By Anthony Williams, Special Writer
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The Scotties delivered Friday night.
Off to its hottest start since 1981, the Bordentown Regional High School football team has brought back the Scotties’ faithful in droves by jumping out to a 3-1 record to start the season.
On Oct. 5, Bordentown celebrated its Homecoming with a 39-17 romp over visiting Ewing High School. The result has been a community talking playoffs for the first time in 30 years.
”We just need to keep playing Bordentown football every week,” Steve Perry, head coach, stated.
Coach Perry already knew in the preseason what the Scotties would be bringing to the field this year, all he needed was an opportunity to show it. The return of a very talented and athletic senior class coupled with equally electrifying group of underclassmen had the fourth-year head coach excited about his team’s ability to successfully jump to the next level.
His team hasn’t let him down so far, blowing out Robbinsville in its season opener, outlasting Palmyra before falling to Delran, and now the team can add Ewing to its list of conquered opponents.
Friday night, as the Bordentown and Ewing teams took to the field to start the game, the stands were filled with a raucous crowd and boisterous band hoping to celebrate another Scottie’s win, but Ewing had come hoping to crash the party.
The Blue Devils used a power running game between the tackles to jump out to a 7-0 in the first quarter, and a new look defense seemed to have Bordentown’s offense trying to figure out how to move the ball.
”We came out a little too excited I think,” Coach Perry stated. “I think we were a little distracted with the week’s festivities, but give credit to Ewing because they came to play. Our linebackers were not getting good reads against the run, and they did a great job running between the tackles early. Defensively they showed us a look we had never seen from them before, so we struggled reading coverages and picking up blocking assignments.”
While the coaches and the rest of the team were trying to make adjustments to Ewing’s play, senior punt returner Jordan Kelso decided to take matters into his own hands on special teams.
After a defensive stop early in the second quarter forced Ewing to kick from deep inside its own territory, Kelso returned the ensuing punt to the Blue Devils’ 10-yard line to give Bordentown excellent field position.
A few plays later and senior Nick Bartolomei promoted Bordentown to the board when he punched in a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line to make the score 7-6.
Kelso’s magnificent punt return and the offense’s quick score seemed to energize the fans and the defense, and Ewing was forced again to kick the ball from deep inside their territory.
Kelso demonstrated once again why he has been an All-Conference selection each of the last two years and duplicated his previous punt return, this time taking it down to the Ewing 15-yard line.
Bartolomei would eventually find senior wideout Jaleel Tyson on a 6-yard slant to put the Scotties up 12-7, and they never looked back.
”We were making adjustments as the game progressed,” Coach Perry pointed out. “But Jordan’s special teams play really provided the spark that we needed to get going. As a coach, you can’t ask for too much more than starting back-to-back possession inside your opponents red zone.”
Kelso would continue to frustrate Ewing as he scored on a 27-yard run from the wildcat formation, and Jahmire VanKlyne added the 2-point conversion to give the Scotties a 20-7 halftime lead and all the offense the team would need.
It would be more of the same in the second half as Bartolomei found senior tight end Brian Dalosio for a 23-yard touchdown reception on a seam route, and junior running back Tommy Walters punched one in from six yards out to make the score 39-7.
Coach Perry gave his starters most of the fourth quarter off, and sent in his younger players to gain some varsity experience which resulted in the final score being closer than the game actually was, 39-17.
”It’s good when you can give your backups an opportunity to get significant playing time in a varsity level game,” Coach Perry stated. “It means we are doing a lot of things right and dominating the scoreboard. You don’t get a chance to do that every week, so for it to happen on Homecoming was a good feeling.”
Coach Perry was very proud of the way his team overcame its early struggles and how the players finished the game.
”In years past, when things wouldn’t go our way, we’d shut down and hang our heads.” Coach Perry recalled. “But these kids have fought back in every game we have played this year. Our body language is different. Shoulders would slump, but no more. This team is different.”
Bordentown has its sights set on a post-season appearance and currently sits in the 8th and final playoff spot in Central Jersey Group II, but can’t look too far ahead as there is a lot of tough football left to play.
The Scotties will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 1:30 p.m. when the team travels to 3-1 Maple Shade for another West Jersey Football League showdown.
”It’s been a great environment to play in all week,” Coach Perry said. “I’m just so proud.”

