0

GIRLS SOCCER
Salem 1, Wildwood 0
Schalick 3, Glassboro 1: Emily Miller scored a hat trick

Woodstown, Salem resume rivalry with Homecoming game; Penns Grove, Pennsville look to enhance playoff positions, unbeaten Schalick open after forfeit win 

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s games
Pennsville at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Salem at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick 1, Lindenwold 0, forfeit
Saturday’s game
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – They might not play the game on Thanksgiving anymore because it’s too valuable in the current playoff formula, but it still carries the same amount of pageantry and stakes.

Woodstown and Salem meet for the 114th time Friday night in a game that holds a lot of meaning for both teams.

The Wolverines (3-1) are looking to get back on track after last week’s overtime loss to Glassboro that knocked them out of the top spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR power ratings that determine playoff seedings. 

The Rams (0-5) are looking for their first win. It’s their slowest start since 2012 when they went 0-10. They’re used to a season starting in the other direction, but they did give Group III Cedar Creek all it could handle in the rain at Rutgers last week and their offense showed signs of coming around with the emergence of now lead back Pop Jackson.

Quarterback Ramaji Bundy didn’t make the trip for undisclosed disciplinary reasons, paving the way for Jackson’s breakout game (30 carries, 154 yards). And while Rams coach Danny Mendoza said the evaluation was “to be continued” into this week, the player’s status for Mendoza’s first Woodstown-Salem experience remained unclear even as he and the Rams practiced Thursday.

“Any time you play Salem it’s a huge game because of the rivalry,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “I know their record doesn’t reflect how well they’ve played. They’ve had a tough schedule and they have some good players and they started getting things clicking there the last game and had a shot to win that. We can’t have any missed opportunities like we had last week and we can’t lose the turnover battle and the penalty battle.”

It was a big deal when the teams always played on Thanksgiving, such a big deal, in fact, that when the date change came about officials from both schools met with their constituencies to explain the situation. It had to move it off the traditional date when the current scheduling model and playoff system went into effect but, in a nod to pageantry and tradition, for these last two years at least the schools decided to make it their respective Homecoming games.

“We knew there was tradition, but we had to talk about the players now and what was in their best interest,” Adams said. 

It is such a big deal they’ve gotten in writing that if at any time they find themselves in different WJFL divisions they’ll still be guaranteed to be regular opponents.

Adams said the date change and the impact the game has on the post-season formula has ”definitely added” to the meaningfulness of the game.

“When you became the coach here it was like, ‘You’ve got to beat Salem,’” Adams said. “That’s what everybody in town focused on because back in the day they didn’t have playoffs, that was the last game of the year, that was like the final game, so it always came down to Woodstown-Salem at the end of the year.

“Even when we did keep it on Thanksgiving and both programs got to the point where we were going far in the playoffs, it was like bragging rights. A couple years we played them back-to-back. In 2019 they beat us in the playoffs and then we played them the next week and beat them on Thanksgiving. I think it was redemption.”

This might be just his first run through the rivalry, but Mendoza knows what it means to play in a traditional game and is well-versed in the history of this one.

“It’s a little bit different this year with us being a little bit down and them being a little bit up, the buzz around it may not be as big ,” he said, “but I’m sure tomorrow night it’ll be a sight to see.”

Salem leads the series 64-39-10. Woodstown has won three of the last four, but all four have been decided by six points or less (14 points total). Last year’s game was 7-6 and, Adams said, “just as crowded as Thanksgiving would have been.”

PENNSVILLE (2-2) at CUMBERLAND (2-3): The Eagles play one of the most pivotal games of their turnaround season.

They currently sit at No. 17 in the South Jersey Group I UPR ratings – one spot out of the 16 playoff qualifiers – less than a half-point off the cut and two points ahead of No. 18. They’ve already won more games than they did a year ago, but they’ll likely need to double that total coming out of the Royal Division.

