Category: WOODSTOWN

Sweet taste of victory

Pennsville gets first field hockey win of season, celebrates with a batch of brownies; includes girls tennis results

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – Sophia Marandola and Izzy Saulin were happily munching on a couple healthy-sized brownies that were secretly waiting for the players behind the Pennsville field hockey bench. 

It was something the two captains could definitely get used to, and if the treats lead to the results they produced Monday it might just become an everyday thing.

With the brownies safely hidden under a cover of tin foil, the Eagles scored their first win of the season 7-1 over Paulsboro. It was a big turnaround from the lopsided loss they took in the season opener.

After posing for their traditional W picture after the win, they dug into the brownies, courtesy of team baker and manager Jacqui Kelly.

“I am a real brownie fan; I love brownies so I was real excited when they said they were going to make up a sweet treat,” Marandola said. “They didn’t tell us what they were, but they said there was a sweet treat.”

“I kind of forgot about them; they were nice after the game,” Saulin said. “I might have eaten them way too fast, my stomach kind of hurts.”

Saulin led the offense with her second career hat trick. Marandola had a goal and three assists. Kylie Harris scored twice. Kendal Hoyt’s first career goal at 10:48 of the first quarter was the Eagles’ first goal of the year and set off a feeding frenzy. The Eagles scored four goals in the second quarter to take a 5-0 halftime lead.

“Once they scored I felt they were a little more hungry and trying to get in there more, a little more aggressive,” Pennsville coach Lisa Doran said.

It’s the earliest they scored their first win of the season since 2021 when they beat Clayton in the second game of the season. They started last season 0-6.

The difference between their 8-0 loss to Audubon in the opener and Monday’s win was crisper passing and better communication.

“Today we were just working together more and had more opportunity to pass to each other,” Saulin said. “I’m glad we can start getting this to click in the second game, really early, so it can only go forward from here.”

If they’re going to produce these kinds of results knowing a sweet treat awaits, brownies on the bench might be a requirement every game.

“Did you tell them my manager that?” Doran asked projecting her voice towards the bench. “I like that.”

Hearing the conversation and the answer in the affirmative, Kelly said that was all right by her.

There it is. Brownies for everybody.

Pennsville 7, Paulsboro 1

Paulsboro (0-3)0001-1
Pennsville (1-1)1411-7

GOALS: PV-Kendal Hoyt, 10:48 1Q; PV-Sophia Marandola (Kendal Hoyt), 13:56 2Q; PV-Izzy Saulin (Gracie Mease), 12:14 2Q; PV-Izzy Saulin (Sophia Marandola), 9:56 2Q; PV-Kylie Harris (Sophia Marandola), 1:56 2Q; PV-Izzy Saulin (Sophia Marandola), 1:32 3Q; PB-Dasani Scott, 12:42 4Q; PV-Kylie Harris (Kendal Hoyt), 3:10 4Q

Pennsville’s Haley Pace celebrates after Kylie Harris scored her first goal right before halftime to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead over Paulsboro.

Cover photo: Pennsville field hockey captains Sophia Marandola (L) and Izzy Saulin enjoy a sweet treat after the Eagles beat Paulsboro 7-1 for their first win of the season.

Girls tennis

WOODSTOWN 5, WEST DEPTFORD 0
Gabby Kurds (W) def. Gianna Concordia, 6-3, 6-0
Camille Osborn (W) def. Carly Zanolle, 6-0, 6-0
Aubrie Rennie (W) def. Hayley Dobbins, 6-0, 6-0
Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry (W) def. Lily Avila-Anastasia Besar, 6-1, 6-0
Nathalie Neron-Noelle Neron (W) def. Sophie Powell-Junanna Abdelhamid, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 2-1, West Deptford 0-5.

This week’s schedule

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.

Back on track

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)
40-143Rush-yards23-102
2-14-0Passing (C-A-I)3-5-1
121Passing yds43
Delsea (0-1)00076-13
Woodstown (1-0)07007-14

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)
61st Downs10
23-79Rush-yards41-123
3-16-4Passes (C-A-I)2-4-0
7Passing14
0-0Fum-lost1-1
12-95Penalties6-74

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)147013-34
Deptford (0-2)0000-0
DIAMOND DIVISIONDIVALL
Glassboro0-00-0
Penns Grove0-01-1
Salem0-00-1
Schalick0-01-1
Woodbury0-00-0
Woodstown0-01-0
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)

His time now

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.

