EAST RUTHERFORD – Amari Sabb walked out onto the field at MetLife Stadium before the most important game of his young life and “just knew”.
“When I came out and saw the lights, I knew we were born for this moment,” the junior said.
On the biggest stage in scholastic sports, the Glassboro High School football team put together an awe-inspiring performance during a 56-14 win over Cedar Grove, earning the program’s first-ever state title.
Included on what might have been the best game played on this turf all season, the Bulldogs’ effort was highlighted by Kenny Smith’s career-best 402 rushing yards and four touchdowns while the defense forced three turnovers, including a pick-6 by Davon Barr.
Glassboro scored the final 49 points of the game, forcing a mercy-rule running clock in the third quarter. The Bulldogs finished the season a perfect 13-0 – the sixth time in program history with an undefeated record.
“We worked so hard to get here and to finally get it, and in MetLife Stadium, it’s the best feeling I’ve ever had,” Sabb said.
Junior Brandon Simmons added, “We came out and proved a point. We wanted to play a full four quarters and that’s what we did. We played together and dominated.”
It was a special moment for Glassboro head coach Timmy Breaker, who also played on two undefeated teams during his playing days at GHS (2007 and 2008),
“It’s kind of a full-circle moment for me,” Breaker said. “To be the first in history (to win a state title at Glassboro) and to be the coach, it’s special. These boys are going to go down in history for sure. This is a special football team.
“This game was exhilarating. That’s what we were planning to do. All week we wanted to be physical and the boys accepted the challenge.”
Glassboro compiled so many highlights that they probably couldn’t all fit in a SportsCenter Top 10 segment.
Smith orchestrated one of the greatest, if not the most productive and entertaining performances in New Jersey state final history. The senior ripped off two 80-yard touchdown runs, including one on the opening play from scrimmage in the second half, and had another TD run of 60 yards.
“It means a lot,” Smith said. “Being able to come out here, play in a big game like this and make plays. In order to call myself a big-time player, I’ve got to show up in big games like this.”
Smith’s 402 yards is the seventh best single-game total in South Jersey history, according to football historian Chuck Langerman. Glassboro graduate and former Philadelphia Eagle Corey Clement holds the South Jersey record with 478 in 2012.
Smith also surpassed the 5,000-yard mark for his career. He’s the sixth player in South Jersey to accomplish the feat and the first in 12 years when Clement broke the mark.
Smith’s final rushing total of 5,383 ranks second on South Jersey’s all-time list, trailing only Clement (6,245). Following his transfer from Hammonton, Smith had to sit out the first three games this fall because of the NJSIAA transfer rules or he might have made a run at Clement’s record.
Glassboro’s Xavier Sabb had one of the best catch-and-runs of the season when he weaved his way through what looked like the entire Cedar Grove defense on his way to a 55-yard touchdown. The score gave Glassboro another huge boost with 30 second left in the first half as well as a 35-14 lead.
Glassboro’s defense provided plenty of highlights as well.
Sophomore cornerback Kenny Johnson delivered the game’s biggest hit, putting a Cedar Creek receiver on the turf in the first quarter. It was a tackle that appeared to take the wind out of Cedar Creek.
“Absolutely,” Breaker said when asked if Johnson’s it was a game changer. “He made a big play on a knockdown (the previous play) and came back with a big hit. The boys rallied after that. We live on those types of plays. After that, the game was over.”
Johnson said he “felt it” about the strength of the hit as well as the importance of it.
“We pride ourselves on being physical,” Johnson said. “The coaches emphasize effort and physical play in practice. That’s what we do.”
Cedar Grove (13-1) scored on its first two possessions and held a 14-8 lead, but the Panthers were held to just 112 yards the rest of the way.
Glassboro’s defense racked up four sacks, including a pair by Brandon Simmons while Barr and Xavier Sabb each had interceptions. Sabb returned his pick for a touchdown, but it was called back because of a penalty. Simmons also had a fumble recovery.
“We knew our defense was going to be challenged and it was,” Simmons said. “We faced some adversity early, but we kept battling.”
Glassboro advanced to the state final last season, losing 24-6 to Mountain Lakes at Rutgers University. The game helped sparked the fire and provided much-needed experienced for the Bulldogs in their return trip to the big game.
“Experience and preparation,” Breaker said about the big factors for his squad this season.
Breaker also said his team was fired up to play, “They would have played on Tuesday (Nov. 26), if they had to.”
Game notes
On playing at the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets, Johnson said, “It was amazing. I’ve dreamed of playing in an NFL stadium. That’s every football player’s dream, from you’re 5 years old all they way up until you’re done playing.”
Glassboro quarterback Jack O’Connell completed 12 of 14 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulldogs racked up 597 yards of total offense and scored 49 offensive points on 41 plays.
The Bulldogs finished with 508 points this season, breaking the old school record of 478 set back in 2008. The point total also ranks 14th on South Jersey’s all-time list, according to Langerman.
Glassboro’s six undefeated seasons occurred after the NJSIAA developed the playoff system in 1974. The Bulldogs were also unbeaten in 1975, 1983, 1999, 2007, 2008 and 2024.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Glassboro football rolls to state Group 1 title, knocks off Cedar Grove
