OCEAN CITY – Ocean City High School’s undefeated start to the football season has come to an end.
A strong 3-0 start for the Ocean City Red Raiders hit a speed bump Sept. 20 as they fell to Atlantic City High School 21-14.
The Raiders won the turnover battle with three fumble recoveries but failed to capitalize on the opportunities. Ocean City scored zero points off the three turnovers and was forced to give the ball right back to Atlantic City each time.
After the game, Ocean City head coach Kevin Smith lamented the number of Raider mistakes.
“You cannot beat a good team when you have self-inflicted wounds,” Smith said. “Just too many mistakes for us with the missed tackles, turnovers and penalties.”
Atlantic City’s first drive of the game was thwarted by defensive back Colin Thompson after he pounced on the ball after an incomplete pass that went backwards. The Raider offense could not capitalize and had to punt the ball away on fourth down.
A targeting penalty against Ocean City gave Atlantic City’s next possession great field position inside the 20-yard line. The offense punched through three plays later for a touchdown and took the lead.
The 7-0 deficit was only the second time all season the Raiders have trailed at any point. Coincidentally the other instance was also a 7-0 deficit a week prior in the 21-14 victory over Lenape High School.
Senior quarterback Walker Bailey got Ocean City on the board with a 43-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Bailey’s touchdown was the longest play of the game for Ocean City and tied the game up at 7-7 going into halftime.
Both teams went back and forth in the first half with big plays and stops, but neither gained an edge until the third quarter.
Tied at 7-7, Atlantic City marched down the field on their first possession after the break. The Raiders seemed to tackle running back Kyree Barksdale in the backfield on second down, but he managed to stay on his feet and gain 30 yards into the red zone. Atlantic City scored two plays later with a wide receiver sweep by Zephaniah Bradley.
On the following kickoff, Ocean City’s returners were tested as Atlantic City opted for a squib kick. The ball bounced off the turf before hitting a Raider player, which sent all 22 players after it and ended up being the only Raider turnover.
Unlike earlier in the game where Ocean City failed to score off a fumble, Atlantic City scored on the very next play from scrimmage. Quarterback Khajuan Roseborough hit receiver Sah’nye Degraffenreidt for a 29-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-7.
With the entire fourth quarter left to play, Bailey and the offense put together their best drive of the night in response. Ocean City picked up four first downs on the drive which included a fourth down catch by J.P. Forster to keep the Raider hopes alive. Leading rusher Triston Schmidt later broke free down the right sideline for a 20-yard touchdown.
All season long the Raiders have consistently converted on fourth down thanks to their run game. In the first three games an average fourth down attempt was only from three yards away. Atlantic City kept Bailey and Schmidt contained for most of the game which forced the Raiders to convert fourth downs that were longer than normal.
“That’s a well-coached, tough football team over there that took away our team’s strength today,” Smith said. “I thought we did a good job countering but just too many mistakes cost us.”
On defense the last three Atlantic City possessions ended in either fumbles or quick three-and-outs. Justin McCormick and Jake Chapman picked up the fumbles and helped shut out Atlantic City for the final 12 minutes.
Offensively the Raiders never got into a rhythm on the ground and were stopped on fourth down after the fumble recoveries.
Ocean City’s two-minute drill started off strong as Forster hauled in a 19-yard catch. However, the drive stalled there, and the Raiders did not pick up another yard before turning the ball over on downs.
Next up for the Raiders is a rematch of last year’s season finale. For their first road game of the season the Raiders will travel to Hammonton High School Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.
Ocean City visited Hammonton in back-back weeks last season. Ocean City won the regular season finale to qualify for the playoffs but, Hammonton got the last laugh the next week and eliminated the Raiders in a heartbreaking 23-22 playoff loss.
Smith said that he is “excited” for the opportunity to play Hammonton again and get started on Ocean City’s away schedule.
“We are ready to hit the road and get into a different environment,” Smith said. “We can face some adversity which will be good for us down the line.”
– STORY by WILLIAM TRUITT/For the Sentinel
– PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
