11/24 - 11/28

Scanning the High School Football scene with Ed Sarluca:

With the Thanksgiving games now complete we can focus on the 7 teams that have one more game to play. Those games, of course, are for State championships. Matawan(CJ-2), Middletown South(CJ-3), Freehold Boro(CJ-3), Brick Memorial(CJ-4), Rumson(CJ-2), Lacey(SJ-3) and Shore(CJ-1) are this years participants in the finals. Each will have a chance, at what each team strives for, when they start those summer practices way back in June and July. Some of these players on these teams have a chance to add another championship to their legacy. Matawan is looking for back to back championships, having won last year against Manasquan, and get championship #6. Lacey looks to complete an undefeated season and put title #4 in the trophy case. It won't be easy for the Lions, as they face Delsea, who have won 8 titles in their history. Brick Memorial is on a streak which has put them in their 3rd straight finals and 5th in the last 7 years. They have 2 titles to show for their previous 4 finals. Middletown South has not won a title since 2006, and are playing in their, unbelievable, 17th finals. They have won 9 times. Shore looks for state title #5, against a good Dunnellen team, while Freehold Boro looks for #2. Rumson is the only team in finals looking for their first championship.



No need to get on the "why do we play games in between playoff games" bandwagon as I have in the past. But until this archaic New Jersey playoff system is changed, we must deal with Thanksgiving Day games. Here is a closer look at some of the contests played this past week:



Brick Memorial and Lacey started the trend that I think more schools will go to in the future; that is play 9 straight games(no Thanksgiving game) and then go into the playoffs. Of course, if they did not make the playoffs, their season would have been over on November 12th. The athletes who play winter sports would have had 2 weeks to rest their bodies and prepare for basketball, wrestling, winter track and any other activity they play. A no-brainer right? Well that's not the way New Jersey looks at it. Change the system once and for all. Instead we play 2 rounds of playoffs and then most of the time, meaningless games, before we resume the playoffs and play a final round. Sure, there are games which are important(Manasquan-Wall, Marlboro-Manalapan), which there were championships to be won. But those games could have been played during the season and perhaps Wall, Manasquan and Manalapan, which all lost in the semi-finals, could have had "full" concentration on the playoffs. Now I'm not saying that was the reason why they lost in the States, but you never know.



Everyone else playing this weekend, with the exception of Rumson, got by with their traditional games. Neptune(6-4) took care of Asbury Park(5-5) in a game which saw the Bishops previous coach(Don Sofilkanich), play against them as Neptunes coach, for the first time. The game ended 31-20 with Junior RB David Gutzmore rushing for 162 yards and 2 TDs. Neptune was plagued with injuries throughout the year or perhaps they would have been playing this week.



Lakewood(3-7) won 3 of it's last 4 to finish Warren Wolf's first year on an up-note. Now the question arises again, whether Warren has coached his last game. He stated in the paper, "he would like to come back for another year". We shall see. The game with Toms River South(0-10) concluded a year which the Indians would like to forget as soon as possible. It was 1963 when the Indians were last win less(before split it was Toms River HS). That's 47 years of mostly winning seasons for South. Ron Signorino Sr came to TR in 1964(1-8) and then went on to have a legendary coaching career there, in 2 terms at the school.



Middletown South(9-2) took care of cross-town rival Middletown North(2-8), by a 20-7 score, while Manalapan wrapped up sole possesion of A-North title with a 47-20 beating of Marlboro. In that contest, Josh Firkser scored 5 more TDs to add to his record breaking offensive year. You can take it to the bank--"Player of the Year" awards will follow. Rumson(8-3) played all their starters against RBC(8-2), but it wasn't enough, as they went down 40-14. The Casey's conclude an outstanding year, even though they were knocked out of State play in round 1.



How about RB Matt McClain of Pinelands. In their 30-28 loss to Barnegat on Turkey Day, Matt ran for 330 yards and 4 TDs. Matt's numbers were all the chart this year, as Pinelands finished 5-5 for the year. Barnegat completes a 6-5 year and their first winning record in the 5 years the school has been open. It also concludes the career of QB Nick SanGiacomo and his outstanding receiver Mike DeTroia. Nick is on his way to Tulane University to continue his football career.



Matawan(11-0) jumped all over SJ Vianney and cruised to a 42-7 score. That was the 1/2 score and despite the somewhat "heat" Joe Martucci and the Huskies took after the Manasquan game, the starters were out of this one early, and the Huskies played the entire second half with back-ups. Classy move Joe, as you get the Huskies ready for Rumson in CJ-2 finals at Rutgers.



