Shore Sports Network Journal SCT Soccer Champions

November 10, 2015 Volume-VII Issue-20

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

”Is this going to be on

?”

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VOLUME-VII / ISSUE-20 / 11/10/15

Jersey Mike’s Continues Their Support With the Team of The Week

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

In conjunction with Shore Sports Network, Jersey Mike’s will honor one team a week that showed the character, perseverance and hard work emblematic of The Jersey Mike’s Company during its performance that weekend. A Jersey Mike’s game ball and free subs will be presented to that team during practice that week in honor of a great showing.

Week 8 10/30/15 Jackson Lib - 25 Pt Boro - 22 The Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week for Week Eight is Jackson Liberty, which defeated previously-unbeaten Point Boro 25-22 in overtime to shake up the Class B South title race and keep its state playoff hopes alive. The Lions and head coach Jim Sharples were presented with a special game ball at practice on Tuesday by Jersey Mike’s representative Jake Forrester, the owner of the Jersey Mikes Jackson at 2275 West County Line Road in Jackson.

The players were also treated to free Jersey Mike’s subs.

Week 7 10/23/15 Wall - 26 Neptune - 20 The Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week for Week Seven is Wall, which defeated Neptune 26-20 in double overtime to keep its state playoff hopes alive. The Crimson Knights and head coach Dan Curcione were presented with a special game ball at practice on Tuesday by one of their own, Jersey Mike’s NJ/NE Area Director Chad Tirpack, a former standout quarterback/defensive back at Wall. The players were also treated to free Jersey Mike’s subs.

Junior Sean Larkin scored on a 5-yard touchdown run in the second overtime for the thrilling victory, which gave Wall its second victory of the season and kept it in the hunt for an NJSIAA playoff berth in Central Jersey Group III. The Crimson Knights are currently in the eighth and final position.

The Lions & head coach Jim Sharples were presented with a special game ball by Jersey Mike’s representative Jake Forrester, the owner of the Jersey Mikes; at 2275 West County Line Rd in Jackson After Point Boro rallied from deficits of 13-0 and 22-16 to force overtime, Jackson Liberty’s defense stopped the Panthers on three consecutive downs to force a quick punt. The Lions then drove down the field, aided by a running into the punter penalty after they went three-and-out, to set up senior kicker Braden Yorke for a game-winning 37-yard field goal. Yorke had a huge game that also included a 30-yard field goal and two touchdown catches. He had a 70-yard reception to set up a 5-yard scoring catch from

Sophomore quarterback Eddie Scott gave Wall a 20-14 lead in the first overtime with a 30-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver R.J. Janeczek, but Neptune tied the score on a Rasheed Martin touchdown run. Wall came back in the second overtime to score and get the stop on defense for the crucial victory.

Larkin had a huge game with 75 yards rushing and the game-winning score, plus six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. He also made 12 tackles on defense. Senior running back Bill Schneider scored on a 1yard run in the first quarter. Scott finished with 176 yards passing and two touchdowns.

senior quarterback Ryan Van Wickle, and later hauled in a 30yard touchdown pass that put the Lions up 22-16. Van Wickle also threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Downer.

The Lions earned the No. 8 seed in Central Jersey Group IV for the second state playoff appearance in the program's eight-year history and will play top-seeded Brick Memorial in the quarterfinals.

The Crimson Knights & head coach Dan Curcione are presented with the game ball by one of their own, Jersey Mike’s NJ/NE Area Director Chad Tirpack, a former standout quarterback/defensive back at Wall.

Week-1 9/11/15 Raritan - 26 Manasquan - 14

Week-2 9/18/15 Brick Mem.- 52 TR North - 20

W e e k - 3 9/25/15 Red Bank - 16 Ocean - 6

Week-4 10/2/15 Midd. North - 18 Manalapan - 8

Week-5 10/915 TR North - 33 Jackson Mem - 23

Week-6 10/16/15 Midd South - 42 Manalapan - 7

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CBA Soccer Gives Keane a Memorable SCT Send-offf

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By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer

mong the many regular chants by the creative, boisterous and loyal Christian Brothers Academy student section better known as the “Colt Crazies” is one that goes: “GOD’S ON OUR SIDE (clap, clap, clap-clap-clap).”

If what the Crazies say is true and God is indeed on the CBA bandwagon, then the Creator probably climbed on board in 1980 to find Dan Keane driving it.

As the illustrious head coaching career of Keane winds down during his farewell season, the Shore Conference Tournament has served as the ultimate victory lap for the machine that Keane has built – one that ended with his team beating Ocean 2-0 for the championship on Halloween at Memorial Athletic Complex in Neptune. Of all the ways CBA dominated during Keane’s 38-year, 500-plus-win tenure, which will come to an end at the conclusion of this season when he retires from coaching and teaching at the Academy, no forum showcased the strength of his program more than the SCT. CBA christened the SCT by winning the first two in 1984 and 1985 and since then, Keane has led his Colts to eight outright titles and one cochampionship for a total of nine, more than any other Shore Conference team.

During those years, CBA has been to the championship game a record 10 times, meaning Keane’s teams have lost just once in the SCT final, making him a remarkable 8-1-1 in conference championship games.

“I love coming (to Neptune) and I’m really glad the kids got an opportunity to play here and win this year,” Keane said. “I was actually reminiscing a lot as the game was going on, remembering different games and different moments with some of the teams that were here, like the stud teams from 2010 and 2011. It means a lot, and I think I’ll be able to reflect more on it when it’s all over.”

Saturday’s hero, Ryan Nigro – who scored the game-winner on a direct kick in the 68th minute – might not be the most obvious star in Keane’s final SCT triumph, but it’s hard to find a more fitting one. Nigro not only helped put a bow on his head coach’s Shore Conference career by ending it with another championship, but he also brought things full circle with respect to the lone CBA championship loss.

Nigro and fellow junior Matt Thorsheim remember that one loss fairly well, although

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from much different perspectives.

Both Thorsheim and Nigro had older brothers playing in the 2009 championship game, but the older siblings played on opposing sides.

Thorsheim’s older brother, Chris, was a sophomore starter for the Colts, and Nigro’s two older brothers, Matt and Dave, were in the Marlboro program – Matt as a senior starter, Dave as a sophomore reserve who would eventually star for the Mustangs and go on to play at Monmouth University.

Marlboro got the better of CBA that Halloween night in 2009 with the costumed Colt Crazies looking on as the Mustangs rallied from a 10 deficit to stun a CBA side that was one year away from claiming the SCT crown and two away from a 210 season with Chris Thorsheim leading the way as the Player of the Year.

