By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
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WEST DEPTFORD — Charles Schriver IV remembers walking off the field as a freshman three years ago after a five-score blowout loss to rival Haddonfield.
He felt defeated.
Schriver had the same feeling the last two years, including last year when the Haddons spoiled homecoming by handing the Eagles their only regular-season loss.
“Some of us didn’t play our freshmen year, but I still remember leaving there getting blown out 35-0,” the senior linemen recalled. “I was crying. This senior group is 0-3 against them. My dad told me ‘Hey, remember this.’ We used every one of those losses as motivation throughout the week.”
This time around, West Deptford made sure its homecoming wouldn’t be wrecked as the Eagles rolled past longtime rival Haddonfield, 28-0, behind a dominant rushing attack in The Stucco Pros Game of the Week.
Schriver, a four-year starter at left tackle, helped fuel a physical affair up front that featured three rushing touchdowns — all from senior duo Zamir Davis and Cole Paskiewicz.
“We were really disappointed last year, but I feel like this year with the tougher schedule through the first four games, we were battle-tested,” West Deptford coach John Emel said. “Our game plan was successful. We came in with the mentality that we were going to play physical. We have a good offensive line and we ran between the tackles.”
Added Schriver: “That was the main goal all week: to win up front. They’re not as tough as us up front. We dominated every snap up front. Four yards, six yards, eight yards. The game plan worked perfectly, and that’s how we came into it.”
Davis scored the Eagles’ first touchdown from 2 yards out as the Eagles (5-0, 3-0 West Jersey Football League Constitution) took a 7-0 after the first quarter. In a contest where passes were limited, West Deptford quarterback Timmy Holmes Jr. found Curtis Pearson for a 26-yard touchdown late in the second quarter as the lead reached 14-0 headed into halftime. Davis found paydirt again midway through the third quarter and Paskiewicz scored in the fourth to seal the shutout.
“This program hasn’t beaten them in so long,” Davis said. “We’ve been circling this game ever since last year. This means a lot to us and we got the job done tonight. We all played well together today, and we got a really good outcome.”
The triumph marked West Deptford’s first win over Haddonfield (4-1, 2-1 WJFL Constitution) in seven years. The Eagles last victory came on Oct. 11, 2019, a 28-14 win. Friday night’s victory was a pivotal game for the South Jersey Group 2 power point standings, potentially setting up the Eagles with home-field advantage in the state playoffs — as long as they continue to win.
It was West Deptford’s second shutout of the season. Across all five games, the most points the Eagles’ defense has allowed is seven in a single game.
“They won the division (last year) and they have a lot of good players back,” Emel said. “For us to get this win gives us a lead up in the division. There’s a good chance we’re going to see them again. And if we do, it’s going to be here at The Nest. We played hungry.”
There’s no doubt the Eagles will certainly enjoy homecoming on Saturday night more than they did last year.
“People doubting us saying we haven’t beaten Haddonfield? Guess what? We just beat them tonight,” Schriver exclaimed.
WHAT’S NEXT: West Deptford travels to Overbook on Friday at 7 p.m. Haddonfield travels to Paulsboro on Oct. 10 at 11 a.m.
