November 8, 2010 Vo lu m e - II - I ss u e- 2 0 Ma nc he s ter Fo ot b a ll Re ac h e s Pl a yo f fs Page 3 CBA Soccer Grabs SCT Crown Page 4 Football Playoff Preview Page 8-9 RBC Girls Soccer Wins SCT Page 11 Monmouth Football Earns Playoff Spot Page 13 Melvin's Review Page 14 Stumpy’s Corner Page 15
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November 8, 2010 I Volume-II I Issue-20
is a multimedia company that provides exciting and innovative coverage to high school athletics in the Shore Conference in order to highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and fans who support Shore Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore Media is your main source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference.
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MAnChESTER FOOTBAll: Flying into the PlayoFFs By Scott Stump – Managing Editor With only the second state playoff berth in Manchester history hanging in the balance late in the fourth quarter against Point Boro in Week Nine, junior quarterback Tim Rogers was dealing with more than the just the enormity of the moment. At halftime, he was informed Junior QB Tim Rogers that his older sister, Jackie, 20, had been involved in a bad car accident and had been rushed to the hospital. Rather than let it overwhelm him, he overcame a tough passing night, seized the moment and took advantage of some great play-calling by the Hawks to score the biggest points by a Manchester player in six years. He dove for a 3yard touchdown on a bootleg play on fourth down to bring Manchester with a point and then ran for the two-point conversion on a similar play with 3:21 left in the game for the winning points in a 14-13 thriller over the Panthers in a Shore Conference nondivisional game. "I guess it just fueled the fire,'' Rogers said about dealing with the news about his sister. "I had to do it for her. She's in the hospital right now, and I'm about to go see her. I guess God was on my side. Something bad happened, and then something great happened.'' "He was very emotional at first,'' said senior wideout Monwell Brown, who had 4 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown. "He played this game for his sister, and he kept his head in the game.'' The victory earned the Hawks (5-3) the No. 6 seed and a date with third-seeded Haddonfield in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group II bracket, their first state playoff appearance since 2004 and their second overall. They have never won a state playoff game, but they already vanquished the demons of losing on their home field to Jackson Liberty last season on cut-off weekend to be denied a playoff berth. After Rogers’ two big runs, Manchester recovered a fumble
on Point Boro’s ensuing drive and then ran out the clock for the win. That touched off a celebration among a fanbase that has only witnessed that sight once before in the 36-year history of the NJSIAA playoffs. “We're trying to build something, and I think we are,'' Manchester head coach Gerard O'Donnell said. "We're playing better football. People are starting to look here and say, 'They're not bad. They're doing some good things there.''' "We caught some breaks for sure,'' said senior linebacker Anthony Prendimano. "We got some plays, and some lucky fumbles like the one down near the goal line. But I think it was just meant to be, you know?'' Point Boro took a 7-0 lead into halftime as the Panthers dominated time of possession and scored on a sensational, onehanded catch by sophomore wideout Kyle McGarry on a 16-yard pass by quarterback Senior WR Monwell Brown Chuckie Krohn with
3:27 left in the first quarter. The specter of the 25-20 loss to Jackson Liberty from last year and the possibility of squandering two straight chances at a playoff berth was hanging over the locker room at the break for the Hawks. "We talked about it at halftime that we cannot repeat history,'' Rogers said. "This year our seniors really stepped up in the heat of the moment.'' "Coach always talks about how we want to be remembered,'' said Brown, who also had a first-half interception on defense. "We've only done this one other time, so it would be a big step for Manchester as a whole to go to the playoffs.'' Brown got them closer to that reality when the electrifying wideout caught a pass from Rogers in a thicket of three defenders and showed why his nickname is "Money.'' He broke it for a 57-yard touchdown on third-and-19 that trimmed the lead to 7-6 after the extra point was blocked with 2:40 left in the third quarter. The play jumpstarted the Hawks' offense, as Johnson had not been able to establish anything on the ground and Manchester needed a spark. "You put the ball in his hands, and he can make anything happen,'' Prendimano said about Brown. "You saw that play he made a million dudes miss. He's a great athlete.'' Now the goal for Brown and his teammates is to not just be the second team in Manchester history to reach the state playoffs, but the first team to win a state playoff game. Manchester lost 25-6 to Point Boro in South Jersey Group II in 2004 in its previous appearance. "The first team that ever made it there got blown out in the first game, and we cannot do that,'' Rogers said. "We're trying to set the bar high for Manchester down the road.'' Rogers at least had good news to give to his sister when he reached her bedside late that night, and he and his teammates hope to have plenty more for her before the season ends. "You never know what can happen,’’ Prendimano said. “I don't even know what to say other than that it feels great.''
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CBA Soccer: Colts Capture sCt Crown
By Matt Manley – Staff Writer
After the first 40 minutes of the Shore Conference Tournament championship game, the seventh-seeded Toms River North boys soccer team thought it was positioned to take down No. 1 Christian Brothers Academy despite a onegoal deficit. CBA, however, had the Mariners right where they wanted them. The Colts scored two goals within 51 seconds of one another and continued their trend of dominant second halves in a 3-0 win over Toms River North on Oct. 30 at Memorial Field in Neptune. The win gives CBA its record seventh overall SCT championship and first since 2004. Rich Loeffler scored 3:34 into the second half to extend the CBA lead to 2-0 and less than one minute later, Brian Smith headed home the final tally of the game.
hard, and I thought they had the better of play on us through the first 25 minutes or so. But we've been a second-half team all year, and I give our kids a lot of credit because they don't lose confidence when things don't work right away.� Toms River North got a number of clean strikes at the net in the early going, but the most dangerous chance may have been a shot the Mariners could not get off. Junior Ryan Groffie, who controlled the midfield in the first half, sent the ball through to Tom Defino, who beat the first CBA defender to create a one-on-one opportunity with Colts junior keeper Stephen Donato. Defino dribbled in and drew Donato off his line, but before he could shoot the ball, Colts junior sweeper Sean Leister stuck his foot on the ball and pulled it from Defino's possession in one motion.