The circumstances surrounding Coach Dan Keane (center) with seniors Nick Meyer (10), Tom Lozowski this year’s final were similar to the (33) and Tim Mikulski (6), as well as assistant coach Jeff Matson 2009 final: CBA students filing into the bleachers dressed in costumes – everything from Zach Galifianakis’ character in “The Hangover,” complete with baby carrier harness and accompanying doll, to what appeared to be half of the Pixar roster, and CBA playing the role of favorite while sporting a roster of players whose best high school playing days are likely yet to come – one of whom also bears the last name Thorsheim.

This time, there would be no comeback for the opponent against CBA. By striking the ball into the net from 20 yards out on his direct kick, Nigro not only gave his team and his coach another title, but in a way, he helped set the record straight. His brothers helped Marlboro – a team coached by CBA alumnus Dave Santos – win its first SCT title by beating Keane and CBA. As an unintentional make-good, the younger Nigro gave Keane his proper SCT sendoff.

Thorsheim would later get into the act as well, setting up a dagger by junior Aaron Robertson – who was playing in his home town Saturday night – in the 76th minute that unofficially began the celebration. Just like his brother, Thorsheim won his first title as a junior and is set up for a potentially special senior season with eight junior starters returning as seniors next year. For the first time in 39 years, however – in addition to replacing three senior starters – the Colts will be replacing a head coach.

“A few of us have brothers who played here and this team has been like a family all year,” Thorsheim said. “We are all like brothers. I’m glad we could do it with this team and one last

VOLUME-VII / ISSUE-20 / 11/10/15

The CBA student section came equipped with a cutout of coach Dan Keane’s face. time with Coach Keane. I wouldn’t want to win it with any other group of guys.”

After two back surgeries, the 67-year-old who has steered the CBA ship for nearly four full decades now usually has someone steer him off the field in a golf cart following games. He acknowledges that his longtime assistant Jeff Matson – who Keane has given his full endorsement to be the next head coach – has done the heavy lifting over the last several years with respect to preparing the team, and that Keane’s role has been for moral support and motivation. Although his impact on the game plan may not be what it used to be, Keane’s impact on the student body is evident in the chants coming from the student section and the giant cut-out of his face that one of the students crafted for the game.

Whether it has been a Nigro, a Thorsheim, God or any other being mortal or immortal, a lot

of people and things have been on CBA’s side during its dominant run inside the Shore Conference, but none longer than Keane. Even though his time to drive is just about over and the Colts appear poised to start the post-Keane era with a potentially dominant team, he’ll always have a ride on that CBA bandwagon that once again rolled over the Shore Conference this year.

If God wants to ride shotgun next year, he can ask Coach Keane.

& photos by:

Matt Manley

www.shoresportsnetwork.com

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Colts Neck Girls Soccer Tops Freehold Township to Win First SCT Crown

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By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer

stepped up and said, ‘Girls, I’ve worked so hard – me Alli and Bridgette – for this. We’ve worked so hard and put everything into this, we have to see this out.’ She doesn’t say much and she kind of let’s her actions speak, so for her to even make it a statement, you can tell how much it meant to her and the other two girls.”

fter coming up a goal short of winning its first ever Shore Conference Tournament title last season, the Colts Neck High School girls soccer team found that one last goal and it came from the most likely source.

Junior Frankie Tagliaferri buried a 15-yard shot to the lower right of the goal 1:59 before halftime and the top-seeded Cougars made it stand up in a 1-0 win over No. 2 Freehold Township that clinches the program its first ever Shore Conference Tournament title.

“It’s a different feeling because our school’s never won before,” Tagliaferri said. “This is the first time a team at our school is going to feel this feelin. It feels good for all of the players who have played here and it definitely sets opportunities for other people down the line.”

The goal Saturday was the 23rd of the season for Tagliaferri, who has missed two separate stretches while leaving to train with the U.S U-17 National Team. She finished with four goals in the tournament, including one each in wins over Wall and Freehold Township in the final two games.

With the half winding down and the game scoreless, senior center fullback Amanda Visco played a free kick over the top of the defense on a quick restart and Tagliaferri dribbled through the defense for a shot that Freehold Township goalkeeper Kaela Chadzuitko saved by leaping up and batting the ball back away from the goal. Tagliaferri, however, shook off a defender to recover the ball and fired a follow-up shot with Chadzuitko still recovering and slammed it into the far right corner.

“It stinks missing the first one, and she made a great save,” Tagliaferri said. “Some people might get down on themselves after missing a shot like that, but I saw the goalie out and I just knew I had to keep my confidence up to finish the second one.”

The Cougars closed out the win with another half of shutout soccer, slowing down a high-powered Freehold Township

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The Cougars also lost in the NJSIAA Group III final to Northern Highlands, 4-0, and will now embark on a state tournament run that they hope ends with a second straight trip to the group final.

“This is beyond what I could have imagined for this group,” Phillips said. “When (Meaghan) Mulligan came in (in 2010) and then (Halley) Cartas the next year and we made it to the Shore Conference semifinals and lost to Freehold Township in 2011, it kind of put us on the “We definitely had to stay organized map and made us start to on Nicole Whitley and (Colbert) up think that maybe we could top,” Visco said. “(Colbert) was fast start to compete year in and so we had to keep here in front of us year out. But to think you’re and with Whitley, not let her turn and going to have a team like this shoot.”

The trip to the final Junior Frankie Tagliaferri that goes 18-0-1, goes to was the second straight “We’ve got to a point now where back-to-back Shore for Colts Neck – the we’re so balanced that we can first two appearances in less than two Conference finals and wins one, it’s not something you ever frustrate teams,” Colts Neck coach decades as a program. While the really expect.”

Senior Bridgette King Doug Phillips said. “If it’s throughPenn State recruit Tagliaferri is the ball and there’s high pressure (the leading scorer and the headliner on ball) is away. Otherwise, we can get the ball at our feet and the Cougars, Colts Neck laid the foundation for this build. We just worked so much the last couple weeks on championship with its current trio of seniors – Visco, King timing and defensive principles and footwork and they just and midfielder Alli Russo. played it so well. They played awesome. With three (players) by: in the back, that’s pretty good.”

“We’ve been working for this for four years now,” Visco Matt Manley said. “We made it to the Shore Conference finals last year Colts Neck reached the 2014 SCT championship game and and didn’t get the job done. We finally got it this year and we www.shoresportsnetwork.com lost to Wall, 1-0, while Tagliaferri was in Florida with the worked so hard for it. We didn’t want to feel the same way we U.S. U-17 National Team. Her goal Saturday night was the did last year, so we knew we had to do it today.”

