Williamstown shuts down Hammonton

David Sanchez might as well have been marching.

Four rows of teammates trailed the burly Williamstown defensive lineman, who walked alone, holding a Williamstown football flag as a color guard would.

When cheerleaders stand at the 20-yard line before a game, stretching out a giant paper banner, most football teams burst through it, making a grand entrance.

Sanchez didn't run through the banner - he marched through it, flag first, teammates behind him.

It was militaristic. It was methodical. It took the fans aback at Hammonton.

It perfectly foreshadowed the game that followed.

Step by step, yard by yard, Williamstown (6-2) controlled Hammonton (6-2), marching to a 20-0 win Friday night in a game that had major implications in the South Jersey Group 5 tournament.

"This was our game from the start," said Sanchez, a senior captain who helped control Hammonton up front. "It's a great win. It's a great boost for our team.

"The defense just got the job done. It was Williamstown football."

Sanchez and the Williamstown defense allowed just three plays of more than 10 yards, two coming late in the fourth quarter.

That effort was helped by an offense that dominated time of possession.

Just as it had marched on to the field minutes earlier, Williamstown used 16 plays and more than six minutes of clock to advance 65 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening drive.

After forcing Hammonton to go three and out on its first drive, Williamstown again methodically pounded its way down the field - on the backs of a host of runners, including Joseph Early, Eriq Mercado, Cameron Dobbins, and quarterback Isiah Perkins - manufacturing a 17-play, 74-yard scoring drive.

With 8 minutes, 43 seconds left in the first half, Williamstown had a 13-0 lead and had held the ball for all but three plays, totaling less than two minutes.

"We just worked hard," said Early, who punched in the first touchdown on fourth down from the 3-yard line. "Controlling the clock was big. It kept their sideline quiet, and it gave us momentum."

Hammonton's offense moved the ball better in the second half, largely thanks to the running of quarterback Jon Triboletti. But Williamstown maintained momentum and sealed the game with a 63-yard TD run by Perkins up the middle with 2:17 left.

"These kids came out and played with a lot of heart and desire," Williamstown coach Frank Fucetola said. "They were on a mission. They wanted to win."

Williamstown 6 7 0 7 – 20

Hammonton 0 0 0 0 – 0

W: Joseph Early 3 run (kick failed)

W: Eriq Mercado 6 run (Kevin Gilmore kick)

W: Isiah Perkins 63 run (Gilmore kick)