Hammonton runs past Burlington Twp., 30-14

A running game has always been the staple of Hammonton's offense and nothing is different this season. The defending South Jersey Group 3 champions ran their way to a 30-14 win over visiting Burlington Township in Friday's 30-14 South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinal.

Hammonton (7-2) will face Delsea in next weekend's semifinal.

The Blue Devils only completed one pass but rushed for 335 yards and four touchdowns on 53 carries.

"That kind of running depth really helps us," said Hammonton fullback Tim Alexander, who gained 122 yards on 15 carries and scored one touchdown.

Teammate Jarred Sanchez added 98 yards on 14 carries and one score.

Sophomore David Williams, seeing his most extensive varsity action, rushed for 71 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, and freshman Dylan Rosu contributed 41 yards on nine carries.

"We played so many Group 4 schools earlier and we needed to develop this kind of depth," Hammonton coach Pete Lancetta said.

Even though Hammonton completed just one pass, Blue Devils cornerback Bobby Barbieri caught three passes himself. He had three of the Blue Devils' four interceptions.

"I was getting a good read on the ball," Barbieri said.

Hammonton won first-round games the previous three years by a combined 82 points. Another rout looked possible after the Blue Devils scored the first two times they had the ball, all via the run.

Alexander gained 64 yards on the game's first carry and the next play, Sanchez scored on an 8-yard run.

On its next series, Hammonton completed an 11-play, 82-yard drive with Alexander's 2-yard run. The big play in that drive was a 28-yard run by Rosu.

Burlington Township (6-4) then settled down defensively and started moving the ball as well. The Falcons, aided by three penalties, put together an eight-play, 83-yard drive that was capped by a 1-run by Jordan Hunter, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound Villanova recruit known more for his work as a defensive lineman.

Following a 28-yard field goal by Hammonton's Esteban Sandoval, Burlington Township cut the lead to 16-14 when Brian Verbitski hit speedy Vinnie Pini on a quick slant that the senior receiver took for a 45-yard touchdown with 3 minutes, 15 seconds left in the third quarter.

Hammonton then put the game away on touchdown runs of 1 and 38 yards in the fourth quarter by Williams.

Burlington Township   0 7 7 0 - 14

Hammonton   13 0 3 14 - 30

H: Jarred Sanchez 8 run (Esteban Sandoval kick).

H: Tim Alexander 2 run (kick failed).

B: Jordan Hunter 1 run (Eric Stevenson kick).

H: Sandoval 28 FG.

B: Vinnie Pini 45 pass from Brian Verbitski (Stevenson kick).

H: David Williams 1 run (Sandoval kick).

H: David Williams 38 run (Sandoval kick).