Coen saves Eagles

Pennsville boys start important week with 2-1 win over Penns Grove, keeper Rinnier turns back late threats, hands Red Devils another one-goal loss

SALEM COUNTY SOCCER
Monday’s games
Pennsville 2, Penns Grove 1
Pitman 6, Salem Tech 0
Schalick 6, Overbrook 2

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – In what just might be the most important week of their season and in miserable conditions to play a game, it’s vital to have a goalkeeper who can be counted on as the last line defense.

Pennsville keeper Coen Rinnier was fighting a cold and nerves from the opening kick, but he was the rock the Eagles needed in a 2-1 victory over Penns Grove Monday.

Rinnier, a sophomore playing goalie on the varsity level for the first time, made 18 saves and turned back several attacks the Red Devils (1-5) mounted in the final 20 minutes to keep it a one-goal game. All five of Penns Grove’s losses have been one-goal decisions.

Perhaps his biggest save of the game came with less than 10 minutes to play when he came off his line to make a sliding kick save on the right side of the box to deny Edward Swank a game-tying goal.

“On a messy day like today any shot can take a weird bounce, take a weird deflection, but it’s very simple: Coen won us the game today,” Pennsville coach Derek Foglein said. “You look at the stats, Coen had 15, 16, 17 saves, that’s a lot, but it also speaks a lot to the fact we know we can trust Coen.

“There were a lot of chances today where they were taking shots from 25. We know he’s a good keeper back there with a good head on his shoulders, but there’s not a doubt in my mind that Coen made some phenomenal saves today that won us the game.”

The teams played the first half in a cold rain that was blowing across the field in sheets. When the rain stopped, the wind kept blowing across the field making any ball in the air difficult to play.

The Red Devils got one past Rinnier with 25 minutes to play when Sebastian Hernandez blasted a ball that carried into the upper left corner just inside the post.

And after that they kept coming. Rinnier turned back at least 10 shots after the goal, including four tough chances in the final five minutes as the speedy and skilled Red Devils pressed hard for the tie. He’s been an active keeper all season, recording 105 saves in eight games, by far the most of any keeper in Salem County.

“It was just so nervous, the most nervous feeling ever, but I think it’s all worth it after the game,” Rinnier said. “The nervousness goes away after the game. 

“It was pretty intense because I’ve never played goalie for this team and this was the biggest test because we lose this game our season’s over. It was nerve-wracking, honestly, but as soon as I made that (save on Swank) I think I knew we were going to win this game. As soon as I made that save I was not nervous at all.”

The win over Penns Grove snapped a four-game losing streak and got a big week for the Eagles (2-6) off to a good start. They play three winnable games against teams with one combined win and if they sweep the week they could find themselves right in the mix for a South Jersey Group I playoff berth after starting the season against arguably the toughest schedule in the section.

Their six losses have been to teams from Group II and Group III, three of the top four teams in SJ-I and a season opener without a scrimmage.

But you can’t win all three unless you win the first one.

“I told them before we started we can go 3-0 this week but it’s got to start today,” Foglein said.

The Eagles grabbed their 2-0 lead by being aggressive at the start of each half. Shane Puckett scored the first goal on an assist from Stone Mumink five minutes into the match. Dylan Waller made it 2-0 less than 90 seconds into the second half when he scored from in close off a pass from Jake Isaac.

PITMAN 6, SALEM TECH 0: Ben Newcomb and Maddox Marker each scored twice for Pitman. For Newcomb, they were his first goals in two years after missing almost all of last season with a knee injury. He scored three goals as a sophomore. It was Pitman’s third straight win – all by 6-0 scores.

SCHALICK 6, OVERBROOK 2: Luke Price and Oscar Hernandez each scored twice for the Cougars (6-2).

Pennsville 2, Penns Grove 1

Pennsville (2-6)	1	1 –	2
Penns Grove (1-5)	0	1 –	1

Goals: PV – Shane Puckett (Stone Mumink), 5:00; PV – Dylan Waller (Jake Isaac), 41:20; PG – Sebastian Hernandez (unassisted), 55:39

Much-needed win

Pennsville girls erupt for six goals in second half, crush Penns Grove 7-0 for first win of season; Miller scores 4 more in Schalick rout

SALEM COUNTY GIRLS SOCCER
Monday’s games
Pennsville 7, Penns Grove 0
Schalick 7, Overbrook 0

PENNSVILLE – The Pennsville girls soccer team needed a win in a bad way and the players knew it. So, they took matters into their own hands.

Sparked by the good feeling of two players-only dinners over the weekend and a pre-game pow-wow before Monday’s game, the Eagles took self-reflection to another level. It paid huge dividends as they erupted for six goals after a messy first half and crushed Penns Grove 7-0 for their first win of the season.

The first half was played in miserable wind-blown rain. Riley Bowman scored the only goal when she banged home the rebound of a Karsen Cooksey shot 3 minutes and 13 seconds into the match.

