Woodstown tennis seniors produce memorable finish to their careers with dramatic win over Pennsville; includes all of Friday’s Salem County sports action
GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown 3, Pennsville 2
By Riverview Sports News
PENNSVILLE – The seniors on the Woodstown girls tennis team knew they had reached the end of the line and they wanted to do something memorable before riding off into the sunset. They sure went out with a flourish.
Three of the Wolverines’ seniors won matches that involved some sort of tiebreaker and their fortitude fueled a 3-2 win over Pennsville that handed the Eagles only their second loss of the season and clinched a share of the Tri-County Diamond Division title.
“I was very proud with how the girls performed today,” Wolverines coach Jesse Stemberger said. “The seniors were a little emotional beforehand knowing this was their last match, but they wanted to have a memorable ending to their careers and season and they were able to achieve that.”
The Wolverines (16-5) clinched the match at No. 1 doubles when senior Julianna Lindenmuth and junior Alyssa Berry took down Emma Cornette and Izzy Schrenker 7-6 (7-3), 7-5.
Before that, senior Camille Osborn won the final match of her high school career over Regan Witt 6-4, 7-6 (12-10) at No. 2 singles and senior Leah Waterman teamed with junior Nathalie Neron to win a 10-4 super tiebreaker after dropping the first set to Naomi Hess and Morgan Holt, 3-6.
Osborn had lost two of her three previous super tiebreakers this season, with one of the losses coming to Witt on Oct. 1. Lindenmuth (with Berry) had been 1-1 in set tiebreakers this season. It was Waterman’s first super tiebreaker of the season.
The Wolverines finished the season with a five-match winning streak and were 7-1 after being eliminated by Haddon Twp. in the South Jersey Group I quarterfinals.
Pennsville (20-2) got its points from first singles Megan Morris and third singles Lily Edwards. Edwards finished the season undefeated (21-0) and has won 32 consecutive matches going back to last season.
BOYS SOCCER HADDON TWP. 1, SCHALICK 0: Andres Santiago scored a first-half goal and keeper Collin Feeley made it stand with 15 saves in the net as the Hawks snapped the Cougars’ 10-match winning streak in the opening round of the South Jersey Coaches Cup. It was only the Cougars’ second loss of the season and they remain No. 1 in the South Jersey Group I power points standings.
Haddon Twp. was the No. 4 team in the SJ Group I power points standings, meaning it would be on Schalick’s side of the bracket if the pairings were finalized today. Woodstown is the solid No. 2, Penns Grove is No. 9 and Pennsville No. 13. The cutoff day for the standings is Saturday.
OVERBROOK 4, PENNSVILLE 0: The Eagles moved up the match with the hopes of enhancing their playoff position before the cutoff, but Overbrook kept them off the board. Four separate players lit the lamp for the Rams.
WILDWOOD CATHOLIC 7, SALEM TECH 1: Teddy Woolery and Charlie Flickinger both scored a hat trick as the Crusaders snapped the Chargers’ school-record three-game winning streak. Graham Fields scored the Chargers’ goal in the second half.
FIELD HOCKEY SALEM 3, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 0: Audrey Boggs broke a scoreless tie with a third-quarter goal and assisted on the Rams’ other two second-half goals by Kashira Patterson and Julliana Love. Ava Rogers made five saves in posting the shutout.
Heading into Saturday’s cutoff, Salem is No. 10 in the South Jersey Group I standings. Unbeaten Schalick is 2, Woodstown 6 and Pennsville 17.
VOLLEYBALL SALEM TECH 2, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: The Chargers rallied from dropping the first set to score their third win of the season. The set scores were 16-25, 25-13, 25-12. Tori Farnkoph had eight kills and 10 aces to lead the way. Tiara Bazemore had six kills and eight assists, Shelby Liber had seven aces and Alan’s James had six assists.
Smith scores 2 long TDs in second half to lift Glassboro over Woodstown for division title, No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I playoffs
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
GLASSBORO — Kenny Smith couldn’t have been more mad at himself and he knew he had to do something to make amends.
Twice when the game still was tight Smith fumbled away possessions for his Glassboro football team, but just as coach Timmy Breaker has come to expect, when the Bulldogs needed their senior running back most he delivered.
Smith bounced back from his two fumbles to score on an electrifying 71-yard run and later on a 45-yard fourth-down screen pass to lift the undefeated Bulldogs over Woodstown 20-7 Friday night to clinch the WJFL Diamond Division title and the No. 1 seed in South Jersey Group I.
“It was definitely a redemption thing,” Smith said. “It’s my team believing in me that drove me to get those touchdowns. I fumbled. I’ve got to make up for that. I know that. They trusted me, so that’s what we did.
“I hadn’t had more than two fumbles in my career let alone one game, so it was definitely a shock. I had to get my mind right and lock in and get the job done.”
Thanks to the big touchdown burst Smith, a senior transfer from Hammonton, rushed for 99 yards in the third quarter and 149 yards in the game. The screen pass for a score was his only reception.
“That was big for him,” Breaker said. “That’s a senior. Resilient kid. Tough kid. And it doesn’t matter if he makes mistakes. He’s one of those kids who could fumble four times (and) the very next two – boom – it’ll go the distance, and as a coach I’m going to stay behind him and I’m going to keep giving it to him.”
They didn’t go to him down on the goal line late in the first half after Xavier Sabb returned an acrobatic interception inside the 5, but that’s because of the way Woodstown set its defense and stopped Smith for no gain on the first down play. The goal line stand kept the Wolverines ahead 7-6 at halftime.
The touchdown pass Smith caught, on fourth-and-7 on the first play of the fourth quarter, was the game-breaker. It was the first screen the Bulldogs (8-0) had taken for a touchdown all season.
