By PHOEBE PRETTYMAN
The Ocean City Red Raiders secured a 12-7 win against the visiting St. Joseph Wildcats during Friday night’s West Jersey Football League Bracket B semifinal playoff game.
It was the sixth straight win for Ocean City and the first time the Raiders defeated St. Joe since 1976. The Red Raiders are now 6-0, while the Wildcats fell to 5-2.
The pairing made for a good game that forced each team to work hard. St. Joe put numbers on the board first, with a touchdown and extra point in the first quarter. Ocean City responded with intensity for the rest of the first half.
Junior kicker Brendan McGonigle put the Red Raiders on the board in the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal.
A 5-yard pass from senior quarterback Joe Repetti to senior wide receiver Jake Schneider in the second quarter earned Ocean City its lone touchdown of the game. At that point, the Red Raiders took the lead and held it for the rest of the way.
The first half ended shortly after senior Mike Rhodes sacked the St. Joe quarterback.
In the second half, St. Joe tried to run the ball and push for a touchdown, but Ocean City fought back. Red Raider senior Jake Inserra was on fire with multiple key tackles to lead the defense.
The third quarter went scoreless. During the fourth quarter, the Red Raiders drove hard toward the end zone and came close to a scoring opportunity, but St. Joe stopped them and took possession.
However, Ocean City was not ready to give up. The Red Raiders earned a safety after Matt Christy tackled the St. Joe quarterback in the end zone.
The game exemplified a lot of hard work, determination and endurance. The Red Raiders defended their undefeated record and will continue on in the playoffs next week.
