Meanwhile, eight-time Liberty division champion West Deptford, like Haddonfield in previous years, is plotting revenge in what the Eagles hope will be a rematch in the South Jersey Group 2 tournament.
"We have to learn from this," West Deptford coach Clyde Folsom said. "That's a good football team, strong, physical. They deserved to win. They took advantage of those situations."
Before Ciemniecki's big play, West Deptford was in position to seize command of the game. The Eagles had answered Haddonfield's touchdown to forge a 7-7 tie at halftime, and had taken the second-half kickoff and moved to the Bulldogs' 28-yard line.
But Haddonfield senior linebacker Matt Bhaya helped create a fumble, and Ciemniecki grabbed the football and took off down the right sideline.
"Matt Bhaya made a great play and I just went for the ball," Ciemniecki said. "It was unbelievable, to have a 7-7 tie at halftime and come out and do that."
Haddonfield (3-0), the No. 10 team in The Inquirer's South Jersey rankings, quickly took control of the game. Maybe that was a sign of the Bulldogs' tenacity, or the Eagles' inexperience, or some combination.
But what had been a taut, competitive game quickly got away from the Eagles with a series of turnovers and shaky special-teams plays.
"That was disappointing," Folsom said of his team's inability to bounce back from Ciemniecki's big play.
The victory was a breakthrough for Haddonfield. The one thing Haddonfield had not done, at least not since the Colonial was split into two divisions in 2003, was beat West Deptford in the regular season. No Liberty team had beaten West Deptford since Sterling in 2005.
Ciemniecki, the Bulldogs' senior quarterback as well as defensive back, finished with nine carries for 46 yards. He also was 5-for-8 passing for 57 yards and touchdown.
West Deptford (2-1) was hurt by fumbles and special-team struggles. That's how Haddonfield was able to score 17 straight points to open the third quarter.
Haddonfield 0 7 17 7 - 31
West Deptford 0 7 7 7 - 21
H: Mike Walker 10 pass from Dan Ciemniecki (Matt Bhaya kick)
WD: Josh Cornelius 6 run (Cornelius kick)
H: Ciemniecki 60 fumble return (Bhaya kick)
H: Chris Dengler 19 run (Bhaya kick)
H: Bhaya 32 FG
WD: Gerald Towns 5 run (Cornelius kick)
H: Dengler 5 run (Bhaya kick)
WD: Connor Smith 2 run (Cornelius kick)
Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
