LaFragola, Defense help Wildcats knock off Vikings

Alaam Horne took the very first play from scrimmage 67 yards for a score. The St Joseph Wildcats never looked back.

C.J. LaFragola added three scores on the ground (2, 65, 14) and a receiving touchdown (15), and the Wildcats defense forced three Vikings turnovers en route to their 41-8 victory on Saturday.

Despite a spirited effort by Atlantic City in the first half, including an offense that controlled the clock and moved the ball effectively, St. Joseph was able to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard. The Wildcats took a 14-0 lead into halftime, and would've been up by 21 had a penalty not negated an 81-yard touchdown run by Alaam Horne.

LaFragola single-handedly ended the contest with three pivotal plays early in the 3rd quarter. Less than a minute after his exciting 65-yard touchdown run, LaFragola intercepted a Jamir Prevard pass to put the Wildcats in good field position. A few plays later, he took a screen pass 15 yards to the endzone to put the game well out of reach.

Rocco Ordille also added a late touchdown run for St. Joseph. Prevard connected on an 11-yard touchdown pass to Robert Parker for the Vikings' only points of the afternoon.

Here are some of the best calls from Tony Blum and Jim Schafer as heard live on 97.3 ESPN-FM:

Horne 67-yard touchdown run on the 1st play from scrimmage

C.J. LaFragola 2-yard touchdown run

C.J. LaFragola 65-yard touchdown run

C.J. LaFragola 15-yard touchdown reception

Robert Parker 11-yard touchdown reception

Here’s a preview of some of the other interviews from this week’s edition of the South Jersey Sports Report:

• Ocean City's football team is back in business after consecutive victories, including this week's convincing win on the road in Vineland. Red Raiders head coach Kevin Smith explains what's working right now, and how his best offensive weapon is leading the charge
• There are still two undefeated teams in the Cape-Atlantic League, and one of them is St. Augustine Prep. We asked Hermits head coach Mark Reardon about his unique style of developing talent, and why it's worked wonders on the field each week
• Press of Atlantic City sports writer Mike McGarry breaks down all the action in the Cape-Atlantic League, including more fallout from the Lower Cape May forfeit controversy
• The Courier Post’s Kevin Minnick breaks down the best Friday night games from across the West Jersey Football League, including Cherokee's key victory against a previously undefeated juggernaut, and if anyone can stop West Deptford's 260-pound backfield monster
• A local high school soccer team is just two wins away from a prestigious inivtational tournament title. Find out how they earned a rare appearance in the South Jersey Coaches Cup, and why they'll have to go through an old rival that's been plaguing them for years

Click here and here for more on the fallout surrounding Lower Cape May

Listen to this week's show:

Aaron Bogushefsky, Ocean City Red Raiders head soccer coach

Kevin Minnick, Courier-Post sports reporter

Kevin Smith, Ocean City Red Raiders head football coach

Mark Reardon, St. Augustine Prep Hermits head football coach

Mike McGarry, Press of Atlantic City sports reporter

We’d also like to congratulate the South Jersey Athlete of the Week:

Jose Tabora

Football, St. Augustine Prep

The sophomore quarterback continues to lead the Cape-Atlantic League in passing after a phenomenal performance against Bridgeton last week. He completed 14 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-12 win. On Friday night, he threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the Hermits gritty 45-21 victory over Buena.

It’s all right here, on The South Jersey Sports Report. Listen every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on 97.3 ESPN-FM or 973espn.com. Don’t forget to miss Tyler on Thursday Night Live where each week we take the South Jersey Sports Report on the road at a different local establishment in our area, with the spotlight on high school football.

And 97.3 ESPN-FM has you covered every Friday night from 6-7 p.m. for “Countdown to Kickoff”, followed by our live coverage of one of the area’s best games. It all wraps up with our post game show at 10 p.m.

Follow Tyler Donohue on Twitter @TDsTake