The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 11

16-D-J Sunday, Sox. 13, 1977 Philadelphia Inquirer Paulsboro's Kevin Ross has no friend on the football field By Wendell Plumlee Inquirer fifaf Writer Kevin Ross is a 15-year-old football player at Paulsbord High School who was promoted to the varsity after 'one game as a freshman; as a sophomore is leading team in tackles, and, in the words of his coach, "has np friend on a football field." "I've been coaching more than 20 years," said Coach Ray Zingler, "and this was the first time I have seen a freshman move up to the var-w eity and get to play. "We watched him play one game 3 as a freshman and he was so much more aggressive, so much more explosive than the other freshmen." Ross was moved to the varsity as a halfback and linebacker, got into several games on a conference championship team and scored two touchdowns. Now, as a S-foot, 9-inch, 165-pound sophomore, "He's the best linebacker we've seen all year," Zingler said. "It's his love for the game," Zingler said.

"He's that way Monday through Friday. He loves to drill tackling drills, blocking drills, scrimmage. "Even if you're his friend off the field, if you go one-on-one with him in a drill, you'd better fasten your chin I've never seen anything like him and I can't say enough about him." Remember Greg Stremmel, Gateway High's great distance runner of the Class of 1974? Coach Joe Folcar-elli does. "I thought you'd get only one like him in a lifetime." Then Mike Mantini came along, winning every cross-country meet this year until a week ago, when Haddonfield's Jim Smith upset him in the Group 2 championships. "Don't ask me what happened," said Folcar-elli of Mantini's puzzling loss at the Pennsauken course, in which he collapsed at the end.

"He redeemed himself Tuesday," Folcarelli said of Mantini's Meet of Champions victory over Smith in a 15-minute 14-second timing at Camden Community College. Mantini won even though he took a wrong turn and had Smith of all people call-him back onto the three-mile course. "Actually, Mike is running better than Stremmel," Folcarelli said. "He has a little better speed, and he's still only a junior." Stremmel received offers to 60 colleges and selected Penn State. He fell down stairs, ruptured a disc and underwent surgery that ended his career.

Cherry Hill East's Elaine Holt did not lose a match this season until she went up to the state championships, where the North won again. But there is evidence that the South may be catching up. "When I started coaching 10 or 12 years ago," explained East boys coach Ralph Ipri, "there were only a handful of teams that were really good. Now, we're getting more qualified people in coaching and we're catching up." A vital factor in scholastic tennis, Ipri said, is competition in the Middle States Tennis tournaments the backbone of the northern strength. An example: "Last year, for the first time in this area as far as I know, our No.

1 boy (Bill Clark) got a full college scholarship. When you talk of full scholarships, you're talking about a major activity. "The main reason he came to the attention of college scouts was his No. 5 ranking in the Middle States in his age group. We could have some real good players out there, who don't know where to go or what to do to develop their game." Word has it that there is a freshman at East as good or better than Holt, but she isn't on the school team.

She is drilling two hours a day, possibly aiming for a professional game. ''We are," said Ipri, "coming out of the football-basketball-baseball syndrome in South Jersey." ft- Parochial champion in iSL Olympic Highland shocks Wash. Twp. i.is perfect John and Tim Pfaff, Tom Baruffi, jrf'Bob Damico, and Greg Kazmierlzak At placed first through fifth to give St. a perfect score of IS and a repeat team championship in at the NJSIAA state Group Cross Country championships day atHolmdel Park, i Sacred Heart placed second behind St.

Augustine in Parochial C. Other Jersey team performances in-, eluded third in Group One, Haddonfield's fourth in Group Two, and Collingswood's fourth in Group Three. In the individual competition, Gate- way's Mike Mantini strayed off the three-mile course and placed second Mn Group Two behind Dover's Dave '--Thompson (15:41.1) by nine seconds. Haddonfield sophomore Jim Smith placed sixth in the same race. Millville's Al Harden grabbed a fifth in' the Group Four event, and Holy Spirit's Sean Smith took eighth in Parochial A.

Among the girls groups, Clayton's Rene DeFeo placed second in Group One, losing by less than one second to Highland Park's Judy Ruff. Wil-limstown's Eva Marie Berardi placed third in Group Two, and Holy Spirit's Monique Purcell was fourth Group Three. 1 BOYS GROUP ONE TEAMS Chatham Tw.n. 7 Kinnelon "101. 154, Bordentown 1M.

