Salem shuts down Woodbury as Taylor approaches record in South Jersey, Group 1 semis (PHOTOS)

  • 11/19 - 12:00 AM FootballFinal
    Salem 42
    Woodbury 0
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WOODBURY -- Jonathan Taylor is confident that Corey Clement will be happy if and when Taylor breaks his South Jersey single-season rushing record.

As bad as he wants that honor, however, there's something else that Clement, a Glassboro High graduate who is now a starting back at Wisconsin, has that Taylor wants even more.

Taylor, Salem's star senior running back, moved a step closer to a sectional championship with a monster performance on Saturday. He rushed for 368 yards and five touchdowns on 27 carries as the fourth-seeded Rams rolled over top-seeded Woodbury, 42-0, in the NJSIAA/Sports Care Institute.com South Jersey, Group 1 semifinals.

Salem claimed its seventh straight victory to improve to 8-2 and will face second-seeded Paulsboro in the final in two weeks at Rowan University. It will be a rematch of the 2014 final won by Paulsboro, 21-0.

"A lot of guys and a lot of teams across the nation dream about playing for a high school championship," Taylor said. "This team is blessed and honored to go to the championship. But once you get there, you have to handle your business."

The Rams have done just that during their impressive winning streak, and Taylor has been the sparkplug. With 2,380 yards this season, Taylor is now 130 yards behind the South Jersey rushing yardage record Clement set in 2011 when he rushed for 2,510.

Clement is a senior at Wisconsin, where Taylor recently committed.

"I actually talked to Corey when I went to Wisconsin, but I wasn't anywhere near his record at the time," Taylor said. "I don't think he'll mind being that I'm going to his school.

"You do the math, figure out how many games you have left and how many yards you need. But once you step on the field, the main objective is to win the game. It's definitely on my mind, but I'm just taking it day-by-day and preparing to win a championship."

Taylor had plenty of help Saturday, as Zaire Jones added 85 yards and a touchdown on the ground and the Salem defense forced five turnovers.

One of those turnovers halted an impressive opening drive by Woodbury (7-3) that reached the Rams' 13-yard line. On third-and-7, senior lineman Jamere Furbush pressured Herd freshman quarterback Andre Parker into an ill-advised throw that was intercepted by Ramere Nock.

"They had the momentum on that first drive, but it shifted when we got that first interception," Furbush said. "From there, it just kept getting better. We harp on big plays. It gives us tremendous push and excitement when we get those turnovers."

Taylor also had an interception and the Rams recovered three Woodbury fumbles.

"That was one of our goals, pressuring the quarterback and causing turnovers, and we were successful at it," Salem coach Montrey Wright said.

Taylor and his offensive line took care of the rest, turning in one big play after another. He scored on runs of 62, 84 and 30 yards in the first half, and added a 45-yarder and a 46-yarder after the break.

"I always try to get my team fired up," he said. "It's good to go down the field and drive, but when you break the long runs it really gets the momentum pumping in your team. I like to energize my teammates."

Taylor will aim for Clement's record on Thanksgiving against rival Woodstown, but then it's on to more important things in the final. The Rams know they will face a challenge in Paulsboro, which defeated Pennsville, 49-28, in the other semifinal.

"Glenn Howard does a great job with that program," Wright said. "We know it's going to come down to the team that makes fewer mistakes and wants it more that day."

"It means a lot," Furbush added. "We failed my sophomore year, so I really wanted this chance. I've never won a championship in high school."

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