Photos by: difference, as was a shutout by the defense in front of E r i c Braun sophomore goalkeeper Lauren Feaster.

“When we were closing out our halftime talk, Amanda attack that scored five goals in a win over Rumson-Fair Haven in Thursday’s semifinal. The effort included limiting chances for Freehold Township forwards Nicole Whitley (17 goals) and Jasmine Colbert (10 goals) while playing with three defenders on the back line.

“Everybody had to do their job today and they did,” Visco said.

“Having Frankie and Bridgette (King) up top, we know we are going to be dangerous, but it took everyone doing their job today to accomplish what we did and thankfully Frankie was able to get a great goal.”

www.ericbraunphotography.smugmug.com/

VOLUME-VII / ISSUE-20 / 11/10/15

CBA Beats Ocean to Win SCT Title

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By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer

he Ocean boys soccer team managed to stave off Christian Brothers Academy for the first three quarters of this year’s Shore Conference Tournament championship game on Halloween, but like most other teams, the Spartans could only keep the Colts down for so long.

Junior Ryan Nigro buried a 20-yard direct kick in the 68th minute to break a scoreless tie and junior Aaron Robertson added one more in the 76th as the secondseeded Colts outlasted No. 4 Ocean, 2-0, to win CBA’s ninth title in head coach Dan Keane’s final season.

“It means a lot, it really does,” said Keane, who will retire after nearly 40 years as a teacher and coach at CBA. “I’ll reflect more on it when it’s all over. For now, I’m just happy for (assistant coach) Jeff (Matson) and myself and of course the kids who accomplished it. I thought we had the emotional edge. As the match went on it seemed like our guys were in another gear.”

Junior Matt Thorsheim earned the free kick by drawing a foul just outside the top of the 18-yard box in the 68th to give CBA its second close-range direct kick in a span of three minutes. Before Ocean goalkeeper Yianni Kavarakas could get on the same page with his wall, Nigro buried a shot to the upper right of the goal to get CBA on the board.

“I saw their keeper cheating toward one side of the net, so I just put it in,” Nigro said. “I looked up and I wasn’t really thinking about playing it quickly, but once I saw that, I figured I’d try it.”

overall title – all under Keane. The Colts also shared a championship with Jackson Memorial in 1988, and the nine overall titles are three more than the next-closest team (Jackson Memorial).

“This is all we’ve worked for all year,” said Lozowski, one of four seniors on the team along with Mikulski, Nick

“We always look to (play quick on restarts),” Thorsheim said. “As soon as the ball goes down and the whistle blows, we’re looking to see how we can get the ball back in play and catch the other team off guard. It wasn’t as quick (as other restarts), but it was a great goal.”

With five minutes left in the game, Ocean pushed senior midfielder Wadneson Alexis forward and replaced Kavarakas with forward Braylin Estrella to give the Spartans more offensive players on the field. In the 76th, CBA countered an Ocean push with Thorsheim carrying the ball forward and playing the ball diagonally to Robertson. Estrella came off his line and Robertson slipped it past him for a goal.

Meyer and John Frycz. “We’ve been going at it for four years, and this means everything. And to give Coach Keane one more in his last year makes it even more special.”

& Photos by:

Matt Manley

www.shoresportsnetwork.com

Junior Ryan Nigro

“We knew one fluke play or something happens through no fault of our own, and the game could be tied,” Thorsheim said. “So we wanted to keep the pressure on, and getting that second one was huge.”

CBA controlled possession over the entire course of the game and nearly took the lead in the first minute when senior Tim Mikulski drilled the crossbar with a left-footed shot.

Ocean’s close call came in the final minute of the first half when Alexis tracked the ball down in the left corner and bent a shot off the crossbar. Ultimately the Spartans became the Colts’ 14th shutout victim, which ties a single-season record at CBA.

“We knew coming in, they had a lot of pace up top,” CBA senior center fullback Tom Lozowski said. “So me and (junior center back) Scott Misson were always talking and watching their runners. Tom Judge and Tim Mikulski did a great job as always on the outside keeping with their marks and tackling hard. We really wanted that shutout record, and we’re glad to get it in a game like this.”

CBA’s championship is its first in four years and eighth

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Ranney Tops St. Rose on Kicks, Advances to First Sectional Semifinal

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Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer

hane eenan enrolled at Ranney School three years ago hoping to help put the soccer program on the map. After 100 hard-fought minutes against Class B Central rival St. Rose on Nov. 6, he and his teammates took a big step toward doing just that.

The Panthers – the No. 5 seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B playoffs – survived two halves and two overtime periods without allowing a goal to the No. 4 Purple Roses and took down St. Rose in a round of penalty kicks, 4-2, to advance to the program’s first sectional semifinal.

Ranney hosted No. 8 Holy Cross on Nov. 10 with a spot in the sectional final on the line.

“When I was deciding which high school I was going to go to, this is exactly what I had in mind,” said Keenan, who said he was also considering Christian Brothers Academy. “I wanted to help build a program from the ground up and become a team that competes for championships by the time I left. To make a run like this while I’m still a junior and we still have a pretty young team is huge for the program.”

Once the Panthers survived an eventful final 10 minutes of regulation and first overtime period, they found their

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element in the shootout. Junior goalkeeper Noah Ayers saved two of the four St. Rose attempts while all four Ranney shooters converted their kicks.

“I felt very comfortable in penalty kicks,” said Ayers, who froze on the first attempt but stopped two of the last three to put his team in position to win. “I feel like I can read the shooters pretty well. I just key in on their hips and that usually tells me which way the ball is going.”

Brendan Wall, Greyson Kellner and Keenan all knocked in their kicks and freshman Ademola Odunlami capped the win with a shot that split the goal down the middle and set off the Ranney celebration.

“We’ve done a lot of work on penalty kicks and I knew we would be prepared if it came down to that,” Keenan said. “With the way the game was going at the end of the half and into overtime, I think we might have been looking to get to PK’s and try to win it there. St. Rose is much deeper than we are, so once we got into overtime, we were getting tired while they still had some fresh legs, and I felt like that was a big obstacle for us to overcome.”

St. Rose nearly won the game with a golden goal on two separate occasions just two minutes apart from one another in the first overtime period. In the third minute of extra time, sophomore Ethan Bodine got behind the Panthers’ back line and was one-on-one with Ayers with a potential winner in the works. He drilled a clean shot over the Ranney keeper, but the ball nailed the crossbar and bounced down on the near side of the end line.

