The Winslow Township Eagles are back-to-back NJSIAA Group 4 State Champions, after holding on against The Ramapo Raiders 34-21. Not only did they win their second Group 4 title in a row, history was made as Eagles quarterback Jalen Parker became the all-time leader for passing touchdowns in South Jersey football history.
“There’s a lot of emotions going on in me,” Parker said. With a Senior year to go, he takes over as the record holder with 107 passing touchdowns, beating the record previously held by Devin Leary, who had 105 from 2014 to 2018. “I don’t know how to feel, there’s a lot going on. It’s a great win and I made history today. I worked out with D-Leary [Devin Leary] a lot. He taught me a lot of tips, he taught me how to spin the ball how he does it.” Parker was 12 for 25 with 240 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Quayd Hendryx was the star of the show for Winslow and arguably the star of the day at SHI Stadium. Playing in his final high school game, the Minnesota commit lit up the Ramapo defense, scoring two touchdowns along with 165 receiving yards on five receptions and an 85-yard kick return on which he scored. “I think that quote is real, ‘big time players shine in big time moments,” Hendryx said. Transferring from Burlington Township for his senior year, the wide receiver had arguably the best game of his career, finishing the season with 48 receptions 878 yards and 12 touchdowns. “I didn’t care that we were at a stadium. I didn’t care that it was a state game, it’s another game. It’s my last high school game so I wanted to go out the right way and be able to win one more.”
The passing touchdown record was broken with three minutes left in the first quarter when Parker threw a pass to a wide open Hendryx that was good for 88 yards. The Raiders’ defensive back on the coverage tripped and fell, giving Parker and Hendryx a wide open field.
Ramapo responded with a touchdown of their own late in the second quarter when Liam Hayward had a 34 yard run up the middle for the score. Since Rashad Emanuel missed the extra point during Winslow touchdown, the Raiders took a 7-6 lead with a kick from Devin Hunt.
The assumption that Ramapo would be going into half-time in front lasted only roughly 15 seconds as Hendryx would score a 87-yard kickoff return touchdown. With another missed extra point by Emanuel, Winslow led 12-7 after two quarters.
Forcing a turnover on downs and starting on the Winslow 45-yard line, Ramapo took the lead when quarterback Casey Grusser scored on a goal line QB sneak thanks to a 22-yard pass he made to wide receiver Joseph Yessis. Ramapo was once again on top 14-12.
It didn’t take long for Winslow to regain the lead. Going 65 yards in 90 seconds, Parker threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Hendryx, his third of the game. Emanuel would miss his third extra point and with 4:58 left in the third quarter, it was 18-14 Eagles.
A penalty on Winslow and a pass from Grusser to Yesiss for 24 yards set the Raiders up for another score and it was Hayward again with his second touchdown of the game on a seven-yard run. Early in the fourth quarter, Ramapo was winning 21-18.
The Eagles just wouldn’t go away. Every time the Raiders scored, they’d always have a response. On the next drive, KaRon Ceasar got Winslow into the red zone on a 51-yard run to the Ramapo 13. On the next play, Parker would take it himself to the end zone on a 13-yard run. Hendrix scored the two point conversion and it was now a five point game 26-21.
Trying to extend the score, Parker made a massive mistake, throwing a goal-line interception to Gavin Cordisco who took it all the way to the Winslow 47-yard line. Being just moments away from being down two scores, The Raiders now had a chance with 6:38 left in the game.
After making the stop on defense, Winslow was back where they started after Nakeem Powell had a big 43-yard run inside the Ramapo five. He’d get in a few plays later and with the help of a two point conversion from Nyqir Helton made it a 13-point lead with under two minutes left, ultimately sealing the game. Hendryx may have been the scoring leader today, but both Powell and Helton have been crucial members of the team this season as Powell is committed to Delaware and Helton is going to the University of North Carolina to extend their football careers.
“They earned it,” Head coach Bill Belton said. “They work all year since January to get back to this point and the seniors wanted to go out the right way.”
While they may have lost the game, Ramapo put up an impressive performance. Going up against some of the top football players in New Jersey and a team that has played schools like Jersey powerhouse Bergen Catholic and Florida’s famous IMG Academy, the Raiders kept the game close to the very end. According to coach Belton, Winslow is set to face Bergen Catholic next season in a rematch from this year’s 41-14 loss.
So far, every public state championship has been won by South Jersey schools. Camden has a chance to make it five for five but have to go through Zaiden Mcdonald and Kareem Coston of Malcolm X Shabazz, who play out of Newark. They will be competing for the Group 2 State finals on Wednesday at SHI stadium.
