All Shore Media High School Sports 10-8-12 Issue - 17 - Volume IV

October 8, 2012 Volume-IV Issue-17

Team 3 Army of the Week Mem. Ends 4 Brick Neptune's Streak Soccer off to an 8 Ocean Impressive Start Pt. Beach Football Showing 10 Championship Form

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Football Midseason Report

Feature: Lacrossover 14 Football Football Feature: Command 1 6 Centers

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Stumpy’s Corner

The first thing fans, players, coaches and parents want to know after the big game is always,

October 8, 2012 Vo l u m e - I V I I s s u e - 1 7

"Is this going to be on All Shore Media?"

All Shore Media has established itself as a leader in scholastic sports coverage in Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing more video highlight clips, in-depth reporting, feature stories and regular updates than ANY OTHER OUTLET in the area.

All Shore Media Web Site Features n Get Video Highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. n Catch up on the action you might have missed

n Watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes.

n www.allshoremedia.com is the most visited sports site in the shore conference during the scholastic year

n Follow us on Twitter (over 4,100 followers) and Facebook, we keep fans posted on the latest scores and news n Established leading portal for local high school coverage.

StevenMeyer Director/CEO/Marketing sm ey er @a l ls ho re me d i a. c om 732-233-4460

ScottStump Director/Managing Editor stump@allshoremedia.com

Senior C ontent Providers Ma tt M an le y / / M ma nl ey 21 @g ma i l. c o m

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New For This Season In conjunction with All Shore Media, The U.S. Army will honor one team a week that showed the character, perseverance and hard work emblematic of The U.S. Army during its performance that weekend. An Army Game Ball will be presented to that team during practice that week in honor of a great showing .

Week-4 Week-1 Rumson

Manalapan

35

Midd. South

31

Week-2 Marlboro

Marlboro head coach Derek Sininsky and his team are honored by SSG Flanders & SSG. Sega of the U.S. Army as the Army Strong Team of the Week for Week Two

Week-3 Toms River North

Manalapan head coach Ed Gurrieri and his team are honored by U.S. Army S G T. S a l . A . B a r d e l l a s t h e A r m y S t r o n g Te a m o f t h e We e k f o r We e k F o u r.

The U.S. Army Strong Team of the Week for Week Four is Manalapan, which

came back on the road for a thrilling 35-31 win over Middletown South in a showdown of Top 10 teams that looks to be huge in deciding the Class A North champion.

Toms River North head coach Chip LaBarca Jr. and his team are honored by U.S. Army SGT. King as the Army Strong Team of the Week for Week Three.

Coach Ed Gurrieri's Braves (4-0) trailed for the first time all season, yet found a way to make a fourth-quarter comeback and come up with a defensive stand in the final seconds to pull out their 15th straight win in Class A North.

Junior Saeed Blacknall had a 39yard touchdown catch, an 85-yard punt return for a score and a game-saving touchdown on

Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

defense. Junior Tyler Leonetti ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns, including a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter that proved to be the winning score to put the Braves ahead 35-31.

Junior linebacker Matt McCann also made a game-clinching play when he recovered a fumble at Manalapan's 21-yard line with 25 seconds left in the game. Another junior linebacker, Chris Noeges, returned a deflected punt for a 1yard touchdown on special teams.

Sophomore kicker Mike Caggiano also went 5-for-5 on extra points.

The victory gave Manalapan a big leg up as it tries to win three straight division titles for the first time in program history.

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10/8/12

Brick Memorial Ends Neptune's 14-game Winning Streak

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor When Brick Memorial ended visiting Neptune's 14game winning streak with a resounding, 40-28 nondivisional victory in Week Five, the Mustangs felt it spoke volumes about the ceiling on their potential this season.

N amely, th a t th er e is n o ceilin g .

"That was a big confidence-booster because that's the best team that I think we're going to play,'' said senior quarterback Ryan Cieplenski. "I think we can go 12-0."

No Brick Memorial team has ever gone undefeated and there are plenty of imposing obstacles ahead, but the Mustangs (5-0), ranked No. 5 in the All Shore Media Top 10, had every reason to be giddy after hanging the most points on the No. 2 Scarlet Fliers (41) since Red Bank Catholic put 40 on Neptune back in 2006. Cieplenski was outstanding with 348 yards of total offense, three touchdown passes and a pair of touchdown runs as Brick Memorial amassed 471 total yards.

Brick Memorial senior quarterback Ryan Cieplenski was sensational with 348 yards of total offense and five touchdowns between rushing and passing in a 4028 win that ended Neptune's 14-game winning streak.

"The kid is a winner,'' said Brick Memorial coach Walt Currie. "Even when he makes mistakes he figures it out. He's like a good hitter. He forgets about the last

at-bat and gets back in there and keeps slinging it.

"He did a great job for us all night long and did a great job in decision-making in the run game.

Obviously in the passing game, he put some really key stuff on the button and did some stuff on the fly that was just kind of improvised. It was a really amazing performance by Ryan.''

that had the longest current winning streak in the Shore Conference.

"We don't ever go into a game thinking, 'They're ranked higher than us, we can't win,''' said senior running back/linebacker Cody Pinho. "We believe we can beat anybody.''

Neptune led 28-21 at the half before junior linebacker Nick Costa turned the tide for good in favor of the home team to set the tone for the second half. In the first half, Neptune senior quarterback Ajee Patterson had thrown for 194 yards and two touchdowns while also running for two scores on his way to 325 total yards in the game and 272 in the air. With a focus on pressuring Patterson in the second half, the Mustangs got after him on Neptune's second play from scrimmage in the third quarter and it resulted in Costa stepping in front of a pass and weaving his way for a 45-yard

The Mustangs weathered a 28-point second-quarter explosion by the Scarlet Fliers and outscored them 19-0 in the second half to close out the win in QB Ryan Cieplenski & fullback Nick Costa emphatic fashion after struggling to put teams away in close games last year. Their offense continues to be unstoppable, as they entered averaging See 39 points per game and surpassed that against a team

Brick

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Strength:The Foundtion of Sport Performance & Injury Reduction

By Adam Feit - Director of Sports Performance (RYPT)

ow much do you bench? It’s often the first question that comes out of teenage male athletes’ mouths when hanging out in the gym. For female athletes, strength training is often associated with getting big, bulky or toning. Both perspectives of this activity for athletic success are grossly misinterpreted and need to be corrected.

Getting strong is very important and often overlooked in the quest for winning games and solidifying scholarships.

