J.P. Marquess of Haddonfield slows down West Deptford quarterback Nick Iraldi in Friday's South Jersey Group 2 showdown/Staff photo Denise Henhoeffer

Huge.

Gigantic.

Special.

Humongous.

Asked just how big Friday's South Jersey Group 2 semifinal win was for his Haddonfield High School football team and coach Frank DeLano couldn't come out with the words quick enough. He appreciates and understands the history of his program, realizing that in the grand scheme it was pretty monumental.

The Bulldawgs defeated rival West Deptford 15-13 on Mike Rivard's 20-yard field goal with 4.9 seconds to play. It was their first win over the Eagles since 2001, sending the 'Dawgs into the championship game for the first time in 23 years.

It also avenged a 35-13 setback against the same West Deptford team on the same West Deptford field back on Oct.9.

A month-plus later, it was far from deja vu all over again.

``We told them if they minimized the mistakes and capitalized on some opportunities, we had a shot to win the game,'' DeLano said. ``The kids were hungry. You could feel something in the locker room even before we left school. They were loose yet went in with some confidence.

``The first game was not a true indication of just how close it really was. They had a blocked punt, a couple of interceptions that set them up in ideal field position, they broke one long run. We have tremendous respect for West Deptford and know just how dangerous they are, but our kids bought into the fact that the gap really wasn't that big.''

The Bulldawgs are in the midst of just their seventh playoff appearance in 35 years  the fourth in the last six. And for the third time in four years, they found themselves at the same point.

It was either going to be another step back or two big steps forward.

``It's a huge win for any program but this was just so important,'' DeLano said. ``You talk about having to seize the moment. To do that against West Deptford was remarkable. I'm extremely proud of the effort.''

Haddonfield (9-1), No.7 in this week's Courier-Post Top 20, will face another major task in two weeks. The Bulldawgs will travel to top-seeded, top-ranked and defending sectional champion Delsea.

Delsea spanked Bridgeton 55-12 and has scored 16 touchdowns in its two playoff wins.

But even with that to digest, DeLano is not looking ahead too much. There's this little Thanksgiving Day showdown with Haddon Heights.

``We have our work cut out for ourselves over the next eight quarters, but we'll embrace the challenge,'' he said

Here's this week's Top 20.

1. Delsea 10-1, Last week - 1

2. Cherokee 10-0, 2

3. Egg Harbor Twp. 10-0, 4

4. Williamstown 9-1, 3

5. St. Augustine 8-1, 5

6. Hammonton 9-1, 6

7. Haddonfield 9-1, 10

8. Timber Creek 8-2, 11

9. Holy Spirit 7-3, 8

10. Paul VI 8-1, 9

11. West Deptford 9-1, 7

12. Washington Twp. 7-2, 12

13. Bishop Eustace 7-2, 13

14. St. Joseph 8-2, 17

15. Woodbury 9-1, 16

16. Paulsboro 9-1, 19

17. Seneca 7-3, 15

18. Glassboro 8-2, 14

19. Shawnee 5-4, 20

20. Penns Grove 8-2, unranked

Delran won its seventh title with a 2-0 win over Cliffside Park in the Group 2 title game. Palmyra shared a Group 1 title with a scorless tie with Jonathan Dayton. It was the first ever title for the Panthers.

-- Delran 2, Cliffside Park 0:  When the players from Delran look back on their title-clinching win over Cliffside Park, it will not be the quality of the goals that will be remembered.

It’s the quantity that counts.

Delran cashed in on two unlikely goals -- one own an own goal -- , and those, combined with the shutout goal-keeping of Brad Schmidt, gave the Bears a their second straight Group 2 crown.

The Bears are now 4-for-4 in championship
games since Mike Otto became the head coach.

No. 3 in the Courier-Post rankings, they finished the season 21-2-2. They shared the state title with Cliffside Park after the teams played to a 2-2 last season, and Otto was not surprised to see his team win the rematch.

``We kind of had a feeling we’d be back against Cliffside Park this year,’’ he said. ``We really didn’t lose anybody and these are two phenomenal programs. It feels a lot better when you leave here winning alone.’’

The coach’s sentiments were shared by Ali Gocmez, whose goal at the 15:37 mark sealed the win.‘’

``I said if before and I’ll say t again, our second one feels much better than the first one,’’ Gocmez. ``Our team is great. I love playing with these kids, and it’s a good way to end the year.’’

