By Wayne Witkowski
New Egypt High School quarterback Kyle Frimel called his team’s 8-7 victory over Burlington City High School one of the strangest football games he has played in.
“Even the score was strange. I haven’t played in many 8-7 games. We just battled through and made a great comeback,” Frimel said.
Bobby Farrand fell on a botched Burlington City punt in the end zone and Frimel ran in the conversion in the third quarter for the deciding points.
“It was ugly — an up-and-down game,” coach Steve Fence said. “We fumbled in the red zone. They had a long drive [for a touchdown], and we hardly touched the ball in the first quarter and we were down, 7-0, at half. We challenged the kids at halftime and for the offensive line to open holes better, and we controlled the ball in the second half. Noah Viera did a good job running the ball.”
Viera had 12 carries for 68 yards — mostly in the second half.
Along with throwing and running the ball, Fence said Frimel was all over the field on defense. Neal Flogel made his sixth interception of the season, and Fence said Jake Kear played a really strong game at defensive end.
Although ugly, Fence will take the win, as New Egypt is 4-1 and remains atop the West Jersey Football League Freedom Division with a 3-0 record. Florence Township Memorial High School is 2-0 in the division, and the teams square off Nov. 4. New Egypt has a bye week before taking on struggling Riverside High School Oct. 21, followed by a nondivision game against Haddon Heights high School Oct. 28. All three games are at home.
As for the state playoffs, New Egypt comes into the week seeded No. 2 in power points in NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group I.
“The coaches really prepare us, and that’s what really has helped us out,” Frimel said. “I contribute as much as I can, and the line’s been great. I got sacked for the first time all season in this game. I don’t get hit too much [dropping back to pass]. It’s easy when you have the time to throw and the guys do a great job catching the ball.”
Burlington City scored when D’Andre Thurmond caught an 8-yard pass from Eric Best early in the second quarter and Seth Lower kicked the extra point.
On the drive, Jordan Bendick appeared to have an interception at New Egypt’s 10-yard line, but the receiver running a fade route reached over Bendick’s back to grab it at the same moment and it was ruled a reception. Fence vehemently argued the call, pointing out that Bendick was clutching the ball as he hit the ground.
Then came Burlington City’s crucial third-quarter mishap on a bad snap to the punter, who tried to kick the ball while it was on the ground. It was kicked sideways as Farrand, a sophomore, beat the rush for the ball. New Egypt lined up to kick the tying point, but a penalty against Burlington City moved the ball closer to the goal line. The Warriors switched to an attempt for two points, and Frimel ran it in off a bootleg.
New Egypt’s fourth-quarter drive stalled at Burlington City’s 15-yard line, but Fence chose not to attempt a field goal. His team was stopped short on fourth down.
“I didn’t want it to get blocked and that maybe they’d get something off it, so we went for it, got stopped and then they had to go the length of the field,” Fence said.
“We’ve been in a lot of close games, and I don’t feel we’re anywhere close to our potential. We got a great effort from our defense and our special teams, but we have to shore up our running game.”
