GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — After the Absegami High School football team lost its fourth straight game, the Braves talked about their goals for the rest of the season and what they needed to do to accomplish them.
“It’s hard for high school kids to lose four straight and still come out and practice hard and understand what it’s going to take,” Absegami first-year coach Warren Smith Jr. said.
The Braves put together three great practices this week and came out Thursday and performed, Smith said.
Logan Simpson rushed for 60 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Braves to a 16-0 victory over ACIT in a West Jersey Football League interdivision game.
Ahmad Davis rushed for 72 yards, including 60 on the Braves’ first drive of the third quarter, which led to Simpson’s 1-yard score to cap the scoring. Sha’zir Shiggs rushed for 71 yards for the Braves (2-4).
The Red Hawks (2-3) have lost three straight.
“Great win tonight. It was really awesome,” Simpson said. “We were on a four-game losing streak, and we overcame that (by) playing physical, playing hard, playing aggressive.”
Absegami ran the ball well in the win, to which Simpson credited his offensive line and fullback, Malachi Collins. Simpson said he and his teammates work hard every week and was pleased to see that pay off Thursday.
Jayden Holt-Grandy rushed for 13 yards for Absegami.
“The run game was very great,” Simpson said. “But we are a heavy-run team. I love the ball. I always want to run the ball. … It was big for us, and I am very proud of my line and everything.
“It was great. I love this feeling, but next week we got a tough opponent. We got Bridgeton. So I can’t wait. We are right back at it tomorrow.”
Absegami took a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter after Lucas DeGennaro’s 22-yard field goal. Simpson rushed for 28 yards on that drive, Shiggs 23.
Simpson scored on a 1-yard run with 2:08 left in the second quarter to give Absegami a 10-0 lead.
Absegami only passed twice Thursday.
“That’s kind of what our identity is (being run heavy). We have guys that can run it,” Smith said. “We have to be creative with our schemes and our formations to put ourselves in good spots, but (Simpson, Davis, Holt-Grandy, Shiggs), they all run hard, It all starts up front, and those kids are starting to block. They are starting to understand the schemes. They are starting to come off the football.
“In high school football, if you can come off the football and dent the front, establish the run and play good defense, that’s the formula to win a football game.”
Absegami’s defense forced a punt and a turnover on downs. ACIT had a bad snap on two other punts attempts. One led to an Absegami field-goal attempt late in the fourth quarter, which the Red Hawks blocked.
“Shoutout to the defense for getting us a shutout today. It was great,” Simpson said. “I love getting shutouts in defense. Best feeling in the world. We were n a tough losing streak, so I am happy we bounced back.”
ACIT’s Anthony Gaitano passed for 53 yards and rushed for 46 yards. Brahim Knight caught 16- and 19-yard passes from Gaitano. Kazir Stevenson caught a 12-yard pass.
“We are trying to rebuild the culture here,” Smith said. “When you lose four games in a row, it’s easy to put your head down and kind of give up and start pointing fingers. … It could have been better. But, listen, at this point, we will take any win.
He said winning helps the players buy in, especially after a losing streak.
Now the aim is to keep that momentum rolling for Bridgeton next Friday.
“We are going to attack the week, just like we did this week,” Smith said.