Weekend of 10/1 - 10/2

Interesting week 4 to say the least. The big one took place on Sat. night in Howell, as the Middletown South Eagles(3-1) came to town with a chip on their shoulder, to play the undefeated Rebels and their run and shoot offense that had been unstoppable in the first 3 weeks. After a very moving pre-game ceremony, led by Head Coach Cory Davies, to honor the sudden death of 3 members of the "Howell football family", the teams took the field and played with mutual respect for each other. Middletown South had a terrific game plan, which they executed without mistakes, to come away with a 38-14 victory. The offensive line was the difference for the Eagles, and although they were without starting QB Scott Meeker, Howie Brey stepped in and they never missed a beat. Defensively, the Eagles were better, no doubt, sacking Howell QB Ryan Davies 8 times and holding him to 1 TD pass on the night. He had thrown for 16, in 3 games, prior to Sat night. Packed house, beautiful night, moving ceremony, and a good football game, it doesn't get any better than that.



In another game I was at the Blue Devils of Shore(3-0) upset the Bishops of Asbury Park(3-1), 14-7. Shore was in complete control of this one from start to the 3 min mark of the 4th quarter. They led 14-0, before Asbury began their comeback, which saw them score once, and drive for a game tying TD, until Evan Ruane intercepted a Jay'von Britt pass with seconds left to ice it for Shore. They now lead the B-Central, having beaten the 2 top threats, in Keyport and Asbury Park, and should cruise to a title.



Lacey(4-0), my new #1 team(see top ten below) cruised to a 41-6 win over Manchester. The Lions have a big one this week as they travel to 3-0 Barnegat and face Nick SanGiacomo, one of the leading QBs in the State. SanGiaComo is headed to Tulane University next fall and I am sure he watched his future school beat Rutgers on Sat. afternoon in New Brunswick.



In some other games to not:

Freehold Boro(2-2) beat Neptune(2-2) in OT, as Mike Hembling kicked a 33 yd. field goal to win it for Freehold Boro. Neptune did not attempt a field goal from the 4 yd. line, which would have sent the game into a second OT, but instead went for the TD and was stopped by the Freehold "D".



Brick(1-3) recorded their first win of the year against Central(0-4), by a 23-7 score.



Ocean(0-4) loss their 4th straight, in what has been a very disappointing year for the "Big Red". Colts Neck(1-3) beat them 21-7



Jax Liberty(2-2) bounced back with a win over Mon Don(1-3) by a 13-6 score. Interesting fact; Mon Don's, starting Sophomore QB(Trevor Signorino), is Ron Signorino Jr's son and also the grandson of Hall of Famer, Ron Signorino Sr. Both Jr and Sr coach at Mon Don, therefore, making the threesome a rare combination of a family unit on the same team. You won't see that on to many teams around the country.



Red Bank(2-2) beat unbeaten Holmdel(3-1) 24-21, as Casey Calmon kicked the game winner(26 yds.), with no time left. My apologies to Casey, as I had the wrong name last week, when he kicked a 49 yarder.



Point Beach(2-2) had a nice shutout win(28-0) over win less Keansburg(0-4). Tyler Fioretti ran for 175 yds. including TD runs of 83 and 67 yds. Kyle Samarantano also went 80 yds. for a score, as the Gulls dominated the Titans.



The East Raiders(2-2) are getting healthy and that's good news for Charlie Diskin. QB Joe Claizio came back after a week(concussion), and scored the winning TD in the final min to defeat Jackson(1-3), 14-7.



Keyport(3-1) put up 41 pts. and look like a good bet to make the Central 1 playoffs. They beat win less Mater Dei Prep, 41-0.



Wall(2-2) beat Point Boro(1-3) 49-24 in anything but a defensive struggle. Junior QB Steve Cluley threw for 172 yds. and 3 TDs.



Top Ten week 5:



1-Lacey(4-0)-This was not an easy task to move Matawan out of the top spot, but I honestly feel that the Lion's are the best of the best at this point. Another easy win over Manchester(41-6), the Lion's have given up only 13 points in their 4 wins, which ties them with Brick Memorial, for fewest points given up in the shore. Perhaps, my reasoning for moving the Lion's up to the top spot, was to give Barnegat a little more incentive this week, as they now face #1 Lacey.



2-Matawan(4-0)-With no disrespect for Matawan, they move down a spot, even though they won Sat. night over Rumson(2-2) by a 48-21 score. Here is my reasoning for the drop: They gave up 371 yards of total offense to Rumson, including 19 first downs(which shows that Rumson controlled the ball at times during the game). The Huskies did roll up 463 yds. of their own, and did put up 48 pts., but I just felt it was time to elevate the Lions and drop the Huskies one spot. Matawan gets a Green Wave team, smarting from 2 straight losses, this week.


3-Brick Memorial(4-0)-Another shutout for the Mustangs as they continue to show a much improved defense in 2010. As mentioned above, they have given up only 13 pts., 6 of those points can be attributed to the seconds, in a blowout win(35-6) vs. Jackson. While the offense has not been what Walt Currie wants it to be, they have scored 110 pts.(27 1/2 per game), and they have displayed a variety of players that can contribute. QB Mike DiGuilmi, RB/kicker Jordan Lodice, RB Shane Panuska, RB Vince Diodato, RB Jahaad Howard, WR Dylan Walsh, have all been a part of the offense in different weeks. The Stangs look for win #5 against T R South next week.



