Eagles stun Bulldawgs on Mike Bilodeau's kick

It's a kicker's dream: The chance to win a big game with a field goal.

Mike Bilodeau imagined himself in that scenario "every day" during the course of his career with the West Deptford football team.

But it wasn't until the sixth game of his senior season when Bilodeau finally got the opportunity to split the uprights, race off the field in jubilation, and find himself on the shoulders of his teammates in a hero's ride.

"It's almost too good to be true," Bilodeau said after his 35-yard field goal in overtime lifted West Deptford to a 17-14 victory over Haddonfield in an instant classic of a West Jersey Football League Colonial Division clash on Friday night.

Bilodeau's kick popped the cork on a wild celebration on the West Deptford sideline and in the home team's packed stands.

Moments later, veteran West Deptford coach Clyde Folsom punched the air with emotion in touting his team's "great win" over its fiercest rival.

Sophomore running back Tyshawn Bookman, seeing extended action in the absence of injured junior star Kenny Lim, ran for two touchdowns for West Deptford (6-0 overall, 4-0 in the division), the No. 14 team in the Inquirer Top 25.

Bookman's 35-yard scoring run, plus Bilodeau's clutch extra point, tied the score at 14-14 with 5 minutes, 41 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Haddonfield (5-1, 3-1) had a chance to win at the end of regulation but the Bulldawgs missed a field goal attempt.

Haddonfield also missed a field goal attempt on its  possession in overtime.

"That's not why we lost," Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano said. "I'll take our kicker in that situaton 1,000 times.  … Credit them. They made enough play to win."

DeLano said that the huge crowd that filled both bleachers on a cool, clear night "got their $3 admission worth."
Junior quarterback Jay Foley played a strong game for Haddonfield, running for two scores and throwing a two-point conversion pass to junior Drew Gavranich.

"He's faster than his father," Folsom said on the sideline when Foley broke containment for a first down.

Foley and his twin, John, who made several catches as a wide receiver and was ruled out of the back of the end zone on an apparent touchdown in the first quarter, are the sons of former Cherry Hill East star Glenn Foley, who played several seasons in the NFL.

The victory puts West Deptford in clear position to capture the division title for the third year in a row. The Eagles also will earn a high seed, perhaps the No. 1, in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament.

West Deptford also could see Haddonfield again in the playoffs, as the teams have a habit of meeting twice a season.

"We'll see them again," said West Deptford senior quarterback Pete Orio, whose 24-yard slant pass to Bilodeau on a third-and-10 play kept alive the drive that ended with Bookman's game-tying touchdown.

West Deptford got strong work from its offensive and defensive lines and controlled the clock in the first half, running 35 plays to just 13 for Haddonfield.

"We just couldn't get an consistency going in the first half," DeLano said.

Bookman's 16-yard touchdown run and Bilodeau's extra point made it 7-0 and that score stood until Haddonfield came alive in the third quarter, scoring on its first two drives as Foley used his quickness to elude tacklers.
Bookman's best run, a burst off left tackle, cutback and race to the end zone,set the stage for the dramatic final moments.

After Haddonfield failed to score on its possession in overtime, West Deptford ran three plays and gained 7 yards to the 18.

That created Bilodeau's big moment.

"I knew he would make it," Orio said. "We must practice extra points and field goals for 30-40 minutes every day.":

Bilodeau said he was nervous but confident, too.

He had dreamed of  this moment. He made the most of his first chance at a game-winner, driving the kick between the uprights.

"This has got to be one of the best moments of my life," Bilodeau said.

Haddonfield          0  6  8  0  0 — 14
West Deptford      7  0  0  7  3 — 17
WD: Tyshawn Bookman 16 run (Mike Bilodeau kick)
H: Jay Foley 26 run (kick fail)
H: Foley 6 run (Drew Gavranich pass from Foley)
WD: Bookman 35 run (Bilodeau kick)
WD: Bilodeau 35 FG