The win was there for the taking on Friday night.
Ocean City High School outplayed host Atlantic City on the gridiron for large chunks of the night; however, it was the Vikings that ended up recording a 27-18 victory.
The Red Raiders fall to 0-2 while the Vikings improve to 2-0 in Cape-Atlantic League action.
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“We played a physical, athletic team, but we did our best,” Ocean City two-way player Ben Bethea said. “We were up, we could have won, but a few mistakes cost us the game.”
“We are so proud of the way these guys fought back,” Ocean City coach Kevin Smith said. “We felt that way last week against Vineland. We never rolled over against them and we kept coming.”
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The Red Raiders had numerous chances to get the best of the Vikings. Ocean City had fewer turnovers, threw for more yards and drew fewer penalties. But Atlantic City made plays when it mattered most.
The Red Raiders trailed 20-18 with five minutes remaining at the Atlantic City 48-yard line, yet the Vikings picked up the pace to thwart the drive, and Ocean City’s comeback bid.
Atlantic City put the game out of reach with an eight-play, 54-yard scoring drive, which ended on a 10-yard touchdown run by Radi Tolbert on fourth down and 1:19 left in the game.
Ocean City found itself down 20-6 after the Vikings scored by taking six minutes off the clock in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Tolbert.
The Red Raiders didn’t go away, as they responded on the next possession. Red Raiders sophomore quarterback Chris Gabor connected with Chris Turner for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Atlantic City seemed to answer right back, but a touchdown was waved off because of an illegal block. On the next play, the Red Raiders’ Tim Kernan came up with an interception.
It was another interception—this time by Nick Zauck—that set up the Red Raiders' final touchdown. Bethea scored his rushing touchdown of the night from 37-yards out to cut the Vikings’ lead to two.
Bethea showed his speed and power on the play, breaking several tackles before sprinting down the visitors’ sideline.
“I saw a seam, cut back, saw daylight and gave it my all,” Bethea said.
“He is a horse,” Smith said of Bethea. “He is a strong kid. Not only can he run kids over, he can run away from them.”
Despite controlling the time of possession and moving the ball better, Ocean City found itself down at halftime, 13-6. Atlantic City managed just one first down in the opening half.
Ocean City opened the scoring with a 13-play, 87-yard drive, capped by Bethea's fourth down, 2-yard touchdown run. The Red Raiders took advantage of a roughing the passer penalty to extend the possession.
Gabor completed five consecutive passes on the drive for 56 yards. His longest connection of the drive was a 24-yard pass to Matt Locotos. Gabor finished the game with 119 yards.
For the second straight week, mistakes on special teams proved costly. The Red Raiders' kickoff after their touchdown went out of bounds, but the Atlantic City coaches decided to make Ocean City re-kick.
The decision proved to be a wise one, as Dayshawn Reynolds returned the kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown. Vineland also returned a kickoff in last week’s contest.
Atlantic City scored with 1:01 left in the first half, as Ishmail Naji proved elusive on a 30-yard catch and run.
Ocean City hosts rival Mainland at 7 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Red Raiders' home-opener.
