BORDENTOWN – The Bordentown Regional High School football team made history last fall when they won a single-season record 10 games during its 2021 campaign.
Building off their historic 2021 season and clinching the program’s first staff playoff appearance since 2014, is the goal for the Scotties and fourth-year Coach Skip Edwards in 2022.
The Scotties bring back a host of key returners from last year’s team, led by senior running back Kerry Nicholas, senior quarterback Denny Morolda and senior fullback/linebacker Michael Poinsett.
Nicholas turned out a stellar junior campaign by rushing for over 1,700 yards and tallying 20 total touchdowns. The senior tailback is primed for another great season this fall for the Scotties.
“Kerry (Nicholas) has the heart of a lion,” said Edwards. “He runs hard. He plays hard. Everything he does is at 100 percent.”
Morolda enters his fourth season under center as the Scotties’ starting quarterback. Edwards says Morolda is a “leader” and embodies the tools needed to be a starting quarterback.
Poinsett is the leader of the Bordentown defense at middle linebacker and also provides play making ability on offense at the fullback spot. He tallied 93 total tackles last season and also collected six total touchdowns on offense.
Fellow returners from Bordentown’s 10-1 2021 season include: Brendan Swanson (tight end/linebacker), Arion Owes (defensive back), Brian Cruz (offensive/defensive line), Christian Montalvo (defensive lineman), John Manion (offensive/defensive line), Liyu Chen (offensive/defensive line), Jason Smith (offensive lineman), John Acosta (offensive/defensive line), Brock Schenck (outside linebacker), Myles Hansford (wide receiver/defensive back) and Eliott Robinson (kicker/punter).
INTERCEPTION! Exactly what the doctor ordered. John Manion with the INT. Scotties take over at their own 30. CC: @central_jersey @BRHS__Football @BRHSScotties @brhsathletics #NJFootball 🏈 pic.twitter.com/e2ktFvR4wU
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) September 2, 2022
Bordentown will compete this season in the Freedom Division of the West Jersey Football League, which also features Cinnaminson, Burlington City, Pemberton, Maple Shade and New Egypt.
To help out their case to make the state tournament this season, the Scotties will be playing a much tougher out of division schedule, facing teams such as Overbrook, Allentown and Lawrence.
Allentown and Lawrence join Pemberton in the list of Group III opponents this season that Bordentown (Group II) will play.
“Every game is like a playoff game,” Edwards said of the 2022 season. “We’re playing in a whole new league this year.”
Bordentown opened up the 2022 season at home on Sept. 2 against Overbrook.
The Scotties jumped out to a 7-0 lead heading into the second quarter with Morolda connecting with Poinsett on a 39-yard screen pass for Bordentown’s first touchdown of the season.
Poinsett had three catches for 66 yards in the contest for Bordentown.
“Mike (Poinsett) played a great game (against Overbrook),” Edwards said.
Nicholas extended the Bordentown lead to 13-0 with 8:11 left to play in the half on an eight-yard touchdown run.
TOUCHDOWN SCOTTIES! Kerry Nicholas shows off his toughness on his 8-yard run for a TD to give Bordentown (@BRHS__Football) a 13-0 lead with 8:11 left to play in the half. Has 64 yards rushing so far today! CC: @central_jersey @brhsathletics @BRHSScotties #NJFootball 🏈 pic.twitter.com/jjiH7XFDdD
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) September 2, 2022
The senior tailback had 71 yards rushing in the contest before going out with an ankle injury midway through the second quarter and did not return.
Bordentown took a 13-0 lead into the half, but couldn’t hold off an Overbrook comeback in the second half.
Overbrook scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to hand Bordentown a 20-13 season-opening loss.
“We just fell flat in the second half,” said Edwards after the loss to Overbrook. “We have to realize that every game is going to be a battle. I thought our running backs ran the ball well and our offensive line did a good job moving people out. We just fell short.”
Bordentown suffered its only loss of the 2021 campaign during the second week of the regular season (40-7 to Gloucester) and bounced back to win its final nine games of the season.
Edwards hopes his Scotties can string up a similar run this season, starting with a bounce back victory over Maple Shade on Sept. 9 in Bordentown.
“We’re going to come back and get ready for the next game (against Maple Shade),” Edwards said. “Maple Shade is always a tough team. We [got to] get ready for them.”