Took in the Jackson Memorial-Jackson Liberty game on Wednesday night. In this one, won by Memorial 20-13, I saw what could have been the best hit I have seen all year. It was Memorial's junior cornerback Jimmy Celidonio who hit receiver Jon Morgan, from Liberty, in the backfield creating a fumble, which was picked up by Mike Lopez who fell into the endzone for the game deciding TD. Memorial finishes 6-4, while Liberty was 4-6 this year.



Red Bank(4-6) concludes a nice year for the Nick Giglio led Bucs. Last year the Bucs won 2 games, this year 4, so the improvement in the program is clearly evident. Congratulations to RB Jahmer Bunch who ran for 187 yards and 2 TDs to help give the Bucs their first win over Long Branch(4-6) since 2003. Long Branch, who played the second half without QB Miles Schuler(thigh injury), now must replace one of the best players in the shore in Schuler.



TR North(7-3) beat TR East 24-6 on Turkey Day and ends the career of QB Demetri Davis of North. Davis had himself a great 2010, as he scored twice and threw for one in the easy win. Davis rushed for 100 yards or more in every game this year and his play in the secondary may just get him a spot on the all-shore team. The Mariners were obviously disappointed in not making the playoffs, but the development of the 2010 Mariners was a good coaching job by Chip LaBarca Jr and the rest of his staff.



In a game which we did live on the Shore Sports Network, Manasquan defeated Wall 21-16, to win the C-Central title. The Warriors trailed in this one 10-0 at the half. That's when things got a little wacky. Manasquan took the opening kickoff of the second half and scored in a few plays on a 17 yard run by game MVP Tariq Turner. Then things really got crazy, as 300 lb Jack Cuttrell picked up a loose fumble and ran 51 yards, with sprinters speed into the endzone, and Manasquan had a 14-10 lead, they would never relinquish. Squan's 3rd TD was a 21 yard HB option pass thrown by Tariq Turner which Manasquan's Bryan Abadrabro took away from Wall's Richie Bomenblit. That one iced the game for Manasquan. We have been a part of this game for many years, and it's so refreshing to see two coaching staffs who actually like and respect each other and truely convey that feeling both before and after the game. Great job by both programs, and a special thank you to Head Coaches Chris Barnes and Pete Cahill, for showing everyone how programs should be run. There are many great coaches in the State, none are any better than these two.



Top Ten-Week 13:



1-Matawan(11-0)- The Huskies look to complete back to back CJ-2 championship seasons and their 6th overall. Sat at Kean University vs. Rumson at 3PM.



2-Lacey(11-0)- The Lions look for their 4th title and an undefeated season when they take on Delsea at home on Sat at 1PM.



3-Middletown South(9-2)- The Eagles have 9 titles and look for #10 on Sat at Rutgers vs. Freehold Boro at 1PM.



4-Brick Memorial(9-2)- The Stangs are playing in their 3 straight finals and look for championship #3 at Rutgers on Sat. at 7PM vs Sayrville.



5-Freehold Boro(9-2)- The Colonials are the Shore's "hottest" team, having won 9 straight. They play a tough program and team in Middletown South on Sat at Rutgers at 1PM.



6-RBC(8-2)- The Caseys concluded their outstanding year with a 40-14 win vs. Rumson. RB Andrew Casten is the leader of RBC and one of the top RB in the Shore.



7-Manalapan(8-3)- The Braves will not play for a title, but the 2010 season certainly will be remembered. RB Josh Firsker and QB Mike Bimonte finished their career with a A-North championship.



8-Manasquan(9-2)- Squan won the C-Central with a 20-13 win over Wall on Thanksgiving morning.



9-Shore(10-1)- Shore's only lost was to #8 Squan(7-6). The Blue Deils play at Rutgers at 10AM vs. a tough Dunellen squad.



10-Rumson(8-3)-Have a tough one against the #1 team in my top ten. Next up- Matawan at Kean University at 3PM Sat.



Just missed:



TR North(7-3)-Tough losses to Brick Mem., Manalapan and a bad loss to Howell hurt the Mariners this year.

Keyport(8-3)- Great year for the Red Raiders. Lost to Shore twice.

Wall(7-4)- Played Manasquan and Freehold Boro tough.



Enjoy Championship weekend--hope to see you at Rutgers. Shore Sports Network will broadcast the Brick Memorial vs. Sayreville gane at 7PM Saturday night.