It came from Jack O’Connell, who replaced Kristopher Foster late in the second quarter after the starter had been intercepted twice. The Bulldogs turned it over in each of their first three possessions and five times total, a circumstance that normally gets a team beat.
O’Connell, who lost the starting job after a similar start against Salem, was 9-of-14 for 182 yards passing and Breaker said it “absolutely” would be O’Connell to start next week’s playoff opener.
“Not many high schools have two quarterbacks who can play,” Breaker said. “We’re blessed to have two quarterbacks who can really do it and tonight you go with the hot hand. You never know who’s going to have the hot hand. Even in the backfield with the skill we have … somebody’s going to have a hot night and you try to stick with that guy. So, having two quarterbacks who are like brothers it doesn’t matter who’s out there as long as we win.”
The Wolverines, meanwhile, went with their third quarterback for the second week in a row and their offense was impacted even more when leading rusher Bryce Belinfanti hurt his right ankle midway through the first quarter. They didn’t change what they do because of it and Belinfanti did return to the game, but their effectiveness was limited.
Belinfanti had only 34 rushing yards, his lowest single-game output since becoming the headline back last year.
“Obviously he’s a huge part of our offense and when he’s not at 100 percent it’s tough,” Woodstown coach Frank Trautz said. “But I have all the confidence in all the kids who come in. We’re going to run our offense the way it’s designed to be run. We just didn’t make enough plays tonight.”
Belinfanti scored Woodstown’s touchdown on a 21-yard run late in the second quarter to give the Wolverines a 7-0 lead, but he was limping noticeably as he galloped towards the end zone. The senior said after the game “I’ll be back” next week for the playoffs.
“My ankle is all good,; it was just a game setback,” he said. “I’m good, though, and I’m definitely going to be back.”
The Wolverines are still hoping to get QB1 Jack Holladay back next week from the sprained shoulder he suffered against Haddon Heights, but if he’s not available the offense will be in Garrett Leyman’s hands again.
Leyman was in a different kind of game than his varsity debut at the position last week at Salem. He did complete his first four passes – giving him eight in a row to start his career – but he didn’t throw a touchdown pass after going 4-for-4 with four TDs against the Rams. He was 8-for-13 for 61 yards with two interceptions.
“He played great tonight,” Trautz said. “You look at the stat sheet and it’s not going to reflect that, but he never lost faith out there; he was confident. He stared down the barrel of the gun a few times in that pocket and he did not waver.”
The presumption is Woodstown (7-1) falls to No. 2 in the power rankings and will be the No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group I bracket, but that will be determined after Saturday’s games.
The official UPR rankings weren’t updated after Friday night’s games, but a usually reliable unofficial list by Central Jersey Sports Radio has Glassboro, Shore, Paulsboro, Woodstown and Schalick as the Top 5. Its formula has Pennsville 9 and Penns Grove, which plays Salem Saturday, 17 – one spot out of the field.
Glassboro coach Timmy Breaker gives quarterback Jack O’Connell (2) instructions before sending him back onto the field in the fourth quarter. On the cover, Kenny Smith takes a breather in the second half.
Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7
WOOD
GLASS
6
1st Downs
14
27-42
Rushing
27-199
8-13-2
C-A-I
13-21-3
61
Passing
216
1-0
Fum-lost
2-2
4-40.0
Punts
0-0
7-45
Penalties
8-65
Woodstown (7-1)
0
7
0
0-
7
Glassboro (8-0)
0
6
7
7-
20
SCORING SUMMARY WO-Bryce Belinfanti 22 run (Jake Ware kick), 4:41 2Q G-Amari Sabb 4 run (run failed), 2:09 2Q G-Kenny Smith 71 run (Sal Esgro kick), 6:35 3Q G-Kenny Smith 45 pass from Jack O’Connell (Sal Esgro kick), 11:46 4Q
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (1)
5-0
8-0
Woodstown (2)
4-1
7-1
Schalick (5)
3-2
6-3
Woodbury (11)
2-3
3-5
Penns Grove (20)
0-4
1-7
Salem (21)
0-4
0-8
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 19
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 20, Woodstown 7 Schalick 27, Woodbury 16 SATURDAY’S GAME Salem at Penns Grove, noon
Woodstown’s Bryce Belinfanti (3) scored the game’s first touchdown in the second quarter, but played most of the game on a sore ankle. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Woodstown senior becomes fifth player in girls soccer program to hit that milestone, and gets it on Senior Day; also, Thursday’s Salem County results
GIRLS SOCCER Woodstown 3, Pennsville 1 Schalick 5, Penns Grove 0 Salem at Salem Tech
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – Talia Battavio took up soccer as a way to stay in shape and provide a fun release away from the demands of her first sport, basketball. And, as it turns out, she wound up being pretty good at it.
Four years into it, Battavio scored her 60th career goal and became the fifth player in Woodstown’s girls soccer history to reach that milestone Thursday when got her 13th goal of the season to seal the Wolverines 3-1 Senior Day victory over Pennsville.
The goal came late in the second half and gave the Wolverines (12-4-1) a two-goal cushion, and came in a fashion similar to the way she scores a lot of her points on the basketball court.
Battavio’s initial shot, with her left foot, banged off a defender, but she collected the rebound on her right foot at the 18 and let it fly.
“I didn’t know that was my 60th,” she said. “It was cool to get it on Senior Night and I’m glad we got the win.”
Gina Murray scored Woodstown’s first two goals after the teams played a scoreless first half. Battavio assisted on one of the goals, giving her 25 for her career (ninth on the all-time list). Her 125 scoring points are fifth on that all-time list.
“I actually thought today was her best game,” Wolverines coach Kieran Keyser said. “Talia is a gifted athlete and always finds ways to score, as displayed the last four seasons. But I think her most underrated skill is her ability to see the field and connect with her teammates. She consistently looks to make the final pass and set her teammates up to score.”
