By DAVE O’SULLIVAN
Staff Writer
On X @GDsullysays
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Four years ago, Lotzeir Brooks was a highly touted freshman wide receiver burning college-recruit defensive backs on his way to catching the first touchdown pass of his career at the inaugural Battle at the Beach at Ocean City High.
On Friday night his career has come full circle, as in his final Battle at the Beach showcase all Brooks did was set New Jersey’s all-time record for touchdowns as a receiver as he cooked Holy Spirit’s defense for 200 yards and three touchdowns on just five catches in the Thunderbolts’ dominating 35-0 victory over the Spartans.
The University of Alabama commit put on a show. In the second quarter, with Millville facing a 4 th-and-6 at the Holy Spirit 32-yard line, new quarterback Robbie O’Connor — a sophomore Paul VI transfer taking over for last year’s star signal caller, Jacob Zamot — scrambled and found Brooks on a short pass near the right sideline. Brooks caught the ball, cut back to his left and used his incredible speed to out-run the entire Spirit defense across the field and into the end zone to put Millville up 14-0.
Then, midway through the third quarter, Brooks showed all his skills as he took a pass on a 5-yard out pattern, made the first defender miss, tiptoed the right sideline and then put on a burst of speed — like something out of a video game — and raced 98 yards for a touchdown that put Millville up, 28-0.
“We knew what we had coming in just because of what he did in eighth grade, but we didn’t know he was THAT caliber. When he did that (four years ago) against a Rutgers commit at corner, and cooked him, we were like, ‘oh, shoot, this kid is legit.’ We kind of knew coming in (he was going to be good), but we didn’t know he was going to be of that caliber,” Millville coach Humberto Ayala said of his star receiver, who now has 54 touchdowns, two more than previous record holder Nolan Borgerson of Westwood, who set the mark in 2013. “That’s why he’s going where he’s going and we’ve been seeing it for the last three years. He’s amazing. We’re enjoying it, he’s a generational talent. Anytime a kid can take a 5-yard slant and go 98 yards — we’re fortunate to have him. We’re kind of numb (to his talent). We get happy for him and we’re excited that he’s on our side of the ball. We just enjoy those moments anytime they come.”
“It’s a regular game to me, a regular game with a different title,” Brooks said. “It felt great (to break the state touchdown record) but I want the end goal, that state championship ring. I don’t really go too crazy on (stats and records), I just come out here and ball.”
The teams battled in the first quarter with Spirit thwarting a Millville drive with an interception, but on the very next play Millville broke the ice as Jaedan Everett scooped up a fumble and scored from 14 yards out to give the Bolts a 7-0 lead. Holy Spirit missed a pair of field goals but still went into halftime down just 14-0, but O’Connor’s second touchdown pas to Brooks on Millville’s first drive of the third quarter put the game out of reach.
“It’s awesome. (Brooks) makes it look easy. He’s a great player and he knows the game really well. When I’m rolling out he reroutes perfectly — it’s pretty cool to see him work. I get nervous before every single game, but the nerves last for just one play, then I’m good. After the first play on offense, I can rock and roll,” O’Connor said. “They treat me like a brother already. It’s my first year here and I’m best friends with all the guys already. Me and Brooks always talk — all the receivers, we have a really good relationship.”
O’Connor threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the first varsity start of his career and Millville rushed for 139 yards, including 66 yards and a touchdown from Jamal Wallace. Holy Spirit was limited to 59 rushing yards and less than 200 total yards by the No. 9 team in the state.
“I have a great defensive staff. Those kids buy in and believe in what’s being asked of them on a consistent basis. They love their coaching staff, and we just play with a different grit. They just love to play defense. That’s Millville football,” Ayala said. “I think the score says what it is. I’m not discrediting (Holy Spirit), they are a good football team, but I think we’re good, too. That’s why we are where we are and that’s what we’ve been doing for the last several years. I say that in the most humble way, I just think people didn’t realize we were bringing back what we brought back.”
Millville has been one of the feature teams in the Battle at the Beach the last several years, and Ayala said he hopes it stays that way.
“I like the exposure it gives to Jersey, and South Jersey, to be honest,” he said. “You have teams coming up from Florida coming over to play, you have teams from Pa. coming to play — I like the exposure it gives our state and the recognition on South Jersey. It’s great, we look forward to it every year. It’s fun, it’s different, and I think it’s something that need to keep going on every year.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Millville hosts Atlantic City on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. Holy Spirit hosts Oakcrest on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.
Contact Dave O’Sullivan: sullyglorydays@gmail.com.
