Red Raiders Look To End Season With a Win

Thanksgiving is a day communities all over the state celebrate their traditions and history.

Thursday’s between and Pleasantville features two programs looking to get back to the days when they were Cape-Atlantic League and South Jersey powers.

Both teams are also looking for a win.

The Red Raiders host the Greyhounds 10 a.m. at Carey Stadium to continue and is the second longest in the CAL.

Ocean City has won four straight in the series, including last season’s 34-15 victory. The Red Raiders lead the all-time series, 44-40-6.

"I'm looking forward to playing my last game and give it my all out there," Ocean City senior Bob DeLuce said. "It's going to be the last time I play on Ocean City's field."

"We just need to win a football game," Ocean City coach Kevin Smith said.

Ocean City hasn't won a game since beating Middle Township on Oct 3. The team's losing streak sits at five. The Red Raiders have every intention of ending the streak.

However, the rebuilding Greyhounds' streak is much longer. Pleasantville hasn't won since November 2009 and have come up empty the last 21 times.

Pleasantville has been shut out the last three games, and last scored on Oct. 22. The Greyhounds last scored a touchdown on Oct. 14.

Pleasantville has scored 41 points the entire season, and has allowed 50 or more points four times and more than 35 in all but one game.

However, the Red Raiders aren't too concerned with what the Greyhounds can or can't do. The focus is on themselves.

"We just have to have everyone playing together," DeLuce said. "Everyone has to give 110 percent, and we don't want to come out flat. We have to have momentum from the start. That is key."

Ocean City players desperately want to put its lackluster effort against Camden behind them and get a win over Pleasantville.

"We are more focused, and we want to come out with a lot more energy than last game," DeLuce said. "Last game we came out too flat."

With all the rain that came down, there is a good chance the field will be sloppy. The Red Raiders have to do their best to get a ground game going while taking care of the football.

Nick Zauck, who is coming off his best game of his career, and Ben Bethea will be looking for room to run against the Greyhounds.

Ocean City would also like to see quarterback Chris Gabor continue to improve and spread the ball around.

This game is about finishing strong for the seniors, but with an eye to next season.

"We have to figure out a lot of things and put things together for where we want to go next year," Smith said. "I think it's a good learning situation. We have to get answers to a lot of questions and to help us going into next year. A win would make the kids feel pretty good.

"It is the last game, and it's on our home field. It's an opportunity to redeem themselves for the last game. I think for the seniors it's a chance to erase their memories from that last one. We only have five or six that have played all four tears. That's special for them."