Woodstown’s other 60-goal scorers are Tatum Devault (75), Tori Malpezzi (70), Amy Gray (69) and Chelsea Norbuts (65). They’re also the only players ahead of Battavio on the program’s all-time points list.
By the time Battavio graduates this spring she will rank among the top five scorers in two sports at Woodstown. She currently is fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list in basketball (1,194).
“I think I’m very blessed and I’m glad that I got the opportunity to go to the trainers and have parents who will drive me to practices like every day,” she said.
Woodstown leading scorers
GIRLS SOCCER
G
A
PTS
Tatum Devault (2022)
75
42
192
Tori Malpezzi (2008)
70
33
173
Amy Gray (1993)
65
34
164
Chelsea Norbuts (2009)
69
22
160
Talia Battavio (2024)
60
25
145
SCHALICK 5, PENNS GROVE 0: The Cougars (12-4) completed a sweep of their Diamond Division schedule behind Abby Willoughby’s hat trick and single goals by freshman Kassady Sickler and Quinn Berger. Sickler’s goal was the first of her career.
Cover photo: Woodstown’s Talia Battavio takes a shot against Clayton in a match earlier this month.
BOYS SOCCER SCHALICK 6, PENNS GROVE 0: Luke Price scored two goals and Anthony Sepers recorded three assists as the Cougars (15-1) won their tenth straight game. Brad Foster, Oscar Hernandez, Louis Sepers and Marco Spinnato scored their other goals. WOODSTOWN 2, PITMAN 1: The Wolverines gave coach Darren Huck his 300th career victory. (See related story) PENNSVILLE 6, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 1: Michael Veasy scored two goals and Shane Puckett had a goal and three assists for the Eagles (10-7). It was their fifth win in the last six games. SALEM TECH 4, SALEM 2: Clinton Bobo scored two goals in the second half as the Chargers won their NJSIAA school-record third in a row. Jack McCauley and Christian VanTonder gave the Chargers (6-10) a 2-0 halftime lead.
GIRLS TENNIS PENNSVILLE 3, SCHALICK 2 (conclusion of susp. match) Emma Adams (S) def. Megan Morris, 6-2, 6-3 Ally Green (S) def. Regan Whitt, 6-0, 6-0 Lily Edwards (P) def. Miya Watkins, 6-0, 6-0 Emma Cornette-Gabi Forino (P) def. Julia Langley-Helana Tyers, 6-2, 6-2 Izzy Schrenker-Naomi Hess (P) def. Kayleigh Veach-Annie Podehl, 6-3, 6-3 Records: Pennsville 20-1, Schalick 9-8.
FIELD HOCKEY HAMMONTON 6, WOODSTOWN 1: Sienna Land scored the Wolverines’ goal in the third quarter.
Woodstown soccer coach becomes second soccer coach in Salem County to reach the milestone, 60th among boys-only coaches in the state.
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
PITMAN – Darren Huck has experienced a lot of neat things in his 26 years as the Woodstown soccer coach, but it wasn’t until the occasion of his 300th coaching win Thursday that he experienced one of the most rewarding traditions in all of sports.
HUCK
For all the meaningful and momentous wins he has collected over the years, Huck had never felt the sweet sting of the water bucket being dumped over his head on a chilly October night.
But after the Wolverines finished off Pitman 2-1 at Alcyon Park and the team ran over to greet their parents and fans the ice bucket brigade emerged from behind the bench and got their head coach pretty good.
And there was even a parade and “champagne” (sparkling apple cider, really) celebration waiting for him when the team got back to town. All they needed was Garrett Stubbs and his locker room goggles and overalls to make it complete.
“Cold, cold, but I don’t even feel it anymore,” Huck said of his reaction to the water bucket treatment. “I’m just very, very happy about this.
“This should lock in the No. 2 seed for us, and that was the whole goal anyway. These guys knew it. I talked to them on the bus. It’s not about me, it’s not about them individually, it’s about the guy next to him, the in front of him, the guy behind him, the guy sitting on the bus. It’s about the jersey and the team and program.”
Huck became the second soccer coach in Salem County to earn 300 career victories with the win and all but locked up the No. 2 seed in South Jersey Group I to boot. He is the 60th coach in state history with 300 boys-only wins and the 23rd all-time in South Jersey to hit the milestone (10th active).
Good friend and neighbor Joe Mannella, the Schalick coach who reached the milestone earlier this season, sent him a note earlier in the day that read in part “enjoy the moment.”
“I sent him a message back and said it would be an honor to join him in the same year,” Huck said. “That was the whole goal of mine because I have a lot of respect for Joe Mannella because he is a true soccer guy. To be in the same conversation with him I think is probably not necessary because he is that good of a coach.”
The Wolverines came into the season needing to win a lot of games if Huck was going to join the club. When they lost to Schalick on Oct. 10 it left no room for error if the milestone was going to happen in the regular season. They haven’t lost since and will take a five-game winning streak into the playoffs, but the Panthers weren’t going to be an easy out.
“I really want him to get it,” his son Cole, a freshman on the JV team, said before the game. “He doesn’t talk about it a lot, but I’d really like to see him get it. Everybody does.”
Woodstown soccer coach Darren Huck holds up the poster and balloons celebrating his 300th career victory. On the cover, Huck reacts to getting the water bucket shower from his players after the game.
The Wolverines played what Huck called “a good game” to get the milestone win.
Erich Lipovsky and Nick DiTeodoro scored first-half goals for the Wolverines (14-4), who kept constant pressure on Pitman keeper Joey Zubert.
Both of the goals were from point blank range. Lipovsky took a deep cross from Blake Bialecki in front of the goal 13 minutes into the match and buried a shot into the upper right corner. He missed a wide open opportunity from the 18 earlier and told Bialecki if he got another chance he wouldn’t miss again.
