Ocean City Hosts Homecoming Game Against Oakcrest

The Ocean City High School football team has four games remaining this season.

The Red Raiders, who enter tonight's game at 1-5, are looking for wins to build momentum for the final month of the season and into next year.

Ocean City hosts Oakcrest at 7 p.m. tonight at Carey Stadium for its Homecoming game.

After a sluggish start, Oakcrest has won its last two games, but is a team the Red Raiders believe they can compete with on the gridiron.

This is a "winnable game," especially after playing Hammonton and Millville, two unbeaten teams, the last two weeks.

"They are a tough team, but so far we had a great week of practice," Ocean City captain Bob DeLuce said. "We changed some things up with the way we go into the game. We are prepared for the game. I think we will be pumped up, fired up and ready for Oakcrest."

"I think we are doing a lot of good things, even though the results don't show it," Ocean City coach Kevin Smith said. "The team is staying together, and the kids aren't quitting and they are still optimistic. They are working hard. We know, and even the seniors know, that a lot of this is about next year and the year after that. Some seniors even talk about being part of building a program."

He added: "We want to win every week and you get tired of losing. Oakcrest is a team we match up with better stylistically. They run the same offense we run, and we are more familiar with it."

The Red Raiders are out of playoff contention, but the team should match up well with three of its opponents the rest of the way.

The Red Raiders will eventually play an NJSIAA consolation game against a team with a similar record, and a Thanksgiving Day game with Pleasantville, which has yet to win a game this year.

"We just want to win out the rest of these games," DeLuce said.

Oakcrest is playing better on the defensive side of the ball, registering shutouts over Vineland and Middle Township the last two weeks, after giving up more than 30 points in its first three games of the season.

However, the Red Raiders are a much balanced offense than either of those teams with a running attack led by Eric Zauck and Ben Bethea, and a passing attack with quarterback Chris Gabor, wide outs Matt Schuler and Chris Turner.

The Red Raiders' key may be how well they play defense, special teams and how well they overcome injuries.  Ocean City is out several key starters, including Tim Kennelly, Colton Mentzer and Wyatt Atwood.

"We have to play defense better," Smith said. "We have to tackle better and be in better position. That's part of learning the scheme. Hopefully we will do that better. We also have to stop giving up special teams touchdowns every week. We have to knock that off."