Jada Byers powers No. 1 St. Joseph past No. 2 St. Augustine

Jada Byers ran for one touchdown, passed for another and returned an interception for a third.

But his best play didn't count.

"That was the best football play I ever saw," St. Joseph senior two-way lineman Brad Lomax said of Byers' apparent 37-yard touchdown run that was nullified by a holding penalty in the final minute of the first half.

It was that kind of night for Byers, St. Joseph's dynamic junior.

The 5-foot-7, 162-pound Byers did a little bit of everything in powering No. 1 St. Joseph to a 30-8 victory over No. 2 St. Augustine in a West Jersey Football League clash of the top two teams in the Inquirer Top 25.

Byers wasn't alone, either, as the Wildcats controlled play on a warm, wet night before a large crowd at the Hermits' LaRosa Field.

Sophomore quarterback Jayden Shertel threw a touchdown pass and made a tumbling interception, and senior running back Nate Johnson scored a touchdown and added a pair of two-point conversions for St. Joseph (3-0).

The Wildcats also lifted four interceptions while Lomax and senior Sean Morris registered sacks in a dominant defensive performance.

"Our defense really stepped up," St. Joseph coach Paul Sacco said.

Senior wide receiver Jaylen DeCoteau caught six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown for St. Augustine (1-2).

"Our kids, [senior linebacker] Joey Bonczek and those guys, they came up to me and said, 'Coach, don't worry, we're going to hang in there," St. Augustine coach Pete Lancetta said. "I know they are. This is a great senior group. We've just got to keep getting better."

Lancetta spent 26 seasons coaching at Hammonton, St. Joseph's cross-town rival. He's a St. Joseph graduate. He thinks this version of the Wildcats might rate as the program's best team.

"Wow," Lancetta said of the Wildcats. "They are really good."

The Wildcats have a rare combination this season, with perhaps the best offensive line in program history – all five of whom are seniors — clearing the way for perhaps the most explosive athlete to suit up for Sacco.

"He's just so elusive," Sacco said of Byers. "I don't know how he does it. You see him, and you see all those white shirts and it's like, 'How did he get out of that?' "

Byers plays like he's in the backyard of his home in Bridgeton. He carried the football 24 times for 155 yards. His three-game totals of 710 yards, 13 total touchdowns and 12 rushing touchdowns all lead the state.

"He's so electric," Lancetta said of Byers.

Byers got St. Joseph on the board with a 16-yard halfback pass to sophomore Keshon Griffin, who slipped behind the St. Augustine defense that rushed to the line of scrimmage.

"He makes us all better," Johnson said of Byers. "Defenses have to key on him so much. He's just an exceptional talent. You just don't see talent like that."

Byers' rushing touchdown was a nine-yard burst up the middle behind the Wildcats' powerful offensive line.

"The offensive line, that's the strength of our team," Sacco said.

On the first possession of the second half, Byers intercepted a pass and raced 75 yards for a touchdown. Johnson's conversion run made it 20-0.

"I take a lot of pride in being able to help the team in any way," Byers said. "I never had a team like this in my life. I want to do whatever I can to help us win."

Byers made enough plays that counted – including an astounding two-point conversion run after Johnson's touchdown catch late in the third quarter – to fill a highlight reel.

But it was the play that never will appear in the box score or summary that best showcased his flair of the game.

He took a pitch right, stopped, faked a pass, raced left, cut back and darted through the St. Augustine secondary like a jack rabbit.

"I couldn't believe that," Sacco said. "I couldn't even see him. I'm like, 'Where is he?' Next thing I know, he's out of there."

Lomax actually stopped blocking on the play, thinking Byers was tackled.

"Blocking for that kid is insane," Lomax said.

St. Joseph         14   0   16   0  –  30

St. Augustine     0   0     8   0   –  8

SJ: Keshon Griffin 16 pass from Jada Byers (Nate Johnson pass from Jayden Shertel)

SJ: Byers 9 run (run fail)

SJ: Byers 75 interception return (Johnson run)

SJ: Johnson 68 pass from Shertel (Byers run)

SA: Jaylen DeCoteau 16  pass from Chris Allen (DeCoteau pass from Allen)