FOOTBALL

South Jersey football: Big plays, defense lift Burlington Township over Moorestown

The Courier-Post

Burlington Township's Justin Johnson is congratulated by teammate Semi Robertson, right, after Johnson scored a touchdown during the first quarter of Friday night's football game between Burlington Township and Moorestown, played at Moorestown High School on September 21, 2018.

MOORESTOWN – The big play was the Burlington Township High School football team’s best friend in a 23-0 shutout of Moorestown on Friday night.

Quarterback Danny Grozozski hit Justin Johnson for a 76-yard touchdown in the opening quarter and Tyrese Ware for a 61-yard score in the fourth as the Quakers had no answer for the long ball.

Burlington’s defense was also outstanding as Moorestown only got into plus territory twice all game, and one of those drives started at the Falcon 26 after a fumble. Even then the Quakers couldn’t come away with points as Omar Rogers made an interception at the goal line to thwart the drive.

“Big night for the defense,” head coach Tom Maderia said.

More:South Jersey Football: No. 12 Camden unveils the no-huddle offense in rout of Delsea

More:South Jersey high school football scores for Week 3

What it means

Burlington Township improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2012 and established itself as one of the teams to beat in South Jersey Group 4.

Moorestown falls to 0-3 for the first time in coach Beau Sherry’s six-year tenure and it’s the program’s first three-game losing streak since the 2015 campaign.

Key play

The Falcons started their final possession of the first half on their own 9-yard line, but converted on third-and-7, third-and-19 and third-and-10 on the drive to get to the Quaker 19 with 24 seconds to play.

But Moorestown, down 13-0 at the time, looked like it’d escape without letting in points when a hold backed Burlington up to the 35-yard line.

However, Grozozski connected with Isaiah Pae on a short crossing route, which he took all the way to the 3 with three seconds to play. Karlton Byrd followed with a 20-yard field goal to extend the Falcons’ lead to 16-0 at the break.

“I told ‘em at halftime, I go OK, it’s going to take two touchdowns and two (two-point conversions), four things have to happen for us just to be tied,” Maderia said.

By the numbers

► 156 – Total yards allowed by the Falcon defense.

► 137 – Yards covered by Grozozski’s touchdown passes to Johnson and Ware. That was more than half of Grozozski’s total passing yards on the night (254).

Game balls

► Omar Rogers – The senior defensive back not only had an interception at the goal line, he was also 3-for-3 on fake punt attempts, though one was called back for holding.

“If you don’t like No. 12 something’s wrong with you. Kid’s special,” Maderia said.

► Johnson – Speedster played a part in two of Burlington’s scores, the second being an 11-yard touchdown pass to John Norris on a reverse.

They said it

“It was OK. We started off good, which I have to give the entire team credit, everybody worked hard, we did our job, and it was moving, but we have to work on finishing games better. From the jump, from the beginning coin toss to the end when we shake hands, we have to go full speed and we just can’t let up at all.”

Johnson gives his evaluation of the victory.

Up next

Burlington Township travels to Delsea on Friday for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Moorestown takes on Shawnee on Friday at 7 p.m.

Josh Friedman; @JFriedman57; (856) 486-2431; jfriedman2@gannettnj.com