Lenape marches for impressive rout of Burlington Township

The game's first real statement was remarkable for just how unremarkable it was. Fourth-and-2 from the opponent's 32-yard line. Lenape's first drive of the opening quarter.

And the Indians didn't flinch.

The huddle looked routine. When the players lined up, they looked relaxed.

The ball was snapped, and running back Jojo Kellum bulled through the line. Four-yard gain. First down.

And the Indians kept marching. And marching. And marching.

That was the story of the Lenape's 47-0 win over host Burlington Township on Friday night. It wasn't just that the Indians were bigger and stronger and deeper than their opponent.

They were.

But this was an illustration of a team in sync. Everything was smooth. Everything looked rehearsed.

It was another display of the immense talent of this year's Indians. And it showed how cohesive and disciplined Lenape (3-0) is a year after winning a program-record 11 games.

"We're just connecting on all levels of the game," said Kellum, whose team is outscoring opponents 124-6 in the young season. "We're just clicking on all cylinders. It's the chemistry, we know how we're going to play and we know where we're going to be all over the field."

Kellum was unstoppable throughout. He finished with 18 carries for 141 yards and four touchdowns in only three quarters of play.

By the end of the first half, he had already racked up 14 carries for 107 yards, one catch for 18 yards and three touchdowns, including scores of 31 yards and 15 yards in the second quarter.

All-purpose player Jake Topolski was also electric as Lenape poured it on from start to finish. The senior finished with four catches for 64 yards and a touchdown and two rushes for 56 yards. He also had an interception.

After a 53-yard touchdown run by quarterback Matt Lajoie to put Lenape ahead by 33-0 on the first drive of the second quarter, the game was on cruise control. And the starters for both teams were on the bench by the final period.

"The momentum that the defense gained carried over to us — they've been giving us short fields all year," said Lajoie, who said he feels even more comfortable this year both in his position and with his teammates than he did last year as the starting quarterback.

On defense, Lenape allowed just one first down in a first half that ended with the Indians ahead by 27-0.

Burlington Township (2-1), which entered the game with a 2-0 record after beating Paul VI 50-26 last week, was held to just one first down and eight total yards of offense through two quarters.

Its biggest play of the game was a 60-yard completion to Justin Johnson late in the third quarter.

It set up first-and-goal from the 5-yard line. But Lenape stuffed the Falcons on the next four plays. Burlington Township turned it over on downs, setting up a 96-yard scoring drive for Lenape.

The Indians skill players flashed speed and athleticism, sure.

But Lenape's line play — on offense and defense — was even more commanding.

Kellum said he looks at his team as a power-running team, and his line as the best in the state. His coach, lauded that chemistry and those relationships.

"These kids love each other, they play for each other, but they've played together since they were kids," said coach Tim McAneney. "They want each other to succeed. It's been a total team effort.

"This year we have that chemistry on top with experience."

Lenape                  7   20   13   7   47
Burlington Twp.   0   0      0    0    0
L: Jojo Kellum 1 run (Nick Wilkinson kick)
L: Jake Topolski 15 pass from Matt Lajoie (kick failed)
L: Kellum 31 run (kick failed)
L: Kellum 15 run (Kellum run)
L: Lajoie 53 run (run failed)
L: Kellum 12 run (Wilkinson kick)
L: Matthew Soutar 18 run (Wilkinson kick)