Gocmez’ goal came on a ball was misplayed by Cliffside goalie Pedro Sanchez, with an assist from R.J. Ruff who started the ball going in the direction of the Cliffside goal.

With the play coming toward Sanchez, the Cliffside goalie came 25 yards out of his goal to play the ball, but he muffed an attempted clearing kick, allowing Gocmez to direct the ball toward the net and in.

It was a slow roller that eased its way toward and then just over the goal-line before he it be kicked out by a Cliffside Park defender.
Gocmez wasn’t worried.

``I held my breath a little bit, but I thought it was going in,’’ he said. ``It had a pretty good roll on it.
``This is the state championship, and we’ll take the goals any goals we can get. I knew the goalie was going to make that mistake and I tried to take advantage of it, and fortunately I did.‘’

-- Palmyra 0, Jonahtan Dayton 0 : It’s better to tie for a state championship than lose one, so the players and coaches at Palmyra High School were content to share this season’s South Jersey Group 1 boys‘ soccer title.

``It’s a privilege and honor to a be part of such a great group of guys,‘’ said Palmyra coach Mike Papenberg. ``We have a storied high school program and to finally bring home a state championship, it’s just amazing.’’

Playing without injured leading scorer Ryan Butler, the Panthers relied heavily on their defense to stay in the game, and goalie Tim Brett helped nail down the title.

Like his counterpart on the Dayton team, Brendon Moss, Brett didn’t have to deal with a whole of tough shots, but the 6-foot-6 senior did what he needed to in turning away all of the attempts he faced.
``It feel great to do this,’’ Brett said. ``We worked hard for four years, and we finally won one. Sharing the title is fine. It’s not a loss and we’ll take it.’’

Paul Sacco directed St. Joseph to its first title since 2006 and 17th overall since 1978/Staff photo Denise Henhoeffer

HADDON TWP. - When it comes to state championships, St. Joseph has been spoiled.

That's what a run of eight straight can do.

So when the Wildcats failed to meet that goal the past two seasons, going 5-5 last fall, veteran coach Paul Sacco knew something had to give.

``This has been one of the toughest years for me,'' he said. ``After last year, I said we couldn't have another year like that. We just wanted to turn it around.''

Despite fielding a team loaded with underclassmen, the Wildcats did just that.

 Top-seeded St. Joseph scored on its first two possessions and forced five turnovers en route to a 28-14 victory over second-seeded Gloucester Catholic to claim the Non-Public Group 2 state title at Paul VI High School.

Said senior lineman Anthony DeRosa, who recorded a second-quarter sack: ``This means everything.''

``We're back where we should be,'' added senior Jarred Bianchini.

It's the Wildcats' first title since defeating Bishop Eustace in 2006 and the 17th overall since 1978.

Gordon Hill pulls in one of his two interceptions for St. Joseph/Staff photo Denise Henhoeffer

``Coach was telling us, `Let's bring it back to St. Joe's.' Everyone was motivated,'' Gordon Hill said.

``It feels real good. Coming into that weight room every single day and seeing that '05 team and that '06 team, all the teams of the past ... Now we get to go in there and see our team. It's great.''

Hill led the Wildcats (8-2), No.17 in the Courier-Post Top 20, to a 21-0 halftime lead with what many might consider a full day's work.

The junior rushed for 70 yards on nine carries, scoring on a 13-yard run. He had two catches for 29 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown pass from Darryl Smith. There were also a pair of interceptions.

``Three weeks in a row, he's had a big game,'' Sacco said. ``He's got the total package.''

Defensively, St. Joseph held strong. For the Rams (7-3), it was punt, fumble, interception, fumble, interception on their first five possessions.

Kyle Lafferty and Kaiwan Lewis had the fumble recoveries.

``We got the turnovers when we needed them,'' Sacco said.

``We're a little young, and that showed in the beginning,'' Rams coach Tony Garczynski said. ``A lot of first-time kids were nervous.

``In the first half, we just didn't tackle. Give them credit. They ran hard and kept going. Even after first hits, they kept driving.''

Kaheem Reynolds' 90-yard kickoff return to open the second half all but iced the game. Josh Moore would add a fourth-quarter interception.

