Washington Township makes 'big statement' in football

At a team meeting on Monday, Washington Township coach Mark Wechter asked his players to close their eyes and envision beating Timber Creek.

On a rainy and windy Friday night, the Minutemen outdid their own imaginations.

Scoring what Wechter called "a big statement win for our program," Washington Township used a 72-yard interception return for touchdown by Matteo Murgia on the first play of the third overtime for a 28-22 victory over perennial South Jersey power Timber Creek.

Murgia's walk-off return triggered a wild celebration for the Minutemen and their fans and left Wechter "too choked up" to talk very much to his players after the game.

On Saturday morning, the coach was able to put his team's emotional victory in some perspective.

"We've struggled the last couple of years," Wechter said. "This week, I think our players were starting to hear from the naysayers, 'You can't win this game.'

"It started to wear on me. I've been around this program since I was in high school. I'm thinking, 'We're Washington Township. We can beat anybody.' "

Washington Township (2-2), which debuts in The Inquirer Top 25 this week at No. 15, got great work from its defense in difficult conditions as Nick Evangelista recovered a fumble for a touchdown, Murgia scored another, and the Minutemen also registered a safety.

Kicker Cooper Bentz also was instrumental in the victory with a 27-yard field goal as well as a pressure-packed 47-yarder that forced the third overtime.

"I told these kids, 'You can win this game,' Wechter said. "They believed it. They never wavered."

Emotional win. Triton coach Dom Tomeo will never forget the first victory of his career as the Mustangs beat school-district rival Highland, 2-0, on the night when the two programs honored former Triton star Brian Keller.

"It was everything," Tomeo said of the significance of the Friday night victory.

Keller was a star quarterback and defensive end who led Triton to an 8-3 record in 2011. He was preparing for his senior season as a tight end at Lafayette College when he died from injuries suffered in an automobile accident in late June.

Keller's parents, Sue and Mark, as well as his sister Emily were honorary captains. They were presented with a framed No. 15 jersey.

Tomeo said under school district rules, Triton can't officially retire Keller's number. "But we're just not going to order No. 15 when we order new uniforms," Tomeo said. "Nobody will wear that number."

Triton was 0-3 entering the game but played sturdy defense in difficult field conditions and scored the only points when defensive tackle Dan Hurff recorded a safety in the second quarter.

"I'm so happy for our kids," Tomeo said. "When you're 3-0, it's easy to clap and high-five and be the first in line.

"But this showed their character. They kept believing."

Tomeo said the weather was ideal considering the circumstances.

"Mr. Keller said Brian loved playing in bad weather, he called himself a mudder," Tomeo said. "He said Brian probably called for the hurricane."

Walter to William and Mary. Haddonfield two-way end Jake Walter committed to attend William and Mary on a football scholarship on Friday.

Walter also had offers from Temple, Villanova, Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh, Maine, and Rhode Island.

"When I visited there, I knew it was everything I was looking for," said Walter, who visited the school in Williamsburg, Va., in the summer. "It was right up my alley."

The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Walter was recruited as a defensive end. He said he also seriously considered Temple and Villanova.

"I felt like the best thing for me was to go away from home," Walter said.

Walter will be the second Haddonfield two-way end to sign with William and Mary in the last two years, following 2015 graduate Ty Klaus.

"Ty is a great friend," Walter said. "We text all the time. He wasn't pressuring me, but he was very supportive."

Hot quarterback. Senior Jose Tabora has thrown 11 touchdown passes as St. Augustine has bolted to a 4-0 record.

Tabora threw five touchdown passes in a 59-6 victory over Ocean City on Thursday night.

"He's making great decisions," St. Augustine coach Mark Reardon said. "He knows he's surrounded by players who can make plays for him. He's not forcing anything. He's playing smart football."

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