“Composure’s been a problem I’ve been struggling with a lot in the front of the net throughout the season, but I have really learned to get better and calm down while I’m taking my shot,” he said. “Nobody was marking me so I knew I wasn’t going to miss my spot next time. I really took my time on it and I put it right in the spot I was looking.
“This means a lot. Not only is this his 300th win, but if we win this we go to No. 2 in the playoffs. It was a super important game we all know we needed to win and we came to play. That’s what we wanted to do and we’re happy about it.”
Four minutes later, DiTeodoro ran onto a through ball from Bryce Ayars just across midfield and beat Zubert one-on-one in the middle of the box for his first goal of the season. He had come close to scoring several times during the season, but just never connected. He changed his cleats before the game and it changed his luck.
Huck told him he was destined for a big moment this season and the junior delivered the game-winner in a milestone game.
“It’s the best way to score your first goal of the season,” DiTeodoro said. “Especially for a coach who just puts everything on the line for us. I couldn’t have done anything more for him. I feel so great not only to score but also to be able to seal that win for him so he could get big No. 300.
“Him, a couple of my teammates, they were all saying it’s going to come when it matters most and I can’t think of a better time for it to come than right now.”
Jonas Trum scored a curling cross-field goal for Pitman with six minutes left in the half to make it 2-1. Keeper Ben Stengel and his Diamond Dome of Defense (Dante Mistichelli, Dante Holmes, Grant Prater, Jake Lewis) stood strong in the second half as Pitman mounted some serious challenges to tie the match.
“The fact I could be his goalkeeper during his 300th is just huge for me,” Stengel said. “Getting his 300th win is what we’ve all strived for. He talked about it more these last five games and that was more motivation for us. You just want it so bad you’re just scared it’s not going to happen. It was very terrifying (ss the closing minutes ticked by).”
Woodstown 2, Pitman 1
Woodstown (14-4)
2
0-
2
Pitman (8-7-1)
1
0-
1
GOALS: Woodstown, Erich Lipovsky (Blake Bialecki), 13′; Woodstown, Nick DiTeodoro (Bryce Ayars), 17′; Pitman, Jonas Trum, 34′. SAVES: Woodstown, Ben Stengel 4; Pitman, Joey Zubert 8.
Pitman keeper Joey Zubert (orange) comes out of the net to punch away another Woodstown threat in the second half.
Schalick senior getting back on track after stretch of illness slowed her down, now turns her attention to sectionals, state
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SEABROOK – Jordan Hadfield is starting to feel like her old self again – just in time for the biggest races of the year.
HADFIELD
The Schalick senior had been fighting through an illness she knows not what that combined with a heavy race schedule impacted her from being in top form.
She was still feeling some of it Wednesday at the Tri-County Conference Showcase, but felt a lot closer to being back, winning the girls race for the second year in a row. She covered the Cumberland Regional course in 18:57.51.
“I’m definitely a little bit more happy about where we’re heading toward sectionals,” she said. “Just from getting over being sick it’s hard to get back into it, so running high 18s just for getting back is not bad.
“With the sectionals coming up (at Dream Park) I have a week and a half to get myself together. I’ll definitely have to focus in training. Now that I feel better we’ll definitely do better.”
Race followers sensed something was wrong at the Salem County Championship when Hadfield ran a 19:15.79 to win the race and was physically upset about it. It was part of a grueling stretch of three races in eight days.
It was such a grind she sat out last week’s TCC Batch Meet in which the Cougars clinched their division championship in order to be ready for Wednesday and the rest of the season.
“I typically am not like the person to be sick all the time, I kind of get lucky with that stuff, and this part of the season is not a good time to get sick,” she said. “I’m so thankful it was not during sectionals and things.
“Today’s race was just about seeing where we are after you’re being sick and just getting back into it, and running somewhat close to what you used to be able to so that this week and a half will be just refining that.”
Hadfield went out in Wednesday’s race “a little slower than I would’ve preferred,” but still at a pace she felt comfortable. The contenders ran together for about the first two miles, then she picked up the pace because she didn’t want it to come down to a big push at the end and led the rest of the race.
She beat runner-up Sophia Aldridge of Williamston to the wire by nine seconds. Wildwood’s Macie McCracken was third, another 16 seconds back.
The next fastest Salem County finisher after Hadfield was Woodstown’s Abby Marino, who finished 11th (20:31.07). Salem Tech’s Sarah Seiden was 21st (21:21.04).
Schalick finished sixth as a team. Delsea won the girls team title, squeezing all its counters in a tight 78-second pack between sixth and 15th.
Glassboro’s Ty Blackman won the boys race in 15:49.74. Highland Regional won the team title, placing four of its five counters among the top 13.
Woodstown’s Cole Lucas and county champion Karson Chew finished 11th and 17th, respectively, to help the Wolverines to a fifth-place team finish. Schalick was 11th, Salem Tech 14th and Salem 16th.
Hadfield is still trying to decide her college future, but her choice appears to be coming down between St. Joe’s and the University of Rhode Island.
Tri-County Showcase
BOYS TEAM SCORES: Highland 63, Williamstown 89, Kingsway 96, Glassboro 119, Woodstown 159, Delsea 167, Clearview 172, Washington Twp. 176, Timber Creek 186, GCIT 205, Schalick 306, Pitman 350, Deptford 360, Salem Tech 406, Cumberland 412, Salem 438, Clayton 505. GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Delsea 57, Williamstown 71, Washington Twp. 74, Kingsway 78, Clearview 79, Schalick 156, Pitman 197, GCIT 204, Cumberland 256.
