Salem's Jonathan Taylor sets modern-era state rushing record in win over Woodstown (with VIDEO)

  • 11/24 - 10:30 AM FootballFinal
    Woodstown 10
    Salem 36
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A Woodstown-Salem High School football rivalry that has been contested on Thanksgiving Day since 1911 has certainly seen many highlights in over a century of competition.

On Thursday, it saw one of the most memorable as Salem running back Jonathan Taylor set a state modern-era single-season rushing record in the Rams' 36-10 victory.

Taylor now has 2,626 yards this season to go along with 33 touchdowns after rushing for 250 yards and three scores on 19 carries.

He broke the South Jersey record of Glassboro’s Corey Clement on a 78-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Clement  - now at Wisconsion, where Taylor is committed - finished with 2,510 yards in 2011.

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His 31-yard run in the fourth quarter set the modern-era state record of 2,605, which had been held by Hoboken’s Tyrell Dortch since 1990. John Giannantinio of Netcong reportedly ran for 4,756 yards in just eight games in 1950.

“Being so close you have that in your mind a little bit and I started off rough in the first couple series,” said Taylor. “I put that aside, started running the way I usually run and letting things come naturally and things opened up.

“It’s an honor. In the state of New Jersey, there’s been a lot of great running backs that have come through this state and played. For me to be at the top is surreal.”

The senior also showed off his trademark speed with a 68-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and added a 4-yard TD run in the third quarter.

The Rams only held a 14-10 lead at the half despite Taylor’s two long runs as Christian Smith-Coleman scored on a 7-yard run and Drew Frassenei added 22-yard field goal for the Wolverines. But Woodstown fumbled the second-half kickoff and Taylor punched it in from the 4 for a 22-10 lead.

“Turnovers can change a game at any second,” said Salem lineman Jamere Furbush, who had a sack and interception.

Woodstown then fumbled at the Ram 23 on the ensuing drive and and Salem's Ray Bentley later set up his own 2-yard run with an interception return to the 8.

“Costly turnovers have been the theme of our season,” said Woodstown coach John Adams. “You have to win the turnover battle against a good team, and they have a playmaker in Jonathan Taylor who is lights out. He has gotten a lot bigger and faster since last year.”

Taylor will have a chance to add to his total in his final game as a Ram in the South Jersey Group 1 championship game against Paulsboro on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Rowan.

“We came into this game wanting to keep the momentum going,” said Taylor. “There are people who lose that momentum when they don’t take care of business on Thanksgiving, but we wanted to keep it rolling.”

Taylor really started gaining steam in the playoffs. He ran for 238 yards on just 14 carries in a 50-8 opening-round win over Haddon Heights before blowing up for 368 yards on 27 carries in a 42-0 semifinal victory over Woodbury.

He came into Thursday’s game with six consecutive games over 200 yards after being held under the mark in three of the first four games – losing several long runs on penalties. His one game over 200 yards in the early part of the season was one of his two 300-yard games, a 344-yarder against Burlington City.

The fastest athlete in the state – Taylor won the 100-meters at the Meet of Champions – the 5-foot-11, 210-pounder is also able to shake would-be tacklers as a punishing North-South runner that isn’t afraid of contact.

“He has a really big heart and loves the game of football,” said Furbush. “He gives us his all, we give him our all.”

Salem won for the third straight time in the rivalry. The Rams lead the overall series 60-36-10.

“We wanted to come in and play to win and the line blocked for JT like they have all year, and JT broke the record, which is good to see him break it in front of his hometown,” said Salem coach Montrey Wright. “He’s been humble through this whole process. It’s been big for the whole program and this community. We’re excited for him.”

Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.

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