Absegami, St. Augustine Football Teams Desperate For a Victory

There is no doubt that the Absegami High School football players expected the season to unfold differently.

Despite their high expectations and high level of confidence in themselves, the Braves find themselves with a 2-3 record and their playoff hopes hanging on by a thread heading into their game tonight, Oct. 21.

"We have a really good team that is talented, but it’s frustrating,” Absegami running back Tyler Bing said of the team’s record. “It’s frustrating how we beat ourselves and that’s what makes us lose.”

The Braves are a desperate team, and so is Friday night opponent St. Augustine Prep, which is also 2-3.

Like the Braves, the Hermits are expected to be motivated once the ball is kicked off at 7 p.m. in Galloway Township.

It could be a very emotional night for both sides. Both teams are looking for a win to stay in contention, and Hermits coach Dennis Scuderi, the father of Braves’ coach Dennis Scuderi Jr., will be coaching his final game of the season.

The Richland-based school announced late Thursday that there is a “philosophical impasse” between the elder Scuderi and St. Augustine Prep.

Hermits Athletic Director and former football coach Tony Iocanelli will take over coaching duties the rest of the season.

However, the Braves’ concern is how they play tonight.

“We are just trying to get focused and ready for this game,” Bing said. “It can be a big win and we have to get.”

He added: “We have been talking about that we have to win out, but we are also taking it one game at a time.”

The offense has put up more than enough points in all but one game this season. If there is an area that could be improved, it's the way the Braves start the game.

Absegami scored 34 points in a loss to last week, but only 14 at the half, and one touchdown was by the special teams.

With players like quarterback Rashad Kinlaw, and skill position players like Bing and David Hood, the Braves believe that they should be difficult to slow down from start to finish.

The Braves' offense will meet up with a Hermits’ team that allowed 38 points in a loss to state power St. Joseph.

However, in their other games the Hermits have been much stingier, allowing 17 points just one other time. St. Augustine has allowed 13 or less points in three of its games.

Absegami’s key may be its own defense, which allowed more than 500 yards against Millville last Friday. It’s no coincidence that when the Braves' defense plays up to its capabilities Absegami wins.

In Absegami’s two wins, the defense held opponents to six points each time. In the three losses Absegami has allowed over 30 points.

"We just have to try and play a mistake-free game,” Bing said.