Woodstown gives coach Darren Huck his 299th career coaching victory in 4-0 shutout of Glassboro; also includes Tuesday’s Salem County sports results
BOYS SOCCER Overbrook 2, Penns Grove 1 (OT) Pennsville 5, Clayton 1 Salem Tech 4, Gloucester Catholic 3 Schalick 2, Pitman 0 Wildwood 9, Salem 0 Woodstown 4, Glassboro 0
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
WOODSTOWN – The milestone has been on the horizon since the start of the season, but now it’s right there on the doorstep.
Adrian Ibarra scored twice and Ben Stengel came up with another shutout as Woodstown blanked Glassboro Tuesday 4-0 to give coach Darren Huck his 299th career coaching victory.
Huck, in his 26th season at the Wolverines’ helm, can become the second Salem County soccer coach to reach 300 wins as early as Thursday in the regular-season finale against Pitman at Alcyon Park.
Schalick’s boys coach Joe Mannella, Huck’s good friend and neighbor, became the first Salem County soccer coach to reach the milestone on Oct. 2.
“People would bring it up and I kept saying I’ve got a ways to go, I’ve got a ways to go, and here we are at 13-4,” Huck said. “It’s definitely a weird feeling because I’m a numbers guy, I love numbers in sports, I’m always looking at different statistics and stuff like that.
“You know how I am about the history of our soccer program, but when it came to me I never really thought about ever being in this situation. Whether I played it off as I don’t know if I’ll be coaching that long or maybe I won’t win as much as I did. As a coach I always downplayed that a little bit, but in all honesty for a while it was like that will be a while before I get to that.”
Ibarra gave the Wolverines (13-4) a 1-0 halftime lead, then scored the first goal of the second half and 46th of his career. Bryce Ayars made it 3-0 and Dante Holmes scored the final goal of the game. Stengel was credited with five saves in the shutout.
“My defense definitely stepped up; they’ve been stepping up all season,” Huck said. “We had a little talk at halftime – we were up 1-0 and were pretty much controlling the game – I looked right at Dante Holmes, my center back, and my two other backs and Ben and I said over the next 40 minutes you guys need to win this game for us. You keep them off the board we win the game.
“Allow the offense to keep working at it and working at it, but you know what you’ve got ahead of yourselves. It’s a 1-0 game and if you can lock ‘em down for 40 minutes than we’ve got ourselves win No. 13. And they did that.”
And it gave their coach win No. 299.
The victory also elevated the Wolverines to No. 2 in the current South Jersey Group I power points standings.
When Mannella joined the 300 Club at Wildwood, the feat was met with a commemorative game ball, balloons spelling out “300” and a healthy dousing from the water bucket. Not that Huck is expecting any of that when his entry into the 300 Club becomes official, but he has never had the water bucket treatment before.
“I always said I’d love to be able to share that (milestone) within the same year of him,” Huck told Riverview Sports News last month. “It also means we’ve been around a long time, too. We’ve had some very good players and, if anything, 300 is just a true testament to staying consistent and doing the right things.” SALEM TECH 4, GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 3: Clinton Bobo scored the tying and winning goals in the Chargers’ three-goal second-half rally that erased a 3-1 deficit. Aiden Bobo scored in the first half and Bobby Jones got the Chargers’ first goal in the second half.
“We were dragging in the first half,” Chargers coach Rob Polk said. “They were beating us to every ball over the field.
“We talked mainly at halftime about effort and coming out fast in the second half. We’ve been playing pretty well the last couple weeks and I was pretty confident if we came out and found a way to pop a goal in early the momentum would shift and more would follow. We were fortunate enough to finish an early chance and the game kind of opened up for us after that.”
The Chargers (5-10) have their eye on a school-record third straight win Thursday at Salem.
PENNSVILLE 5, CLAYTON 1: Shane Puckett scored the Eagles’ first three goals — his first career hat trick — and Ugur Elmali and J.P. Laughrey extended the lead with goals in the final three minutes.
SCHALICK 2, PITMAN 0: Oscar Hernandez and Luke Price scored first-half goals in the Cougars’ ninth straight victory. The Cougars (14-1) remain the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I power points standings.
WILDWOOD 9, SALEM 0: NuNu Bedderi and Gavin Burns both scored hat tricks for the Warriors. For Bedderi it was his second straight three-goal game. He now has 30 goals in his first season playing high school soccer in the United States.
OVERBROOK 2, PENNS GROVE 1 (OT)
GIRLS SOCCER Wildwood at Salem
SCHALICK 4, PENNSVILLE 0: The Cougars outshot their hosts 24-6, scored two goals in each half and had four players light the lamp. Quinn Berger and Abby Willoughby scored in the first half, while Cali Fisler and Jael Winnberg scored in the second. (Related story posting soon)
WOODSTOWN 1, GLASSBORO 0: Sophie Wells scored the game’s only goal in the first half and goalie Ellie Wygand kept the Bulldogs out of the net to make it stand.
GLOUCESTER CATHOLIC 6, SALEM TECH 0: Six players scored goals for the Rams.
OVERBROOK 7, PENNS GROVE 0: Gianna Simon scored four goals and Victoria Bupp had three.
Unofficial (but generally pretty accurate) UPR rankings has Penns Grove holding the final spot in the South Jersey Group I playoffs heading into final regular-season game; official list has Red Devils 20th
By Riverview Sports News
Penns Grove’s hopes for a spot in the Group I football playoffs may not be as far off as the final nine minutes of its game Saturday at Woodbury might have led one to believe.
In the South Jersey Group I power ratings updated Sunday by Gridiron New Jersey, the official supplier of the state’s UPR rankings that determine the 16-team playoff brackets, the Red Devils were No. 20, one full UPR point behind current No. 16 Audubon. The outlet noted its rankings would change “slightly” when it finalizes Strength Index Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Central Jersey Sports Radio index, which has been one of the most accurate unofficial UPR sources, has the Red Devils in a more favorable position. It lists them at No. 16, four-tenths of a point ahead of No. 17 Highland Park.