H

What is strength? Lifting something heavy?

Holding a position without moving? The faces of strength can be portrayed many different ways, but each can cause a different effect.

Strength to a power lifter may be how much he can squat, bench and deadlift. To a gymnast, it may be the ability to balance on a 4” wide beam or sticking a landing. Despite the difference in sports, athletes should always have the ability to demonstrate what we call athletic based strength; having the ability to produce and absorb enough force to be successful in specific movements or sports.

Each gender, sport and specific athlete requires different types of strength.

Offensive linemen require

maximal strength to produce high levels of force to move a large opponent. Basketball post players require stability to prevent getting moved around in the box. Female athletes most certainly need to enhance the strength of their legs, primarily unilaterally, as research has shown a major percentage of torn ACL and other related knee injuries can be prevented through proper lower body strengthening. The bottom line is this: EVERYONE needs to be stronger especially during the season. But, how can you work on strength and sport at the same time?

Most injuries occur when an athlete is unable to control his/her bodyweight during competition.

This almost always relates back to strength (note: collision sports exponentially increase the rate of injuries for obvious reasons). If athletes could devote 30-45 minutes twice a week to a properly designed training program, performance will improve and the rate of injury will be reduced. In-season strength training should not focus on improving all aspects of strength. Athletes should not worry about setting personal records or “repping out”. Priorities should be

Part 2 of 6

focused on maintaining the strength built throughout the off-season as well as improving certain qualities that can still be trained at a high intensity.

Remember, “maintaining” for too long always leads to detraining.

From a programming standpoint, let’s split our in-season strength development into two categories: produce and absorb.

• Produce: apply a force great enough to move yourself or somebody else

•

Absorb: apply a force great enough to avoid movement and remain stable

Performing large, multi-joint, ground based and 3-dimensional movements maximizes force production. Exercises such as cleans, snatches, squats, presses, lunges, and rows are all staples in an athletic based program.

They require extreme amounts of coordination, strength and body awareness;

Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

similar to sport. Intensities should range anywhere from 75-90% of your max and volume should be kept to a minimum, 3-8 reps for 2-3 sets.

Focusing on the ability to stabilize and decelerate maximizes force absorption. Core training for example, is not necessarily performing sit-ups, crunches and twists. It’s exercises that aid in PREVENTING those movements from happening. Planks, band holds and other isometric positions all help the body stay strong during a chaotic, reactive environment like sport activity. And if athletes want to work on how fast their muscles will produce force, they must also work on slowing down, or decelerating. Fast cars must also have great brake systems for maximal efficiency. Focusing on landing mechanics during jump training and controlling the eccentric portion of multijoint movements, specifically the posterior side of the body are critical for success.

Keep in mind that getting stronger does not always mean getting sore. Strength programs should be tailored to the athlete, sport and time of year. The off-season is the time to push the envelope and challenge athletes outside of their comfort zone. The in-season is the time to manage all athletes’ physical stress to maximize competition performance.

In the next article, we’ll discuss how performance is affected by not only strength, but how quickly athletes can apply that strength (power) during the game.

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www.davethorne.smugmug.com

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Brick

Continued from Page 4

interception return for a touchdown that tied the game at 28.

"We changed up our scheme on defense with our coverages, and I just saw (the receiver) open, just jumped the route and did my thing,'' Costa said. "We put a little more pressure on (Patterson), (a) little more blitzes, changed our coverages a little bit and just manned up with their receivers more and more.''

"That (interception) was everything because tying up the score, now it's just a whole new game,'' said junior defensive lineman Jake Lombardo.

Neptune responded by driving down to Brick Memorial's 27-yard line on its ensuing possession, but Lombardo nailed Patterson for a sack and caused a fumble that was recovered by Pinho for another crucial momentum shift. Lombardo had three sacks in the second half, as the Mustangs put Patterson on the ground five times total after not laying a finger on him in the first half.

"We went into the second half knowing we needed to make a change,'' Pinho said. "The defensive coordinator (Pete Brennan) realized we needed to get some pressure on him. We had Lombardo and (Richie) Kuhn step up huge in the second half and that really pushed us over the top."

After a sack by Pinho on fourth-and-7 from the Brick Memorial 35-yard line ended a Neptune drive at the end of the third quarter, the Mustangs mounted what proved to be the game-winning drive. They went 61 yards in six plays, with Cieplenski improvising on the run outside the pocket to hit some huge passes. He bought time to find Pinho for a 40-yard gain down the middle on third down, and then capped the drive when he sidestepped the rush and found junior Mike Basile for an 18-yard touchdown pass and a 34-28 lead with 10:35 left in the game. It was Basile's 13th touchdown in five games.

ASM / 7 "They're always one step away from making a big play,'' Lombardo said. "Costa is averaging a crazy amount on the ground, Mike (Basile) we know has all kinds of touchdowns, and 'Ciep' really runs the show.

He's a great leader.''

A sack by Lombardo helped thwart Neptune's next drive, and then the Brick Memorial offensive line and Costa went to work to put the game away. The Mustangs mounted an 11-play, 78-yard drive that chewed up 5:49 and culminated in an 8-yard touchdown run up the middle by Cieplenski for a 4028 advantage with 3:32 left in the game. Costa carried the ball five straight times for a total of 41 yards to start the drive as the Mustangs pounded Neptune with the fullback dive out of the spread option.

"We could see they were tired and our guys weren't, and we were like, 'It's time to put the game away and give it to Nick,''' Currie said.

"They just outplayed us,'' said Neptune coach Mark Ciccotelli. "They wanted it more and just kept coming at us.''

Brick Memorial was relentless from the outset before Neptune roared back in the second quarter. The Mustangs ran one play from scrimmage to start the game, called timeout, and then hit Neptune with a 75yard touchdown pass from Cieplenski to sophomore Karl Kumm for a quick 7-0 lead. On Brick Memorial's second possession, it drove 73 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 2-yard keeper by Cieplenski.

Neptune answered with an 11-play, 69-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard plunge by Patterson that cut it to 14-7 with 11:56 left in the second quarter. Brick Memorial came right back with a seven-play, 65-yard drive highlighted by a 25-yard yard run by Cieplenski, who found Kumm for a second touchdown pass, this one spanning nine yards, and a 21-7 lead.