There’s a lot of football left to play in what Eagles coach Mike Healy calls “an interesting year” and lot of shuffling that’ll go on before the playoff field is ultimately determined, but beating a Group III division rival certainly would score them a lot of points.

“We’re halfway through the season so it’s getting to the time where every game is going to be (pivotal),” Healy said. “We’re one spot out of the playoffs right now and we really want to get a shot to get in there and see what we can do.

“Beating a team that has a couple wins, get some extra power points, things like that, is definitely big for us because you’re going to start running out of chances eventually, so we really have to focus now and get this. I think the kids realize it’s getting late in the season, we’ve got to make sure we’re not having more letdowns. We can control our own future if we want. If we take care of business we don’t have to worry about anything else.”

The Eagles are coming off a 38-20 loss to Schalick in a game they were in through the middle of the third quarter. They did a lot of good things in the game, they just needed to be more consistent.

After drawing to within 17-14, they gave up a long touchdown pass and then failed to move the chains in their next two offensive series as the Cougars pulled away.

“It’s time for us to take the next step now,” Healy said. “Get rid of these mental mistakes. We need to be more disciplined as a team and that’s what’s going to get us to that next level of the teams we want to be playing with and beating. 

“We mentioned where we are in the playoffs (picture), but it’s more every game we’ve got to get better and keep getting better every game and doing what we should. It’s not so much it’s make or break (this week), but there is a part of that where we need this game to do what we want to do.”

LINDENWOLD (0-5) vs. SCHALICK (5-0): The undefeated Cougars found themselves with an unscheduled open week after accepting Lindenwold’s forfeit due to a lack of numbers in the Lions’ program. Riverview Sports News first reported the forfeit last week.

When advised of the Lions’ plight, the Cougars sought an alternate opponent, but after deeper consideration decided to accept the forfeit “in the best interest of the team,” becoming the state’s first 6-0 team this season in the process. They’re one of 36 undefeated teams in the NJSIAA this week.

Without a game to play, the Cougars had a reduced practice week, but as they say, there may be off days but there are no days off, so they did have some football activities.

“I told the kids flat out everything you haven’t been able to do the last 6-8 weeks, go get it done, because that’s what I’m doing,” Cougars coach Mike Wilson said. “Not playing allows us to rest up a bit mentally and physically to get ready for the second-half push. With the new schedule and not playing on Thanksgiving teams have lost their bye weeks. This was unexpected, but we will take it and get better.”

Earlier in the week the Cougars moved into the No. 1 spot in the South Jersey Group I UPR rankings that determine playoff seedings for the first time in Wilson’s tenure. The top four teams in SJ-I this week are Schalick, Florence, Glassboro and Woodbury. Last week’s No. 1, Woodstown, fell to No. 6 after its overtime loss to Glassboro.

“Is it nice to see our players hard work has paid off to this point; yes,” Wilson said. “But we’re only halfway through the season, we’re turning to the October, which is the second-half push.

“One thing I did tell the kids about all this – and it was before the rankings came out – we control our own destiny. Last year we kind of had to cross our fingers that last week. If we go 1-0 every week everything will take care of itself. The best thing about where we’re at right now is we control our own destiny, we don’t need anybody else’s help.”

Saturday’s game

PAULSBORO (0-4) AT PENNS GROVE (1-4): The Red Devils have been struggling to find consistency this season, but they can greatly enhance their playoff position with a win Saturday. They got in last year without winning a game in the WJFL’s black-and-blue Diamond Division – all five division teams got in – but they’re already ahead of the game with one this year and could effectively punch their ticket by winning Saturday.

Paulsboro may be winless, but its not punchless and Red Devils coach John Emel is wary. The Red Raiders have a storied program that this year has fallen victim to a brutal schedule (highest OSI outside of the SJ-I top 16). They played their closest game of the year last week, losing 14-13 at West Deptford. Last year they started 0-3 and wound up playing Salem for the Central Jersey Group I title.