Bound Brook 166 (14, Clayton 358). Park, Gibson Mountain 3, chmitlerr Chatham Tvp; 4, McCarthy, Holm-" del; 5, Hildebrandt, Point Pleasant Beach; Barry Kinnelson; 7, Austin, HooaKoni; 8, Harshman, Montgomery; 9, strobel. Mend-wham; )0, Klymer, Chatham Two. BOYS GROUP TWO TEAMS Bernards It. Dover 92, Saddle Brook 124, Haddonfield Whiooanv Park 1J Two 4'(MUl)0n 13 D'lran 3M) ,5, Haddon 1 Oave Thompson, Dover, 2, Mike Mantini Gateway, 15:50: 3, ft.

Noctor Warren Hills; 4, Sarnoski, Berqen Tech; ft kMa.n',BSnarlls' Jim Smith, Haddonfield, te 7, Sullivan, Bernards; Monroe, Jeffer. Twp; 9, Carroll, Bernards; 10, Jacobs, Sad--Hi i die Brook. Philadelphia Inqu.rer SHARON J. WOHLMUTH didn't keep New Jersey soccer fans from coming out to the game Yesterday's chilly temperatures Highland wins soccer tournament Highland, the No. 1 ranked team in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association poll, beat Riverside, 1-0, yesterday in the final of the coaches' tournament at Overbrook High's field.

Riverside is ranked No. 2. Joe Bechta scored the unassisted goal in the first period. Riverside put on the pressure in the final three periods of a very physical game but Highland goalie Mike Mahoney came through with 17 saves. Highland is now 16-1-2.

Highland had 28 shots on goal, Riverside 28. Riverside goalie Dave Yeager was credited with 12 saves. Riverside (16-2-2) is afive in the NJSIAA state playoffs, facing a Group 1 semifinal match on Tuesday. In the consolation game, Haddonfield beat Absegami, 5-0. Camden CC WEST WINDSOR-Camden County Community College's soccer team, fed up with being beaten by Mercer CC in the Region 19 tournament in 1975 and 1976, turned the tables with a major upset yesterday, defeating the team ranked fourth nationally, 3-0.

"They have never been behind," Camden Coach Barry Wray said after Tom Salmon's goal 17 minutes 23 seconds into the game put Mercer in the hole. "They are not used to that." Merce- (16-2) had been unbeaten in Garden State Athletic Conference play; Camden is now 11-4-3. The Riverside's Paul Vidovich and Highland's Santomero Charles race after a loose ball Matt Sobieski's 30-yard field goal attempt with six seconds left sailed just wide, leaving host Highland with a stunning 8-7 Olympic Conference American Division victory over Washington Township (6-2, 3-2) yesterday. The loss knocked the Minutemen out of the Group 3 playoff picture. Senior quarterback Ron Weiss threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Przbyzewski with 20 seconds left in the first half, then fired a two-point conversion pass to Ken Burns that proved the margin of victory.

Highland (2-6, 1-3), which has been blanked four times while scoring only four touchdowns this season, was forced to play catchup after Township's Lou Solari (110 yards rushing) caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Ed Gardon in the second quarter. Eastern 14, Clearview 8 Vince Palumbo's oneyard scoring plunge in the final quarter proved to be the difference as the host Vikings (8-0, held off the upset-minded Pioneers (3-5, 2-3) to clinch a Group a playoff berth for the third straight season. Clearview scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Jeff Datz to John Hughes, then drove inside the Eastern 30 in the final minute. Its hopes died when Bob Maier sacked Datz on a fourth-down play. Glassboro 20, Gloucester Catholic 6 Jeff Breslin's six-yard touchdown run in the final quarter gave the visiting Bulldogs (3-5, 2-4) the lead as all the scoring took place in the fourth quarter.