The Scarlet Fliers then rattled off 21 straight points to take the lead at halftime. Patterson found senior Keyshawn Rice for a 60-yard touchdown pass to cut it to 21-14, and then an interception by senior safety Geoff Fairbanks got the ball right back. Four plays

later, Patterson took off for a 42-yard touchdown run that trimmed the lead to 21-20 after the extra point was no good. A fumble recovery by Kason Newbey on the ensuing kickoff put the Scarlet Fliers in business at Brick Memorial's 31-yard line. They punched in one more score when Patterson found senior Sekou Harris for an 8-yard strike and then hit Rice for a two-point conversion pass and a 28-21 advantage with 41.2 seconds left in the half.

However, it was all Brick Memorial from there as the Mustangs showed they have the potential to make a run at the Class A South title in a very difficult division and look to be a prime contender for a championship in the newly-created Central Jersey Group V bracket. There are still plenty of formidable opponents ahead, as No. 4 Lacey, No. 7 Toms River North and No. 9 Southern are all still waiting in Class A South, and the Mustangs could also run into No. 3 Manalapan in the state playoffs.

"(Neptune was) ranked No. 2 and we were ranked No. 5, but we always believed we could win,'' Lombardo said. "Everyone said we didn't really play anyone yet, and we played sloppy at times in those other games, but we brought our 'A' game tonight and made some key adjustments at halftime. We can do anything. I just want to get to Rutgers so bad."

"We're on a roll,'' Costa said. "I don't think anyone can stop us.''

Game Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump

www.allshoremedia.com Photos by: Cliff Lavelle www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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10/8/12

Ocean Boys Soccer Opening Eyes with Unbeaten Start

T

By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer

om Reilly has led the Ocean Township High School boys soccer program for 28 seasons and has had dominant teams, Division I players and championship seasons.

If a coach can know what a special team looks like before the season, he fits the profile.

His 2012 Spartans squad is starting to fit a special profile as well, but even Reilly did not see such a season – or at least such a start to the season – coming.

“No, not at all,” Reilly said when asked if he thought this year’s team could be unbeaten at this stage of the season. “I knew we were pretty good, but you never expect to be 10-0 or even 10-0-1 or anything like that.”

Reilly may not have expected to have one of the Shore Conference’s two remaining unbeaten teams through the first 12 games, but that is exactly what the Spartans are after rolling past previously unbeaten Shore Regional, 4-0, on Oct. 4 and doing the same to a highly-regarded, talented Toms River South team out of the Shore Conference Class A South division.

Jackson Memorial has set the pace in the Shore Conference with a 12-0 record through Oct. 6, but Ocean is right at the Jaguars’ heels at 11-0-1.

The formula, according to Reilly, is a strong, albeit small, group of senior players who have played as well as they have led.

"We've had teams since I've been here that were oozing talent and didn't make it this far without a loss," Reilly said. "Don't get me wrong, this team has talent, but it's not a group we looked at and thought, 'We're going to win our first 10 decisions.'”

Ocean has played its best against its best opponents, as well as in the late stages of games against all opponents.

At one point during the early part of the season, the Spartans had won five straight games in which they scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute or later.

"You never know what you’re going to get out of a team late in the game," Reilly said. "The game is funny like that. Sometimes they do what you want them to and things don't go your way. I'm just proud of them because they’ve just kept playing. They haven't stopped to think about what's going wrong or whether or not they need to change anything when the clock's ticking down. They just

keep playing and that's all you can ever ask out of your players."

Senior midfielder Tyler Nowak has been at the center of Ocean’s strong start, and while he has been a key piece for the Spartans since his freshman season, this is the first time he has led with his scoring out of the midfield. Up until this year, Nowak has played on Ocean’s defense, all the while knowing that he would eventually get a chance to move back to his natural position in the midfield.

He finally got the nod from Reilly this season, and he has rewarded his coach and his team by scoring 13 goals to go with two assists.

"It was a discussion we had before the season," Nowak said.

"I'm a midfielder, I've always been a midfielder, but coach Reilly always needed me in the back, so I played there thinking I'd get a chance to move up once this year came. I didn't mind defense, but I'm having a lot more fun in the middle."

Nowak’s move forward has resulted in an uptick in scoring from last year, but not by that much. The Spartans scored 48 goals in 19 games in 2011, an average of a little more than 2.5 per game. This season, Ocean has scored 32 goals in 12 games, an average of 2.67 goals per game.

The difference for the Spartans has been their success in close games and in surrendering only 12 in goals in 12 games after giving up 25 in 19 games last season.

Reilly considered Nowak a necessity on defense last year because his team had plenty of scoring, but not much skill among its defenders.

"We really needed him in the back last year," Reilly said. "Ideally, he would have been playing in the midfield earlier, but with what we had, we needed his skill and his leadership defending the net. It was always tempting to move him up because you see what he can do in the middle of the field with the way he sees the field, moves the ball, communicates, wins balls in the air. He does everything you could want a player to do in the midfield."

Another reason for Ocean’s improved goal-prevention has been the emergence of junior goalkeeper Chris Seager, now in his first season as the full-time starter. Seager has recorded

seven shutouts – tied with four other goalkeepers for the Shore Conference lead – and has allowed 10 goals, with two of Ocean’s goals allowed coming while Seager was out of the game for precautionary reasons after a collision against Long Branch on Sept. 19.

"Chris is excellent," Reilly said. "There have been games when he hasn't had a lot to do, but he always comes up with that magic moment. He's been sensational. As a goalkeeper, you're called upon to make an acrobatic save, and he pulls it off. He's just another guy who plays his role and it all works."

Junior defender Tyler Roman has also given Ocean a lift by taking over Nowak’s old sweeper position and along with senior outside fullbacks Jordan Eugenis and Chris Tacy, has formed a strong group of defenders in front of Seager. The apex of the defense’s performance came on Oct. 4, when the group held Shore forward Jon Junqueira scoreless after Junqueira scored 23 goals in his team’s first 10 games, including at least one in each of those 10 matches.

"Everything we do starts in the back with Seager and the defense," Nowak said. "Those guys did an awesome job shutting down Junqueira and getting the ball to the midfield. That was probably the best defense we've played this year."

Midfielder Kyle Wells is the other senior who has been a key cog for the Spartans, a four-year varsity player who has been a strong contributor in each of his high school seasons. Beyond Nowak, Walls, Eugenis and Tacy, Ocean has relied on a host of juniors, namely midfielders Fabio Diaz, George Kavarakas and Dan Gomez, as well as forward Justin Silverberg.

The mix of youth leaves the Spartans in a good position heading into next year, while the maturity of those juniors and the leadership of the seniors have Ocean thinking big this year.