“I think they’re a Group I playoff team in terms of caliber of talent,” Emel said. “They played some really good teams. Haddonfield, Woodstown and Woodbury are the top of Groups I and II. A lot of people might be 0-4 playing that type of schedule.

“I don’t pay attention to the records. We’ve only got one more win than them, so we don’t have any room to be resting on laurels.”

Here are the updated Salem County scoring leaders for high school field hockey and soccer teams; stats through Sept. 24, for coaches to make adjustments email al.muskewitz@gmail.com

Salem County scoring leaders

Armstead, Jackson bring home individual gold at Group track championships

UPDATED June 12 to reflect Meet of Champions seeding

By Riverview Sports News

SOMERSET – Penns Grove senior Janier Armstead and Salem sophomore DaviYonn Jackson brought state titles back to Salem County Saturday with gold medal-winning performances at the NJSIAA Group I track and field championship at Franklin High School.

Armstead won the Group I boys shot put with a winning throw of 55 feet, 1 inch. Jackson won the boys triple jump at 45 feet, 9 inches.

For Armstead, a football signee to Sacred Heart, the shot put title was a long time coming, a satisfying finish to a career-long pursuit.

He finished seventh in the event 2021 and was fifth last year. His winning throw this year would have won it each of those two years.

‘I wanted to have a shot put state championship under my belt since my sophomore year so it was three years of trying before I could get one and that’s what makes this one so special to me,’ he told Riverview Sports News. ‘I wanted to make sure that going into my last state championship meet I left it all out there and left no room for regret.’

Besides getting to put his name in the record book for all time, he also was driven by the hopes his journey might serve as an inspiration to others.

‘My motivation to do well was to set an example to all the younger kids in my school so that they can see that when they have a goal that is a bit difficult to achieve in life they can do it if they just put the work in and believe in themselves,’ he said.

Armstead also finished second in the discus (163-3), so he qualifies for Wednesday’s Meet of Champions here in both events. The top two finishers in each event and the next best 18 regardless of classification qualify. He’s seeded sixth in the shot, seventh in the discus.

Teammate Elijah Hendricks also scored twice in the meet, finishing sixth in the 100 (11.13) and third in the 200 (22.27). Hendricks also ran a leg on the Red Devils’ fourth-place 4×400 relay team. He’s seeded 23rd in the MOC 200.

Jackson is seeded fifth in the MOC triple jump. His teammate Cameron Smith was third in the shot put (47-3.25) and fifth in long jump (21-1.75). He’s seeded 27th in the MOC long jump.

Penns Grove finished fifth as a team with 29 points. Salem was tenth.

Schalick’s Jordan Hadfield scored twice in the girls distance events. She was fifth in the 1600 (5:19.20) and fourth in the 3200 (11:17.17). She’s seeded 28th in the MOC 3200.

Woodbury’s boys and Hasbrouck Heights’ girls won team titles.

NJSIAA GROUP I TRACK CHAMPIONSHIP
SALEM COUNTY SCORERS
BOYS
100: 6. Elijah Hendricks, Penns Grove 11.13
200: 3. Elijah Hendricks, Penns Grove 22.27
800: 3. Cole Lucas, Woodstown 2:00.80
4×400: 4. Penns Grove 3:30.39
Long jump: 5. Cameron Smith, Salem 21-1.75
Triple jump: 1. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem  45-9
Shot put: 1. Janier Armstead, Penns Grove 55-1; 3. Cameron Smith, Salem 47-3.25
Discus: 2. Janier Armstead, Penns Grove 163-3

GIRLS
1600: 5. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick 5:19.20
3200: 4. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick 11:17.17
100 Hurdles: 5. Karima Davenport-White, Salem 15.94; 6. Brooke Watt, Schlaick 16.11
4×100: 3. Salem 50.17; 5. Schalick 51.27
4×400: 3. Schalick 4:09.04; 6. Woodstown 4:10.35
4×800: 5. Woodstown 10:13.15
Pole vault: T-4. Salem’s Anna Buzby, Salem; Angie Chomo, Schalick 8-0
Discus: 3. Grace O’Neill, Schalick 106-3

