WATCH: Eckel tosses 3 TD passes as LCM wins 3rd straight

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

WILDWOOD — There was a time not too long ago that the Lower Cape May Regional High School football team was simply trying to win a game or two each season.

Now, the Caper Tigers can be dreaming of playoff qualification.

Lower won its third straight game in convincing fashion Friday, racing past Wildwood, 35-0, behind three touchdown passes by emerging talent Connor Eckel, the team’s sophomore starting quarterback.

The Tigers improved to 4-2 with the win. They’ll be favored again next weekend when they host Gloucester Catholic for their homecoming game on Saturday. Gloucester Catholic will enter that game at just 1-5, although that victory did come Friday against Woodstown. Then, Lower plays at Gloucester on Oct. 26. Gloucester is just 2-3.

So, in short, it would not be surprising to see the Tigers sitting at 6-2 after eight games, which would certainly place them in contention to grab a Group II playoff berth.

It didn’t take long for Lower to take control against Wildwood in Friday’s game.

Pat Moore rumbled 55 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, racing to the end zone practically untouched on a sweep play to the left side of the field.

Lower then got its passing game going. Eckel threw 15 yards to Jordan Klein for a score to finish off a eight-play, 78-yard drive to make it 13-0. Following a three-and-out by Wildwood, Eckel tossed the ball about 40 yards in the air to Moore, who did the rest in turning it into a 91-yard touchdown reception.

Some in attendance believed it was the longest pass play in Lower Cape May football history.

Lower finished its first-half scoring late in the second quarter when Eckel tossed 35 yards to Jonas Lumbruno.

Eric Konczyk ran in from six yards out midway through the third quarter to finish off the scoring.

In addition to his three scoring passes, Eckel rushed eight times for 47 yards.

Moore added two extra-point kicks to his scoring total. Khoury Causey chipped in a two-point conversion run.

For Wildwood (0-5), Connor Heym led the defense with nine tackles, Seamus Fynes recorded an interception and Shyhem Copeland blocked a punt.