By BRIAN CUNNIFF
The Middle Township HIgh School football team needed something close to a miracle to gain its first victory Friday night.
The Panthers received one.
Remi Rodriguez returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown with 18 seconds to play to give Middle a dramatic 30-26 road victory over Clayton.
The score came after Clayton had taken the lead with 30 seconds to play on a touchdown and two-point conversion. That occurred after Middle broke an 18-18 tie with a short touchdown run by quarterback Mark Oliver.
On the winning touchdown, Rodriguez picked up a bouncing football at his team’s 12-yard line and ran practically untouched down the left sideline into the end zone.
Middle finally sealed the victory when Adrien LaBoy intercepted a pass on the final play of the game.
Middle led the game, 18-6, at the half before Clayton rallied. Jerome Licata kicked a field goal, Rodriguez ran for a score from five yards out and Michael Zarfati caught a touchdown pass from Oliver for the Panthers.
Middle improved to 1-2 with the victory, the 99th in the career of head coach Frank Riggitano. The Panthers are at Gateway on Friday.
LOWER CAPE MAY BLASTS CUMBERLAND
A big-play defense carried Lower Cape May to a 47-12 victory at Cumberland Friday.
The Caper Tigers scored three touchdowns on defense in the opening quarter on their way to a 41-6 lead at the half. Zach Castellano returned two interceptions for touchdowns, from 30 and 70 yards out, and Oguer Nunez ran back a fumble recovery 52 yards for another score as Lower dominated from the start.
Offensively, Aiden McCarraher ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries for Lower Cape May and Isiah Wing caught a touchdown pass from Hunter Ray.
The Tigers are now 3-0. They host Wildwood Friday in a game that will air on 98.7 The Coast radio, with live video on the Coast Sports Today Facebook page.