Phil Anastasia: Belton keeps Eagles on a roll in big win
Donovan McNabb?
No.
Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?
No and no.
Those are the right kind of guys. They just play the wrong sport.
"I told him I wanted him to be a point guard," Winslow Township coach Mike McBride said. "I told him we needed him to be Steve Nash or John Stockton. We need him to spread the ball around. We don't need him to be Baron Davis or Allen Iverson."
The analogy makes sense, because Winslow Township has been scoring like a basketball team. Counting yesterday's 48-21 victory over Triton, the Eagles have topped 40 points four times in six games.
More important, Winslow Township has won two in a row to even its record at 3-3 and stay alive in the race for a berth in the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs.
"We're starting to figure out who we are," McBride said after Winslow Township's victory in the Burlco/Olympic Liberty Division game on a cold, rainy afternoon.
Belton made big play after big play during Winslow Township's homecoming game. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound athlete ran eight times for 77 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 12 of 24 passes for 272 yards and two more TDs.
Belton's scoring runs covered 12 and 23 yards. His touchdown passes were a 70-yard bomb to Devante Waugh and an 18-yard strike to Stacey Goree.
Before the pass to Goree, Belton rolled right to the sideline, turned back to his left, cut upfield, and found his teammate open in the end zone as players from both teams were scattered across the slick grass.
"He's so talented," said Triton coach Pete Goetz, whose young team dropped to 1-5. "They are so explosive. They can make a big play against you at any time."
Belton was a running back as a youth-level player. He was a wide receiver last season for Winslow Township.
He's still learning to be a quarterback, but he's proving to be a quick study.
"I like it," Belton said. "It's fun. The big thing is that we're starting to come together as a team. I feel like we can win out from here."
McBride said he's heard from "everybody" in college recruiting with regard to Belton. That means most major programs in the country have the junior on their radar.
McBride said most colleges project Belton as a wide receiver or cornerback, although some believe he could be a running back at the next level.
Belton is among South Jersey's leaders with nine touchdowns as well as nine touchdown passes.
"I've been with him since we were in Little League," Winslow Township defensive tackle Karon Daniels said. "It like every play you expect to hear, 'Bill Belton scores a touchdown' or 'Bill Belton throws a touchdown pass.' "
Belton broke more than tackles yesterday. He also broke the mold his coach created for him as a quarterback.
He was part Nash and part Stockton in that he hit five different receivers and got bruising senior running back Na'eem Walton (14 carries, 77 yards, two touchdowns) involved in the offense.
But he also was part Davis and part Iverson with those touchdown runs and improvised scrambles.
"Coach told me to get everyone involved," Belton said. "I was just trying to spread it around."
Spoken like a true point guard. And a fast-learning quarterback.
Triton 7 0 7 7 - 21
Winslow Twp. 13 14 21 0 - 48
W: Walton 3 run (Reynolds kick)
T: Woods 29 run (Razo kick)
W: Bragg 18 run (kick fail)
W: Belton 12 run (Reynolds kick)
W: Waugh 70 pass from Belton (Reynolds kick)
T: Stewart 15 run (Razo kick)
W: Belton 23 run (Reynolds kick)
W: Goree 18 pass from Belton (Reynolds kick)
W: Walton 6 run (Reynolds kick)
T: Locascio 1 run (Razo kick)
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia@phillynews.com.




