Absegami Football Team Takes Lessons Away From Scrimmage

It didn't take long for the Absegami High School football team to display its big-play capability on Monday, Aug. 22.

The Braves' Tyler Bing scored on an 80-yard run on a jet sweep against Seneca during the team's first play in its first scrimmage of the year, in Galloway Township.

Absegami found the end zone three times, but the final score had little bearing on what the Braves were trying to get out of the scrimmage.

The Braves were just happy to see another team lined up against them after a couple of weeks of playing against each other.

"We were really excited," Absegami quarterback Rashad Kinlaw said. "We got tired of doing the same things in camp."

"We were really, really excited," Braves wide out Dustin Miller said. "It's the first time we got to hit somebody else in pads."

As expected for the first scrimmages, the Braves made several mistakes, but also made enough plays to have reason for optimism.

Absegami hopes to return to the playoffs this season after winning six
games a year ago.

On Monday, the Braves ran the ball with success from just about
everywhere on the field, even though they were using a limited playbook for the scrimmage.

Kinlaw showed glimpses of why he is one of the most dangerous players in the league. The Braves quarterback showed off his mobility in and out of the pocket.

The Braves defense was inconsistent, allowing big gains on the ground, but also shutting down the Golden Eagles in big stretches.

"I think we did well," Braves' Demond Cottman said. "We came out on
the first play and scored our first touchdown. I think we played well,
but I think we can do better."

"I was just walking off the field saying on a scale of 1-10, I would
say it was a 6," Absegami coach Dennis Scuderi said. "We had some good offensive plays, but we had way too many penalties. We have to be better in our run defense. But we did march down the field on offense, and that was good to see."

David Hood scored on a long touchdown run, taking a handoff to the
left side with plenty of grass in front of him. Kinlaw showed his
hustle making a block at least 40 yards down field.

"I saw an opening, took it, touchdown," Hood explained.

He added: "We were hyped up and wanted to show people we can play."

"I think we need to cut down on penalties mainly," Miller said. "The
first play we come out like that (with a touchdown), that was real
good. I could have gotten that one catch in the end zone but for the
first scrimmage I think we did well."

Scrimmage notes:

- The offensive line was active from the start and gave the Braves
running backs time to run. They also gave Kinlaw time to throw, for the most part.

- The major negative aspect of the scrimmage was all the penalties
committed by the Braves. On top of having at least three long gains
called back because of penalties, the Braves were also called for
15-yard penalties on both sides of the ball.

- Dustin Miller was Kinlaw's favorite target. The converted
quarterback showed that he has the hands and toughness to be a
receiver.

- Jesse Logan and Chris Henchy showed toughness in the middle of the defensive line; however the defense as a whole was inconsistent.

- Defensive lineman Joe Brennan knocked down a pass at the line of the scrimmage.

- Bing, Hood and Kinlaw all look tough to stop, especially in the open field.

- Nate Ross showed his speed and hustle by chasing down a Seneca
running back on a long gain before he reached the end zone.

- Mike Riley made a goal line stop in the backfield.

- Reserve quarterback Mike Dolan made something out of nothing on a high snap, gaining yardage on a run around the right end

- Sampson Jenkins found paydirt, and also had one long run that
featured two spin moves.

- Don Hessler picked off a Seneca pass late in the scrimmage.