Football: Cortez throws 5 TD passes as Pennsauken beats Triton

Manny Cortez threw five TD passes as Pennsauken beat Triton 52-23 Saturday in the semifinals of the SJ 4 tournament.

Pennsauken (9-1), the top seed, advances to face No. 2 seed Millville (10-0) in the SJ 4 title game Friday night, Dec. 2 at Rowan.

Amar Williams caught 2 TD passes and Justin Anderson-Copes caught 2 TD passes for Pennsauken.

The Indians play Wednesday night at Bishop Eustace in the annual Thanksgiving weekend game.

Cortez also ran 7 and 11 yards for TDs.

Cortez has 36 TD passes this season, the second-highest total in SJ history. The record is 40 set by Jason Amer of Holy Cross in 1999.

The state single-season record for TD passes is 43 by Ryan Carty of Somerville in 2001.

James Burns ran for 138 yards for fifth-seeded Triton (8-2. The Mustangs play at Timber Creek (10-0) with the WJFL Royal Division title on the line on Thanksgiving morning.

Triton 3 13 0 7 – 23

Pennsauken 14 19 13 6 – 52

T:  Dean Cowley 25 FG

P: Tyril Thomas 1 run (Anthony Sweet kick)

P: Justin Anderson-Copes 20 pass from Manny Cortez (Sweet kick)

P: Cortez 7 run (kick failed)

P: Amar Williams 7 pass from Cortez (Sweet kick)

T: James Burns 3 run (Cowley kick)

P: Sweet 17 pass from Cortez (kick failed)

T: Burns 13 run (kick failed)

P: Cortez 11 run (kick failed)

P: Williams 31 pass from Cortez (Sweet kick)

P: Anderson-Copes 73 pass from Cortez (kick failed)

T: Ryan Casillas 4 run (Cowley kick)

-- Phil Anastasia