Nottingham secures top seed in sectional bracket
HAMILTON » There’s something about scoring two touchdowns within 20 seconds that can have a calming effect on a football team.
That was certainly the case for Nottingham, which overcame a shaky start with a second-quarter blitz to take a 4913 win over visiting Hamilton West Saturday.
Nottingham’s eighth straight victory gives the Northstars (8-1) their second straight Joe Logue Trophy — named after the late, great Trentonian high school writer — and fifth in the last six years. Nottingham has now won the WJFL Valley title, the Logue trophy for Hamilton Township supremacy and is the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.
The Hornets fourth straight loss eliminated them from playoff contention. But Hamilton (3-5) showed up as if it had every intention of reaching the post-season.
After holding Nottingham on downs to start the game, West rode the arm of Hezekiah Patterson to a 52-yard scoring drive, capped by Patterson’s 2-yard run. On Hamilton’s next possession, it drove just outside the Nottingham 5-yard-line, where it had a 2nd-and-five.
And then, it all changed. Three penalties took the Hornets back to the 20 and eventually, a 32-yard field goal went wide. Nottingham proceeded to drive 80 yards on eight plays, culminated by Dionte Nicholson’s 34-yard touchdown run. Alix Oge added the first of his seven PATs and the Northstars were on their way.
After the ensuing kickoff, Hamilton started at its 9-yard line due to another penalty (the Hornets committed eight for 65). On first down, Nkemdi Eke forced a fumble, recovered the ball and took it into the end zone. In 20 seconds, a 6-0 deficit was a 14-6 lead.
“It was a toss right, I read the play,” Eke said. “I hit him and then got the fumble. I think that brought us a lot closer after that and pushed us to get more touchdowns.”
“That was a great play by Nkemdi Eke to get the touchdown and I think we relaxed,” coach Jon Adams said. “It kind of gave the guys a little confidence, kind of relaxed them a little bit. I thought we were playing extremely tight early on. They were looking around, didn’t want to make mistakes. After that they kind of relaxed and started making plays.”
It was all Nottingham from that point as the Northstars scored 42 straight points before Patterson found Francis Saydee with a late touchdown pass.
“Our first series, we weren’t awake yet,” safety Jaier Nelson said. “So then we had to wake up. After that we started Nottingham’s Louis Akpadago, left, carries the ball against Hamilton.
communicating more. And then, great defense.”
Nicholson, who rushed for 145 yards, scored just before the half to make it 21-6. Justin Vazquez and Louis Akpadago scored in the third quarter, and Nelson took a 60-yard interception in for a touchdown.
“I just read my blocks and took it to the house,” Nelson said.
Saydee’s 53-yard TD reception ended the run, but Eric D’Herron gave the Stars one more score with a 20-yard gallop.
D’Herron finished with 60 rushing yards and drew praise from Adams, while Logan Barber returned from a concussion to go an effective 5-for-6 for 60 yards and
a touchdown. Akpadago had 51 rushing yards as Nottingham out-gained the Hornets 326-191.
“They punched us right in the face,” Adams said. “We didn’t panic and that’s due to our senior leadership.”
Not to mention two TDs in one-third of a minute.
Hamilton (3-5) 6 0 Nottingham (8-1)0 21 First Quarter H— Second Quarter N— N— N— Third Quarter N— N— Fourth Quarter N— H—
Nelson 60 interception return Saydee 53 pass from Patterson (Cooper kick)
D’Herron 20 run (Oge kick)
N— 0 14 7 — 15 —
Patterson 2 run (kick failed)
NIcholson 34 run (Oge kick) Eke 3 fumble return (Oge kick) Nicholson 10 run (Oge kick)
13 49
Vasquez 4 pass from Barber (Oge kick) Akpadago 8 run (Oge kick)