The Rams (3-6, 2-4) tied the game when John Quinn grabbed a 13-yard touchdown pass from Paul Kupcha. Edgewood 36, West Deptford '14 West Deptford dropped its fifth, in a row as Edgewood two-way performer Chris Hunger passed for two touchdowns and returned an interception 45 yards for another. Hunger tossed a 10-yard scoring pass to Steve Earl in the first period and hit Vince Schaver for a 15-yard score in the fourth. Edgewood upped its record to 3-5. Williamstown 17, Gateway 3 Joe Leonetti, who needs one more field goal to tie the South Jersey record, booted his fifth three-pointer of the year before the host Braves (6-2, 5-1) rallied to hand the Gators (1-7, 1-5) their sixth straight defeat.

Deptford 35, Triton 6 The Spartans (7-0-1, 5-0) exploded for 16 first-quarter points and cruised to their third consecutive division crown and 28th straight game without a loss. Hughes stars in gymnastics Donna Hughes of Brick Township dominated the sectional gymnastics championships yesterday at Cherry Hill East High School, winning the vault, uneven bars and all-around and taking a second place in the floor exercises. The top three teams and top six individuals in each event qualify for the state finals Saturday. Teams Cherry Hill East 91. Jackson Township 84.75; Cherry Hill West 7S.50.

Vault Huohes, Brick Payer, Toms River South; Valentine. Cherokee; Zeh-ler, Moorestown; Corbi Cherry HIIIEast; E. Flvnn Holy Cross. Uneven bars Hushes Kovacs Eastern; Kilashima Rancocas Valley; Corbi; Nolan, Jackson; Aaronson. Cherry Hill West.

Balance beam Aaronson, 9.0; Kilashima; Davis, Cherry Hill West; Kovacs; Paver; Jones, Toms River South. All-around Hu9hes 35.5: Aaronson; Corbi; Paver; Kovacs; Dauria. Southern Reqional. Floor exercises Corbi, 9.25; Huqhes; Aaronson; E. Flvnn; M.

Flvnn, Holy Cross; Jones. Probable pairings in NJSIAA football Probable pairings Nov. 19 Group II Salem vs. Maple Shade, Point Pleasant Boro vs. Haddon Township Group HI Eastern vs.

Cher: okee, Sterling vs. Deptford Group IV Rancocas Valley vs. Camden, Pemberton vs. Millville Parochial A-Red Bank Catholic vs. Holy Spirit, Holy Cross vs.

St. John Vianney Parochial Title awarded to St. Joseph's of Hammonton Dec. 3 Group I-Hammonton vs. Township.

ttl booters stun No. 4 Mercer, 3-0 between Highland and Riverside George Scafidi and Winston Wondley, the last coming, 8:50 into a sudden-death overtime of the N'AIA tournament game. Rutgers advanced to a Saturday contest with Dowling College of New York. CORTLAND, N.Y. Trenton Stjrte' College was eliminated from the NCAA Division 3 soccer playoffs, 4-1 by Cortland State yesterday as Neal Moore scored three times.

Jim Drumm tallied Trenton's goal at 39:36 of the first half, tying the score, but Moore scored his second goal six minutes later on a penalty kick. 50-0 romp fourth quarter. The senior quarterback set up his tally with a 53-yard scamper. Paulsboro 21, Woodbury 0 Junior quarterback Kevin Sharper (S-for-9, 138 yards passing) threw touchdown passes to Don Wojcik and Charles Cooper yesterday as the visiting Red Raiders'6-2 overall lifted their record to 5-2 in league play. Woodbury (3-3-2, 2-3-1), which saw its four-game unbeaten string snapped, was outgained 337 to 177 in total yardage.

Oakcrest Goga ran for two touchdowns and passed for two as the visiting Mustangs (6-2, 4-2) turned back the Braves (4-4, 2-4). Goga connected with Ray Smith for 27 yards and Bob Moses for three after his own scoring sprints of six and three yards. Millville 20, Bridgeton 0 The visiting Thunderbolts posted their fifth shutout of the seeson third straight as the Bulldogs (0-8-0, 0-6-0) dropped their 12th in a row. "TEAMS Morris Hills 105, Old Taopan 151, Manalapan 126, Collingswood 3i. Franklin l3 ling M).