Ranney junior Shane Keenan

VOLUME-VII / ISSUE-20 / 11/10/15

Panthers have benefited from breakout seasons from Ian Dobrzynski and Mo Odunlami, a return to the program by defender Asher Kraut, and a handful of freshman contributors that include Ademola Odunlami, Kellner and Jazz Henry.

In the 85th minute, the ball came back across the goal after a corner kick service and Bodine got a clean header on it, but his attempt grazed the right post.

Ranney nearly took the lead in the 72nd minute when Odunlami flicked a shot that St. Rose goalkeeper Patrick Gates deflected. The deflected shot hit the crossbar, and after St. Rose cleared the ball away, the Purple Roses put Ranney under constant pressure for the final eight minutes of regulation and throughout the first overtime period.

Center midfielder Brendan Wall was the final piece for the Panthers, who welcomed Wall to the lineup after he sat the first 30 days of the season due to the NJSIAA transfer rule. Wall began his career at Holmdel and was a starter on Hornets teams that lost in the Central Jersey Group II semifinals in 2013 and the sectional final last year.

Neither team created a quality chance in the second overtime period as fatigue became a factor, according to the Ranney players.

was happy with our “I performance prior to (Wall) playing, and adding him has made Ademola Odunlami us even better,” Vasquez said.

“He’s been good from the soccer has been a big message “We definitely went into aspect of things, and he’s also been a positive influence. He’s for us in the last couple game-management mode had some good experience between academy ball and the state of games,” Keenan toward the end,” first-year Brendan Wall tournament, so hopefully that is rubbing off on some of our said. coach Anthony Ranney younger guys.”

Vasquez said. “Guys were getting tired and some were “I was really hoping to get a goal early,” Vasquez said. “I cramping up so we tried to simplify things and just told guys thought we came out with great energy and played really well, to get the ball long up the field and recover.” but unfortunately, the ball didn’t go in the net.”

The Panthers started the game in control, outshooting St. Last year, Ranney went 6-10-2 and did not participate in the Rose 10-5 over the first 50 minutes before the Purple Roses NJSIAA Tournament. Its win over Trenton Catholic in the & photos by: found their form. St. Rose won the edge in shots 14-13 and opening round this season was its first state tournament win Matt Manley forced 10 corner kicks to Ranney’s two. since 2009.

“We have had some bad starts to games, so coming out strong

In addition to returning Keenan and Ayers to the lineup, the

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9

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By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

he playoffs are here and 27 Shore Conference teams will be vying for sectional titles across several brackets this coming weekend. The Shore Conference is again well-represented with six No. 1 seeds and three No. 2 seeds.

Week Nine was quite stable compared to the madness of Week Eight, so there will be no movement in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 as we enter the playoffs. Four division titles were settled, however, so there were plenty of important games on the schedule.

Point Boro outlasted Lakewood 14-13 to claim a share of the Class B South title with the Piners on a late touchdown and extra point, while Shore topped Asbury Park 207 to win its third straight outright Class B Central title. St. John Vianney shut out Manasquan to win the Class A Central title for the second straight year. In Class A South, Brick defeated Toms River South 17-7 and Brick Memorial beat Southern 44-7 to force a three-way tie for the championship with Toms River North.

The Class A North and B North titles will both be settled on Thanksgiving Day when Middletown North and Middletown South, and Red Bank and Long Branch battle for the respective titles.

Other big wins in Week Nine included Monmouth knocking off a playoff-bound Raritan team 30-21 behind 226 yards rushing and three touchdowns from junior Casey Pachucki, and Red Bank Catholic defeating Jackson Memorial 21-10 in a matchup of playoff teams.

Marlboro also picked up its first win of the season with a 26-7 win over J.P. Stevens.

Here is the latest Shore Sports Network Top 10

1. Middletown South (8-0)

6. Brick Memorial (7-2). Last week: No. 6

Senior running back Cole Rogers ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way in a 38-7 Class A North win over Freehold that clinched at least a tie for the division title.

The Eagles are the No. 1 seed in the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV playoffs and will host West Windsor-Plainsboro North (5-4) on Friday in the quarterfinals.

The Mustangs clinched a share of the Class A South division title with a 44-0 win over Southern. Sophomore fullback Tony Thorpe ran for 110 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Tim Santiago ran and threw for a score. Brick Memorial is the No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and hosts Jackson Liberty (4-5) in the quarterfinals.

2. St. John Vianney (9-0). Last week: No. 2

7. Rumson-Fair Haven (7-1). Last week: No. 7

Last week: No. 1

The Lancers walloped Manasquan 67-0 to win the Class A Central division title for the second consecutive season. It is the first time they have won back-to-back division titles in program history. Senior quarterback Anthony Brown threw for 255 yards and 5 touchdowns while running for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead the way. St. John Vianney is the No. 1 seed in the Non-Public Group III tournament and seeks its first state title since 1980. They host Donovan Catholic (3-5), a team they beat 63-21 already this year, in the first round.

3. Red Bank (8-0). Last week: No. 3

Senior running back Alim Godsey ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Sadiq Palmer caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a 31-14 win over Manchester. The Bucs are the No. 3 seed in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs and will host South Plainfield (6-2) in the first round. Red Bank’s last state title came in 1975.

4. Toms River North (8-1). Last week: No. 4

Senior running back Asante Moorer ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns and junior wide receiver Darrion Carrington caught three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a 4121 win over Neptune, the eighth straight victory for the surging Mariners. As the No. 4 seed in the South Jersey Group V playoffs, Toms River North will host Kingsway (4-4) in the first round.

5. Brick (8-1). Last week: No. 5

Ja’Sir Taylor and Rashon McCall ran for touchdowns and Javion Harris connected on a field goal in a 17-7 win over Toms River South that clinched a share of the Class A South title. Brick is the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and will host Jackson Memorial in the first round. It is a rematch of a regular season game won by Brick, 2-0.

Rumson’s defense recorded its fourth shutout of the season and junior running back Matt Vecchiarelli ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Holmdel.

The Bulldogs won two straight state titles in Central Jersey Group II and will shoot for the three-peat competing up in Central Jersey Group III this season. They are the No. 1 seed and host Rahway (3-5) in the first round.

