Bad was good, but worse would have been better for the Golden Eagles - at least when it came to the weather, as well as the condition of the playing surface.

Seneca probably would have won Saturday's Group 3 playoff clash with Burlington Township on artificial turf, on fairway-like grass, or in the parking lot. The Golden Eagles were that good.

But they sure seemed at home on the muddy, slippery stuff that served as the Falcons' home field, especially those big guys up front who finished the game with dirt all over their uniforms and smiles all over their faces.

"It was perfect for us," said Seneca senior two-way end Ryan Blythe, a force on both sides of the football. "We love playing in this."

Seneca senior offensive tackle Jeff Kammerer felt the same way. He was part of an offensive line that paved the way for Seneca to rush for 332 yards and three of the team's four touchdowns.

The other touchdown? Kammerer scored that himself, pouncing on a fumble in the end zone.

"I scored one in a freshman-sophomore game," Kammerer said. "I picked up a fumble and ran like 40 yards. But this was different. I was so excited but I tried just to keep my head."

It was a great day for the linemen with the dirty uniforms. Seneca (7-2), the No. 5 seed, attempted just two passes and literally ran its way to a semifinal matchup Friday night at top-seeded Hammonton.

Blythe, a tight end, and Kammerer joined with center Ryan McMillian, guards Dan Szymanek and John Szymanek and tackle Nigel Gray to help the Golden Eagles grind out 15 first downs, and produce scoring runs of 57, 60 and 33 yards.

"We wanted to run it right down their throats," Blythe said.

This game was a classic clash of styles. Seneca is a run-oriented power team. Burlington Township likes to spread the field, throw the football and use space and misdirection to take advantage of its speed and skill.

Burlington Township coach Tom Maderia said the condition of the field after three days of rain and wind was "horrendous" but was quick to credit Seneca for controlling the action with its physical play.

"That's a physical, physical football team," Maderia said after his fourth-seeded Falcons finished the season with a 7-3 record. "I'm proud of our guys. We hung in there. It was 15-7 in the fourth quarter.

"But you have to give them credit. They line up and play tough football."

The weather wasn't bad, just overcast with a slight breeze. But the field was ideal for Seneca, all spongy and slippery with lots of mud patches around midfield and some serious muck along both sidelines.

The Golden Eagles took the opening kickoff and went 65 yards on 13 plays before losing a fumble on a handoff. Their second drive lasted nine plays and covered 58 yards and ended when Kammerer scored the first and likely last touchdown of his varsity career.

"He flew over there," Fisher said.

Seneca had three others drives that covered 58 yards or more. Junior running back Steve Greco finished with 158 yards on 25 carries, and scored on a 57-yard run. Junior quarterback Charles Owl ran 60 yards for a score, and senior running back Matt Massucci ran 33 yards for another.

"We don't mind mud," Kammerer said. "We just come out and do what we do best, and that's run the football."

Seneca   2 13 0 12 - 27

Burlington Twp.   0 0 7 0 - 7

S: Safety (Ryan Bythe tackle quarterback in end zone)

S: Jeff Kammerer recover fumble in end zone (Connor Yates kick)

S: Steve Greco 57 run (run fail)

BT: Darryl Gleaves 32 pass from Justin Barner (TJ Maderia kick)

S: Charles Owl 60 run (kick fail)

S: Matt Massucci 33 run (kick fail)

Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223 or panastasia@phillynews.com