St. Joseph's Sacco wins historic 300th
It was a typical postgame analysis from St. Joseph High School football coach Paul Sacco. "We made too many mistakes," Sacco said after his team's 50-7 win over Mainland on Friday night. "I know people are going to say, 'Oh, his team scored 50 and he's complaining.'
It was a typical postgame analysis from St. Joseph High School football coach Paul Sacco.
"We made too many mistakes," Sacco said after his team's 50-7 win over Mainland on Friday night. "I know people are going to say, 'Oh, his team scored 50 and he's complaining.'
"But we're trying to be perfect."
Sacco isn't perfect.
But he is the most accomplished high school football coach in South Jersey history.
St. Joseph's victory on a hot, humid night in the Mustang Corral off Rt. 9 in Linwood was the 300th of Sacco's career. He is the first coach in South Jersey history to reach the milestone and the first in state history to win that many at his alma mater.
"I'm flabbergasted," Sacco told a gathering of his players as well as assistant coaches, cheerleaders and supporters of the program. "It's a number, but I guess it's a big number."
Sacco's players dumped a bucket of water on the 59-year-old coach in the final seconds of the West Jersey Football League game.
"It's great to be able to get his 300th win for him," said St. Joseph junior quarterback Matt Tucker, who threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a score. "He does so much for us, and we really appreciate it."
Tucker called Sacco "the greatest coach in South Jersey history."
The intensely focused Sacco said after the game he was happy to have the historic win behind him.
"We were getting so many texts last night, my wife [Peggy] finally just stopped and turned off the phone," Sacco said. "That's not me. I'm concerned about this football team and getting us better."
Even as he reflected on his 35 seasons at the little Catholic school in Hammonton, Sacco kept returning to his concern about his team's ragged play - by his standards, anyway.
"We can't make these mistakes, guys lining up wrong, offsides, delay of game," Sacco said. "We have to get better."
The visiting stands were filled with spectators who were wearing white T-shirts in Sacco's honor.
The shirts had "300 Wins" on the front - with the two zeroes replaced by paw prints to reflect the Wildcat mascot - and "Congrats Coach Sacco" on the back.
"My wife said to me, 'Look at the stands. Look at the stands,' " Sacco said. "I never look at the stands. We have great such support here."
Sacco, who has a 300-58-6 record, said he was touched by the appearance of so many of his former players at Friday night's game.
He spent several moments after the game exchanging hugs and handshakes with former players and posing for pictures.
"It brings back great memories," Sacco said. "Every year I miss those kids that graduate. I'm so sad on the first day of practice every year when I realize who is not there. But it seems like another group steps up."
Said Tucker: "There's such a great legacy here, and it's all because of him. He wants us to be the greatest men we can be."
Tucker said Sacco was an "old school" coach who demands the best from his players.
Even amid the celebration of his historic win, the coach was looking ahead. His young team, which has just a handful of seniors, is 2-0 but faces rival Holy Spirit next Saturday and still has games ahead against powers Cedar Creek and St. Augustine.
"We'll get back to work tomorrow," Sacco said. "We have to get better."
St. Joseph 14 14 6 16 - 50
Mainland 0 0 0 7 - 7
SJ: Qwahsin Townsel 17 run (Eric Graziano kick)
SJ: Diego Martinez 21 pass from Matt Tucker (Graziano kick)
SJ: Nate Johnson 40 pass from Tucker (Graziano kick)
SJ: Tucker 25 run (Graziano kick)
SJ: Townsel 44 interception return (kick fail)
SJ: Graziano 23 FG
M: Marcus Plummer 72 pass from Dean Hall (John McLaughlin kick)
SJ: Shamere Collins 10 run (pass fail)
SJ: DeAndre Tull-Kennedy 19 run (Graziano kick)
@PhilAnastasia