VIDEO, PHOTOS: Disciplined LCM rolls to third win in four games

Posted: September 19th 2026

Lower Cape May's Connor Milligan tackles an ACIT player during the Caper Tigers' victory Friday night.

By DAVID WEINBERG

For CapeAtlanticLive.com

LOWER TOWNSHIP – The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team delivered a nearly flawless performance against Atlantic County Institute of Technology Friday night.

Its offense and defense produced touchdowns and the Caper Tigers didn’t commit a single penalty during a 48-12 victory in a West Jersey Football League Memorial Division game.

The victory was Lower’s third in four games to start the season.

“We practiced very hard during the week and it paid off,” Lower coach Bill Damiana said. “We played with a lot of energy.”

A large crowd filled the stands during a “White Out” game, braving muggy conditions that had spectators, cheerleaders, officials and players swatting gnats between plays.

When he wasn’t shooing bugs, Lower running back Ryan Mallon was sprinting to the end zone.

The speedy senior rushed for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, including an electric 67-yard run in the second quarter.

“Once I got into the open field, I had to get (the touchdown),” Mallon said. “I’m a leader and that means I have to step up.”

Lower (3-1 overall, 1-1 in the division) started strong. Mallon’s three-yard scoring run capped a 65-yard, 15-play drive on its opening series to take a 7-0 lead.

The Caper Tigers committed their only mistake on the ensuing kickoff. ACIT’s Xavier Pagan broke two tackles, then dashed up the right sideline for an 84-yard touchdown that cut Lower’s lead to 7-6.

But Lower dominated from there, rattling off five straight TDs to grab a 41-6 halftime lead that resulted in a running clock being used for the entire second half.

ACIT (2-2, 0-2) scored its only other points on the final play of the game, when the Red Hawks’ Imari Dennis scored on a 20-yard run against Lower’s defensive backups.

In addition to Mallon, senior quarterback David Douglas accounted for two scores via a 35-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jose Ramos and a one-yard sneak.

Lower’s defense and special teams forced four combined turnovers and provided the team’s final two touchdowns.

Senior defensive end Jadon Henry scooped up a fumbled snap and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, before senior cornerback Jacob Collins scored on a 20-yard interception return.

Lower next plays two straight road games. They travel to Absegami (0-4) next Friday, then head to rival Middle Township (2-2) for the annual Anchor Bowl.

“We made a few mistakes and we’ve got to get them corrected,” Damiana said. “We’ve got a big gauntlet coming up.”

(Photos courtesy Heidi Ray)