Phil Anastasia: Cortez, Williams work magic and Pennsauken prevails, 31-9

Manny Cortez can't pull a rabbit out of his hat or turn a handkerchief into a dove.

He saves his magic for the football field.

Cortez leads South Jersey in passing with 2,315 yards and 31 touchdown passes. He has run for 713 yards and five touchdowns.

But those are just numbers. They tell the story about as much as those designs the Pennsauken coaches draw up during the week, the ones where this guy goes this way and that guy goes that way and Cortez does this or that.

Of course, when there are three defenders hanging on your jersey and your team is trailing late in the third quarter of its first playoff game, there's no time to follow the script.

That's when Cortez yanks something special out of his sleeve.

"I find my way out," Cortez said after leading Pennsauken to a 31-9 victory over Atlantic City on Saturday in the opening round of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament.

Cortez's improvisational skills - along with his unique rapport with fellow senior Amar Williams - powered top-seeded Pennsauken (8-1) into next Saturday's semifinals against fifth-seeded Triton (8-1).

Make no mistake: The Indians needed far more than Cortez'' athletic ad-libs and Williams' big plays to turn back eighth-seeded Atlantic City.

This was different from most Pennsauken victories. Grittier. Gutsier. The Indians were behind, 9-6, at halftime and needed to fight their way past an underrated opponent with size, speed, and nothing to lose.

"They look just like us," Pennsauken coach Clinton Tabb said of Atlantic City (6-3).

Pennsauken received good work from a defense that featured linebackers Ameer Williams (no relation to Amar Williams) and Justin Anderson-Copes as well linemen Isaiah Ingram, Korey Mitchell, and Hassan McDonald.

The Indians also controlled the clock and ran the football with authority late in the game, thanks to a surge from the offensive line and some tough carries by senior Tyrik Thomas.

"We needed that," Tabb said of the adversity the Indians faced on a clear, windy afternoon at Vince McAneney Stadium.

Ultimately, though, Pennsauken rode Cortez's remarkable playmaking ability to the program's first playoff victory since 2006.

Cortez finished 9 for 18 passing for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He ran five times for 58 yards and another touchdown.

Again, just numbers.

Pennsauken was down, 9-6, and struggling to get anything going when Cortez somehow escaped from three tacklers in the backfield, rolled left, and fired a 25-yard touchdown pass to senior Anthony Sweet with 4 minutes, 19 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

It was one of those rare plays that turn a game on a dime. In an instant, Pennsauken had the lead, the momentum, and the confidence to kick into another gear.

"He's got the green light," Tabb said of Cortez. "He does some things, it's like, 'If they work, great. If not, you're running on Monday.' "

The fun was just beginning for the Indians. Cortez and Williams knelt in the dirt and made up two plays that resulted in two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

One was a 14-yard slant pass that was supposed to be a fade route, until Williams decided to zig instead of zag.

"That's just our connection," Cortez said.

The other was a 50-yard punt return by Williams off a lateral from Cortez.

"I was yelling at him to pitch it back to me," Williams said.

That's the thing about magic acts.

It sometimes takes two to saw the other team in half.

Atlantic City 0 9 0 0 – 9

Pennsauken 6 0 6 19 – 31

P: Cortez 4 run (kick failed)

AC: Safety

AC: McCoy 3 run (McCoy kick)

P: Sweet 25 pass from Cortez (pass failed)

P: Williams 14 pass from Cortez (kick failed)

P: Thomas 13 run (Sweet kick)

P: Williams 50 punt return (run failed)

Pennsauken QB Manny Cortez talks about the playoff victory.

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