Reaching for the Crown

by Marc Narducci | Oct 16, 2024
Reaching for the Crown
It was a big year last season for Woodstown football and the momentum has carried into 2024. 
Woodstown is 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the WJFL Diamond Division, tied with recent foe Glassboro for first place. The two schools meet on Oct. 25 at Glassboro in what is a highly anticipated Diamond Division showdown. 

Last year Woodstown went 9-3 and won the South Jersey Group 1 championship, beating Woodbury, 21-14 in the sectional final. Woodstown’s season ended with a 14-10 loss to Glassboro in the state semifinal.

After the season John Adams resigned as head coach, but the Wolverines haven’t missed a beat under new coach Frank Trautz.
Just like last year, the key to the Wolverines is the offensive production of senior running back Bryce Belinfanti.

Nobody should be fooled by the size of the 5-9, 185-pound Belinfanti.

While he can beat teams running to the outside, he is also capable of running in between the tackles, a testament  his strength and toughness. This season he has rushed for 840 yards (5.7 avg.) and nine touchdowns. 

Last season he rushed for 1,740 yards (8.1 avg.) and 21 touchdowns.

He entered this season with a true target on his back as opposing defenses often pay extra attention in attempting to stop Belinfanti. 

He has been up to the challenge.

“I just have to be ready to be hit and keep competing,” he said.

He said his breakout season a year ago paid dividends coming into this year. 

“I definitely came into this season confident, and people know who I am,” he said.  

Knowing him and stopping him are two different stories. 

Belinfanti competes on a veteran group that includes a large number of seniors. He said going through the long postseason run a year ago can do nothing but help this year.

“It was beneficial for sure,” he said. “We played deep into the season a year ago and it definitely helps.”

Woodstown has shown an ability to win close games.

That began opening night when the Wolverines beat defending Group 3 state champion Delsea, 14-13 in overtime. While Delsea is just 1-5 this year, after being hit hard by graduation, it was still a key tone-setter for the Wolverines. 

Belinfanti provided the key play in the opener, scoring on a 25-yard run in overtime. Jake Ware’s PAT was the difference maker.

Five of the six Woodstown wins have been decided by two touchdowns or less. The only exception was a 26-0 win over a Schalick team that has won four in a row since that defeat. 

Besides battling Glassboro for the division title, the Bulldogs, the defending Central Jersey Group 1 champs, will again be a major threat in Group 1. It’s likely the two teams will meet twice this season. 

Belinfanti hopes that the experience gained a year ago will benefit him and his teammates, who in their minds are looking for another extended postseason run.

Photo Bryce Belinfanti No. 3 / Marc Narducci

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Author: Marc Narducci

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