The Rams controlled the entire third quarter, scoring on Alex Christ's 1-yard run with 2:58 left and getting the ball back on an onside kick.

Tim Segich later scored on a 15-yard pass with 39 seconds left in the fourth.

``When you get used to winning state championships, it just seems like it took forever to get back here,'' Sacco said. ``Hopefully this will give us something to build on for next year and the future with most of these kids coming back.''

St. Joseph senior Jarred Bianchini bulls his way to a short gain in the second half /Staff photo Denise Henhoeffer

HADDON TWP. - It's always refreshing when someone can turn a bad situation into a positive.

Jarred Bianchini is a perfect example.

A three-year starter and two-year captain for St. Joseph, the senior running back/defensive back tore the ACL in his right knee against Middle Township back on Sept. 19.

It came in the first half ... in just the second game.

``At first, I didn't think I was going to be back,'' Bianchini said. ``The first doctor said I had to get surgery, but I went to a second one. He said I could rehab, strengthen it and be back in 6-8 weeks.

``It's my senior year. ...''

That's the thing. Bianchini didn't want to look back and regret not doing everything and anything he could to make it back. Going through rigorous therapy and working with trainers, he dressed for Cape-Atlantic National showdown with St. Augustine on Oct. 23.

He returned to the field a week later against Lower Cape May.

Jarred Bianchini tore the ACL in his right knee in the second game of the season/Staff photo Denise Henhoeffer

``It doesn't hurt,'' he said. ``The brace holds up pretty well. I feel quick, but I lost a little speed. I feel like my old self.''

While surgery is still planned for after the season, Bianchini was in uniform against Gloucester Catholic for the Non-Public Group 2 state final. He got in the game, made a few plays and was able to enjoy the celebration with his teammates following the Wildcats' 28-14 victory.

``It feels great. It's a good group of kids this year and I love them,'' said Bianchini, who was a freshman on St. Joe's last title team in 2006.

``My teammates helped me out a lot. They never gave up on me and I never gave up on them. I just listened to my teammates, listened to myself. I wasn't going to let anyone put me down. I stayed positive.''

Said fellow senior Anthony DeRosa: ``We thought he was out for the season. It's a shame for anyone to lose their senior year. For him to be out here and share the championship, I feel great for him.''

A leader on a Wildcat team dominated by sophomores and juniors, Bianchini showed what it's like to be a senior in this program, exactly why teammates look up to him.

``He had therapy three days a week and he went six days, and he was in the weight room. That's all he did  therapy, therapy, therapy,'' coach Paul Sacco said.

``It was very rewarding just to see him on the field dressed. The games he wasn't there, he was standing on the sideline. It's tough to see him stand on the sideline and I'm just happy he was able to get out there.''

Bianchini had two carries for 13 yards and played a bit on special teams on this beautiful fall afternoon.

``He sets the example for the younger kids,'' Sacco said. ``Sometimes when the chips are down, you've got to get back up.

``I think he's already seen the silver lining in that nine out of 10 kids would not be out here playing, out here practicing. They would have had the surgery and it's over with. He just wanted to be with the team and do his best to help the team.''

Tyler Powell pulls down Williamstown's Marcus Hampton short of a first down on a critical fourth-down play/Staff photo Scott Anderson

EVESHAM - Cherokee had been there before, a football program with playoff tradition from a league known for its physical nature.

Williamstown was the new kid on the block, fresh off its first-ever playoff victory but still considered the underdog.

With an overflow crowd that completely circled the field below, experience and tradition won out in a South Jersey Group 4 semifinal matchup that certainly lived up to its billing.

Tyler Powell and Sean Farrell took center stage once again, coming up with a host of big plays, as Cherokee came back from a four-point halftime deficit to post a thrilling 30-21 victory.

Sean Farrell heads to the end zone for the third of his three TDs - an 18-yard burst /Staff photo Scott Anderson

Cherokee (10-0), the top seed and No. 2 in the Courier-Post Top 20, will face the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Toms River East and Egg Harbor Township for the sectional title on Saturday, Dec. 5.

The fourth seed, Williamstown dropped to 9-1 overall. The Braves are No. 3 in the C-P rankings and will host top-ranked Delsea for the Tri-County Royal title next Friday night.

