The Paul VI High School football team has so many choices on offense, that waiting one’s turn is often a necessity. That is certainly the case with senior running back Elijah Wilson. The 6-foot, 195-pound Wilson hasn’t received an abundance of chances offensively this season, but he sure has made the most of them.
Friday’s 28-0 win over visiting Willingboro in a key West Jersey Football League Continental Division game, was another example of Wilson making the most of his touches.
He had just five carries, but rushed for 25 yards and two touchdowns to help the Eagles improve to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the Continental. It was also the first loss of the season for Willingboro, the defending Central Jersey Group 2 champion, now 4-1, 2-1.
Wilson scored on his first two carries against Willingboro, finding the end zone from three yards out with 4:16 left in the second quarter and then adding a 16-yard scoring run to double Paul VI’s lead to 14-0 with 8:50 left in the third quarter.
“I just have to be patient and wait for my opportunities and make the best of them,” Wilson said.
It’s been a recurring theme all season. Wilson has carried the ball just 16 times in five games, but a quarter of them have resulted in touchdowns. Besides his four rushing touchdowns, he has rushed for 152 yards.
Wilson has good speed, but also showed some power against Willingboro as both his runs came by running up the middle.
“I have to credit my line for opening up the holes,” he said.
And he knew what to do when seeing the opening.
Wilson, who lives in Pennsauken, plays like somebody who has been involved in football for quite some time, which is definitely the case. He began playing with he was five years old.
He is also looking to play at the next level.
What should make him valuable as a college player is that Wilson has enjoyed just as much success on defense as offense. Against Willingboro he just missed making one interception, while thwarting another drive by making his first pick of the season.
In addition, he and fellow linebacker Moe Keshen, a Monmouth commit, took turns inhaling ball carriers, helping shut down the potent Willingboro ground game.
When asked what side of the ball Wilson is more proficient, Paul VI head coach Dennis Scuderi Sr. was stumped.
“I don’t know, to be honest,” Scuderi said. “This year he has played well on both sides of the ball.”
The Eagles have done a good job spreading the ball around. Besides Wilson, the other backfield threats are sophomore Nate Klecko, junior Tyree Roane, who is also a major receiving threat, and junior Matthew Greco.
As for the future, Wilson has no preference what side of the ball he will play. He just wants to continue doing what he has enjoyed since the age of five – playing quality football.
“It doesn’t matter where I play in college,” Wilson said. “I just want to play football.”
Klecko with a big game
Paul VI’s other two touchdowns were scored by Klecko, who took a screen pass from junior Daulton Phalines and scampered 48 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. He added a 34-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, bouncing off several tacklers.
The 5-9, 163-pound sophomore, who also excels at defensive end, comes from great football roots. His father is Dan Klecko, a three-time Super Bowl champion, earning two with New England and one with Indianapolis. Dan Klecko, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman Joe Klecko, currently assists Scuderi as Paul VI’s defensive line coach.
Besides his 48-yard touchdown reception, Nate Klecko rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries.
Injury update
Willingboro freshman linebacker Kaseem Hall suffered an injury on the play Wilson scored his second touchdown in the third quarter. Hall was taken to a local hospital by ambulance.
After the game, Willingboro coach Kenny Scott gave an optimistic prognosis.
“He is fine,” Scott said. “He answered all the protocol questions, and I just wanted to be precautionary to let him get evaluated. He has already been discharged. He’s fine, he’s good.”
Don’t count out Willingboro
Willingboro lost a lot from last year’s sectional championship team, but the Chimeras should again be among the more formidable teams in Group 2. Playing a team the caliber of Paul VI should pay dividends in the future.
“I think they were the better team tonight, their experience showed up,” Scott said. “A game like this will help us 100 percent, and this is a game we needed to be humbled, and I think this is one of those losses that ultimately is going to build character in us.”
Fast Fact
According to South Jersey historian Chuck Langerman, this was the first-ever win for Paul VI over Willingboro. The Chimeras entered the game 2-0 lifetime against Paul VI. They beat Paul VI 67-0 in 1998 and 42-3 in 1999.
Shutout streak
This was the third straight shutout for Paul VI. The only time the defense has allowed points was during a 29-0 loss to St. Augustine in a game the Eagles committed five turnovers. Paul VI also opened the season with a 42-7 win over Nottingham. In that game, Nottingham didn’t score on the Paul VI defense, but did have a 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Up Next
After a bye next week, Paul VI returns to action Oct. 11 when the Eagles visit Notre Dame. On Friday (Oct. 4) Willingboro will travel to Timber Creek in a 6 p.m. game.
Marc Narducci is a freelance reporter for the Courier-Post. He can be reached by email at cpvarsity@gmail.com
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Paul VI earns key win over previously unbeaten Willingboro
