Holy Spirit Just One of Many Tough Opponents For Absegami Football Team

There is a sense that the football players are out to prove that they were better than last year’s 4-6 mark.

The Braves’ was a step toward that goal. A win over Holy Spirit tonight would leave no doubt.

The Spartans, who may have to forfeit last week’s win over Oakcrest because they admitted to using an ineligible player, are widely considered the best team in the Cape-Atlantic League, if not southern New Jersey.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Ed Byrnes Stadium in Absecon. The Spartans defeated the Braves, 42-7, last season on their way to the Non-Public Group III title.

”It’s a big game, but I wouldn’t say we are out for revenge,” Absegami quarterback Rashad Kinlaw said. “We want to show we can compete with the top teams of the league.”

Although the schools are located near each other, and the fact that the Spartans are among the state’s best, Absegami coach Dennis Scuderi Jr. doesn’t put any more importance on the game than usual.

"It’s much too early,” Scuderi said about the game being labeled biggest game of the year. “There’s a whole lot of football left. But we understand where people are coming from. Last year they put that label on the game, and it didn’t work out for us. Maybe after the game we will talk about it being the biggest game of the season.”

He added: “For us it’s just another game. All the games mean the same with our schedule. Any game can be the biggest game of the year.”

Despite the possible forfeit, Holy Spirit beat Oakcrest, 41-16, last week, leaning on its big offensive line, and talented senior running backs Donta Pollack and Nigel Jones.

The Holy Spirit duo finished with more than 300 yards rushing in the victory over the Falcons.

“They are 6-4, 290-pounds across the front with two great running backs,” Scuderi said. “Trying to figuring it out from an offensive standpoint, we need to eat up some clock and take the ball out of their hands. We also have to capitalize on our opportunities to score points.

“I think the longer we can keep the score down and stay with them on both ways, the better the opportunity to win will be. One of the main things is that we have to score points. We have to put points on the board. We need to capitalize on the opportunities when we get them. We have to move the ball and keep the chains going, and maybe get an extra possession and a set of downs we normally wouldn’t have.”

The Braves have their own weapons with Kinlaw under center, Tyler Bing and Demond Cottman in the backfield, and David Hood and Dustin Miller on the outside.

Hood, Bing and Kinlaw all scored rushing touchdowns in last week’s win.

However, the team’s fate may be in the hands of the defense, which held the Eagles to just six points last week.

“I think it’s going to come down to the defense and who gets the stop when it matters most,” Kinlaw said.