``We have a physical conference,’’ said Cherokee coach P.J. Mehigan, whose Chiefs won the Burlco/Olympic American title. ``At the line of scrimmage, we face teams week in and week out who are maybe a little bit bigger and stronger. It’s no knock on them because they don’t choose that schedule. But it helps us.

``This game was won at the line of scrimmage.’’

Said Powell: ``We’ve been in these situations before. We know how to win at crunch time.’’

Powell was here, there and everywhere for the Chiefs. The senior defensive back had a pair of fumble recoveries and delivered a key tackle on a fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter that just about iced the outcome.

``Our interior line played amazing to stop the inside run,’’ Powell said. ``It made them go to the outside where we could make some plays.’’

``It’s not like they made any (halftime) adjustments,’’ Williamstown coach Frank Fucetola said. ``They came out wanting it a little more in the second half than we did. Situations where you turn the ball or make a mistake are crucial when you’re playing a very good football team. You can’t do that.’’

Farrell was consistent as always, rushing for 106 yards and scoring three touchdowns. His 18-yard run with 4:48 to play in the third quarter erased a 21-17 halftime deficit and proved to be the game-winner.

``As always, the guys up front made some key blocks,’’ said Farrell, who scored on runs of 4 and 2 yards in the first half. ``I just took what they gave me, broke a couple of tackles and took it to the house.’’

Mike Zeuli’s 15-yard TD run with 1:50 left gave the Chiefs some additional breathing room. Bill McCarty (14-of-18, 232 yards) drove Williamstown down the field on the ensuing possession but a fumble with 22 seconds to play ended the drive.

Marcus Hampton had a pair of first-half touchdowns for Williamstown, while Ron Gordon accounted for the game’s first points with a 4-yard TD run.

*** Key stats

Cherokee:

Sean Farrell – 21 carries, 106 yards, three touchdowns

Andy Martin, junior QB – 10 carries, 84 yards; 7-of-13 passing for 84 yards and an INT

Nick Foster – one sack

A.J. Morrissey – three PAT kicks, 24-yard field goal

Williamstown:

Bill McCarty – 14-of-18 for 232 yards

Cody Miller – 8 catches for 164 yards, including one of the best I’ve seen all year on a slant in the fourth quarter.

Marcus Hampton – 15 carries, 37 yards, two TD runs

Ron Gordon – 9 carries, 58 yards, TD run; 3 catches for 61 yards, one INT

Jay Edmonds – one sack

Other postgame comments:

Frank Fucetola, Williamstown coach

``We didn’t make plays when we had to. They’re high school football kids, they’re going to make mistakes.

``After we settled down at the beginning and were able to stop them on defense, we thought we could continue that pattern.

``We thought we could throw the ball. We knew they would crowd Marcus. We threw the ball well.

Tyler Powell, Cherokee defensive back

``They were driving the ball a little bit. I knew we had to make some plays, get some turnovers.

``Our offense was rolling in the first half. We just had to make a couple of adjustments.

``They can chew up clock with the run offense, so we knew we had to get the ball quick because we were down (in the second half).

On his key tackle of Marcus Hampton in the fourth quarter:

``It was fourth down and we knew they would maybe come with a screen. My man went to the side, so I slipped behind and made the tackle. That was some awesome stuff. It was so exciting to make plays for my teammates.

``We didn’t underestimate them. They were very physical.

P.J. Mehigan, Cherokee coach

``We were definitely more concerned with their run, but we all thought that quarterback (Bill McCarty) reminded us of Andy – you’re always in the play as a receiver. He finds second and third guys. He was dangerous.

On Powell:

``He always makes big plays for us. He’s a playmaker. He’s just a heady guy. He’s the guy you want on your team and don’t want on the other team. He’s special.

``There was no quit in them. They had us down to the last 30 seconds before we could relax.

``Offensively, we felt we could run the ball and control the clock. The times we were stopped, we kind of stopped ourselves with a penalty or turnover. They weren’t stuffing us consistently. I felt very comfortable at the line of scrimmage.

On Williamstown’s speed:

``It takes a while to adjust to that speed. We’re a big, physical team. You can’t duplicate that speed in practice.

Sean Farrell, Cherokee running back

On Powell:

``He made some crucial plays. He’s a big-time player. Our defense steps up when it needs to. That was a high-powered offense and they stepped up well.

