By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
It might be cliché to compare the South Brunswick High football team’s win over Pennsauken in the opening round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs to a boxing match, but it also would be appropriate.
The Vikings needed to fight off the ropes in the early going, counter-punched effectively to take control in the middle of the contest, and then wore down their foe to register a knockout in the closing moments.
South Brunswick, the No. 1 seed, posted a 21-12 victory last Friday night and made history in the process. It was the program’s first win in the state sectional playoffs and the Vikings, by improving to 8-1, equaled the school record for triumphs in a season.
”We feel that if we keep running our offense, we’re going to find some seams and we’re going to make plays,” said Tom Dunleavy, who scored the game’s first touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Tim Doehler and tallied the contest’s final TD on a 3-yard run with 2:25 to play. “All the hard work is paying off.”
The Vikings, though, needed to overcome a sluggish start on a sloppy field. South Brunswick went three-and-out on its first three possessions while Pennsauken (5-4) threatened twice in the opening quarter. Robert Powers’ fumble recovery halted the Indians’ first drive at SB’s 6 and the Vikes held on downs after the visitors began their second series at the host’s 23.
”We kind of couldn’t get out of our own way at the beginning,” South Brunswick coach Rick Mantz said. “Our defense was able to rise to the occasion. Being backed up the way we were at the start kind of limits your playbook. You don’t want to be too conservative, but you also don’t want to give them anything; you want to make them beat you. The kids just kept battling and fighting.”
The tide started to turn on South Brunswick’s first possession of the second quarter. The Vikings were able to drive into Pennsauken territory and Devin Young’s 40-yard punt pinned down the Indians at the 5.
From there, the SB defense forced a three-and-out and Michael Ferrara’s 30-yard punt return helped set up the game’s first score, Dunleavy’s sliding catch in the left corner of the end zone on fourth-and-15 just two minutes prior to halftime.
Pennsauken pulled within 7-6 with 1:18 remaining in the third quarter courtesy of the second of two fumbles in the period by the Vikings. But South Brunswick responded with a seven-play, 75-yard march capped by Justin McClendon’s 23-yard touchdown run. Cody Shelcusky, who rushed for a game-best 74 yards on 17 carries, had a key 14-yard run on a third-and-9 to keep the drive alive.
The Indians got within 14-12 three snaps later on a 47-yard touchdown run, but South Brunswick’s offense took control from there.
Dan Acevedo’s 9-yard reception on third-and-7 from the Vikings’ 36 provided the momentum as South Brunswick drove 67 yards in 10 plays, taking nearly six minutes off the clock. Shelcusky had a 23-yard run and Terrance Hayes-Privett picked up six yards on a third-and-1 to aid the decisive march, which ended with Dunleavy’s second touchdown of the contest.
”We dominated up front on those two drives,” quarterback Doehler said. “It was big the way our line responded. I definitely think we wore them down.”
Like a boxer, setting up the knockout. Now, with one more win, the Vikings can fight for a title.
