"For some reason, we haven't been in the right frame of mind when we've come here," Mehigan said. "I don't know whether it's because we always play here on a Saturday and our kids are used to Friday nights, but in the past we just haven't gotten off the bus ready to play.

"I challenged them to make sure this time was different."

The Chiefs took care of business in a big way yesterday, building a 30-0 halftime lead en route to an imposing 37-0 victory over Pennsauken in an Olympic Conference American Division game.

A.J. Valentine scored two touchdowns, and Brian Brown made two big plays on defense as Cherokee, ranked No. 5 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, improved to 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the division. Pennsauken dropped to 3-2 overall and in the division.

"It was one of those days, but they also are a very good football team," Pennsauken coach Reggie Lawrence said. "I thought we were in position a lot of times. But there's a difference between being there and making plays."

With senior quarterback Major Mobley directing a no-huddle offense, Cherokee scored on four of five possessions in the first half in securing its first victory at Pennsauken since 2000.

Wide receiver Collin Rooney took an end-around handoff from Valentine, then fired a 35-yard touchdown pass back to Valentine, who had circled out of the backfield and down the left sideline, for the game's first score.

The Chiefs' Michael Zeuli blocked a punt to set up Sean Farrell's 4-yard touchdown run. Cherokee added another score when Brown returned an interception 29 yards for the TD.

Valentine's 1-yard scoring run on a fourth-and-1 play capped a 10-play drive, and the Chiefs added a 22-yard field goal by Michael Brocco on the final play of the first half. That came after Brown returned a fumble 47 yards to the Pennsauken 15.

"We were coming off a bye, and that can work two ways," said Mehigan, whose team will host No. 4 Washington Township on Friday. "But we were ready to play."

Running back Talir Satterfield-Rowe gained 50 yards on 15 carries for Pennsauken.

"Sometimes, this happens," Lawrence said. "We'll bounce back."

Cherokee 13 17 7 0 - 37

Pennsauken 0 0 0 0 - 0

C: Valentine 35 pass from Rooney (kick fail)

C: Farrell 4 run (Brocco kick)

C: Brown 29 interception return (Brocco kick)

C: Valentine 1 run (Brocco kick)

C: Brocco 22 FG

C: Powell 44 run (Brocco kick)