By BRIAN TORTELLA
Correspondent
@tortreports on Instagram
DEPTFORD — Members of the Burlington Township High football team like to call Aiden Binns “The Truth.”
And the truth is, he proved to be quite the force on Friday night in The Stucco Pros Game of the Week.
In his second game after returning from a five-game absence due to injuries, the star halfback rumbled for 324 yards and three touchdowns on 24 attempts — good for 13.5 yards per carry — as fourth-seeded Burlington Township defeated No. 8 Deptford, 27-17, in the semifinal round of the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs.
“Honestly, it was really upsetting for me and depressing to see my team losing my senior year and not being able to be on the field with them helping,” Binns said after the Falcons won their second straight playoff game following a four-game losing streak to end the regular season. “Me coming back was a big confidence boost for the team, being a captain and everything. I’m just happy to be back with my guys.
“That’s the nickname my teammates gave me,” he continued. “Just last year breaking the record and this year coming in and having a 300-yard game again. I just call myself ‘The Truth’ too. That’s what everyone calls me in Burlington Township.”
After trailing 7-6 at intermission, Burlington Township — which was playing on the road despite being the higher seed because of construction at the Falcons’ home field — made some key offensive line adjustments to help Binns break loose. Two of the senior’s three scores came in the final 24 minutes, including the effective game-winner on a 49-yard run with 1:43 remaining.
“Can I just start off by saying I’m glad (No.) 21 is back,” Burlington Township head coach Steve Everette said. “Our offensive line coach made some adjustments at the half and our offensive line started leaning on them a little bit. That’s what you have to do this time of the year — run the football and play good defense.”
The Falcons (6-5, 3-2 West Jersey Football League Colonial) also played phenomenal on defense. Lamar Karnjay scored the first points of the game with an interception returned for a touchdown late in the second quarter. He also capped the game with an interception in the end zone as the clock ticked away.
Despite being the eighth seed in the bracket, the Spartans (8-3, 4-1 WJFL Royal) were able to host a semifinal round playoff game after stunning top-seeded Hopewell Valley in the opening round last week.
“Our kids have been locked in,” said Everette, who emphasized the fact that it’s been 54 years since the program has won a sectional title. “They fought and they battled. We knew this was what this was going to be. We are battle tested. We are battle scarred, and you know what? We have one more to get over this sectional title hump. We’ll see what happens.”
The Falcons will travel to second-seeded Camden for the Central Jersey Group 3 final next week, and Everette sure knows who coach Rob Hinson and Co. will focus on stopping.
“We have to be diverse,” he said. “Because everyone is going to load the box to stop (No.) 21, so we have some stuff we need to go and fix.”
And for No. 21, there’s only one goal left in mind.
“Having 200- and 300-yard games is cool, but I want to win a championship with my guys,” Binns said. “I was hurt all year. As soon as I came back, my O-line told me they were going to lead me through the playoffs. I trusted my offensive line. No matter what run they called, I knew it was going to work.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Burlington Township travels to Camden on Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. for the Central Jersey Group 3 championship. Deptford’s season is complete.