Tuesday tennis

All three Salem County teams in action Tuesday won; defending sectional champ Schalick opens with 5-0 win, Pennsville wins 5-0 without losing a game

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Penns Grove 0
Schalick 5, Overbrook 0
Woodstown 4, Glassboro 1

PENNSVILLE 5, PENNS GROVE 0
Megan Morris (P) def. Amaris Butler, 6-0, 6-0
Regan Witt (P) def. Alease Stewart, 6-0, 6-0
Lily Edwards (P) def. Andrew Restrepo, 6-0, 6-0
Cassandra Fortenberry-Madison Wright (P) def. Elif Sagir-Janiyah Cummings, 6-0, 6-0
Pennsville wins by forfeit
Records: Pennsville 3-0, Penns Grove 0-1

WOODSTOWN 4, GLASSBORO 1
Gabby Kurds (W) def. Ella Killelea, 6-2, 6-1
Kaylee Johnson (G) def. Camille Osborne, 6-3, 1-6, 10-6
Aubrie Rennie (W) def. Halle Lazarus, 6-1, 6-4
Julianna Lindenmuth-Alyssa Berry (W) def. Alana Killelea-Taylor Adcock, 6-1, 6-1
Natalie Neron-Noelle Neron (W) def. Alice Dinzeo-Virginia Tarasevich, 6-1, 6-1
Records: Woodstown 1-1, Glassboro 0-1

SCHALICK 5, OVERBROOK 0
Emma Adams (S) def. Keira Riess, 6-3, 6-2
Allyson Green (S) def. Nesrine Fosso, 6-0, 6-0
Miya Watkins (S) def. Sophia Burgos, 6-0, 6-2
Julia Langley-Helana Tyers (S) def. Natasha Hreiz-Sophia Petricari, 6-2, 6-1
Annie Podeh-Kayleigh Veach (S) def. Madison Rikard-Gianna Hardy, 6-0, 6-0
Records: Schalick 1-0, Overbrook 0-2


This week’s schedule

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.

Eagles denied in opener

Pennsville couldn’t get anything going, shut out in season opener at Gloucester

WJFL SCORES
Patriot Division
Thursday’s Games
Gloucester City 14, Pennsville 0
Manchester Twp. 26, West Deptford 21 (BATB)
Overbrook 36, Buena 0
Friday’s Games
Collingswood at Clayton, 6 p.m.
Diamond Division
Friday’s Game
Schalick vs. Cedar Grove at Egg Harbor Twp., 9:30 a.m.
Saturday’s Games
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 10 a.m.
Willingboro at Salem, noon

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

GLOUCESTER CITY — Football is such a momentum game. Pennsville looked like it was building some late in the first half to get back in the game, but they lost it on a crushing turnover in the end zone and never got it back again.

And once it’s gone, it’s really hard to get back unless something extraordinary happens.

The Eagles dropped their season opener Thursday night, 14-0 at Gloucester City in a rare Week Zero game.

They gave up touchdowns on the first two defensive stands of the season but kept the Lions out of the end zone the rest of the game. They just could never get anything going offensively. They had only 10 yards net rushing, quarterback Robbie McDade was sacked four times and was intercepted three others.

“We had some opportunities, didn’t take advantage of them and they were a physical football team and we didn’t match them consistently,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “Just too many mistakes across the board. Across the board didn’t make great decisions today.

“We know what we’re capable of on both sides of the ball, it’s just we have to be consistent. When you play good football teams and you’re not consistent they’re going to beat you.”

The Eagles looked like they were finally gaining steam in the final drive of the first half. A score would have given them momentum going into the locker room where adjustments could be made for when got the ball to start the second half.

They drove it all the way down to the Lions’ 2, thanks in part to a 45-yard catch and run by Luke Wood, and had it fourth-and-goal with 25 seconds left in the half, but linebacker Ryan Coffigny intercepted McDade a couple yards deep in the end zone with Malik Rehmer and Wood in the area to kill the threat.

