By Tom Szieber
Posted: Monday, September 14, 2015 6:25 am
The first full weekend of New Jersey high school football brought some eye-opening results, starting with a major upset in the Cape-Atlantic League. Quarterback Jose Tabora went 10-of-12 for 203 yards and two touchdowns, leading St. Augustine Prep to a 33-14 victory over #10 St. Joseph of Hammonton. Defensively, the Hermits contained the Wildcats attack, and their running game thrived behind Kyle Dobbins, who ran for a 149 yards and a score.
Running back Eriq Mercado was the centerpiece of another South Jersey shocker, as Williamstown pounded #9 Shawnee, 49-17. Mercado scored five touchdowns for the Braves, who after surrendering a 71-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, stayed in control for most of the game.
Madison took down Mountain Lakes, 33-6, snapping the Herd's state-best winning streak at 24 games. With St. Joseph’s (Hamm.) 21-game run of victories ending Friday night against St. Augustine Prep, and Haddonfield's 18-game tear being terminated by West Deptford, it was a big weekend for spoilers in the Garden State.
Egg Harbor and 7th ranked Middletown South staged two big comebacks over the weekend. Egg Harbor trailed 27-7 at the half against Atlantic City, but Spencer LaSure scored two touchdowns, punching in the game-winner on a 47-yard reception from quarterback David Rice. Meanwhile, running back James McCarthy rushed 11 times for 152 yards for Middletown South, spurring their rally from an 18-point deficit to beat #20 South Brunswick, 41-21.
And 3rd ranked St. Joseph of Montvale beat St. Edward (OH), 22-20, avenging a blowout defeat to start last season. Joe’s held off a rally after holding a 22-7 lead, and St. Edward -- who was ranked #18 in the USA Today Super 25 -- failed on a game-tying two-point conversion late in the fourth.
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.