The Bridgeton High School football team is winning games and surviving.
The survival may be the more impressive part.
The fifth-seeded Bulldogs meet top-seeded Delsea Regional in a South Jersey Group II semifinal at 7 p.m. today.
Bridgeton took the field against Cinnaminson last Friday with just 23 players because of injuries. Still, Bridgeton won 28-18.
The Bulldogs suffered another injury in that game. Wide receiver Kyheem Simpson hurt his shoulder on a first-quarter touchdown run and did not return.
The players Bridgeton does have left are among the region's most dynamic.
Mike Cisrow is a standout running back, and linebacker Rashaun Smith is a Division I college prospect.
Delsea Regional is the defending South Jersey Group II champion. The undefeated Crusaders are No. 2 in The Press' Elite 11.
Delsea dominated Woodrow Wilson in the quarterfinals, winning 56-18 last Sunday. The Crusaders scored five touchdowns in just nine plays. Running back Austin Medley has scored 29 touchdowns this season.
Key players for Bridgeton: Tamar Jackson, QB/DB, 34-of-79 for 515 yards and six touchdowns and five interceptions on defense; Mike Cisrow, RB, 246 carries for 1,573 yards and 11 touchdowns; Kevin Bunton (above), RB, 53 carries for 355 yards; Kyheem Simpson, WR/DE, 18 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns and 4.5 sacks on defense; Rashaun Smith, LB, 130 tackles and two interceptions.
Key players for Delsea: Austin Medley, RB, 142 carries for 1,298 yards and 29 touchdowns; Sean McPherson, RB, 86 carries for 1,078 yards and 12 touchdowns; Chris Jackson, QB; Dennis Handy, OL; Chris Trotz, OL.
Keys to victory: Delsea overwhelmed Woodrow Wilson with early touchdowns. The Bulldogs must not fall behind big early. Otherwise, it will be tough to come back against a Delsea offense that can control the ball with its powerful ground game.
Game details
Who: Fifth-seeded Bridgeton (7-3) vs. top-seeded Delsea Regional (9-0)
What: South Jersey Group II semifinal
Where/When: 7 p.m. today at Delsea Regional
What's next: Winner advances to the final the weekend of Dec. 4-5 against the winner of tonight's other semifinal between third-seeded Haddonfield and second-seeded West Deptford.