The weather broke at halftime and the Eagles broke out. Cooksey scored twice, Bowman picked up a second goal and Anikka Macalino, Molly Gratz and Kallie Morrison each scored once in clearly their most prolific half of the season.

It led to their most goals in a game since a 9-2 win over Salem on Oct. 26, 2021, and their highest scoring half since putting up six in the first half of that same game.

“It was needed, it was so, so needed,” Pennsville coach Sam Trapp said of the win. “It was just a morale booster for the team; the girls needed to win and to feel confident in themselves and believe in themselves again.

“This was huge for us, this win today. We have a chance for the win Wednesday (at Salem) and a chance for the win Friday (Camden Tech) and I told them today’s the day we need to change the season around, change the trajectory of what the rest of the looks like.”

Barring a tie, one of these teams was going to get its first win of the season.

The Eagles (1-5-1) were winless in their first six games of the season against teams of varying skill sets, with a 2-2 tie with Clayton the only positive result. They began to see progress by winning the second half of their 2-1 loss to Glassboro Thursday, and it started to register when they went to dinner after the game at Gus’ Pizzeria on South Broadway, followed by another get-together over the weekend at captain Bowman’s house.

Trapp was invited to both gatherings, but gave the players their space. She didn’t know about the meeting before Monday’s game until the players came out of the locker room, but she was happy to see the players take the initiative.

“I’m always proud to see the captains are stepping up and taking leadership responsibilities and taking accountability to get their team focused back on the energy,” Trapp said. “I always say the captains are a reflection of me and they saw what was needed and they went and implemented it.

“I love that they took the initiative. They didn’t really have to check in with me. They know it’s something I’m going to support, so I loved that they did that on their own.”

And it just might be the thing that turned their season around.

SCHALICK 7, OVERBROOK 0: Emily Miller scored four more goals, running her season total to 22, just over half of last year’s school record (43) set by Kerri Jackson. Miller has scored at least two goals in every game this season and has scored 16 goals in her last four games.

Pennsville 7, Penns Grove 0

Penns Grove (0-3-1)	0	0 –	0
Pennsville (1-5-1)	1	6 –	7

Goals: P – Riley Bowman (unassisted), 3:13; P – Riley Bowman (penalty kick), 54:10; P – Karsen Cooksey, 58:00; P – Anikka Macalino (unassisted), 61:16; P – Molly Gratz (unassisted), 69:14; P – Karsen Cooksey (Kallie Morrison) 73:26; P – Kallie Morrison (unassisted), 74:53.

Fall scoring leaders

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

FIELD HOCKEY
PLAYER	SCHOOL	GOALS
Braeley DiGregorio	Woodstown	8
Morgan VanDover	Salem	7
Rhionna Timmons	Salem	6
Phoebe Alward	Schalick	5
Megan Donelson	Woodstown	5
Hannah Hitchner	Woodstown	5
Marissa Bower	Salem	4
Autumn Foote	Salem	4
Caylan Taylor	Schalick	4
Tamya Driver	Salem	3
Julliana Love	Salem	3
Tulana Mingin	Woodstown	3
Isabelle Saulin	Pennsville	2
Ava Scurry	Schalick	2
Lucianna Virga	Schalick	2
PLAYER	SCHOOL	ASSISTS
Autumn Foote	Salem	6
Tulana Mingin	Woodstown	6
Kayla Brown	Woodstown	4
Ava Scurry	Schalick	4
Morgan VanDover	Salem	4
Marissa Bower	Salem	3
Tamya Driver	Salem	3
Hannah Hitchner	Woodstown	3
Taylor Prendergast	Woodstown	3
Ella Shimp	Schalick	3
Rhionna Timmons	Salem	3
BOYS SOCCER
PLAYER	SCHOOL	GOALS
Adrian Ibarra	Woodstown	12
Bryce Ayars	Woodstown	5
Graham Fields	Salem Tech	4
Bradford Foster	Schalick	4
Luke Price	Schalick	4
Seth Fisher	Schalick	2
Jake Isaac	Pennsville	2
Erich Lipovsky	Woodstown	2
Stone Mumink	Pennsville	2
Jayden Murga	Penns Grove	2
Shane Puckett	Pennsville	2
Dylan Waller	Pennsville	2
Jaxon Weber	Schalick	2
PLAYER	SCHOOL	ASSISTS
Blake Bialecki	Woodstown	7
Bryce Ayars	Woodstown	4
Grant Prater	Woodstown	3
Anthony Sepers	Schalick	3
Lucas Cole	Woodstown	2
Stone Mumink	Pennsville	2
Shane Puckett	Pennsville	2
Jaxon Weber	Schalick	2
GIRLS SOCCER
PLAYER	SCHOOL	GOALS
Emily Miller	Schalick	18
Emma Perry	Woodstown	5
Lia Covely	Woodstown	4
Cali Fisler	Schalick	4
Ryann Foote	Salem	4
Ameriyona Hunter	Salem	2
PLAYER	SCHOOL	ASSISTS
Cali Fisler	Schalick	8
Quinn Berger	Schalick	4
Ameriyona Hunter	Salem	3
Emily Miller	Schalick	3
Emma Perry	Woodstown	3
Lia Covely	Woodstown	2
Kyleigh Cutler	Schalick	2
Olivia Devoe	Schalick	2
Gia Martellacci	Schalick	2
Emma Morgan	Woodstown	2
Ella Price	Schalick	2
Xin Shen	Salem	2
Abby Willoughby	Schalick	2