Eight minutes later, junior midfielder Chris Thorsheim took the ball toward the endline on the "It seems like all year, no matter left side and sent a left-footed cross into the middle, how slow of a start we get off where junior forward Bob Cartas headed it in to, we finish strong," Colts with 11:48 left in the first half for the winning Junior midfielder Chris Thorsheim senior defender Ryan Wagner goal. said. "It's almost like the worse we play in the first half, we play "I liked where we were at halftime," Toms River that much better in the second half. North coach Joe Mahon said. "I thought we got a chance to We went over some things at halftime, but I just said to our play more soccer today, which was a very encouraging sign. coaches, 'They outworked us. It's that simple. We need to We played even better in the second half, I thought, but they work harder.'" came out hard and played a lot better that they did in the first half. Once they got that second goal, I think we put our heads CBA took a 1-0 lead into the second half despite being down for a second, and they capitalized." outshot 9-5 by the Mariners and struggling to possess the ball in the midfield. According to Colts coach Dan Keane, The loss was Toms River North's first defeat outside of the assistant coach Jeff Matson made an adjustment to improve Class A South division and it halted a six-game winning his team's possession game, switching from a 4-3-3 formation streak for the Mariners. to a more traditional 4-4-2 set that moved leading scorer Tim The championship breaks a six-year title drought for CBA, West from forward to the midfield. The move paid off which is the fifth different Class A North team to win an SCT immediately when West sent a deep diagonal cross from the championship in the last five years, joining Manalapan, right side to the far left post, where Smith headed the ball in Howell, Freehold Township and Marlboro. The Colts are for CBA's third goal. heavy on junior talent with players like Thorsheim, Cartas, "I though the first half was the worst half we played all Leister, midfielders Nick Villani and Zach Hicks, defenders year, to be honest," Keane said. "Toms River North came out
Dan Pizzimenti and Alex Lazzaro, and Donato all coming back for their senior season next season. Perhaps most encouraging of all is that junior Scott Thomsen is on track to be fully healthy for his senior season. Thomsen was the Colts' second-leading scorer on the team as a sophomore, and he said he is scheduled to resume playing on Dec. 16. "We were told when they came in as freshmen that this was a special group," Keane said. "You could see it right from the start that they had the potential to be very good, but you can never tell if a group is going to win championships or not. For them to play the way they have as a group is a lot more than we could have expected this soon. It's definitely a special group, and it gets even better next year because we're going to have Scotty Thomsen back." The wealth of juniors is in the process of taking the torch, but the four seniors who played for the Colts on Saturday night held the spotlight in their Shore Conference finale. Smith, West and Loeffler are first-year starters and all contributed to the scoring. Wagner, who is in his second season as the starting left outside back, is the lone returning senior starter from last year's team and only he, Thorsheim and backup goalkeeper Kyle Dillaway were on the field last season when CBA lost to Marlboro 2-1 in the SCT final and 1-0 to Seton Hall Prep in the Non-Public A final at The College of New Jersey. "It's definitely a special feeling, especially after last year," Wagner said. "Getting back here was big, but we didn't want to walk off the field with the same feeling we had last year. We had to win."
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lacey Football: Loud And Clear By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Lacey had been dominating opponents all season long, but there was always that lingering feeling that the Lions hadn't truly passed a major test until they got the monkey off their back against Shore Conference standard-bearer Middletown South. "We were thinking of this game like a test,'' said senior running back Jake Dabal. "To compare ourselves to good teams, we have to compare ourselves to Middletown South, especially since they beat us the last two years. I think we really showed what we can do today.'' The unbeaten Lions unleashed a powerful statement to make the leap to No. 1 when they stifled a prolific offense and moved the ball consistently against a tough defense on their way to an impressive 27-7 Shore Conference nondivisional victory over No. 3 Middletown South (6-2). The Lions (9-0) built a 27-0 lead through three quarters and have beaten everyone they have played this season by at least three touchdowns. That list now includes one of the top public school programs in the state and a team that had beaten them in each of the last two seasons by a combined score of 41-0. Even though Lacey had already secured the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III bracket and was playing in its ninth game, which doesn't count in the power-point standings, it was clear the Lions were on a mission. "It wasn't for the stats or for the rankings,'' said Lacey senior defensive lineman Tom Murray, who had a sack and a forced fumble that led to a touchdown. "It was for pride. This was a big statement.''
senior Zach Torrell in which he leaped along the sideline for a 20yard grab down to the Eagles' 7-yard line. Cicardo then bounced off several tacklers and plowed his way into the end zone for a 7-yard score to help erase the memory of the offensive struggles of the last two seasons against Middletown South.
coming up with four turnovers. "I think we showed our dominance,'' said senior defensive lineman Dave Vieira. "They had won the last two, and we came in with a huge chip on our shoulders.'' The Lions set the tone from the outset, as they drove 87 yards on nine plays on the opening possession of the game to take a 7-0 lead on a 3-yard touchdown run by Dabal. The score was set up by a 44yard play by explosive senior running back Jarrod Molzon, who took a quick shovel pass from Cicardo and broke seven tackles on a sensational run before being brought down at the 3-yard line. Middletown South appeared poised to answer that score when it drove 62 yards to Lacey's 13-yard line before facing a third-and-9. However, Murray abruptly changed those plans when he blind-sided junior quarterback Howie Brey, causing a fumble that Dabal scooped up and returned 77 yards for a touchdown to the roar of the large home crowd and a 14-0 lead with 2:04 left in the first quarter. "I saw Murray come around and knock the ball out,'' Dabal said. "Once I picked the ball up, I was not letting anyone catch me.''
