Millville tops Toms River North for S.J. Group 5 crown
At the end of the game, Clayton Scott looked like a superhero. Forget the fact that he had thrown up, he said, four times during the game - battling an illness that's been wearing him down for weeks.
At the end of the game, Clayton Scott looked like a superhero.
Forget the fact that he had thrown up, he said, four times during the game - battling an illness that's been wearing him down for weeks.
He was lifting babies onto his shoulder, smiling broadly. Hugging everyone within arm's reach. Signing autographs.
In the second half on Saturday night, Scott was front and center, leading a vicious effort to hold back a rising tide.
And, in that sense, Scott was Aquaman.
The undersize junior was a hero on both sides of the ball in a classic at Rowan University as his Millville football team topped Toms River North, 22-16, in the South Jersey Group 5 championship game.
The win marks Millville's second overall sectional football title and first since 1975. It snapped Toms River North's 21-game winning streak, a run that included last year's South Jersey Group 5 championship.
"One of my quotes I put on Instagram was, 'One of the most underrated backs in South Jersey shows up again,'" Scott said, referring to himself. "I have no [college] offers, no stars-but now I have a ring. Before this, people would count me out. But I always showed up."
Scott rushed for 128 yards on 31 carries as his team rode him all game in an effort to keep a prolific Toms River North offense off the field.
Coach Dennis Thomas said he never considered limiting Scott's playing time - Scott also made several big tackles as a linebacker - even seeing the star player's condition.
"Even as he was throwing up, he was saying, 'Coach, I'm OK, just keep giving me the ball,' " Thomas said.
Toms River North entered Friday night having scored 519 points in 11 games.
But thanks to a remarkable team effort, Millville (10-2) entered halftime with a 20-0 lead.
The Thunderbolts capitalized on two first-half interceptions.
The first, by Jermer Downing, set up the team's first touchdown with 5 minutes, 5 seconds left in the first quarter.
The second interception, on the ensuing series, was returned for a 61-yard touchdown by Darius Porter.
The score swung momentum completely in Millville's favor and sent Toms River North scrambling for the rest of the half.
Millville 12 8 0 2 - 22
Toms River North 0 0 14 2 - 16
M: Bruce Williams 3 run (run failed)
M: Darius Porter 61 interception return (pass failed)
M: Marcial Ramos 1 run (Clayton Scott run)
TRN: Parker Day 22 run (Kyle Bayha kick)
TRN: Mike Husni 1 run (Bayha kick)
TRN: Safety
M: Safety