VIDEO: Two big plays cost LCM in close loss to Pleasantville

Posted: October 10th 2026

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – A pair of late mistakes prevented the Lower Cape May Regional High School football team from earning a big victory against Pleasantville Friday.

The Greyhounds converted a fourth-and-44 situation with an 86-yard run off a fake punt, then scored on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Takiesse Barnes to James Smith to rally for a 20-18 win.

“Two plays, that was the story of the game,” Lower coach Billy Damiana said. “Our kids fought hard, but we just didn’t execute on those two plays and that falls on me.”

The Caper Tigers led 10-6 late in the third quarter and seemed in position to take control after a pair of sacks from defensive end Jadon Henry and linebacker Shane Lawler, respectively, followed by a personal foul penalty that backed Pleasantville to its own 9-yard line.

Pleasantville punter Raliel Wiggins stood at the goal line awaiting the snap. Instead of kicking, however, he took off down the right side, weaving his way across the field and past Lower defenders before being tackled at Lower’s 5-yard line.

Four plays later, Barnes scored on a 6-yard keeper to put the Greyhounds ahead 12-10.

“I was going to punt it, but my long snapper (Jayden Duncan) told me to run it, so I did,” Wiggins said. “I saw an opening and I knew they couldn’t catch me, so I took off.”

Lower (5-2) promptly responded with its own touchdown. Running back Ryan Mallon capped a 10-play, 65-yard drive with a 9-yard burst up the middle. Quarterback Dave Douglas then muscled into the end zone for a two-point conversion that put the Caper Tigers ahead 18-12 with 4 minutes, 58 seconds left in regulation.

The Lower Cape May pep band was still playing the school’s fight song and the cheerleaders were in mid-back flip when Pleasantville (3-4) scored again.

Barnes, who was playing quarterback for the first time, spotted Smith all alone deep downfield and hit him in stride. Smith grabbed the pass at the 30-yard line and sped into the end zone with 4:30 remaining to tie the game at 18-18.

“James is really fast, so I just laid the ball out there and let him go get it,” Barnes said. “I knew if he caught it, no one was going to catch him.”

Pleasantville, which doesn’t have a place-kicker, went for 2.

Barnes appeared to be stopped at the 1-yard line, but twisted, dove and stuck the ball over the goal line for a 20-18 lead.

“I just had to keep fighting to get it,” Barnes said, “because two points was going to matter.”

Lower’s late rally ended with an interception, its third of the game.

Pleasantville took a 6-0 lead on its first possession when Barnes reeled off a 35-yard run, then snuck in from 2 yards out.

Lower got the spark it needed in the second quarter when Cooper Milligan recovered a muffed punt on the Greyhounds’ 32-yard line, leading to Ryan Mallon’s 23-yard TD. Britton Walls added the PAT for a 7-6 lead.

Walls pushed Lower’s advantage to 10-6 with a 30-yard field goal late in the third quarter, setting the stage for a wild final period.

“There was some sentiment that this game was going to be a blowout for Pleasantville,” Damiana said. “People thought they would win by 40. But our kids fought hard.”

Despite the loss, Lower still has plenty of incentive. The Caper Tigers have West Jersey Football League Memorial Division games against Hammonton and Oakcrest the next two weeks.

Two wins would give them at least a share of the division title and would also greatly help their quest to qualify for the state Group II playoffs.

“These next two games are big for us,” Damiana said.