Bulldawgs' Streak Ends in Group 2 Title Game

One year ago the football team stepped onto the field against an undefeated West Deptford team and stunned many by upsetting the Eagles in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 title game.

As the , the Eagles watched, defeated, but also still determined.

One year later, the script reversed as Haddonfield entered the finals with the No. 1 seed and an undefeated record. And just like last year, it was the underdog team that came away with the title.

Gerald Towns rushed for 182 yards and three touchdowns and the West Deptford defense forced Haddonfield into four turnovers in a 22-14 win at Rowan University Saturday afternoon.

The loss snapped a 20-game winning streak by the Bulldwags (11-0) and ended their hopes of a perfect season and another Group 2 season.

“(I’m) proud of our kids," said Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano. “I’m no prouder today than I was last year when we won. It just wasn't our day.”

Haddonfield moved the ball well on offense for most of the afternoon, but was done in by four turnovers—including three interceptions by quarterback Dan Ciemniecki. The Bulldawgs also played much of the second half shorthanded as running back Chris Dengler left in the third quarter with what was believed to be a concussion.

West Deptford led throughout the game, but could not celebrate the win until Alex Oldt intercepted Dan Ciemniecki on a fourth-down pass with just over a minute left.

“We were just acting like a bunch of animals out there and that’s what brought us here,” said West Deptford senior lineman Jamil Pollard of the defense.

West Deptford wasted no time establishing the offensive tempo of the game as Towns broke off a 42-yard run down to the Haddonfield 29 on the second play of the Eagles’ second drive. One play later, he racked up those 29 yards, giving the Eagles a 7-0 lead with six seconds left in the first quarter.

Haddonfield moved the ball well on its ensuing possession, but senior safety Tom Jakubowski recorded his first pick of the game at the Eagles’ 20-yard line.

The deficit stayed at 7-0 until the opening drive of the third quarter when Towns broke off a 52-yard run down to the Haddonfield 19-yard line. After Josh Cornelius carried the ball 18 yards to the 1, Towns plowed forward for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Eagles a 13-0 advantage with 10:51 left in the third.

The game really turned on one play after Haddonfield’s ensuing kickoff return when Cornelius got to Ciemniecki with a sack and knocked the ball loose. Phil Fisher fell on it on the 1-yard line, giving the ball back to the West Deptford offense. Towns punched it in on the next play to give West Deptford a 19-0 lead. The score also established a new South Jersey scoring record.

Haddonfield showed a bit of life a couple of drives later as Robert Perkins scored on a 19-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 19-7 with 1:49 left in the third.

West Deptford was able to effectively work the clock in its next drive, converting a trio of third-down plays, including a 25-yard pass play from Hannan to Jakubowski on third-and-14.

It was only Hannan’s second pass attempt of the game. What made the play impressive was Hannan playing with an injured shoulder.

“I didn’t want to tell many people, but I banged my shoulder a little bit so we were hesitant to throw. But coach asked me and like I said before the game, I would do anything to win this game. I would get carted off in a stretcher if I needed to.’”

The drive resulted in a 26-yard field goal by Cornelius, that gave the Eagles a 22-7 lead.

Haddonfield looked to make it a one-score game on its next possession, but Jakubowski intercepted a pass on the goal line with five minutes left in the game.

“(Ciemniecki) looked right at me and threw it short,” Jakubowski said. “I just jumped on it and took it.”

Even after the interception, Haddonfield refused to back down. After forcing a punt, Haddonfield got the big play it needed when Matt Bhaya caught a quick slant, broke a tackle and tight-roped the near sideline for a 77-yard touchdown that made the score 22-14 with 3:16 left.

“They started to wear down, but I give them everything, because they always fight back,” Towns said of the Bulldawgs. “They are a great football program.”

The Bulldawgs got the ball back once more, but Ciemniecki’s desperation fourth-down pass attempt was intercepted, allowing the Eagles to celebrate their South Jersey title win.

DeLano stressed to his team the importance of not one lose, but the great ride the program has been on over the last two seasons.

“We've got a lot to be proud of,” DeLano said. “We ran off 20-straight games. That’s not easy to do. We came up a little bit short today.”

Check out photos of the game at .