New Egypt football makes football postseason
Jackson also qualifies for playoffs
BY MIKE WHITE Staff Writer
After twice failing to qualify for the state tournament by a single point, the New Egypt High School football team achieved its elusive goal for the first time in school history last week with a 27- 13 win over Riverside.

Following its victory over Riverside, the players and coaches from New Egypt could only wait for the results of the Cinnaminson Palmyra matchup. The Warriors needed Palmyra to score an upset to earn a berth in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I event.

New Egypt got the needed help as Palmyra knocked off Cinnaminson to send the Warriors to its maiden state playoff game.

"We're real excited about getting in," New Egypt coach Tom Farrell said. "Twice we have missed getting in by a point. I told the kids we took care of our part. There was nothing else we could do but sit and wait."

New Egypt is scheduled to square off against South River 1 p.m. Saturday. Of course, Farrell would like to be at home for the game, but the excitement and intensity of getting into the states should energize his club no matter the field.

"We have our work cut out for us, that's for sure," Farrell said. "They're a very good team. They have a lot of tradition there. They are a big, strong club that has a very accomplished run game. It certainly is going to be a big challenge, but our guys are definitely looking forward to it."

In the win over Riverside, New Egypt quarterback Dylan Rowley put forth an outstanding effort, rushing for 130 yards on 11 carries. He ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for another as the Warriors improved their record to 5-3.

"I wasn't all that impressed with our intensity," Farrell said. "I thought that we could have played better. We were a little flat at first, but we picked things up as the

game went along. It wasn't our best performance of the season."

New Egypt darted out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Rowley scored on runs of 40 and 15 yards to give New Egypt a sizable lead. Riverside, however, retaliated with a score of its own to cut the deficit to seven points.

The Warriors stretched its cushion to 21-7 by the half. Leading 14-7 for most of the second quarter, New Egypt scored in the closing minutes to give itself breathing room. "I thought that score was big," Farrell said. "We were letting them hang around for awhile. That score gave us a little distance."

Running back Langston Lacroix had another solid outing, gaining 75 yards on 17 carries. Lacroix scored New Egypt's final TD of the game in the fourth quarter.

Jackson blanked by Manalapan

The Jaguars offense had problems moving the ball in last week's 15-0 loss to host Manalapan.

In addition, Jackson's defense had its own troubles containing Manalapan running back David Presby, who rushed for nearly 170 yards.

After a scoreless first half, Manalapan got touchdowns from Sean Burns and Jimmy Gilburn to register the win. With the loss, Jackson, who has qualified for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state tournament, falls to 5-4 overall.

Jackson, the No. 7 seed, is scheduled to play this weekend at West Windsor Plainsboro South (7-1).