EGG HARBOR CITY – Ocean City High School finished up the football regular season with another tight game.
The Red Raiders were locked into a scoreless defensive struggle with Cedar Creek High School Friday until the game’s final minute, when the Pirates broke the stalemate.
Quarterback Reilly Hoffacker led Cedar Creek on a 14-play, 99-yard drive which ended in the game-winning touchdown pass to Jahmir Campfield. The 26-yard touchdown was the first and only score of the entire game.
The Raiders’ attempt at a comeback with 59 seconds left on the clock fell short as they lost to the Pirates 7-0 Oct. 25. It was Ocean City’s third straight game that had the lead change in the final minute of regulation.
All game long neither team could gain an edge offensively.
Ocean City’s offense started slowly in the past couple of games before turning it around in the fourth quarter, but never got into a comfortable rhythm against Cedar Creek. The Raider defense had been flawless until the final drive that decided everything.
A great punt by Raider Ryan Hendricks backed up Cedar Creek to its own 1-yard line with 8:58 remaining. Hoffacker started the drive off with three safe runs as the Raider defensive line aggressively pursed the ball in hopes of generating a tackle in the end zone for a safety.
The Pirates got out from their own red zone and methodically marched down the field. Aamir Dunbar picked up two first downs on the ground to keep the Raider offense on the sideline. Hoffacker only threw one incomplete pass which kept the clock ticking.
At midfield, the Pirates were faced with a fourth down and decided to go for it with 2:20 left. Dunbar ran up the middle through the defense for the first down as the Raider defense suddenly could not get off the field.
Ocean City had kept Cedar Creek in check on third down all game long. The Pirates only converted one in eight attempts before the final drive.
After the fourth-down conversion, Campfield got behind the Raider defense for his first catch of the game. He ran down the left sideline and caught the game-winning touchdown pass with exactly one minute on the clock.
After the game, Ocean City head coach Kevin Smith told the team it’s a “fresh slate” for them as the playoffs are set to begin.
“It’s the third straight game that came down to the final minute and we know we are right there,” Smith said. “We have not found that extra something to get over the hump. We have a week to figure it out ahead of the playoffs.”
Ocean City wrapped up the regular season with a 5-4 record and clinched a playoff spot for the eighth consecutive year.
Despite the loss to Cedar Creek, the Raiders managed to secure the number four seed in the Central Jersey Group III bracket which gives Ocean City at least one home game in the playoffs.
Ocean City’s first-round opponent will be Allentown High School at Carey Stadium on Friday, Nov. 1, one day after Halloween. The kickoff time is yet to be announced for the first playoff game at Carey Stadium since the 2021 season.
Allentown earned the No. 5 seed in the bracket after a 6-3 season. The Redbirds come into Ocean City with a high-flying offense. Quarterback Matthew Schweitzer has thrown for over 1,800 yards this season and leads a Redbird offense that averages 30 points per game.
With a win over Allentown, the Raiders would either host No. 8 seed Absegami High School or travel to undefeated Somerville High School on Nov. 8.
All season long the Ocean City defense has been aggressive and kept the Raiders in every game. Their only loss this year by more than one score was a 14-0 loss to the Mainland Mustangs. Turnovers have been key to the unit’s success with four games this year in which they caused two takeaways.
Against Cedar Creek, defensive backs Cole Dessicino and J.P. Forster both picked off Hoffacker to preserve the shutout as long as possible. Dessicino forced his turnover at the end of the first half which closed the door on a Pirate drive that made it to the Ocean City 15-yard line. Forster on the next possession seemingly ran the route for the Cedar Creek receiver and came up with the interception.
The week prior versus Holy Spirit High School the defense allowed just nine points through three quarters and gave the offense a chance to wake up. Senior quarterback Walker Bailey helped the offense score 13 points in the fourth quarter to take the lead.
Last week Cedar Creek managed to take away the usually potent Raider rushing attack. Ocean City was held to just 45 yards rushing. The Raiders took the opening drive down to the 4-yard line but failed to reach the end zone on three straight runs and settled for a field goal attempt that narrowly missed.
Coach Smith attributeded the lack of offensive production in part to an extra Pirate in the tackle box and mentioned how they could not shake them off in the passing game.
In the Raiders’ four losses this year the team averaged 80 yards on the ground compared to an average 223 yards rushing in their five wins.
Now that the playoffs have arrived, Ocean City will need to play a full four quarters worth of solid football to advance against some of the best teams in New Jersey.
– By WILLIAM TRUITT/For the Sentinel