"It still hasn't sunk in," said Tabb, who starred as a running back, wide receiver and safety for the Pennsauken Indians from 1994-97. "It'll probably hit me when I walk down 'The Hill.' "

Tabb's team will come into that matchup undefeated at 2-0. And when the Indians take the field for the opening kickoff, Tabb, 30, whose staff includes two mid-1980s Pennsauken graduates who he played for, likely will be focused on the present and continuing his alma mater's storied tradition.

However, his past is worth remembering.

Tabb grew up just minutes from Pennsauken High. He was a standout for the Indians in both football and track and field, earning all-conference honors in both sports.

After an illustrious collegiate career as a safety at Rowan in which he was twice named a Division III All-America and a failed attempt at making an NFL roster in 2001 despite tryouts with the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans among others, Tabb returned to his hometown, taking a job at his former high school as a gym teacher. He also began serving as the varsity indoor track and field coach - a position he has had for the past 6 years - as well as a football assistant in various capacities.

So when Reggie Lawrence took the job at Willingboro and the varsity football coaching position became available, athletic director Billy Wright used a deep-rooted philosophy in choosing Tabb, the team's defensive coordinator for four seasons, to replace Lawrence.

"If you can look from within with someone that's familiar with your culture, that goes a long way to setting the proper tone," Wright said. "And if there's anyone who knows the culture here, it's [Clinton Tabb]. He's real dedicated. He's young. And he has a tremendous amount of energy."

Plus, due to all the success he's garnered both on and off the field, Wright believes Tabb can have a positive impact in the community.

"That's something we really bleed in here," Wright said. "That you can come through here, have a great football career, get a great college education and become successful."

Now, Tabb looks to follow in the footsteps of Lawrence and his coach from sophomore year, Pennsauken legend Vince McAneney, who recorded a school-record 192 wins during his 25-year tenure.

"I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel here," Tabb said. "I'm just trying to get us back to the level that we played at when I played, when we lost in the [South Jersey Group III playoff] final in 1996 to Mainland, 14-7."

Besides improving in the win-loss category, Tabb hopes his players practice what he preaches when it comes to character. Footballwise, he instills "hustle and tempo," and in the classroom it's about "being held accountable."

And when his players make mistakes, Tabb understands, seeing as he made similar ones in the past that he still regrets.

"[It was] my fault in high school for not doing what I had to do in the classroom," said Tabb, who thinks he would have gone to a Division I program if not for his poor grades. "I want my players to learn from my mistakes. I never made the NFL, but I was OK because I got my degree."

Come Saturday, Tabb will have conquered yet another milestone in the town that has given him so much.

And he's hoping to continue to give back in the future.