8. Ocean (7-1). Last week: No. 8

Senior running back Tyler Thompson ran for 150 yards and a touchdown and junior quarterback Kenny Pickett tossed three touchdown passes - two to Joey Aldarelli - in a 260 win over Colts Neck. The Spartans have won five straight games and are the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs. They will host Hamilton West (4-4) in the quarterfinals.

9. Shore (8-0). Last week: No. 9

Senior running back Jack Britton ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns, senior Doug Goldsmith ran for 130 yards and senior George Notte kicked a pair of field goals as the Blue Devils clinched their third straight outright Class B Central title with a 20-7 win over Asbury Park. Shore is the defending Central Jersey Group I champion and the No. 1 seed as it goes for its second straight title and seventh overall. They host Burlington City (3-5) in the first round.

10. Red Bank Catholic (6-2). Last week: No. 10

Senior quarterback Eddie Hahn threw for 175 yards and a touchdown and ran for 120 yards and a touchdown to lead the Caseys to a 21-0 comeback victory over Jackson Memorial.

RBC, which is the defending Non-Public Group III champion, starts its title defense as the No. 5 seed on the road at Pope John.

Dropped Out: None Teams to Watch: Middletown North (6-2), Freehold (6-3), Matawan (6-3),

Asbury Park (6-2)

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11

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

ith 2 7 teams qualified, the 2015 NJSIAA Football Playoffs will have a massive Shore Conference presence with championship contenders in multiple brackets.

The road to a state sectional championship begins Friday Nov. 13 and Saturday Nov. 14 with the quarterfinals, continues the following week wth the semifinals and concludes the weekend of Dec. 4-6 at neutral sites MetLife Stadium, High Point Solutions Stadium, Kean University and Rowan University.

Among the teams that will vie for a state title are six No. 1 seeds and three No. 2 seeds that will have home-field advantage through the championship games. Top-ranked and undefeated Middletown South is the No. 1 seed in North Jersey Section 2, Group IV, Brick Memorial is the top seed in Central Jersey Group IV, two-time defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven is the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group III, defending champion Shore Regional is the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group I and St. John Vianney is the top seed in Non-Public Group III. Brick in Central Jersey Group IV, Ocean in Central Jersey Group III and Asbury Park in Central Jersey Group I are each seeded second in their respective brackets.

The Shore Conference took home a record six sectional titles last season and could potentially break that record with Toms River North, seeded fourth in South Jersey Group V, having emerged as a title contender.

Let’s take a look at each section involving a Shore Conference team and break down their chances to be hosting a trophy in December.

North Jersey Section 2, Group IV 8-West Windsor-Plainsboro N. (5-4) at -Midd. South (8-0), Friday at 7 pm

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5-Sayreville (5-4) at 4-Middletown North (6-2), Friday at 7 pm 6-Summit (6-3) at 3-Colonia (7-2), Friday at 7 pm 7-Woodbridge (5-3) at 2-Phillipsburg (7-1), Friday at 7 pm Middletown South is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 and No. 1 in the state by NJ Advance Media, and enters as a substantial favorite to capture its 10th sectional and first since 2006.

The Eagles have been virtually perfect since the second quarter of a Week One win over state-ranked South Brunswick and are solid in every phase of the game. Senior quarterback Matt Mosquera has been efficient in the passing game and is also one of New Jersey’s best kickers, and senior Cole Rogers leads a rushing attack that also features standout junior James McCarthy. Senior linebacker Dylan Rogers leads a ferocious defense.

Middletown North got a boost from the return of senior running back Chad Freshnock, who missed six games before returning to rush for over 100 yards in a Week Nine win over Freehold Township. Junior quarterback Donald Glenn has thrown for over 1,400 yards and junior wide receiver Brendan Kube is among the Shore Conference’s leading receivers.

Middletown South is the overwhelming favorite in the quarterfinals, and should Middletown North get past Sayreville it would set up two straight games between the Thanksgiving Day rivals. On the other side of the bracket is defending champion Phillipsburg, which is seeded second. The Stateliners will be favored in a semifinal game against either a Colonia team that Matawan beat during the regular season, or a Summit team that is having a down year by its standards and has recently been a Group II team.

Senior quarterback Jack O’Brien has thrown for 1,805 yards and 19 touchdowns with a receiving corps led by senior Nick Galanti and his 592 yards and 9 touchdowns. Juniors Adrian Rybaltowski, Anthony Lotti, Tyrique Hall and Max Nowak each have other 20 receptions on the season, as well. Senior Quinn Cleary leads the defense with 109 tackles, while Lotti has 92.

Freehold Township gets a rematch with New Brunswick in the first round after the Zebras won 38-28 during the regular season. If the Patriots can pull off the stunner they w o u l d

potentially face an Edison team they already beat 5228 or an Old Bridge team that would not be a huge favorite. The Patriots have never won a playoff game.

Championship prediction: Middletown South over Phillipsburg

Championship prediction: South Brunswick over New Brunswick

Central Jersey Group V

Central Jersey Group IV

8-Hunterdon Central (3-6) at 1-South Brunswick (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Manalapan (5-4) at 4-Trenton (5-4), Saturday at 1 p.m

8-Jackson Liberty (4-5) at 1-Brick Memorial (7-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Edison (3-5) at 3-Old Bridge (5-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Freehold Township (4-5) at 2-New Brunswick (8-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Allentown (5-4) at 4-Freehold (6-3), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Manalapan is the defending champion but is having a down year after going 43-5 over the last four seasons, while Freehold Township is in the playoffs for just the second time ever and first since 2001.

Manalapan is led by senior running back Marcus Salinas, who has rushed for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. The Braves have a very winnable road game in the first round at Trenton, but the road would get significantly harder from there with top-seeded South Brunswick potentially waiting.

Freehold Township’s “Air Raid” offense led by Cory Davies, who is in his first season as Patriots head coach, catapulted them into the postseason for the first time in 14 years.

6-Steinert (6-2) at 3-Burlington Township (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Jackson Memorial (5-4) at 2-Brick (8-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

One of the two sections that has a heavy Shore Conference flavor is Central Jersey Group IV, where two allShore matchups will occur in the first round with Brick Memorial hosting Jackson Liberty and Brick welcoming Jackson Memorial for the second time this season.

Jackson Liberty’s Week Eight win over Point Boro helped the Lions secure the second playoff berth in the program’s nine-year history. They will be a heavy underdog against a Brick Memorial team that is ranked sixth in the SSN Top 10 and enters 7-2 playing a grueling

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kickers in Jack O’Connor.