is' ster- Jchn Timmons, Somerville, Clarkf 3' Smrt' West Smalev, Parsippany Hills; 5, Veras, fniiiiPsburs, 6, Wheatlev, Morris Hills 7 'iSInX' t.n4hB;,n5h;J8' Clark-Old Tappan; lapati Hunterdon; 10, Salvador, Mana- BOYS GROUP FOUR tIF Memorial Brick Tt Toms River South INDIVIDUALS '1, Estoquio Gonzaler, Me- J' Hunterdon central; Wefcber. Kearney; 4, Santanello. Toms River North; 5, Al Harden, Mlllville 15-U; Lcpatro, Brick, 8 Miller, Westtield; 10 Gaudioso, Mornstown. BOYS PAROCHIAL A u' Christian Bros. c''-1Bl'e 82, Esse Catholic 92, BiU Leonard, Berqen 4, wtfucnm, Bergen caw; 3, Thomas, Paramus Cath; 4, Lawrence, CBA; HotvlSfrit, BOYS PAROCHIAL TEAMS-Morrts Catholir P'ul VI Clifton Viann.ey 1'' Matar Dei 124, Bayley-Ellard 169 (7, Gloucester Catholic 255; 11, Bishop Eustace 283).

Fred Dwyer, Morris Cam, 15 Sern.er!; mrr" Cath; 3. Matthews, Paul VI c'iftnn W8rr" 5' Galdo' BAVC A anrui TE MS St. Ainustine 15. Sacred Heart 6, Pooe Piu 7, Immaculata 8S, St. Binedict io INOIVinusiS-l.

John Pfaff, St. Ausustine! 1, Tim Pfaff. St. Ausustint, 3. Tom Baruffi, St.

Ausmtine, 4, Bob St. 5, Ores Kas-nierljak, St. nontin. 17-11 GIRLS GROUP ONE TFMS-Mater Di 55, Immaculata 4, Bav-''-Ellard 141, Mt Olive 161. St.

JO'wh's Toms River 166 (9. Gloucester Catholic 236). IMOIVirtUALS-1, Judy Ruff, Highland Part, 1, Bene DeFeo, Clavtnn, 3, P'rnett, North Warren; 4, Gladewe, Baylev-PHard; 5, Kletto, Manchester; 6. Sokol. Mt.

Olive; 7, Conklin, Hopatconq; 8, Grover, Mater Dei; 9, Shaw, Mater Dei; 10, Sullivan, Morris Catholic. GIRLS GROUP TWO TEAMS Bernards 47, Pt. Plsant Boro 115, Sadie Brook 125, Butler 193, Hackettstowit 220 (13, HRddon Twp 289; 15, Williamstown 309). INDIVIDUALS 1, Kathy Stone, Vernon, 2, McCoy, Caldwell; 3, Eva Berardi, Williamstown 4, Thompson, Red Bank; 5, Brandner, Bernards; 6, Scali, Saddle Brook; 7 Reiily t. Rose; 8 Finn V.

Rose; 9, Gentile, 10, Dwyer, Pt. Pleasant Boro. GIRLS GROUP THREE Red Bank Catholic 43, Pequannock 91, Roxbury 117, North Hunterdon 138, Manalapan 153 (11, Paul VI 265; 13, Holy Cross 329). INDIVIDUAL 1. Nancy Seeqer, I Roxbury, 2, Guido, Paramus I Cathc'ic; J.

Twlor, Rd Bank 4. Monique Purcell. Holy Sent. 5, Nelian, Ft Lee; 6. Van Dyke, Red Bank Cath; 7.

Stamo. Manasauan: 8, O'Connor. Red Bank Cath; 9, Sheldrick. Union Hill: 10, r. Haul UL 10 Al uoreen aienniw, row, Thomas takes vm honors Chpvrv Hi" West's Dave Thomas was the standout performer at the NJSIAA bov section iniviHna' gymnastics chatrtnion'hiDs vesterdav at MWetnuTt Tnwnshin Smith, niacin? first in three events, second in the 'nthP' three and taking the all-around title.

The first five finishers in eafh event advance to Wednesday's state individuals finals at Sayrevlle, beginning at 7 o.m. NJSIAA BOYS SECTIONALS At Mild'otown Two. South Flour exercises 1, Dave Thomas, Cherry Hill Wst, 8.85; 2, Belin, Mild'etown 3. Torres. John F.

Kennelv; 4, Anderson, Shawnee; 3, Chaney. Henry Hudson. Side horses-l. Thomas, 7.55; 2, Fisl'Ola, Henry Hudson; Raritan; 4, Beardsley, hwnee; 5, Horn'T, Haidon Twp. 1 9C 9.

