Editor’s Note: Below are the recaps from Woodstown High as the Wolverines hosted two playoff games on Friday— boys soccer vs Wildwood and football vs Pennsville.
By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
On X @tortreports
FOOTBALL:
WOODSTOWN — Alex Torres knew he needed to step up.
With senior starting running back and 1,000-yard rusher Bryce Belinfanti limited with an injury, it was his time to shine — and shine he did.
Torres drew the start at running back for the second week in a row and rumbled for 111 yards and three touchdowns as top-seeded Woodstown ousted Salem County rival and fifth-seeded Pennsville, 21-6, in the semifinal round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs on Friday night.
“I just knew I couldn’t let my team down,” he said. “I worked all summer for this, and I knew as soon as they bumped me up it was my time to show what I could do, and I definitely did.”
“Running has been a part of Woodstown football for a very long time,” he continued. “It’s been run, run, run. They couldn’t stop the run. We just kept running and put the ball down their throat.”
Three touchdowns later, he didn’t disappoint the Wolverines’ faithful.
“It’s not every team that has the luxury of having another running back like Alex,” first-year coach Frank Trautz said. “He runs the ball hard, he’s a great kid and does everything we ask of him. I’m super proud of him. I’m really happy to see him get these last two games. He was ready for the challenge, and he certainly delivered.
“It was a great team effort again tonight. Again, finding a way to win. I’m really proud of our guys. That’s a really well-coached and tough football team that we just played, and it took everything to get them tonight.”
Woodstown found a way to win with not only its backup running back, but its second-string quarterback leading the pack. The Wolverines lost senior starting quarterback Jack Holladay a few weeks back to injury, and Garrett Leyman has filled the void exceptionally well.
The junior completed one of only three passes, but the ground game is where he made the difference. He rushed for 100 yards on 14 attempts — good for seven yards each time he took off.
“I feel like my strong suit is my running game, and I knew I had to do it,” he said. “We knew that we could pound the ball down their throats, and we got some long drives in and capitalized.”
Toward the end of the first half, Leyman ran nearly the distance just short of the end zone, and Torres finished the job from short distance. (See videos above)
It was a good night for a duo that wasn’t expecting to start in a semifinal playoff game.
“It shows how dominant we can be,” Torres said. “We have guys all over the place that can step in and play when their number is called.”
Woodstown will host undefeated No. 2 Shore Regional in the sectional final on Friday. Last year, the Wolverines won the South Jersey Group 1 title over Woodbury.
“It’s special,” added Trautz. “Anytime you get to host a game like this, it’s special, because it’s hard, man. It’s hard to win football games in South Jersey. For us to be able to host another (sectional championship) is something that we will never take for granted, because it’s that challenging.”
BOYS SOCCER:
WOODSTOWN — Defense wins championships.
The Woodstown High boys soccer team’s defense performed that line to perfection on Friday as the second-seeded Wolverines cruised to a 3-0 victory over seventh-seeded Wildwood in the NJSIAA South Jersey group 1 quarterfinals.
Wildwood (15-4-1, 10-0 Tri-County Classic), winners of its last six games, hasn’t been held scoreless all season.
“We took a team that I think has scored in every game this year, they only lost three and tied one, and this is the first time they’ve been shut out,” coach Darren Huck said. “My defense showed up again.”
Man, did it ever.
Grant Prater didn’t waste any time getting the Wolverines on the board, notching a goal in the 13th minute — but it wasn’t the senior’s offense that caught everyone’s eye.
His stout defense on Wildwood senior Noureddine Bedderi, who finished with 36 goals this season, was even more impressive.
“Grant is the one that had the pressure on him,” coach Huck said. “Grant usually plays a little higher up, but because of the respect that we have for Bedderi, we needed him to stay back a little bit and keep things in front of him. We had a game plan, and we executed, I think, really, really well.”
This will be Woodstown’s third time in the last four seasons making it into the sectional semifinal round, losing to Palmyra both times. The Wolverines will get a chance to avenge that loss on Tuesday when they host the third-seeded Panthers for a berth in the finals.
“It means a lot, actually,” Prater said. “We work every day for this. To get this far, it’s a very big accomplishment for us. Even if we win or lose, which we’re going to win, it doesn’t matter, we’re here. I’m a senior, so it’s my last chance.”
Dante Holmes, another senior, added a goal from a corner kick to put Woodstown up 3-0 with 10 minutes left in regulation. Normally a defensive player, it was only the second goal of his varsity career.
“It means a lot to me,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve been able to go for corners, I’ve only started doing that (at the halfway point of the season.) These two goals are the first ever in my career, so having that in a playoff game putting us up by three solidified the win.”
It’s safe to say it was a special Friday for Woodstown fans.
Contact Brian Tortella: btortreportssj@gmail.com.