Ocean has a top-10 offense in the Shore with senior running back Tyler Thompson rushing for over 1,000 yards for the third time in his career and junior quarterback Kenny Pickett among the leading passers. Receivers Greyson Stoothoff and Joey Aldarelli are Pickett’s main options on the perimeter, while running back Ruquan Dean is a versatile threat who has burned several teams as a receiver out of the backfield.

Championship prediction: Rumson-Fair Haven over Red Bank champion in the bracket.

Ocean is looking for its first sectional title since 2005, while undefeated Red Bank is having its best season in a generation and is hoping to bring home the program’s first state title since 1975.

schedule. Senior quarterback Ryan Van Wickle and senior wide receiver/kicker Braden Yorke lead the Lions, while the Mustangs have one of the Shore’s top offenses with senior quarterback Tim Santiago, who has rushed for over 1,200 yards .

Brick and Jackson meet in a rematch of a regular-season game won

by Brick, 2-0, in a driving rainstorm. Both teams were undefeated at the time, and the loss for Jackson was the first of three in a row. The Jaguars are 2-4 since and have been without junior starting quarterback Dan Barker for a few weeks, but will be primed for a rematch. The Jaguars are the defending champions and will lean on their power rushing attack against a stout Brick defense.

Freehold is the other team also in the bracket and hosts Allentown in the first round. A win by the Colonials would likely set up a trip to face Brick Memorial in the semifinals.

The winner of the Jackson Memorial-Brick game would be facing either Steinert or Burlington Township, which are solid teams but ones either Shore Conference team would be favored over. The potential for an all-Shore Conference final here is high, and the potential for an all-Brick championship between the Mustangs and Dragons makes this one of the most interesting title races to follow.

Brick’s last state title came in 2013, while Brick Memorial last won in 2008.

Freehold’s last sectional title was in 2010.

Championship prediction: Brick Memorial over Brick

Central Jersey Group III 8-Rahway (3-5) at 1Rumson-Fair Haven (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Matawan (6-3) at 4-Hopewell Valley (7-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-South Plainfield (6-2) at 3-Red Bank (8-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Hamilton West (4-4) at 2-Ocean (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

If all breaks right in the first round, the Central Jersey Group III playoffs can just be re-named the Shore Conference Tournament.

With top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven, second-seeded Ocean and third-seeded Red Bank all favored, plus a red-hot Matawan team as the No. 5 seed, the probability of all four semifinalists being from the Shore is very high.

Rumson is seeking its third straight state title after winning the last two Central Jersey Group II titles, while Matawan is the defending

We’ll assume a first-round sweep to set up an all-Shore final four, and that would pit champion versus champion in Rumson against Matawan in one semifinal. Rumson is led by junior quarterback Mike O’Connor and junior tailback Matt Vecchiarelli in its run-heavy attack, but also features senior John Kingdon and 6-foot-6 sophomore wide receiver Elijah McAllister. The Bulldogs defense is among the best in the Shore Conference with standout junior linebacker Mike Ruane roaming sideline to sideline and senior linebacker Max Pfrang making the calls.

Matawan, meanwhile, is on fire after starting the season 0-3.

Sophomore quarterback George Pearson and senior running back Makiya Ceasar were both injured early in the season, but their return sparked a six-game winning streak that has the Huskies ready to defend their title.

Senior linebacker Aliem Shaw and senior defensive back Shawn Ramcheran lead a fast and physical defense. Senior Adam Elliott is also one of the Shore’s most clutch kickers.

On the other side of the bracket would be Red Bank and Ocean in a rematch of a Week Three game won by Red Bank, 16-6. The Bucs are in the midst of a potentially historic season as they are looking to finish undefeated with division and state titles for the first time in 40 years. The senior-laden Bucs are led on offense by quarterback Jack Navitsky, running back Alim Godsey and Syracus recruit Sadiq Palmer at wide receiver. Defensive end Sean Naiman, linebacker Chris Outterbridge and defensive back Matt Reardon lead a defense that is ranked sixth in the Shore in points allowed. Like Matawan the Bucs also have one of the Shore’s best

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Central Jersey Group II 8-Roselle (3-5) at 1-Lincoln (9-0), Saturday at noon 5-A.L. Johnson (5-3) at 4-New Providence (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Raritan (3-5) at 3-Point Boro (8-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Spotswood (7-2) at 2-Delaware Valley (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

Raritan and Point Boro are the only Shore Conference teams in this section and will square off for the second time this year in the first round.

The Panthers clinched a share of the Class B South division title in Week Nine and are looking for their first sectional title since going 120 in 2005. Senior quarterback Noah Husak leads a triple-option rushing offense that also features his twin brother Nate at fullback, seniors Gene Franceschini and Devin Connelly at running back and junior Hayden Frey at wide receiver. Point Boro also has one of the Shore’s top defensive units with 11.7 points allowed per game.

Raritan is led by senior running back Derek Ernst, who has run for over 1,000 yards this season. The Rockets will try to snap a five-game losing streak after starting the season 3-0. Raritan fell to Point Boro 33-27 in Week Seven in a game that came down to the final play, so the Rockets will have plenty of motivation to salvage their season.

Whichever team emerges victorious will have to travel to either seventh-seeded Spotswood or second-seeded Delaware Valley, which was a sectional finalist last season, in the second round. Top-seeded and unbeaten Lincoln is the heavy favorite in the bracket anyway, so it will be a long and arduous road for either Point Boro or Raritan to bring home a state title.

Championship prediction: Lincoln over Delaware Valley

Central Jersey Group I 8-Burlington City (3-5) at 1-Shore (8-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Middlesex (5-3) at 4-Florence (5-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Point Beach (5-4) at 3-Palmyra (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Keyport (5-4) at 2-Asbury Park (6-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

This is another section with several Shore Conference teams, but the team that clearly stands out from the pack is defending champion Shore Regional.

The Blue Devils are the top seed, undefeated and on a program-record 16game winning streak. They also have already defeated Asbury Park, Point Beach and Keyport during the regular season, as they all compete in Class B Central.

Keyport at Asbury Park is an interesting first-round game and

See

Championship

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Championship

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8-Burlington City (3-5) at 1-Shore (8-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Middlesex (5-3) at 4-Florence (5-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Point Beach (5-4) at 3-Palmyra (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Keyport (5-4) at 2-Asbury Park (6-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

This is another section with several Shore Conference teams, but the team that clearly stands out from the pack is defending champion Shore Regional.

The Blue Devils are the top seed, undefeated and on a program-record 16-game winning streak. They also have already defeated Asbury Park, Point Beach and Keyport during the regular season, as they all compete in Class B Central.

