Atlantic City football wins first sectional title since 1999

The Atlantic City High School football team celebrates its 35-14 win over Millville in the Central Jersey Group 4 final at Atlantic City High School in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Friday, November 13, 2026. Kevin Emmons/South Jersey Sports Zone

ATLANTIC CITY — Atlantic City High School junior quarterback Marvin Burroughs holds the school record for passing touchdowns and passing yards.

He also holds an offer from Syracuse.

On Friday night, Burroughs added another accomplishment to his resume. His four touchdown passes led the Vikings to a 35-14 triumph over Millville in the Central Jersey Group 4 final.

"It's great to be a part of greatness," Burroughs said. "I feel blessed."

Atlantic City won its first sectional championship in 27 years after losses to Kingsway and Washington Township in a sectional final in back-to-back seasons.

“Two years in a row we fell short,” Burroughs said. “We definitely had to turn it up in practice this week. We knew what was at stake.”

Burroughs first TD pass was a 25-yard dart to Kenai Austin on fourth down late in the first quarter. After a 65-yard TD run by Ahmad Chambers, Burroughs connected with Austin again for a 24-yard score to give the Vikings a 21-0 lead in the third quarter.

“Kenai Austin is an under recruited kid,” Atlantic City coach Keenan Wright said. “He’s a gamer.”

Austin finished with four catches for 68 yards. Don’Taye Thompson had five receptions for 53 yards and two touchdowns. Thompson currently holds offers from Alabama, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Penn State, among others. Chambers rushed for a game-high 121 yards.

“We just wanted it more,” Burroughs said.

The current Vikings have heard stories about the 1999 team.

Those stories were used as a sales pitch to convince Burroughs to remain at home when he was in eighth grade. The junior quarterback bought in.

"I heard a lot about them," Burroughs said. "Coming out of eighth grade, a lot of older people were telling me about them. Just telling me to stay home and just change what football is at Atlantic City High School."

Burroughs and Co. did just that.

They’re confident they are one of the best teams in school history.

"I feel like this team we have right now could go toe-to-toe with anybody in history," Burroughs said.

Robert O’Connor finished 9-for-19 passing for 118 yards and a TD for the Thunderbolts. His 6,409 career passing yards are a school record. Dante Bennett caught a TD pass and Ronald Saunders finished with three catches for a game-high 70 yards. Reginald Holley rushed for a team-high 59 yards before he exited the game with an injury.

Millville reached a sectional final for the sixth consecutive year. The Thunderbolts have a 6-5 record and will play longtime rival Vineland on Thanksgiving.

Atlantic City’s defense forced two turnovers in the second quarter. An unsuccessful fake field goal pass and a forced fumble helped the Vikings shout Millville in the first half.

“We dominated,” senior defensive lineman Anas Newsome said.

In the waning minutes of Atlantic City’s victory, Newsome paced the sidelines in search of a filled hydration cooler. An assistant coach emptied three coolers in an effort to save Wright from being soaked with ice water by his players on a cold November night.

A lone cooler was overlooked and players drenched Wright to celebrate the win.

“That felt great,” Newsome said. “We want to do that in states, too. It felt amazing to have that feeling right now. We just want to win.”

The Vikings improved their record to 8-3 with a seventh straight victory. Atlantic City will visit Winslow Township in the Group 4 state semifinals next week. The seven-game win streak was inaugurated with a 36-30 win over the Eagles on September 25.

Next week's winner will advance to the Group 4 state championship at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

“(Winslow coach) Jamal White is a childhood friend,” Wright said. “It’s exciting. My cousin is the athletic director there. It’s going to be a family affair. The winner goes to MetLife.”