Led by the outside running of quarterback Nick Crescenzo and the inside power and speed of running back Josh Baez, top-seeded Hammonton ran its way to an opening 30-0 win over No. 8 Winslow Township in a South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinal.

Hammonton (8-1) will host the winner of today's game between No. 5 Seneca and No. 4 Burlington Township in next weekend's semifinal.

Crescenzo rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries, all in the first half. Baez added 144 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries.

The game was played in a steady rain, and Crescenzo said that Hammonton's game plan was simple - run the ball.

"We're a running team anyway, but with the weather we knew we were going to keep it on the ground," he said.

Winslow Township (4-5) was considered a dangerous No. 8 seed especially with elusive junior quarterback Bill Belton.

Hammonton, led by Maryland-bound defensive end Ian Evans, did a great job limiting Belton on long runs.

Belton completed 7 of 18 passes for 53 yards and ran for 41 yards on seven carries. He often had ample time to throw, but the Hammonton secondary bottled up the Winslow Township receivers for the most part.

Belton was pulled with about nine minutes left in the game. Winslow Township coach Mike McBride said Belton hurt his back late in the first half, and he didn't want to risk further injury.

"We had to take his helmet, because he wanted to play," McBride said.

The Winslow Township coach said that the consistent rain was no alibi.

"The weather had nothing to do with the result," he said. "Hammonton really played well."

Leading 22-0 at halftime, Hammonton put things away by scoring on its first possession of the third quarter. The Blue Devils capped a 10-play 76 yard drive on Baez's 9-yard run.

Hammonton didn't wait very long to get its vaunted running game going. On the first play from scrimmage, Crescenzo broke loose for a 79-yard scoring run.

"It means a lot to get that kind of early momentum," said Crescenzo, who will attend Rider and play baseball.

Crescenzo added a 3-yard run in the first quarter to increase the lead to 16-0. Winslow Township was having trouble stopping Crescenzo running wide, and when the Eagles adjusted, the Hammonton quarterback began handing the ball more to Baez.

Hammonton increased its lead to 22-0 when Baez went up the middle for a 54-yard scoring run in the second quarter.

Trailing 22-0, Winslow Township showed some life. Finally on its fifth possession the Eagles gained their initial first down of the game.

Near the end of the first half, Winslow Township threatened but Belton was stopped 1 yard shy of a first down on a 13-yard fourth-down run to the Hammonton 7-yard line with just 13.9 seconds left in the half.

Winslow Township 0 0 0 0 - 0

Hammonton 16 6 8 0 - 30

H: Nick Crescenzo 79 run (Josh Baez run)

H: Nick Crescenzo 3 run (Ian Evans pass from N. Crescenzo)

H: Josh Baez 54 run (run failed)

H: Baez 9 run (Evans pass from N. Crescenzo)