Washingtown Township Converts One Point Victory Over Lenape

High School Football:
Washingtown Township Converts One Point Victory Over Lenape
Friday, November 8, 2002

By Vincent Lewis
SJSports Staff Writer

The Burlington/Olympic Conference matchup between the Washington Township Minutemen traveling to Lenape to take on the Indians was as close as a game could get. Literally the game was decided by inches to determine the one point winner in this American Division football game. A two-point conversion and a missed extra point attempt highlighted this game, as Township would be the team posting a 14-13 victory one the road. Dan Holmes' controversial reception ruled good by the official to push the Minutemen on top of their division.

With the playoff position already determined among the top three teams in the Olympic Conference American Division, Winslow Township, Lenape and Washington Township were all in striking distance to capturing the divisional crown. With a Lenape win, and a Winslow Township loss to Rancocas Valley, the Indians would be able to rebound back into first place. Washington Township controlled their own destiny, as their win would put them in first place regardless of a Winslow win. The Minutemen own the tiebreaker by defeating the Eagles at home earlier in the regular season.

Both of these defenses hit hard as they would come up with big turnovers in key situations. Lenape would get the first touchdown of the day when they marched down the field and set up a 2-yard run by runningback Rob Williams. The all-important point after attempt was good giving Lenape the lead. Washington Township countered that score with a touchdown run of their own on quarterback Sal Calaciura's 1-yard keeper in the second quarter. One difference, Township extra point attempt was no good and Lenape still lead by one at the half.

When Township scored on Dan Holmes 9-yard run to regain the lead in the third quarter, at that time no one knew how important his 2-point conversion would be. Well it turned out to be the game winner. Calaciura lined his team up and completed a short pass to Holmes who caught the ball cleanly in the endzone, but did the ball cross the goal line. That decision was in the hands of the official who had a clear view of the play. The official's arm raised above his head indicating Holmes was successful in giving the Minutemen a 14-7 lead in the third quarter. Lenape finally responded in the final quarter when Zeb Davis was on the receiving end of a 39-yard touchdown pass from Dan Mitchell setting up a game tying point after attempt. The kick would be no good giving Township the one point win.

Photos by Mark Fletcher