Football: Hammonton's Padovani out 8 weeks

Hammonton junior Alex Padovani sustained a fractured femur and sprained medial collateral ligament in the Blue Devils' opener Friday night against Holy Spirit.

Padovani's estimated recovery time is eight weeks so there's an outside chance he could return for some of the South Jersey Group 4 tournament as well as the Thanksgiving Eve game against No. 1 St. Joseph, Hammonton's fierce cross-town rival.

Padovani's father, Anthony, said the extent of the injury was revealed by an MRI on Tuesday.

Originally, there were fears that Alex Padovani had sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and would be lost for the entire school year. He's a standout in basketball and baseball as well as football.

Padovani, a wide receiver/defensive back/kicker, is one of South Jersey's best juniors and probably Hammonton's best all-around player.

Hammonton, the No. 5 team in the rankings, is 1-0 after a 22-20 overtime victory over Holy Spirit.

The Blue Devils host Oakcrest (0-1) in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division game on Friday.

-- Phil Anastasia