HADDONFIELD – The Lower Cape May Regional Caper Tigers’ run came to an end on Friday, Nov. 7, after a season in which they won the school’s fourth division title.
The Caper Tigers (8-3) traveled to Haddonfield to meet the Bulldogs (8-2) on their home turf in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 2 Tournament.
Lower Cape May struck first, but the Bulldogs were a little too much to handle on Friday night. The Caper Tigers used a trick play to get on the board when running back Ryan Mallon threw a 13-yard pass to Jonathan Fernandez for a touchdown. With the extra point, LCMR had a 7-0 lead.
Haddonfield responded by scoring to tie the game in the first quarter, and by the third quarter had a 21-7 lead. Mallon scored on a two-yard run to make it 21-13, but the extra point attempt failed.
Haddonfield would add one more touchdown before the final whistle, winning 28-13.
The Caper Tigers, as noted on the team Facebook page, compiled their 8-3 record under first-year head coach Billy Damiana.
“Through discipline, structure and respect, the entire coaching staff guided these athletes to a remarkable and successful season,” the post read.
The Caper Tigers finished 5-0 in the WJFL Liberty Division and secured a home playoff game, downing Gloucester City for the school’s first-ever playoff win.
The team was led by 10 seniors but has a significant crop of underclassmen, including Fernandez, Mallon and starting quarterback David Douglass. Nine varsity players were named WJFL all-stars.
The LCMR JV team recorded an undefeated season.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
