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HAMMONTON - Hammonton wasted no time in letting Millville know its plans for Friday night's Cape-Atlantic League American Conference game.

On their first possession, three different Blue Devils carried the ball as Hammonton marched 80 yards on five running plays for a touchdown.

Hammonton (7-0), No. 6 in The Press' Elite 11, had its way with the Thunderbolts on both sides of the ball and powered its way to a 41-0 win.

"We just knew we had to go hard as soon as the first whistle blew," said Hammonton running back Josh Baez, who led the Blue Devils with 135 yards and three touchdowns. "We had to go hard off the kickoff return. From then on, it's game time, seven o'clock."

The win sets up a conference showdown between the Blue Devils and fellow unbeaten No. 5 Egg Harbor Township (6-0) on Friday in Hammonton. EHT was off this week.

But first things first. The Egg Harbor Township game next week wouldn't have meant as much to Hammonton unless it beat Millville (4-4), which came into the game trying to keep its playoff hopes alive.

"Next week we didn't even talk about because without this, next week would have really meant nothing," Hammonton coach Pete Lancetta said.

After Dave Crescenzo was stuffed for no gain on Hammonton's first play from the line of scrimmage, Jared Sanchez broke through the right side for a 35-yard run.

A 7-yard Baez run and a 6-yard Sanchez run set up the Blue Devils' first score.

On first-and-10 from Millville's 32, Baez took the handoff and started left, before cutting back up field through the Millville defense for the touchdown.

"I'm just looking for the first down," Baez said. "If it's a big hole, I'm looking for the end zone. We had patience against a speed team. (Millville was) flying to the ball. We just had to wait, sit back, and then when the hole opens up, the backs just hit the holes as hard as they can."

University of Maryland-bound defensive end/linebacker Ian Evans refused to let his team's offense outshine the defense.

On Millville's first possession, Evans burst into the backfield and punished Millville running back Dominick Askins, who fumbled the ball.

Evans recovered.

"We swarmed to the ball," he said. "Our secondary covered every guy perfectly. Our line made the right cuts and the right slants. Everyone did a great job."

Evans had three sacks to go along with the fumble recovery.

Baez added another first-half touchdown as the Blue Devils took a 34-0 lead into the half and cruised to the victory.

Sanchez had 43 yards rushing and a touchdown, and an interception on defense. Crescenzo ran for 55 yards and a touchdown. Robert Barbieri had a receiving touchdown and an interception. Hammonton quarterback Nick Crescenzo was 4-for-4 for 40 yards passing and a touchdown.

Dominick Askins led Millville with 50 yards on nine carries.

Hammonton held Millville's offense to 111 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers.

Now the Blue Devils can prepare for next week's showdown with Egg Harbor Township, the biggest game of the year in the CAL American Conference.

"I don't know anything about them," Evans said. "I just know they're a good team. They haven't lost yet. We just have to do our absolute best."

Another performance like the one turned in Friday night could lead the Blue Devils to the conference title.

"We've got our work cut out," Lancetta said. "They present a lot of problems, but we're going to give it our best effort, that's for sure."

Contact John O'Kane:

609-272-7210

JOKane@pressofac.com

Millville 0 0 0 0 - 0

Hammonton 14 20 7 0 - 41

FIRST QUARTER

H-Baez 32 run (Sandoval kick)

H-Sanchez 4 run (Sandoval kick)

SECOND QUARTER

H-Barbieri 14 pass by N. Crescenzo (Sandoval kick)

H-D. Crescenzo 8 run (Sandoval kick)

H-Baez 3 run (kick failed)

THIRD QUARTER

H-Baez 30 run (Sandoval kick)

TEAM STATISTICS

M H

Rushing yards 70 253

Passing yards 41 40

First downs 5 19

Penalties 8-70 4-20

Turnovers 5 1

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing-Askins 9-50, Moore 4-15, Lee 1-10, Johnson 11-9, Wallace 1-4, Still 3-3, Robbins 5-(-21) M; Baez 13-135, D. Crescenzo 12-55, Sanchez 4-43, Mason 2-10, Hadulias 3-6, Ballas 2-5, N. Crescenzo 4-(-1) H.

Passing-Robbins 2-10-31-3, Serra 1-1-10-0 M; N. Crescenzo 4-4-40-0 H.

Receiving-Hart 1-21, Moore 1-10, Serra 1-10 M; Barbieri 2-29, Sanchez 1-12, D. Crescenzo 1-(-1) H.

Records-Millville 4-4; Hammonton 7-0.

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