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Folsom wins 200th at West Deptford

The wins have come at such a mind-numbing pace for Clyde Folsom at West Deptford that many don't realize the monumental task he faced when taking over as head football coach in 1991.

West Deptford's # 74 John Barrett hugs West Deptford HS football coach Clyde Folsom  after he got his 200th win with the Eagles after they won the West Deptford at Collingswood H.S. football game 34-7 on Oct. 23, 2015.
West Deptford's # 74 John Barrett hugs West Deptford HS football coach Clyde Folsom after he got his 200th win with the Eagles after they won the West Deptford at Collingswood H.S. football game 34-7 on Oct. 23, 2015.Read more( ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer )

The wins have come at such a mind-numbing pace for Clyde Folsom at West Deptford that many don't realize the monumental task he faced when taking over as head football coach in 1991.

This was as good a time as any to reflect on the successful regime after Folsom reached another milestone Friday night, when West Deptford beat Collingswood, 34-7, in a Colonial Conference Liberty Division game.

For Folsom it was his 200th win at West Deptford, making him 200-59-2. During his first coaching job he went 34-11-3 and won three consecutive South Jersey championships at Bishop Eustace.

According to South Jersey historian Chuck Langerman, Folsom is only the sixth active coach and ninth all-time in South Jersey history to win 200 games at one school. Overall, his 234 career wins place him fourth all-time in South Jersey.

The fact that he has been able to win big at two different schools speaks volumes of his ability. Accomplishing the feat at West Deptford is even more impressive.

Before his arrival in 1991, West Deptford had 19 consecutive nonwinning seasons.

And it wasn't an immediate turnaround. West Deptford had losing records his first three seasons, but since then the Eagles have been rolling.

Folsom has guided the Eagles to six South Jersey championships, and at 6-0 this year, West Deptford is a serious threat again in South Jersey Group 2. The Eagles entered the year with 13 straight seasons of nine or more wins.

Folsom admitted it was special, and he began talking about all the people who helped along the way.

Then he talked about his former players, most notably Nick Brandemarti, who was killed in the 9/11 attacks at the World Trade Center.

"There is so much support from our players," Folsom said. "Nick Brandemarti had such an influence of where we are right now."

Forlsom had to pause before he finished that sentence, the words coming out slowly, because Brandemarti meant so much to him, and he got into coaching to guide youngsters like him.

With all the memories he has gained, Folsom admitted this was no ordinary win.

"This is a big milestone for a community, not necessarily for myself," he said.

And the win came the West Deptford way, by running the ball in the Delaware wing-T and making few mistakes. West Deptford only attempted one pass.

"This is what West Deptford football is all about," Folsom said. "It is not going to change."

Collingswood (4-3) hung in for a half, trailing by just 14-7 at intermission, but junior Quran Dozier put things away with three second-half touchdown runs.

"It's special to be part of this with coach," Dozier said.

The win also clinched another championship, in the Colonial Liberty. The victories and titles have come so frequently, that it is difficult to remember the years when winning wasn't taken for granted.

Folsom brought a high level of accountability to the program, and he works his players hard and himself even harder. It's not stretching things to say that he should rank among the top coaches in South Jersey history.

He would be embarrassed at that type of talk. All Folsom ever wants is an honest effort. And one can be assured moments after getting on the bus ride home from Collingswood, he was devising a way to earn win No. 201.

West Deptford 7 7 6 14 - 34

Collingswood 0 7 0 0 - 7

W: Kenny Lim 78 run (Mike Bilodeau kick)

C: Zach Irwin 24 pass from Jovon Allie (Robert Upshur kick)

W: Gio Gismondi 2 run (Bilodeau kick)

W: Quran Dozier 2 run (kick failed)

W: Dozier 3 run (Billodeau kick)

W: Dozier 10 run (Billodeau kick)