The Pirates football team thumped Bordentown on Friday night in a playoff tuneup by a score of 49-12 to remain unbeaten in the Liberty Division.
Cinnaminson is now 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Liberty. The win clinches at least a share of the division crown for the fifth time in six season for the Pirates.
“The last two weeks, we actually played our best football,” head coach Mario Patrizi said. “The kids were resilient. They started from the beginning. We have a share of the league right now. Hopefully we win it outright before Thanksgiving. Five years out of six ain’t bad.”
Cinnaminson can win the crown outright on November 23 at home against Delran.
Bordentown falls to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in the division.
The Pirates jumped on Bordentown early and often, building a 36-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Cinnaminson made it 49-0 before the Scotties could score.
It was 49-6 at the break and the Scotties added a fourth quarter score to make it a 49-12 final.
Cinnaminson opened the scoring onslaught when Dylan Thevanayagam rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown.
“The last two games have been tough for all of us, but just to come out and get a win and get some momentum for the playoffs felt good,” Thevanayagam said.
After Dominic Cicale recovered a fumble, Frankie Stepnowski punched it in from 11 yards out.
Andrew Goshine scored from four yards out to extend the lead to 22-0.
On the ensuing Scotties drive Gunner Peterson intercepted a pass and took it 28 yards for a score.
“I saw their QB rolling out and I had the blitz,” Peterson said. “He went to throw and I know I’m pretty lanky so I just jumped up. It fell in my hands and I took it back. I told myself, ‘don’t drop it.’ That was my first one. It was exciting.”
A Goshine interception, following his own fumble on offense, led to a Stepnowski 25-yard run.
Goshine capped the Pirates scoring with a 20-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 40-yard rushing touchdown on offense.
“I think we’re playing extremely good defense,” Thevanayagam said. “I think we definitely play two of the best teams in South, Group 2 other than us these last two weeks. I know our coaching staff will do a good job of preparing us.”
The Scotties scored on runs of 18 and 21 yards, missing both extra point kicks.
The defense came away with five turnovers in the victory (four interceptions and one fumble recovery).
“Defense wins championships. They’re playing very well,” Patrizi said. “They’re flying around to the ball. Dylan’s (Thevanayagam) doing a nice job in the middle.”
“Field position is going to play a large part in the next couple of weeks. Our goal is to get to that final, it doesn’t matter who we play.”
The win over Bordentown was the fourth straight for the Pirates since the Scotties joined the division beginning with the 2013 season.
In those four wins the Pirates have outscored the Scotties 156-54.
Cinnaminson’s first round opponent in the South, Group 2 playoffs is yet to be determined.
The win tonight snapped a two-game skid that came against playoff bound teams Collingswood and West Deptford.
“Anytime somebody talks about Group 2 they talk about West Deptford first,” Thevanayagam said. “We had opportunities to win that game, but it just shows that we can compete with anybody and we can win this thing.”
Power points will be updated sometime Saturday and that will give a clear picture as to the Pirates seed, opponent and location.
Scoring:
1st: Cinnaminson: Dylan Thevanayagam 25 run (Andrew Goshine run)
1st: Cinnaminson: Frankie Stepnowski 11 run (Andrew Goshine run)
1st: Cinnaminson: Andrew Goshine 4 run (run failed)
1st: Cinnaminson: Gunner Peterson 28 interception return (Joe Cody kick)
1st: Cinnaminson: Frankie Stepnowski 25 run (Joe Cody kick)
2nd: Cinnaminson: Andrew Goshine 20 interception return (pass failed)
2nd: Cinnaminson: Andrew Goshine 40 run (Joe Cody kick)
2nd: Bordentown: Seth Asare 18 run (kick failed)
4th: Bordentown: Asare 21 run (kick failed)
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