Heights Beats Overbrook, Make Playoffs!
Post date: Jan 26, 2015 2:53:39 AM
Versatile Massi sends Haddon Hts. past Overbrook
Phil Anastasia, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: Sunday, November 9, 2014, 11:59 PM
Roman Massi tries to do a little bit of everything for the Haddon Heights football team.
The versatile junior made an impact on offense, defense, and special teams in Haddon Heights' 29-18 victory over Overbrook in a Colonial Conference game Saturday.
Massi scored three touchdowns, blocked a punt, and registered a sack as Haddon Heights (4-4) won its second in a row and clinched a berth in the South Jersey Group 1 tournament.
"At the beginning of the year, I wasn't sure we could even make the playoffs," Massi said. "But we've gotten a lot better during the season. We're playing more as a team."
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Massi carried the ball 19 times on a clear, cool afternoon for 91 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
As a linebacker, Massi had a sack, a tackle for a loss, and a near-interception. His blocked punt set up the Garnets at the Rams' 7-yard line in the second quarter, and quarterback Eric Wood scored on a sneak moments later for a 20-6 lead.
"He's got a motor," Haddon Heights coach Ralph Schiavo said of Massi. "He doesn't stop. He runs hard, plays good defense. He helps us in a lot of ways."
Sophomore Marques DeShields ran 15 times for 109 yards and a touchdown and freshman Damon Matthews returned a kickoff 69 yards for a TD for Overbrook (1-7).
"We played hard, but we made too many mistakes," Overbrook coach Wade Inge said. "Turnovers and penalties hurt us. We have a young team. Hopefully, these guys will learn and improve from these experiences."
Haddon Heights was 0-2 after two weeks and 2-4 after a tough loss to West Deptford on Oct. 25. But the Garnets have won two in a row to earn a berth in the postseason tournament.
"It's to the kids' credit," Schiavo said. "These guys have improved during the season. They put themselves in position for this."
Haddon Heights will be the No. 8 seed. The Garnets will visit top-seeded Pennsville on Friday night.
"If we can keep our mistakes low, we can be a very dangerous team," Massi said.
Overbrook 6 0 6 6 - 18
Haddon Heights 13 7 0 9 - 29
HH: Roman Massi 5 run (run failed)
O: Tom Wyatt 21 run (kick failed)
HH: Massi 10 run (Cameron Robertson kick)
HH: Eric Wood 1 run (Robertson kick)
O: Marques DeShields 5 run (pass failed)
HH: Massi 42 pass from Wood (Robertson kick)
O: Damon Matthews 69 kickoff return (run failed)
HH: Safety