On Williamstown:

``Regardless of who they play, they’re a high-powered offense and a good team.''

Put another way, when Haddonfield, Don Bosco, Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) and West
Windsor-Plainsboro North square off in today's Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park, any one of
the four powers could emerge on top.

But that same balance of power could quickly turn the Meet of Champions into a disaster for
any one of those same four teams at any point in the race, which begins this morning at 10:45
a.m.

It's that cut throat.

``Yes, the four teams are that close together,'' said Kilduff, whose club stunned CBA last Saturday to win the State Non-Public A championship. ``Do I know who's going to win? Of course not. There's a lot of talent in the meet this year, and not just among the top four teams.''

Haddonfield, which won its fourth straight NJSIAA Group 2 championship last weekend, is seeking its second Meet of Champions crown since 2001. The Dawgs are ranked No.1 in the Courier-Post Top 20. No.2 in the state according to the web site, NJRunners.com, and No.9 nationally by the web site MileSplit.US.

It all comes down to race day, said Haddonfield's Baker, whose team turned in an impressive 16:37 team average in the groups.

``We control our own destiny, no one else does,'' Baker said. ``Just run our best race and it will take our very best and we have a shot at winning it.''

The Bulldawgs appeared to be at their best during last weekend's NJSIAA Group 2 state title victory. Haddonfield swept the first three places and grabbed four of the first five spots to finish with 30 points. Runnerup Delaware Valley was left in the dust with 124 points.

Senior Jon ``Boo'' Vitez won his third straight state title in 15:57. He was followed closely by teammates Matt Nussbaum (second, 16:30), Ben Potts (third, 16:32) and Colin Baker (fifth, 16:38).

Haddonfield's fifth spot will be key as Ethan Quanci, Tim Malloy and Ray Schlitt will each look to give the Bulldawgs a boost. Schlitt, a senior, spent five weeks out of the lineup nursing an injury before returning for the states last weekend.

Nussbaum soared all the way to second place in the biggest race of the season. He placed 14th in the meet a year ago and will be a key performer today.

``This was the first time we had everyone together running their best races,'' said Nussbaum. ``We've had several meets where some ran well and others didn't. This was a big win today because we're starting to come together as a team.''

Don Bosco Prep, ranked No.1 in the state, will be a formidable opponent. The Ironmen won the M of C in 2007 and placed a close second last season despite a collision of several runners at the start of the race.

Kilduff's team, which was beaten by both CBA and Haddonfield in the Manhattan Invitational earlier this season, used top 10 finishes by junior Michael Belgiovine (fourth, 16:15), senior Rafael Vargas (fifth, 16:18) and senior Howard Rosas (sixth, 16:19) en route to the close victory over CBA in the Non-Public A finals. Their impressive times, all in the low 16:00's, were PR's this season.

But it was a pair of underclassmen who came up big later in the race for Don Bosco, which posted a solid 16:37 team average as well.

Fourth runner Erik Lapinski, a junior, and Brandon Baxter, a freshman, placed 13th and 16th respectively to keep the Ironmen's pack together in the top 20.

``And that's exactly what it's going to take, especially in the Meet of Champions our fourth and fifth guys must run well and keep as close together as possible,'' said Kilduff. ``In this race there are so many talented runners, that our fourth and fifth guys could easily get
separated by 50 places in a hurry, even if they're only 20 or 30 seconds apart from each
other.''

CBA is led by one of top runners in the state in junior Mike Mazzaccaro, who won the Non-Public A championship in 15:59 and is a possible top five challenger for individual honors. He will be supported by a strong pack led by senior Dan Bailey and junior Dan
Mykitshyn, both top 10 finishers in the Non-Public A race, and senior Colin Johnson, junior Bill Villa and senior Mark Lee.

The Colts, who had a team average of 16:50 last weekend, spent much of the season ranked as the No.1 team in New Jersey by NJRunners.com before slipping to No.3.

The sleeper in the race will be West Windsor Plainsboro-North, the defending M of C champion.
The Knights are led by the state's two top runners in senior twins Joe and Jim Rosa, who placed first and second respectively in the state Group 3 race. The twins will likely place 1-2 in the M of C while teammate Jon Squeri, fourth in Group 3, is a likely top 10 finisher
too.

