Hamilton captures WFJL Valley title with win
HAMILTON >> Not since 2011 has the Hamilton West football team been able to put a championship banner on the wall; but that drought came to an end thanks to a stingy defense and a veteran quarterback.
The Hornets took a 14-0 win over Lawrence Friday afternoon to clinch the West Jersey Football League’s Valley Division championship. The Senior Day game was moved up from Saturday due to the expected bad weather.
It was the first WJFL crown for the Hornets (52), whose last title came in 2011 when it won the Colonial Valley Conference’s Valley crown.
“This means everything,” senior safety D’Angelo Hill said. “We didn’t get one since 2011, so that means a lot. Especially with us being seniors. We played good defense, and on offense we played pretty good.”
“This was something, we looked in the gym a couple weeks ago before we played (Valley rival) Hightstown, and I knew the significance of that game,” coach Tom Hoglen said. “I’m proud of these kids, they kept getting better and we still have three games left to improve. We’re a young team but today was Senior Day and our seniors really stepped up. I’m proud of these guys.”
Despite its record, Hamilton will not make the state playoffs due to a low United Power Ranking. Due to a bye in the first weekend of action, Hamilton had one less game than most teams to try and increase its ranking.
“Next year we have to get a week zero and week one game,” Hoglen said. “And we have to schedule a team with a really great record to improve our power points.”
For now, the Hornets will be happy to have a new banner to hang. They earned it on the strength of four fumble recoveries, as Lawrence (1-7) threatened several times but could not find the end zone.
The Cardinals were limited to 133 yards of total offense but had several scoring opportunities. The biggest came early in the fourth quarter. But a high snap on first and goal at the three was pounced on by Bryon Hearst to quell the threat.
Earlier in the game the Cardinals reached the Hornet 21 before one of its seven penalties (for 67 yards) pushed them back and forced a punt. In the fourth quarter they got to the Hornet 28 but turned it over on downs.
Hamilton’s offense sputtered for much of the game, but looked flawless on its first possession. West drove 68 yards, capped by senior quarterback Eddie Fennell’s 1-yard keeper.
At the start of the second half, Tyler Williams recovered a fumble (after recording a first-half sack) at the Cardinals 24. That led to another 1-yard TD run by Fennell.
“I’m just thankful they just trusted me to take that ball to score,” Fennell said.
In a game that lacked much offense, Hamilton’s standout sophomore Kevin Boswell was the game’s leading rusher with 70 yards. Lawrence limited the Hornets to just 105 yards, all on the ground, and also had two takeaways.
“We didn’t play real well today,” Hoglen said. “Any time you play against coaches that have been on your staff before (head man Nate Jones and defensive coordinator Sean Grieg) that can make a difference sometimes. I think they were a little motivated, they did a good job over there. We’ve gotta get better, work on it for next week.
“Lawrence always plays us tough, it doesn’t matter what the records are. They hung in there tough today and our defense did a nice job.”
Hoglen had praise for Hill, “who’s been our leader in the defensive backfield,” and Fennell, “who hung in there tough and didn’t turn the ball over.”
Naszair Conway rushed for 63 yards for Lawrence and Jacoby Sherard went for 59.
Lawrence (1-7) 0 0 0 0 — 0 Hamilton (5-2) 7 0 7 0 — 14 H-Fennell 1 run (Cooper kick) H-Fennell 1 run (Cooper kick)
Follow Rich Fisher on twitter @fish4scores