Haddonfield football reclaims first South Jersey Group 2 crown since 2021 in dominating fashion

The Haddonfield Memorial High School football team celebrates with the South Jersey Group 2 trophy after defeating Delran, 28-7, at Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey on Friday, November 14, 2025. Chris Baker/D2 Sports Network

HADDONFIELD - It had been a long four seasons since the Haddonfield Memorial High School football team had gotten back to the mountain top of South Jersey Group 2.

The Bulldogs reclaimed their spot with a 28-7 exclamation over Delran at home. The Haddons were once again kings of the South Jersey Group 2 bracket for the first time since 2021.

Haddonfield set the tone early with an 11-play scoring drive that spanned four minutes and 52 seconds, capped by a Brody Leonard touchdown to open the contest. The Haddons kept their foot on the gas from that point on. The Bulldogs would go back to the well three more times in the contest, giving their All-World back a total of four touchdowns on the ground. Leonard finished the game with 32 carries for 201 yards and four scores, continuing his torching of the South Jersey Group 2 bracket.

Through three games so far in the postseason, Leonard has carried the ball 92 times for 578 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, the senior has caught two passes for 39 yards and a touchdown as well. Every game, the Bulldogs know who's going to lead the way, and it's number 25.

"I take pride in knowing that they're going to lean on me throughout the game," Leonard said. "I'd say I'm a good player, but my offensive line makes me great. I wouldn't have the yards, the openings, or the chances to make things happen if they didn't do their job up front. It looks like I do the work, but they open everything up for me. They deserve the credit."

Whilst the offense chewed up a majority of the clock, the defense stiffened up and clamped down on any threat the Delran offense posed. The Bulldogs' defense forced a trio of turnovers when it mattered most.

On Delran's second play from scrimmage, Mike Keenan stepped in front of a pass and snagged an interception. Later in the first quarter, Cormac Flanagan joined the party and picked off a pass of his own, yet again setting up a scoring drive, allowing the Haddons to pull away.

Delran did show life, though, throughout the game. Vinny Sacca found Justin Mary on a sort of impromptu fake quarterback run, and Mary scooted into the endzone about halfway through the second quarter.

The Bulldogs weren't able to respond, leaving breathing room for Delran after receiving the second half opening kick and Micah Davison's attempt to recreate last week's second half resurgence with a return to the Haddonfield 42-yard line.

The Bears then marched down the field and set up shop on the one-yard line, seemingly preparing to yet again cut into the lead. As Sacca leaped over the goal line, the ball was knocked loose, and Jack McKeever flopped onto the ball on about the half-inch line, nipping the momentum in the bud.

From that point on, Haddonfield shifted into cruise control and rolled to its first sectional crown since 2021, where the Bulldogs went on to win the South/Central Group 2 regional title in a 19-18 thriller over Point Pleasant Boro. The current senior class was only in 8th grade during that playoff run. Heading into this season, the 2026 class was in line to be the first class in program history to not walk away with at least a sectional title, regional title, or some sort of hardware. They changed the narrative and put history aside for at least another four years.

"These guys weren't in high school yet when we made it to Rutgers last time," Haddonfield coach Frank DeLano said. "They were only in middle school, watching in the stands or on the sidelines the last time we got to this point. For them to get over the hump and bring us back to the sectional final and win it says a lot about their hard work. This group came in and put in the work during the summer when it was easier to stay home and sleep in. They came to practice every week and earned this moment. We'll celebrate this moment, but tomorrow morning it's onto Camden."