VIDEO, PHOTOS: Middle’s late rally falls short at Wall in Not For Long Media Football Game of the Week

Posted: October 1st 2023

Middle Township's Remi Rodriguez lunges for extra yards as teammate Jeremiah Jones looks to block in Sunday's game against Wall Township.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

WALL TOWNSHIP – Usually, you have to travel to a very large stadium and fork over big money for tickets to see a very good football game in person on a Sunday.

But those in attendance at Wall Township High School Sunday afternoon were treated to a dandy of a game for the admission prices of just $5 for adults and $2 for students.

Trailing by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Middle Township rallied to give itself a chance in the game’s dying moments, but ultimately fell, 20-14, to the Crimson Knights when a fourth-down pass with eight seconds remaining was just over the fingertips of Middle star receiver Michael Zarfati in the middle of the end zone in the Not For Long Media High School Football Game of the Week.

The defeat was the first of the season for Middle (5-1). The contest was played Sunday after torrential rain in the Wall area postponed the game from Friday.

“We wanted to try to get a game that would force us to be competitive for all 48 minutes and today was that situation,” Middle coach Frank Riggitano said. “That’s the way it’s going to be in the playoffs if we’re fortunate enough to get there.

“Adversity strikes at strange times and when it does you have to find out what you’re made of. We found out today that this group of kids is going to battle to the end and that’s all we can ask for.”

Joe Vaccaro’s 45-yard touchdown run gave Wall (2-4), a team from the very difficult Shore Conference with a ton of size along its offensive and defensive lines, a 20-7 lead with 9:20 to play in the game.

Middle responded quickly on its next possession, going 67 yards on only five plays to eventually score on Zarfati’s 10-yard reception from Mark Oliver, Zarfati breaking a tackle at the 5-yard line before diving inside the pylon at the front right corner of the end zone.

Wall was able to get two first downs on its next possession but the Panthers eventually forced the Crimson Knights to punt and got the ball back at their own 29-yard line with 2:19 to play.

A 13-yard diving reception by Austin McGraw, a 25-yard catch and run by Remi Rodriguez on a middle screen pass and a 12-yard catch by Zarfati led to Middle moving the ball to the Wall Township 21-yard line. But the next four plays resulted in incomplete passes, including the final toss to the end zone that was just out of Zarfati’s reach.

“We thought because of their size that they’d run it a lot and try to push us around a little bit,” Riggitano said. “They caught us off guard a little with their passing game. But with those kind of hammers up front, they did what we thought they’d do and try to run it a lot. That being said, as much as they dominated the clock with their possessions, we were able to move it when we had it, too. And we did get a stop when we needed it and that gave us a chance.”

Rodriguez finished with 124 yards rushing on 20 carries. He also caught three passes for 25 yards. Shaun Watkins added 72 rushing yards on seven carries. His 36-yard run help set up Middle’s first score in the third quarter, a quarterback sneak by Oliver on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.

Oliver was 8 for 18 for 102 yards with a touchdown and an interception through the air.

“We’re pretty diverse in what we’re doing offensively right now,” Riggitano said. “We like what we’re doing, but we’re not satisfied. We have to keep getting better.”

Middle will be a big favorite in its next two games, away to Buena at Vineland High School on Saturday before a home game against Bridgeton on Friday, Oct. 13. The team’s final regular-season game, on Friday, Oct. 20 against Pleasantville at home, could serve as a championship game, with the winner claiming the West Jersey Football League Patriot Division title.

“Hopefully, by the time we get to Pleasantville, both of us are 7-1 and we’re playing for a division title,” Riggitano said. “But we have to take care of business in the next two weeks first.”