“You score there and all of a sudden we get a little more confidence on offense, feel more confident getting the ball,” Healy said. “You score there and now it’s a one-score game and the defense is starting to settle down some and it just completely changes the game.”

“I definitely think it was a huge setback because we just made our first great drive down the field that unfortunately ended on a pick,” Wood said. “That’s something we can’t let affect us. Today we did and later on down the road, next week, the next week after that, that’s something we’re going to try to not let affect us because we have the talent to win.”

Wood, a college prospect in baseball and a 1,000-point scorer in basketball, was playing football as a senior for the first time since youth and caught three passes in the game for 67 yards. He looked a little uncertain after his first career catch, an 8-yard gain in the second quarter that put Pennsville back into positive net yardage, but the 45-yarder was the Eagles’ biggest offensive play of the game.

“It was fun,” he said. “It’s just a completely different atmosphere than baseball or basketball. This is the ultimate team sport. This is 11 guys playing all for the same goal. We’re really a family, we’re really a brotherhood, which you really don’t feel like that in other sports, as much as you do in football.”

Gloucester pounded the ball on the ground and racked up 108 yards of offense on its first two possessions. Touchdown runs by Trevin Burkhardt and Mason Widman gave the Lions a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, but they Eagles’ defense tightened and held held them to minus-1 yard net the rest of the half and only 61 more yards in the third quarter.

Twice in the fourth quarter the Lions penetrated into the red zone – the second time after Pennsville went for it on fourth down from its 33 – but the Eagles kept them off the board.

“We got humbled,” senior Connor Ayers said. “The first two scores, we took that to heart. Me, personally, I’ve never been scored on like that on defense, but after the first two scores I think our defense held our own.”

SCHALICK ‘MORE THAN READY’: Every team will tell you they’re as ready as they can be heading into their season openers, but with expectations for his team this year through the roof Schalick quarterback Kenai Simmons, for one, can’t wait to get started.

“Ready isn’t the word,” the senior said as the Cougars prepare to meet Cedar Grove to open Day Two of the Battle At The Beach. “What is the word? I can’t find the word, but ready isn’t the word.

“I wouldn’t even use ready. I’d use a crazy word that means … ready to the highest point.”

Expectations are high for the Cougars this season. They return virtually their entire team that started 11-0 last year, built momentum with several close wins early and lost in the Central Jersey Group I title game.

Given that backdrop, this year’s theme, of course, is unfinished business. There are a lot of observers who expect the Cougars and Glassboro to play for the South Jersey spot in the Group I state championship game.

“I think the kids earned the expectation,” coach Mike Wilson said. “We’re motivated because we didn’t finish the deal last year; you can see it on our shirts. Last year it was ‘Burn the boats.’ This year it’s ‘Unfinished Business.’ We still have expectations, but we’re still not getting our due.”

The key to managing those expectations, Simmons said, is to “ignore the noise.” Last year as they were trying to grab a foothold in the South Jersey football landscape they truly embraced the notion of one play at a time, one game at a time, and this year it’s more of the same. They certainly won’t sneak up on anyone, especially as they move into the tougher WJFL Diamond Division.

“You still have to be confident, but not too confident,” safety Dylan Sheehan said. “It’s all a mindset with us. As long as our guys believe we’ve got it, we’ve got it.”

EXTRA POINTS: Schalick and Cedar Grove are 124 miles apart. It’s the second-farthest matchup in this year’s BATB behind only Bergen Catholic-IMG (1,184 miles). The 13 matchups outside the headliner combined have a total of 939 one-way instate miles … The Cougars are working on a 10-game regular-season winning streak.

Pennsville’s Malik Rehmer hauls in a catch before taking a hit from Gloucester’s Mason Widman. On the cover, Gloucester’s Rylan Coffigny snags an interception in the end zone to end a Pennsville threat.

