Bordentown rushing attack sinks Lower Cape May

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

ERMA — Lower Cape May Regional and Bordentown — two high school football teams with good records but still with something to prove to their doubters — took the field Saturday afternoon.

Bordentown walked away with a statement victory.

The Scotties rushed for an impressive 379 yards as their offense ran roughshod over the Lower Cape May defense en route to a 49-13 victory.

Bordentown (7-1), winners of six straight, significantly helped its chances of qualifying for the South Group II playoffs with the victory. Lower Cape May (5-3), which had slim playoff chances entering the game, will most definitely be playing an NJSIAA consolation game next week against an opponent to be determined.

“Anytime you have a chance to get in the playoffs and you come out and have that happen, it’s disappointing,” Lower coach Lance Bailey said. “We have to execute better and we have to be tougher up front. We’re still young and that’s a senior-laden team they have and they’re a very good football team. But we have to fight.

“We have two games left. We’ll just wash our hands of this one and get ready for next week, against whoever that may be.”

Bordentown scored touchdowns on every possession but one in the game, using an unstoppable running attack. Kerry Nicholas rushed nine times for 140 yards and a touchdown (all in the first half), Omari Owes ran eight times for 116 yards and two touchdowns and Elijah Dean posted 60 yards and a touchdown on nine carries to highlight the Bordentown offense.

The Scotties posted 273 rushing yards in the first half alone. That came despite having a 98-yard touchdown run called back due to an illegal formation penalty.

Trailing 14-0 later in the first quarter, Lower got back in the game when freshman Braswell Thomas returned an interception seven yards for a score. But Bordentown answered three offensive plays later when Owes ran in from 36 yards out one play after Nicholas rushed for 64 yards. Bordentown’s Ryan Byard then returned an interception for a score and Scotties quarterback Denny Morolda scored on a one-yard run with 36 seconds to go in the half as Bordentown upped its lead to 34-7 at intermission.

Lower got its second-half touchdown on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Ray to Archie Lawler.

Marcus Hebron rushed 13 times for an even 100 yards in the loss.