This week’s schedule

Here is the high school sports schedule for Salem County schools for the week of Sept. 25-30

Sept. 25
FIELD HOCKEY
Timber Creek at Schalick, 4 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem Tech, 4 p.m.
Salem at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Overbrook, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Glassboro at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.

Sept. 26
FIELD HOCKEY
Overbrook at Schalick, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Clayton, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Glassboro, 4 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY
Tri-County Batch Meet, Kingsway

GIRLS TENNIS
Pitman at Salem, 4 p.m.
Vineland at Schalick, 4 p.m.

Sept. 27
BOYS SOCCER
Gloucester Catholic at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Pitman at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Salem Tech at Glassboro, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Schalick, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Salem, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Wildwood, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville at Pitman, 4 p.m.
Wildwood at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Penns Grove, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28
FIELD HOCKEY
Deptford Twp. at Pennsville, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Salem, 4 p.m.
Woodstown at Gloucester Catholic, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Highland Regional at Woodstown, 4 p.m.
Penns Grove at Clayton 4 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Our Lady of Mercy at Woodstown, 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 29
FOOTBALL
Pennsville at Cumberland Regional, 6 p.m.
Lindenwold at Schalick, forfeit
Salem at Woodstown, 7 p.m.

BOYS SOCCER
Penns Grove at Haddon Twp., 4 p.m.
Pennsville at Paulsboro, 4 p.m.
Salem at Haddon Heights, 4 p.m.
Schalick at Palmyra, 4 p.m.

GIRLS SOCCER
Salem at Pennsauken Tech, 3:45 p.m.

GIRLS TENNIS
Penns Grove at Overbook, 4 p.m.
Salem at Pennsville, 4 p.m.

Sept. 30
FOOTBALL
Paulsboro at Penns Grove, noon

CROSS COUNTRY
Shore Coaches Invitational, Holmdel Park

Cover photo by Heather Papiano

Jackson pops for Salem

Rams come to life offensively in second half behind Daveon Jackson, but fall short in Rumble on the Raritan

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PISCATAWAY — Salem’s offense was stuck in the mud in the first half, if you can really be stuck in the mud on a stormy day on artificial turf, but the Rams turned to Daveon Jackson in the second half and almost got their first win of the season.

CEDAR CREEK 20,
SALEM 14
Next: at Woodstown, Friday, 7 p.m.

Jackson was involved in all but three of the Rams’ plays in the second half. He was driving them towards a go-ahead touchdown when he was intercepted at the 30 with 28 seconds left to dash the comeback bid, preserving Cedar Creek’s 20-14 win in the Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers’ SHI Stadium.

“Pop Jackson is the heart and soul of our team,” Salem coach Danny Mendoza said. “If you want to talk about the next great back to come out of here, I think he needs to be mentioned in that right now.

“He said he wanted it and he wanted it again. When you’ve got guys who want it and want it and want it, give it to them because those guys are special players. There aren’t many ballplayers who have that mentality. You look for inspiration as a coach and what that kid did today, even with the loss, is inspirational.”

Jackson was thrust into the spotlight because quarterback Ramaji Bundy didn’t make the trip. Mendoza declined to comment on the situation except to say it’s “to be continued” this week in the run-up to the Rams’ WJFL Diamond Division game at Woodstown.

The Rams (0-5) were held to just 16 yards net offense in the first half by the deep Group III Pirates (4-1). They made adjustments at halftime that were favorable for their offense line, turned it over to Jackson and he took over.

Of Salem’s 26 plays in the second half, Jackson was in on 23 of them. He had 19 rushes and threw all four of the Rams’ fourth-quarter passes. Jarred Pew had the other three rushes and took a pass Jackson salvaged from a broken play 30 yards to keep the final possession alive.

Jackson rushed for 154 yards in the game (on 30 carries), 126 in the second half and 78 in the fourth quarter. He got the Rams on the board with a 1-yard run in the third quarter and scored their second touchdown on a 26-yard run two plays into the fourth quarter.

He also had a 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter called back for a hold the Rams are still trying to find on the film and was the subject of a questionable spot midway through the fourth quarter that forced the Rams to turn it over on downs at the Pirates’ 15.

Cedar Creek took advantage of the short field in the first half to open a 20-0 halftime lead. The Pirates ran only three plays on their side of the 50 in the half.

