The undefeated Cherry Hill East football team had more than host Winslow Township to worry about Saturday in Atco.
Complacency could have been more of an adversary than the talented but winless Winslow players in a West Jersey Football National Division game.
However, the Cougars went about their business in a workmanlike manner and defeated Winslow, 41-6, for their third consecutive victory and second in the division.
Big plays by Brian Regan, Jesse Gold, Robert Taylor, Colin Roualet, and Isaiah Milligan-Smith carried the Cougars.
"You always have to guard against complacency after a big win such as we had last week [31-27 over Washington Township], but our boys fought through it," East coach Tom Coen said.
"We were concerned all week about complacency. We're always warning our boys about complacency and not taking your opponent too lightly."
The young and inexperienced Eagles (0-3, 0-2) put up a fight and showed progress, especially when junior quarterback Adonis Melvins scored on a 7-yard run.
Melvins, a first-year starter, ran around right end on a first-and-goal and bowled over a defender on the goal line to burst into the end zone with the only points Winslow Township has scored this season.
So with 2 minutes, 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Winslow trailed, 21-6, as the extra-point attempt was blocked by Roualet.
"It was important," Melvins said about putting points on the board. "It felt good."
East's players felt bad about allowing the touchdown, especially the defense, which had been called for a roughing-the-passer penalty that turned a fourth-and-8 into a first down on the 7 before the touchdown run.
Regan, who scored on runs of 18, 3, and 58 yards, put the Cougars on the scoreboard first with a sweep to the right on East's third play of the game. Mike Suli made the first of five extra points, and the Cougars had a 7-0 lead 1:31 into the game.
"We were talking about not taking any game lightly," Regan said. "South Jersey football, you can't take any team lightly. It's a classic setup trap game, and we didn't let that happen."
Regan accumulated a game-high 111 yards rushing on 18 carries, and Gold completed 6 of 12 passes for 159 yards and two touchdowns.
When the Eagles denied Regan from running inside, he sprinted outside and picked up big yardage. And when Gold saw big-play opportunities, he fired to Roualet for a 34-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and completed a 73-yard pass play to Robert Taylor for a 35-6 lead in the third quarter.
"Very young," first-year Winslow coach Calvin Thompson said about his team, which he praised for moving the ball and scoring. "One starter from last year. So it's an issue where the kids are football neophytes."
Cherry Hill East 14 7 14 6 – 41
Winslow Township 0 6 0 0 – 6
CHE: Brian Regan 18 run (Mike Suli kick)
CHE: Colin Roualet 34 pass from Jesse Gold (Suli kick)
CHE: Regan 3 run (Suli kick)
WT: Adonis Melvins 7 run (kick blocked)
CHE: Regan 58 run (Suli kick)
CHE: Robert Taylor 73 pass from Gold (Suli kick)
CHE: Isaiah Milligan-Smith 35 run (kick blocked)
Contact staff writer Bill Iezzi at 856-779-3826 or biezzi@phillynews.com.
