Haddonfield's Martin Foust caught a touchdown pass and recorded an interception in Haddonfield's 35-0 win over Gloucester in the West Jersey Football League Continental Division football game played at J.A. Lynch Field on the campus of Gloucester City High School in Gloucester City, New Jersey on Friday, October 18, 2024. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network
GLOUCESTER CITY - In 2022, the Haddonfield Memorial High School football team was upset on its home field in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals by Gloucester.
The Bulldogs responded the following season with a 17-7 victory over Gloucester in a South Jersey Group 2 semifinal matchup.
The two Colonial Conference rivals were placed in the West Jersey Football League Continental Division in the biannual division realignment to set up a rubber match in the regular season.
The Haddons got the upper hand with a 35-0 thumping of the Lions on Friday night.
Brody Leonard led the two-headed ground attack joined by Kai Richards. Leonard finished with 11 carries for 75 yards and a score while Richards took 13 carries for 61 yards.
"Kai and I kind of play off of each other," Leonard said. "If he breaks off a big run, I try to follow it up with one of my own. If he gets us close to the goal line, I try to finish the drive and vice versa. That's what we've just gone with for the whole year."
The contest remained scoreless for nearly 24 minutes until Haddonfield's Van Lefakis hit Mike Keenan in stride for a 44-yard score to break the ice. Haddonfield led 7-0 at intermission.
Each team snagged an interception in the first half. Gloucester's Kadon Harris juggled the ball to himself for a takeaway in the end zone. Martin Foust answered back on the ensuing drive as he hawked down the ball in the air for a pick to help set up the Bulldogs' first scoring drive.
Dan Keenan plopped into the end zone late in the third period to extend Haddonfield's lead to 14-0. The Bulldogs exploded for 21 straight points in the fourth quarter. Leonard scampered into the end zone to start the outburst on the first play of the final stanza. Foust followed with a fourth down touchdown reception and Joey Testa added a late score.
"We really pride ourselves on having a next man up mentality," Foust said. "I think every touchdown tonight was scored by a different person. That's what we try to do every game. It's not just on offense either. We keep the same energy on defense. If I drop a pick, someone gets a sack or someone else will grab a pick."
With a WJFL Continental Division win over Gloucester, the Haddons' divisional record improved to 2-2. Paul VI's win over Seneca on Friday gave the Eagles the division lead. If Haddonfield picks up a win over Paul VI in the final week of the regular season, the Bulldogs could spoil Paul VI's outright title and demote it to just a share with Seneca.
Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano's focus is solely on the next game.
"I'm not sure what the exact standings are as of right now, but it doesn't matter at the end of the day," DeLano said. "We just play each game week-by-week with the focus on the task ahead of us. We don't pay much mind to who wins a division until after it's all said and done."
Gloucester City has a road trip to Pleasantville next Friday. The Lions lost to the Greyhounds twice in 2018 and 2019 as former WJFL United Division rivals.
A strong defensive showing in the first half against Haddonfield was a bright spot for the Lions.
"This is definitely a teaching moment for our guys," Gloucester coach Rob Bryan said. "We were in it until we stopped doing the little things correct. Next week we finish the regular season with a tough, talented Pleasantville team that is going to give us all they have for all four quarters. We have to clean up the simple stuff this coming week."
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