Deptford football is back on track

On the road to recovery, Deptford football is picking up speed.

The Spartans are 2-1 after Friday night's 13-6 victory over Gloucester Catholic in a WJFL Independence Division clash.

More importantly, new coach Mike Blackiston and his staff have brought a can-do pep to a once-proud program that had fallen on hard times in recent seasons.

"I couldn't be happier with how these kids have responded," Blackiston said. "The whole spirit around this team has been real positive."

Blackiston said the Spartans have been led by senior wide receiver/defensive back Chris Hurban, who had five tackles and two interceptions against Gloucester Catholic.

"He's been rock solid on defense," Blackiston said.

Another defensive leader has been end Josh Davis, who had 2 1/2 sacks on Friday night.

Quarterback Anthony Reed, who threw two touchdown passes to Kevin Lester, has led the Spartans offense.

"He's really starting to mature as our captain," Blackiston said.

The new coach said the senior class has set the tone for a program that is fighting its way out a period in which the Spartans went 5-25 from 2008-2010.

"It's been phenomenal to watch," Blackiston said of the approach of his senior class. "Just how they are preparing, how hard they are working, their sense of urgency."

Blackiston knows the Spartans have a ways to go to return to their glory days. But they appear to be on the right path, with an engaged community and an improved relationship with the Deptford youth football program.

"We had rain like everybody else on Friday night, and we still had a great crowd," said Blackiston, a Deptford graduate. "There's a sense we might be on the verge of something."

Wild game. Burlington Township scored on the last play of the game to register a 36-33 victory over Holy Cross in a WJFL Patriot instant classic on Friday night.

Holy Cross took an intentional safety with 15.3 seconds remaining and led 33-30. But Burlington Township's Kadar Hollman returned the ensuing free kick 69 yards for a touchdown as the clock expired.

"I've been coaching football 31 years, and that has to rank in the top five as far as exciting games," Burlington Township coach Tom Maderia said. "I told the kids during a timeout that we had time, but I thought if they punted, maybe we could block it or maybe get in position for a field goal to tie it or maybe throw a Hail Mary.

"I never thought we'd bring it all the way back. When I saw it open up, it was a pretty incredible feeling."

Burlington Township (3-0) rallied from a 14-0 deficit behind quarterback Brian Verbitski, who ran for 233 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

"I told our kids, 'These are the games you live for,' " Maderia said.

Wild Game II. Woodrow Wilson used a 98-yard pass from Aaron Spencer to T.J. Chambliss in the third quarter to score a 6-2 victory over Bishop Eustace.

Playing a rare Friday night home game, the Tigers struggled to operate in a field that was turned into a quagmire by the rain. Same went for the Crusaders.

"Probably the worst field conditions I ever saw," Woodrow Wilson coach Chris Crowley said. "I told our kids and coaches, 'A win is a win.' "

Wilson took an intentional safety with around three minutes to play, used the free kick to improve field position and held on for the victory.

"Our defensive guys wanted the shutout, but we're trying to win the football game," Crowley said.

On the rise. Atlantic City is 3-0 and looking like a major factor in the Cape American and maybe in South Jersey Group 4 as well after a wild 32-27 victory over Absegami on Friday night.

The Vikings got two rushing touchdowns from quarterback Radi Tolbert to survive a game in which 33 points were scored in the fourth quarter.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking," Atlantic City coach Thomas Kelly said. "Between the rain and the mistakes and the big plays and the slipping, it was quite a game. But our kids just kept fighting."

Kelly said the Vikings have gotten good work from Tolbert as well as wide receiver Ismail Naji.

"We can't get caught up in thinking, 'We're 3-0. We're this good. We're that good,' " Kelly said. "I'm sure every coach can say this, but we haven't played a full football game yet."

Lambert honored. Timber Creek linebacker Quanzell Lambert has been selected to play in the first Semper Fidelis All American Bowl Jan. 3 at Chase Field in Phoenix.

The Semper Fidelis Bowl, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps, will be televised live by NBC.

Lambert probably is the most highly recruited player in South Jersey. He has offers from bigtime programs such as Alabama and Oklahoma.

Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson said Lambert has been playing well as the Chargers, the No. 4 team in the Top 10, have bolted to a 3-0 start.

"He cleans everything up," Hinson said. "Our front four has done a good job, but Quanzell has been right there behind them cleaning up."

Honorees. The Brooks-Irvine Memorial Football Club will honor the following players at its first luncheon of the season: Nick Follet (Cherokee), Dan Bieker (Triton), Kyle Wigley (Shawnee), Kewith Michalski (Audubon), Sam Ekwonike (Cinnaminson), Justin Anderson-Copes (Pennsauken), Dan Klaszky (Glassboro) and Jake Prus (Woodstown).

The event at noon Monday at the Crowne Plaza in Cherry Hill also is Captain's Day.