But the Rams shut them out in the second half and held them to 56 net yards to give themselves a chance.

“We finally played four quarters of effort football,” Mendoza said. “You’re talking about Cedar Creek, one of the top teams in Group III and a two-platoon team and we’re a team with a ton of guys going both ways and we stood toe-to-toe with them. You’re never happy with a loss, but if you’re going to lose, lose the right way.

“If you looked at the effort from our team and how we rallied around and the type of defense we played against a high-powered offense, this was the team we were waiting to see. We fought our tails off. The sky’s the limit for what we do when we play that way.”

Cedar Creek 20, Salem 14

CC (20)		SAL (14)
14	1st Downs	11
37-143	Rushing	41-142
7-14-0	Passes	1-6-1
74	Passing	30
5-1	Fum-lost	3-1
4-26.7	Punts-avg	4-15.3
5-50	Penalties-yds	5-25

Cedar Creek (4-1)	6	14	0	0 –	20
Salem (0-5)	0	0	8	6 –	14

Scoring plays
C – Jahmir Campfield 17 run (run failed), 5:59 1Q
C – Alim Parks 10 pass from Billy Smith (PAT kick), 8:32 2Q
C – Aamir Dunbar 2 run (PAT kick), 3:37 2Q
S – Daveon Jackson 1 run (Daveon Jackson run), 3:55 3Q
S – Daveon Jackson 26 run (run failed), 11:33 4Q

Muddy mess

Turnovers, missed opportunities hurt Penns Grove in a 14-0 loss at Haddon Heights in the rain, mud

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

HADDON HEIGHTS — Bryce Wright’s uniform was a mess, wet and dirty. It was a reflection of how much he was involved and how messy were the conditions.

HADDON HEIGHTS 14,
PENNS GROVE 0
Next: vs. Paulsboro,
Saturday, noon

In the days leading up to Saturday’s game Penns Grove’s lead running back kept an eye on the weather forecast and each update reminded him how fun it used to be to play in the wind and cold rain that were blown in by Tropical Storm Ophelia.

“I was on TikTok talking about a rain game; I couldn’t wait to get out here and play in the rain,” Wright said. “I love this. Ever since midgets. I love this.”

What’s not so fun is losing in such miserable conditions. When you’re behind, the rain just seems colder and the mud more messy

It was messy for the Red Devils Saturday. Turnovers and missed opportunities haunted them again in a 14-0 loss at Haddon Heights.

The Garnets (3-1), meanwhile, didn’t mind the mess. When the game ended, right before the skies opened one more time, their players were giddily sliding head first on the muddy field, caking the front of their jerseys in prime Camden County real estate.

“We knew all week we were going to play in this and we took on the challenge and were excited to play in it,” Heights quarterback Drew Harris said. “Obviously you couldn’t really throw the ball, so we ran it and our O-line blocked very well and we took it to them.”

Harris scored both touchdowns in the game, the second one capping a 92-yard drive that was n almost miraculous under the conditions after his offense was backed up to its own end zone.

The Red Devils (1-4) had chances, they just didn’t execute well enough to bring them home.

They put together their best drive of the first half late in the second quarter, but the threat died when Harris intercepted a pass in the end zone. 

Turnovers have plagued the Red Devils all season. They had four more Saturday, not counting turning it over on downs twice. Their three possessions in the second half ended with two interceptions and a turnover on downs.

“It was exactly like I thought it was,” Penns Grove coach John Emel said. “I said we would either win or lose 14-0; that’s how it was. I don’t think they turned the ball over and we did, and it’s been the story of our season so far. I bet my life we broke the school record for turnovers.

“If we’re going to win low-scoring games we’re going to have to protect the ball better. I think we have our players and we have our identity. We have to get better executing.”

The Red Devils got it going in the second half and drove it into the red zone to open the third quarter, but a third-down fumble at the 16 increased the pressure to execute and Wright was stopped on fourth down before the line to gain creating a change in possession.

But that wasn’t the end of it. The Garnets were hit with a dead ball personal foul at the end of the play backing them up inside the 10 before starting on their long touchdown drive.

Harris took them 92 yards in 16 plays spanning eight minutes over the third and fourth quarters, ultimately slipping through the rush to score on a 10-yard run.

Conventional wisdom is the longer a drive goes, the better the chances are to mess up. The Garnets didn’t mess up. The Red Devils had a chance to cut the drive off before it could really get started, but Harris completed a third-and-12 pass from the 5 to move the chains.

“You can’t really cut on this,” Harris said. “You’re just slipping and sliding trying to get as many yards as you can.”

The Garnets dominated the first half. They ran their first 19 plays and 35 of their 37 plays in the half from inside the 50, but the combination of Penns Grove’s defense and the conditions afforded them only one touchdown.

