Weekend of 9/18 In Review

Old Mother nature wrecked havoc on the high school football schedule this weekend. Because of the Jewish holidays and the horrific thunder storm that ripped through the the shore, early Thursday night, games were spread out from Thursday to Sunday, which made for a very interesting week for coaches, players and fans. With games being postponed with visiting teams already at game sites, scheduling problems for district athletic directors were a major concern around the state.



My #1 team(Matawan) did manage to get their game in on Thursday night, because the game was played on the newly turfed field at Count Basie field in Red Bank and although the rain continued, the lightning had stopped. They won that game handily, 28-7, and continue to lead the pack of good teams in the shore. Another crazy example of how storms can disrupt a schedule was at Monmouth Reg., where visiting Freehold Boro had their scheduled 7PM Thursday night start poostponed to 11:30AM Friday morning. There were less people in attendance then you would see at a pre-season scrimmage. Students were in school and not allowed to attend, parents were, of course, at work, there were no cheerleaders, no band and no public address announcer! I, of course, was there to witness a good football team, Monmouth, take it to Freehold Boro 27-19 and up their record to 2-0 on the early season. This allowed me to get to Lakewood to see Mon Don take on the Warren Wolf led Piners in a 3PM game. Mon Don won that one, 35-16, as they evened their record at 1-1 and dropped Lakewood to 0-2. While it was good to see Warren Wolf back on the sidelines, I observed a coach who has taken a backseat to his assistants. While still in control, it was Tommy Carrol and Al LaMura who did most of the coaching on the Piner sideline. Many old Brick football players and coaches were in attendance watching the legend once again, lead a team onto the field, to go to war. The Warren Wolf led Brick program was what other programs strives to be for so many years, and it is very tough to sit back and watch the proud dean of all coaches try to turn around a Lakewood program with few players to work with. I wish only the best of health and success to Warren as he tries to work things out.



After that game, we had our broadcast game of the week at Brick as the Dragons entertained the very good Lions of Lacey. This was a blowout from beginning to end, in a 38-0 rout by Lacey. The Lions are a top ten team in the State and perhaps the best team in the shore. They are my #2 team this week and a little slip-up by Matawan is all Lacey needs to claim the top spot. By the way, up 35-0, in the last minutes of the game, Lacey's Jarrod Molzon, kicked a 49 yard field goal to make it 38-0. I personally didn't like that one, and I'm sure the Dragons will put that one in the memory bank, for sometime in the future. I can understand what head coach Lou Vircillo was trying to do, get Molzon, what is believed to be, a school record for field goal length, but maybe a punt or a 4th down try by the backups, who were in the game at the time, might have been a better move.



The 3 year home winning streak at the "swamp" is over, as the Braves of Manalapan upset the Middletown South Eagles 35-28, in a Sunday contest. It was Oct. of 2007, that the Eagles last lost a home game, so the victory by Manalapan was even more stunning. Throw in the coaching turmoil during the week leading up to the game and you have a major happening. Manalapan ex head coach Tom Gallahue resigned his assistant principals job when he was told he could not have any interaction with the football team. Ed Gurrieri was appointed head coach on September 13th, but Gallahue was still working with the team, until the board stepped in and told him he couldn't do that. His commitment to this years team cannot be questioned, as he is giving up much money to go back to the classroom. This was enough incentive for the Braves to be sky high as they sprinted onto the swamp in Middletown. 5 turnovers by Mid. South in the 1st half did the Eagles in, and Manalapan jumped out to a 20-14 lead in the 1st half. Josh Firkser ran for 224 yds. and 3 TDs(1 via a Mike Bimonte pass) to lead the Braves. Two of his TDs were for 51 and 71 yds. Mid. South QB Scott Meeker threw 4 picks on the afternoon, one of which was returned for a 40 yd. TD. Yes, a huge win for the Braves, and a tough loss for the proud Eagles.



In the big game of the weekend, RBC scored in the last 12 seconds of their game with Neptune to win it 14-7. Jack Tabb caught a 35 yard TD pass for the game winner, and RBC become the early contender in the very tough B-North division, along with Long Branch, who is 2-0 to start the season. This is a division where anyone can beat anyone on any given week, so the Casey's, who have a bye this coming week, can celebrate the huge win, get healthy, and get ready for Long Branch on Oct 1st.



On Sat. night I attended the Brick Memorial vs Jackson game and expected to see a close contest. What I saw surprised me and everyone else that witnessed the complete domination by the Mustangs, in a 35-6 rout. This is a pretty good Jackson team, who were coming off their upset win against Manalapan in week 1. The Stangs scored early and often on their way to a 28-0 halftime lead and then scored early in the 3rd quarter to make it 35-0 and put the "mercy" rule in effect. A TD, late in the game, against the Memorial backups, was the only blemish which prevented their second straight shutout. The Raiders of East will get a shot at Memorial this week in our game of the week, Friday night at 7PM on the Hawk(105.7 FM).



Other impressive 2-0 starts around the shore:

Barnegat got 265 yds. passing and 3 TDs from Nick SanGiacomo, who also ran 1 in as the Bengals beat a game Manchester team, 35-27.

Shore Reg beat Keyport 40-14 as Pat Maggio scored 3 times and ran for 101 yds. Shore has scored 96 pts. in 2 weeks.