The defense got another stop thanks to a hit for a five-yard loss by Dabal and then the Lions drove 60 yards on 10 plays to punch in another score on a 1yard run by Cicardo that "In the preseason, pushed the lead to 20-0 everyone was talking after the extra point was about this game,'' said blocked with 2:52 left in senior quarterback the first half. The key play Craig Cicardo, who ran Senior linebacker Matt Uveges on the drive was a 32-yard for two touchdowns pass from Cicardo to junior and was 7-for-7 passing. Jordan Powell on third-and-13 down to the 1-yard line. "It was great for us to come out on top, and it took a load off our shoulders.'' Vieira recovered Middletown South's third lost fumble of the game to thwart another Eagles' drive, Lacey's defense, which has allowed a Shore and then Lacey put together its final scoring march to Conference-low 33 points this season, bottled up the take a commanding 27-0 lead. The Lions went 49 Eagles' potent flexbone option running game, limiting yards in seven plays, highlighted by a great catch by them to 48 yards rushing on 36 carries and also
"We had to show them something because they were talking a lot of smack that they were Senior quarterback Craig Cicardo going to beat us the third time in a row,'' said junior offensive lineman Tyrell Smith, who is a Division I-A prospect. "We wanted to prove a point. That's all we came to do.'' The Eagles later drove down to Lacey's 3-yard line in the final seconds, but the Lions forced an incompletion on fourth down to polish off their most satisfying victory of an outstanding season thus far. It also bolstered an impressive resume in any argument to be considered the Shore Conference's No. 1 team right now in the debate vs. fellow unbeaten Matawan. The Lions' players have said that they don't think about the rankings, but... "I did today,'' Cicardo said before smiling. "There's a lot of stuff going around. Matawan's a great team, and they are undefeated, too. Whatever comes out in the end, we know we're up there with them.'' "All that matters is that we know how good we are,'' Dabal said before smiling. Now everyone else in the Shore Conference does, too.
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Gentlemen, Start Your enGineS
2010 Shore ConferenCe football PlaYoff Preview By Scott Stump – Managing Editor
w
ith 18 S h o r e Con f er en ce f o o tb all teams jo in ing th e p o s ts eas o n f r ay th is s eas o n , it’s time to tak e a loo k at w ho h as th e b es t s ho t to b r in g h ome th at co veted N J S I A A s ection al champ ion s h ip tr op h y o n th e f ir s t w eek end o f D ecember to immor talize th ems elv es in their p r o g r am his tor y.
There is a solid chance that the Shore Conference can sweep all four Central Jersey brackets for the second time in three seasons, as it also achieved the feat in 2008 when Brick Memorial (CJ IV); Freehold (CJ III); Manasquan (CJ II) and Asbury Park (CJ I) all brought home a title. Lacey is also a favorite to win its first state sectional title since 2006, meaning the Shore could have as many as five champions. Class B North had four state playoff teams (Red Bank Catholic, Freehold, Neptune, Monmouth) for the most of any division to lead the way. Here is a breakdown of each bracket involving Shore Conference teams.
CEnTRAl JERSEY GROUP IV Shore teams: Brick Memorial, Manalapan, Howell The breakdown: Either Manalapan or Howell is going home in the first round because the two teams play one another, which is their second meeting of the season after a 54-27 Braves win in which senior running back Josh Firkser ran for a school-record 318 yards and seven touchdowns. Howell upset Brick Memorial on the day of the cutoff to earn the fifth seed and will be very dangerous if its defense can continue the turnaround it showed in a 14-7 win over Brick Memorial. The Mustangs are on the other side of the bracket from Howell and Manalapan and can avoid top-seeded Sayreville until the final. Brick Memorial has a good shot to reach its third straight CJ IV final after losing to East Brunswick in last year’s championship game. Brick Memorial also gets a chance at some revenge to start its run as it faces East Brunswick in the first round. This is a wide-open bracket, and if Manalapan can beat Howell again and then solve Sayreville, we could potentially have another rematch of a regular-season game in the championship. Brick Memorial beat Manalapan 21-7 during the season and could very well have to find a way to beat the Braves again to win its second CJ IV title in three seasons. X-Factor: Josh Firkser. The Manalapan superback has singlehandedly demolished some good teams this year, so if he brings it in the playoffs, Manalapan Manalapan's Josh Firkser could be looking at its first state sectional title in school history.
Likely scenario: Brick Memorial and Sayreville, two bitter rivals, have a showdown in the final, although Manalapan making the final would not be a major surprise. Wilder scenario: East Brunswick makes a run as the No. 7 seed and Howell pulls some upsets on the road as the No. 5 seed and they have a rematch of a regular-season game that East Brunswick won 21-13. Howell wins its second CJ IV title in school history .
CEnTRAl JERSEY GROUP III Shore teams: Middletown South, Wall, Freehold, Neptune The breakdown: Middletown South is the top seed and the favorite to win its first title since 2006 after losing in the finals in the past two seasons. The Eagles should see little resistance on their way to the championship game from Steinert in the first round and then the winner of Hamilton West and West Windsor North in the semifinals. The other side of the bracket, however, should be a dogfight. Freehold has a rematch with Neptune in the first round after beating the Scarlet Fliers 24-21 in overtime during the regular season. Wall is the No. 7 seed and enters on fire, having won six in a row and averaging more than 40 Wall's Steve Clulely points per game during that streak. The Crimson Knights should take out No. 2 Nottingham and then await the FreeholdNeptune winner. Just like Wall, Freehold has also won six in a row after an 0-2 start, but it has done it against tougher competition. The Colonials are the favorite to step up and challenge Middletown South after beating the Eagles in the 2008 CJ III final. They will have to work much harder to get to the end than Middletown South will, and beating Wall and its explosive offense behind junior quarterback Steve Cluley will be no easy task. Neptune is very banged-up and could be without stars Charles Davis and Ikie Calderon against Freehold because of injuries, making the Fliers a big underdog in a game on Freehold’s home field. This looks like it will be another round of the great Middletown South-Freehold rivalry, but I also think Wall has a shot to interrupt that. The X-Factor: Steve Cluley. If the Wall junior quarterback truly has taken major strides since stumbling out of the gate, this team will be hard to slow down. Cluley hasn’t faced the type of major pass rush he would see from a Freehold or Middletown South, so we will find out how much he has grown in his first full season as a starter. Likely scenario: Middletown South cruises to the final and Freehold wins two hard-fought games to meet the Eagles. Then the Eagles and Colonials play a classic that comes down to the final five minutes of the fourth quarter.
Wilder scenario: The bubonic plague strikes Middletown South, wiping out the football team, and the Eagles get upset in the first two rounds by playing their freshmen. Neptune returns Davis and Calderon and plays its best football of the season to stun Freehold and Wall. Realistically, the only so-called “wild’’ scenario would be Wall making a run to the final and then taking out a Middletown South team that has had the Crimson Knights’ number for eight years.
