South Jersey Running Backs Gone Wild [PODCAST]

It may forever be known as the "Night of the Running Back" here in South Jersey.

How 'bout this for a stat-line: 452 yards rushing on 18 carries and eight touchdowns, including seven on the ground. Most high school football teams would love to put up those numbers over several weeks.

One talented back posted them in four quarters, and now the legend grows a little larger in Wildwood after the Warriors' 61-34 gashing of Maple Shade.

While some say Wes Hills could be the most talented running back in South Jersey, there's no argument that Calvin Cass also knows how to find the endzone. The St. Augustine senior play-maker has punched it in 19 times through four games, including five touchdowns before halftime in the Prep's latest victory, a 49-7 romp of Ocean City.

As the Cape-Atlantic League's leading rusher entering that game, Cass has been the feature man in the Hermits explosive no-huddle offense. We spent a few minutes talking with the electric back to find out what separates him from other players, and how he's using other top athletes, like Wes Hills, to stay hungry for a scholarship.

If there's one Cape-Atlantic League football coach who knows how to get it done in the final minutes, it's Dennis Scuderi Jr. His Absegami Braves followed an overtime victory against Mainland with a dramatic 24-21 win over Millville, after kicker Nick Della Vecchia drilled a 31-yard game-winning field goal.

Scuderi Jr.'s halftime adjustments may have been the key Friday night's victory against the Thunderbolts, as Absegami kept Millville off the scoreboard for the entire second half. We asked the Braves head coach how a few nail-biting, last-second finishes will help his team, and what his expectations are down the stretch.

Cape May County Gazette writer Brian Cunniff joined the show with the latest high school sports action in New Jersey's southern-most county. He explains why Middle Township might have its most competitive football team in years, how a Wildwood Warrior is achieving "legendary" status while rallying a community, and how an annual basketball tournament will soon be graced by one of the most iconic high school coaches in state history.

We also spoke with South Jersey Hall of Fame sports reporter Tom Williams, who provides his insight on the latest in Cape-Atlantic League high school sports.

It may have been a multi-year process, but one Atlantic County girls soccer team is off and running in 2012. Hammonton girls soccer coach Lisa Cuneo took some time away from practice for the South Jersey Sports Report, to explain this season's impressive start. We also found out how her team is responding after their first loss in ten games, and which local perennial girls soccer power they're setting their sights on.

And one local man hit the road on his bike, and it was all for a good cause. Listen in to find out more about his 80-day journey across the United States and Canada, and why the challenging trek is all for charity.

Listen to this week's show:

Dennis Scuderi Jr., Absegami Braves head football coach

Calvin Cass, St. Augustine senior running back

Brian Cunniff, Cape May County Gazette sports writer

Kevin Marriner, Bike & Build participant

Lisa Cuneo, Hammonton Lady Blue Devils head soccer coach

Tom Williams, South Jersey Hall of Fame sports writer

We’d also like to congratulate the South Jersey Athlete of the Week:

Salman Khalid

Runner, Absegami

Khalid represented the Cape-Atlantic League well at the South Jersey Shootout, held at Gloucester County College. He finished third overall in the boys stud 5-kilometer race with a time of 16:38. That was the best finish among CAL competitors.

It’s all right here, on The South Jersey Sports Report. Listen every Saturday, 9-11 a.m. on 97.3 ESPN-FM or 973espn.com

Follow Tyler Donohue on Twitter @SouthJerzSports.