VIDEO: Middle wins by shutout to inch closer to division title, rivalry game with LCM up next

Posted: September 29th 2026

Middle Township's Davon Anderson tackles Haddon Township's Dylan Muro as teammates Kaihem Atkinson (6) and Colin Prockson (47) close in on the play.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – What a difference 10 days can make.

A little more than a week after committing 17 penalties in a sloppy win over Wildwood, the Middle Township High School football team played with much more precision and poise in a convincing 21-0 victory over Haddon Township Monday at Memorial Field.

The rare Monday contest was created after the teams were forced to postpone from Saturday due to the weekend Nor’Easter.

“That was the emphasis all week long and we responded well as a program,” Middle coach Gavin Liepe said. “We understood what we needed to do to clean things up. The older guys did a great job of setting the example and we got it done.”

Freshman quarterback Julian Broughton tossed a pair of touchdown passes, one a 79-yarder to Christian Cope on which Cope got behind the defense for a catch about 30 yards downfield and used his legs to do the rest. The second came on a wonderful throw by Broughton and terrific body control by Kaihem Atkinson, who caught a 23-yard pass at the goal line before falling into the end zone.

Liepe smiled when he was asked about his young quarterback.

“He’s definitely improving,” he said. “He’s a special player, and he’s going to be really good for a really long time here. Every week he’s progressing as a thrower and as a commander of the offense.”

Davon Anderson scored Middle’s other touchdown, a 20-yard jaunt that finished off an impressive 10-play, 87-yard drive.

M.J. Phillips made all three of his extra-point tries.

Hunter White and Anderson fueled a terrific ground attack for Middle. White ran 17 times for 100 yards and Anderson carried five times for 44 yards.

Middle’s defense was on point throughout. The Panthers clinched their shutout when they stopped Haddon Township on downs inside the 5-yard line with three minutes to play.

Haddon Township moved the ball a bit in the second half but did not manage a first down over the opening two quarters.

“I thought we controlled the game from start to finish,” Liepe said. “We understood what we had to do defensively with our discipline and with our eyes on our reads and we did a great job of shutting them down. And then offensively we did what we had to do to move the sticks and get first downs.”

Middle (3-2 overall, 3-0 West Jersey Football League United Division) moved a step closer toward a division title with the victory. The Panthers are the lone remaining unbeaten team in division play.

Middle steps out of division play for its annual Anchor Bowl contest with Lower Cape May this weekend. The game was originally scheduled for Friday evening but, after the game with Haddon Township was forced to be played Monday, the contest is now scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m.

Lower Cape May is 4-1 on the season after last weekend’s win over Absegami.

“This is the most exciting game on the schedule every year,” Liepe said. “It’s awesome for the community and it’s awesome for the kids that they get to line up against each other. We were already feeling it even before this game ended. The kids are excited for it.”