Tuesday, December 11, 2012
While many teams have transitioned into a spread offense, champion West Deptford proves the Wing-T can still dominate.
During the past decade, more and more high school football programs moved away from the traditional Wing-T offense and transitioned into more of a spread look. The changes result in a lot more passes being thrown around South Jersey on Friday nights and give receivers something to do other than blocking for tailbacks. Programs such as Timber Creek and Cedar Creek demonstrated just how good the spread can be when executed properly, piling up points on their way to championship appearances. It appears likely that the trend of spreading things out offensively is here to stay and that more programs will transition from the traditional Wing-T in favor of a more college-oriented style. Just don’t expect that type of change to come to West …
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Gerald Owens rushed for five touchdowns in West Deptford's 42-28 win over Cedar Creek.
With his helmet ripped off and blood running down his forehead, Gerald Owens went to the sideline to a standing ovation from the West Deptford fans. It wasn’t the first time Owens brought the fans to their feet, or the last. Owens capped off a dominant junior season with a masterful 206-yard, five-touchdown effort, leading the West Deptford High School football to its second straight NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 title, 42-28, over Cedar Creek Saturday. Teammate Joe Diaco had a career-high three interceptions to lead a defense that picked off Pirates quarterback Damon Mitchell four times, helping the team secure a perfect 12-0 season. “It feels amazing,” Owens said. “I’m blessed. Our team is blessed to be back here again and blessed to have …
Friday, December 7, 2012
West Deptford will take on Cedar Creek at Rowan University on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Worn out after playing in all three phases of Friday night's football game and leading the West Deptford football team back to the Group 2 finals, Josh Cornelius took a second to reflect on what he and his teammates accomplished during his career. The Eagles' senior lamented the fact that he would never again suit up to play a home game in front of the West Deptford fans. “It’s bittersweet because I will never play another football game at this stadium,” Cornelius said after West Deptford’s Group 2 semifinal win over Woodstown. However, he quickly stated that there was a lot more sweetness than bitterness. “Going to Rowan and potentially closing out at 12-0 with this class I have been playing with since sixth grade is an awesome feeling,” …
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West Deptford High School
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Saturday, November 17, 2012
West Deptford got 250 yards rushing from Gerald Owens and Connor Smith in a 31-7 victory.
The West Deptford High School football team took the first step in defending its Group 2 title Friday night, defeating Sterling, 31-7, in the first round of the NJSIAA playoffs. It was once again the running game that propelled the Eagles, with Gerald Owens and Connor Smith combining for 250 yards on the ground. Sterling was able to hang with West Deptford early on, limiting the Eagles to a 26-yard field goal by Luke Cornelius in the first quarter and a 9-yard touchdown run by Devin Bates in the second quarter. The Eagles were able to find separation in the third quarter as Smith (7 yards) and Owens (1 yard) scored touchdowns to push the advantage to 24-0. West Deptford’s final score came in the fourth when Owens broke free for a 36-yard …
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Connor Smith and Gerald Owens combine for 375-plus yards and three touchdowns on the ground in West Deptford's 25-12 win over Haddonfield.
With a starting offense lineman down and a facing pesky opponent who wouldn’t go away, the West Deptford High School football team elected to go with its bread and butter in the second half against rival Haddonfield Friday night. It hadn’t failed them all season and didn’t fail them again as the Eagles dialed up a physical running game that helped put away a 25-12 win over the Bulldawgs and clinched a Colonial Conference Liberty division title. Connor Smith and Gerald Owens combined for more than 375 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while quarterback Alex Hilbmann threw for a score in a rematch of last year's Group 3 championship. “We knew it was going to be a battle all game, we just had to win it physically,” said Smith. “They …
Saturday, October 27, 2012
West Deptford clicked on both sides of the ball in a 64-6 win over Collingswood.
Prior to the West Deptford High School football team’s game against Collingswood, head coach Clyde Folsom challenged his team to find its identity on defense. The Eagles rolled through Colonial Conference opponents this season, but there were still areas that could be tightened up. After Friday night’s performance, it’s safe to say that the Eagles’ defense answered the call. West Deptford didn’t allow a first down until late in the fourth quarter, and dominated the ground game in a 64-6 win over Collingswood. Gerald Owens and Connor Smith led the offense's attack, scoring three touchdowns each, while the Eagles defense held the Panthers’ to negative yards total offense for three quarters. “Coach told us we didn’t identify who we are as a …
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Entering the game in the second quarter, Mike Daws anchored the West Deptford passing game, throwing for 89 yards and a touchdown to help the Eagles to a fourth straight win.
In the second quarter, with the Eagles struggling to move the football on offense, head coach Clyde Folsom tried something new. He turned to junior quarterback Mike Daws to provide a spark for his team and opened up the passing game. Daws took control of things from there. Daws completed seven-of-10 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown to help the Eagles to a 35-20 road victory over Sterling High School. The win extends West Deptford's unbeaten mark to 4-0. The decision to switch from starting quarterback Alex Hilbmann to Daws wasn't performance-based. The Eagles coaching staff decided to take advantage of a hole that they originally noticed during last week's win over Haddon Heights. “They were giving us the hitch route, the 12-yard …
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Connor Smith and Gerald Owens each go more than 100 yards rushing in West Deptford's 36-28 win over Haddon Heights.
With Gerald Owens on the bench dealing with a bloody nose and his team leading by just two points, Connor Smith knew it was time to put the West Deptford High School football team on his back. A do-it-all senior who is on the field for virtually every snap of the game, Smith converted two third downs into first downs, helping the Eagles run down the clock and eventually salt the game away with a late touchdown in a 36-28 Colonial Conference win over Haddon Heights. Smith’s work, along with a pair of long runs by Owens, led to a Josh Cornelius 2-yard touchdown run with just 22 seconds left in regulation. “I know I was hurting a little bit, but I knew the team needed it,” said Smith, who had 15 carries for 114 yards. “We needed those first …
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Gerald Owens and Josh Cornelius rush for over 300 yards and five touchdowns in West Deptford's 45-24 win over Woodbury for coach Clyde Folsom's 200th career win.
After the final whistle blew in the West Deptford High School football team’s 45-24 win over Woodbury, Eagles’ head coach Clyde Folsom joked that, in terms of publicity for himself, he would be happy to stay at 199 wins forever. The way West Deptford’s offense was rolling Friday night, winning 200 games may only be the beginning for the longtime coach. Gerald Owens ran for three touchdowns and Josh Cornelius rushed for two more, delivering Folsom his 200th career victory as a head coach. “It’s difficult to think about winning 200 games,” said Folsom, who is 200-66-5 overall, with 166 wins at West Deptford and 34 at Bishop Eustace. "First of all, I am no where near the end, so it’s just another win. We are just so proud of how hard the kids…
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Coming off a 1,500-yard season, West Deptford junior Gerald Owens is looking for even bigger things.
Exactly one year ago, Gerald Owens was a bit of an unknown for the West Deptford High School football team. He had the size (6-2, 245 pounds) and skill set well beyond that of the typical sophomore. Owens himself was unsure of what role he would have on the team: Would he be a lineman? Was the fullback role in his future? Did he have the endurance to be a featured tailback? For anyone who saw Owens take the South Jersey football landscape by storm with over 1,500 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns last season, those questions may seem laughable now. However, Owens remembers how he felt last preseason and entered this year’s camp in much better shape and with a much better mindset. Owens is now in the best shape of his life, a thought that …
J McKeown
11:22 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Congratulations! Hardwork pays off! more ›