By BRIAN TORTELLA

Correspondent

On X @tortreports

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Coming off an 11-1 season, Schalick High had big expectations heading into Friday’s season-opening tilt against North Jersey power Cedar Grove in the first game of the day at the annual Battle at the Beach.

Cedar Grove on the other hand, was motivated to atone for its deflating blowout loss to Salem in the event two years ago in Ocean City.

“We came down here two years ago and got our butts whooped a little bit,” Panthers coach Rob Gogerty said. “I don’t think we were in shape. I don’t think we were prepared. We changed it up.” 

Boy, did the Panthers ever.

Cedar Grove rolled past Schalick, 41-3, to kick off Day 2 of the Battle at the Beach at Egg Harbor Township. The showcase event continues tonight with a huge tilt featuring Millville vs. Holy Spirit, plus five games on Saturday at EHT’s Eagle Stadium.

“We were not ready to play,” Schalick coach Mike Wilson said. “That solely falls on me as the head football coach. We obviously did not prepare them properly for this game. We can’t live off of what we did last year, and I think some of that has been going around.”

The Cougars — who went 11-1 last year and made it to the sectional championship game — had a 3-0 lead after Hunter Dragotta knocked through a 36-yard field goal midway through the first quarter, but it was all Cedar Grove from there.

Senior Nick Russo caught two touchdowns and recorded an interception, more than enough to earn South Jersey Glory Days Senior Football Writer Mark Trible’s “Hat’s Off” Player of the Game award.

Panthers quarterback Stephen Paradiso threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns against a Schalick team that was without its star quarterback, Kenai Simmons, who is out with an injury. The offense was led by first-time single caller Ayden Jenkins, who said he was essentially thrown in the fire during the last week.

“I never played quarterback before,” the sophomore said. “This is my first time ever playing quarterback. I kind of just got thrown in. It was a good experience, but it was a bad outcome.” 

Jenkins believes that Simmons will be back in the near future, within the next couple of weeks.

“It was a total system failure,” coach Wilson said. “All three phases. We need to correct our mistakes and rebound. Having Simmons wouldn’t have mattered today.”

WHAT’S NEXT: Schalick hosts Cumberland on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Cedar Grove hosts Weequahic on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

Contact Brian Tortella: btortreportssj@gmail.com