Mike McGarry
PLEASANTVILLE -- The Pleasantville High School football team earned its first win of the season Saturday.
The Greyhounds believe there are more victories to come.
Ahmad Jones threw two TD passes and Semaj Dozier returned a kickoff for a TD as Pleasantville beat Oakcrest 28-26 in a West Jersey Football League interdivision game.
"This means a lot," Jones said. "It will get the momentum going and everybody's confidence up."
Pleasantville did not envision starting the season 0-6. The Greyhounds reached the Group II sectional semifinals in each of the past two seasons.
"It's been real bad, but we keep fighting," said linebacker Tejohn Cooper, who made two tackles for a loss. "It's just been crazy."
The game was originally scheduled for Friday night, but it was postponed because of security concerns to Saturday morning, when it was played without incident.
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Oakcrest (4-3) began Saturday needing a win to boost its South Jersey Group III playoff standing. The Falcons had the early lead and momentum after quarterback Andrew Estrada scored on a 6-yard run to give the Falcons a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.
It would have been easy for the Greyhounds, considering their record, to have a "here we go again" feeling, but Dozier tied the score and gave them some hope with an 81-yard kickoff return for a TD.
"That was huge," Pleasantville coach Malachi Timberlake said. "We needed that spark. It gave the boys confidence. We were right back in the game."
The rest of the game mirrored the first quarter, with the teams trading momentum-changing plays.
Pleasantville took the lead for good in the third quarter when running back Nazir Griffin broke into the clear and sprinted 50 yards for a TD to put the Greyhounds up 22-20 with 3 minutes, 28 seconds left in the period.
Oakcrest had a chance to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter after Estrada's 47-yard TD pass to Jaden Harvey cut the Pleasantville lead 28-26.
The Falcons attempted a two-point conversion. Oakcrest tossed the ball to Zicri Forest, but Dozier came off the edge and forced Forest out of bounds short of the goal line.
Pleasantville overcame outstanding efforts by Forest (six catches for 124 yards) and Oakcrest linebacker Donovan Linthicum (three tackles for losses).
Dejuan Martin helped Pleasantville protect its lead with an 86-yard, fourth-quarter punt from the 6-yard line. Marin also recovered a fourth-quarter fumble. Defensive back Alchino Blakely intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.
Pleasantville still has a chance to qualify for the Group III playoffs. Teams must win at least two games to be eligible for the postseason, which begins Nov. 1. Teams earn a playoff spot based on their United Power Ranking, which relies primarily on their record and their opponents' records and strength of schedule. The Greyhounds will play at Willingboro at 1 p.m. Saturday and host Gloucester (2-5) on Oct. 25.
"If we can get healthy and get rolling," Timberlake said, "I think we'll be fine."
Oakcrest 6 7 7
Pleasantville 6 8 14
FIRST QUARTER
OK - Estrada 6 run (kick missed)
PV - Dozier 81 kickoff return (kick missed)
SECOND QUARTER
OK - Forest 33 pass from Estrada (Estrada kick)
PV - Martin 7 pass Jones (Griffin run)
THIRD QUARTER
OK - Forest 4 run (Estrada kick)
PV - Griffin 50 run (Griffin run)
PV - Barnes 24 pass from Jones (run failed)
FOURTH QUARTER
OK - Harvey 47 pass from Estrada (run failed)
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