Haddon Heights 14, Penns Grove 0

PG (0)		HH (14)
8	1st Downs	13
31-112	Rushing	31-102
3-9-3	Passes	10-20-0
8	Passing	96
3-1	Fum-lost	2-0
3-29.7	Punts-avg	2-25.0
8-60	Penalties	6-55

Penns Grove (1-4)	0	0	0	0 –	0
Haddon Heights (3-1)	0	6	0	8 –	14

Scoring plays
HH – Drew Harris 7 run (pass failed), 6:47 2Q
HH – Drew Harris 10 run (Josh Freeman pass from Drew Harris), 11:05 4Q

Friday roundup

Roundup features boys and girls soccer, field hockey and girls tennis; Schalick’s Miller continues her goal-scoring tear

By Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – A long hard week caught up to the Pennsville soccer team in the end.

The Eagles tried to mount an attack Friday, but three grueling matches in five days left them with nothing in the tank and they lost to Haddon Heights 4-0.

The Garnets (5-1) scored a pair of goals in each half. Evan Rasicci, known for his powerful throw-ins, was credited with a pair of goals, including one that deflected in off a Pennsville player. Jack Kominos and Nolan Lachall scored their other two goals.

In their three games this week, the Eagles lost a one-goal game at Woodstown after opening a 2-0 lead, then suffered shutouts to Glassboro and Haddon Heights on consecutive days.

“I think Coach Joe (Mecholsky) put it on the head really well at halftime,” Eagles head coach Derek Foglein said. “If you looked at our schedule this week … our schedule was not our friend. 

“We had a really, really tough schedule, but we’re going to come back out and we’ve got three big games next week – hopefully, three winnable games. Penns Grove is going to be a fight, it always is, but then we look at positives later in the week with Salem and Paulsboro, so we could very easily turn around and go three wins in a row next week. That’s what I’m positive about and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”

The Paulsboro game will have a little extra incentive for the Eagles head coach. It’ll be the fourth installment of the Foglein Bowl, the head-to-head matchup with his brother Doug.

“It’s going to be a fun one,” Derek said.

GIRLS SOCCER
WOODSTOWN – Emily Miller put on a dazzling display of speed and skill, scoring five goals, including a natural hat trick in the second half, to lead Schalick to its third straight shutout win, 6-0 over Woodstown.

Miller scored the Cougars’ first two goals, then collected three in the second half. Cali Fisler scored their other goal in the first half, on an assist by goalie Carly Hayman

The Cougars have outscored their last three opponents 19-0. Miller has scored 12 of her 18 goals in those games.

“Emily is a dynamic player who uses her technical ability to beat players,” Schalick coach Will Kemp said. “She is clinical in front of the net and has finished her opportunities when given one.”

FIELD HOCKEY
Salem 8, Bridgeton 0: The Rams scored their fifth straight victory, fourth shutout and third in a row. Morgan VanDover had two goals and two assists and seven players scored in total. Dominique Lewis posted nine saves in recording the shutout. The Rams (5-0) have outscored their five opponents this season 33-1.

Washington Twp. 6, Schalick 0: Meghan Sheldrick and Ava Porreca scored two goals each for the Minutemen.

GIRLS TENNIS
Pennsville 5, Glassboro 0: Regan Witt took a hard-fought 6-4, 6-2 win over Ella Killelea at No. 1 singles to send the Eagles on their way.

Woodstown 5, Salem 0: The Wolverines improved to 7-0, dropping only four games the entire match. Nos. 1 and 2 singles, Abigail Melle and Gabby Kurpis, both won 6-0, 6-0.

Bitten in OT

Woodstown goes to OT with Glassboro for second year in a row, this time come up short

By Riverview Sports News

WOODSTOWN – John Adams sounded a lot like a former NFL coach Dennis Green saying “They are who we thought they were” without raising his voice.

The Woodstown coach knew his Wolverines were in for a tough game even before the teams took the field.

Just looking at Glassboro on film told him the Wolverines were in for the most physical game they’d play this season. Knowing the teams went into overtime last year didn’t make the task any easier.

Glassboro 13,
Woodstown 7
NEXT: vs. Salem,
Friday, 6 p.m.

The teams went to overtime again Friday night, but this time Glassboro got the best of it, upsetting the top-ranked team in the South Jersey Group I power ratings, 13-7.

Amari Sabb broke through on a 5-yard run on the hammer side of the first overtime to give Glassboro the win. The Bulldogs turned back Woodstown’s possession that opened the OT with an end zone interception.

“They’re exactly what I said, the most physical team we’ve played to date,” Adams said. “They lined up in the I formation and pretty much had a defensive lineman in there at fullback and ran right at us.

“In overtime they got a first down and then busted one to the 5. The next play they ran the ball and their kid found a seam and found the end zone.”

The teams played to a scoreless first half. Glassboro broke through first on a 25-yard pass to Xavier Sabb in the third quarter that Gerrett Leyman nearly intercepted in the end zone. The Wolverines tied it on Max Webb’s 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines ground out 119 yards on the ground with Bryce Belinfanti going for 85. Webb was 9-of-13 passing for 104 yards. Zach Bevis caught three balls for 52 yards.

