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C8 South Jersey www.phill3r.com THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Friday, November 18, 2011 11911 High School Sports Find the latest news, photos, and scores at philly cornrally NiSIAA State Group 4 Boys' Soccer Championship Wilson connection putting up points ....11,.,...,::..: 1 0 4. Alk- ft. Ai 40 iir 1 0 to 0' 0 it Et 0 0 1 to at, av of 411 0 a I 0 1 II 40 to 1 di .41 of) ail I d. a i IS ow 0 it 4it, 0 0 )k 'IS: 0 0 it 0 6 IA 0 11 11 I Its 6 .0 li 6 a I I 5 it 0 4., 46 gi, a dik et 1, 40. ilk 11 y-1 Ik 6 It tb! viol Al tbrO 4 DAVID WARREN Staff Photographer Cherokee's Mike Ryan (center) kicks the winning goal past Bridgewater-Raritan goalie Alex Kaminetzky with six minutes left in the second half.

B-R defender Chris Hall is at right. Ryan's goal gives Cherokee its second state title in a row Aaron Spencer throws the football. T.J. Chambliss catches it. Over the years and through the seasons in summer workouts, after-school practices, big games with championships on the line in November the Woodrow Wilson seniors have been connected by that simplest of sports acts.

Throw. Catch. "It seems like yesterday we were freshmen and doing damage," Spencer said on a rainy afternoon on the Tigers' muddy practice field behind the school on Federal Street in Camden. "Now we're seniors and looking at our last games together. I've been able to count on him for all these years." Spencer and Chambliss have been one of the most prolific pass-catch combinations in the history of Camden City football.

They both are three-year starters. They both rank high on school and city record lists. They both are set for one of the most important games of their careers, as fourth-seeded Woodrow Wilson (6-3) will visit top-seeded Timber Creek (9-0) on Friday night in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament. "Very dangerous combo," Timber Creek coach Rob Hinson said. "Chambliss is a kid who can beat you deep or catch a short one and take it the distance." Friday's game has special significance for Spencer and Chambliss.

Woodrow Wilson is two one-point losses away from being 8-1, as the Tigers dropped a 32-31 decision to Delsea and a 33-32 decision to Triton both games that turned in the final seconds. But the team's other loss was by 34-13 to Timber Creek on Oct. 14. The rematch offers the Tigers the chance at redemption as well as the program's first trip to the sectional finals since 2001. "We're very anxious to play them again," Chambliss said.

"We know we have to do everything better this time." Spencer and Chambliss went to different elementary schools and played for different youth football programs. Their only meeting before philly corn Watch the hoopla and hear from Cherokee senior Mike Ryan after his winning goal. www.philly.comi rallyvideos 0,11, 1 .0 APAIbb when we were 12 years old." Ryan had several chances with the score at 1-1. So did Vile llo, as each striker appeared poised to put his team in front. Ryan took a feed from Dambalas, split two defenders, and fired a low, hard shot with his left foot into the lower right corner of the net.

The Temple-bound athlete generated 25 goals as junior. He scored 33 this season. "This has to be the top," Ryan said of the goal. "To win the state championship with the game-winning goal, it doesn't get any better than that." By Phil Anastasia INQUIRER STAFF WRITER EWING Mike Ryan scores goals. Early, late.

Left foot, right foot. All alone or in traffic the Cherokee striker has a knack for finding the back of the net. He also has a flair for the dramatic. Ryan scored the last goal of his career in the state championship game Thursday night. Fittingly, it also was "the best goal I ever scored," Ryan said after leading Cherokee to a 2-1 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan in the Group 4 title game at the College of New Jersey.

Ryan and fellow senior Angelo Dambalas each collected a goal and an assist as Cherokee (25-0-2) became the first team to win back-to-back Group 4 state titles since Shawnee in 1992-93. "We just have that connection," Ryan said of Dambalas. Ryan's goal with 5 minutes, 50 seconds to play stunned Ryan celebrates his tally, which gave Bridgewater-Rar- Cherokee its second consecutive state itan (21-3-1), Group 4 boys' soccer championship. which had controlled play for most of the sec- minute, taking a nice feed ond half, and set off a wild cele- Zak Jones and blasting bration among orange-clad foot kick into the lower lef Cherokee fans. ner of the net.

