Keep Moving Forward
West Deptford’s football team has generated some early-season buzz, likely because this could be the Eagles best team in about a decade.
The last time West Deptford won a sectional title was in 2016 when the Eagles went 12-0 and were the South Jersey Group 2 champions.
The Eagles have been a highly competitive program since then, in fact in 2017 and 2019, they lost in the sectional final.
Now this year West Deptford appears to be a contender in South Jersey Group 2.
The Eagles won’t be the favorite, with Camden likely stepping in that role, but there is no doubt the Eagles should be a contender, along with the likes of Haddonfield, Camden Eastside and Delran, just to name a few.
In the first three games, the Eagles won by a combined 141-21 margin.
Two games in the regular season figure to be the best tests for the Eagles—Oct. 3 at home against Haddonfield and Oct. 18 at Paulsboro. The game with Paulsboro could very well decide the West Jersey Football League Patriot Division. Like West Deptford, Paulsboro is 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Patriot.
“My defense has been unbelievable,” said second-year West Deptford coach John Emel. “I think everybody expected us to be good on offense, but through the first three games, we’ve been way better on defense than we were last year.”
Junior linebacker Colton Sabo leads the team with 27 tackles.
Junior defensive back Zamir Davis has a team-high two interceptions.
Davis is more known for his offensive prowess. A running back, Davis has rushed for 360 yards with a healthy 12.4 average and six touchdowns. Junior Cole Paskiewicz has rushed for 185 yards (9.7 avg.) and three touchdowns.
West Deptford has long been known as a running team, but with senior quarterback Brady Cobb, the Eagles have been highly efficient passing the ball. Cobb has completed 12 of 17 passes for 367 yards and five touchdowns.
Junior Michael Joseph has seven receptions for 158 yards and two scores.
The reason for continued optimism is Emel’s track record. He served for two seasons in 2012 and 2013 as an assistant at West Deptford under legendary coach Clyde Folsom. Emel then enjoyed a decade of success as the head coach at Penn Grove, going 70-41, which included consecutive sectional titles in 2018 and 2019.
The Eagles figured to be improved this year after going 5-5 in Emel’s first season a year ago, but they played better than the record indicated. Four of the losses came by six or fewer points.
Last year ended with a 30-29 loss to Manchester Township in a South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinal.
Emel said the team worked diligently in the offseason and so far, the benefits of that training has transferred onto the field.
Photo: West Deptford's Zamir Davis/Marc Narducci
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Author: Marc Narducci
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