Gloucester 14, Pennsville 0

PMHSGHS
101st Downs14
27-10Rushes-yards44-237
9-21-3Passes (C-A-I)1-5-0
117Passing yards5
0-0Fumbles-lost0-0
4-34.8Punts-avg4-26.8
3-25Penalties-yards8-65
Pennsville (0-1)0000-0
Gloucester (1-0)6800-14

SCORING SUMMARY
G-Trevin Burkhardt 2 run (kick failed), 6:48 1Q
G-Mason Widman 16 run (Trevin Burkhardt run), 10:40 1Q

WJFL STANDINGS
DIAMONDDIVALL
Glassboro0-00-0
Penns Grove0-00-0
Salem0-00-0
Schalick0-00-0
Woodbury0-00-0
Woodstown0-00-0
PATRIOTDIVALL
Audubon0-00-0
Camden Cath.0-00-0
Collingswood0-00-0
Overbrook0-01-0
Paulsboro0-00-0
Pennsville0-00-1
West Deptford0-00-1




This week’s schedule

Here is the high school schedule for Salem County sports teams for the week of Aug. 26-31; x-scrimmage

AUG. 26
GIRLS TENNIS
x-GCIT at Pennsville, 9 a.m.
Mainland at Schalick, 9 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Salem at Maple Shade, 9 a.m.
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
x-Winslow at Salem Tech, 11 a.m.

AUG. 27
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Schalick at Cumberland, 9 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Woodbury at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Schalick at Clearview, 9:30 a.m.
x-Lower Cape May at Salem, 10 a.m.
x-Salem Tech at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Clearview at Schalick, 9 a.m.
x-Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 9 a.m.
x-Salem at Cumberland, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Penns Grove at Deptford, 10 a.m.
x-Salem at Lower Cape May, 10 a.m.

AUG. 28
GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at West Deptford, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Cumberland at Woodstown, 10 a.m.
x-Pemberton at Salem Tech, 10:30 a.m.

AUG. 29
FOOTBALL
Collingswood at Clayton, TBA
West Deptford vs. Manchester Twp., 10 a.m. (at Ocean City)
Pennsville at Gloucester City, 6 p.m.
x-Pitman at Woodstown, 6 p.m.
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Woodstown at Collingswood, 10 a.m.
GIRLS SOCCER
x-Bridgeton at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.
x-Schalick at Cumberland, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Haddon Twp., 9 a.m.
x-Pennsville at Woodbury, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Penns Grove at Bridgeton, 9 a.m.
x-Woodbury at Pennsville, 10 a.m.
x-Highland at Salem, 3:30 p.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Penns Grove at Bridgeton, 9 a.m.
Pennsville at Cumberland, 10 a.m.

AUG. 30
FOOTBALL
Schalick vs. Cedar Grove, 9:30 a.m. (at Egg Harbor Twp.)
FIELD HOCKEY
x-Schalick at Ocean City, 10 a.m.
BOYS SOCCER
x-Schalick at Moorestown Friends, 9 a.m.
x-Woodstown at Williamstown, 10 a.m.
GIRLS TENNIS
x-Lindenwold at Penns Grove, 9 a.m.

AUG. 31
FOOTBALL
Penns Grove at Paulsboro, 10 a.m.
Willingboro at Salem, noon

Roots for success

Woodstown board approves Salem assistant Ramon Roots, 26, to become Wolverines’ boys basketball coach

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – Ramon Roots always knew his time would come, but he wasn’t going to wait for it to come to him. He saw an opportunity, went after it and it’s as if all the stars aligned.

After three years as an assistant coach with hand-on experience in one of the top Group I programs in South Jersey, Roots saw an opportunity to branch out on his own. It was a risk to leave what he called a good situation as an assistant at Salem, he said, but one with a high reward.

Now, at 26 years old, he’s a high school head coach for the first time as the Woodstown-Pilesgrove school board approved him to become the Wolverines’ new boys basketball coach. He succeeds Phil Campbell, who stepped down at the end of last season for reasons he chose to keep private.

In a hire of historical significance, not only does Roots become the youngest head basketball coach in Salem County and one of the youngest in South Jersey, he is the first black head coach at Woodstown High School.

“It means everything,” he said of the chance to be a head coach. “I’ve had great coaches preparing me for this moment and I’ve worked with some great people.

“It’s going to be a little adjustment, but it helped prepare me for this opportunity. It’s a new journey for me. It’s going to have its bumps, but I’m ready for it. I love the game. I love challenges. I knew one day my time was going to come.”

