Trick or treat.
Come Saturday evening, our neighborhood will be filled with children wearing costumes marching up to houses in search of candy.
In the old days, a certain boy would dress up as a football player. He would put on his Cape May Rockets uniform and go from house to house, asking “Trick or Treat” while holding a white pillow case.
Some years, he would wear a costume that featured one of those plastic masks. He can still feel the sweat running down his face as he tried to breathe through a pin-sized hole in the mouth.
He went up to almost every door in the Cape May neighborhood. The one exception was a huge home on New Jersey Avenue. Everyone was convinced a witch lived there and had a giant kettle that was used to make spells.
“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble…”
The Eagles dressed up like football players on Monday night.
But they played as if someone cast a spell over the defense. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott and company dominated in a 38-21 Cowboys victory.
The loss, the Eagles’ fifth straight, was the worst defensive outing since coordinator Vic Fangio took over in 2024.
The unit allowed 416 total yards, including 205 rushing yards against one of the worst rushing offenses, while collecting no sacks or turnovers.
It was like expecting Reese Cups or Three Muskateers in your Halloween bag and getting an apple.
It was the fourth-worst home loss to the Cowboys in franchise history and the worst in a meaningful Eagles-Cowboys game since a 38-17 setback in 2007.
That overshadowed a respectable performance from quarterback Tanner McKee and rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon’s best game of his young career.
The bright spots couldn’t mask a disappointing performance that left the Eagles with their first five-game losing streak since 2016.
They have bounced back in the past. In 2021, coach Nick Sirianni’s first season, they also started 2-5 before winning seven of their final nine games.
Given the injuries and inconsistency that has plagued them this year, another rally doesn’t seem likely.
Fans are probably headed to see more tricks than treats the rest of the way.
By the way, that haunted house from years ago is now the Mission Inn, a former bed and breakfast that is currently a private residence.
No one knows what happened to the black kettle.
It might be at Lincoln Financial Field.
Local high school football update
Eleven high school football teams from Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties qualified for the upcoming public school state playoffs.
Oakcrest earned the highest among the local public teams. The Falcons are seeded No. 2 in South Jersey Group 2 and will play host to No. 7 Red Bank Regional in the first round this weekend.
Atlantic City (Central Jersey Group 4), Bridgeton (South Jersey Group 4) and Ocean City (Central Jersey Group 3) all qualified as No. 3 seeds.
The Vikings will take on No. 6 Hammonton in the first round while the Bulldogs will face Clearview Regional and the Red Raiders will meet local rival Pleasantville. Ocean City and Pleasantville used to face each other on Thanksgiving before that rivalry ended two years ago.
Egg Harbor Township (South Jersey Group 5) and Millville (Central Jersey Group 4) qualified as No. 4 seeds.
The Eagles will play host to No. 5 Eastern Regional while the Thunderbolts will open the playoffs against Pennsauken.
In addition to Hammonton and Pleasantville, Lower Cape May Regional (Central Jersey Group 2) and Vineland (Central Jersey Group 5) reached the postseason as No. 6 seeds.
The Caper Tigers will travel to face No. 3 Point Pleasant Boro while the Fighting Clan will play Sayreville.
Absegami (Central Jersey Group 4) also qualified as a No. 8 seed. The Braves will face top-seeded Brick Memorial in their opening game.
Pairings for the non-public divisions will be announced this weekend. St. Augustine Prep and Holy Spirit are both expected to be qualifiers.
Local NFL update
Dallas Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had five tackles in a 38-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver/kick returner Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) had one reception for 4 yards and a 24-yard kickoff return in a 20-17 loss to the Detroit Lions.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek), Bo’s brother, was inactive for the Cards’ 30-16 loss to the Denver Broncos due to a knee injury.
Local boxing update
Boxing returns to Atlantic City this weekend with a pair of cards at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and Showboat Hotel, respectively.
At Hard Rock on Friday, the main event will feature Philadelphia unbeaten middleweight Richard Johnson (10-0, 6 KOs) against Brazil’s Klisman Sabner Simao (12-0, 8 KOs).
Forked River cruiserweight Chris Thomas (16-3-2, 10 KOs) will be fighting in Atlantic City for the eighth time in a bout against St. Louis’ Russell Harris (12-3, 11 KOs).
At Showboat on Saturday, Atlantic City light-heavyweight Christian Figueroa (2-1, 2 KOs) will fight Cody Davis (1-0, 0 KOs), from Dallas.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points. Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
