South Jersey Football Powerhouses Square Off in 7-on-7 Battle

By Tim Kelly “I’m not a big 7-on-7 guy,” Haddonfield High School football coach Frank DeLano said. But there DeLano was, barking instructions to his defending South Jersey Group II champions, in the Youth Gridiron Academy’s 7-on-7 Challenge Friday afternoon at Carey Stadium in Ocean City. “For us, summer is about teaching, and not going to 7-on-7 tournaments. I know (Ocean City Head Coach) Kevin Smith and I have a lot of respect for him and the program here,” said DeLano, NJ.com’s Coach of the Year in 2018 and author of a 29-6-0 career record. “When (Smith) invited us, I thought it was a great chance to bond as a team, get some work in and then maybe go to the Boardwalk and get some pizza,” DeLano noted. “It’s a great setting here.” In addition to the Bulldawgs, who went 13-0 last year, and the host Red Raiders who are coming off their second straight appearance in the playoffs, participating high schools included Salem, Clearview, Cedar Creek and Millville. About 150 diehard fans of the schools gathered in the shady portions of the stands to watch the teams go at it in the 87-degree heat and 75 percent humidity. Which was still 10 degrees cooler than it was back in Camden County, DeLano said. “There’s a nice breeze going and (the heat’s) really not that bad,” the Haddonfield coach remarked. “We’ll be going home tonight and then I’ll be back here with my wife tomorrow.” A Haddonfield coach’s T-shirt tells the story of the program’s success. The action on the field didn’t look much like a vacation. All the teams were playing hard in the non-contact passing drills. The teams squared off in 20-minute “games.” The team with the ball had four downs to make 20 yards and if successful, four more to score. If unsuccessful, the ball was turned over to the opposition. Possession also changed hands after a score. In 7-on-7, the game is stripped down. Shorts and T-shirts replace helmets and pads, and defenders “tackle” the opposing player with a hand tag. On offense, the teams are made up of a quarterback, center, five receivers (or four plus a running back). Although the familiar sound of colliding pads and bodies was missing, the speed, precision and passion of the players and coaches was evident. No scores were formally kept. All of the action is recorded, however, and the coaches take note of the performances of their players. Ocean City quarterback Joe Repetti lofts a pass while center Chris Armstrong stays home in blocking position. “This is a teaching opportunity to see that the players are progressing as they should and doing the right things,” said Sean Matthews, Ocean City’s defensive coordinator. It was also the first chance for most Ocean City followers to see new starting quarterback Joe Repetti take snaps and spread the ball around, in advance of the season opener at Lower Cape May on Friday Sept. 6. Repetti, a junior, looked sharp during several series against Millville, connecting on pass plays to Jake Schneider and Brian Beckmann, and on a long TD hookup with sophomore Jacob Wilson, a speedy 5-8, 150-pounder who blew past his defender and made a nice catch on a beautifully-placed ball. “It feels amazing (to be taking reps with the first team offense),” Wilson said. “I’m very fortunate to be out there, but I know that I have to keep on working hard.” The event is sponsored by Youth Gridiron Academy, which is affiliated with NFL FLAG and NFL Play 60, a health and fitness initiative of the NFL to encourage youth to engage in vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes each day. The high school gridders out on the Carey Stadium field were certainly living up to that standard, but not everyone was happy. Mike Rhodes, a 6-5, 230-pound junior defensive end, was cooling his heels on the sideline. Defensive ends don’t take part in 7-on-7 competitions. “It’s great to be out here. We have a young team, but we’re still expecting to have a good season,” Rhodes said. “It’s hard to watch and not be out there. I want to put on the pads and hit somebody.” Ocean City and Millville players congratulate each other after their 7-on-7 battle.