Weekend of 9/18 + 9/19

Scanning the high school football scene with Ed Sarluca:

Week 2 has come and gone, and a new #1 team has risen to the top. With previous #1 Freehold Boro going down to Neptune 26-20 in overtime, it allows Middletown South(2-0) to climb one notch to the top spot. Meanwhile Asbury Park(1-0) and Manasquan(1-0) opened defense of their state championships with close, challenging games, but both came away winners in their first games. No teams like those first week byes and the Warriors and Bishops showed a little rust, but wins are wins, and both will use those tough games to only get better. Raritan(2-0) and Matawan(2-0) will collide this week in Raritan, with the winner on their way to the states. This will be a huge out of league match-up worth a whole bunch of quality points. Coach Bob Generelli, of Raritan, has his Rockets primed and ready to take on the speed and power of Matawan and head coach Joe Martucci. Matawan has put up 92 points, while holding their first 2 opponents to 9 pts. Raritan has put 83 points on the board in their first 2. We may very well see a shoot-out in this one. In another big game this weekend, Manchester(1-0) will travel to “Big Red” territory to meet Ocean(2-0), who has looked very impressive in the early season. Coach Don Klein has one of the top game breakers in the shore in Brandon Robinson, while the Hawks will counter with All-American athlete Jimmy Lawson, who anchors a stout defense.

Let’s look at some of last week’s games.

Neptune 26 Freehold Boro 22(OT): Sloppy can best describe this contest. 10 turnovers(5 each) by both teams made this one an exciting game that needed an overtime session to decide it. More known for his basketball skills, Isaias Calderon scored 3 times, including the game winner in OT, to lead the Fliers to their biggest win since they beat undefeated Asbury Park last year on Turkey Day.

Freehold Boro, up 8 pts., were playing without their best RB Tezzy Thorpe(injury) and best LB Rakim Thorpe(suspension) had the game put away, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Neptune new life and they used it to tie it up with 3:27 left on a successful 2 pt. conversion after Calderon’s 2nd TD. I have a feeling these 2 may meet again come playoff time.

A little further north, Asbury Park(1-0) had all they can handle against a good Shore Reg.(1-1) team. Jamar Small, Asbury’s new QB, threw for 150 yds., to lead the Bishops to a come from behind victory. Trailing by 3 pts. at the half, Asbury completely dominated the Blue Devils in the 2nd half. Running 32 plays to Shore’s 7, they out gained Shore 184-11, while holding the Devils to 0 first downs, in that dominating second half. Asbury Park’s next big one comes at home against Rumson(2-0) on Oct. 3rd.

Toms River East’s 14-7 victory over Lacey will go a long way in deciding the Constitution Division championship. The Raiders have a leg up in a not real good division. Nico Steriti(116 yds.) and Mario Steriti(107 yds.) in the same backfield can only create nightmares for opposing teams. This combination, combined with Charlie Diskin at QB and a defense that is tough and aggressive will send the Raiders to the playoffs in SJ Group 4. I know, it’s a long way off, but it’s never too early to discuss the playoffs.

This year SJ is a tough as ever with Cherokee, Wash. Twp., Egg Harbor, Pennsauken, Mainland all 2-0 with East and Williamstown and TR North 1-0. That’s 8 solid programs to contend. Let the season unwind.

Quotable Quotes:

“It was phenomenal, it was our night, just like last year in the state semis it was their day.” John Fiore(Neptune head coach) on his team’s 26-22 win over Freehold Boro.
“We had to play through adversity, and that’s what we did.” Marquise Johnson(Asbury Park LB/RB) on his teams come from behind victory over Shore.

“That just takes so much pressure off my back knowing that other kids on this football team can get into the end zone.” Nico Steriti(TR East RB) on a Diskin to Cardini TD pass to decide the Lacey game.

