PHOTOS: Dozier’s three combined TDs, Troiano’s interception return lead Wildwood to second straight win

Posted: September 27th 2025

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – Once the scoreboard clock at Maxwell Field hit zero Friday night, the Wildwood High School football team rushed to the end zone to celebrate.

They exchanged hugs and high fives while sporting smiles as bright as the Ferris Wheel that glowed in the distance.

The Warriors were understandably in a gleeful mood, for it’s been a while since they’ve had a winning streak.

Their 25-6 victory over Palmyra, following last week’s 35-6 win over Lindenwold, marked the first time they had won at least two straight in 13 years.

“I’m so proud of this group,” Wildwood coach Ken Loomis said. “They’ve been working extremely hard and it’s paying off.”

Wildwood (2-3) last enjoyed back-to-back wins in the 2012 season, when senior running back Wes Hills, an eventual NFL player, led the Warriors to a 6-4 record.

In the ensuing years, the program struggled, never winning more than two games in a season and enduring a lengthy losing streak.

After beating Pleasantville in a state consolation game in 2014, the Warriors went winless for five-plus seasons, suffering 47 consecutive defeats until snapping that streak in 2020.

This season’s team is built differently. Key players such as senior quarterback Jordan Dozier Pinkett, senior two-way lineman Eric Jordan and junior wide receiver/cornerback Gianni Troiano have been playing since they were freshmen and bring valuable experience and leadership.

That’s resulted in a much-needed change in the culture.

“We are not the Wildwood of the past,” Loomis said. “In past years, kids would skip summer practices. You’d look over at the sideline and see friends and people hanging over the fence during the season. When something would go wrong in a game, kids would let it bother them.

“That’s not the case anymore. These kids are focused and committed.”

That was evident in Friday's West Jersey Football League United Division game.

A bad snap on a punt during Wildwood’s opening possession left Palymra (0-4) in excellent field position. Troiano swung the momentum back to the Warriors when he grabbed the first of his two interceptions and raced up the left sideline for a 50-yard pick-six that put Wildwood ahead 6-0.

Troiano nearly registered another defensive touchdown, returning another interception 65 yards before getting pushed out of bounds at the 10-yard line on the final play of the first half.

“I watched a lot of film and knew the football was coming my way,” Troiano said of his TD. “Once I caught it, I just took off.”

Dozier Pinkett led the offense by throwing two touchdown passes and running for another score.

After Palmyra tied the game at 6-6, Wildwood took the lead for good with 4 minute, 7 seconds left in the first half on Dozier Pinkett’s 11-yard TD pass to junior wide receiver Trevor Troiano.

Dozier Pinkett found sophomore Dayvon Williams for a 5-yard TD in the third quarter, then scored on a 2-yard keeper. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 48 yards and now has over 2,000 passing yards for his career.

“Reaching 2,000 yards means a lot and now I’m going to work toward getting 3,000,” he said. “But the most important thing is helping the team win.”

That seems to be the attitude throughout the program.

For example, sophomore running back Jayvion Hennessy rushed for 87 yards on 19 carries. He had a chance to surpass 100 late in the game, but opted to slide to the turf with less than a minute left to let the clock run out.

“You guys played a great game and I want you to enjoy the win,” Loomis told the team in the end zone. “Now we’re going to work toward getting three in a row.”

Wildwood will get a chance to reach that goal next Saturday against Mastery (0-4) of Camden.

The Warriors haven’t won three straight in at least 20 years, but this is a new season and a new team.

“It feels great,” Dozier Pinkett said. “But we’re not satisfied. We want to keep winning.”

(Photos courtesy Billy Martin for CapeAtlanticLive.com)