Schools
Ocean City Gives Up Big Plays, Loses in Absecon
The Spartans scored five touchdowns in the first half, but Ocean City did not score until the third quarter.
With seven starters out due to injury, the Ocean City Red Raiders struggled Friday night in Absecon against the Holy Spirit Spartans, giving up 35 points in the first half alone and ultimately losing to the Spartans 42-6.
“Coming into the game we said the two guys we can’t lose are [Ben] Bethea and [Andrew] Trofa,” said Ocean City head coach Kevin Smith. “And bam, Trofa goes down in the first quarter.”
Trofa normally plays on almost all downs for the Red Raiders—offense, defense, and special teams. It didn’t help Ocean City that Holy Spirit has won against some tough teams this season and is a defending state champion. Last year they went 12-0 to win a state championship.
The Spartans capitalized on their first drive of the game with a series full of long yardage runs by Nigel Jones, who scored three touchdowns and rushed for nearly 200 yards in the first half alone. He sat during the second half of the game.
In the second quarter, Jones was responsible for his second and third touchdowns in the game, and sophomore Tyler Dowd scored two touchdowns of his own for Holy Spirit in the second. With four successful extra point kicks in the second quarter alone by Tommy Worthington, the Spartans scored 28 points total in less than 12 minutes, bringing Holy Spirit's lead to 35-0 going into halftime.
But Ocean City never gave up, and on the first play of the second half sophomore quarterback Chris Gabor faked a handoff to Ben Bethea, the scrambled to an open right side of the field, dodging one defender and breaking to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown run.
“When I was running, I was like, are you kidding me?” said Gabor. “It was definitely the longest run I’ve ever had.”
The Red Raiders also kept the Spartans scoreless in the third quarter, but in the fourth Holy Spirit scored again on a run by junior Ryan Halbe. Ocean City did not score again in the game.
With the loss, Ocean City drops to 1-7 for the season. The Red Raiders have a bye next week, then will play a consolation game the following week. Their opponent for the consolation has not yet been announced. The final game of the season will take place when Ocean City hosts Pleasantville at 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving day.