CEnTRAl JERSEY GROUP II Shore teams: Matawan, Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan, Monmouth The breakdown: Undefeated Matawan is the defending champion, the top seed, and the heavy favorite to make it two in a row. The Huskies face Monmouth, which earned Matawan's McArthur Underwood just the second state playoff berth in its program history, in the first round and then most likely fourth-seeded Manasquan in the semifinals after beating the Warriors to win last year’s CJ II title. Rumson is the No. 3 seed and appears to have a clear path to the final, as it faces a very beatable Ewing team at home in the first round and then the winner of Carteret-North Plainfield in the semifinals. North Plainfield enters the playoffs at 8-0 but has not traditionally fared well against Shore Conference competition, so that is definitely a winnable game for the Bulldogs. On paper, it looks like a Matawan-Rumson final, which would be a rematch of a regular-season game that Matawan won 48-21 over the Bulldogs. However, Manasquan is never easy to knock out of the playoffs, so Matawan will get the Warriors’ best shot in the semifinals. That game is definitely no gimme. Matawan would then be the overwhelming favorite against Rumson in the final. The X-factor: Tariq Turner. Manasquan’s senior running back has rushed for more than 100 yards in every game in which he has played the full game (he was hurt early in a win over Shore Regional). If the Warriors can feed him the ball against Matawan and he can have a huge game to kill the clock and keep the ball out of the hands of the Huskies’ explosive offense, Manasquan has a chance to pull off the upset. Likely scenario: Matawan and Rumson meet in the final and while the game is a little closer than the regular-season blowout, Matawan prevails for its second straight championship and a 12-0 season. Wilder scenario: Manasquan stuns Matawan in the semifinals behind Turner and the Warriors’ best defensive game of the season, then gets surprised by Rumson in the final for the Bulldogs’ first state sectional title in school history.
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Pittsburgh-bound all-around playmaker Bill Belton.
Shore teams: Shore Regional, Keyport
Lacey is deep at the skill positions and has a physical line on both sides of the ball. The Lions have beaten everyone they have played, including CJ III No. 1 seed Middletown South, by at least 20 points. It’s a title or bust.
The breakdown: Shore is the top seed and the heavy favorite to win this bracket because it has already beaten several teams in the bracket, including its firstround opponent, Highland Park, and its potential semifinal opponent, Keyport. The Blue Devils routed both of those teams already, so they are expected to be in the championship game in their bid for their first state sectional title since 1997. Shore's Pat Maggio Keyport should handle Palmyra on the road in the first round and then will have its coveted rematch with Shore after losing 4014 to the Blue Devils in the regular season in Class B Central. Third-seeded Dunellen could be Shore’s biggest obstacle to the crown, and they wouldn’t meet until the sectional final. Florence is another traditional playoff power that could emerge from that side of the bracket. X-factor: Rontik Sadler. Dunellen’s do-it-all player, he has had some huge games this season and would need to have one to take out Shore in the final. Likely scenario: Shore beats two teams it has already routed once, then takes care of business against Dunellen in the final to complete an 11-1 season. Wilder scenario: Keyport upsets Shore in the semifinals and then takes out Dunellen or Florence to capture the seventh CJ I title for long-time head coach Mike Ciccotelli.
SOUTh JERSEY GROUP III Shore teams: Lacey The breakdown: Lacey is the top seed and the heavy favorite to polish off its first 12-0 season since 2006. The Lions can hopefully start with some revenge as they face Timber Creek in the first round after losing to them in last year’s SJ III semifinals. Their main competition from the other side of the bracket looks to be traditional power Delsea or defending Lacey's Jake Dabal champion Hammonton. Either way, Lacey will be favored, and in the semifinals they could see Winslow Township and one of the state’s top recruits in
X-factor: Bill Belton. If he goes nuts in a semifinal game for multiple touchdowns, Winslow Township could have a shot at pulling the upset. That’s if Winslow even gets out of the first round against a Moorestown team that is 7-2. Likely scenario: Lacey wins three home games on its way to convincingly capping a 12-0 season. Wilder scenario: The Lions get stunned by either Winslow Township or Moorestown in the semifinals and then Delsea or Hammonton win the title.
SOUTh JERSEY GROUP II Shore teams: Point Boro, Manchester, Barnegat The breakdown: Point Boro just snuck in as the eighth seed and has perennial power and undefeated playoff nemesis West Deptford in the first round, which most likely means an early exit. Barnegat and Manchester have never won a state playoff game in their program histories and face fourth-seeded Lower Cape May (6-2) and third-seeded Haddonfield (71), respectively. Barnegat has lost two straight coming into the playoffs against two teams that did not qualify for the postseason, so it’s looking like a longshot that the Bengals make history. Manchester beat Point Boro 14-13 on the cutoff weekend to qualify for the state playoffs for just the second time in program history. The Hawks have a variety of game-breaking offense weapons like senior wideout Monwell Brown and junior running back Joe Johnson and have a shot against Haddonfield. Still, any wins by a Shore team in this bracket would be considered upsets. Manchester's Joe Johnson X-factor: Joe Johnson. He already has a school-record 365-yard rushing game to his credit this year, so he has the ability to explode. If the Manchester running back can turn in a superlative effort, the Hawks have the ability to make school history and reach at least the semifinals. Likely scenario: West Deptford and Willingboro meet in the finals in a match-up of undefeated teams, with West Deptford bringing home the win. Wilder scenario: Manchester wins a shootout with Haddonfield and then puts a big scare into West
Volume-2 Issue-20 11/ 8 / 10 Page 9 Deptford thanks to a big game by wideouts Nate Nickens and Monwell Brown. Barnegat stuns Lower Cape May as quarterback Nick SanGiacomo and wideout Mike DeTroia combine for a huge game, then the Bengals succumb to Willingboro.
nOn-PUBlIC GROUP IV Shore teams: Red Bank Catholic The breakdown: The Caseys’ search for their first state playoff win since 1998 may still be continuing after this season as they face third-seeded Bergen Catholic, a perennial state playoff behemoth, in the first round. RBC scrimmaged the Crusaders in the preseason, so it is familiar with them. With a roster littered with Division I-A recruits, including quarterback RBC’s Andrew Casten Tanner McEvoy, Bergen Catholic is the heavy favorite in one of the hardest state playoff brackets in America, which also includes national power Don Bosco Prep. X-factor: Ryan Spahr. RBC’s junior quarterback is going to have to hit some big throws under the face of a fierce rush because it’s not going to be easy for senior running back Andrew Casten to pile up yards like he has against Shore Conference competition this season. Likely scenario: RBC takes a long bus ride north and then a seemingly longer bus ride home. Wilder scenario: The offensive and defensive lines go toe-to-toe with Bergen Catholic, the Caseys establish Casten on the ground and hit senior tight end Jack Tabb for some big plays through the air and give the Crusaders a battle to the end.
