VIDEO: Shorthanded Warriors dig deep in second half to pull out win over Lindenwold

Posted: September 21st 2024

Trevor Troiano (left) and Jayvion Hennessy (center) each scored two touchdowns while Jordan Dozier (right) threw three TD passes in Wildwood's win over Lindenwold.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – A severely shorthanded Wildwood High School football team used a strong second half to come away with its first victory of the season Friday night.

After coughing up a two-touchdown lead late in the first half, the Warriors responded with an excellent second half, scoring a pair of touchdowns while surrendering only a meaningless score on the final play of the game in posting a 28-18 victory over Lindenwold.

“The kids have heart,” Wildwood coach Ken Loomis said, “They haven’t rolled over and quit. We let it get a little tight there in the second quarter but I thought we came out in the second half and made sure we put our foot on the gas. Our kids responded well.” 

Wildwood got the win despite missing four key players through injury or discipline and losing another in Ryan Gilligan to a leg injury in the second quarter.

“The kids dug deep,” Loomis said. “There was a lot of effort all around. Being cross trained in multiple positions and not being afraid to move into a different position is huge. We have a lot of kids out there putting the team first and that really helps out.”

LIAM CARMEL: 12 tackles

The win was Wildwood’s first on the field since the season opener last season, although the Warriors did pick up a forfeit victory over Lindenwold last season when the Lions failed to have enough healthy players to compete.

Wildwood (1-2 overall, 1-2 West Jersey Football League United Division) appeared poised to take control of the game in the first half. A bad punt snap by Lindenwold (0-3, 0-3) gave Wildwood glorious field position at the Lindenwold 32-yard line late in the first quarter and the Warriors eventually scored on a five-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Dozier to running back Jayvion Hennessy. Hennessy helped set up the score with a 17-yard run three plays earlier.

Gianni Troiano recovered an onside kick following Hennessy’s score and Wildwood marched 51 yards for another touchdown, this time coming on a 23-yard pass from Dozier to Trevor Troiano.

But Wildwood’s 12-0 lead didn’t last long. Lindenwold’s Charles Barbour caught a 13-yard touchdown pass with 2:33 to go in the half and then caught another from 21 yards out two plays after Wildwood fumbled away the kick return, making the score 12-12 at the half.

Wildwood, though, took the lead for good on the first play of the fourth quarter on its finest offensive play of the game. Dozier, just before getting belted by a defensive lineman, delivered a perfect pass on a crossing route to Trevor Troiano, who caught the ball in stride near the 20-yard line and outran the Lion defense to the end zone for a 30-yard score. Hennessy’s two-point run gave the Warriors a 20-12 advantage.

Four minutes later, Wildwood put the game away when Hennessy ran into the end zone from five yards out and Dozier hit Freddy Dunn for the two-point conversion to make it 28-12.

Lindenwold set the final score when Carnell Torres caught a five-yard scoring pass from Tobias Martin on the final play of the game.

Dozier, a junior, finished 10 for 20 for 104 yards through the air. He tossed three touchdowns against two interceptions. Trevor Troiano, a sophomore, caught six balls for 87 yards and two scores.

Hennessy, a freshman pressed into his first start at running back due to an injury to Thomas Rios, ran 18 times for 70 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes, one of which resulted in another score.

Liam Carmel led the Warrior defense. The junior recorded 12 tackles, five of which went for losses. Seniors Nick Kroesche and Nate Wolf were also instrumental defensively.

Gianni Troiano, another sophomore, recovered two onside kicks and also had two catches for the Warriors.

Wildwood is next in action on Friday at Palmyra.

“We have to keep building on this, brick by brick, day by day, and keep the positive momentum going,” Loomis said. “We have to try to go a little harder in practice and see if everyone can give just a little more and get ready for next Friday.”