While the Knights had the day's best team average of 16:25, largely based on the Rosa twins' performances in the Group 3 race, their success will indeed come down to where fourth and fifth place runners Casey Dalrymple and Danny Lee finish today.

Not to be overlooked are strong teams from Millburn, Mendham, Westfield and Ridge, any of which can upset the balance of power.

To Haddonfield coach Baker, however, it all comes down to his own individual runners.

``We've stressed that they need to train hard and get better every week,'' said Baker. ``They know what to do, they have a plan. Just go out and run their race. This what they've worked hard for the past few years, and I know they're hungry to do well.''

Individual glory

Several South Jersey runners will seek top 25 finishes in the individual competition today at
the Meet of Champions, although none are likely to finish higher than fifth. Haddonfield's
Vitez ran South Jersey's best time, 15:57, and will lead the Bulldawgs this morning.

Other South Jersey runners will include Williamstown's steadily improving Paul Szulewski, a
junior who ran a solid 16:09 in the Group 4 race and had the seventh best overall time in the
groups; Haddonfield's Nussbaum, Potts and Colin Baker; Shawnee's Dave Forward; Cherokee's
Steve Burkholder; St. Augustine's Phil Fanz; and Ocean City's Miles Schoedler.

``Every time I come to Holmdel, I'm becoming more comfortable with the course,'' said
Szulewski. ``I'll just concentrate on improving my time over the groups. It's a privilege to
run in a meet like this so hopefully I can make the most of the opportunity.''

Reach Gus Ostrum at gostrum@gannett.com or (856) 486-2424

Ley, the No.1-ranked girls' cross country runner in the state according to the web site
NJrunners.com, captured her first state Group 3 championship last weekend at Holmdel Park. She
clocked a winning time of 17:53 to easily outdistance Highland's Megan Venables, second at
18:15.

Ley's first place time, in the rainy muddy conditions, was the fastest in all six public
and non-public groups and she knows today's field will pursue her vigorously.

``The target's on my back, it's that simple,'' said Ley, who has narrowed her top college
choices to Virginia and Tennessee. ``But that's okay. I won't be complacent at all.''

Indeed. Ley has spent her entire three-year career chasing both the group and Meet of
Champions titles. Up until this season, she competed against former Voorhees star Melanie
Thompson, now at Oregon, and always came up short in head to head races.

Last season, Ley placed second to Thompson in both the state Group 3 and Meet of Champions
races.

But, after winning the 3,200-meters Meet of Champions crown in spring track, Ley has shown
she is hungry to add the M of C cross country title to her trophy case.

Her top competitor comes from right here in South Jersey in Highland's Venables, whose
second place time of 18:15 in Group 3 last Saturday was also the second fastest overall time
in all groups.

``Chelsea looked strong today and it was tough to keep pace with her,'' said Venables, a
junior who was fifth in the M of C last season in 18:39. ``I ran a good time, so I did all I
could. Chelsea will again be tough to beat in the Meet of Champions, but I'll give it my best
as I'm sure a few others will.''

Yes, there will be plenty of challengers. Ironically, Mendham's Laura Vigilante, who went
head to head against Ley and Venables in Group 3, clocked the third fastest overall time of
the day in 18:27 making the Group 3 race the best of the day.

Other top challengers include West Windsor-Plainsboro-South's Caroline Kellner, the state
Group 4 champion; Hillsborough's Ashley Smolinka, second in Group 4; Roxbury's Mary Migton;
West Windsor-Plainsboro North's Emily Scott; and Voorhees's Colette Whitney.

From South Jersey, Haddonfield's Marielle Hall, the state Group 2 champion, hopes to be in
the mix as does Cherokee's Megan Lacy and Lenape's Caitlin Orr and Natalie Ocasio.

The M of C begins today at Holmdel Park with the girls' race slated for 10 a.m.

M of C Team Race

Delsea (81 points) won the state Group 2 championship last week, beating out four-time
defending champion Haddonfield (112) for top honors and claiming South Jersey's lone state
crown of the day.

Coach Linda Marchese's team received solid performances from junior Felicia O'Donnell
(19:54) and senior Ashley Deckert (19:54), who placed eighth and ninth respectively. Also
finishing in the top 25 were sophomores Dominique Hassinger (20th) and Paige Senatore (25th),
both former soccer players, while junior Brenda Mendez was a solid 40th overall.

