Timber Creek quarterback Devin Leary ends his South Jersey footbal career with a touchdown catch

So this is what the farewell game of a South Jersey all-timer looks like. It started with three touchdown passes and ended with a touchdown reception. And as usual, the outcome of Devin Leary's last game was like so many of the others — an emphatic W.

The most prolific passer in state history, Leary ended his career in style as Timber Creek beat visiting Winslow Township, 42-14, in a Thanksgiving game.

Leary completed 12 of 19 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns as the Chargers finished 10-1. And in the fourth quarter, he caught a 6-yard option pass for a touchdown.

Even two brief altercations that resulted in the ejections of  two Timber Creek players and one from Winslow Township couldn't spoil Leary's day.

Before taking his first snap, Leary changed his No. 13 jersey for No. 5.

"We wanted him to wear his Little League number," Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson said, "It is the least we can do for him."

Leary wore that number while competing for the Gloucester Township Stallions.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Leary was hoping to be playing one more game, but Delsea beat the Chargers, 41-30, last week in the  South Jersey Group 3 semifinal to end a 25-game win streak, so this was it for the two-time defending South Jersey Group 4 champions.

Naturally, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Leary had only one thing on his mind entering his final game

"My first instinct was to get the win," he said.

He has put up video game-type numbers in his three full seasons as a starter. According to area historian Chuck Langerman, Leary's 9,666 career passing yards and 105 touchdown passes makes him the state's all-time leader in both categories. He is the only South Jersey player to throw for 2,000 or more yards three seasons.

"It's been an honor to coach him," Hinson said.

Leary has committed to North Carolina State and he will play in two all-star games in New Orleans and Hawaii, but this was it as far as his South Jersey career.

'It's the greatest decision I ever made coming here to Timber Creek," Leary said.

Afterward, the quarterback took his time exiting the field. He was taking pictures with friends and teammates, savoring every last moment of a career people will be talking about in South Jersey for quite some time.

Box Score

Winslow Township 0 7 0 7 – 14

Timber Creek 7 14 14 7 – 42

T: Jerome Gibson 47 pass from Devin Leary Zach Coluccio kick)

T: Kyle Dobbins 23 run (Coluccio kick)

T: Jordan Nash 42 pass from Learn (Coluccio kick)

W: Isaiah Shaw 60 pass from Prince-Dru Bey (Daniel Dadura kick)

T: Dobbins 52 run (Coluccio kick)

T: Mike Johnson 44 pass from Leary (Coluccio kick)

T: Leary 6 pass from (Coluccio kick)

W: David Wallace Jr.  19 pass from Bey (Dadura kick)