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RBC Girls Soccer: three-Peat By Matt Manley – Staff Writer Red Bank Catholic senior midfielder and University of Virginia recruit Danielle Colaprico has made Memorial Field in Neptune her own personal playground for the past three years during the Shore Conference Tournament, a period during which the Caseys have rewritten the record books in the Shore Conference. As part of her final performance, Colaprico left her mark on the tournament by passing the torch to her younger teammates while mixing in a vintage offensive Senior Danielle Colaprico exhibition. Colaprico scored a goal and assisted one of two goals by sophomore forward Mackenzie Cowley to lead the top-seeded Caseys past third-seeded Wall, 4-0, for their third straight title and sixth overall. "I just wanted to play hard, win and enjoy the game," Colaprico said. "For the seniors, this was our last Shore Conference game, we wanted to go out with a win, and we played as a team. Everyone contributed, from the seniors to the younger girls. They showed they're probably going to win it again next year. They're great players, and I think they'll keep it going." Red Bank Catholic's first goal, which also turned out the be the gamewinner, was an exhibition in execution started by none other than Colaprico in the 13th minute. The senior center midfielder dribbled through the defense on the left side, took the ball toward the flag and turned the corner down the endline. She sent a cross on the ground back toward the top of the 18-yard box, and Cowley ran past the ball with a dummy screen to freeze the defense. Kelly Dolan touched the ball to the top of the 18yard box and junior defender Jackie Cajigal struck a left-footed shot from 20 yards out that hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced on the other side of the endline behind Wall goalkeeper Cristina Gacos, who could not make the leaping save. "I'm confident with my left (foot)," said Cajigal, whose right foot is her dominant foot. "I knew it was good when I shot it. I knew it was good before I shot it. I always want to shoot the ball with confidence, so that's the way I think." Colaprico scored the Caseys' second goal on a difficult shot from the left angle in the 31st minute. She ran down a ball on the left side of the 18-yard box and one-timed a left-footed shot into the far left corner for her third goal in the last three games
at Memorial Field. Cowley scored following a deflected ball by the defense with 1:46 left in the first half. Her shot was also a left-footed poke to the left side of the netting, and she added the final tally of the night 3:30 into the second half when she tapped in a Colaprico shot deflected by Gacos, who was out of the goal after challenging Colaprico. Like Colaprico, Cowley scored three goals in the semifinals and finals combined. Cowley, who did not see varsity time as a freshman and was playing in her first SCT, scored two of the three goals on rebounds following Colaprico shots. "One thing we learn as forwards on this team is when Dani gets the ball, run to the goal, because it's probably going to end up at your feet in some way or another," Cowley said. "When she gets the ball, she always puts it on net and that creates a lot of rebound chances, and we get a lot of goals like that. "She's unbelievable. I don't know where we'd be without her. We have great players, and we play really well together, but she just makes us that much better." Wall managed five shots against the Caseys' defense, led by Cajigal and fellow junior Brianne Reed in the middle and seniors Elle Mahon and Erin Pace on the outside in front of senior goalkeeper Lisa Capelli. Mahon and Cajigal have been starters for coach Ken Santos on all three championship teams, and along with senior outside midfielder Frankie Smurro, will have a chance to make it four titles in four years next year. "It's more fun every year," Cajigal said. "Hopefully we can get one more next year."
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Volume-2 Issue-20 11/ 8/ 10 Page 11
Monmouth Football: everything to Play For By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer As soon as the final buzzer sounded to confirm Monmouth Regional's 26-14 Shore Conference nondivisional victory over Red Bank Regional on Nov. 6, Falcons' senior linebacker/tight end Scott Satcher dropped to a knee, overcome with emotion. It wasn't only because the Falcons (4-4) earned just their second playoff berth in program history, or because Satcher has been playing with a nagging injury stemming from a separated shoulder suffered in Week Three. It's because Nov. 6 will always be a day that resonates deep in the heart of the Falcons' most inspirational player. "For me, this was probably the biggest game of my life," Satcher said. "Six years ago today was when my father passed away, and that's why I'm so emotional. It's not just that we made the playoffs, it's that I wish my father was here to see it. He's the reason I'm doing this." Playing with a heavy heart but also with plenty of extra motivation to honor his late father, Satcher was a catalyst for a Falcons' defense that forced three turnovers and limited Red Bank to 127 yards of total offense, including just 39 rushing yards. Satcher had a leaping interception in the second quarter that set up a Monmouth touchdown and played a great all-around game to help the Falcons snap a four-game losing streak and earn the program's second playoff appearance and first since 2006. "He stands for everything we want this team to stand for," said Falcons head coach Sal Spampanato. "He's been playing all year with an injury, and he's been going through some personal things off the field, but he always gives 100 percent. He was dominant on the defensive side for us, and I'm just so happy and proud of him." The win earned Monmouth the eighth seed in Central Jersey Group II and a date with top-seeded Matawan, the
defending sectional champion, in the first round.
give the Falcons the ball at the Bucs' 7-yard line. On the next play, Thomas ran around right end and plunged through a defender for a seven-yard Junior RB/WR Tyier Hester touchdown and a 13-0 lead with 10:35 left in the second quarter.
