VIDEO, PHOTOS: Warriors move ball but can’t finish drives in season-opening defeat to Pitman

Posted: August 27th 2026

Wildwood's Giani Jackson (left) and Levin Sheppard combine to tackle a Pitman player during Thursday's high school football game at Maxwell Field.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WILDWOOD – When the first half of Saturday’s high school football opener ended, Wildwood had earned seven first downs on offense to Pitman’s five.

The Warriors’ seven first downs, however, couldn’t overcome five first-half turnovers. Pitman took advantage, scoring all four of its touchdowns in the opening half in running to a 28-0 victory on a very warm late morning/early Thursday afternoon at Maxwell Field on a day many people would have preferred visiting the beach.

Wildwood had just 21 players in uniform for the contest, only seven of whom were juniors or seniors.

Still, the Warriors managed to move the ball offensively a bit, thanks to some solid passing and some good runs by sophomore quarterback Matt Maher, a few rushes by Jayvion Hennessy and Dayvon Williams and receptions by Williams, Rasheem Jones and Levin Sheppard.

Trailing 13-0 late in the first quarter, Wildwood had a 68-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Hennessy negated by a holding penalty that one of the officials spotted some 40 yards away from the flow of the play.

Pitman scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the first half, capitalizing first on an interception at the Wildwood 32-yard line and later on a fumbled kickoff return that gave the Panthers the ball at the Warrior 33-yard line.

Wildwood is next in action next Thursday at Lindenwold.