8 area football players earn scholar-athlete designation

By Sean Moylan, Sports Writer
   A total of 49 Burlington County scholar-athletes were honored at Sunday’s Bill Gordon-George Masters Memorial Football Club of Burlington County Scholar-Athlete Awards at Bradford Estates in Hainesport, New Jersey.
   The local football teams were well-represented, with senior Wayne Cobbs and sophomore Ben Walker representing the Bordentown Scotties’ varsity football team.
   This season Cobbs developed into a solid, reliable running back for the Scotties He also plays on the defensive side of the ball. Walker sees action as a receiver and a defensive back.
   The Florence Flashes varsity football team’s Jimmy Martinson, Matt Belcher, Fritz Miller, Chris Salaga and Brian Cook were also selected as Scholar-Athletes.
   Martinson, a junior, led the Flashes back to the playoffs as the team’s starting quarterback. While he specializes in ball control, he showed off his powerful arm in more than a few games with his favorite target being Tyler Foehr. He’s also an excellent punter.
   Belcher, now a senior, is one of the most reliable kickers in all of Burlington County. He boots many of his kickoffs into the end zone, and he was the Flashes’ primary kicker on three state championship teams.
   Salaga, a senior defensive lineman, is a very bright young man who loves to tackle opposing players very hard on the football field. He’s also a good offensive lineman and one of his team’s leaders.
   Miller and Cook are also a very strong senior linemen, who have both had solid academic and athletic careers at Florence High School.
   Meanwhile Zack Fray, an intelligent and very talented senior offensive tackle, was the lone representative from the Northern Burlington County Regional High boys’ varsity football team.
   Greyhounds’ head varsity football coach Jon Reising, who has an unbelievable respect for the game of football at the high school, college and pro levels, is the Football Club of Burlington County’s president.
   While they just missed making it to the post season, the Greyhounds have played well this season. They will wrap up their year with a home game versus Burlington Township on Friday. With a victory, NBC can finish its season with a 6-4 overall record.
   Florence was a four-time defending Group I Central Jersey champion before losing a tough 20-17 decision to Highland Park in the opening round of the playoffs last weekend at “The New Pit.” The Flashes don’t like losing so look for them to erupt in today’s (Thanksgiving) scheduled home game versus Riverside. With a victory, Florence can end this season with an 8-2 record.
   Bordentown is scheduled to host a very talented New Egypt squad, which made the playoffs, today (Thanksgiving). Bordentown has played some terrific football this year and if it beats the Warriors, that will be its fourth win of the season.