"This has been our goal since coming into the program," Satcher said. "The classes before us have never really been too successful and no one wants to give us credit for anything, but we came out and got it done on our own. There have been so many doubters and so many people who didn't think we could accomplish anything, so to make it to the playoffs for only the second time is a ridiculous feeling." Senior linebacker Mark Williams recovered a fumble and senior defensive back Brandon Ford intercepted a pass for Monmouth, and sophomore defensive lineman Sheldon McCue posted three sacks on the afternoon. Falcons senior quarterback A.J. Visconti threw for a game-high 94 yards and touchdowns of 28 and 32 yards, and also ran for a touchdown, while senior running back Davonte Thomas ran for a gamehigh 75 yards and a score.
Monmouth opened the scoring with 12 seconds left in the first quarter on a one-yard run by Visconti. The five-play, 41-yard drive was set up by Williams' fumble recovery and kept alive when Thomas took a screen pass 30 yards down to the Red Bank 6-yard line Senior LB Scott Satcher (#42) on third down. Red Bank went three-and-out after Visconti's touchdown run, but a special teams breakdown ended up setting Monmouth up for its second touchdown. Brian Scanlon went back to punt for Red Bank from its own 14 and felt some pressure up the middle. He hesitated just for a second, but that was enough for Keon Osby to drop him for a seven-yard loss and
"It was real big for us to score first," Satcher said. "Everyone was nervous, and it's been a month since we've won a game. To get two quick scores meant a lot for us." On Red Bank's next possession, Mike Brown sacked Reardon to bring up a thirdand-24, and that's when Satcher was able to use his 6-foot-4 frame to leap and intercept a pass at the Bucs' 19-yard line. After a holding penalty pushed Monmouth back 10 yards, Visconti found a wide-open Tyier Hester for a 29-yard touchdown and a 19-0 lead that the Falcons took into halftime. Monmouth effectively put the game away when Visconti hit Showanes for a 32-yard touchdown with 7:30 left in the game. Red Bank responded on the ensuing drive to make it 26-14 on a great catch by Scanlon. However, Monmouth got the ball back with 5:46 left in the game and never relinquished possession, running out the clock with eight straight running plays to accomplish what most thought would be close to impossible at the beginning of the season. "It goes back to the beginning of the season when everybody said we wouldn't be able to survive the schedule in B North," Spampanato said. "We remembered that. We didn't feel sorry for ourselves, we just kept working hard and worrying about one game at a time. We did some good things early in the season and then went through a bad stretch, but we kept it together and never got down on each other. It's good to see all the kids' hard work pay off." "We've gone through hell being as high as we were after the first three wins and then the lows of not winning in the last month," Satcher said. "It's been an emotional roller coaster, but we finally overcame it to get into the playoffs. We just have to keep going and keep fighting."
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Volume-2 Issue-20 1 1/ 8 / 10 Page 13
hawk’s Tennis Review: shore’s Best 2010 girls tennis season Recap B y K e v i n H a w k e , P r o f e s s i o n a l Tr a i n e r, H a w k S p o r t s P e r f o r m a n c e After a very competitive season in girls high school tennis, the Shore Conference’s top two teams, Red Bank Catholic and Holmdel, split their regular-season matches. The two teams would later collide in the finals of the Shore Conference Tournament, where the Caseys went on to defeat Holmdel 4-1 to take the title. Finishing third in the Shore this year was Manasquan. All Shore Media takes a look inside this year’s top teams.
all the girls on this championship team.”
part of our team’s success this season.”
2. Holmdel Hornets
3. Manasquan Warriors
Coach: Chuck Chelednik
Coach: Rod Ravaioli
Record: 21-3
Record: 16-2
1 Red Bank Catholic Caseys Coach: Lynn DiGioia Record: 23-2
Losing three starting seniors from last season, the Caseys relied heavily on their top singles player, junior Dena Tanenbaum, who finished the season with a 23-3 record, reaching the semifinals of the NJSIAA Singles Tournament. Sophomore Rocine Moshella went undefeated at second singles for the Caseys with an impressive 26 wins on the season. The entire lineup produced big numbers this year with winning records across the board from all singles and doubles players. Besides winning the Shore Conference Tournament, the team captured titles in its division, Group, and the Monmouth County Tournament. The Caseys made it all the way to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions final, defeating powers Newark Academy and Haddonfield along the way, before bowing out to Westfield 3-2 in the final match of the season. “We made it further than I have ever gone in my 13 years at RBC,’’ said head coach Lynn DiGioia. “Everyone in our lineup performed well, and it’s been a very solid team effort. We had a great season, and I am so proud of
With an experienced lineup of four starting seniors, the Hornets had an impressive season, coming up just short of the Central Jersey Group 3 title by losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Millburn, a perennial state power. An ongoing rivalry with Red Bank Catholic continued this season as the Hornets upset the Caseys 3-2 in a regularseason match-up before losing to RBC in the Monmouth County Championships. In the team’s final match of the season, RBC defeated Homdel 4-1 in the Shore Conference Tournament final. Unfortunately, missing from the lineup that day for the Hornets was Katie McKay at second singles. Katie was the breakthrough player of this year for Holmdel, rising up the lineup to second singles after playing second doubles in 2009. She would go on to qualify and reach the second round of the NJSIAA Singles Tournament later in the season. Adding to the team’s success this year were Gayatri Iyengar and Lauren Byrket at first doubles. That team was a very reliable point for the Hornets throughout the season and would later go on to reach the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Doubles Tournament, losing to eventual champion Mongomery. When asked about the season, head coach Chuck Chelednik had high praise for his most improved player. “Katie McKay really stepped up big for us this year, going from second doubles to second singles,’’ Chelednik said. “She improved tremendously from last year and was a big
The Manasquan Warriors enjoyed a “surprisingly successful” season, as described by head coach Rod Ravaioli. The Warriors captured the Class C Central division title by beating out rival Wall Township, 3-2. The Warriors would later go on to reach the semifinals of the Shore Conference Tournament, defeating Shore Regional, 4-1, in the quarterfinals before bowing out to Holmdel. Freshman Abby Duddy had a standout season, winning 14 matches at first singles and advancing to the second round of the NJSIAA Singles Tournament. At third singles, Gwen Alden provided critical points in important situations, posting an impressive record of 16-3 this season. Manasquan’s second doubles team also finished 17-3 and advanced to the semifinals of the Monmouth County Tournament. “It was a surprisingly successful season with a new No. 1 singles player and an inexperienced doubles lineup,’’ Ravaoli said. “Our No. 1 and No. 3 singles players and No. 2 doubles team really anchored the team in that they provided winning points in key situations.’’