“The thing I like about this team is that no matter what, they just keep playing,’’ Reilly said. “They're a resilient group that's proven to be pretty mentally tough. If we do slip up along the way, it's not something that's going to bother these guys too much.

They'll get right back up."

Senior midfielder Tyler Nowak

P h o t o s by : D av i d T h o r n e w w w. d ave t h o r n e p h o t o g ra p h y. c o m

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Point Beach Football Stamps Itself as a Championship Contender

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By Art Gordon – All Shore Media Contributor oming into a crucial Class B Central game against Asbury Park in Week Five, Point Beach stressed all week that it wanted positive yards on every play.

The Garnet Gulls wanted to hold the ball and shorten the game because they knew that Asbury Park could be a very explosive team. They did that and more in their dominating 54-20 win at Don Fioretti Field.

Point Beach (5-0, 2-0), off to one of its best starts ever, not only controlled the tempo of the game, the Garnet Gulls were the team that unleashed the explosiveness.

With their three-headed senior running back package of seniors Kyle Samaritano, Andre Cochran and Danny Tighe, they ran for a total of 345 yards with Tighe running for 192 of those yards and three touchdowns.

"We knew coming into the game that Asbury was very explosive, but we also knew that we had some options on offense," said Point Beach head coach John Wagner. "I have only been here two years so I really don't know (when the last time Point Beach started 5-0). All I do know is that we are 5-0. We wanted to make sure we could come into this game at 4-0 and we did."

The win avenges two losses that Beach suffered last year at the hands of Asbury Park (2-2, 1-2) and sets up a possible rematch at the end of the season in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group playoffs, where Asbury Park is the defending champion. Wagner tried to downplay the revenge factor, saying, "Different teams, different year."

As a friendly reminder the score of last year's game (546) was on the scoreboard all week during practice for all to see just in case anyone did not remember.

"We lost twice to them last year, and the last one was a good whipping," Tighe said. "Hopefully this will open

some eyes in the Shore.

Now we get ready for Keansburg."

Point Beach quickly answered an early score by Asbury Park by going on an 8-play, 60-yard drive, tying the score on a 7-yard run by Samaritano. Zach Yates kicked the first of his six extra points.The Garnet Gulls took the lead for good in the second quarter after Samaritano picked up a blocked punt and returned it to the 18-yard line. Two plays and an Asbury Park penalty later, Cochran took it in from nine yards out to give Beach a 14-7 lead two minutes into the second quarter.

The second half started with Samaritano registering one of his two interceptions for the night and returning it for a touchdow,n but it was called back on a block in the back penalty by the Gulls. Eight plays and five minutes later, Fioretti snuck it over from the 1-yard line, making it a 28-7 game.

After a quick three-and-out by the Blue Bishops, the Garnet Gulls took one play to add to the lead. Tighe took a handoff and went 70 yards for one of his three second-half touchdowns. The Blue Bishops refused to quit and went on an eight play, 78-yard drive, cutting the lead to 35-14 on a 5-yard pass from Barksdale to sophomore running back Tyquis Davis.

The second half excitement continued on the following kickoff as Tighe took it back 81 yards for a Point Beach's Kyle Samaritano touchdown to make the score 41-14 Point Beach then after three quarters. Tighe added a extended the lead to to 2138-yard run before Asbury's Davis took a handoff and 7 at the half on a 51-yard pass from Jake Fioretti to tight broke three tackles and went 38 yards for a touchdown. end Bill Barry.

The fireworks continued three plays later when The first half was all Garnet Gulls, as their defense held Samaritano went 19 yards to complete the scoring.

Asbury to one first down and only 17 offensive plays.

"The defense really stepped it up and played well,'' Tighe said. "We knew how explosive they could be so we worked real hard in practice on it."

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Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

ASM / 11

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Update on the other division races: In Class A North,

Manalapan’s final hurdle to its third straight division title looks to be Colts Neck on the road on Oct. 20. In Class A Central, the race looks to be coming down to the Thanksgiving game between Red Bank Catholic and defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven. RBC has beaten the Bulldogs nine straight times and is looking for its sixth division title in the last eight years. In Class B North, Neptune has already beaten prime contenders Long Branch and Matawan and should roll to its first division title since 1998. In Class B Central, it looks to be coming down to the Thanksgiving matchup between Shore Regional and Point Beach, although Keansburg and Keyport will try to monkey wrench that scenario. Shore is looking for its second division title in three seasons, while Point Beach is searching for its first division title since 1997.

Biggest Surprise (Team):

ith Week Five in the Best Division Race – Class A books, South . Four of these teams are ranked in the All Shore Media Top 10. Brick Memorial and we have reached Lacey are both in the top five, while Toms the halfway River North and Southern are right behind point of the in second place. Brick Memorial still has season for a to face all three of those other teams, majority of the so this race is far from over. It Shore should be one slugfest Conference after another that will have fans roaring teams, so right into November. it’s time Southern is the to take a defending champion, look at but the most impressive teams so far have everything been Brick Memorial and Lacey, so we’ll that has see how it turns out. Runner-up: Class B South. Monsignor Donovan is alone happened so in first place, but there are far and a four teams only one look ahead game behind the at how it Griffins, so there might all is a lot of football end up. still to be played.

Brick Memorial’s 40-28 win that ended Neptune’s 14-game winning streak in Week Five may be the signal that it’s going to be an exciting finish with some heavyweight teams slugging it out for division titles before the state playoffs hit. The good news is that it looks like the debate between many teams in the top 10 will be settled on the field.

Also, with supersophomore quarterback Cinjun Erskine now eligible for Barnegat, the Bengals could be a factor down the stretch, although they need the Griffins to stumble because Monsignor Donovan already beat them.

Brick Memorial's Ryan Cieplenski

Monsignor Donovan. The Griffins lost 40-0 to St. John Vianney in the opener after looking shaky in the preseason. They have not won a division title since 1993, but control their own fate for the Class B South title. Colts Neck is 40 for the first time in school history, but that’s not surprising given their schedule so far. Backto-back wins over St. John Vianney and Manalapan would vault the Cougars past Monsignor Donovan as the surprise team in the Shore. St. John Vianney also has the chance to win its next four games, which would make the Lancers 6-2 and open some eyes around the Shore. Their win over Monsignor Donovan also is looking better and better by the week. I would also put Marlboro in this category. The Mustangs went winless last season

and already have two divisional wins for the first time since 1999.

Holmdel is also 3-2 after going 1-9 last season and has a shutout victory over defending Class B South champion Barnegat.