The Red Devils (1-7) wrap up their regular season Saturday at winless Salem (0-8) and will have to win the game to at least meet the minimum wins qualification for playoff consideration.
Their position looked strong early in the second half Saturday. They grabbed a nine-point lead early in the third quarter and carried it into the fourth. They held a two-point lead with less than six minutes to play, then misplayed a punt and fumbled a pitch that led to Woodbury touchdowns.
Woodstown, Schalick and Pennsville all seem safely in the field. If Pennsville gets in, it will be the Eagles’ first playoff appearance since 2019.
Here are the rankings according to the two groups:
SJ Group I power ratings
TOP 16
(as of Oct. 20)
SCHOOL
RECORD
POWER PTS
OSI
UPR
Glassboro
7-0
12.00
57.08
2.4
Woodstown
7-0
11.57
61.83
3.0
Shore
7-0
13.71
45.61
3.4
Paulsboro
6-2
11.81
48.65
4.0
Schalick
5-3
10.13
49.7
5.4
Haddon Twp.
5-1
11.58
41.19
6.2
Riverside
6-2
12.13
38.32
8.0
Middlesex
6-2
11.38
40.13
8.2
Burlington City
5-3
10.50
39.67
9-2
Pennsville
4-4
8.44
40.94
10.4
Woodbury
3-4
7.71
42.88
10.8
New Egypt
5-2
8.86
38.67
11.0
Manville
6-2
9.25
37.35
11.8
Clayton
4-2-1
8.00
34.00
16.8
Pt. Pleasant Beach
4-3
7.71
35.68
16.8
Audubon
2-4
7.83
34.78
17.0
20. Penns Grove (1-7) 18.0, 21. Salem (0-8) 19.4. Source: Gridiron New Jersey
PROJECTED PLAYOFF MATCHUPS (Based on current standings) SOUTH JERSEY Glassboro vs. Audubon Middlesex vs. Burlington City x-Paulsboro vs. New Egypt x-Schalick vs. Manville CENTRAL JERSEY Shore vs. Clayton Haddon Twp. vs. Woodbury Riverside vs. Pennsville Woodstown vs. Point Pleasant Beach x-Schalick jumps Paulsboro based on head-to-head
CENTRAL JERSEY RADIO RANKINGS South Jersey Group I Top 16 1. Glassboro, 2. Woodstown, 3. Shore, 4. Paulsboro, 5. Schalick, 6. Middlesex, 7. Haddon Twp., 8. Riverside, 9. Burlington City, 10. Woodbury, 11. Pennsville, 12. New Egypt, 13. Manville, 14. Clayton, 15. Audubon, 16. Penns Grove.
If this scenario remains, Penns Grove would play Glassboro or Woodstown in the first round of the playoffs, depending on who wins that game Friday night.
Here is this week’s Salem County sports schedule for the week of Oct. 21-26
OCT. 21 FIELD HOCKEY Salem at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Deptford Woodstown at Overbrook GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville at Overbrook, 3:45 p.m. Pitman at Salem Woodstown at Schalick BOYS SOCCER Bridgeton at Penns Grove Salem at Camden County Tech CROSS COUNTRY State Tech Championship at Salem Tech VOLLEYBALL Cape May County Tech at Salem Tech
OCT. 22 BOYS SOCCER Glassboro at Woodstown Gloucester Catholic at Salem Tech Overbrook at Penns Grove Pennsville at Clayton Pitman at Schalick, 6 p.m. Salem at Wildwood GIRLS SOCCER Penns Grove at Overbrook Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic Schalick at Pennsville Wildwood at Salem Woodstown at Glassboro GIRLS TENNIS Overbrook at Penns Grove Woodstown at Wildwood FIELD HOCKEY Pennsville at Overbrook Woodstown at St. Joe (Hamm.) VOLLEYBALL Washington Twp. at Salem Tech WOMENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Cecil College at Salem CC, 6 p.m.
OCT. 23 FIELD HOCKEY Salem at Schalick GIRLS TENNIS Glassboro at Woodstown Salem at Overbrook Wildwood at Penns Grove CROSS COUNTRY Tri-County Showcase at Cumberland
OCT. 24 FIELD HOCKEY Woodstown at Hammonton BOYS SOCCER Gloucester Catholic at Pennsville Woodstown at Pitman Salem Tech at Salem Schalick at Penns Grove GIRLS SOCCER Penns Grove at Schalick Salem at Salem Tech Pennsville at Woodstown GIRLS TENNIS Schalick at Pennsville (conclusion of susp. match), 3:45 p.m. VOLLEYBALL Timber Creek at Salem Tech OCT. 25 FOOTBALL Woodstown at Glassboro, 6 p.m. Audubon at Camden Catholic Paulsboro at Clayton, TBA Collingswood at Pennsville Overbrook at West Deptford Woodbury at Schalick, 6 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Pennsville at Overbrook Salem Tech at Wildwood Catholic GIRLS SOCCER Salem at Paulsboro GIRLS TENNIS Woodstown at Pennsville FIELD HOCKEY Gloucester Catholic at Salem VOLLEYBALL Salem Tech at Gloucester Catholic
OCT. 26 FOOTBALL Salem at Penns Grove, noon GIRLS SOCCER Schalick at Williamstown, 10 a.m. MENS COLLEGE BASKETBALL Baltimore JUCO Jamboree Salem CC vs. Anne Arundel, noon Salem CC vs. Southern Maryland, 6 p.m.
