Mangene, Kondras lead RV to win over Camden Catholic
MT. HOLLY » With a very difficult schedule following its move to the West Jersey Football League’s loaded-up American Division, Rancocas Valley is really going to have to click to come close to duplicating last year’s outstanding 10-win season and near miss in the sectional final.
While you don’t want to make too much of a win over a Camden Catholic team that is still obviously reeling after players transferred out in the wake of last spring’s firing of its coach amid racial accusations, Rancocas Valley did look impressive with a solid season-opening 36-0 victory Friday night over the Irish.
Rancocas Valley lost a lot to graduation — most notably University of Florida running back recruit Iverson Clement — but it does have some key proven studs back in the fold.
On offense the team has a fouryear starter at quarterback in Bryce Mangene and a terrific playmaker in Danny Kondras. The defense, meanwhile, features headhunting middle linebacker Jesse Eadric (6-2, 220).
All were in fine form on an evening in which Rancocas Valley was able to get a running clock against outmanned Camden Catholic by early in the third quarter.
Although RV’s first possession stalled on the Camden Catholic 25 yard line, it quickly backed up the visitors and opened the scoring by sacking quarterback Rob McCoy in the end zone.
Following the free kick after the safety, Kondras scored on the very next play when he rolled around right end on as sweep and raced 47 yards into the zone.
The lead then grew to 15-0 on the last second of the first quarter when Camden Catholic made the big mistake of punting the ball to Kondras, a senior who has been making one big play after another ever since moving into the Red Devil starting lineup.
Sure enough, Kondras burned the Irish with a 33-yard punt return for a touchdown and the rout was on.
In the second quarter, Rancocas Valley scored on a 44-yard pass from Mangene to Cerrone Hill as it defense continued to give the offense all kinds good field position.
The final touchdown of the first half came on — you got it — an incredible 55-yard punt return by Kondras. On this play Kondras appeared all bottled up on the right side line, but he was able to use his excellent speed to cut all the way back across the field and race into the end zone with help from a big block by Mangene.
For those who are counting that’s three TDs in the first half for Kondras, who had another punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter wiped out by a block in the back penalty.
While all of this was going on, Rancocas Valley’s defense gave up exactly three yards in total offense in the first half. In addition to repeatedly sacking the quarterback, the Red Devils allowed nothing on the ground and gave up just 19 yards for the total game.
Mangene. meanwhile, picked apart Camden Catholic. He didn’t have to throw often, but when he did it was to great effect by competing nine passes for 173 yards.