VIDEO: LCM explodes early, rolls to 42-0 win over Wildwood

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ERMA — The Lower Cape May Regional High School football team limped into last weekend’s bye with just one victory in five games.

The Caper Tigers hope the break has breathed new life into their season.

The Tigers scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions and rolled to a 42-0 victory over Wildwood during its Homecoming game Saturday afternoon.

Junior quarterback Connor Eckel led the way for the Caper Tigers. He tossed touchdown passes to three different receivers and also ran for a six-yard score.

“Coming into this game, we hadn’t had anything close to a mistake-free game of football yet,” Lower coach Brian Hindle said. “We were very concerned about them. They only gave up two offensive touchdowns to Haddon Township and we gave up four, so we were concerned about them, especially defensively.

“We really focused on cutting out mistakes. We put some people in different positions and worked on being mistake free.”

Aside from a few penalties, Lower Cape May (2-4) mostly was. The Tigers did not turn the ball over.

Lower next plays at Gloucester Catholic next Saturday before hosting Gloucester on Nov. 1. They’ll then play an NJSIAA consolation game on Nov. 8 before hosting Middle Township on Thanksgiving morning.

“We feel like we’ll be very competitive in the rest of our games,” Hindle said.

Damyon Bencievengo (nine yards), Nico Castellano (12 yards) and Jonas Lumbruno (35 yards) each caught scoring passes from Eckel in the first quarter.

Marcus Hebron ran for a three-yard score early in the second quarter as the Tigers took a 28-0 lead at halftime.

Eckel scored from six yards out on Lower’s first possession of the second half. Backup quarterback Alec Giancola added the final score on a 16-yard scamper in the fourth quarter.

Lower kicker Wesley Tosto made all six of his extra-point attempts.

Wildwood is still looking for its first victory. The Warriors (0-6) haven’t scored an offensive touchdown this season.

“We just had too many mistakes,” WIldwood coach Ken Loomis said. “We turned the ball over three times, we went the wrong way on some of our runs and too many times we just didn’t block their guys. They were a little bigger and stronger than us but more than anything it was our mistakes.”