DIVISION CHAMPS: Caper Tigers outlast Oakcrest to claim WJFL Liberty title, clinch Group II playoff berth

Posted: October 25th 2025

Lower Cape May quarterback Dave Douglass ran for three touchdowns in a 28-20 win over Oakcrest Friday.

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com

LOWER TOWNSHIP – The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team staged another surprise party Friday night.

The Caper Tigers added another accolade to their season, clinching the West Jersey Football League Liberty Division championship with a 28-20 victory over Oakcrest.

“Our expectations coming into this year were that we were going to surprise some people,” Lower first-year head coach Billy Damiana said. “We worked hard all summer. I figured, and our challenge to the team, was to let people know that we’re a different group. The kids really bought in and got us to this point.”

After the final whistle, Lower celebrated on the sideline while the school pep band played the school song and fans cheered.

They had good reason to celebrate.

The victory not only marked the team’s second division title in the last three seasons – Lower won the WJFL’s Royal Division crown in 2023 behind former coach Lance Bailey – but also clinched a berth in the state Group II playoffs.

Lower (7-2) qualified for the state playoffs for just the fourth time in school history and the first time since 2010.

“This means the world to us,” Lower senior quarterback David Douglas said. “Coming from a 2-8 team last year, no one expected this. But we did.”

Accomplishing the feats against Oakcrest (2-7) made it extra special.

Last season’s struggles included a 60-0 loss to the Falcons in the final regular-season game.

“We’ve had this game marked on our schedule for a while after getting blown out last year,” junior running back Ryan Mallon said. “But whatever happened in the past doesn’t matter.  We have a lot of heart and dedicated players on this team.”

Lower relied on its running game to win the rematch. Douglas rushed for three touchdowns while gaining 68 yards on 16 carries. Mallon ran tough between the tackles for 141 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Senior Jonathan Fernandez used his speed to run for 96 yards on 12 attempts.

The Caper Tigers’ ground game enabled them to score on their first three possessions to build a 21-12 halftime lead.

They also controlled the clock, which kept Oakcrest’s talented offense on the sidelines for extended periods.

Falcons senior running back Donovan Linthicum rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, including an electric, 60-yard jaunt.

The defense also came up big when they stopped Oakcrest on downs at the 23-yard line late in the game. That proved to be crucial when Oakcrest junior quarterback Devin Fortson threw a 16-yard TD pass and a two-point conversion pass to senior wide receiver Jaden Harvey that cut Lower’s lead to 28-20 with five minutes, nine seconds left in regulation.

“We knew we had to control the ball,” Damiana said. “We thought we had the advantage up front and that turned out to be true. We wanted to control the ball, get one or two turnovers, and get out of here with the win.”

Lower now heads to the state playoffs, where it will try to earn the school’s first postseason win.

The official playoff groupings and seedings will be released on Sunday.

The Caper Tigers also qualified in 1980, 2006 and 2010. The 1980 squad, which was coached by Bill Garrison and included standouts such as future Rutgers center Joe DiGilio, won the Cape-Atlantic League with an undefeated record before losing to Overbrook Regional 13-7.

The 2006 team, led by future Villanova University standout Matt Szczur, lost to Bridgeton 26-7. In 2010, junior quarterback Mike Mulligan threw four touchdown passes in a heart-breaking, 29-28 loss to Barnegat.

“It’s only the fourth time we’ve been in the playoffs and that’s something the kids need to hang their hats on,” Damiana said.