By TIM KELLY
One of South Jersey’s oldest Thanksgiving Day football rivalries will be renewed 10 a.m. Thursday at Carey Stadium when Ocean City gets into it with Pleasantville in a series dating back 98 years.
“This year could feature one of the best matchups,” Red Raiders Coach Kevin Smith said. “We are 8-3 and they are 8-2. It should be a great game to wrap up the season.”
Ocean City currently leads the series, 50-41 all time. Pleasantville took last year’s meeting 20-7, although the Raiders have won eight of the previous nine.
The victorious team receives the Mike Slaveski (Ocean City) – Bob Thomas (Pleasantville) Memorial Award, named after two of the schools’ legendary late former coaches.
This year’s game takes on a sad significance with the tragic passing of 10-year-old Micah Tennant, a spectator who was fatally shot at Pleasantville’s home playoff game against Camden on Nov. 15.
Micah, who had a cousin on the Greyhounds, was caught in the crossfire during a series of gunshots in the Pleasantville stands, crowded with 1,000 people.
“I will meet with our administration and will talk with the Pleasantville head coach (Chris Sacco) to discuss a way to honor Micah at the game,” said Smith.
A moment of silence would probably take place, and donations might be solicited to help Micah’s family through the financial aspects of the ordeal, Smith said in an e-mail to team supporters.
Planned details of the ceremony were unannounced at the time of this article’s deadline.
Micah’s funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Atlantic City.
Police arrested the alleged gunman from Atlantic City and four other Atlantic City men in connection with the shooting.
Pleasantville was enjoying one of its best seasons in recent memory before the shooting and suspension of the game in the third quarter with Camden leading 6-0.
The final 17 minutes were played at Lincoln Field in Philadelphia, just hours after Micah’s passing.
Players on both teams wrote the young victim’s name and memorial messages on their helmets and taped them to their uniforms.
It was hoped that the Thanksgiving game in Ocean City would help start a healing process for the Greyhounds’ players, coaches and community members in their first full game since the shooting.
Ocean City, a town with big shoulders, is sure to provide a comforting setting for their guests.
Pleasantville clinched the West Jersey Football League’s United Division championship this year, going 5-0 in the six-team league.
The ‘Hounds were on a seven-game winning streak before the Camden game and blanked visiting Collingswood, 35-0, in their opening round playoff game.
Ernest Howard has been a two-way stalwart from his running back and linebacker positions for the Greyhounds.
He had two rushing scores in the second half of their playoff victory.
Frosh quarterback Marlon Leslie is having a fine season, with over 700 passing yards and nine scoring tosses.
Ocean City is also enjoying one of its best seasons in a long time. The Red Raiders were second in the West Jersey Independence Division and made it to the South Jersey Group 4 title game with playoff wins at Mainland and at Long Branch.
Thursday marks just the fourth home game of the year for the Raiders, who’ve played their last five on the road. Their last appearance at Carey was back on Oct. 18, a 45-0 pasting of Triton.
Raider All-Stars: Ocean City was a dominant force in the West Jersey Independence, reflected in the All-star selections announced earlier in the week. First team honors went to junior quarterback Joe Repetti, junior wideout Jake Schneider, junior linebacker Jake Inserra, sophomore kicker Brendan McGonigle, senior defensive back Brian Beckmann, senior defensive lineman Mike Williscroft and senior offensive lineman Chris Armstrong.
Second teamers are junior defensive lineman Will Drain, junior tight end Brad Jamison and junior offensive lineman Michael Rhodes.
Armstrong, Williscroft, Beckmann, Inserra, Schneider, Drain, Jamison and Rhodes have all seen action on both sides of the ball and were recognized by the WJFL at the positions listed.
Repetti, Armstrong, Schneider, Williscroft, Inserra, Beckmann and McGonigle were also named to the Cape Atlantic League All-Stars.
Upon reflection at season’s end, Smith praised his team’s performance and thanked the fans.
“I’m proud of our effort and thrilled with the success we had,” Smith said. “It was a heck of a ride. Thank you to everyone who showed up and who reached out.”