The title was the first in boys' or girls' cross country in Delsea school history, and
Marchese could not have been happier with her team's performance.

``What can I say? It was a great overall day for us,'' said Marchese, a former star Delsea
athlete herself in the 1970s. ``The girls refused to make any excuses about the bad conditions
coming in here, and they were focused from the start of the race.''

The youthful Crusaders, who return all but one of their six top runners next season, will
find the competition far more difficult today.

Delsea will be an underdog to North Jersey powers Randolph, the No.1 ranked team in the
state by NJrunners.com; Voorhees, the defending M of C team champion; Hillsborough, No.2
ranked in the state; Holy Angels; Hunterdon Central; and South Brunswick among others.

``No matter what happens in the Meet of Champions, we've had a great season,'' said
Deckert. ``We took the team concept to the next level and we supported each other well. We're
thrilled to be state champions in Group 2.''

Christian and P.J. James have been a force for Glassboro all season

GLASSBORO - Brothers can be hard on each other growing up.

They fight over toys. They work each other’s nerves. They battle over the most meaningless things.

But when push comes to shove, they protect each other. And as they get older, they learn more and more how to appreciate each other. The bond gets stronger.

The James brothers – P.J. and Christian – are juniors at Glassboro. P.J. has emerged as the Bulldogs’ premier offensive threat this season, while Christian is one of their defensive leaders.

Together they have helped the two-time defending South Jersey Group 1 champions to an 8-1 record. And with a win Friday night over Paulsboro in the sectional semifinals, Glassboro will be within one victory of a three-peat.

``It’s great having my brother on the team. He’s someone I can count on,’’ P.J. said.

Said Christian, a three-year starter: ``It’s real good being successful. It’s even better knowing my brother has played a major part in that. I’ve always got someone I know will get the job the done when it has to be done.’’

Glassboro, No. 14 in the Courier-Post Top 20, is the top seed in the sectional and has received all-star caliber play from the James brothers since the first day of training camp.

``I think both are Division I players,’’ Glassboro coach Herb Neilio said.

 ``I’ve only had a few kids over the years been captains as underclassmen. That’s how much the kids on the team think of them.’’

Looking back, the brothers almost missed out on the chance to become a major force growing up. Christian suffered a shattered pelvis after being hit by a car while in kindergarten.

He still has a plate and two screws in his hip, although the bone has grown over it.

``I was supposed to be paralyzed from the waist down,’’ Christian recalled. ``I was in a wheelchair for a whole year, but I got out of that. My mom (Kristina) was always there to help me. She’s always been there and helped me through it.

``Back then, I really wasn’t into sports. (The accident) actually brought me closer to my brother and that’s kind of the reason why I got into sports. I actually quit my first year of playing football but being close to my brother got me back into it.’’

``He’s tough,’’ P.J. said. ``That’s a hard thing to overcome and still be athletic.’’

Noted Neilio: ``I know some doctors said they didn’t know if he would be able to play sports. His mom said they got a doctor to put him back together.’’

When it comes to making tackles and getting to the quarterback, Christian has delivered. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, the defensive end has 63 tackles (45 solos) and nine sacks.

``Christian is so physical that we needed to put him up front,’’ Neilio said. ``He has got better and better each year. He’s got stronger each year.’’

And with the ball in his hands, P.J. hasn’t disappointed. He’s rushed for 1,459 yards on 130 carries (11.2 yards per carry) and scored 17 touchdowns.

P.J. carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 267 yards against Pennsville and later picked up 215 yards on 25 touches against Kingsway. He has eight games of at least 100 yards and 20 touchdowns overall.

``It’s been hard,’’ said P.J., who was a fullback last season. ``It hasn’t happened in a while, for Glassboro to have a main running back. It feels good. I have the ability to do it but I have to practice harder. The line is blocking well and everything is moving along.’’

Said Christian: ``It’s good knowing that we have a big playmaker, and knowing it’s my brother just helps me out more.’’

Glassboro will need big plays if it wants to get past the Red Raiders. It should be a battle – a battle P.J. and Christian James plan to go through together.

``I always know that he’s there,’’ P.J. said. ``We look out for each other all the time. I’ve got his back and he’s got mine.’’