Roots said he drew his inspiration to become a coach from his brother, Ra’mir Harold, who coached him in the Salem youth leagues and passed away when Roots was 21. Friday would have been Ra’mir’s birthday.

Roots went on to become a 1,000-point scorer during his high school career at Salem and then returned to his alma mater to serve as the Rams’ JV coach and varsity assistant at the start of head coach Anthony Farmer’s tenure there. In those three seasons, the Rams averaged 17 wins and went to the South Jersey Group I finals, quarters and semifinals, respectively.

“Whenever your assistants are able to step into a new role as a head guy that means a lot,” Farmer said. “I’m happy for Roots. He’s put in the work.

“He would sit in my film sessions, was always attentive to things going on in the huddle, and taking over the JV and doing a great job with the young kids in practice, all those things have prepared him to be in the moment and do a great job over at Woodstown. I’m proud of him and I can’t wait to see all the great things that he does over there in Woodstown.”

Farmer said it was particularly significant that a young black coach was getting an opportunity to be a head coach.

“You can’t shy away from the fact they’re giving an African-American coach an opportunity,” he said. “I think it’s a testament to the playing field, the guys putting in the work and getting an opportunity.

“It is a big deal. If you ask me, personally I think it’s a heck of an opportunity to crack that barrier and go then go over there and represent and see what you can do.”

While it was never part of the conversation, Roots said it was meaningful to him to break through that ceiling and open a door for young black coaches who aspire to run their own program.

Roots will remain a third-grade teacher at Salem Middle School while he coaches the Wolverines.

He hopes to meet the players next week when school starts and when he does he hopes to introduce an up-tempo aggressive style for which his Salem teams were known. The Wolverines are returning 6-6 Rocco String (9.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 65 blocked shots); 6-5 Garrett Leyman (5.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg); shooter Blake Bialecki (11.1 ppg, 49 3s) and versatile M.J. Hall (8.5 ppg, 55 steals).

“I’m just trying to help build the boys basketball program,” he said. “Their girls basketball program has been going great the last couple years, so I’m just trying to build the boys basketball program on and off the court.“I’m trying to turn these kids into men. Just going to ride the wave. It’s going to be special. A new era.”

While Woodstown and Salem compete in different divisions of the Tri-County Conference, expect them to play during the regular season. The teams have played only three times since 2015 (seven since 2011) and not since 2022.

“I would love it,” Farmer said. “When I knew he accepted the job I told my AD to get on the phone with Woodstown and let’s make it happen.”

The board also approved football assistant coaches Matt Smart, Frank Costello and Don Dunner, girls soccer assistant McKenzie Champion and Triton athletic director (and former Pennsville girls basketball coach) Sam Trapp as Woodstown High School vice principal.

A lot of new

Penns Grove goes through its first scrimmage of camp with a new coaching staff and new systems on offense and defense

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNS GROVE – There’s a whole lot of new about the Penns Grove football program this year and it goes far beyond just having a new head coach.

Whenever there’s a change at the time there’s bound to be some tweaks to the way things get done.

New coach Mark Maccarone has installed new offensive and defensive systems and the Red Devils put them on display against someone in a different colored uniform for the first time Tuesday in a three-team scrimmage with Maple Shade and Gloucester Catholic.

Some other nuances have been applied internally, but the ones most observable are the overhauls on offense and defense.

“I would not say they exceeded my expectations,” Maccarone said assessing the first scrimmage. “I would say they’re about where I expected in some aspects. There’s definitely things I thought we would be a little bit more polished on that we’re not.

“Again, it’s a new offense, a new defense. It’s a whole new style of football this group of kids isn’t used to. As long as we get better, take a step at being better every day, then we’ll take those positive gains. As long as we have more positive days than negative days, I’ll be happy.”

Maccarone called the offense “a radical departure from what they’ve done in the past,” an old-school downhill scheme he has been running as long as he’s been coaching. Defensively, there are “some similarities” to the look the Devils have run in the past that he had a hand in shaping as defensive coordinator here, but some terminology and techniques may be a little different.

