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11/26 - 10:30 AM Football Final Salem 16 Woodstown 14
WOODSTOWN – It was camaraderie that awakened the competitive spirit in Teron Nance.
“I hadn’t played football in four years because of (hip) injuries,” Salem's 6-foot, 170-pound wide receiver/defensive back said. “But I wanted to play my last year because of my brothers. They needed me.”
What the Rams really needed Thursday was someone to make a big defensive play as Woodstown drove deep into Salem territory with under two minutes to play. Nance delivered when he broke up a fourth-down pass to preserve the Rams' 16-14 victory over the Wolverines in the traditional Thanksgiving game before a standing-room-only crowd of 800 at Clint Ware Field.
"Teron has been playing amazing all year," coach Montrey Wright said. "Teron is a first-year guy. He's been playing basketball for three years. He came out this year and played amazing. He's probably one of the best DBs I have seen in a while."
Shareef Jefferies (10 carries for 31 yards) scored his second touchdown of the afternoon with 6:08 left in the game. Daiquan Blake had a great block on the outside from his wide receiver position to spring Jefferies loose. Jefferies then scored on the two-point conversion to break the 14-all tie.
From there, it was Salem’s defense clamping down on Woodstown (6-4). The Wolverines got to the Rams’ 19-yard line with 1:23 left before Nance won the game.
“I saw the quarterback throw to my side,” Nance said. “I got over there and smacked it out.”
Salem (8-2) compiled just four first downs. Jonathan Taylor led the way with 121 yards on 22 rushes. Woodstown scored on its opening drive. A key 31-yard run by Zaire Jones (22 carries for 124 yards) set up quarterback Chad Watt for the 1-yard dive.
Salem, which leads the all-time series 59-36-10, went ahead, 8-6, on Jefferies 2-yard run on the next drive. In the third quarter, Matt Blocksom scored on a 1-yard run. Jefferies added the winning touchdown with 6:08 left.
“Now it over, but I am going to the next level,” Jefferies, who is undecided about college, said. “I know I am going to miss those guys. I know I can never get this day back.”