CAMDEN – Code Red means many different things to the Pennsauken High School football team.
It is the saying that unites gamers as a family and is reinforced by a series of positive sayings that have become the motto of the program.
On Saturday, it took on an intimidating significance.
“If you hear ‘Code Red,’ something bad is coming,” junior quarterback Dante Viccharelli said.
The Eastside found that out the hard way when visiting Pennsauken outscored the Tigers with a 34-6 decision, disappointing the home team that first played at Mike Rozier Stadium under the new school name.
“It means family, all of us, we all support each other,” junior two-way lineman Jayden Farmer said of Code Red. “It means you always stick together and work hard.”
One doesn’t have to look past the head coach’s right triceps to see just how important Code Red is to him. Clinton Tabb adorned it forever with a tattoo.
“Code red, it means everything,” said Tabb, who graduated from PHS in 1997. “It started with that group of ’11. It is our mantra. It’s a whole list of sayings: ‘Don’t cast a negative light on the team’, ‘It’s us, not me’, stuff like that. These guys, they just buy it.”
That 2011 club hit great heights, going 11-1 and capturing South Jersey’s Group 4 title with a 55-34 win over Millville in a wild championship game at Rowan University.
After four straight losing seasons, Pennsauken appeared to turn the corner last fall, going 8-3 with a playoff victory.
Going into this season, Pennsauken still dealt with doubters, but a win over Eastside should alert opponents to take Code Red seriously.
“This victory means a lot, it gives us a lot of momentum,” said Viccharelli.
Tabb added: “We have been waiting for one like this. (Eastside) has been where we’re trying to get to. They won the last three (sectional championships). That’s where we want to be. Our kids are always talking about getting respect, well you have to beat someone with that pedigree to get anything. And we did.
Pennsauken will seek revenge when they travel to Burlington Township next week, looking to avenge a 33-21 loss to last year’s Falcons.
New wide receiver?
Could Pennsauken hide a secret weapon on the offensive/defensive line?
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound farmer showed excellent hands, jumping ability and speed for a big guy when he intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter, returning one for a long touchdown.
“Maybe I’ll have to ask (Coach Tabb) about playing catcher,” Farmer said with a laugh. “He probably won’t let me.”
That’s because Farmer has more important jobs to do. Last week, he was on the field for every snap of the game except one. He had a similar workload against Eastside.
“That kid has a ceiling that’s only going to get higher,” Tabb said. “Last year, he didn’t play offensive line. Now, he is a two-way starter. He is our long snapper. He’s on the kickoff return teams. He never leaves the field.”
With the Eastside driving inside the Pennsauken 10 in the fourth quarter, Jibril Gregory came off the left edge untouched and hit the Tigers quarterback, sending the ball straight into the air. Farmer grabbed it and rumbled 85 yards to score.
On Eastside’s ensuing possession, Farmer shook off his defender, leaped into the air and intercepted his second pass. This time, he ran out of gas after a 65-yard return, but the interception set up another Pennsauken score.
“It’s definitely the best game I’ve ever had in high school, so it means a lot,” Farmer said. “On that first interception, my eyes were wide open, I just ran as fast as I could.”
Did Farmer show enough to become an offensive weapon? Maybe.
“Did you see go for that jump?” Viccharelli asked. “Maybe we have to test it, maybe a trick or something.”
things we learned
∎ Pennsauken didn’t come close to playing its best game, but recorded a 28-point road win against a big and talented Eastside team. That’s a huge win and it could spell very bad news for opponents the rest of the way.
∎ Senior kicker Sean Rullo can make a difference for Pennsauken. Along with four extra points from him, he also threw four kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.
∎ Eastside might be one of the best 0-2 teams in the region, but the Tigers won’t have time to lick their wounds. The team hits the road for three straight games, starting next week at Cedar Creek. The Tigers will get a boost from defensive tackle Will Norman, who transferred back home from IMG Academy in Florida. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound defensive tackle has committed to Florida.
game balls
Pennsauken’s Viccharelli did a great job protecting the ball and showed off his tough running style on all three of his rushing touchdowns.
Pennsauken’s Gregory delivered the biggest and most important hit of the game. His sack that became a pick-6 for Farmer froze the game in the fourth quarter.
they said it
“It wasn’t pretty, we played defense and ran the ball,” Tabb said. “But the kids buckled up and didn’t take a lot of the silly punishments like we had last week (against Cherry Hill West). Could not be happier”.
Tom McGurk is regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for more than 30 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, please contact him at (856) 486-2420 or email [email protected] Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.