By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
HADDONFIELD — Roman Coney saw limited rushing opportunities during his first two seasons for St. Augustine Prep.
He took a backseat behind 2025 graduate Julian Turney, a Naval Academy recruit who rushed for more than 3,000 yards during his four-year career as the featured back in the Hermits’ offense.
Instead, Coney started at slot receiver and waited for his turn to make his mark.
The wait was well worth it.
In his second start at running back for the Hermits, Coney rumbled for 179 yards and three touchdowns on 15 attempts as St. Augustine Prep shut out Paul VI, 26-0, to improve to 2-0.
“He started last year at slot receiver. We had Julian Turney at running back. Roman was just as good of a back this year as he was last year,” St. Augustine coach Pete Lancetta said of his new star ball carrier. “He did get some plays at running back, but we knew what we had (with Turney).
“He was patient. A lot of times these days kids will jump ship (and transfer). He didn’t do that. He trusted us. Now, he has offers. Colleges know all about him. He’s a special, tough kid — strong, and he has big-play ability.”
“Big play ability” couldn’t have been more evident against the Eagles.
After a scoreless first quarter, Coney slowly but surely chipped away at Paul VI’s defense with smaller gains. His first score came on a 4-yard carry, but it didn’t take long before he found a huge opening, storming 69 yards to the end zone midway through the second quarter. He all but sealed the Eagles’ fate with a third score on a 4-yard run late in the third quarter.
“It was an amazing win. I’m proud of my teammates, my offensive linemen and my defense for getting us the ball back,” said Coney, who has several collegiate offers, including one from Division I Syracuse University. “I’m very humble right now and very excited for the next game.
“Once I saw the hole, (offensive lineman) Cameron Greene had shielded down the lineman,” he said of his 69-yard score. “Once I saw daylight, I just went and got it.”
His dominant effort on the ground wouldn’t be possible without the Hermits’ elite defense.
St. Augustine had an answer for every Paul VI scheme and generated plenty of pressure, which is even more impressive considering the Hermits were playing without a key defensive starter in senior defensive lineman Nick Costa.
“Last week they ran the ball well against Timber Creek. So, at first, that was our game plan, to stop the run,” senior defensive tackle and Ohio State commit Damari Simeon said. “They then went in the empty quads and pass concepts against us.
“We put more DBs in the field. We were still able to get pressure when the ball was getting out quickly.”
St. Augustine Prep (2-0, 0-0 West Jersey Football League American) is set to host Cherokee (2-0, 0-0 WJFL American) in a key division game next Friday at 6 p.m.
“One at a time, that’s what I tell the kids,” Lancetta said. “That’s all we can focus on, because you can only get one shot. We get one shot at these teams. If we believe that we’re one of the top teams, you have to prove it. Don’t talk about it, prove it like we did today.”
Paul VI dropped to 1-1 and will travel to Gloucester next Friday at 6 p.m.
“I told these guys, we had a good game plan offensively and defensively,” Paul VI coach Dennis Scuderi said. “I thought we executed it. You have to make the throws and catch the ball at certain times. I mean they are No. 2 (in South Jersey). I thought we played right with them, to be honest. We competed.”
