This was familiar territory for Karch Connors. This was old-fashioned football for the Washington Township center and his linemates.

This also was different. Connors was on the other side of the field, across from the home team, across from his father.

And the Minutemen - the latest team to employ a no-huddle, pass-oriented, spread offense - were back in retro mode, running the football 13 times in the decisive 14-play drive in the fourth quarter.

"We went back to playing smash-mouth football," Connors said.

Washington Township's 12-8 victory over Pennsauken yesterday in an Olympic Conference American Division game was a bit of a blast from the past for Connors, and for the Minutemen.

The 5-11, 240-pound senior was playing his last game – barring an unlikely playoff visit in the South Jersey Group 4 tournament – on the field he used to roam as a youngster while his father tended to duties as Pennsauken's trainer.

Tom Connors still was on the Indians' sideline yesterday, while his son and the rest of the Washington Township offensive line seized command in the final 12 minutes of a fierce, physical game.

"It makes it special," Karch Connors said. "It's my last time playing against Pennsauken, and it was such a big game."

Connors and his fellow offensive lineman - guards Marc Mollo and Kyle Lehm and tackles John Whelan and Sam Nocille - cleared the way for a ride in the way-back machine on a humid afternoon.

Trailing 8-6, the Minutemen took possession at their own 34 with eight minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the game. They drove down the field with running play after running play, as junior running back Chalie Huff and junior quarterback Nick Valori combined for 57 yards on nine carries.

Huff, who gained 75 yards on 15 carries in the game, finished the drive with a 4-yard run with four minutes, 49 seconds on the clock.

"We felt if we could keep it close in the fourth quarter, we might be able to wear them down a little bit," Washington Township coach Mark Wechter said after his team improved to 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the division. Pennsauken is 3-1 and 3-1.

The big news around Washington Township's program this season has been the switch to the spread formation. That has put Connors in an important spot, since the center has to call out the defensive fronts, snap cadence, and blocking assignments at the line of scrimmage.

He also has to block.

"He's been playing great," Wechter said. "He's always on an even keel. He's a steady-Eddie."

Connors said the switch to the no-huddle, spread offense has been an exciting challenge.

"It's a big difference from our old offense," said Connors, who also is a standout wrestler for the Minutemen. "I really enjoy it. I like all the decisions we have to make."

Connors said he used to be a regular at Pennsauken games as a youngster. He would roam the locker room and hallways on the mornings, and walk the sidelines during the games.

"Then I got to high school and I went to the other side," Connors said.

This victory probably had that old-fashioned feel for many of the Minutemen, as well as their coaches and fans. After all, they ran the football on 22 of their final 23 plays.

But nobody felt more at home away from home than Karch Connors.

Washington Twp. 0 0 6 6 - 12

Pennsauken 8 0 0 0 - 8

P: Davis 1 run (Phillips pass from Holmes)

WT: Dim 19 pass from Valori (pass fail)

WT: Huff 4 run (run fail)

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