Glassboro streak didn't awe Penns Grove

The longest football winning streak in the state was snapped Saturday when Penns Grove defeated Glassboro, 14-12, but don't tell winning coach Kemp Carr that it was an upset.

Glassboro, which beat Penns Grove, 28-8, in last year's South Jersey Group 1 final, had won 30 games in a row, including the first six this year.

Penns Grove, meanwhile, is 6-1, with only a 6-0 loss to Buena marring its record.

"I don't call it an upset," Carr said. "I call it two teams lining up, and the better team won."

The winning play came on Jay Brown's 88-yard interception return for a touchdown. Brown, the starting quarterback at the beginning of the year, is playing running back in addition to being a key member in the secondary.

Freshman Nick Elmer is now the quarterback.

The decision threw Group 1 into chaos. Glassboro, Paulsboro, Woodbury, and Penns Grove are all considered serious contenders.

Winning streaks. Here are the longest winning streaks in South Jersey football:

Team       Streak Ended   Wins

1. Paulsboro             1998    63

2. Florence             2006    43

3. Paulsboro             2003    37

3. St. Joseph             2007    37

5. Bordentown Military    1963    33

6. Millville                1955    31

7. Cherokee             1983    30

7. Glassboro             2009    30

9. Woodbury             1990    29

Cape Capers. This is the biggest week of the season for the Cape-Atlantic League, with Friday showdowns in both the American and National Conferences.

Fourth-ranked St. Augustine (7-0) visits Holy Spirit (6-1) in the National, and fifth-ranked Egg Harbor Township (7-0) travels to sixth-ranked Hammonton (7-0) in the American.

Deceptive passer. Top-ranked Williamstown (7-0) is known for its strong running game, but a key player also has been senior quarterback Bill McCarty, who has not been asked to pass much but has been effective.

He has completed 23 of 43 passes for 415 yards and five TDs, with one interception. This is his second season as a starter, and Williamstown is 16-1 in those games.

"I think the experience I got last year really helped me," he said.

McCarty is also a third baseman for the baseball team, the defending Royal Division champion.

"I'd like to play both sports in college, but we'll see how it plays out," he said.

Hoping for a comeback. Gloucester Catholic running back Alex Christ was sidelined with a knee injury against Williamstown. He suffered it the previous week in an 18-6 win over Cumberland.

Coach Tony Garczynski hopes Christ can return by the playoffs, which would begin the weekend of Nov. 13.

Christ has rushed for 510 yards (6.8 per carry) and four touchdowns.

"He gives us tremendous balance," Garczynski said.

Wild Freedom race. Palmyra controls its destiny in its quest to repeat as Burlco/Olympic Freedom Division champion. The Panthers are 4-0 in the division and must face the two other contenders - Florence and surprising Burlington City.

Florence is 3-1, with a loss to Maple Shade and Freedom games against Palmyra and Riverside remaining.

City is 4-1, having lost to Florence, 24-21, in overtime. The Blue Devils have one Freedom Division game left, a Thanksgiving showdown with Palmyra.

National showdown. Bishop Eustace would win the title in the Burlco/Olympic National Division outright with a victory Friday at Camden Catholic.

This the final divisional game for Eustace, which is 4-0 in the National. Camden Catholic is 3-1 and would earn a share of the title with a victory.