Asbury Park put up 64 pts. in a rout of Keansburg, as they led this one 57-0 at the half. Jay'von Britt and Marquise Johnson led the Bishops to the easy win. The Bishop "D" was a fantasy football dream as they scored 3 times on defense and also ran a punt back for a TD. Asbury and Shore in 2 weeks for a possible title in B-Central.

Pinelands received 337 yds. from Matt McClain, who for the second consecutive week, broke the school record for running yds. in a game. Last week he ran for over 300 yds. to set a new record and he broke the record again this week, in a 48-20 rout of Central Reg. Running lanes may be a little tougher this week, as the Cats travel to Lacey for an important B-South game.

Holmdel, led by senior QB Mike Cantelli, beat (0-2) Point Boro 31-21. Congratulations must go to head coach Frank Papalia, as he has developed Cantelli to be a top notch QB and a true leader of this team. Cantelli threw for 239 yds. and rushed for another 90. He was involved in 4 TDs on the day(2 via pass, 1 rushing and he ran a kick back 62 yds. for a TD).

Howell QB Ryan Davies, coming off a record breaking 1st week, threw for 291 yds. in their easy 47-0 victory over winless Freehold Twp. 5 of those passes went for TDs, giving him 12 in 2 games. Pretty good start for the 2-0 Rebels.

Raritan upset Manasquan 24-18, as they scored in the last 26 seconds to win it. Converting twice on 4th down during the winning drive, QB Jared Gurczeski, led the Rockets to the win with a 20 yard TD pass to Kevin Furlong, for the game winner. Raritan gets a shot at Matawan this coming week.



Week 3 Top Ten:



1-Matawan(2-0) The Huskies were the only winner on a rainy Thursday night in the only game played. Red Bank was the victim, 28-7. McArthur Underwood ran for 215 yds. and scored twice. They travel to Raritan this week.



2-Lacey(2-0) The Lions easily beat Brick 38-0 on Friday night. Craig Cicardo Jr threw 3 TD passes for Lacey, who proved they are not one dimensional, with the run. They must face a RB in Pinelands Matt McClain who has rushed for over 300 yds. in each of his teams 2 wins.



3-Brick Memorial(2-0) The Mustangs dominated a 1-0 Jackson Memorial team before winning 35-6. The defense has played great in their first 2 games and must continue that play, as they travel to 1-1 Toms River East(a 16-0 loser to Sayreville) in our Shore Sports Network game of the week on Friday night. QB Mike DiGuilmi leads the Mustangs on offense, and he has a multitude of backs to hand the ball to. Sprint champion Jihaad Howard, Shane Panuska, Jordan Lodice, Vinny Diodato and Jared Eccles are a few of those RB who can carry the ball.



4-RBC(2-0) A very impressive come from behind 14-7 victory over Neptune on Friday night keep the Caseys in the top 5. TE Jack Tabb, with Greg Schiano(Rutgers Head man) watching from the endzone, caught a 35 yd TD pass from Ryan Spahr for the dramatic win. Bye week for them this week, which allows them 2 weeks to get ready for 2-0 Long Branch on Oct 1st.



5- Howell(2-0) QB Ryan Davies continues to put up insane #s via the run and shoot offense of head coach and father Cory Davies. 5 more TD passes this week, to go with his 7 last week and the Rebels are off to a 2-0 start. Mike Clark(5 catches for 154 yds.) looks to be the main target for Davies. Next up is 1-0 Marlboro, who had a bye this week, and were seen in attendance watching the air show!



6-Long Branch(2-0) The Miles Shuler led Green Wave defeated Ocean(0-2) on Friday. Shuler accounted for 240 yds. of the 250 yds. LB had. Big game this week at home on Saturday vs. Neptune(1-1), who come off the tough loss to RBC.



7-Neptune(1-1) Must keep the Fliers in my top ten after their heart-breaking loss to RBC in the last minute of Friday nights game. The Fliers led this one 7-6 until the final 12 seconds. They have a big chance at showing everyone that they are for real, this year, as they get 2-0 Long Branch this week. Ike Calderone and Jaheem Woods lead the Fliers.



8-Manalapan(1-1) Huge win for the Braves on Sunday against Mid South at the "swamp". Josh Firkser ran for 224 yds. against a tough Eagle defense and Tom Barber returned an interception 40 yds. to lead the Braves. Next up Middletown North(0-2) who looks to be in trouble this year.



9-Middletown South(1-1) Tough loss for the Eagles, as they committed 5 turnovers in the 1st half to hand Manalapan the game on Sunday. They led 14-7, as they scored on their first 2 possessions, only to turn it over 5 consecutive times after that, and they never recovered. QB Scott Meeker did throw 4 TDs, but also had 4 picks.



10-Asbury Park(2-0) The Bishops deserve the final spot this week, as they put up 64 points this week, against hapless Keansburg(0-2). Jay'von Britt, Marquise Johnson and Taj Hammary led the Bishops to the 64-6 win. Next up Point Beach, on Friday night. Beach coaches, who had a bye week, saw the onslaught and were, needless to say, very very impressed with the speed of the Bishops. they must slow them down to have a chance Friday night.



Just on the outside looking in:



Raritan(2-0) Nice win over Squan this week.

Barnegat(2-0) Nick SanGiacomo continues to lead the Bengals.

Monmouth(2-0) Very impressive win over Freehold Boro on Friday morning.

Pinelands(2-0) Matt McClain is the leading rusher in the shore after 2 weeks.