Neptune's Ajee Patterson

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Biggest Surprise (Player): Ryan Kurtz, Sr.,

Keansburg. Kurtz is a veteran, having started last year and a handful of games his sophomore year, but he has taken it up several notches this season. The Titans are 4-1 after winning one game in the last two seasons combined, and Kurtz has devastated opposing defenses. He has had two games of five touchdowns combined between passing and rushing and has the Titans averaging 33.6 points per game after scoring 16.4 per game last year.

The next major test will be to see if he can continue that level of success against Class B Central competition like Pt. Beach's Danny Tighe

Shore, Point Beach and Asbury Park.

Top Newcomers:

St. John Vianney junior quarterback Billy DeMato has already thrown for more than 1,000 yards in four games after transferring from Bishop Ahr. Neptune senior quarterback Ajee Patterson has also been sensational in his first and only season as the Scarlet Fliers’ starter, and the same goes for Colts Neck senior quarterback Mike Campbell. Lacey senior wideout Bill Belford and Red Bank Catholic running back Jesse Flaherty have also been impact players in their first and only varsity seasons. Toms River North sophomore quarterback Carmen Sclafani has kept the offense potent for the Mariners in his first season as the starter. Matawan senior John Alston has become an important playmaker on offense for the Huskies in his only season in that role. Ocean freshman running back Tyler Thompson already has a 200-yard rushing game under his belt and appears to be one of the future superstars in the Shore Conference. Lakewood sophomore Chapelle

ASM / 13 Currie’s quarterbacks tend to take a big step forward in their second year at the helm of the triple option, and Cieplenski has become a monster, regularly amassing 250-plus yards between passing and running. Manalapan junior wide receiver Saeed Blacknall was promising as a sophomore but has emerged as the best wideout in the Shore Most Improved Conference so far this (Teams): This is a season. He already has three-way tie between multiple FBS offers, and Brick Memorial, Lacey he is one of the most and Point Beach. Brick explosive all-around Memorial has taken a talents in the Shore quantum leap forward thanks to his return offensively to build a unit ability in special teams. led by senior quarterback Lacey's Tom Kelly Long Branch senior Ryan Cieplenski that is Joscil Jackson has always been solid, but he has one of the most explosive in the Shore turned into a beast as a linebacker and a Conference. Lacey has done even better, punishing runner as a senior. averaging 46 points per game after scoring 14.4 in going 4-6 last year. Lacey and Brick State playoff predictions: Memorial have both already surpassed their win Manalapan and Brick Memorial will fight for totals from last season and look to be prime the Central Jersey Group V title. Sayreville will contenders for division and state titles. Point Beach is off to a 5-0 start in impressive fashion, be the favorite to take the title over Middletown using the three-headed monster of Danny Tighe, South in CJ IV. Neptune still looks like the favorite to repeat as CJ III champs, with Long Kyle Samaritano and Andre Cochran to Branch and Allentown looking like prime devastate teams on the ground to the tune of contenders. Rumson-Fair Haven should be right 45.8 points per game. The Garnet Gulls tied the there for its third straight appearance in the CJ school record with eight wins last year, but II final, with Shabazz looking like the they have the look of a team that has the prime obstacle. The CJ I title looks like potential to go 12-0 and win the it will be a showdown between Point program’s first state championship.

Beach and Shore, who could play a Jackson Liberty also deserves a week earlier for the B Central title on mention as its defense has gone Thanksgiving. In South Jersey, from giving up 24 points Southern and Toms River North per game to only will be contenders in South eight this year, led Jersey Group V, where by linebacker Williamstown is the favorite.

Chris Cruz and Lacey will be a serious defensive back contender in SJ IV, with Timber Matt Creek as a primary roadblock.

Castronuova.

Barnegat could make waves in SJ Shore Regional III, with Delsea as a main threat. is off to a 4-1 Finally, Red Bank Catholic will start after a try to make its first state final six-win season since 1980 in Non-Public Group and has the III, where defending champion look of a St. Joseph-Montvale is the heavy contender for favorite. division and state titles with a defense stifling teams to an Make sure to check out average of six points per game.

Cook already has two 100-yard rushing games to get the Piners off to a 3-1 start. Finally, even though Brick Memorial’s Mike Basile was a defensive standout as a sophomore, he has exploded in his first season as a starting running back on offense with 13 touchdowns in five games.

Most Improved (Players): A major reason

that Lacey’s offense has exploded has been the progression of junior quarterback Tom Kelly, who took his lumps as a sophomore but has emerged as a force for the Manalapan's Anthony Firkser Lions. I would also put Brick Memorial senior quarterback Ryan Cieplenski in this category. Coach Walt

our website, www.allshoremedia.com, for the expanded midseason report!

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Volume-IV

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Lacrossover: Shore Lacrosse Players Make Impact on the Gridiron

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

T

hey operate in open space, juke defenders at full speed, absorb booming hits and try to score at all costs.

While that sounds like a job description for a running back or wide receiver, it also applies to a sport that is having more and more of a crossover impact on football in the Shore Conference – lacrosse. Look around the Shore and several key contributors for many teams also happen to be standouts on the lacrosse field in the spring. Their skill set translates favorably to the football field, making them threats all over the field, from wide receiver to defensive back to tight end to linebacker.

“It used to be that everyone played the big three (football, basketball, baseball), but now lacrosse is exploding in this area,’’ said Manasquan head coach Jay Price, who has several lacrosse players on his team. “It’s not just spatial awareness that translates, either. It’s all the little things like moving your feet, staying low and having good hand-eye coordination.’’

One of Price’s top players, junior running back/linebacker Joe Murphy, grew up in Point Pleasant and moved to Manasquan just to play lacrosse because the two Point Pleasant high schools do not have lacrosse teams. The reason the Warriors even have him on the football team is because of lacrosse.

“The ability to make decisions very quickly is definitely the same,’’ said Murphy, who is a midfielder in lacrosse. “On the lacrosse field, I’m running the offense and I have several decisions I have to make very quickly depending on the defense. You also have to be explosive, and you have to be fast.’’

The crossover between football and lacrosse goes way back, as Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown was a lacrosse immortal at Syracuse in the 1950s before he went on to star for the Cleveland Browns. In the Shore Conference, however, the sport is barely a decade old, but is making its presence felt.

It used to be that newly-formed lacrosse teams at Shore Conference schools would try to recruit football players to fill out their rosters.

Things are now starting to go in the other direction, as lacrosse players are being sought by football teams.

