Florence football to host playoff opener on Saturday

By: Sean Moylan
   Given a game and an extra week off to nurse some nagging injuries, a rejuvenated Abree Jones erupted for three first-half touchdowns in the Florence High School football team’s 35-7 victory at Delran this past Friday night.
   Jones (10 rushes for 43 yards) dominated on offense, defense and on special teams. His 1-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter — following a lengthy carry by Joe Spahn (3 rushes for 60 yards) — set the tone. Yet it was his 68-yard punt return for a touchdown and his second-quarter interception that he ran back 45 yards for a score which officially blew the lid off the game.
   "He (Jones) was electrifying," said Florence Coach Joe Frappolli. "We came out strong in all facets of the game and Abree (Jones) had a big day."
   Spahn not only ran well, he also found Jeff Perro open for a 60-yard touchdown pass. And as always Spahn played well on defense as did the all of the Flashes, who had three interceptions, including one by Perro, who now has five picks for the season.
   Shaquan Virgil (3 carries for 55 yards) put the exclamation mark on 35-0 first half with a 44-yard touchdown run.
   "Virgil scored on a counter (play). From there it was just a matter of getting the game over with," remarked Frappolli, who was able to rest several players in the second half. "It’s the time of the year where you don’t want to get anyone hurt."
   Chris Foehr had a big day as he ran for 62 yards and hooked up with Spahn on a 2-point conversion. Florence’s "Mr. Steady," Matt Belcher, missed a PAT for the first time this season. Nonetheless, he still had three extra-pointers in the contest. Marcus Curry ran for 44 yards on just six carries. Anthony Cardone was finally healthy enough to play a whole game and he excelled on defense.
   The win was the Flashes’ eighth of the season and their 32nd in a row. Yet, the only thing on the mind of the Flashes’ players right now is beating Highland Park in the Central Jersey Group I playoff opener Saturday at "The Pit." The game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m. and tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for seniors and students. No school passes will be accepted for the contest.
   
BRHS
   When Kyle Moya recovered a first-quarter fumble in the end zone to give the Bordentown Regional High School boys’ varsity football team a 7-6 lead over Burlington Township on Saturday at home, the Scotties didn’t allow themselves to get overly excited. That’s because Bordentown knew that the way the Falcons often beat teams is by using their massive varsity roster to full advantage. Burlington Township did that as it wore down Bordentown, 45-14.
   "They have over 60 kids on their varsity roster not including freshmen," said Bordentown Coach Jack Yost. "I don’t have 60 kids total in the program."
   Nevertheless, Yost continues to get some good efforts out of his players. In fact, on the Moya play, the Falcons were hoping to start a long drive with their back to their own end zone when Bordentown’s Jon Gens broke through the line and caused the fumble, which Moya fell on in the end zone.
   In the second half, John Weaver scored Bordentown’s other touchdown on a 4-yard run.
   "John Weaver had a touchdown and an interception," said Yost, who was impressed by the defensive play of Weaver and Jamal Vaughn. "He (Weaver) had hurt himself in the preseason before our first practice and couldn’t play the first six weeks. He’s played five games and has four interceptions."
   But Bordentown couldn’t stop Bobby Giles, who ended up with four touchdowns. The Scotties’ Darnell Ganges had 69 yards rushing.
   Bordentown is scheduled to play Asbury Park in a consolation game this weekend.
   
NBC
   Coming into season, the Northern Burlington High School football team wanted to run an offense with David Robinson and Eric Barry both playing in the same backfield.
   Unfortunately, Barry, a speedy and dynamic runner, suffered an injury early in the season and Robinson had to take the bulk of carries all season long. Although Robinson has gone on to have a breakout senior year, Barry’s loss limited what NBC could do on offense.
   But in the second half of Friday night’s 40-21 loss at Willingboro, the Greyhounds finally were able to unleash Barry and he responded with two fourth-quarter touchdowns and 129 yards rushing on just 12 carries. Ironically, Barry had been put in the game because Robinson (21 carries for 58 yards) tweaked his ankle.
   "Eric (Barry) got cleared to play two weeks ago, but he’s still hampered a little bit by his injury," said NBC Coach Jon Reising, who wanted to make sure he got Barry some action in the contest. "He had a really big run for 40 or 50 yards."
   A third-quarter, 5-yard touchdown connection from Jake Pates, who completed 9 of 24 passes for 124 yards, to Irving Fryar accounted for NBC’s other score. But by that time Willingboro had long since gained control of the game.
   "It seems like we came out flat. And coming out flat didn’t help us against a team like Willingboro," said Reising, who felt the Chimeras’ score after a blocked punt to go up 14-0 was a key play in the contest.
   Willingboro put nine defenders in the box against Robinson, so NBC’s super senior was never able to really get going.
   Despite his team’s 3-6 record, Reising is really proud of his kids who played nine regular season games in a row without a bye week.
   NBC will play Hamilton West in a consolation game.
   "I’m looking forward to it. The last time we played them was in the playoffs a couple of years ago," said Reising, whose team would like to avenge that loss.