The Winslow Eagles are going to back to back State championships, and the road there was not one bit smooth. The Winslow Township Eagles matched up vs. the Brick Memorial High school Mustangs on Saturday afternoon for a bid to the state championship. Winslow came into this game as heavy favorites with most people saying this was an “easy” game. This was not the case, as the final score was 14-12.
Winslow started off hot as they usually do, scoring two touchdowns on two drives with the first being scored by Senior Nyquir Helton, with the future Tar Heel adding another touchdown to his single season record. The next touchdown was Scored by Sophomore receiver TJ Maddox on a pass over the middle where he ran untouched into the end zone.
After the good Winslow start everybody thought this would be the normal routine win, but they would be wrong. Winlsow scored 14 points in the first half both on pretty long drives and this kept Brick in the game, since they received the ball after halftime. Brick immediately put points on the board as Brick Quarterback Jason Lajara fired a pass to Nyzeer Matthew’s for six. This was a big momentum swing as Winslow’s offense looked off from their normal selves in the second half with penalties and 3 and outs. Winslow’s defense seemed to help the offense as when Brick got the ball back they were immediately put in a 3rd and 25 after a couple of sacks.
But arguably the biggest turning point happened on this down as Lajara found Nazeer Whittaker in the flat and there was nothing but green grass in front of him. Whittaker Picked up the first down giving the Mustangs great field position that they would take advantage of as Shawn Fowler Got into the end zone for six on a play that was similar to TJ Maddox’s touchdown. After a failed two point conversion Brick trailed 14-12. Winslow got the ball back and again were in a sticky situation as it was 4th and one on their own side of the field. Coach Belton elected to go for it and Jalen Parker was stopped short of the line, giving Brick the ball back in short field. Brick looked as if they were going to score a touchdown that drive with Nyzeer Matthew’s anchoring the running game but that dream was stopped as Benjamin Carter came up big with a sack forcing Brick to kick a field goal.
The snap on the field goal was bobbled but the kick still got up and went wide left from 22 yards out. Winslow caught a massive break there as if Brick would have made that field goal it would have been a 15-14 ballgame. After yet another cold drive by the Winslow offense Brick received the ball with a minute to go. But after a couple of TFL’s Brick was backed up. On 3rd and 17 Jason Lajara dropped back and heaved up a pass to Trey Talmadge it was intercepted By Senior Corner Julian Peterson that iced the game. Peterson had just sent the Winslow Eagles to back to back state championships and he did it in style with a one handed interception.
Winslow barely won this one and you can say they had luck on their side but no champion ever had it easy the whole way and last year’s Millville game was similar. Moments like these make you a champion and Winslow rose to the occasion again. They will try to chase school history with a second state championship next week at Rutgers University’s SHI Stadium vs. Ramapo.
