ERMA — Junior quarterback David Douglas scored five rushing touchdowns Nov. 1 to lead the Caper Tiger football team to its first playoff victory in its 104th season.
Lower Cape May Regional High School handily defeated the Gloucester High School Lions 34-13 in the opening game of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II tournament.
The Caper Tigers are set to take on Haddonfield High School in the semifinal round at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 for a chance to play in the sectional final.
The Caper Tigers, who are now 8-2 on the season under head coach Bill Damiana, were undefeated at 5-0 in the West Jersey Football League Liberty Division.
Douglas had an 8-yard rushing touchdown, two 4-yarders and two from 1 yard out, while kicker Britton Walls provided four extra points, but it was a defensive play that may have won the game for Lower.
Athletic Director Matt Danze said down 13-7 with the clock winding down on the first half, the Tigers turned the ball over on downs.
That’s when the Lions broke free on what would have been a 70+-yard touchdown had it not been for the hustle of Jadon Henry, who chased down the runner and stripped the ball, preventing the score.
“If he doesn’t make that play, I don’t know if we come back from that,” Danze said.
On the ensuing kickoff of the second half, the Lions misjudged the ball due to a strong wind and the Caper Tigers took possession, moving downfield for the go-ahead score.
The Lions scored first on a 1-yard run by Kevin Boulden to put Gloucester up 6-0. The extra point attempt failed.
Lower wasted no time firing back, scoring a touchdown on a 1-yard run and taking the lead on the extra point by Britton Walls.
But it was the Lions who held the lead at halftime following a 21-yard fun by Will Rodgers. Ashton Walls made it 13-7 with his kick.
The Caper Tigers took the lead in the third quarter on another run by Douglas and extra point, which essentially was enough for the victory. They combined for three more touchdowns and two more extra points in the fourth quarter.
Douglas has racked up 14 rushing touchdowns and four passing touchdown during this historic season.
Junior Ryan Mallon leads Lower with 672 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Douglas has 496 yards on the ground and 515 through the air.
Senior Jonathan Fernandez leads the team in receiving with 310 yards and a touchdown.
“It was a great win for the program,” Danze said, noting that last time the Caper Tigers were in the playoff, they lost a close one to Barnegat Township in 2010 on a missed field goal late in the game.
He said the players are excited for the next challenge.
“The kids are into it,” Danze said. “The win gave them a big confidence boost and they believe they can do it.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Cape May Star and Wave
