Florence football successfully tackles another challenge

NBC football wins; Bordentown defeated

Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
   Robbinsville High is a football team that made the playoffs last year and brought in portable lights to host Florence this past Friday night.
    Florence is a team that has won the state title four of the past five years and has permanent lights on its field.
    In a battle of one team that wants to get to prime time and one that is already there, Florence emerged with a 32-13 win.
    “There was so much excitement here,” Florence Coach Joe Frappolli noted of the big, enthusiastic crowd at Robbinsville. “The crowd was yelling at us as we got off the bus. We told the guys it would be a crazy atmosphere.”
    It got crazier for Florence when Robbinsville quarterback Ryan DeAngelis connected with a wide open Jeff Gerdes for a 67-yard touchdown pass on just the fourth play of the game.
    “They got that quick score and we just needed to settle down,” Frappolli said.
    The way Florence settled down was by allowing the punting of Jim Martinson to pin Robbinsville in deep.
    Florence had to punt after three plays on its first possession, but a 51-yard punt by Martinson pinned Robbinsville at its own 7.
    “We work on special teams a lot,” Martinson noted. “Tonight, special teams helped get us through.”
    Florence’s special teams also included pressuring Robbinsville into a short punt. As a result, Florence started its second possession on the Robbinsville 17. Seven straight runs — capped off by a quarterback sneak by Martinson on fourth down from the 1 — followed and allowed Florence to tie the game.
    Showing his first one wasn’t a fluke, Martinson’s next punt went for 47 yards and pinned Robbinsville back at its own 14. This shift in field position set up a 22-yard field goal by Bryant Watts and allowed Florence to escape a difficult first half with a 10-7 lead.
    “Martinson is a heck of a punter,” Frappolli said. “I don’t know too many guys that can get the hang time he does on kicks or can put the ball in the corner like he does.
    “He also stepped up as quarterback and made two great throws.”
    That would be in the third quarter. Following a pair of long runs by Korey Linico, Florence had a third down at the Robbinsville 21. Martinson faked a handoff, rolled right and threw back across the field to Zack Carugno for a touchdown.
    Being a good team that should challenge for another playoff spot this season, Robbinsville answered this score. In fact, it got the deficit cut to 17-13 and followed that with an interception.
    Needing a defensive stand, Florence got it. Mike Staton finished off the Robbinsville possession by sacking DeAngelis.
    Needing a score to open up some breathing room, Florence got that as well. Martinson connected with Watts for a 45-yard pickup, down to the Robbinsville 13. Linico carried the ball in from there.
    “I had the interception on the previous pass, but Coach Frappolli doesn’t lose confidence in someone if he messes up,” Martinson noted. “He’s not going to quit on his players.”
    Which is why they never quit on him.
    Linico ran the ball four times for 10 yards in the first half. The coaching staff made some adjustments with him at the half and he responded with 91 yards and two scores on six carries in the second half.
    “They told me I was too far in, that I had to cut farther out on my runs,” Linico noted.
    Linico’s last run was for 35 yards and a touchdown with 6:20 to go in the half. Although Florence and Robbinsville have never played football before, Linico considered it payback.
    “They beat us in baseball (in the state playoffs),” Linico said. “I’m still upset about that.”
    Florence will take its 2-0 record into a bye week. It will be home to face Woodrow Wilson October 4 at 2 p.m.
    “What you see is what you get,” Robbinsville Coach Jason Gray noted of Florence. “You just can’t make any mistakes or give Florence any opportunities. They are a really good football team.”
    One that tends to shine when the lights – portable or not – are put on them.
    BRHS
    The Bordentown High football team was defeated at home on Saturday by Palmyra, 43-6.
    Palmyra was particularly dominating in the first half, scoring 22 points in the first quarter and building its advantage to 40-0 by the half.
    Bordentown scored with 1:31 to go in the game. Pete Pulhac caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Brett Pedersen. Pulhac finished the game with four receptions for 35 yards. Breon Walker pulled in a 23-yard reception.
    Thomas Lee finished the game with 12 carries for 49 yards. Isaiah Richmond had four carries for 20 yards.
    Bordentown, now 0-2, is off this week. It will play at Burlington City on Friday, October 3 at 7 p.m.
    NBC
    The Northern Burlington football team improved to 1-1 with a 20-13 win over Pemberton this past Saturday.
    With Northern Burlington clinging to a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter, Derek Antonucci scored on a 1 yard run. Earlier in the game, Andrew Bothwell scored on a 52-yard run. Boomer Walton caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Joe Washington.
    Northern Burlington (1-1) will play at Woodrow Wilson this Saturday at noon.