By MARK TRIBLE
Staff Writer
PAULSBORO — Less than 24 hours ago, unspeakable tragedy in the form of a shooting at a South Jersey high school football game offered a glimpse into some of what’s wrong in the world.
Here today, a man who has often embodied what’s right in it got honored with a meaningful milestone.
Paulsboro High School coach Glenn Howard, revered by those who know him, those who played for him, those who coached against him and many more, reached the 300-win mark.
It came in a 28-8 victory over Gateway (8-2) in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals. The Red Raiders (8-2) did the deed in a fashion they have so often mastered under Howard’s tutelage.
They banded together.
It showed with a rally in a picture-perfect second half performance. With the comeback, they punched a ticket to Penns Grove (11-0) for the sectional final next Saturday afternoon.
“The thing about Paulsboro,” Gators coach Josh Mason began, “is you know in the second half they’re going to give a great effort.
“Glenn is a great coach and a great man. Three-hundred wins is unbelievable.”
Naturally, there were stars that came to play for the red side. Tailback Bhayshul Tuten, who got cleared to play with a foot injury on Thursday, fought through the pain for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
Juan Lopez bruised for 55 yards and a score.
Jacob Perez-Eli totaled more than 100 yards. His 48-yard grab down the seam and subsequent two-point run tied the affair early in the third quarter. His late interception helped seal the deal.
The trio helped hand the achievement to Howard. Soon after, the team offered him the game ball amidst a throng of former players and coaches prior to the leader since 1987’s address to the crowd.
“I’ve learned that everything that happens, it happens for a reason,” Perez-Eli, a senior, said of Howard’s lessons. “Even if you’re down, you’re upset, god’s blessing you and is going to bless you.”
Lopez, another upperclassman, noted his drive to be part of the celebration.
“I was hungry because I wanted coach Howard to get the 300th victory and I wanted to be a part of that team,” he said. “I tried to ball my hardest and we got the win. We just punched it in for him.”
Tuten’s steady rushes were present throughout. Despite a lack of explosive plays, the stud continued to bruise and bounce on 31 totes. When quarterback Tyree Thomas left with an injury, Tuten even took direct snaps from shotgun.
“We all came out and played hard,” Tuten said. “We knew they were going to key on me a lot, so other players came out and stepped up big.
“Early in the season, we checked the stats and we saw (Howard) needed a couple more wins and in order to get those wins we needed to make the final. That was our goal from the beginning, to get him his 300th. We wanted to be the team that gave him that.”
Tuten also passed along advice imparted by the head man. He said he’ll carry the words beyond the high school gridiron.
“When adversity hits you, don’t ever let up,” the junior said. “Give it your all. Don’t be ready to quit so fast. Just work hard all the time.”
The truism worked again Saturday afternoon.
It’s been washed and worn so many times, yet it’s still bright red. Howard’s ability to keep his roster on an even keel goes beyond results, but certainly is reflected by the gaudy 300-67 all-time mark.
Through the years, Howard’s seen his fair share of pupils who endured rough situations in this tough, tiny town. He has lifted many to understand and realize their character — be that on the field, in the classroom or in regard to future potential.
Anyone who’s met him could tell you. His thoughts and messages are firm and principled, often with realistic hopes coated in wisdom.
“You try to teach a lot of the young men how to be a good person,” Howard said of his aim. “It’s more than about football. It’s about being a good person because this is going to last so long.
“Some of these guys, they play four years and then they’ve got to do something else with their lives. I want to teach them a little bit or lead them to a life about how to be a man of faith, a man who is going to raise a family the right way, have a meaningful marriage — those kinds of things … Hopefully some of it has rubbed off on some of the guys over the years. I often think, I’ve coached over 1,000 kids.”
He spoke a little longer, with his honorary pigskin and 300-win banner rolled up under one arm. Howard smiled as he closed the reflection in that slow, calculated tone of his.
“A lot of good memories,” he said.
Add one more.
Mark Trible is a former sports reporter for the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill and one of the most popular high school writers in South Jersey. Follow Mark: @Mtrible on Twitter; facebook.com/marktriblewords/