Leyman has game of his life, plugged in at quarterback, throws 4 TD passes, picks two, returns one for TD, in Woodstown rout of Salem; Woodbury dulls Penns Grove’s playoff hopes with late rally
By Al Muskewitz Riverview Sports News
SALEM — Garrett Leyman has played a lot of games in a Woodstown uniform over the years, but he’s never had a game like he did Saturday.
The senior was responsible for five touchdowns on both sides of the ball as the Wolverines took it to Salem 42-13 to remain unbeaten and set up a WJFL Diamond Division title game at Glassboro next week.
Pressed into action as the Wolverines’ third quarterback this season Leyman threw four touchdown passes on the only varsity passes he’s ever thrown in his life. Then on defense he intercepted two passes and returned one of them for a touchdown.
Leyman threw two touchdown passes to M.J. Hall (55 and 48 yards) and one each to Bobby Donahue (49) and Rocco String (5). The first two completions gave him a passer rating of 866.80 and curiously it dropped with each successive completion. His 4-for-4 for 157 yards and four TDs total netted him a passer rating of 759.70 for the game.
If he isn’t somebody’s dot-com Player of the Week either the voting is flawed or nobody’s paying attention.
“After last week we faced a lot of adversity, I knew I needed to step up,” said Leyman, who was more of a run threat when he last played quarterback in eighth grade. “Coach chose me to play in Jack’s (Holladay) position, so I knew I had to go out and perform and I did.
“I wasn’t expecting it to go how it did, but I was confident going into today. It felt amazing.”
The Wolverines were into their third quarterback after losing starter Holladay to a sprained left shoulder in the first half of last week’s game at Haddon Heights. JV quarterback Lucas Fulmer played the rest of the game and completed the 17-8 victory.
It was the Fulmer’s first varsity action and while the backup checked all the boxes in his relief appearance it was Leyman’s experience and familiarity with the offense that led Trautz to start him against the Rams. Leyman was told he’d be playing quarterback Monday and had all week to prepare himself.
“He’s played a million football games for us; he’s just football smart, he’s got great football IQ and we can trust him in these situations,” Trautz said. “We know that he’s going to make the right decisions and you saw today. He commanded this offense, he was able to run it fully and he shined. It was nice to see him spin it.
“I’m not the least surprised with what he did today. He’s just a great player and he doesn’t back down from the moment. He elevates his game when the lights start shining the brightest.”
The Wolverines used a sanitized version of the playbook for Fulmer last week, but Leyman had full reign of it this week.
“We were going to run our offense the way we run it and take what they give us and we did a good job executing it,” Trautz said.
Salem moved the ball through the air, too. They immediately answered Woodstown’s first touchdown, working the ball downfield through a series of possession passes.
Rams quarterback Troy Carey was 12-of-15 in the first quarter and finished the game 25-for-35 for 241 yards and touchdowns to Kaden Robinson (5) and Terrance Smith (16). Robinson caught seven passes for 53 yards. Smith caught four for 103.
“It was just trusting our receivers, trusting them to make plays, putting the ball in their hands,” Carey said. “We work on certain plays every week just working to get better at things that affect our craft and just finding open men reading the defense.”
The win sets up a titanic battle of unbeatens between Woodstown and Glassboro Friday night. Whether Leyman gets the call again at quarterback depends on Holladay’s status during the week. Both Trautz and Holladay are hopeful of a return at some point this season.
Players on the Glassboro roster believe the Wolverines will be treating the showdown as “their Super Bowl” because of the recent history in the series; the Bulldogs beat them twice last year, once in overtime and once in the Group I state semifinals. The Wolverines, however, are approaching it, as usual, as any other game.
“It’s Week 8 for us,” the usually understated Trautz understated. “We’re going to attack it like we attack every week and we’re looking forward to the challenge next Friday.”
NOTES: Woodstown’s other touchdown was Bryce Belinfanti’s weekly long run, this one going for 94 yards … String’s TD catch was the first of his career … Salem had thrown only 78 passes in their first seven games. The 35 passes and 241 yards Cater threw for Saturday were the most by a Rams quarterback since 2022 when Jahki Coates threw 29 passes against Woodbury in 2022 and for 245 yards against Pleasantville. His game passer rating was 136.70 … The Rams will be looking to avoid their first winless season since 2012 (0-10) next week against Penns Grove.
Cover photo: Woodstown senior Garrett Leyman (10) rolls out in his first career start at quarterback. Leyman threw four passes – all for touchdowns.
Woodstown 42, Salem 13
WOOD(42)
SAL(13)
7
1st Downs
19
15-203
Rushing
17-31
4-4-0
C-A-I
24-35-2
157
Passing
241
1-1
Fum-lost
1-1
1-58.0
Punts
1-38.0
6-58
Penalties
3-35
Woodstown (7-0)
14
21
7
0-
42
Salem (0-8)
7
0
0
6-
13
SCORING SUMMARY WO-M.J. Hall 55 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:26 1Q S-Kaden Robinson 5 pass from Troy Cater (Andrew May kick), 2:21 1Q WO-Bobby Donahue 49 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 2:01 1Q WO-M.J. Hall 48 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:29 2Q WO-Garrett Leyman 33 interception return (Jake Ware kick) WO-Bryce Belinfanti 94 run (Jake Ware kick), 35.6 2Q WO-Rocco String 5 pass from Garrett Leyman (Jake Ware kick), 9:32 3Q S-Terrance Smith 16 pass from Troy Cater (kick failed), 9:12 4Q
Woodstown receiver M.J. Hall races towards the end zone with one of his two touchdowns catches Saturday. (Photo by Ellen Sickler)
Late miscues spoil PG upset bid
WOODBURY — KaRon Caesar’s 68-yard touchdown run on Penns Grove’s first play of the third quarter gave the Red Devils a nine-point lead and hopes for playoff contention. They carried that lead carried into the fourth quarter, but Woodbury took advantage of late Penns Grove mistakes to score three touchdowns in the final nine minutes to hand the Red Devils their sixth straight loss, 37-23.