SO HOW IS YOUR FOOTWORK?
Are you currently taking private lessons to improve your strokes? Your strokes are most effective when you’re in position to hit them. Imagine if you could be in perfect position to hit them more often. How much better would you be? How many more matches would you win? Have you ever noticed that the top players are also the best movers on the court? The good news is that these skills can be learned and improved upon regardless of age or ability level. Would you like to improve your quickness on the court? Would you like to move more efficiently on the baseline and at net? Would you like to jump higher and improve your overall balance and agility?
2010 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE Thr
(Games to be broadcast on WOBM 1160/1310AM) 11/25 Wall at Manasquan (11am)
NJSIAA Playoff Games = TBD BROADCAST CREW Matt Harmon, Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca
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A Season Full Of Talented Players Christopher Melvin – HS Football Recruiting Analyst – ELITERECRUITS.COM touchdown. “All I can do is go out there and play,” he said. CAll ThEM “DO-IT-All” GUYS: Going into the 2010 football season, everyone on this side of the hemisphere had a hunch that Matawan’s Jared Allison and McArthur Underwood, Long Branch’s Miles Shuler, Red Bank Catholic’s Andrew Casten and Toms River North’s Demetri Davis were considered dangerous anywhere on the field. PInElAnDS’ hARTMAn hAS BIG-PlAY TEnDEnCIES: When it comes to Pinelands’ football this season, it’s hard to overlook the Shore Conference’s leading rusher in 5foot-8/160-pound senior Matt McLain, who is the first running back in school history to run for over 2,000 yards. On defense, senior Bobby Schwarzenberger has been Pinelands the catalyst, which is why senior Jake Hartman college coaches are quite aware of 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker. But one of the more impressive players in Shore has risen from the shadows of his fellow teammates to make a name for himself. Six-foot-4/205-pound senior receiver/defensive back Jake Hartman has shined on both sides of the ball when it counted most. When teams key on McClain, it’s Hartman who comes down with the first down or deep catch and run for a score. When opposing offenses elect to throw on the Wildcats’ defense instead of challenging Schwarzenberger, it’s Hartman who is in position to make the interception (4 this season) or coming up to make a necessary tackle. “I always knew that our quarterback (Mike Keller) could throw the ball, so I just had to come down with it. He places it out there and I just go get it,” said Hartman, who also plays basketball and baseball. So far this season, Hartman has hauled in touchdown passes covering 30, 54, 56, 60, 69, and 72 yards, adding his name to the list of legit Ocean County receivers including Barnegat’s Mike DeTroia, Point Boro receiver/tight end Ryan Malleck, Manchester’s Monwell Brown, Toms River North’s Anthony Carrington, and Manchester’s Nate Nickens. Delaware, Bucknell, Monmouth, Pennsylvania and UMass have expressed the most interest in Hartman at this time. Although most of his collegiate interest has come from Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) schools, Hartman feels he can play at a higher level. “My coach just sent my film out to Boston College and to Duke, so we will see what happens,” said Hartman, who carries a 4.1 (5.0 scale) grade-point average. “I feel I can play at the highest level. I just have to see what happens. Hartman has soft hands, runs precise routes and has utilized his 4.55 speed in the 40-yard dash to return a kick 95 yards for a score and add another on a 69-yard rushing
Cluley has led the Crimson Knights to six straight wins and a state playoff berth with his strong arm, great reads and athleticism as a runner. Davies has been a strongarmed, tough and intelligent passer for the Rebels, having thrown for more than 30 scores and over 2,000 yards for a playoff team.
ST. JOhn VIAnnEY IS GOOD WITh DIPAUlA: Well, how about these guys here? Manalapan St. John Vianney has several RB/WR/Returner Josh Firkser (5-foot-11/215 standouts on its team, beginning pounds) has rushed for 1,554 yards and with 6-foot-3, 190-pound senior has scored 22 touchdowns by way of Midd. South senior Andrew Suarez kicker/punter Anthony DiPaula. ground and air,. Middletown South’s 5The senior has connected on field foot-9, 195-pound Andrew Suarez has been goals of 46, 40, 38, and 30 yards tremendous as a runner, receiver, defender and returner and trails the conference-best of 49 yards set by Red coming back from an injury in 2009. Central junior Bank Regional senior Casey Calmon and Lacey senior RB/DB/Returner Kalyph Hardy (5-foot-11/175 pounds), athlete Jarrod Molzon. who also suffered an injury in 2009, is back and rolling with 1, 244 yards and 12 touchdowns despite his teams 08 record, including a 385-yard explosion in a 20-19 loss to St. John Vianney. Lacey RB/DB/Kicker Jarrod Molzon (5-foot10/195 pounds) has displayed the ability to score any way possible, while Long Branch’s 5-foot -10, 175-pound WR/DB/Returner/Kicker Brandon Dinkin has shined as a sure-handed and elusive receiver, shut-down cornerback, skilled returner and reliable kicker. Then there is Matt McLain, who has an amazing 2,040 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns in La c e y s e nior J a r r od M olzon eight games. Firkser has been a leader for the playoff-bound Braves (6-2) and is being sought after by the likes of Georgetown, Marist, Monmouth, Ithaca, and Holy Cross but has yet to receive a scholarship offer. “I am going to wait it out and hopefully the offers will come,” said Firkser, who visited Marist this past weekend. As far as his impressive senior season and success after rushing for just over 1,000 yards in 2009 as a junior, he said: “The season is going as expected. We all knew we had a great team going into the season and now we’re just happy it’s all working out.’’ QUARTERBACKS GAlORE: Is the TOP quarterback in the Shore Conference a junior or senior? The topic is up for debate due to the fact that seniors Mike Bimonte of Manalapan (Rutgers) and Barnegat’s Nick SanGiacomo (Tulane) are both Division I recruits and legit passers, but you can expect the same Division I-A path for juniors Steve Cluley (6-foot-3/190 pounds) of Wall and 6-foot3/195-pound Ryan Davies of Howell.
