With the Super Bowl fast approaching, it would be remiss not to look back on Lawrence Township’s version of an ultimate champion.
And the numbers they put up this season are more impressive than whichever team emerges victorious in the Feb. 8 spectacle in Santa Clara.
In fact, they are as good as any squad could ever have.
The 12U team from the Lawrence Junior Cardinals Football and Cheer Program dominated their division in the regular season of this year’s West Jersey Youth Football League; and went on to win the WJYFL playoff title and finish with an 11-0 record this past fall.
The Cardinals outscored their foes, 240-0. Not only did they not allow a point, but no opponent crossed Lawrence’s 30-yard line.
That, folks, is complete supremacy.
“I haven’t played on a better team,” said right guard/defensive tackle/captain Dominic Pridegen, “and I think it will be kind of hard to top this one.”
“This year’s 12U team was truly something special,” agreed League President Mario Bruno. “Many of these young men had been to the (championship game) in previous seasons but came up short, leaving them hungry for redemption.
“After taking the prior years’ losses, the group refocused, tightened up both their offense and defense, and made key adjustments to personnel while adding new talent to the roster. From that point forward, their physical dominance and athleticism were undeniable.”
The team was led by Bryan Carter, who is stepping down after 14 seasons as an LJC coach. Carter guided teams to four state finals, winning one with the 14Us in 2020 and two with the 12Us in 2022 and ’25. He coached at every level but the youngest.
As a long-time township resident and two-way starter for Len Weister’s 1997 Lawrence High team that went undefeated in the regular season, Carter cares deeply about football in Lawrenceville. He began coaching after Duane Davis, a 1997 LHS teammate, was called out of the bleachers to help out due to a lack of coaches in the program.
“I went to watch him and it was a disaster,” Carter said with a laugh. “I said ‘Next year I’m coming out with you.’ I started coaching when my son was six and I stayed after he left. It’s been a long time.”
But a great time for both Carter and the league. The coach was a symbol of LJC and its success, as he also served as president, director of football operations and vice-president of field operations. .
“Replacing him will be no small task,” Bruno said. “While most father coaches eventually age out and move on as their children advance to high school or college, Bryan was different. He chose to stay long after his own child moved on. His commitment to the program, both on and off the field, has been extraordinary. He will be deeply missed.
“Bryan’s dedication and loyalty have set a standard that will be difficult to match. The bar he raised for coaching, leadership, and service to LJC will remain unmatched for many years to come.”
Pridgen, a Lawrence Middle School student, said Carter, “is an amazing coach. With his experience, he was able to see the potential in every player and push us to greatness. We wouldn’t have made it to the championship with the record we had without his constant motivation. But, he did make sure that after we got business done, we still had fun.”
Winning the way Lawrence did this past season is always going to be fun. The team was a mixture of returning 12U players and young men who moved up from the 10U team that reached the playoff finals last year.
“I always paid attention to the kids on the 10U team just to get an idea of what I had coming up,” Carter said. “Half of that team actually went to the championship game. So I was pretty confident we would have a pretty good team, mixing what I already had with what I had coming up.
“I did have championship aspirations knowing this would be my last season. I always put my all into it but this was a little bit more extra. Still, nobody could imagine we wouldn’t let up a point all season.”
Pridgen felt likewise, and said as the season progressed, so too did the burden of perfection.
“No team ever goes into a season thinking they’ll be undefeated and unscored upon,” he said. “It’s pretty rare. So by the middle of the season it felt like there was more pressure to keep winning. Especially having people doubt us and wanting us to lose.”
Those doubters never got what they wanted. The Cardinals were tested just one time all season, and that came in a 7-0 win over Bellmawr in which they committed four turnovers early in the campaign.
In the playoffs, Lawrence beat Pemberton and Haddon Township before meeting Bellmawr in the championship game. The Cards played much cleaner in the rematch and won 22-0 as wildcat quarterback Bryan “BJ” Council Jr. scored all three touchdowns on option runs.
“BJ played a big role on offense,” Pridgen said. “He can block, catch, run, and he’s good at spotting weaknesses in the defense. Off the field, he helps motivate the team before every game. He’s also pretty funny.”
Although he was no laughing matter to opponents, as the captain earned MVP honors thanks to his play at receiver, QB and safety.
Starters on the offensive line were left tackle Aurelio Ortiz, right tackle and captain Lennon Gaines, left guard Leon Cook, right guard Pridgen, who was the team’s Iron Man winner, and center Raphael Forestal.
The starting skill players included fullback Corey Balcom, slot receiver Jamal Bonhomme, quarterback Kamau Lee, running back and Offensive Player of the Year Noble Rogers and tight end Tyon Cherry. Forestal, also a captain, was the place kicker.
“He was excellent,” Carter said. “He would kick them over to the baseball field. His kickoffs were down to the endzone and the other team was stuck on their side of the field. We were never threatened to be scored upon.”
A stellar defense had something to do with that as well.
The powerful starting line included ends Balcom and Cherry, and tackles Gaines, Cook, Forestal and Pridgen.
“We had a great defensive line that put in a lot of hard work,” Pridgen said. “We played like a unit and had great communication, which played a big role in every game.”
Carter could not have agreed more.
“Our defensive linemen were so dominant, they made a lot of plays,” the coach said. “They made it hard for offensive linemen to get up to our second level. We made a lot of tackles in the backfield. Quarterbacks were constantly under pressure to pass the ball. They were very fast off the ball. We tried to coach speed off the ball and they did an excellent job with it.”
On the rare times ball carriers got through the line, the linebackers and secondary were there to clean things up. Bonhomme and Amir Givens were the starting corners, Council was the safety and linebackers were Noble and Kameron Rogers.
“BJ Council was all world,” Carter said. “Any time the ball went in the air, the quarterback had to get rid of the ball quick. His reaction back there was great. If anybody hung it up there too long it was an interception every time.”
Rounding out the talented defense were linebacker Xyaire Campbell, d-linemen Kalvin Cason, Kendrick Taylor, Ayden Grant, Devin Keith and Ethan Heller, and cornerbacks Justin Hoyle and Zach Lampley. Providing offensive depth were running back Gavin Bruno and linemen Jaxson Ricks (center) and Jayden Castro.
The Cardinal assistants were Diesel Barnes, who was part of Carter’s first staff from 14 years ago, Haneef Lee and Ron Vinny.
It was the first Lawrence outfit to go undefeated and unscored upon during the season.
But the team displayed more than just talent. It displayed great sportsmanship.
“The positive feedback and praise our 12Us received throughout the season was overwhelming,” Bruno said. “They weren’t just recognized for their performance; they were recognized for their character. Even while winning decisively, the boys carried themselves with poise and class. LJC does not allow showboating or unsportsmanlike behavior, and this team embodied that standard perfectly.”
Their results were pretty perfect too.
“The WJYFL President noted that this group is statistically the most dominant team to ever come through WJYF,” Bruno said. “Our program has built a reputation for competing with respect and integrity, and this team strengthened that reputation in every way.”
Nothing is truly perfect, however. There was one drawback.
“LJC has a tradition to buy the kids donuts after every win,” Bruno said. “We ran into a budget issue halfway through the season because of all the donuts we had to purchase each week.”
“It was,” he added with a laugh, “a good problem!”
The Lawrence Junior Cardinals Football and Cheer Program’s 12U team celebrates winning the West Jersey Youth Football League championship. ,