TEAM SCORES
Boys: 1. Woodbury 71; 5. Penns Grove 29; 10. Salem 18; 23. Woodstown 6
Girls: 1. Hasbrouck Heights 77.40; 9. Schalick 22.40; 18. Salem 9.40; 23. Woodstown 7

MEET OF CHAMPIONS QUALIFIERS
GIRLS
3200: 28. Jordan Hadfield, Schalick

BOYS
200: 23. Elijah Hendricks, Penns Grove
Long jump: 27. Cameron Smith, Salem
Triple jump: 5. DaviYonn Jackson, Salem
Dis:cus: 7. Janier Armstead, Penns Grove
Shot put: 6. Janier Armstead, Penns Grove

Schalick recognizes 12 spring athletes moving to the next level

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PITTSGROVE — Historic day at Schalick High School. The Cougars recognized the spring part of their largest college signing class in school history Wednesday. The group of 12 represented eight sports heading to 10 schools.

The group included Ella Berger (Jefferson soccer), Angeline Chomo (Wilmington track), Gianna Fiske (RCSJ-Cumberland softball), Jayla Gross (Immaculata cross country/track), Ethan Hardy (RCSJ-Gloucester wrestling), Julia Nitz (Ursinus tennis), Jaquan Redfern (Shippensburg football), David Sipowicz (Wilkes wrestling), Fuquan Sutton (Wilkes football), Mia Marinaro (Temple dance), Ava Tedesco (Towson cheer) and Chloe Weber (Rowan dance).

Overall, there are 15 Schalick athletes this year moving on for what athletics director Doug Volovar called “fulfilling their dreams” at the next level. The previous high water mark was 10 in an academic year.

“It’s not that the programs have gotten better, I just think we’ve been exposed a little bit more than we have in the past and exposure’s been good for us,” Volovar said. “It’s been a long time football wise we’ve been pretty consistent, so I think that has a lot to do with it. And I think for the other sports who have always been pretty steady and very successful, it just bodes to the fact that we’ve had solid programs and they’ve gotten better.

“It’s not necessarily under me, it’s just these kids have been exposed to a lot more than they have in the past and more opportunities have come to them.”

This story first appeared on the Riverview Sports News Facebook page June 7.

When we moved (back) to New Jersey, we always had the idea of launching a local sports news website similar to one we ran successfully in Alabama for eight years (that’s still running today) and we’re finally pulling the trigger.

Last month we started bringing you coverage of high school baseball in Salem County on our facebook page as a way of introducing ourselves to the community while getting a lay of the land and sense of what the market would bear.

It is our hope to bring you in depth Salem County-centric sports news, heavy on the high schools, but whatever grabs your local interest. We figure you can get the college and pro stuff anywhere on the internet, but who’s going to give you the local angle (I use that term because that’s the space I occupied when I worked in Philly media many, many moons ago)?

We were heavy in high school sports and golf during our time in Alabama and we hope to that approach here, but we also were on the scene for other major events that went on in town. We had a great relationship and cooperation from the high school administrators and coaches in all sports as well as the organizers of the county’s major sports events, and hope the enjoy the same here; like they say, teamwork makes the dream work.

It may be slow going at first as we’re still learning all the players and they get to know us, but I’m confident that in short order you’ll come to enjoy what we post here. If you haven’t seen the facebook posts we’ll post them here to give you a sense of what we’re planning to produce for you.

Spread the word to your high school coaches and administrators and event organizers on what we’re trying to do. Feel free to drop an email (al.muskewitz@gmail.com) with suggestions, feedback and heads-ups.

Thanks for listening. We hope you come back often.