By Tim Kelly
Two home games facing the Ocean City High School football team Friday night and next Friday will determine the Red Raiders’ hopes to make the NJSIAA Group 4 tournament and winning the West Jersey Football League’s Independence Division championship.
Despite tough losses in the last two games, Ocean City is 3-2 overall but still undefeated in the Independence at 3-0. The Red Raiders are currently seeded fifth in the playoff race and can clinch a berth in the big dance with a win Friday night against Oakcrest at Carey Stadium. Kickoff for what is Ocean City’s Homecoming game is 6 p.m.
If the Raiders get past that hurdle, longtime archrival Mainland looms on the horizon for a game with much on the line for both squads.
As if the rivalry with Mainland weren’t intense enough, a win over Oakcrest would set up a showdown with the Mustangs on Oct. 26 for the WJFL Independence crown. Mainland is also very much alive in the Group 4 race, currently seeded eighth.
Thus, the Raiders hold the fate of two season-long goals in their own hands. Not that it will be easy. Oakcrest (3-3) is also fighting for a playoff berth in Group 3 and desperately needs a win.
“We are still in line to win the WJFL Independence Division and to make the playoffs,” Coach Kevin Smith said in his weekly e-mail. “We have two huge games in front of us.”
Like Ocean City, the Falcons are coming off two straight losses, most recently to Cedar Creek. To add to the intrigue, in their previous contest, Coach Eric Anderson’s squad battled Mainland to a near standstill before ultimately dropping a 3-0 defensive struggle.
Ocean City’s last game resembled a microcosm of the season. The Raiders traveled to Camden County last Friday for a non-league battle at Triton. It was a wild contest with more highs and lows than a spin on the Gale Force roller coaster at Playland’s Castaway Cove on the Boardwalk.
Triton scored on its first play from scrimmage, recovered an onside kick, scored again, recovered a second onside kick and drove all the way to the Ocean City 20 before the Red Raider defense prevented an early three-TD deficit. Still, Triton held a 12-0 lead before Ocean City had possession of the ball.
Showing the resilience and toughness which has been a season hallmark, the Raiders roared back to score the next 23 straight points.
Unfortunately for OC, it was all Triton after that.
“It was like three separate games,” according to the www.OCHSfootball.com website in reference to the game’s slow start, dominant middle and disappointing ending. Nevertheless, the Raiders showed again they could slug it out against a quality opponent.
Against Triton, Quarterback Ian Aungst threw two more touchdown passes, raising his total for the season to nine. He also added his fourth rushing touchdown of the year. Brandon Lashley, OC’s leading receiver, raised his TD reception total to nine for the year.
