Without Woods, Triton rocks Paul VI

Josh Woods was running freely, seemingly for another touchdown, when the Triton junior suddenly went down in the open field.

Nobody had touched him, but he was down nevertheless after a 31-yard gain early in the second quarter.

Woods, among the best running backs in South Jersey, needed help to get up and leave the field. Two teammates carried him off the field.

Suddenly, there was a pall cast over another impressive outing for Triton's football team.

The Mustangs improved their record to 6-1 with Friday night's 35-6 win over Paul VI in an interdivisional West Jersey League Football game. Triton remained very much in the running to earn a South Jersey Group 4 playoff berth.

Woods was taken away on a cart and later returned on crutches. His status is unknown.

The Mustangs used his departure as a rallying cry.

"After he went down, I played my heart out for him," said senior Jimmy Burns, who rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and also scored on a 35-yard pass from Brian Keller. "He is a great player, a great teammate."

Triton coach Pete Goetz went over and hugged Woods at halftime, then said a few consoling words before the two parted.

That is the grim reality of sports. Players get hurt, replacements come in, and the game goes on.

"I was really proud of how the team reacted when he went out," Goetz said. "Josh is somebody who is loved by everybody, and he is even a better person than he is a football player."

That is saying something because he has evolved into one of the top home-run threats in South Jersey.

Woods has made an impression well beyond the Triton community.

"I hope he is OK because he's a great player," said Paul VI coach John Doherty, whose team is 2-5.

That Triton had yet another dominating victory despite the injury shows the major progress the team has made. Coming off a 3-7 season, the Mustangs were expected to be improved, but few saw six wins in the first seven games coming.

Triton has great senior leadership, and it starts with players such as Keller, a quarterback-defensive end who got the scoring going with a 39-yard, first-quarter run.

It was a typical, never-give-up Triton play. Keller fumbled the snap, appeared as if he was going to get dropped for a loss, bulled his way through the middle, and darted toward the end zone.

Triton has been receiving this type of inspired play all season. On a night when the big-play performer was sidelined, the rest of the players rallied in a big way for yet another huge win.

Paul VI   0 0 0 6 – 6

Triton   7 7 21 0 – 35

T: Brian Keller 39 run (Dean Cowley kick)

T: Jimmy Burns 1 run (Cowley kick)

T: Keller 1 run (Cowley kick)

T: Burns 35 run (Cowley kick)

T: Burns 21 pass from Keller (Cowley kick)

P: Zach Grant 25 pass from Alec Vignola (kick failed)