ThOmflS, 31111 rinia P. Raritan; 4, J. Hissms, Raritan; Bradley, Monmouth. Peter Bellin, Middetown 9.7; J. Thomas; 3 Fisliola; 4, Bourdon, Rum-son; 5, Domingo, Toms River North.

Parallel Thomas, 7.85; 2, Fishola; 3, Levinson, JFK; 4, J. Hi99ins; 5, T. Higgms. High bar 1, Bellin, 8.2; 2, Thomas; T. Hiqqins; 4, (tie), Figliola and Pellini, Haddo Twp.

i H-around-1, Thomas, 48.45; 2, figliolr li Bellin; 4, T. Higgins; Bradley. if i Sterling takes title, playoff spot on struggled through a scoreless regulation and then two 10-minute overtimes before conquering Union CC, 1-0, on a penalty kick by Keith Ward in a sudden-death overtime. Ward, a Kennedy of Willingboro graduate, has not missed a penalty kick in two years at Burlington. The final will pit Camden's offense The teams tied, 1-1, during the season.

"They are now much better when we played them," Kerr said. MERCHANTVILLE Rutgers- Cam-dem (9-4-1) beat St. Mary's of Maryland (9-5) by 2-1 with goals from field goals, and ran 51 yards for a touchdown to lead host Haddon (3-4-1, 2-3-1). Junior running back Bill Harbridge tallied on a one-yard run in the final quarter for the Green Wave (3-5, 1-5). Haddon Twp.

14, Collingswood 0 Glen Gurtcheff scored on a one-yard run in the third quarter as the visiting Hawks (7-t, 5-1) clinched a Group 2 playoff berth. Paul Gibson ended Coflingswood (2-6, 2-4) hopes for an upset when he scored on a four-yard run in the Holy Spirit 7, Vineland 6 The Spartans, looking ahead to next week's playoffs, barely got by their fired-up hosts when Todd Ford's 47-yard field goal try fell short with 20 seconds left in the game. The Spartan (8-0, 6-0) offense was shut out, but Mike Wilkens scored on a 30-yard punt return in the third period. Dave Willet's extra point was the winning difference. Mainland 27, Absegami 15 Tom region final is at 1 p.m.

today at Mercer's field here. "Our fullbacks were oustanding," Wray said after Kevin Brannig'an had sealed the victory with two late goals and Steve Mecke had contributed two assists. Ernie Cappo, Keith F'ynam, Jack DiFilippis, Wayne Kohout, they made a team effort all over the field." Camden goaile Tom Nolan had 15 saves Mercer, the No. 2 junior college team in the nation last year, suffered its first shutout in eight years. Camden's opponent in today's final will be Burlington CC, which Colonial Jersey record.

Sterling, which won the Colonial Conference title for the fourth time in five years, begins its Group 3 title defense Saturday. Heights is 0-8 overall, 0-6 in league play. Haddonfkld 19, Audubon 6 John Von Uffel Sooted a pair of 23-yard S. Jersey South Johnson registered his cross-country touchdown in the final period before a 42-yard pass from Kevin Ho-warth to Tony 'Aliantro completed the scoring. Atlantic City (5-3, 3-3) totaled 276 offensive yards.

Sterling rolled to its eighth straight win yesterday, crushing visiting Had-don Heights, 50-0, to clinch the Colonial Conference title and a spot in the Group 3 playoffs. The Silver Knights (8-0, 7-0), who recorded their seventh shutout of the season, took command in the first quarter on Ken Kelley's 65-yard touchdown pass to Jeff Pacific. Pacific later scored on a 55-yard run while Kelley broke free for a 40-yard touchdown. The senior quarterback's three conversion runs give him 15 this season, breaking a South Johnson's runs spark Atlantic City over Atlantic City's Mark Johnson logged 233 rushing yards yesterday, including touchdown jaunts of 45 and 95 yards, to lead the Vikings to a 30-7 win over visiting Oakcrest (4-4, 2-4) in South Jersey South action. The Falcons scored first on a six-yard pass from Ralph Leek to James Volovski.

Johnson answered with his first six-pointer and Dave Blarkwell recovered an Oakcrest fumble in the end' zone for a Viking score in the second quarter. i 1..