Absegami Football Ready for Showdown with Millville

Tyler Bing hopes to outshine Alquann Jones tonight in Millville.

That’s a big challenge for the Absegami High School running back, and it will take a big effort from the Braves defense to stop the Thunderbolts’ most explosive player.

Absegami (2-2) travels to Millville to take on Jones and the undefeated Thunderbolts (4-0) at 7 p.m. at John Barbose Stadium at Wheaton Field.

If the Braves do slow Jones down, it gives them a great opportunity to win the game, and attain a heap of power points.

“Most definitely,” Bing said when asked if he’s motivated to outperform Jones. “We will do everything we can to stop him and take him out of his game.”

For that to happen, the Braves' defense will have to play like it did against Vineland. The Braves can’t afford to allow Jones get to the outside or through the first level of the defense, where he excels. 

Jones has more than 700 yards in four games, and is coming off a 243-yard performance against Ocean City last weekend.

Absegami had a bye week, which gave the Braves some extra time to prepare.

"We really need to be alert where Alquann Jones is at, at all times,” Absegami coach Dennis Scuderi Jr. said. “We had a bye week and that makes it easier, but whether or not it helps remains to be seen. We have to recognize where he is. They run a lot of different formations and they do a good job of moving him around.”

Like the Braves, the Thunderbolts don’t rely just on one player. Millville also features a talented quarterback in Shaq Lee. The defense is also stingy.

However, the Thunderbolts have yet to face a team with as many weapons as the Braves possess.

Along with Bing, the Braves have the luxury of having Rashad Kinlaw at quarterback and skill position players like David Hood and Sampson Jenkins.

“We have to continue to play the way we have,” Scuderi Jr. said. “We are third or fourth in the league in scoring with 26 points a game. We are moving the ball. I would like to see us have more opportunities. We have some dynamic players with the first half of the season under their belts. I’m looking for them to come into their own.”

“It definitely could be a shootout,” Bing said. “They are good and we are good. They can put points on the board, but I think we can come out with the win. It’s definitely going to be a battle.”

A battle Absegami wants and needs to win. The Braves have let it be known they would like to be in a title hunt this season.

A win over an undefeated Millville team, another Group IV school, will go a long way.

“I’m always excited to play every week and every game,” Bing said. “I love playing on Friday night. It gets me hyped.”