4-RBC(3-0)-Another team making a claim for #1 are the Casey's. They completely outplayed Long Branch, on their way to a 45-6 victory. 196 rushing yards and 4 TDs, from RB Andrew Casten, included TD runs of 59 yds. twice and 26 and 14 yds. Head Coach Jim Potela credited his defensive line of Josh Klecko, Joe Coscarelli, Matt Paolillo, and Doug Whitlock, for putting the pressure on sprint champion/ QB Miles Shuler for the defensive effort his team had on Long Branch. QB Ryan Spahr, has played well in leading the offense, with TE Jack Tabb, being his main target. RBC gets a very hot Freehold Boro team, who have won 2 straight, on Sat afternoon, on the road.



5-Manalapan(3-1)-The Braves move up 2 spots from #7 last week, with their hard fought 20-14 win over win less Freehold Twp. Josh Firkser ran for 196 yds. and scored twice in the win. Manalapan had built a 14-0 lead, only to see Freehold Twp. come back with 2 TDs, to tie it in the 4th quarter. That's when Reggie Hodge-Grant answered with a 79 yard KO return to the 12 yd. line, to set up Firkser's second TD and game winner. Bye week for the Braves, as they get ready for some tough games in the second half, as Howell. Brick Mem., and TR North await.



6-Middletown South(3-1)-Just when you thought the Eagles were in a little bit of injury trouble, they show you what type of "program" they have, with a 38-14 victory over previously unbeaten Howell. Playing without starting QB Scott Meeker(broken fibula) and starting LB Matt Saulnier(dislocated knee), the Eagles used good old fashion smash mouth, run the ball at you, football to delight the faithful fans who made the trip to Howell. I, also witnessed close up, what this years Eagle team is all about. Using 7 offensive line-men up front for much of the time(no TE-all line-men) and one wide-out(Taylor Rodgers), Tail Back Andrew Suarez, was the beneficiary of the big guys up front, as he ran for 137 yds., including a 40 yd.TD. Suarez, coming back from a season ending knee injury, last year, was turned loose for the first time this year, and he responded with flying colors. He also ran back a KO for 86 yds. which broke Howell's back in the first half, and on defense, he played corner against the dymanic Howell run and shoot offense. Yes, a full night of football for Suarez and the rest of the Eagles, and they once again, as if they had to, show the shore, that they are not quite dead, just yet. Marlboro(1-2), next up for the Eagles.



7-Howell(3-1)-The Rebels, on a night they honored their fallen hero's, in a tear filled pre-game ceremony, just couldn't respond to the Eagle attack on offense, and the relentless pressure that the Middletown South defense put on QB Ryan Davies. Davies, who came in as the shore's leading QB, was sacked 8 times, for 76 yds. of losses. He did throw for 349 yds. and a TD, but was constantly under pressure from the Eagles. Seeing a variety of coverages and blitz packages, the Eagle "D" came up big, and all those in attendance were impressed. Howell, did put up a fight, but too many 1st half points did them in. Howell will entertain Middletown North(1-3) on Friday night.



8-TR North(3-1)-The Mariners have run off 3 straight wins behind their leader and QB Demetri Davis. With these wins they enter the top ten for the first time this year. Davis ran for 149 yds. and 3 TDs propelling the Mariners to an easy 42-10 win over cross town rival TR South. The Mariners have won the "civil war" 9 straight years, even though the Indians lead the overall series 23-15-1. Davis, running out of the spread offense, which was created for him, by Head Coach Chip LaBarca Jr. gets more comfortable each week. The Mariners are on a roll right now, and it couldn't come at a better time, as they have some big games coming up. Up-coming is Colts Neck this week, then Southern, before what should be, for all the marbles in A-South, a trip to the Mustangs on Oct 22nd.



9-Shore(3-0)-Another new-comer to the top ten are the Blue Devils. They won at Asbury Park, and that just doesn't happen very often. The Bishops had not lost to a Group 1 school since 2006 and it was Shores first win over the Bishops since Sept. 16th of 2006. Playing a very dangerous Asbury Park team, the Devils used a Evan Ruane interception to ice the game with seconds left. Asbury was mounting a fourth quarter comeback, which saw them score at the 2:32 mark of the quarter, to cut the lead to 14-7, and then they got the ball back with 1:38 left, and were moving downfield, before Ruane's pick. Running behind Mark Coleman(85 yds.), Pat Maggio(62 yds.) and a 23 yd. TD pass to Maggio from Ruane, the Devils now are in the drivers seat for the Class B-Central title. Interesting non-conference match-up with Manasquan this week.



10-Barnegat(3-0)-The Bengals were idle this week, but hop into my top ten this week with their undefeated record. They have a pressure game this week against my #1 team, Lacey, in a home-coming contest that is one of the biggest Barnegat has played in their young existence. Everyone is waiting to watch QB Nick SanGiacomo go up against one of the top defenses in the shore, in Lacey. Are the Bengals ready for this one? We shall see, in person, as this is our game of the week, and we will broadcast this one on Friday at 7PM, on the "Hawk"(105.7FM).



Just on the outside looking in:



Manasquan(3-1) have a chance to jump in vs. Shore this week.



Keyport(3-1) Always a team to watch in Group 1.



TR East(2-2) The Raiders are getting their injured back and are a dangerous team.



Asbury Park(3-1) Not used to losing, they will be back.



Neptune(2-1) Best 2-2 team in shore, without a doubt.



Freehold Boro(2-2) Have come back from 0-2 start.