This was not the spot for tall, drop-back passers who survey the field and fire spirals from sideline to sideline. This was not the spot for high school quarterbacks who are likely to play the position at the college level.

But this was the place for two terrific high school quarterbacks and two terrific high school football teams.

Scott Miller led Egg Harbor Township to a 23-19 victory over Nick Crescenzo and Hammonton in a Cape-Atlantic League American Division instant classic.

With the victory, No. 5 Egg Harbor Township (8-0, 7-1) clinches the division title, based on the head-to-head tie-breaker. The Eagles also assured themselves of a high seed in the upcoming South Jersey Group 4 tournament.

No. 6 Hammonton (7-1, 7-1) will be a high seed in the upcoming South Jersey Group 3 tournament.

"It was a great game," Hammonton coach Pete Lancetta said. "I would have enjoyed sitting up there and watching it."

It was a great game, with zero turnovers and just five penalties. A huge crowd - the 50-50 went for $565 - watched as Hammonton drove to the Egg Harbor 16-yard line in the final two minutes before the Eagles held on downs.

Both quarterbacks were at the top of their games.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Miller ran 13 times for 96 yards and a touchdown and also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tejay Johnson.

Thr 5-10, 180-pound Crescenzo ran 13 times for 67 yards and also completed a 31-yard pass to tight end Ian Evans to spark the drive that pulled Hammonton within 23-19 early in the fourth quarter.

"We've very similar," said Miller, who recently committed to attend Harvard. "I was thinking about that when I knew I was going to play quarterback this year. Nick kind of paved the way for me.

"He's been doing a great job. He's been leading his team to victory."

Miller managed that on this cold night, thanks to Egg Harbor's balanced offensive attack. The Eagles got big games from fullback Zach Agostino (12 carries, 52 yards, a touchdown) and Johnson (15 carries, 95 yards, plus a receiving touchdown).

But Miller was the athlete who made things work for the Eagles.

"He makes them go," Lancetta said.

Neither quarterback is a classic passer. But neither team relies much on the pass, anyway, thanks to great offensive line play and balanced rushing attacks.

Crescenzo, who has committed to play baseball at Rider, completed just one of five passes, although it was a 31-yarder on a key drive just after the Blue Devils fell behind by 23-13. Miller was just 4 for 9 passing, but one of them was a touchdown strike to Johnson, who made a nice leaping catch in the end zone.

Crescenzo led Hammonton down the field for a potential go-ahead touchdown in the game's final minutes. The Hammonton quarterback gained 11 yards on a key 4th-and-4 play and picked up 23 of his rushing yards in the drive.

"We want the ball in his hands," Lancetta said of Crescenzo. "It's just like their quarterback. They are very similar."

Both quarterbacks made big plays with their feet in the first half.

Miller capped a 60-yard drive with a 27-yard touchdown run that was highlight material. He dropped back to pass, scrambled left, cut back right, broke two tackles, cut back left and raced into the end zone.

Hammonton drove 53 yards to retake the lead. The big play was 42-yard scramble by Crescenzo.

On the play, Crescenzo dropped back to pass, scrambled left, raced away from the Egg Harbor linebackers and reached the Eagles' 9. One play later, Jared Sanchez took a pitch left, did a 360-degree spin to avoid one tackler, then did another 360-degree spin, and dove into the end zone to complete an 8-yard scoring run.

Miller led the Eagles on two scoring drives in the third quarter. The quarterback ran three times for 22 yards as Egg Harbor took the second-half kickoff and went 59 yards to re-take the lead on Agostino's 9-yard run.

On the next possession, Egg Harbor went 65 yards and Miller completed the drive with a scoring strike to Johnson.

"We were down at halftime, but if you want to be a championship team, you have to come back from adversity," Miller said.

Egg Harbor   7 3 13 0 - 23

Hammonton   7 6 0 6 - 19

H: Dave Crescenzo 8 run (kick fail)

EHT: Scott Miller 27 run (Tim Mason kick)

H: Jared Sanchez 8 run (Esteban Sandoval kick)

EHT: Mason 32 FG

EHT: Zach Agostino 9 run (Mason kick)

EHT: Tejay Johnson 20 pass from Miller (Mason kick)

H: Josh Baez 1 run (kick fail)