Russell Forchion knew right away.
It was June 6. He was the new kid at Hammonton, a transfer student from Overbrook. He walked into the weight-training area in the football fieldhouse at the end of the school day.
It was like walking into a new world.
"Guys were maxing out," Forchion said. "Guys were banging the walls. Guys were yelling. They were so into it. I was like, 'This is the place.' "
It's never easy to be the new student. It's never easy to start over in a new school at the end of junior year.
Forchion had a couple of things going for him. One, he's one of those quiet, respectful guys who tends to get along with everybody. Two, he can play football.
"He's an outstanding football player," Hammonton coach Pete Lancetta said. "We could tell that right away."
But Lancetta said Forchion's talent isn't the reason the 5-foot-10, 175-pound athlete has fit in with the rest of the Blue Devils. His personality has made the difference.
"That's first and foremost – he's just a great young man," Lancetta said. "He's a quality person, and our kids realize that. He's fit right in with the rest of the team."
It helps that Forchion, a running back and safety, has brought a burst of big-time speed to a Hammonton team that is No. 7 in The Inquirer Top 10 and a serious contender for the Cape-Atlantic National Division title as well as the South Jersey Group 3 crown.
It's great to be a nice guy and all. But it's something else to score four touchdowns in your first two games with your new team.
"That's been a weight off my shoulders," Forchion said. "I wanted to try to help out the team right away, and I've been able to do that."
Forchion made an immediate impact in the Blue Devils' season opener. He went 82 yards for a touchdown in a 23-7 victory over Mainland.
Last week, Forchion scored three touchdowns in a 36-0 victory over Buena. He scored on runs of 13 and 8 yards and also returned a kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown.
"He's a game-breaker for us," said Lancetta, whose team will play at Oakcrest in a key Cape National clash Friday night.
Forchion grew up in Clementon. He played youth football for the Lindenwold Chargers. He played three years for Overbrook, and was key player as a junior.
He moved with his family into his grandfather's home in Folsom in June. He says he didn't know much about Hammonton football.
"I knew they had a great tradition down here – I used to read about them in the newspaper," Forchion said.
