ERMA – The Lower Cape May Regional varsity football team has written itself into the history books as the first Caper Tiger football team to win a state playoff game, with a 34-13 win over Gloucester City Jr./Sr. High School, Saturday, Nov. 1.
The victory also avenged a 28-7 loss to Gloucester (4-5) on Sept. 5.
Counting its history back to 1902 as Cape May High School, the Caper Tigers, now 8-2, 5-0 in league play, had not won a state playoff game in 123 years. Its first playoff win came in the NJSIAA/Xfinity South Jersey, Group 2 quarterfinals played before a home crowd. Lower Cape May Regional, which dates back to 1950, reached the playoffs in 1980, 2006, and 2010, but without a win.
The Caper Tigers, who came into the playoffs as a No. 4 seed, had to come back from a 13-7 deficit at halftime and ran roughshod over the visiting Lions, scoring 27 unanswered points in the second half; 14 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth.
Head Coach Billy Damiana said a 70-yard run by Jadon Henry at the end of the first half was a big morale boost, setting up the Caper Tigers’ first score. He said up to that point not much had been working for Lower Cape May.
“That gave us a spark,” Damiana said.
In the game on Sept. 5, LCMR was down 21-0 to Gloucester at the half.
“This time it was 13-7 and we had a few (tricks) up our sleeve that we were able to do; so we rallied the troops to get them excited and ready to perform in the second half,” Damiana said.
In the second half, the Caper Tigers scored four more times and got stingy on defense. Junior quarterback David Douglas scored all five of the Caper Tigers’ touchdowns on short runs, including runs of one yard twice, four yards twice, and his longest of the day, eight yards – meaning he had a lot of help getting into scoring position.
“Our offensive and defensive lines really showed up in the second half with their physicality, which set the tone for the game moving forward. It allowed us to get more possessions offensively and pin our ears back and get at them defensively,” Damiana said.
On defense, Ashton Ray and Andrew Brant each had an interception for Lower, while Ashton Ray had a forced fumble. Jadon Henry, Jonathan Dupree and Jonathan Fernandez each had fumble recoveries, Max Bracken recorded 10-plus tackles, and the team had three sacks.
Douglass’ career day was assisted by Ryan Mallon’s 167 yards rushing.
First-year head coach Damiana was a starting offensive lineman in 2000 when LCMR lost in the playoffs. He went on to play Division III football at Kean University in Union. He played defensive end and nose guard for Kean’s 2011 New Jersey Athletic Conference championship and Hall of Fame team. Damiana was inducted into the college’s hall of fame in 2023. He was also a standout wrestler for the Caper Tigers.
The Caper Tigers advance to the semifinals to meet top-seeded Haddonfield, which advanced with a 20-14 victory over Willingboro. LCMR travels to Haddonfield Memorial High School on Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. Asked what he told his players about taking in Haddonfield, Damiana said, “I just told them to play with their heart on their sleeve – eye of the Tiger!”
Haddonfield is a cashless venue, and tickets must be purchased in advance. A link for tickets was not available as of publication.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600 x-128.