For the previous 20-25 min- Cherokee answered utes, Bridgewater-Raritan 24th minute, as Ryan had dominated possession ered a pass through to and generated several scor- balas, who split two de ing chances. The Panthers ers, moved past sliding were led by Sal Vile llo, who Alex Kaminetzky, and b( like Ryan was a senior striker a shot into an open net. who wore No. 7 and scored "It was a give-and his 33d goal of the season. Ryan said.

"We've been Vitello gave Bridgewater-Rar- ing that since we started itan a 1-0 lead in the ninth ing together on a travel minute, taking a nice feed Zak Jones and blasting a kick into the lower left of the net. Cherokee answered in 24th minute, as Ryan a pass through to who split two moved past sliding Alex Kaminetzky, and a shot into an open net. "It was a Ryan said. "We've been that since we started together on a travel from left-foot corner the feathered Dambalas, defenders, goalie booted give-and-go," working playing team Phil Anastasia high school was on the basketball court, where Spencer's team from Hatch Junior High played Chambliss' team from Pine Poynt Middle School. "He was a little guy," Spencer said of Chambliss.

Spencer played football for the Centerville Simbas. Chambliss played for the Whitman Park Tigers. But their paths never crossed because they were in different weight classes. They finally got together as freshmen at Woodrow Wilson. "First or second game, I remember throwing him a touchdown pass, and he's been doing it ever since," Spencer said.

Spencer is the second-most prolific passer in Woodrow Wilson and Camden City history, behind David Goree, who passed for 5,673 yards and 63 touchdowns. Spencer has 4,267 yards and 44 touchdowns. Chambliss could become the No. 1 receiver in school and city history. He has 1,726 receiving yards, second to former Woodrow Wilson star Rashad Baker's 1,896.

Chambliss also has 21 touchdown catches, just behind the mark of 23 set by Woodrow Wilson graduates William Spearman and David Trinidad. "We just have that connection," Chambliss said of his rapport with Spencer. "He's a good guy, a great friend. We have that timing together. He knows where I'm going to be." Spencer said the two athletes see the game the same way.

"We think alike out there," Spencer said. If anything, the connection has grown stronger this season. Spencer is 80 for 157 passing for 1,440 yards and 16 touchdowns. Chambliss has 40 catches for 789 yards and 10 touchdowns. Throw.

Catch. Since Woodrow Wilson could clinch the West Jersey Independence division title with a victory over rival Camden on Thanksgiving, Spencer and Chambliss will play at least two more games together. But they will take the field Friday with a chance to cast a big-game spotlight on their long collaboration. "It went by so fast," Chambliss said. "Now we have a chance to go out on a great note." Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasiaphillynews.co or PhilAnastasia on Twitter.

Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.comijersey sidesports "We haven't played our best football yet," Lisa said. "Hopefully, we can do that in this game. Analysis. Moorestown is dangerous and more than capable of springing the upset. Hammonton is home and a little bigger, stronger and more consistent along both lines.

On a cold, windy night, that could be the difference. Pick: Hammonton, 24-21. Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasiaphillynews.com, or PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.comijerseysidesports NiSIAA State Group 3 Boys' Soccer Championship Timber Creek falls to Ramapo in final, 3-1 a I. v- 7.1 4,, 4 i'v-' 0 1,,, A .11,,,,12..,..

Luca one more goal than fellow senior Jeff Morgan. The record is symbolic of Timber Creek's season, one in which the Chargers made history and a deep and talented senior class established itself as the best the program has had. "It's an absolute positive to even be here," Timber Creek coach Sean Ortzman said. "These guys poured everything they had into this season, and it was a fun ride. "We had 15 seniors, and they were the heart and soul of this team." Both Morgan and DeLuca had numerous chances in a tightly called game, particularly right after Ramapo (22-1) took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.

The first goal was a converted penalty kick by James Buonavita, who got the chance after Timber Creek (19-4-3) was called for tripping in the box. "Giving up a PK nine minutes in, when he was apparently offsides, is hard to swallow," Ortzman said. Ortzman also took issue with the number of calls in the game. There were more than 40 whistles, which served only to disrupt the flow of the usually high-pressure, speedy Chargers offense. Still, two minutes after the first score, Morgan had a solid shot on goal from about 30 yards.

