Ocean City and Middle Township Set to Kick Off at 7 p.m.

Not only did the Ocean City High School football team have a short week to prepare for Middle Township, but the Red Raiders are preparing for an offense they get to see only once a year.

Other than when lining up against the Panthers, the last time any of the Red Raiders played against the double-wing offense, may have come during their junior football days.

Ocean City will need to stop the old-style offense if it wants to win its first game of the season. Middle Township is also looking for its first win in Friday night’s game, which is slated for 7 p.m. at Ocean City’s Carey Stadium.

“We definitely have been busy this week,” Ocean City linebacker Bob Deluce said. “They got that offense and they run a lot up the middle. The two (defensive tackles) are key to stay low, and there is a lot of pressure on us to push that offense backward.”

A year ago, the Red Raiders beat the Panthers, 14-13, at Middle Township.

“I think they are better than they were last year,” Ocean City coach Kevin Smith said. “They run this double-wing offense that nobody in the league runs. With a short week to prepare that’s going to be a challenge. We never really see it.”

Deluce and Smith said that the Red Raiders had one of their best practices of the year on Wednesday. The Red Raiders are coming off a loss to rival Mainland in Monday, but they both said that the focus is now on the Panthers.

Middle Township has dropped eight straight games, dating back to last season, and only won once in 2010.

"We want it more than anything,” Deluce said of the team’s first win. “We want to give Coach Smith that game ball and the first win as head coach, too."

He added: “We are more focused in practice. We had a great practice (Wednesday). Last week we weren’t as focused on the game, and we came out flat on Monday. We are focused on winning (this week).”

The two teams couldn’t run more different offenses. While the Panthers run the double-wing, a run-heavy offense, relying on misdirection and play fakes, the Red Raiders run the spread offense.

However, the Red Raiders were kept in check last game by the Mustangs, scoring just one touchdown after scoring seven the first two weeks of the season.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Gabor looks to get the offense back on track with Nick Zauck and Ben Bethea helping in the ground game.