Woodstown's Hill will end football career in Taliaferro game
Woodstown defensive back Dillon Hill admits that his final football game will be an emotional one, simply because he never wanted to see his career end.
Woodstown defensive back Dillon Hill admits that his final football game will be an emotional one, simply because he never wanted to see his career end.
Hill will participate Wednesday in the Adam Taliaferro Foundation All-Star Football Classic at Rowan University. The game, which features many of the top graduating seniors in South Jersey, will kick off at 7 p.m.
Listed on the roster at 5-foot-5 and 145 pounds, Hill was hoping to play college football but was told by many that he was too small. So the versatile two-way back is going to savor one last time suiting up and representing his high school.
"I am proud and excited to get to show what Woodstown football is all about," Hill said.
Hill was a two-year starter who helped the Wolverines achieve an 11-1 record in 2013, when they advanced to the South Jersey Group 2 final before losing to Haddonfield. Last year, Woodstown was 7-3 and lost to Haddonfield in an opening-round Group 2 playoff game.
As a senior, Hill rushed for 256 yards (with a 5.1 average) and scored four touchdowns. He caught 11 passes for 140 yards and also contributed 80 tackles and four interceptions. He also was a key special-teams player, averaging 33 yards a punt, 22.9 yards on 17 kickoff returns and 15.8 yards on five punt returns.
"He was everything you wanted in a player," Woodstown coach John Adams said.
Adams will be the head coach of the White Squad, which consists of players from Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties. (The Blue team includes players from Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May and Cumberland Counties.)
"It's really special to be able to play this game for my coach, who has coached me the last four years," Hill said.
The players assembled at Rowan on Sunday and are undergoing a crash course in preparing for the game. The White team's defense is being run by Woodstown defensive coordinator Frank Costello.
"It's the same defense we ran at Woodstown, so it's a system I really know and have been helping others out," Hill said.
Hill will be attending Rowan College at Gloucester County and plans to attend Rowan University. Before doing so, he hopes to make the most of his final high school game.
"I have had so many great memories playing for Woodstown," he said. "This means a lot to get one last chance at playing football."
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