Bulldawgs Still Proud, Despite Playoff Snub

Sound logic would suggest that if Team A is 5-3 and Team B is 4-4, Team A would be in better playoff position than Team B. Add into that equation the fact that Team A beat Team B and things become even clearer.

Unfortunately for Team A—in this case the Haddonfield Memorial High School football team—the NJSIAA's power point system trades in logic for a complicated scoring system that awards extra points based on the quality of the opponent. That’s how the Bulldawgs finished ninth in Group 2 at 5-3, while Sterling finished in eight with a 4-4 record. The biggest reason Sterling earned more power points was a victory over Paulsboro, who reached the cutoff date at 6-2.

“It’s ironic that we are 5-3 and (missed the playoffs) and there is another team that’s 4-4 that we beat that will be in,” Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano said. “It is what it is. I’m proud of our kids.”

Haddonfield certainly showed that they belong in the playoffs after taking No. 1 West Deptford to the wire last Friday. The game was close throughout, with the Eagles finally pulling away late in the fourth quarter.

“There’s a tradition here of winning and these kids believe they can win,” said DeLano. “It’s been really neat to watch this team.”

Had the Bulldawgs earned the No. 8 seed they would have had a rematch Friday night against West Deptford. Instead, that honor went to Sterling, who were handled by the Eagles, 31-7, Friday night.

The Bulldawgs had to settle for a consolation game with Buena. Rather than come out flat after missing out on the playoffs, the Bulldawgs played inspired football, winning 17-14 on Friday.

The victory should give the team a boost of momentum as it heads into the annual Thanksgiving Day showdown with Haddon Heights. Regardless of how that game turns out, DeLano made it clear that he is incredibly proud of the growth his team showed this season.

After graduating almost the entire starting offense and defense, the Bulldawgs (6-3) still found a way to be one of the top teams in the Colonial Conference.

“You are not ever less proud of a team or more proud of a team,” DeLano said. “I am just as proud of this team as the teams qualified and let us play in December.”

That’s why, even though his team got the short end of the stick in playoff qualifying, DeLano had no complaints.

“This is a journey, it really is,” DeLano said. “It’s one of things that is really special when you watch guys buy in. We are not the same team that played in Week 1 and that’s traditionally our teams. We get better as the year goes. We don’t typically plateau in Week 5, we keep going. Hopefully we can just finish strong.”