Stanzione leads Williamstown over Hammonton

Williamstown senior quarterback Rich Stanzione threw one pass in the first half and it went for a touchdown.

For the opposing team.

"I'm supposed to be a leader and I put my team in the hole," Stanzione said. "I wanted a chance to make up for it."

Stanzione and the Braves bounced back in a big way.

With two clutch completions and a remarkable 84-yard interception return for touchdown, Stanzione led Williamstown to a 36-21 victory over Hammonton in a clash of top-five teams in a West Jersey Football League inter-division clash on Friday night.

"I have to thank my teammates," Stanzione said. "They had my back. They gave me the chance to make up for my mistake."

Williamstown (7-1), the No. 5 team in The Inquirer Top 25, rallied from deficits of 14-0 and 21-8 behind Stanzione, senior running backs Tyrik Glenn and Joe Early, and a swarming defense that pitched a second-half shutout.

Senior Zach Barnard ran for a touchdown and played a strong defensive game. Junior Malachi Winters threw a touchdown pass and returned an interception for a touchdown for No. 2 Hammonton (7-1).

"They wanted it more than we did," Hammonton coach Jim Raso said. "Our kids never quit. They fought to the end. But they made more plays than us."

It was a hard-hitting, highly-entertaining game on a cool, clear night before a large crowd at Williamstown.

Both quarterbacks made plays on offense and both returned interceptions for touchdowns on defense.

Stanzione's cross-country return for touchdown from one side of the field to the other sealed Williamstown's victory with 1 minute, 31 seconds on the clock.

"I didn't even realize it," Stanzione said. "Then everybody started jumping on me and I saw we were up 15 on the No. 2 team in South Jersey."

Earlier in the second half, Stanzione completed two passes that led to Williamstown touchdowns.

The first was a 47-yard strike to Glenn on third and 12 on the first possession of the second half. It led to a 10-yard touchdown run by Eriq Mercado that helped the Braves take a 22-21 lead.

"It was a busted play right from the start," Stanzione said. "I rolled out and 'Rik' broke off his pattern and I saw him open."

Said Glenn: "I saw Rich scrambling and just tried to get open."

Stanzione's second completion also went to Glenn. This was a 32-yard pass on third and 8. Stanzione scored on a 7-yard run on the next play for a 29-21 lead with 5:50 left in the game.

"That was perfect play-action," Stanzione said.

Those two passes to Glenn were Stanzione's only two pass attempts after his first pass was returned 40 yards for a touchdown by Hammonton's Winters on the Braves' first possession.

"Two [passes] was enough," Williamstown coach Frank Fucetola said.

Williamstown's defense was strong in the second half, with great work from Glenn at linebacker as well as junior end Eric Smith, junior back Onani Moore, senior tackle Deven Lewis and junior tackle Dylan Daisey, among others.

"We made some adjustments and shut them down," Glenn said. "We showed what this team can do."

Hammonton 14 7 0 0 - 21

Williamstown 8 7 7 14 - 36

H: Josh Bevan 8 pass from Malchi Winters (Jon Ryker kick)

H: Winters 40 interception return (Ryker kick)

W: Joe Early 35 run (Vic Ruggiano run)

H: Zach Barnard 1 run 9Ryker run)

W: Tyrik Glenn 6 run (Vladimir Keenan kick)

W: Eriq Mercado 10 run (Keenan kick)

W: Rich Stanzione 7 run (Keenan kick)

W: Stanzione 84 interception return (Keenan kick)

panastasia@phillynews.com

@PhilAnastasia

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