Senior twins Nick and Mike Specht, a pair of lacrosse stars at Jackson Memorial, came out for the football team as seniors and have made an immediate impact as receivers and in the secondary.

standouts who play a punishing style.

Scherzer, is another lacrosse player.

Rumson-Fair Haven, whose lacrosse team has won the last two Shore Conference Tournament titles, is populated with players who are standouts in both sports.

Running back Conor Walsh, defensive back/kick returner Michael Clarke, defensive end Connor Phillips, linebacker J.T. Jennings, fullback Dylan Zohn and defensive back Chris Hubler are all Bulldogs starters who play lacrosse. Walsh, who is out for the season with a knee injury, has a scholarship to play lacrosse at Fairfield, and Clarke is headed to the University of Vermont.

“For lacrosse, I’m a bigger kid, so I use some of the football mentality,’’ Canonico said. “I’ll be physical up front. I feel like when I have the ball (in lacrosse), I can get through people because I’ve done it in football.’’

Manasquan's Joe Murphy

“The biggest thing that we’ve noticed is that their instincts translate,’’ head coach Shane Fallon said.

“They are aggressive, they play downhill, they have an attack mentality, and they’re not afraid of contact. We see so many parallels like making plays in open space, and understanding zone defense. When a play breaks down offensively or defensively, I think our kids’ instincts take over and a lot of that is just from lacrosse.’’

“Trying to beat someone to the goal is just like trying to beat someone to the end zone,’’ Clarke said.

It’s not just the smaller attackmen from the lacrosse field who populate football teams, either.

“Back in about 2003-04, we had enormous linemen who were like 260 (pounds), 270,’’ Fallon said. “Now more of our linemen are 220-, 240-pound kids who are more athletic and can run. We are way more athletic up front, and it’s because a lot of those kids are lacrosse kids.’’

“The big kids in lacrosse can move,’’ Murphy said. “You have to move quickly to stay in front of people in lacrosse, so it gives big kids better feet.’’

Certain football aspects also translate to lacrosse. Playing in front of large crowds in pressurepacked environments during football prepares players for big games in the spring. Players with imposing size also don’t hesitate to initiate contact on a lacrosse “I can see the twins being great Dfield. Two of Colts Neck’s more Rumson's Michael Clarke backs because they play great physical playmakers on offense, defense in lacrosse,’’ Murphy said. senior tight end Connor Canonico and junior tailback The versatility of lacrosse players also comes in Anthony Gargiulo, are lacrosse players. Shore handy in football, like Holmdel being able to move do- Regional senior fullback Jack Kelly, Southern it-all senior and lacrosse standout Robbie Cantelli to offensive lineman Nick Jinks, Barnegat offensive quarterback for the first time in high school and get lineman Nick Anderson and Red Bank Catholic better offensively. One of his top targets, Mark defensive end Richie Curran are other lacrosse

Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

Playing both has also become a tradition in some families.

Holmdel has had the Cantelli brothers, and Red Bank Catholic has had the three Whitlock brothers – Kevin, Doug and Chris – all make major impacts in both sports.

What also helps the crossover between sports is the cooperation between lacrosse and football head coaches at most schools. Rather than forcing their players to focus on one sport over the other, they encourage playing both.

“(Rumson lacrosse coach) Reid Jackson and I don’t want our kids playing just one sport,’’ Fallon said.

“Our kids handle adversity and stress well, and I think that comes hand-in-hand from playing multiple sports.

Sometimes in the summer you have football workouts four nights a week and lacrosse four nights a week, so kids might have to split two and two, but they have found a way to make it work. Our lacrosse program has helped our football program become better.’’

“We’re definitely encouraged to be multi-sport athletes,’’ said RBC’s Chris Whitlock, who is a wide receiver/defensive back. “A lot of kids use it just to stay in shape because lacrosse is great conditioning.’’

Playing both can make the summer a jam-packed time. Most players often have football workouts or weight room sessions in the morning, lacrosse practices later in the day and lacrosse tournaments almost every weekend.

“It works out, but it’s a lot,’’ Clarke said.

While football players have been flowing in the direction of lacrosse for several years in the Shore Conference, it wouldn’t be a surprise if more and more lacrosse-only players start deciding to give football a shot. Just watching Michael Clarke juke defenders right and left in the open field during a spectacular, 63-yard touchdown on a punt return in a win over St. John Vianney in Week Two, it’s easy to see plenty of football coaches envisioning their school’s lacrosse stars doing the same thing for them.

“I ran back to the sidelines after that punt return and one of my coaches who knows lacrosse said, ‘That was a face dodge,’’’ Clarke said. “That’s a move I use all the time in lacrosse, except I didn’t have the stick slowing me down this time.’’

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Volume-IV

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Football Feature: Command Centers

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Look around the upper echelon of teams in the Shore Conference right now, and you will see plenty of highoctane offenses that operate out of the shotgun in spread sets with dynamic players all over the field.

Whether it’s explosive Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson, versatile Brick Memorial talent Mike Basile, a stable of Lacey playmakers, or a talented Toms River North group, several top teams have players who can score from anywhere. However, lost in all that are the players who keep the whole operation humming along without most fans even knowing their names – centers.

“Nobody says anything about the kicker until he misses a PAT, and no one says anything about the center until the ball is on the ground,’’ said Lacey offensive line coach John Tierney, who was an FCS All-American center at Towson University. “But if your center goes down, you better have three or four contingency plans, or your whole offense is in trouble.’’

Lacey

A prime example is Toms River North, which was in a dogfight with Lacey in Week Two in a key Class A South game when starting center Nick Silva broke several bones in his leg in the first half while playing special teams. The Mariners threw a young and inexperienced backup into the fire, and the offense sputtered the rest of the way in a 37-20 loss to the Lions. Toms River North coach Chip LaBarca Jr. turned to senior Garrett Kroeger, a three-year starter on the defensive line, to stabilize the center position.

Kroeger started at center as a junior, and since he has stepped in on offense, the Mariners have resumed their winning ways with two straight victories.

“I picked it up pretty quickly coming back from having played it last year,’’ Kroeger said. “(Center) is real important. We clinched a win this year because of a bad shotgun snap.’’

Toms River North, Lacey, Neptune, and Brick Memorial, which are ranked in the top seven of the All Shore Media Top 10, all routinely operate out of the shotgun in spread offenses. No. 9 Southern and No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven also routinely employ it with a pair of returning seniors at quarterback. Even No. 8 Middletown South, traditionally an under-center team, mixes in shotgun and pistol looks.