“I liked the way our kids fought all game,” Adams said. “We told the kids we haven’t played a full 48 minutes with the varsity because we’ve been subbing the younger guys in. I told them all I ask is I get your maximum effort for 48 minutes and you gave me your maximum effort for more than that.

“This stings right now, but this is going to be something that helps us in the long run.”

Glassboro 13, Woodstown 7 (OT)

Glassboro (2-2)	0	0	7	0	6 –	13
Woodstown (3-1)	0	0	0	7	0 –	7

Scoring plays
G – Xavier Sabb 25 pass from Kristopher Foster (PAT kick)
W – Max Webb 1 run (Jake Ware kick)
G – Amari Sabb 5 run (no PAT attempt)

Cover photo of Woodstown QB Max Webb looking for an open receiver by Ellen Sickler.

Stepping up

Schalick quarterback Simmons dedicates his play to his injured running back, accounts for 5 TDs in a 38-20 win over Pennsville

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE — Schalick was missing the backbone of its football team Friday night, but quarterback Kenai Simmons stepped up to play chiropractor.

With running back Reggie Allen Jr. on the sideline in concussion protocol, the Cougars needed someone to be the emotional and physical leader of the offense.

Schalick 38,
Pennsville 20
FRIDAY: Schalick vs. Lindenwold, 7 p.m.
Pennsville at Cumberland, 6 p.m.

Simmons answered the call, accounting nearly 300 yards of offense and five touchdowns in a 38-20 win over Pennsville.

The quarterback is the natural choice to assume the mantle, but Simmons took it to another level. The junior rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns and had what he called his “best throwing game” since moving to quarterback in the summer, completing six of 11 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns.

“I really wanted to make Reggie Allen proud,” Simmons said. “Today I did everything for Reggie Allen.

“I told the line before the game Reggie was crying last night, so everything we did tonight was for Reggie Allen, my brother.”

Schalick head coach Mike Wilson called Allen the unsung backbone of the Cougars’ team between back-to-back three-touchdown games against Wildwood and Riverside, but the junior also took a big hit in the Riverside game that put him on the shelf.

Simmons put the offense on his shoulders and ran for touchdowns of 9 and 8 yards. He threw touchdown passes to Jake Siedlecki (on fourth down), Levi Feeney-Childers and Dylan Sheehan.

“I believe Reggie Allen is the heart and soul of this team, but it’s also Kenai’s team and you saw that tonight,” Wilson said. “Kenai and Reggie are boys. They’ve been playing football together since they were little. They look at each other as brothers and Kenai stepped up for his brother tonight.”

Simmons ran for the Cougars’ first touchdown and threw for their second as they went up 17-0 in the first half. The touchdown pass came on fourth-and-19 as the Cougars were trying to recover from a holding penalty and fumble that lost yardage and knocked them out of the red zone.

“After we got that penalty coach was very eager to get in the end zone,” Simmons said. “I told the line we need at least two seconds, that’s all I needed to get the ball out there, and I delivered a dot to Jake Siedlecki.”

The Eagles didn’t back down. Using a no-huddle offense that harkened back to the glory days of former head coach and current OC Ryan Wood, they drew as close as 17-14 midway through the third quarter.

Robbie McDade threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Malik Rehmer in the final minute of the second quarter and Sky Eppes capped the opening drive of the second half with a 5-yard scoring run. But Simmons responded with his 65-yard touchdown pass to Feeney-Childers and the Cougars pulled away for their fifth straight win.

“We’re still taking step in the right direction, (but) they outexecuted us,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “We played a good football team, we made all the mistakes, they didn’t make mistakes and that’s what happens when you play a good football team. We’re able to match up with teams. We’ve just got to be more consistent.”

Schalick came into the game ranked second in the South Jersey Group I power ratings, and with No. 1 Woodstown’s overtime loss to Glassboro has the chance to move into the top spot this week.

“I’m proud what we have done and it’s nice for the players to have the recognition they deserve,” Wilson said.

Wherever the Cougars land in the ratings next week, they’ll get the week off and a free win as Lindenwold intends to forfeit the game. 

