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Flashes’ Fogas strike in homecoming tilt

By Anthony Williams, Special Writer
   Florence Memorial High School wasted no time in delivering a knockout blow to Burlington City’s chances of pulling off an upset on the Flashes’ homecoming, erupting for 34 first quarter points en route to an easy 51-10 victory.
   Junior tailback Curtis Thompson got the offense rolling early, breaking a 40-yard run on the first play from scrimmage to put the Flashes in Blue Devils’ territory. Thompson would eventually provide the first points of the game, capping off an 80-yard drive with an 18-yard run untouched off left tackle for a touchdown.
   Burlington City would respond with a scoring drive of its own, highlighted by senior kicker Nick Ford’s 47-yard field goal to make the score 6-3.
   All of the momentum Burlington City had built on its previous drive would be erased in a flash, as senior Zach Foga returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. A Burlington City defender was able to catch Foga from behind, but the strong running of the Florence returner allowed him to carry the would-be tackler across the goal line. The touchdown was Foga’s first of the year and gave the Flashes a 13-3 lead with 7:34 to play in the quarter.
   ”It was a middle wedge return,” Foga said. “The guys in front of me opened up some holes and I was able to pick and choose my way through the crowd. I almost fell, but when I broke into the open field the crowd erupted and it gave me the energy I needed to get to the end zone.”
   From Foga’s kick return forward, the Flashes never looked back and the Blue Devils never threatened. On the following drive, Burlington City’s punter bobbled a rolling snap and gave the Flashes great field position on the Blue Devils’ 22-yard line. Three plays later Foga would double his season touchdown total, scoring on a 2-yard run up the middle again, extending the Flashes’ lead to 19-3.
   ”It was a dive play,” Foga recalled. “Curtis (Thompson) and Rich (Myers) opened up a hole for me and I just followed them in.”
   The Florence defense continued to pour on the pressure and recorded its second fumble recovery on the first play of Burlington City’s next drive. Four plays later and senior tailback Rich Myers was rumbling into the end zone for Florence’s fourth touchdown of the game and a 25-3 lead with 3:49 still to go in the opening quarter. Myers would convert the 2-point conversion to make the score 27-3.
   The Flashes were not done scoring, and turned an interception by sophomore defensive back Marcus Lawless into their fifth touchdown of the quarter when senior quarterback Ben Horner connected with Lawless for a 15-yard reception in the back corner of the end zone to make the score 34-3.
   Both teams would exchange touchdowns in the second quarter to make it 41-10 approaching the half, but another interception by Florence’s defense set them up for a shot at more points just before intermission. Senior kicker Doug MacArthur split the uprights from 30 yards out to give Florence a 44-10 advantage at the half.
   The large lead Florence had built in the first half allowed Head Coach Joe Frapolli to showcase some of the up-and-coming talent in the Flashes’ organization, including Zach Foga’s freshman brother, Joey.
   The younger Foga entered the game late in the third quarter, after a blocked punt by senior Nnamdi Njoku, and scampered 24 yards untouched for the final touchdown of the game to bring the score to 51-10. The touchdown was the younger Foga’s first of the season and put an exclamation point on Florence’s homecoming victory.
   ”It felt amazing,” Joey said of his first varsity touchdown. “I wanted to make the most of it and take the opportunity to show the coaches what I was made of, and coming on homecoming is even better.”
   Florence, seeded third, will next play host to sixth seeded Keyport at 1 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs.