Skylanders Move to 2-0
STANHOPE, NJ - Sept. 22, 2023
The Sussex County Community College football team's moto this season has been "Find A Way," and the
Skylanders definitely found a way en route to a 36 - 7 victory over Williamson College of the Trades at Don
Smolyn Field at Lenape Valley High School, Saturday Sept. 16.
Led by sophomore quarterback James Laubstein (Bethany, CONN.) who was 16-for-31 for 259 yards and
three touchdowns passing. He also rushed for 64 yards on seven carries and two touchdowns to help the
Skylanders improve to 2-0 on the season.
The win comes off a big 27-14 victory on Sept. 10 at the United States Military Academy Prep School at
Westpoint, NY.
"I am very proud of this team's effort and determination," said first-year head coach James Robertson. "When
things aren't going our way, we keep working and competing. Despite the weather, penalties, and injuries, we
continue to step up and make plays. That is all I can ask for as a head coach."
AJ Piechota (Dover, NJ), led the team with four catches and 68 yards Duke McDuffie (Brunswick, Ohio) led
the team with two touchdown catches and three receptions for 46 yards total. Pacing the running attack was
Jaiden Murphy (Cherry Hill, NJ) with five carries for 42 yards and Quartius Bryd Jr. (Carteret, NJ) chipped in
with five carries for 23 yards.
Emmett Prather (Willingboro, NJ) paced a tenacious Sussex defense with a total of 15 tackles, which limited
Williamson (0 - 1) to just 182 total yards. Also having a big game was Elijah Hyson (Germantown, MT) with
six tackles, two for a loss. Ahmad Peoples (Bloomfield, NJ) and Lamar Brown (Coatesville, PA) aided the
effort with seven and eight tackles, respectively.
Skylanders' special teams were also outstanding as kicker Selbin Sabio (Edison, NJ) was perfect on five
extra points and added a 29-yard field goal. The Skylanders also blocked two punts, thanks to the efforts
from Elijah Hyson and Ashwin DeGroot (South Plainfield, NJ).
"I have an incredible coaching staff who continue to assist these players and this program to grow and
succeed," said Robertson, who was the SCCC defensive coordinator last season under head coach Todd
Poltersdorf. "Situations that might have derailed this squad last year are now considered an obtainable task.
This past weekend, we confronted many situations in which most teams would struggle to succeed, yet we
found a way."
The Skylanders raced to a 14-0 at the half thanks to two Laubstein rushing touchdowns (2 yards, 6 yards).
The Skylanders extended their lead to 21-7 after three-quarters thanks to a Laubstein 10-yard touchdown
pass. The Skylanders capped the scoring with two TD grabs by Duke McDuffie (15 yards, 19 yards) and the
Sabio 29-yard field goal.
Robertson said, "As a new program coming off a 4-6 season, I believe we have been underestimated, and
our players have taken that personally. They all play with a chip on their shoulder, knowing that they are here
at Sussex because they were overlooked in high school or at the prior college from which they transferred.
They use the chip to prove to everyone that they belong."
The Skylanders will look to move to 3-0 on Saturday, Sept. 23, when they travel to Thaddeus
Stevens College in Lancaster, Pa. for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
"2-0 is something that Sussex Football has never done before," said Robertson. "It is a testament to the
players, coaches, and the supporting cast here at Sussex County Community College. I am excited to see
our players and this team continue to exceed expectations, but we're not done yet!"
Written By Kell Barta, SCCC Sports Journalism Student.