The first thing that jumps out is seeing KaRon Ceaser out on the flank. He was a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman and figured to be the lead back with 1,200-yard rusher Bryce Young’s departure to West Deptford (with former Penns Grove coach John Emel), but there he was Tuesday out at receiver. And there was even a time Knowledge Young, the regular deep threat last year, lined up in the backfield.

“It’s a new staff and they’re trying new things, but I’m loving it now,” Ceaser said. “It didn’t really shock me because they put me there because they know I can play it. I’ll play wherever they want me to play; that’s the type player I am. We’ve got a great running (in Trey Brown). I like the offense right now. I’m going to work so I can be the best.”

You can’t argue the results. Ceaser, who caught nine passes for 109 yards without a score last year, took a pass from Melo Erickson in the Devils’ final 10-play set of the day, shed a tackler at the 35 and continued down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown that was their only offensive score of the exercise. Young, when he was in the backfield, broke off an 18-yard gain.

“It took us 20 plays and that’s too long,” Ceaser said. “In a real game you’ve got to come out straight from the jump.”

Expect more of that during the season.

“We’re fortunate we do have some weapons offensively,” Maccarone said. “With the system we run it allows us to take players and move them around. You might be at wide out one play, you might be a tailback the next, you might be a slot the next.

“Part of our offense is to be able to utilize the weapons we have on the field and to move our weapons around so you don’t know who’s going to get the ball.” 

Until the offense came to life in the late session it looked like the Red Devils’ defense was going to be the story of the scrimmage.

It was the strength of last year’s 6-6 team, holding half their opponents to two touchdowns or less and shutting out eventual Group I runner-up Glassboro, and is shaping up that way again. Forget defending the goal line, the Red Devils were protecting the 50.

Out of their 32 defensive snaps, the Devils gave up a total of 21 net yards and only two plays were run on the going-in side of midfield – and neither of those from deeper than the 48. 

Makye Murray returned an interception against Maple Shade on seventh play of the opening series 40 yards that until Ceaser’s score was the only touchdown scored in the varsity portion of the scrimmage. Raymond Brown, a transfer from St. Joe (Hammonton), had a big sack on the final play of that 10-play set.

“I like our defense overall,” Brown said. “Our coach is just wonderful. We fly around, play hard, play physical. I’m having fun out here making tackles.”

The Red Devils get a chance to do it again Friday at 10 a.m. in a game-like scrimmage at home against Gateway. They almost didn’t have a second scrimmage after a scheduling snafu with Highland scrapped what they had, but Penns Grove athletics director Anwar Golden worked the phones all Tuesday morning and found a willing participant to help keep the program on schedule.

“It would have been detrimental to us (to miss out),” Maccarone said. “With a game-style scrimmage, especially with a new staff and program, you as coaches need the opportunity to get your learning curve out when it doesn’t count. Those are some invaluable things that without game scrimmage we’d have to address during a game.

“In the same breath, it gives the kids the ability to have a flow to the game, again, where you can do it when it doesn’t count. Especially with a new system it would be very advantageous.”

This story will be updated.

KaRon Ceaser (6) and Knowledge Young could find themselves in some atypical positions this year in Penns Grove’s new offense. On the cover, new coach Mark Maccarone reviews the scrimmage’s opening segment with his defense.

Trautz pleased with effort, results

HAMMONTON – New Woodstown coach Frank Trautz sent his charges into battle for the first time this camp and said he was “happy with our effort and the results.”

The Wolverines scored touchdowns in both of their 10-and-10 segments at St. Joe (Hammonton) and kept the Wildcats out of the end zone in theirs. They also scored a touchdown in the down-and-distance segment.

“I was happy with the work today,” Trautz said. “It’s the first scrimmage. Just being able to hit somebody else and go live for the first time was good for everyone. You can only do so much in practice. It was good to see live action.”

Alex Torres scored on a run and Jack Holladay threw a touchdown pass to Garrett Leyman. Holladay, a senior getting his first chance to be QB1, completed 5-of-8 passes in the 10-play segments.

“Getting Jack out there to live action at quarterback was good to see,” Trautz said. “I thought he played well. He was in control of the huddle. He’s a leader and it was good to see him take control of the offense.”