Schalick 38, Pennsville 20

SCHAL (38)		PVILLE (20)
17	1st Downs	16
35-237	Rushing	28-131
6-11-0	Passes	9-19-0
152	Passing	111
1-0	Fumbles-lost	1-1
0-0	Punts-avg	1-43.0
4-30	Penalties-yds	3-40

Schalick (5-0)	10	7	7	14 –	38
Pennsville (2-2)	0	7	7	6 –	20

Scoring plays
S – Kenai Simmons 9 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:11 1Q
S – Hunter Dragotta 21 FG, 0:00 1Q
S – Jake Siedlecki 24 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 3:22 2Q
P – Malik Rehmer 23 pass from Robbie McDade (Jackson Leino kick), 0:53 2Q
P – Sky Eppes 5 run (Jackson Leino kick), 7:16 3Q
S – Levi Feeney-Childers 65 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 5:15 3Q
S – Dylan Sheehan 18 pass from Kenai Simmons (Hunter Dragotta kick), 10:07 4Q
S – Kenai Simmons 8 run (Hunter Dragotta kick), 6:38 4Q
P – Tyree Young 20 pass from Robbie McDade (pass failed), 3:23 4Q

Schalick’s Alec Bramell (9) indicates it’s the Cougars’ ball after Riley Papiano recovered a fumble on Pennsville’s first possession. On the cover, Schalick quarterback Kenai Simmons had a big game, accounting for five touchdowns. (Photos by Heather Papiano)

Salem County showdown

Schalick visits Pennsville Friday in its only scheduled game with Salem County foe this season; where once everybody played each other, only five such matchups are scheduled this season

SALEM COUNTY FOOTBALL
Friday’s games
Glassboro at Woodstown, 7 p.m.
Schalick at Pennsville, 7 p.m.
Saturday’s games
Penns Grove at Haddon Heights, 11 a.m.
Salem vs. Cedar Creek at SHI Stadium (Rutgers), 3 p.m.

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

PENNSVILLE – There are certain games on everybody’s football schedule that bring a little more anticipation than others; the ones that draw that big, bold circle as soon as its announced.

Maybe it’s a game that got away the year before. Maybe it’s a key game with a division rival and playoff implications. Or one with all the pageantry, like Homecoming or Senior Night.

Schalick and Pennsville play one of those games Friday night that carries even more importance and intensity.

It’s a game between county rivals and when there are only five teams in the county those games mean just a little bit more.

“These kids know each other playing sports against each other their whole lives,” Pennsville coach Mike Healy said. “You usually feel like it’s a little more competitive in terms of the environment and atmosphere.

“It is really for bragging rights because they play each other in everything, especially with social media now, how connected some of these kids are. It’s really important to us. We want respect in general, but having the bragging rights in the county is always something you want to have. You want to be the best of the bunch, for sure.”

Sadly, while there are enough teams and enough slots on the schedule to play an annual county series, they don’t all play each other anymore. Used to, but not anymore.

Everybody has at least one in-county game this season. Penns Grove plays the most – three, the first of which was last week at Salem. Penns Grove, Salem and Woodstown all get at least two because they’re all in the West Jersey Football League Diamond Division.

The traditionalist in Schalick coach Mike Wilson, a self-proclaimed history nerd, would like to see all five county teams play each other, but the realist in him understands with the WJFL’s desire for competitive balance in scheduling it’s not possible. 

Woodstown was the last team to schedule all four of the other county teams and made it a point to play all four every year but one from 2004 to 2020. All five programs did it in 2018 and 2019, with Penns Grove going 10-0 over that stretch (including playoffs), Woodstown 6-5 and Salem 6-4. 

“County games are always bigger than other games because these kids grow up playing each,” Wilson said. “It’s just a county thing. It’s county bragging rights. I think it’s huge that way.

“And the kids know each other. When kids really know each other it’s different. When we play at Riverside, they don’t know who Riverside is. When we play Wildwood, they don’t know Wildwood kids. We play Cape May, they don’t know Cape May kids. But these kids they know, so anytime you know the kids it’s a bigger game to them. A lot of these kids have probably been playing football against each other since they were 8 years old.”

There’s a lot on the line for both teams, too.

Schalick, No. 2 behind Woodstown in the South Jersey Group I power rankings, is looking to keep the train rolling and its undefeated record intact on the road against a team that’s improved from the one it beat by five touchdowns a year ago.

But they’re likely to be doing it without leading rusher Reggie Allen Jr., who took a big hit in last week’s win over Riverside. Wilson declined to comment on the status or availability of the player who called just last week the backbone of his team.

Pennsville, meanwhile, is looking to take another step forward after bouncing back from a flat second game to get its second win last week, doubling its win total of a year ago.

“Last year we didn’t put forth what we wanted to so there’s a little extra to this because we’re trying to get back to where we want to be and expect to be,” Healy said. “To be able to do it against a county team would just be that much better. Not only that, the kids are aware this is a 4-0 team we’re playing and No. 2 in the UPR rankings, so getting this win would be huge for us for what our goals are at the end of the season.”

Wilson knows that makes the Eagles a dangerous team.

“We are truly the hunted and we have to learn how to take that now,” he said. “We’re no longer the underdog in a lot of these games. The kids have to understand how to handle success and how to take care of business. It’s a huge game for us.”

