High School Football:
Woodrow Wilson Surges in 2nd Half to Beat Clearview

Saturday, November 10, 2001

By Charlie Barker
SJSports Staff Writer

The defense of eighth-seeded Clearview held the powerful offense of first-seeded Woodrow Wilson to 6 points in the first half of this opening round Group 3 playoff game. But the Tigers surged in the second half, scoring three straight touchdowns for the 25-14 win.

Wilson opened the scoring halfway into the first quarter when Jameer Evans returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown. The Pioneers responded with a 28-yard touchdown run by Jim Drennon, and Jake Reuter's PAT gave Clearview the 7-6 lead.

The only scoring in the second quarter came on a 73-yard drive by Clearview which ended in quarterback Matt Egge's 10-yard touchdown pass to Jon Kropilak. After Reuter made it 14-6, the Clearview defense continued its work, sending Wilson into their home locker room trailing for the first time all season.

Woodrow Wilson came out in the third quarter and drove the opening kickoff 93 yards to score on a 9-yard run by Jerald Hornsby. On their next possession, quarterback Jamil Tyson tossed a 56-yard touchdown pass to Luis Cortes to put the Tigers ahead for good.

Two plays before the end of the third quarter, Clearview's quarterback Egge went down with a stinger in the neck, and was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

The Tigers added an insurance score in the fourth quarter when Evans knocked the ball out of the hands of Clearview's backup quarterback Eric Spurka, and Turk McBride picked it up and ran 38 yards for the touchdown. Cortes added the final point to make it 25-14.

The win sets up a battle of undefeateds next week when fourth-seeded Willingboro will travel to Woodrow Wilson for the next round in the Group 3 playoffs. Both teams are 9-0.