High School Football: Seneca Powers Past Lenape When It Counts Friday, November 4, 2005 By Vincent Lewis SJSports Staff Writer There’s so much at stake no matter who your opponent is when the regular season schedule plays out its final games. No opponent should be taken lightly especially when a division title is on the line. Today’s game against the Lenape Indians was a game Seneca needed to win, not just for the standings but for a chance to host a first round playoff game. The Golden Eagles were in a tie with Triton in the Burlington/Olympic League Liberty Division but also trailed Triton by just two points in the power points standings. So the Eagles game against the Indians did start they way they wanted, but did finish in a way they needed. After trailing early in the first quarter, Seneca would score the next twenty-three points to defeat Lenape by a 30-13 margin. Tim Meise finished the game with 118 yards on 21 carries for the Golden Eagles. The battle for the title in the Liberty Division between Triton and Seneca got a bit more interesting which makes for some exciting football in November. These two teams were tie for the lead with 3-2 records and Triton was ahead in the South Jersey Group 3 power points standings by just two points. Earlier in the season, Seneca dominated that game with their rushing attack and defeated the Mustangs by a 28-21 score. The two will meet again this time at Seneca due to a Triton loss to Pennsauken allowed the Golden Eagles to leap frog over Mustangs in the power point standings. The division is still up for grabs, but the quest for a group title is still on the line. The Lenape Indians started out the scoring in the first quarter when Yorel Campos intercepted quarterback Kevin Rider and returned the ball 81 yards for the touchdown. After Vince Termini’s extra point attempt was good, Lenape would grab the early advantage. But a minute and thirty seconds later, Jay Valente tied this game on a one yard run and it would be the start of twenty unanswered points scored by Seneca. With 11:17 showing on the second quarter clock, Keith Calhoun reeled in a 45 yard reception giving the Golden Eagles a 13-7 lead after the missed extra point. Calhoun, the kicker, would make up for that missed opportunity with a 39-yard field and Seneca would take a 16-7 lead at halftime. During the second half, it became a bit more difficult to put points on the scoreboard but the ground attack would be rewarded when Meise scored his only touchdown of the game from 16 yards out with 9:40 remaining in the third quarter. Lenape would finally end Seneca’s scoring streak by driving down the field and capitalizing on their opportunities early in the fourth quarter. Yorel Campos crossed the goal line from 3 yards and trailed now by a 23-13 margin early in the final quarter. But a Bobby Carroll, who finished the game with 81 yards on 14 carries, would score on a one yard run and completely shut the door on any comeback hopes for Lenape. Jay Valente also added 49 yards on the ground which proves that the Golden Eagles running game have to be recognized during the upcoming playoffs. Photos by Mark Fletcher