VIDEO: Rodriguez fuels fast start as Middle shuts out LCM in Anchor Bowl

Posted: September 13th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

ERMA – A fast start, a wonderful performance by one of the West Jersey Football League’s top running backs and a stingy defensive effort propelled the Middle Township High School football team to a victory over its biggest rival Thursday evening.

Middle scored touchdowns on each of its first two possessions and received a 228-yard rushing performance by Remi Rodriguez in a 14-0 victory over Lower Cape May as the Anchor Bowl returned after a puzzling one-year hiatus.

The victory also represented the first in the head coaching career of first-year Panther leader Gavin Liepe.

Middle (1-1 overall, 1-0 West Jersey Football League Liberty Division) forced a pair of three-and-outs by Lower’s offense at the start of the game and capitalized each time. Rodriguez finished off a seven-play 60-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. He then scored from 46 yards out on the first play of Middle’s next possession.

“That’s just who he is,” Liepe said. “He’s electric. Anytime you give him the ball, he’s a threat to score.”

Rodriguez was also a stalwart on defense. He broke up two passes and intercepted another, one of four picks by the Panther defense.

“People kind of overlook Remi’s effort on the defensive side of the ball,” Liepe said. “His contain and his ability in man coverage is impressive.”

REMI RODRIGUEZ

Middle moved the ball well for the rest of the game but couldn’t finish any of its drives as a young Lower team remained in the game. But the Tigers couldn’t find the end zone themselves, twice throwing interceptions near the goal line. Lower also had a 22-yard touchdown run by Brian McNeal midway through the fourth quarter called back due to a penalty.

“We didn’t come out of the locker room well but the kids responded from there over the second, third and fourth quarters by holding them,” Lower coach Lance Bailey said. “We still made some key mistakes offensively. But I was happy with the way we responded after getting punched in the face.”

Shaun Watkins was also a standout for Middle. He ran 12 times for 69 yards, recorded an interception and also posted three tackles for losses.

Chase Moore and Aydan Howell added interceptions for Middle, Moore’s coming on a diving effort on a long throw near his team’s 15-yard line. Howell also caught four passes on offense.

“We played all phases and got out of here with a (shutout), but we definitely took our foot off the gas for various reasons,” Liepe said. “Some of it was because of injuries and we had to move some guys around but we still have to finish better.”

But Middle’s stout defense overshadowed the team’s offensive struggles over the final three quarters.

“Lower Cape May runs their stuff out of a lot of formations,” Liepe said, “so we had to have a very extensive game plan defensively that we went over all week. The kids did a great job of paying attention to everything we were stressing all week in practice and they executed on defense.”

Dennis Serra caught four passes for 18 yards and John Fernandez had three receptions for 38 yards for a Lower team (0-3, 0-1) that has not found a victory despite being competitive in each of its first three games.

Middle’s victory was its 11th in 12 games over Lower. Middle leads the all-time series, 66-37-4.

The teams, aligned in different divisions last season, could not agree on a date to play last season, marking the first time since the 1940s the rivals did not face one another in a season.

Prior to the game, a moment of silence was held in memory of Buddy Tarbotton, a longtime local sports broadcaster who passed away over the summer at age 63. Tarbotton served as color commentator for CapeAtlanticLive.com broadcasts last scholastic year until health issues forced him to step away during basketball season in January. The teams and coaches took a knee on the field during the short ceremony.