Atlantic City shuts out O.C. 26-0
ATLANTIC CITY — The Vikings used big plays and a stifling defense to shut out the Red Raiders as Atlantic City High School topped Ocean City 26-0 on Sept. 19.
Both West Jersey Football League teams were plagued by turnovers — on interceptions and downs — and penalties throughout the contest.
Senior wide receiver Jaylen Day scored two touchdowns, one on a 33-yard catch and the other on a 3-yard run, but all of Atlantic City’s playmakers, along with its stout defense, took part in the victory.
Highlights include a 97-yard punt return touchdown by sophomore Don’Taye Thompson in the second quarter to put the Vikings up 12-0.
Atlantic City took the opening kickoff but turned the ball over on third down when Ocean City intercepted a pass, then picked up 15 yards on a face mask penalty.
The Raiders started their first drive from midfield, but four runs failed to move the chains and Atlantic City took over from its own 39-yard line.
Senior Kyree Barksdale ran up the middle for 12 yards for a first down, then Ocean City was flagged for offside. On 1st and 5, senior Tamir Rex picked up 10 yards on a pass from sophomore quarterback Marvin Burroughs to move the chains again.
A couple of runs and a 7-yard completion to Thompson set the Vikings up with a first down at the 20-yard line, where sophomore running back Ah’mad Chambers took the handoff and scampered into the end zone for a 6-0 lead. The 2-point try was intercepted.
The Red Raiders fielded the kickoff out to their own 38-yard line, gaining only about 4 yards before being forced to punt. The snap sailed over the kicker’s head and the Vikings recovered at Ocean City’s 10-yard line.
What looked grim for the Raiders turned into a strong defensive stand, as the Vikings were forced backward and eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Ocean City took over at its own 19 and picked up its first first down of the game on a 14-yard connection from sophomore quarterback Jackson Becker to senior Clay Compton.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, they would make it only to their own 34-yard line before a sack knocked them back to the 25 and forced a punt.
Winning the field position battle, the Vikings took over at midfield but a penalty set them back and an interception gave the Raiders the ball at their own 21-yard line.
However, a deflected pass that very well could have been called a fumble and two more incompletions forced the Raiders to punt again.
Atlantic City did not have much success of its own on the next drive, but did bury Ocean City at its own 4-yard line with a great punt.
The Vikings were flagged for pass interference and the Raiders finally moved out of the shadow of their uprights with a first down at the 19. A pass to Compton picked up 38 yards and set Ocean City up with a first down at Atlantic City’s 43, but senior Triston Schmidt was stuffed on two runs and a catch, forcing the Raiders to punt again.
Viking Thompson fielded the ball at his own 3-yard line, juking his way through the Raiders and taking it to pay dirt at the other end of the field to give Atlantic City a 12-0 lead with 3:35 remaining in the half. The 2-point conversion was good for a 14-0 lead.
Ocean City received the opening kickoff of the second half and started first and 10 at its own 42-yard line. The Raiders moved the ball across midfield to Atlantic City’s 35 aided by a 17-yard completion by sophomore Cole Gareffi but ultimately turned the ball over on downs.
Both teams struggled in what may have been the longest third quarter in high school football history, filled with incomplete passes that kept stopping the clock, but Ocean City showed promise on a drive that started at its own 34. Becker threw long to senior Ryan Hendricks for 37 yards, setting the Raiders up at the Vikings’ 30-yard line with a first down.
Schmidt picked up 9 on first down and then another to give Ocean City a first down at Atlantic City’s 20. However, the drive petered out when Becker threw another interception.
The Vikings returned it to the Raiders’ 38-yard line, where they quickly went to work. Following an offsides penalty, Atlantic City had first and 5 from the 33. Burroughs tossed to Day for 32 yards and Day finished the drive on the ground to make it 20-0. The 2-point attempt failed.
A penalty on the ensuing kickoff put Ocean City in good field position at Atlantic City’s 45. Becker completed a 17-yard pass and the Raiders had a first down at the 31, but a short run and three incomplete passes gave the ball back to the Vikings.
Atlantic City failed to move down field and was forced to punt, but Ocean City gave the ball right back via interception on the first play.
The Vikings then went on an extended drive that included a bad snap and a 33-yard touchdown grab by Day on third down, completing the scoring.
Ocean City’s Becker had 122 yards passing but tossed multiple interceptions, while running back Schmidt was limited to 34 yards on the ground and Compton led the Red Raiders with 55 yards receiving.
Schmidt said he was “pretty upset like everyone else on the team” with the result but accepted responsibility.
“We trained hard all week and we just didn’t execute to the way we wanted,” he said, noting Atlantic City’s defense was “fast off the ball.”
“We just couldn’t get things going most of the first half on offense, which really made it harder on the defense,” Schmidt added.
Ocean City fell to 2-2.
Last year, the Vikings topped the Red Raiders 21-14 after a nine-year span in which they did not play. Atlantic City now has won five of the past six meetings dating back to 2010.
Head coach Kevin Smith credited Atlantic City’s defense.
“That’s a good Atlantic City football team. They play very, very sound defense,” he said. “They took away what we did best. We want to run the football — both with the running back and with the quarterback — and they took that away.”
Smith said the team failed to capitalize on its opportunities.
“We hit some but then we didn’t hit the majority of them, so we just got to get better at that and make sure that we capitalize when we get chances to make big plays down the field,” he said.
The Red Raiders host Hammonton at 6 p.m Friday at Carey Stadium.
Atlantic City is now 3-1 after beating Mainland Regional in the opener and then Millville before falling to Cedar Creek.
Mustangs win
face Hermits
The Mustangs improved to 2-2 on the season with a 42-21 victory over Cherokee (2-2) Friday night. It was a good bounce-back from a frustrating 22-21 loss to Millville the week before.
Mainland quarterback John Franchini had 216 yards through the air and led his team with another 73 on the ground.
The Mustangs host St. Augustine Prep at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Mustang Corral. The Prep comes into the game with a 3-1 record. Before losing to Winslow 19-6 Friday night, the Hermits beat Canton McKinley of Ohio 24-14, Paul VI 26-0 and Cherokee 35-0.
– STORY by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
