On the road to recovery, Deptford football is picking up speed.
The Spartans are 2-1 after Friday night's 13-6 victory over Gloucester Catholic in a WJFL Independence Division clash.
More importantly, new coach Mike Blackiston and his staff have brought a can-do pep to a once-proud program that had fallen on hard times in recent seasons.
"I couldn't be happier with how these kids have responded," Blackiston said. "The whole spirit around this team has been real positive."
Blackiston said the Spartans have been led by senior wide receiver/defensive back Chris Hurban, who had five tackles and two interceptions against Gloucester Catholic.
"He's been rock solid on defense," Blackiston said.
Another defensive leader has been end Josh Davis, who had 2 1/2 sacks on Friday night.
Quarterback Anthony Reed, who threw two touchdown passes to Kevin Lester, has led the Spartans offense.
"He's really starting to mature as our captain," Blackiston said.
The new coach said the senior class has set the tone for a program that is fighting its way out a period in which the Spartans went 5-25 from 2008-2010.
"It's been phenomenal to watch," Blackiston said of the approach of his senior class. "Just how they are preparing, how hard they are working, their sense of urgency."
Blackiston knows the Spartans have a ways to go to return to their glory days. But they appear to be on the right path, with an engaged community and an improved relationship with the Deptford youth football program.
"We had rain like everybody else on Friday night, and we still had a great crowd," said Blackiston, a Deptford graduate. "There's a sense we might be on the verge of something."
Wild game. Burlington Township scored on the last play of the game to register a 36-33 victory over Holy Cross in a WJFL Patriot instant classic on Friday night.
Holy Cross took an intentional safety with 15.3 seconds remaining and led 33-30. But Burlington Township's Kadar Hollman returned the ensuing free kick 69 yards for a touchdown as the clock expired.
"I've been coaching football 31 years, and that has to rank in the top five as far as exciting games," Burlington Township coach Tom Maderia said. "I told the kids during a timeout that we had time, but I thought if they punted, maybe we could block it or maybe get in position for a field goal to tie it or maybe throw a Hail Mary.
"I never thought we'd bring it all the way back. When I saw it open up, it was a pretty incredible feeling."