Keyport at Asbury Park is an interesting first-round game and a rematch of a 28-21 win by Asbury Park in Week Six. Running backs Desmond Underwood and Ky’Sun Pryor have combined for close to 1,500 yards rushing this season for Keyport, while Asbury Park’s pass-heavy offense is led by quarterback Davon Thompson and wide receiver Jaedon Stephens.

Point Beach will try to pull the upset against a 7-1 Palmyra team on the road to start its postseason. A win would match the up against a familiar division opponent. The Garnet Gulls beat Asbury Park 13-

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6 in overtime to start the season and lost 21-7 to Keyport in Week Three.

Shore is an overwhelming favorite to reach the final and win its second straight and seventh overall sectional title behind a potent rushing attack and a dominant defense that is ranked second in the conference. Running backs Jack Britton and Doug Goldsmith have paced the offense, and both are standouts on defense. Seniors Connor Rempel and Erik Graham are also key players on both sides of the line.

Championship prediction: Shore over Asbury Park

South Jersey Group V 8-Rancocas Valley (4-4) at 1-Lenape (71), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Kingsway (4-4) at 4-Toms River North (81), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Washington Twp. (5-3) at 3-Williamstown (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Millville (5-3) at 2-Cherokee (6-2), Friday 7 p.m.

Toms River North is the only Shore Conference team in a section that is routinely considered the best public school bracket in New Jersey. The Mariners are seeded fourth, but there is no easy road with Lenape, Cherokee and Williamstown all powerhouse title contenders.

standout playmakers. Junior quarterback Mike Husni is approaching his second straight season with over 1,000 yards both rushing and passing, and senior running back Asante Moorer is a punishing back with over 1,100 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns.

Juniors Darrion Carrington and Bryce Watts lead an explosive receiving corps and sophomore running back Daryn Blackwell adds another piece to a dynamic group of skill players. Toms River North’s defense is led by All-Shore defensive tackle Da'shon Copes and junior linebacker Pete Laquaglia.

Championship prediction: Toms River North over Williamstown

South Jersey Group IV 8-Toms River South (4-4) at 1-Hammonton (8-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Mainland (4-4) at 4-Timber Creek (5-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

6-Central (6-3) at 3-Bridgeton (6-3), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Winslow (5-4) at 2-Shawnee (6-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

Both Shore Conference teams in the section are big underdogs as the top four seeds are expected to advance. Toms River South gets an 8-1 Hammonton team which has only lost to a 7-1 Williamstown team in the first round. Central gets a Bridgeton team that has won six games in a row following an 0-3 start.

Central junior running back Mike Bickford enters the game as the Shore Conference’s leading rusher with 1,382 yards and 19 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Mike Miserendino has combined for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns, so the Golden Eagles have the ingredients to pull the upset. If they can they would likely face Shawnee, which is the two-time defending champion.

Championship prediction: Shawnee over Hammonton

Toms River North has the Shore’s third-highest scoring offense at 37 points per game with several

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South Jersey Group III 8-Sterling (3-5) at 1-Delsea (8-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Seneca (5-3) at 4-Lakewood (6-2), Saturday at 1 p.m.

6-Woodrow Wilson (6-2) at 3-Camden (6-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

7-Oakcrest (5-3) at 2-Pemberton (7-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Friday at 7 p.m.

A section that has long been dominated by northern New Jersey schools has a Shore Conference team as the defending champion and another as the favorite.

Red Bank Catholic won the title last year and is seeded fifth this season. The Caseys will travel to Pope John for a first-round game. Top-seeded St. John Vianney is the No. 1 seed and undefeated, and a favorite to reach the final and take home its first sectional title since 1980.

Lakewood is the only Shore Conference team in the bracket, and has an uphill battle with topseeded Delsea on its side of the bracket. A firstround game with a tough Seneca team is no picnic, either.

The Piners will continue to lean on star senior Amir Tyler, who is a gifted playmaker on both sides of the ball. He has rushed for over 900 yards this season and is averaging over 10 yards per carry and has scored 15 total touchdowns.

Lakewood won a share of the Class B South division title, its first since 2000, and is looking for its first state title since 1986.

Non-Public Group III

Championship prediction: Delsea over Camden

8-Donovan Catholic (3-5) at 1-St. John Vianney (9-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

5-Red Bank Catholic (7-2) at 4-Pope John (7-2), Saturday at 1 p.m.

6-Bishop Eustace (5-3) at 3-Delbarton (7-2), Saturday at 1 p.m.

7-DePaul (3-6) at 2-Camden Catholic (8-0),

The Lancers host Donovan Catholic in the first round - a team they beat 63-21 in Week Seven - and are in line to face Red Bank Catholic in the semifinals if the Caseys defeat Pope John. That would be one of the most anticipated matchups in the Shore considering Red Bank Catholic’s dominance over the last five years and the Lancers in the midst of a historic two-year run.

St. John Vianney has the Shore Conference’s No. 1 offense at 45.6 points per game, and is led by senior quarterback Anthony Brown. The Boston College recruit is among New Jersey’s best quarterbacks and will enter the playoffs has thrown for 1,751 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has also run for 510 yards and seven touchdowns. He leads a deep pool of talent that includes junior running back Chris Chukwuneke, senior running back Khalil Haskins and senior wide receivers Mike Stapert, Jeff Sheard and Marcque Ellington.

The Lancers’ defense is also a high-ranking unit with 8.9 points allowed per game, good for fifth best in the Shore. The unit is led by linebackers Calvin Beaty and Tyler Tedeschi.

Red Bank Catholic isn’t the juggernaut it has been over recent seasons, but is still a very good team with senior UConn recruit Eddie Hahn at quarterback. Despite missing a game, Hahn is still among the Shore’s leading passers with 1,531 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 409 yards and four touchdowns.

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

Seniors Dylan Murphy and Mike Wilen power the rushing attack with over 1,000 yards combined, and senior Mike Balzofiore is Hahn’s top target with 30 catches for 564 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Murphy and Wilen also lead the Caseys’ defense in tackles with 95 and 75, respectively, while Charlie Gargiulo and Nasir Darnell have 7 and 6 sacks, respectively. Junior Max Hazard has four interceptions to lead the secondary.

On the other side of the bracket, Delbarton is the third seed and was a sectional finalist last season, losing to Red Bank Catholic. The Green Wave also defeated St. John Vianney in the semifinals last season. Camden Catholic is undefeated and the No. 2 seed, but the most dangerous threat for either St. John Vianney or Red Bank Catholic may be DePaul. The Spartans are 3-6 and seeded seventh, but have the No. 1 running back recruit in the country in Kareem Walker and play a brutal schedule in the Big North Conference’s United Division.