Tim Holmes’ 34-yard touchdown pass to Jason Solomon cut Penns Grove’s lead to 23-21 with 9:06 left and then the mistakes set in for the Red Devils.
Penns Grove had Woodbury stopped later in the quarter but mishandled a punt and the Herd recovered at the 30. Holmes ran for 20 yards, then Marquis Taylor ultimately scored from 2 yards out to give the Herd their first lead since the game’s opening drive, 29-23 with 2:49 left.
Solomon iced the game with a 10-yard scoop and score with a fumbled pitch.
Caesar rushed for a career-high 228 yards with touchdown runs of 73, 14 and 68 yards.
Had the Red Devils held on, they would have earned their second win of the season with a shot for a third and possibly a playoff spot against struggling Salem next week. They currently hold the 20th spot in the South Jersey Group I power rankings that should be updated Sunday.
Woodbury 37, Penns Grove 23
Penns Grove (1-7)
7
9
7
0-
23
Woodbury (3-4)
7
7
0
23-
37
SCORING SUMMARY WO-Marquis Taylor 4 run (Fabian Gonzalez kick) PG-KaRon Ceaser 73 run (Tre Brown kick) PG-KaRon Caesar 14 run (Tre Brown kick) WO-Marquis Taylor 30 pass from Tim Holmes (Fabian Gonzalez kick) PG-Safety, QB tackled in end zone PG-KaRon Ceaser 68 run (Tre Brown kick) WO-Jasuan Solomon 34 pass from Tim Holmes (Fabian Gonzalez kick), 9:06 4Q WO-Marquis Taylor 2 run (Marquis Taylor run), 2:49 4Q WO-Jasuan Solomon 10 fumble return (Elijah Young pass from Marquis Taylor)
WJFL Standings
DIAMOND DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Glassboro (1)
4-0
7-0
Woodstown (2)
4-0
7-0
Schalick (5)
2-2
5-3
Woodbury (11)
2-2
3-4
Penns Grove (20)
0-4
1-7
Salem (21)
0-4
0-8
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power ranking through Oct. 19
FRIDAY’S GAMES Glassboro 20, Schalick 10 SATURDAY’S GAMES Woodbury 37, Penns Grove 23 Woodstown 42, Salem 13 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES FRIDAY Woodstown at Glassboro, 6 p.m. Woodbury at Schalick, 6 p.m. SATURDAY Salem at Penns Grove, noon
PATRIOT DIVISION
DIV
ALL
Camden Catholic (NPB-3)
5-0
7-0
Paulsboro (4)
5-1
6-2
West Deptford (G2-14)
3-2
4-4
Pennsville (10)
2-3
4-4
Audubon (16)
1-4
2-4
Collingswood (G2-18)
1-4
3-5
Overbrook (G2-23)
1-4
3-4-1
NOTE: Number in parenthesis is South Jersey Group I UPR power rankings through Oct. 19 (G2-Group 2, NPB-Non Public B)
FRIDAY’S GAMES Pennsville 35, Lawrence 8 Camden Catholic 55, Collingswood 0 Paulsboro 18, West Deptford 12 SATURDAY’S GAMES Overbrook 34, Audubon 6 NEXT WEEK’S GAMES THURSDAY Paulsboro at Clayton, 6 p.m. FRIDAY Collingswood at Pennsville, 7 p.m. Overbrook at West Deptford, 7 p.m. Camden Catholic at Audubon, 7 p.m.
SJ Group I power ratings
TOP 16
(as of Oct. 20)
SCHOOL
RECORD
POWER PTS
OSI
UPR
Glassboro
7-0
12.00
57.08
2.4
Woodstown
7-0
11.57
61.83
3.0
Shore
7-0
13.71
45.61
3.4
Paulsboro
6-2
11.81
48.65
4.0
Schalick
5-3
10.13
49.7
5.4
Haddon Twp.
5-1
11.58
41.19
6.2
Riverside
6-2
12.13
38.32
8.0
Middlesex
6-2
11.38
40.13
8.2
Burlington City
5-3
10.50
39.67
9-2
Pennsville
4-4
8.44
40.94
10.4
Woodbury
3-4
7.71
42.88
10.8
New Egypt
5-2
8.86
38.67
11.0
Manville
6-2
9.25
37.35
11.8
Clayton
4-2-1
8.00
34.00
16.8
Pt. Pleasant Beach
4-3
7.71
35.68
16.8
Audubon
2-4
7.83
34.78
17.0
20. Penns Grove (1-7) 18.0, 21. Salem (0-8) 19.4
PROJECTED PLAYOFF MATCHUPS (Based on current standings) SOUTH JERSEY Glassboro vs. Audubon Middlesex vs. Burlington City x-Paulsboro vs. New Egypt x-Schalick vs. Manville CENTRAL JERSEY Shore vs. Clayton Haddon Twp. vs. Woodbury Riverside vs. Pennsville Woodstown vs. Point Pleasant Beach x-Schalick jumps Paulsboro based on head-to-head
Here are the scores from Friday’s high school sports action involving teams from Salem County
FRIDAY, OCT. 18 FIELD HOCKEY Egg Harbor Twp. 0, Woodstown 0
BOYS SOCCER Salem Tech 2, Clayton 1 Salem at Gloucester Catholic Schalick 4, Glassboro 1 Woodstown 3, Overbrook 1
GIRLS SOCCER Clayton 5, Salem Tech 0 Gloucester Catholic at Salem Pennsville 3, Penns Grove 0 Woodstown 3, Overbrook 1 GIRLS TENNIS Pennsville 5, Salem 0 Pitman 5, Penns Grove 0 Schalick at Glassboro
Riverview Sports News 