Friday's South Jersey football roundup: Rancocas Valley stuns Millville on trick play
Football highlights from the opening week of the South Jersey playoffs, including Rancocas Valley vs. Millville and Hammonton vs. Highland.
Rancocas Valley overcame a 14-point fourth quarter deficit in grand style to knock off Millville, 15-14, in the South Group 5 semifinals. Iverson Clement ran back a 56-yard punt for a touchdown with under four minutes left to cut the deficit to a point. Rancocas Valley faked the extra point and converted the two points to take the lead.
Keshawn Harris put the Red Devils on the board by hauling in a 14-yard touchdown catch to cut the deficit to seven.
Rancocas Valley sealed the game by forcing Millville to turn the ball over on downs with under three minutes remaining. The Blue Devils will take on Lenape Dec. 2.
Mater Dei 35, Holy Spirit 34:
George Pearson connected with Clarence Lewis on an 11-yard score with 56 seconds remaining to give the Seraphs a one point victory over the Spartans in the Non-Public Group 2 semifinals. Mater Dei recovered its own fumble at the 11-yard line, enabling to keep possession.
Josh Zamot's 8-yard touchdown to Ahmed Brown gave Holy Spirit a 6-point lead with over two minutes remaining.
Pearson rushed for three more touchdowns on the night. The Seraphs faced a 13-point halftime deficit and were down by as many as 14, after Lee Dawson returned his second kickoff for a touchdown. Mater Dei sealed the win after Spirit fumbled on its final drive.
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Hammonton 27, Highland 21:
The Blue Devils needed overtime to down the Tartans in South Group 4 semifinals action. Dayquan Murray ended the game with his third touchdown, a 1-yard run. Hammonton kept Highland out of the endzone on its first possession in the extra session.
Murray scored his second touchdown of the game on a 8-yard rush to tie the score with under eight minutes left.
Daejuan Sanders rushed for scores of 24 and 30 yards for the Tartans. Johnny Martin also contributed a 64-yard run in the losing effort. Hammonton will face Shawnee Dec. 3.
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West Deptford 28, Cedar Creek 20:
The Eagles leaned on Kim Lim's three rushing scores in a South Group 2 semifinals triumph over the Pirates. Lim opened the game on a 34 and a 3-yard runs.
Louie Barrios threw an 88-yard touchdown to Malachi Melton, his second of the game, but the extra point was blocked to by West Deptford to prevent the tie.
T.J. Hoyt's 9-yard fourth-quarter run gave the Eagles its eight-point cushion.
The Eagles will play the winner of Haddonfield and Cinnaminson Dec. 3.
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Lenape 63, Howell 28:
The Indians opened up a 28-point first-half lead they wouldn't relinquish in a South Group 5 semifinals victory over the Rebels. JoJo Kellman scored the game's first two touchdowns on a 3-yard run and a punt return. Matt Lajoie added two rushing scores for Lenape. Kellman rushed for four more touchdowns and 280 yards.