Cedar Creek High School Football Team Rallies Again, Wins First S.J. Title

As it has throughout the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II playoffs, the Cedar Creek High School football team rallied for a win on Sunday. This time, it resulted in the program’s first championship.

Pat Moran kicked the game-winning extra point to cap a 15-point fourth quarter rally for a 28-27 win over previously unbeaten West Deptford in the final at Rowan University, according to nj.com.

West Deptford owned a 14-0 halftime lead, following a 1-yard touchdown run by Nick Diaco and a 4-yard touchdown run by Gio Gismondi.

Bo Melton, who nj.com writes established himself as one of the best players in the state in this game, cut the lead in half with a 10-yard touchdown run. However, West Deptford blocked the PAT attempt.

West Deptford then answered the score with a 1-yard touchdown run by Diaco.

Jesse Milza’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Watson for Cedar Creek cut the lead to 21-13 after three.

Melton, who had 118 yards on 11 runs and 67 yards on seven catches, also threw a touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to Louie Pitale in the fourth quarter. He then connected with Milza on a two-point conversion to tie the game.

West Deptford reclaimed the lead with a 69-yard touchdown run by Paz Gismondi, but it was Cedar Creek’s turn to block the PAT attempt.

Milza then connected with Malachi Timberlake on a 38-yard touchdown pass. Moran wouldn’t be denied on this kick, putting it through the uprights and giving Cedar Creek its first South Jersey championship.

Cedar Creek entered the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. It rallied to defeat No. 6 Collingswood, 21-20, in the quarterfinals. Moran kicked the winning extra point in that game as well. Melton had two touchdown runs in that game.

A week later, it was a 14-9 win over No. 2 Haddonfield in the semifinals. They rallied from a halftime deficit, shutting out the Bulldawgs in the second half of that game for the win.

Cedar Creek was 10-2 this season.The Pirates opened with three straight wins before a 12-6 loss to Bridgeton. It then took a four-game winning streak into the playoffs before picking up the two playoff wins.

Its other loss came at St. Augustine Prep on Thanksgiving Day.

It shared the Cape-Atlantic League National Conference title with Buena, as both teams were 6-1 in the conference. Cedar Creek defeated Buena, 34-13, in the second week of the year.