“That kid is a special athlete. Defending any triple option is tough on its own, but when a player like Carter is involved it just becomes that more of a challenge.” Shane Fallon(Rumson head coach on trying to stop Mon Don QB Kevin Carter in Rumson’s 38-20 win)
“We were willing to play. We have seen lights worse than this but we understand the officials’ point of view. Obviously, I don’t want to put my kids at risk.” Brian Russo(Woodbridge head coach referring to the lights mal-functioning at Howell’s 37-7 suspended game) The game was ruled over, the following day.

“That’s just Brandon being Brandon. We evaluated in the off-season what we wanted to do with him, and we thought he needed to get more touches. He’s a special athlete and he’s a special player, and you were able to see tonight what he’s capable of.” Don Klein(Ocean head coach on his star RB/WR Brandon Robinson)

"This is a tough bunch of kids, we knew they would bounce back. In the first half, both sides of the ball played well, in the second half we did enough to win.” Walt Currie(Brick Memorial head coach, on his team’s 38-21 win over Southern)

“The corners bit, the safety bit, and C.J. made a great throw.” Ryland McTighe( Manasquan WR/C on his 71 yard TD reception from QB C.J. Davis in Squan’s 13-10 win over Point Boro)
Some key injuries to keep an eye on: Andrew Suarez(Mid South’s 2 way star-possible knee injury). Chris Chiarelli(Colts Neck QB- leg injury). Miles Schuler(Long Branch QB-thumb injury). Ryan Malleck(Point Boro WR/S/kicker- leg injury). Tezzy Thorpe(Freehold Boro RB- knee injury, has not been on field yet). Rob Whitfield(TR South RB/DB-shoulder injury)

Top Ten:

1-Middletown South(2-0)- beat New Brunswick 27-6 in week 2. One more tune up before big one in 2 weeks vs. Freehold Boro, who beat the Eagles in last year’s CJ Group 3 finals.
2-Howell(2-0)-Easily beat Woodbridge 37-7 in 3 quarters of action(lights went out). Jackson this week, and the back to back with TR North and Brick Memorial.
3-Long Branch(2-0)-hard fought 14-7 win over RBC(0-2). Toughest games are at end of year.
4-Ocean(2-0)-I like the “Big Red”. While everyone talks about their offense, take a look on the defensive side. They took care of Brick, holding them to 5 rushing yds., and have given up just 1 TD on “D”.
5-Raritan(2-0)- Another solid team that is getting better each week. Big one this week, Matawan at home, Friday night.
6-TR North(1-0)- Early bye week did not please Chip LaBarca. The Mariner’s are back to work this week at Manalapan, then they get Howell and Brick Memorial back to back.
7-Asbury Park(1-0)- Tough win vs a tough opponent(Shore-13-10). Rumson in 2 week will be the test.
8-Toms River East(2-0)-Took care of primary challenge in Constitution Div. Lacey 14-7 on Thursday afternoon. Be careful of let down vs. arch-rival TR South this week.
9-Manasquan(1-0)- This may be a bit low for this team, but they will have the chance to climb the ladder.
10-Matawan(2-0)- We will see this week vs. Raritan.

Best of rest:
Neptune(1-1) I know they had the biggest win of weekend, but too many other good teams ahead of them.
Freehold Boro(1-1) It was tough to drop them out of top ten, but look who’s ahead of them and tell me who doesn’t deserve to be there.
Brick Memorial(1-1) Powerful offense(close to 900 yards in 2 games), but must get their “D” going.
Rumson(2-0) They are sneaking up on all the above.
Keyport(2-0) See Rumson comment. Oct 17 match-up with Rumson.

Join us Thursday night at Boston’s The Gourmet Pizza in Toms River for our 2 hour football show from 6PM-8PM. Live at Boston’s will be head coach Charlie Diskin of East and star RB Nico Steriti. They will be joined by other guest on the phone.

This week’s game of week is TR South vs. TR East at 7pm Friday night on 1160 WOBM AM, Fox Sports 1310 and 105.7 The Hawk. You can also check us on line at shoresportsnetwork.com.