On a day when big plays were tough to come by, Willingboro came up with just enough to remain unbeaten.
Terrance Knighton pulled in a pair of touchdown passes from Sean Taylor and Darold Coleman had two interceptions - including his first career pick-6 - to lead the Chimeras past visiting Gloucester, 21-10, in West Jersey Football League Continental Division action Saturday.
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Knighton scored on catches covering 43 and 5 yards, while Coleman’s 31-yard interception return late in the fourth quarter gave the hosts a two-score lead. His second INT came on Gloucester’s ensuing possession, putting the final touches on the outcome.
“We’re always thankful to come away with a victory,” first-year Willingboro coach Kenny Scott said. “It was just being persistent, staying on top of things; keeping the proverbial foot on their neck a little.
“We have to keep pushing them to keep improving, having better preparation. We’ve got to get better with a lot of things.”
Willingboro (4-0) is tied with Paul VI and Seneca atop the division standings. All three teams are 2-0 in Continental play.
“No matter what the score is, our motto is that it’s always 0-0,” Knighton said. “Coming into the second half, we just had to finish the job. We capitalized at the end of the game.
“It was just another day; just being great. We’ve got a good quarterback. He hit me and put me in good positions (to score).”
Gloucester (2-2) held a 10-7 lead on Ashton Wall’s 31-yard field goal with 3:55 remaining in the third. Willingboro then went ahead for good when Knighton scored on a quick slant with 3:57 left in the fourth.
On Gloucester’s first play of the ensuing possession, Coleman got in front of a receiver and returned his first career interception for a score.
“We worked for this all week,” Coleman said. “I felt like we needed a play, and I just had to step up. I saw the receiver and I just jumped it; made a play and made a good cut.”
Taylor completed 8-of-15 passes for 125 yards, while Knighton finished with five catches for 81 yards. Junior running back Mekhi Cottle rushed for a game-high 150 yards on 27 carries.
“I’d just like to shout out my whole line. I can’t do anything without them,” Cottle said. “I’m happy my coach had a lot of trust in me.”
For Gloucester, Kevin Boulden was 12-of-21 passing for 189 yards. The freshman quarterback hit Trevin Burkhardt on a 75-yard scoring play in the opening quarter. Burkhardt had three catches for 109 yards.
The Lions were held to just 36 rushing yards on 21 carries.
“The job is not finished,” Coleman said. “We want a ring and that’s what we’re working for. We have to come out faster; be better and stronger because we’re a better team than how we came out today. We want to show people that we’re a top team.”
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Kevin Minnick covers the West Jersey Football League. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kminnicksports