Three restarts over the next 10 minutes nearly led to Timber Creek netting the equalizer. Instead, with 16:06 left in the first half, Nick Caruso con Friday at 7 Cherokee 1 1 2 Bridgewater-Raritan 1 0 1 Goals: C-Angelo Dambalas, Mike Ryan; BR-Sal Walla Saves: C-Barry Fitzgerald BR-Alex Kaminetzky 2. Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasiaphillynews.com or PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.comijerseysidesports verted a Brandon Alverado restart kick, putting his team up by 2-0. In one of Ramapo's first established possessions of the second half, James Ortiz connected with Chris Nash, who scored on a wide-open look about 10 yards in front of the net.

The goal, with 24:02 left, put Ramapo up by 3-0. "We played our best soccer down the stretch," Morgan said. "We got to where we wanted to be, we won our first sectional title, and we're happy with the season." Timber Creek Ramapo 0 1 1 2 1 3 Goals: TC-Giuseppe DeLuca; R-James Buonavita, Sean Etheridge, Chris Nash. Saves: TC-Andrew Garcia R-Will Shiel 5. Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysportsphillynews.corn.

off return for a touchdown. The Blue Devils are a balanced team featuring running backs David Williams and Russ Forchion, quarterback Christian Mortellite, and two-way standout Bobby Barbieri, a senior who plays wide receiver and defensive back. Three of Moorestown's losses came against Timber Creek, Williamstown, and Camden Catholic teams with a combined record of 24-2. The Quakers also lost to Cherry Hill West. With its no-huddle, spread PHIL ANASTASIA Staff Wilson's go-to combination of QB Aaron Spencer (left) and receiver T.J.

Cham bliss has been a productive one. Moorestown at Hammonton, By Chris Melchlorre FOR THE INQUIRER EWING Giuseppe DeLuca tripped over his words for a second, trying to find perspective at a moment when it was painfully difficult to do so. "I don't know," DeLuca said after Timber Creek's 3-1 loss to Ramapo in Thursday night's NJSIAA Group 3 championship soccer game at the College of New Jersey. "We thought it was our year. I don't know what to say.

But I'm keeping my head held high. We had a great season. I'll never forget it." DeLuca netted his team's only goal with 7 minutes, 57 seconds left. The goal was the 55th of his high school career and established a Timber Creek career record in goals. It gave De By Phil Anastasia INQUIRER STAFF WRITER Hurry up.

That's one way to describe Moorestown's offense. That's also one way to describe the Quakers' approach to the last moments of the football season. Moorestown (6-4) will visit Hammonton (8-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 3 tournament. The host Blue Devils are the No.

2 seed and the favorites, based on the consistently strong play this season by coach Pete Lancetta's team. "Hammonton is Hammonton," Moorestown coach Russ Horton said. "They're tough, Game of the Week: Quakers will have their hands full with Blue Devils ri Football Friday hard-nosed kids. They're not going to make mistakes. They are going to come to play." Hammonton is young, with an offensive and defensive line as well as an offensive backfield filled with juniors and sophomores.

But with a tradition of sturdy defense and ball-control offense featuring a wing-T rushing attack, the Blue Devils are the known quantity in this game. Moorestown is the wild card. The third-seeded Quakers have struggled at times this season but are probably coming off their best game, a 34-7 victory over a talented Oakcrest team in the South Jersey Group 3 offense, Moorestown can be one of the most explosive teams in South Jersey. Lisa, who recently committed to the University of Pennsylvania, is a strong-armed, quick-trigger passer. He has thrown for 2,048 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Lisa spreads the football among a deep group of receivers, including Zac Frantz (42 catches, 570 yards), Delaney Wallace (34, 293), Sidney Ruffin (32, 421), and Anthony Bonett (20, 343). Moorestown was projected as a Top 10 team before the season. The Quakers have been a little inconsistent but still have a chance to strike deep in the tournament. "We haven't played to 100 percent yet," Moorestown senior quarterback Andrew Lisa said. "There have been times when we look great and then there are times when we go three and out two times in a row on offense.

"We're still trying to play to our potential. It would be great if we could do it for this game." Hammonton's only loss was by 13-9 to Group 4 Atlantic City in a game in which the Vikings took the lead late in the fourth quarter on a kick.