Cedar Creek trounces Hammonton

Poor start dooms Blue Devils in 46-7 loss

EGG HARBOR CITY—A nightmarish first quarter doomed Hammonton High School’s football team last week, as the Blue Devils fell to 0-4 with another lopsided loss, this time falling to host Cedar Creek 46-7 on September 21.

Miscues and just overall poor play doomed the Blue Devils who trailed 28-0 after just one quarter of play.

Things were so bad that Cedar Creek led 14-0 before Hammonton had run one offensive play.

“That was pretty bad,” Hammonton coach Jim Raso said.

The game seemed over after just one play. Cedar Creek’s Jahmir Campfield fielded the opening kickoff at his own 9-yard line and quickly weaved his way through Hammonton’s coverage for a 91-yard touchdown return.

The Pirates squibbed the ensuing kickoff which was mishandled by Hammonton before Cedar Creek recovered at the Blue Devils 43-yard line. Seven plays later, Creek quarterback Reilly Hoffacker hit Darius Benjamin for a 30-yard touchdown pass and a 14-0 Pirates lead.

The connection was the first of five touchdown passes for Hoffacker in the game as he threw for 225 yards against an overmatched Hammonton secondary.

Hammonton was stunned by the two quick scores and the Blue Devils never recovered.

“Our mindset right now is as soon as something goes wrong, it’s like the worst thing possible.

And that’s the biggest obstacle to overcome more than anything else. We don’t deal with any adversity right now, let alone a little,” Raso said.

After Hammonton’s first possession went three-and-out, Cedar Creek wasted little time piling on, as Hoffacker threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Frenchmon Bethea. The Pirates then recovered another squib kick, setting up Aamir Dunbar’s 16-yard touchdown run and a 28-0 lead.

The rout was on and in the second quarter Hoffacker added two more touchdown passes, the first a 31-yard strike to Campfield and the second a 12-yard toss to AJ Maxwell.

While Cedar Creek was lighting up the scoreboard, Hammonton was struggling to move the sticks, as each of the Blue Devils first half drives either stalled or ended in punts.

“We’re not getting it done offensively and it puts a lot of pressure on our defense because they’re out there a lot,” Raso said.

Cedar Creek rounded out its scoring in the third quarter when Hoffacker hit Bethea for a 21-yard touchdown pass.

Hammonton’s lone points came in the fourth quarter when Josiah Miller scored on a 10-yard run.

The loss was similar to all of Hammonton’s this season. The Blue Devils have struggled to move the football and also failed to stop opposing offenses. Raso and the coaching staff are frustrated and disappointed with the team’s energy.

“We’re not even doing simple fundamentals. The disheartening part is we go over fundamentals. And for whatever reason, as soon as we’re in a game setting, everything’s out the window and I’m frustrated just as much as anybody else,” Raso said.

Hammonton’s road doesn’t get any easier this week as the Blue Devils host a 3-1 Ocean City team on September 27 at 7 p.m.