By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
WEST DEPTFORD — Vinny Sacca never had a doubt.
Entering the locker room trailing by two scores at halftime on Friday night, Delran’s senior quarterback knew there was simply no way the Bears would lose the game. They just wouldn’t let it happen.
“We put so much work in together, when we were going down at halftime, we knew we weren’t going to lose this game. There was no way,” Sacca said. “We fight for each other. We’re all family. Not one of us thought we were going to lose that game.”
Demonstrating his elite dual-threat ability, Sacca rushed for two second-half touchdowns — including a 35-yard score with 3:30 left in regulation to put Delran up by eight. The Bears erased the early deficit, scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half to stun No. 2 West Deptford, 28-20, in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
Third-seeded Delran will travel to No. 1 Haddonfield, a 28-13 winner over No. 4 Lower Cape May, to play for the sectional title next Friday. Delran will be playing for its first sectional championship since 1992.
“This group … they’re seniors now. They wanted to change the culture,” said Delran third-year coach Colin Hewko. “They wanted to be great. They approach every day with a great work ethic. They play for each other. It’s a huge win; a signature win for these guys.”
Bryce Winn scored first for West Deptford on a 2-yard run, and Sacca responded with a strike to his go-to target, Justin Mary Jr., in the end zone to give Delran a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter was all West Deptford. Zamir Davis ran for two touchdowns and the Eagles’ defense made several key stands to take a 20-7 halftime lead.
However, the second half told a different story. Nick Pean ran for a touchdown to cut the Bears’ deficit back to one score, and he also recovered a fumble afterward. Delran took back the lead when Sacca scored on a quarterback sneak with 10:56 left in regulation.
“If you’re the secondary with the way he can move and the head of steam he can get behind him, he’s tough to tackle,” Hewko said of Sacca. “He’s our dude. He does everything for us. Hopefully, more and more people take notice on how great of a player he is.”
After a West Deptford drive stalled, Sacca took off for a 35-yard touchdown to put the Bears up by eight and all but seal the Eagles’ fate. The Bears’ defense pitched a shutout in the final 24 minutes.
On that final scoring drive, Sacca connected with Mary Jr. on 3rd-and-long. It ended up being a pivotal play.
“He’s one of the greatest football players I’ve ever played with,” Sacca said. “I mean, in big situations, I just look to him and get it in his hands.
“It’s huge to turn this program around. We need to get (Delran) back to a football school, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We all knew this was going to happen. We all believed.”
Hewko took over the program in 2023, a year after the Bears had just one victory. What a difference three years can make.
“When I came in, the year before, this was a 1-9 program,” he said. “We actually came to a Wing-t team camp here at West Deptford. It’s where the whole journey started. One of the adjustments we talked about at halftime is that everyone had to do their job. Especially against these Wing-t offenses that have a lot of window dressing.”
Micah Davison recorded the game-sealing interception on West Deptford’s first pass attempt on its final possession. It was a special birthday present for the senior defensive back, who turned 18 on Friday.
“It was amazing,” Davison said. “I knew I had it, man. I saw the ball coming and I just jumped it. It’s a blessing, I thank God.”
Added coach Hewko: “In the crunch time when they tried throwing, our secondary just locked them down. Micah came through with a huge interception at the end there.”
The win was the sixth in a row for Delran, which improved to 10-1. The Bears’ only setback was to Burlington Township on Sept. 26. They’ll arguably get their toughest task of the season next week when traveling to top-ranked Haddonfield.
“Coach (Frank) DeLano runs a tremendous program,” Hewko said. “Year-in and year-out success. You know that they’re going to be a really tough team. I have to watch some film on them, I’m looking forward to it.”
Added Sacca: “This is my family. I wouldn’t want to go to war with any other guys. I’ve been saying it all year — I love these guys, this is my family and I’m just so proud of these guys.”
WHAT’S NEXT: No. 3 Delran travels to No. 1 Haddonfield on Nov. 15 for the South Jersey Group 2 championship. West Deptford’s season is complete.