“Rutgers is showing the most interest,’’ DiPaula said. “I’ve spoken to Miami and Buffalo, and I’m just waiting on the season to finish now. As far as my senior season, it’s going pretty well when it comes to my statistics. My consistency seems pretty good.” DiPaula also has one of the nation’s top long-snappers delivering the ball his way in 6-foot-3, 220 pound senior Sean Tobin, who is also a linebacker and tight end. “He gets the ball back there fast, and it makes it a lot easier for me,” DiPaula said. lEADER On BOTh SIDES OF ThE BAll: Barnegat senior Mike DeTroia has shined on both sides of the ball for the Bengals in 2010. On defense, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound defensive back has intercepted a Shore Conference-best 7 passes after picking off five as a junior. However, it is his skill on the offensive side of the ball that has schools like Boston College, New Hampshire, UMass, Monmouth, Bucknell, Stony Brook, Barnegat senior Mike DeTroia Youngstown State, UPenn, and Lafayette all interested. “I’ve received offers from New Hampshire, Monmouth, Bucknell, Lafayette, and UPenn so far with others still evaluating me,” said DeTroia, who has caught 45 passes for 722 yards with 10 scores, and has thrown a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior quarterback Nick SanGiacomo thus far this season. “I’m willing to play anywhere I can get an education, for a college that is the most honest with me, and wherever I am most comfortable.”
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Al l Sh or e Me dia Spo rts R evi ew www.allshoremedia.com much more subtle and behind the scenes. It goes beyond just making the right adjustments during a huge game. Maybe that coach’s motivational abilities were crucial in getting a team to succeed, or the offseason program he installed paid big dividends during the year.
A
s we get closer to wrapping up the 2010 football season, hopefully with a couple championships for Shore Conference teams, it means that the hard decisions for postseason accolades will soon have to be made.
Then there is the fact that situations vary wildly from school to school. For instance, Marlboro head coach Derek Sininsky has the Mustangs on pace to potentially finish with five wins if they can win their NJSIAA consolation game. That would be the most wins since 1999 at a program that has struggled mightily in the 21st Century, including an 0-10 season in 2009.
Volume-2 Issue-20 1 1/ 8 / 10 Page 15 beating Middletown South in the Central Jersey Group III championship. This season, Manalapan is in the hunt for its first state sectional title in history after already having secured the Class A North title, and if the Braves bring it home, Eddie Gurrieri will be hard to deny. Rumson-Fair Haven has also never won a state sectional title, and if the Bulldogs can make it to the Central Jersey Group II final, where defending champion Matawan is expected to be waiting, and shock the Huskies, Shane Fallon is probably a lock. However, many coaches will often tell you that it’s not necessarily winning a championship that defines a great coaching job. Like the aforementioned Sininsky at Marlboro, if Mater Dei Prep’s Steve Sciarappa can get three wins out of the Seraphs or if Warren Wolf can get two or three wins out of a Lakewood team that recently ended a 33-game winning streak, many would consider that a harder accomplishment than taking a talented team to a title.
Then there are the coaches in the middle. They aren’t at programs struggling mightily like Is that a better The three big ones are Offensive Player of the Year, Lakewood or Mater Dei Prep, but they aren’t at coaching job than Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year. juggernauts like Matawan or Lacey, either. Lacey’s Lou Out of all of them, I think that selecting Coach of the Two examples are Manchester’s Gerard M iddle t own Sout h's S te v e A nt onuc c i Vircillo or Year is often the toughest by far. Here’s why: O’Donnell and Monmouth’s Sal Spampanato. Matawan’s Joe Martucci Both led their teams to just the second state One, there’s a ton of great coaches in the Shore potentially leading their playoff berth in their respective program histories. Conference. Two, it’s often in the eye of the beholder, respective teams to undefeated seasons and state They probably won’t make it deep into the playoffs, and three, the recency effect is strong. When a team sectional titles when that was the expectation since but clearly just reaching the postseason is a wins a state sectional title, it makes a deep impression the preseason? Sometimes dealing with the pressure noteworthy accomplishment. shortly before the decision has to be made of whom to surrounding every game can be harder than give the award. It’s human nature to remember the Like Manchester, Barnegat has never won a state performing in relative obscurity with little most recent occurrence rather than what happened in playoff game, so Rob Davis could add his name to expectations. the middle of the season. O’Donnell’s if they could accomplish that feat. Then there are the coaches and programs that start The recency effect hurts a coach like Red Bank Finally, there are the teams that face adversity in to get taken for granted, like Middletown South and Catholic’s Jim Portela, who led the Caseys to a share the regular season and then rally for a big finish, Manasquan. Just because they have great records and of the rugged Class B North title but has a team that which always has a big effect on considering a certain go deep in the playoffs every year doesn’t mean it’s competes in one of the hardest state coach for the award. Wall and Freehold both started 0easy for the Eagles’ Steve playoff brackets in America with 2 and have won six straight heading into the playoffs, Antonucci and the Warriors’ the likes of Don Bosco Prep, St. so if they make a deep run, Chris Barnes and Pete Cahill. Both teams have Peter’s Prep and Bergen Catholic. Ciccotelli will certainly have their names up there, dealt with a rash of injuries this So the memory of RBC’s great respectively. Also, a team like Howell recovered from season, particularly Manasquan, accomplishments often recedes into losing three of four to upset Brick Memorial at the which has forced the Warriors to the background while many public cut-off to make the state playoffs, so if the Rebels often play with multiple JV school programs march on toward keep the momentum going, Cory Davies will suddenly players on the field. To many, state championships on that first rocket to the front of the line. that would be the definition of weekend in December to stay in the what describes a Coach of the It all adds up to another hard decision a month from spotlight. Year. now. Will it be the right decision? Depends on who Another factor making it a you ask when it comes to the hardest postseason The usual trump card when it difficult selection is that when I am award to quantify. comes to securing the evaluating players for those other award is leading a team to Manchester coach Gerard O'Donnell two awards, I can watch films and something that has never talk to opposing coaches in addition been done in its history, like Photos by: to what I saw with my own eyes Freehold’s Mark Ciccotelli did in 2008 when he took C l i f f Lavelle when formulating an opinion. A great coaching job is the Colonials to their first state sectional title by www.clearedge.zenfolio.com
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