Haddonfield Downs West Deptford To Capture SJ Football Title

GLASSBORO, NJ — The Haddonfield Memorial High School football team evened the score and captured a South Jersey title in the process.

The Bulldawgs defeated West Deptford, 21-17, to capture the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 title at Rowan University on Sunday, according to nj.com. Jay Foley threw the game-winning 51-yard touchdown pass to Drew Gavranich in the fourth quarter.

West Deptford (10-2) had jumped out to a 17-7 lead before Foley’s 15-yard touchdown run in the third quarter cut the lead to three points, setting up the fourth quarter heroics.

Peter Orio threw a pair of touchdown passes the first half to help West Deptford build its lead. First, he hooked up with Tyshawn Bookman with a 19-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. After Haddonfield (9-3) tied the game with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Jay Foley to John Foley in the second quarter, the Eagles responded with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Orio to Darren McKeown. Mike Bilodeau’s 19-yard field goal put West Deptford up 17-7.

The championship game win came about a month and a half after West Deptford edged Haddonfield, 17-14, in overtime of a game both teams entered undefeated. Bilodeau had the game-winning field goal in that one.

"We were as bad as we could possibly be in the first half, but it exemplifies what we've been this year, overcoming (four season-ending) injuries," Haddonfield football coach Frank DeLano told nj.com. "We didn't have a field (because of refurbishments) and we practiced by a pond with a guy fishing all year. Our kids found a way. People took us for dead, expect our kids."

West Deptford’s Kenny Lim didn’t play the second half, as he left the game with an injury. Eagles coach Clyde Folsom told nj.com that hurt his team, but they also turned the ball over and had drive-killing penalties. He said Haddonfield earned the win.

Haddonfield advanced to the championship game with a 35-8 win over seventh-seeded Cinnaminson in the semifinals. Jay Foley threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the win. In the first round, Haddonfield upset third-seeded Sterling, 17-7. Nick Patrizi ran for a pair of touchdowns in that win.

West Deptford advanced to the championship game with a 28-20 win over fourth-seeded Cedar Creek in the semifinals. Ken Lim rushed for three touchdowns in the win. In the first round, West Deptford defeated eighth-seeded Pleasantville, 51-12. Seven of the Eagles' eight touchdowns in that game came on the ground.

Patch file photo