Using the four teams from the top seven as an example, Toms River North is averaging 28.5 points per game after scoring at 25 last year, Brick Memorial has taken a quantum leap forward to 39 points per game compared to 19 last year, Lacey is buzz-sawing teams at 47 points per game compared to only 14 last year, and Neptune’s offense is scoring at a rate of 35 points per game despite graduating Offensive Player of the Year Jaheem Woods at quarterback along with several talented backs. All four of those teams have returning starters and seniors at center.

“It all starts with them,’’ said Neptune coach Mark Ciccotelli. “They make sure everything is good up front first.’’

Their experience is also important considering all four of those teams have a jet sweep series that relies on the snap to be timed perfectly with a fast player coming in motion across the formation. They want to make the play look exactly the same and run at the same speed as when the quarterback hands the ball to the runner in motion and when he doesn’t.

They want to make opponents to either be misaligned or take a false step in the wrong direction or freeze for that one second that might allow a speedburner like center Tyler Walsh Basile or Toms River North’s Joey Fields or Neptune’s Keyshawn Rice or Lacey’s Christian Tutela to get to the edge on the perimeter for a big play. All four quarterbacks – Patterson, Toms River North’s Carmen Sclafani, Lacey’s Tom Kelly and Brick Memorial’s Ryan Cieplinski – are also dangerous runners. Opponents have to defend the whole field when those offenses are running in sync, and it also helps the offense often win the numbers game on the perimeter if the middle linebacker freezes because he is worried about a quarterback run up the middle.

“We got very good at that (jet sweep snap) over the summer,’’ said Lacey senior center Tyler Walsh, a twoyear starter. “Tutela is also able to throw the ball out of that set like we showed against Toms River North (with a 62yard touchdown pass). We’ve got athletes on our team, so we just need to get them the ball in the best spot.’’

time, so I know exactly when he wants the ball.’’

The other thing these teams like to do to keep opponents off balance is to run the offense at warp speed. Brick Memorial installed the no-huddle this year, and Neptune and Toms River North also employ the no-huddle.

“If we can get the ball and snap the ball before the defense is set, you’re done,’’ Askew said. “If we open creases up for the guys we have, it’s daylight every time.’’

However, running at that high pace means the center has less time to diagnose the defensive fronts and pressure packages before snapping the ball. That means film study is crucial to centers. It needs to be hard-wired into a center’s brain about what protections and blocking schemes to call with only a quick picture of the defense, and that is often before the defense starts moving around during the quarterback’s cadence. Coaches try to reduce the burden by keeping the playbook relatively simple.

“It definitely helps to know what fronts you’re going to go against so that it’s almost second-nature making the calls,’’ said Brick Memorial senior center Tom Sindel, a two-year starter. “You rep it all week, and it comes right to you. We’re fine with the no-huddle, but when they stem during our cadence, that’s a little more difficult, so sometimes you’re adjusting calls while the quarterback is in his cadence.’’

“(Neptune offensive line coach Mike) DeLucia, he was a center in college (at Rutgers), so he gives me little tips on everything, and we watch a lot of film,’’ Askew said. “When he tells me I did a pretty good job after a game, I feel real confident.’’

Teams walk a fine line between pushing the pace and going so fast that the center gets calls wrong and the quarterback gets drilled by unblocked blitzers.

“(Sindel) has to do it quick,’’ said Brick Memorial coach Walt Currie. “Sometimes our O-line guys are like, ‘Slow down a little bit and let us make our calls so that I don’t get Cieplinski killed.’ It’s a delicate balance. We want to run it at an up-tempo pace, but we don’t want to subtract from execution.’’

Neptune center Peter Askew (#51)

“We work on that every practice,” Kroeger said.

“Coach (LaBarca) will stand behind Carmen and if the snap is an inch off, he says to get it to the left or right or up or down to make it perfect.’’

“A lot of it is just chemistry with the quarterback,’’ said Neptune senior center Peter Askew, a two-year starter. “Ajee and I have played together for a long

Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

Communication between the center and his fellow linemen is also important in the presnap read. Often information diagnosed by a guard or tackle is relayed to the center to help make a key adjustment.

“Against (Toms River) South, they were moving people around like crazy before the snap,’’ Walsh said.

“Our left guard, Chris D’Addario, picked up something that most young guards won’t pick up. He said they were stacking the left side, so we knew to

See

Command Centers Continued on Page 19

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Command Centers Continued from Page 16

both go to the left and ended up getting a touchdown from it. You have to have that communication down the line.’’

One way many teams try to disrupt the shotgun spread is by bringing pressure, often funneling linebackers through the ‘A’ gap or looping defensive linemen. That means the center has to concentrate on getting the snap right when he knows a wall of defenders might be about to crash into him. The smallest disruption in the snap can lead to a fumble or throw off the timing of the play, so the center has to be vigilant.

“That’s definitely true,’’ Sindel said. “Last week I was messing up the snap counts, and our production was limited. As soon as we got the plays read the right way, the Toms River East defense had no chance of stopping it. I’ve been trying to make sure (worrying about blitzers) doesn’t come into my head because I feel like that might pressure me to take attention off the snap. I might peek up at the linebackers, thinking about where they might come from, but if I don’t see them right away, my footwork is going to bring me to where I need to be.’’

A sign of the importance to centers for teams like the ones mentioned above is that they are often limited in the amount of reps they might get in a game on the

ASM / 19 defensive line for fear of injury or fatigue that might reduce their effectiveness on offense. Sindel, Walsh and Askew play limited snaps on defense. Out of necessity, Kroeger will be on the field most of the game because of his importance, but whenever LaBarca can get him rest, it’s always on defense instead of offense.

“We talk about it all the time,’’ Ciccotelli said. “(An injury to Askew) nearly happened in practice today, and I said, ‘Get him off the defense.’ He could be an All-Division defensive lineman, but we have enough quality guys there that we do our best to keep him out of there.’’

“I try to beg coach ‘Cicc’ to give me more reps on defense, but I understand where they are coming from,’’ Askew said.

the summer and 7-on-7 tournaments were crucial for Walsh to getting that timing down again.

When centers get in a groove with quality snaps, no one wants to bring it up for fear that it will be an immediate jinx that causes a bad one at an inopportune time late in the game.

“It’s like having a no-hitter going,’’ Ciccotelli said.

“You don’t want to even talk about it.’’

The goal for the centers of these elite teams is to keep the machine running and remain anonymous for all the right reasons. If all goes well for the players from these high-octane units, the next time anyone calls their name will be to come up and get their championship ring.

