ERMA – The experience of the Lower Cape May Regional High School football team was on display Friday evening.
The Caper Tigers, a team with nine returning starters on both sides of the ball, ran roughshod over a young, inexperienced Bridgeton team in the season opener for both teams, blitzing to a 35-0 lead before settling for a 44-6 victory.
Not surprisingly, Lower Cape May’s star, junior Braswell Thomas, had his fingerprints all over the performance. Thomas caught five passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, returned an interception 30 yards for another score, broke up another pass attempt and also made two tackles for losses.
“He’s a good ball player, obviously,” Lower coach Lance Bailey said. “His recognition of what we’re doing and what we’re teaching him and what he’s picked up by going to all these high-level camps and having the workouts at the different (colleges that are recruiting him) has really helped his maturity football-wise. His maturity level has gone to another level.”
Senior quarterback Hunter Ray was also a major factor. He completed 10 of 16 passes for 164 yards and a touchdown, spreading the ball to six different receivers. He also ran nine times for 48 yards and another touchdown.
“He made some good decisions but at the same time there are some things he has to get better at, too,” Bailey said. “But we know he will. We have all the confidence in him.”
Senior running back Isiah Carr-Wing was also a big part of the offense, running 10 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns despite briefly leaving the game with a leg injury before returning.
Lower’s defense was on point throughout. The Tigers intercepted four passes – A.J. King also returned one of them for a touchdown from 25 yards out – and limited Bridgeton to just one first down, which came on an 81-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of the first half. Bridgeton managed just three first downs for the game.
“Kudos to (defensive coordinator) Billy (Damiana) and our defense,” Bailey said. “They worked hard to get ready for this one and they did a great job.”
Dennis Serra went 5 for 6 on extra-point kicks and also booted a 36-yard field goal for Lower.
Serra and Jackson Brown also added interceptions.
Lower Cape May next plays Thursday at home against Clayton, which was a 34-12 winner over KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy in its opener. The game will be broadcast live by CapeAtlanticLive.com.
“Clayton’s a very disciplined wing-T team and they get after it,” Bailey said. “It’s going to be a tough battle.”
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