West Deptford High School Football Team Falls Short of Undefeated Season, S.J. Title

The West Deptford High School football team was 1-point away from an undefeated season and an NJSIAA South Jersey Group II title, but it wasn’t to be.

Cedar Creek rallied for the third time this playoff season on Sunday night. This time, it resulted in the program’s first championship.

Pat Moran kicked the game-winning extra point to cap a 15-point fourth quarter rally, and the Pirates defeated the Eagles, 28-27, in the final at Rowan University, according to nj.com.

West Deptford owned a 14-0 halftime lead, following a 1-yard touchdown run by Nick Diaco and a 4-yard touchdown run by Gio Gismondi.

Bo Melton, who nj.com writes established himself as one of the best players in the state in this game, cut the lead in half with a 10-yard touchdown run. However, West Deptford blocked the PAT attempt.

West Deptford then answered the score with a 1-yard touchdown run by Diaco.

Jesse Milza’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Watson for Cedar Creek cut the lead to 21-13 after three.

Melton, who had 118 yards on 11 runs and 67 yards on seven catches, also threw a touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to Louie Pitale in the fourth quarter. He then connected with Milza on a two-point conversion to tie the game.

West Deptford reclaimed the lead with a 69-yard touchdown run by Paz Gismondi, but it was Cedar Creek’s turn to block the PAT attempt.

Milza then connected with Malachi Timberlake on a 38-yard touchdown pass. Moran wouldn’t be denied on this kick, putting it through the uprights and giving Cedar Creek its first South Jersey championship.

Cedar Creek entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. It rallied to defeat No. 6 Collingswood, 21-20, in the quarterfinals. Moran kicked the winning extra point in that game as well. Melton had two touchdown runs in that game.

A week later, it was a 14-9 win over No. 2 Haddonfield in the semifinals. They rallied from a halftime deficit, shutting out the Bulldawgs in the second half of that game for the win.

West Deptford fell to 11-1 this season. The Eagles were the Colonial Conference Liberty Division champions.

The Eagles made the final with a 21-10 win over No. 4 Buena in the semifinals. West Deptford opened the playoffs with a 33-25 win over No. 8 Overbrook in the quarterfinals.

West Deptford exceeded 60 points four times this year, including a 61-6 win over Lindenwold, a 62-8 victory over Haddon Heights, a 62-0 win over Sterling and a 66-12 win over Audubon. The defense pitched two shutouts, including the win over Sterling and a 10-0 win over Haddonfield to open the season.

It won its Thanksgiving Day rivalry game, 21-18, over Paulsboro.