Salem County Head-to-Head

TEAMS	PGRV	PVILLE	SALEM	SCHAL	WOODS
PENNS GROVE	—	10-4 (36-27-4)	9-8 (56-45-6)	9-0 (27-7)	8-6
PENNSVILLE	4-10 (27-36-4)	—	5-7	4-2 (16-8)	6-7
SALEM	8-9 (45-56-6)	7-5	—	3-4 (24-13-1)	9-5 (64-39-10)
SCHALICK	0-9 (7-27)	2-4 (8-16)	4-3 (13-24-1)	—	1-11 (9-24)
WOODSTOWN	6-8	7-6	5-9 (39-64-10)	11-1 (24-9)	—

Since 2010, includes playoffs; all-time series in parenthesis

GLASSBORO (1-2) at WOODSTOWN (3-0): The Wolverines, the No. 1 team in the South Jersey Group I power rankings, face their most physical opponent to date without their most dynamic player. Senior running back James Hill, a 3,000-yard career rusher, underwent surgery Thursday for a non-contact, non-football knee injury and will miss the rest of the season just when he was set to return from surgery on the other knee.

The Wolverines’ approach really doesn’t change much with the news. They went into the season with Bryce Belinfanti and Alex Torres the Nos. 1 and 2 running backs until Hill’s return and have elevated their games in the meantime. The only difference now is they’ll remain in those top tier spots the rest of the year.

Belinfanti has rushed for 413 yards and six touchdowns in the Wolverines’ first three games. Torres went for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns last week at Deptford.

“I don’t think it changes much because we had to prepare for not having (Hill) starting the season,” Adams said. “Bryce came into the season knowing he was the first running back and Torres knew he was the second running back and that’s been their mindset all along, so I don’t think anything really changes in that aspect.

“We said going into the season we needed to be able to execute the passing game better and last week we really showed that. We just need to keep that going and doing what we’re doing.”

As for being the early No. 1 in the SJ-I power rankings, the potential No. 1 seed in the sectional playoffs, Adams said the Wolverines don’t get caught up in all that, but admits it does change the way future opponents look at them.

“We don’t get wrapped up into it too much,” Adams said. “What it does for us is we know our opponents are looking at that going if we beat Woodstown we can get a lot of power points.

“We kind of talk to it from that aspect. We’ve got a bulls eye on our back and people are looking to beat us to jump up in their rankings … It’s a long season. We use it as everybody’s going to give you their best because they know it’s worth a lot to them if they can get a W over us.”

SATURDAY’S GAMES
PENNS GROVE (1-3) at HADDON HEIGHTS (2-1): The Red Devils go into another game with playoff implications experiencing life the week after playing a longtime rival and coming off a win.

it’s the first time this year they go into a game after a win and they did that only twice last year. They haven’t won back-to-back games since Oct. 30-Nov. 6, 2021. 

And every game they’ve played this year seems to carry some kind of playoff implication. The opener against Burlington City has tiebreaker potential because the winner last year eventually was in and the loser was out. It was suggested the winner of last week’s game with rival Salem was in a good spot to make the playoffs. It’ll be more of the same this week.

The Red Devils are currently No. 18 in the South Jersey Group I power ratings, right behind Pennsville and currently on the outside of the playoff cutline. Haddon Heights is No. 20 in SJ-II.

“It’s a huge game, both teams need the game,” Penns Grove coach John Emel said. “I’m telling our kids with our schedule we win this game we’re clinching a playoff spot. We got in last year with two (wins) and to get two this early in the season and having a heads-up win over Salem and over Haddon Heights with three wins we can start working toward getting a home playoff or some of the goals we set throughout the year.

“I know our kids are excited to be coming off a win. It’s been a while since we came off a win, so I’m excited with how hungry our kids show up to be Saturday.”

The Garnets have a dynamic passer in Drew Harris who three for three touchdowns last week and is expected to provide a big test for the Red Devils’ young secondary of freshmen Karon Ceaser and Jayden Days, Knowledge Young and Kylee Goodson.

“We’re better than we’ve been the last couple years on the back end, but we’re young,” Emel said. “Those guys have gotta play big for us to have a chance to win.”

A late-developing intangible impacting the game is the weather. Haddon Heights officials have been considering an alternate site or moving the date if it looks like the expected weekend storms will make it too difficult to play the game as scheduled. A decision is likely to come sometime Friday.

(UPDATE: At 10:20 a.m. Friday, Haddon Heights officials told Riverview Sports News the game will be played as scheduled.)

SALEM (0-4) vs. CEDAR CREEK (3-1): The Rams will be seeking their first victory of the season against the No. 7 team in the South Jersey Group III power rankings in the Rumble on the Raritan at Rutgers’ SHI Stadium. It’ll be their second game in a college facility this season, having opened the year against Executive Education Academy at Lafayette College.

2023 SALEM COUNTY SHOWDOWNS
Penns Grove 21, Salem 6
Schalick at Pennsville, Friday
Salem at Woodstown, Sept. 29
Pennsville at Penns Grove, Oct. 13
Woodstown at Penns Grove, Oct. 21

Cover photo by Lorraine Jenkins