Gloucester City Slips Past Schalick

High School Football:
Gloucester City Slips Past Schalick
Saturday, November 16, 2002

By Jerome Michaels
SJSports Special Correspondent

The old nursery rhythm of rain, rain go away would not come true on this day as steady rain kept this game limited to the running attack. The second seeded Gloucester welcomed the seventh seeded Schalick Cougars to John Lynch Field for a South Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals matchup. Both teams were looking to establish a running game on the wet, muddy field, but the defenses would have the upper hand. Two first half touchdowns by the Lions was good enough to defeat Schalick by a score of 15-6.

The defense would own much of this game, especially in the first quarter. If the ball was thrown in the air, the defense was right there waiting for the interception. Both teams turned the ball over in the first quarter on interceptions. The difference was that Gloucester would capitalize on their turnover. Ian James picked off a pass halting Schalick's attempt of getting the game's first points. Gloucester would move the ball down field on the ground and score on Vince Londino's touchdown run with 7:03 remaining in the half. The Lions would convert the two-point attempt.

Now leading by an 8-0 score, those points would seem enough as the conditions on the field wasn't getting any better. It was hard to get any traction as players were slipping trying to make their cuts. Gloucester seemed to find ways as they kept the battle between the tackles giving Londino room to run. Londino would be rewarded with a 4-yard touchdown reception with 29 seconds remaining in the half. The extra point was good and Gloucester City held a 15-0 lead at the half. Schalick would score on a 64-yard punt return by Paul Gause in the third quarter, but that's would be the last points scored on this miserable day. Next up for Gloucester is another home game against the sixth-seeded Florence.

Photos by Art Redd