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Caper Tigers eye playoff berth, division title

Posted: August 22nd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team experienced a mixed bag of success last season.

On one hand, the Caper Tigers won seven games, the program’s highest total in 12 seasons. But on the other, a shocking midseason home defeat to Pitman cost the team the West Jersey Football League Royal Division championship and a state playoff appearance.

With a more experienced and deeper roster, Lower is hungry to eliminate any missteps this fall.

While top players such as Archie Lawler and Jacob Bey have graduated, most of the other starters return.

Leading the way is junior Braswell Thomas, a gifted wide receiver (35 catches, 506 yards) and defensive back (three interceptions) who has already received nine major Division I scholarship offers.

Also back is three-year starting quarterback Hunter Ray, who completed 66 percent of his passes for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He’s garnering attention from a number of Division III colleges.

“He looks good,” said Lower coach Lance Bailey. “You can see the maturity level has risen from a football aspect. He’s climbing the pocket, he has more attention to detail … He has a good handle on what we’re doing.”

There are lots of other skill position players returning as well. Senior RB/LB Isiah Carr-Wing (805 rushing yards with 9 TDs), senior Oguer Nunez (RB/LB), senior Logan Haggerty (RB/LB), senior A.J. King (RB/LB), junior Dennis Serra (RB/DB/K) and freshman Ryan Mallon (RB/DB) give the team great depth at the running back position. Most will start or see significant action on defense as well. 

“That’s a solid group there,” Bailey said. “And we can move any one of them into different positions back there.”

In addition to Thomas, others in the receiving game include senior Jackson Browne (WR/DB/P), junior Zach Castellano (WR/DB) and sophomore Jonathan Fernandez (WR/DB). They’ll be in the rotation at defensive back as well.

The top players in the trenches, all of whom played significant roles last season, include seniors Ron Neenhold (OL/DL), Quintin Hagan (OL/DL), Joe Franzillo (OL/DL) and Ben Rue (OL/DL), along with sophomores Will Garoh (OL/DL) and Jake Hearon (OL/DL). Senior Amir Clarke (DE/OL) is expected to start on defense.

“We have some experience up there, with a little bit of youth,” Bailey said. “It’s a good mix.”

Newcomers expected to see action include senior Ryan Rush (OL/DL), junior Brian McNeal (WR/DB) and sophomores Curt Johnson (OL/LB) and Alex Nelson (RB/LB).

Lower opens the season at home against Bridgeton, which went winless while competing in a difficult division last season. The game will be broadcast live by CapeAtlanticLive.com.

“I think we’re ready to go,” Bailey said. “We’ve been going at it since late June. We’ve had two good scrimmages. Right now it’s about fixing all the little details for both the kids and the coaches.”

Lower should be in position to compete for the WJFL Royal Division title and the program’s first playoff berth in 13 seasons.

“We’ve been preaching one practice at a time, one game at a time,” Bailey said. “Yes, we have long-range goals. But you can’t take care of those unless you take care of what’s in front of you.”

Bailey’s assistant coaches are Billy Damiana, Sam Lawler, Paul Baruffi, Shane Wolford, Sal Cinaglia, Steve Camposio, Mike Wilson and Matt Danze.

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