Championship prediction: St. John Vianney over DePaul

Non-Public Group II

8-Mater Dei Prep (3-6) at 1-Montclair Kimberley Academy (9-0),

Photos by: Mark Brown

www.b51photography.com

Ray Rich Photography www.rayrichphotography.smugmug.com Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com Doug Bostwick www.SportShotsWLB.com Robert Samuels www.robertsamuels.zenfolio.com Heather Laing www.heatherlaingphotography.com

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No. 9 Shore Shuts Down Asbury Park to Clinch Third Straight Class B Central Title

S

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

enior running back Jack Britton ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns, senior Doug Goldsmith ran for 130 yards and senior George Notte kicked a pair of field goals as the Blue Devils (8-0, 5-0) clinched their third straight outright division title while locking up the No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs.

Britton had touchdown runs of 5 and 22 yards, and also caught a 31-yard pass to set up one of his scores. Britton intercepted a pass at the end of the first half that he returned 55 yards.

Senior QB Matt Pennell

Goldsmith ran for 118 yards in the second half as the Blue Devils pulled away for their school-record 16th straight win. Shore’s defense held Asbury Park (6-2, 3-2) to 50 yards of total offense and 34 total yards, including holding the Shore’s second leading receiver, Jaedon Stephens, to zero catches.

Notte had field goals of 32 and 34 yards for Shore.

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Senior RB Jack Britton

by: Bob Badders www.shoresportsnetwork.com Senior RB Alex Johnson

Photos by:

Mark Brown

www.b51photography.com

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Point Boro Stuns Lakewood With Late TD to Clinch Share of Class B South Title

S

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

enior quarterback Noah Husak scored on a 3-yard run with 50 seconds left in regulation to tie the score, and senior Collin Ansbach delivered the extra point to give Point Boro a thrilling 14-13 Shore Conference Class B South victory over Lakewood on Saturday afternoon.

The win gave the Panthers (8-1, 6-1) a share of the division title with Lakewood. It is Point Boro’s first division title since 2008 and Lakewood’s first since 2000.

A 32-yard halfback pass from senior running back Gene Franceschini to junior wide receiver Hayden Frey helped set up the game-winning score, as did a controversial pass interference call against Lakewood that moved the ball to the Piners’ 16-yard line. After the Panthers took the lead, Franceschini intercepted Lakewood quarterback Zyhier Jones to seal the victory.

Lakewood had taken a 13-7 in the third quarter when sophomore defensive lineman Josh Lezin jarred the ball loose with a big hit on Husak and Jaqel Hunter picked it up and raced 65 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was low and blocked by Franceschini, which would prove to be a big moment in the game.

Lakewood took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by senior Amir Tyler, who extended the drive with a 21-yard catch on fourth down. Point Boro answered in the second quarter when Husak got free for a 33-yard touchdown run.

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Point Boro’s defense held Tyler to 40 yards rushing and 21 receiving. He entered the game with 885 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns, averaging 11.2 yards per carry.

Senior RB Gene Franceschini

by: Bob Badders www.shoresportsnetwork.com

Photos by:

Robert Samuels

www.robertsamuels.zenfolio.com

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E

very week this season, Shore Conference football fans will get their chance to vote for the SSN Football Player of the Week on our website, with over 100,000 votes cast in the first eight weeks.

Eight players so far have earned the honor of SSN’s Shore Conference Player of the Week after brilliant performances.

Week-8

10/30/15

Red Bank senior quarterback

Jack Navitsky

The Week Eight recipient is Red Bank senior quarterback Jack Navitsky, who accounted for 193 total yards and three touchdowns in the Bucs’ 37-6 victory over Holmdel that moved their unblemished record to 7-0. Navitsky completed 7-of-9 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, connecting with senior wide receiver Sadiq Palmer five times for 105 yards and a score. Navitsky also ran for 50 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. Navitsky has thrown for 734 yards and seven touchdowns while rushing for 365 yards and four touchdowns to help Red Bank to its best start in over a decade. Red Bank plays at winless Manchester this week as it looks to move to 8-0, and will seek its first state sectional title in 40 years when the NJSIAA state playoffs get underway.

Red Bank’s fans had a dominant showing in the virtual voting booth in securing Navitsky over 50 percent of the votes to pull away from Manasquan running back Parker Day, who ran for 225 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Matawan. www.b51photography.com Photo by: Mark Brown

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Week-7

10/23/15

Raritan senior running back

Derek Ernst The Week Seven recipient is Jackson Memorial senior wide receiver/defensive back Kyle Johnson, who had a touchdown on each side of the ball in the Jaguars’ 28-7 win over Toms River South that snapped a three-game losing streak. Johnson caught four passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, a 50yard score from sophomore quarterback A.J. Tolmachewich. He also intercepted his second pass of the season and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. Johnson has eight touchdowns this season with six receiving, one via interception and one punt return touchdown.

Photo by:

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

Week-0

9/4/15

Pinelands Jr. RB

Justin Kirkpatrick

Week-1

9/11/15

Jackson Mem. Jr. RB

Mike Gawlik

Week-2

9/18/15

Manalapan Sr. RB

Marcus Salinas

Week-3

9/25/15

Freehold So. RB

Ashante Worthy

Week-6

10/2/15

Week-4

10/2/15

Point Beach sophomore running backs

Raritan senior RB

Luke Frauenheim & Chris Webber

Derek Ernst

The Week Six recipient is the running back tandem of Point Beach sophomores Luke Frauenheim and Chris Webber, who combined for 260 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a 49-22 Class B Central victory over Keansburg. Frauenheim ran for 124 yards and three touchdowns and Webber finished with a game-high 136 yards and two touchdowns as the Garnet Gulls ran for 324 yards as a team. It is the second straight week Point Beach has won the Player of the Week voting, with junior wide receiver Connor Kells winning the Week Five award.

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

Week-5 10/9/15 Point Beach jr. WR

Connor Kells

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Fri 11/13 NJSIAA Playoffs

Jackson Mem

Fri 11/20 NJSIAA Playoffs

at

Brick

TBD

Thr 11/26 Thanksgiving Day

Manasquan

at

7:00pm 7:00pm

Wall

(11am)

Schedule is subject to change

All games to be broadcast on News Talk Radio and streamed live at www.shoresportsnetwork.com

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

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