Dorsey, St. Joe rewarded for faith in themselves

Nearly three years after it last earned a victory, St. Joseph Academy’s football team won a game last week, ending a program-record 16-game losing streak that dated back to November of 2022.

St. Joseph football is not used to losing. For decades, the Wildcats were perennial state championship contenders. St. Joe has won a record 27 state and sectional titles, the last one in 2018.

So to lose 16-straight games is something no one at St. Joseph has ever had to deal with.

That task, rebuilding a storied program, has fallen squarely on the shoulders of second-year head coach Ron Dorsey.

Dorsey, a Hammonton High School graduate, knows how to win, having played on championship teams during his career with the Blue Devils.  Dorsey played for one legendary South Jersey coach, Pete Lancetta, and was an assistant under another, Paul Sacco, at St. Joseph.

It would be easy for a coach to become frustrated having to wait almost two full seasons to earn his first win, but Dorsey has been steadfast in his belief that the program, left for dead by many in the South Jersey football community, will rebuild into a championship team.

“The future is bright here. It may not look like it now, but I really feel it is,” he said at the start of this season.

Dorsey’s confidence is reflected in his players. The Wildcats don’t often win, but they play with energy and pride. That confidence is starting to build, and received a huge boost from last week’s victory. The win may also convince a few players to stay at St. Joseph and more to take a chance on the program and its energetic coach.

“We had some kids transfer out after last year, but maybe now they’ll want to stay and help us build back to where we were,” Dorsey said.

As the seconds clicked off the clock in the fourth quarter, Dorsey was doused with the water cooler for the first, but probably not the last time in his coaching career.

He stumbled a little speaking to his team following the game, choking up a little as the tears welled in his eyes.

“This is why we work so hard,” he told them.

“This is how you win.”

There were handshakes and hugs from players, friends and staff, and Dorsey reflected on his choice to take on the task of rebuilding.

Dorsey is a spiritual man and his faith has helped carry him through what have been some tough stretches the last two seasons.

“God put me in this place for a reason. And I knew that. And I knew it was going to be tough.

“Seeing those kids’ faces, that was special. It really was. It’s been tough. But to see how happy they were, that makes it all worth it. That’s why I’m here and I know we’re going to move forward with more wins and bring this program back to where it was,” Dorsey said.

Dan Russoman is the news/sports director of The Gazette. Follow Russoman on X @DanRussoman.