Woodstown junior James Hill scored six total touchdowns and rushed for a school record 312 yards behind the offensive line of (left to right) Will Haines, Shawn Gerrity, Jack Knorr, Anthony Bonowski, Damien Eichler and Walter Carter (71). Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The rumor during preseason was that too many people were sleeping on James Hill.
Whether it was his size, speed, or playing for a small Group 1 school, the Woodstown junior wasn’t getting the respect many believed he had earned.
Well, if first impressions are any indication, Hill woke up a lot of people on Friday.
Accounting for 368 yards of total offense, Hill rushed for a school record 312 yards and scored six total touchdowns as the Wolverines defeated host Haddon Heights 46-19 in the season opener for both teams.
After Bryce Belinfanti opened the game with an 86-yard kickoff return for a score, Hill would collect all of Woodstown’s remaining touchdowns and do so in dominating fashion.
Those six touchdowns in a single game is also believed to be a school record.
“I’ve been looked at as an underdog. Now I have to ball out,” Hill said. “I’m not what people see in a running back. I don’t have the size, the height, the weight, the strength. But in the offseason, I put in the work. I gained a lot of muscle, speed. I’m coming out firing.”
At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, Hill scored on runs of 71, 1, 20 and 10 yards. He also caught two passes from Max Webb (6-for-9, 105 yards), accounting for touchdowns covering 35 and 21 yards. His second score came on the final play of the first half, reaching over a defender to pull in the pass - a sequence reminiscent of former NFL standout Randy Moss.
Aside from a few breaks here and there, Hill also played defense, kicked and punted. He had the team’s lone sack.
Woodstown junior James Hill makes a cut during action in the season opener against Haddon Heights. Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
“James was phenomenal,” Woodstown coach John Adams said. “I told him before the game that he was the best player on the field and had to play like it. He exceeded my expectations.
“His work ethic makes him special. He’s the first one in the locker room, last out of the locker room. He sweeps up the locker room. He doesn’t miss a thing. He was non-stop working with specialists in the offseason on his speed and defense. His parents put a lot of money into training, and he never misses a workout with us. He’s constantly in football mode. His speed is better, his vision is better.”
Woodstown finished with 541 yards of total offense, the most in Adams’ 13 years as head coach. Hill had a bunch of them.
Coming off a sophomore season in which he rushed for 1,374 yards and 15 touchdowns, Hill sets goals every time he steps on the field. If Woodstown is to make a deep postseason run in Group 1, much the same as reaching last year’s South Jersey final, Hill will have to carry much of the load. It’s something that doesn’t seem to be much of a problem given what he did Friday.
Woodstown junior James Hill rushed for a school record 312 yards on 28 carries in the Wolverines' win over Haddon Heights. Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
“If you don’t set goals, you’re going to be average. I’m trying to be great,” Hill said.
The starting offensive line of Jack Knorr, Shawn Gerrity, Anthony Bonowski, Walter Carter, Damien Eichler and tight end Will Haines gave Hill ample opportunities to display skills.
“It makes me feel good, that when I’m blocking well my running back is doing that,” said Eichler, a 6-4, 290-pound junior. “He’s just a beast. Even without the blocking, he can do that.
“We were opening the holes; he had a lot of room to run. It felt like everything was working. Every play, something opened up and he had a place to go every time.”
Woodstown held a 20-0 lead after the opening quarter and led 33-6 at halftime. Adam Harris did his best to keep Haddon Heights in the game, throwing TD passes to Matt Iuvara (96 yards) and Malachi Terrell (77 yards), while also scoring on a 3-yard run. But this day belonged to James Hill.
James Hill just won’t be denied, 10-yard TD run. Donahue kick Woodstown 46 Haddon Heights 19@GARNETFOOTBALL @HHGarnets @WJFCA2020 @Woodstown_FB @TDClubofSJ pic.twitter.com/8AJAs96JY0
“During scrimmages, we were a little slow getting him going,” Adams said. “With the new O-line, there were a couple of pieces we were working out. They came together today and blocked well.
“James was everywhere - the screens, the running, the touchdown right before the half having him out at wide receiver. He can do it all.”
After falling to Woodbury in last year’s South Jersey Group 1 final 8-6, Hill said Friday’s opener was about setting the tone.
“We wanted to show everybody that we’re still that team from last year,” he said. “Even though we fell short, we’re coming back for it and we’re going to be stronger than ever. This was a tone-setter. Woodstown is no joke.”
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Kevin Minnick covers the West Jersey Football League. He can be reached at kminnick@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kminnicksports
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