The four teams mentioned mainly employ the “dead ball’’ snap, which is more like a knuckleball and easier to teach than the spiral snap seen in NFL games. Walsh also had to retrain himself at Lacey because the Lions operated under center last year before going back to the shotgun under new offensive play-caller Cory Davies, the architect of several record-breaking offenses at Howell.

Reps with Kelly over

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2012 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE

(Games to be broadcast on 105.7FM and 1160/1310AM) Fri 10/14 Barnegat

at

Central

(7pm)

Fri 10/19 Toms River South

at

Toms River East

(7pm)

Fri 11/2

at

Brick Memorial

(7pm)

at

Manaquan

Fri 10/26 TO BE DETERMINED

Sat 11/9

Lacey

NJSIAA Playoff Games

Sat 11/16 NJSIAA Playoff Games Thr 11/22 Wall

11/30-12-2 NJSIAA Championship Weekend

(11am)

BROADCAST CREW Matt Harmon, Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca Visit www.shoresportsnetwork for details

Join The

All Shore Media Team Today!

Interested in joining our team and think you have what it takes to be covering sports in the Shore Conference for All Shore Media? We are looking for local writers interested in covering sports like Football, Track, Soccer, Basketball and more as part of our newspaper and our website

(www.allshoremedia.com). Grab your chance to appear regularly in The All Shore Media Sports Review and on www.allshoremedia.com while helping us recognize more athletes and bring more stories to Shore Conference sports fans. This is your chance to become a regular

contributor to a growing business on the cutting edge of covering sports in Monmouth and Ocean County.

Just contact Managing Editor Scott Stump @ stump@allshoremedia.com

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W

a tch in g N FL kicker s co n n ect o n f ield g oa ls a t a h is tor ica lly accu r ate r ate th is s ea s o n , it mak es s en s e given h ow mu ch th in g s h ave evolved at th e gr a s s r oots level.

ASM / 23 many teams. Toms River North senior Chris Gulla, one of the best kickers in the state, nailed a 45-yard boot to beat Southern in a big Class A South game earlier this year. Gulla is being recruited by the likes of South Carolina, Rutgers and Penn State.

Central’s Austin DeRose also has shown his ability under pressure with a 27-yard field goal as time expired to beat Toms River South in the season opener.

points that were crucial in a 14-13, doubleovertime victory over previously unbeaten Jackson Liberty. Lacey kicker Liam Dolly plays linebacker but still has range out past 40 yards.

Raritan’s C.J. Pulcine has been a solid field goal kicker while also playing quarterback, and Toms River East’s Jerry Caporale is another position player who makes an impact in the kicking game.

While the established There are also kickers names like Gulla, Ryan and like Point Boro’s Brett Matawan’s Mike Creamer Blank, Brick’s Steve have all been outstanding Ferlisi, Wall’s Phil as expected this year, there Shields, Jackson Middletown South's Connor Ryan have been several others Liberty’s Mike making their mark to show In the Shore Conference, you used to be able to count Ostrowski , Keyport’s off the unprecedented depth at the position in the Shore. the top kickers on a few fingers, and for many teams, an Angelo Miragliotta, and Freehold’s Luke Tiefenthaler Monteiro has already had a game with three field goals extra point was an adventure. So much has changed in the who fly under the radar but are very solid and would get and looks like a rising standout. past few years between kickers receiving personal more notoriety if it weren’t for the outstanding depth of instruction and having way more choices when it comes the Shore. Point Beach’s Zach Yates is a newcomer who Rumson-Fair Haven junior Jake D’Amelio has emerged to summer camps. Kickers were often players who didn’t has been very solid for an explosive Garnet Gulls team as a weapon for the Bulldogs, including a career-long 41make the cut on the soccer team or were seeing scant that has kept him busy kicking extra points. yard field goal in a 9-3 win over Red Bank this season. playing time, so they decided to give football a try.

D’Amelio also has performed well under pressure, as he Even programs where the kicker has traditionally been beat Shore Regional Now you have an Achilles’ heel or nonexistent have stabilized that with a 36-yard field kickers who were position. Asbury Park’s Shaheim Tillman booted a 25goal in overtime after elite soccer players at yard field goal in a win over Point Boro this year for the kicking a 29-yarder as the youth level first field goal in at least a decade for the Blue Bishops. time expired in scrapping their Tillman also plays at running back and in the secondary, regulation to tie the promising soccer but he has given the Blue Bishops confidence at a position game. Manalapan careers in favor of that was practically nonexistent for them. They have sophomore Mike football. Middletown routinely gone for two-point conversions after Caggiano, who made South senior Connor touchdowns in recent years. some clutch kicks as Ryan, who was an All a freshman, is another Shore Media firstNeptune’s Keyshawn Rice, a talented running rising standout in the team All-Shore back/wideout, has stabilized the PAT unit with his kicking next wave behind selection as a junior, ability. Senior Keith Kirkwood, a talented athlete who had Gulla and Ryan. played on a top only played basketball in high school up to this year, has traveling soccer team also become a weapon as a punter for the Scarlet Fliers in Even players who before he got to high addition to being a standout at wide receiver. Long are not kicking school but gave it up.

Branch, another team that has lost some heartbreakers specialists have He has a good chance over the years because of its inability to convert extra continued to improve. of being a scholarship points and short field goals, has had lineman Vicente Monsignor Donovan’s kicker at an FCSMota step into the spot. He went 8-for-9 on extra points Grant Klimek hit a level college. Shore in a win over Pinelands. pair of field goals to Regional sophomore help beat Point Boro You look at all the names mentioned above and it makes Jake Monteiro, who and keep the Griffins you realize that kicker is not a position that is as has already tied the in first place in Class neglected as it once was. The Shore Conference is so single-season school B South in addition competitive that those extra few points can be the record with five field To m s R i v e r N o r t h ' s C h r i s G u l l a to playing running difference between 7-3 and 3-7 in many instances, so I goals in only five back and on defense. would expect to see the specialization continue to games this year, also Barnegat’s Pat Moran increase and the performances to get even better. was an academy soccer player who decided to focus on does everything but sell the popcorn, lining up at kicking instead. quarterback and wide receiver while also playing safety and handling the punting. Yet he still has enough gas in Field goals of 30-plus yards used to be fairly rare in the Photos by: Cliff Lavelle the tank to make plays as a kicker, including two extra Shore Conference and now they are par for the course for www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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