Colin Wetterau and Daevon Robinson led the Renegades to a 41–6 win over Hammonton High School on Sunday night.
Shawnee High School football seniors Colin Wetterau and Daevon Robinson saved their best game for last on Sunday night.
Wetterau threw for three touchdown passes, ran for a fourth and also returned a fumble for a touchdown, while Robinson caught two of Wetterau’s touchdowns passes and ran for a third as Shawnee breezed past Hammonton High School, 41–6, to win the South Jersey Group IV championship.
“This was our main goal,” Wetterau said following the game. “I’m just so elated with happiness that we ended up taking care of the job.”
Wetterau’s emergence at quarterback was a huge part of the Renegades’ success in 2017. Sunday’s championship game was the fourth time Wetterau threw for 250 or more yards and three or more touchdowns in a game. Wetterau exceeded the 2,000 passing yard milestone for the season on Sunday night.
One of Wetterau’s biggest targets in 2017 was Robinson. The two developed a rapport even before the season began and their chemistry paid dividends. In the championship, Wetterau threw a 73-yard touchdown pass and 36-yard touchdown pass to Robinson in the first half, allowing Shawnee to build a solid 21–0 halftime lead.
“Me and Colin have been grinding all season together,” We’ve been on the field since the summer, four to five days a week.”
Robinson’s speed didn’t just help him outrun defensive backs. Robinson was also a force on defense against Hammonton, pressuring the Blue Devils quarterback Reynold Triboletti throughout the night. Robinson said he’s been moving between safety and linebacker throughout the season and knew he could use his speed to get around Hammonton’s offensive line.
“Today was going to have to be one of my best games ever,” Robinson said. “I just came out here, I believed in our coaches, and just gave it my all.”
Wetterau also made an impact on defense, returning a Hammonton fumble 32 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. It was Wetterau’s second defensive touchdown in 2017.
“That was wild,” Wetterau said. “Even with the defensive touchdown, I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t even feel anything.”
Wetterau and Robinson’s strong seasons on offense were especially important as Shawnee was hampered with injuries throughout the season, especially at running back.
“We throw the ball,” head coach Tim Gushue said. “We’ve been struggling at running back all year because of injuries, so consequently, we’ve got to throw. That’s why we went empty.”
Injuries hampered the Renegades all season long. The team lost five players to season-ending knee injuries. This required a number of players to step up into the starting lineup for Shawnee.
“I’m just proud of this senior class,” Gushue said. “We’ve been through an awful lot with the injuries this year. Other guys have stepped us and got us here. I’m just so happy for these guys.”
After a 3–3 start to the season, Shawnee went a roll. The Renegades won their final two games of the regular season to qualify for the South Jersey Group IV playoffs as a №4 seed. In the postseason, the Renegades dominated. They defeated Absegami High School, 41–0, in the first round and stunned №1 seed Moorestown High School, 40–7, in the semifinals before defeating Hammonton for the program’s first South Jersey Group IV title since 2014.
Even through the Renegades slow start and all of the injuries the team suffered, the team’s goal of winning a championship never changed. As the final seconds ticked off the clock Sunday, Wetterau realized there was no place he’d rather be than celebrating a championship with his teammates.
“I couldn’t be happier playing for this program and Coach Gushue,” Wetterau said.
