GLASSBORO – In its quest to repeat as Non-Public Group II champions, the Seraphs of Mater Dei fell short against St. Joseph (Hammonton), 30-14, at Richard Wackar Stadium at Rowan University on Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats struck first five minutes into the first quarter. Qwashin Townsel sprinted 57 yards to take the ball down to the Mater Dei seven-yard line, and Jada Byers scored from a yard out on fourth-and-goal. Townsel added the two-point conversion to give St. Joseph an 8-0 lead with 7:00 left in the opening quarter.
St. Joseph found the end zone again early in the second quarter. Runs of 30 yards and 11 yards by Byers set up the Wildcats inside the Seraph five-yard line and Townsel ran it in from three yards out. The two-point conversion was no good, but St. Joseph went up, 14-0, with 9:36 in the first half.
Mater Dei got on the board late in the half on a 44-yard touchdown from George Pearson to Gunnison Bloodgood with 27 seconds left. The extra point was no good and the Seraphs went into the locker room down, 14-6.
Mater Dei put a drive together to open the second half and went for it on fourth down at the St. Joseph 46-yard line, but the pass was batted down. The Wildcats took over and scored on a 19-yard touchdown run by Townsel with 1:06 to play in the third quarter. The two-point conversion was good and St. Joseph extended its lead to 22-6, which it took into the fourth quarter.
Both teams scored in the final quarter. St. Joseph struck first on a seven-yard run from Byers, who also added the two-point conversion to make it 30-6 Wildcats with 4:22 remaining. Mater Dei scored two minutes later when Pearson found Kyle Devaney for a 10-yard touchdown. Malik Ingram added the two-point conversion, but it would be too little, too late for the Seraphs as St. Joseph celebrated its eighth state championship in nine years.
“At the end of the day, I love my team,” Pearson said. "Not everyone makes it to the state playoffs, especially three times. Mater Dei is going to be a great program. They are on the way up.”
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