Weekend 11/6 + 11/7/10

Scanning the High School Football scene with Ed Sarluca:

This is what you play for, a chance to win a State Championship. It's unofficial, until Monday morning when the NJSIAA will make it official, but it looks like 18 teams from the shore conference will play in this years State Tournament. The group is led by defending champ Matawan in CJ Group 2, and they are heavy favorites to do it again. Manasquan stands in the way of the Huskies and another title. The two could meet in the semi-finals. Rumson, also has a nice chance to make some noise in the bottom bracket of that group. Mid South, in CJ Group 3, is another top seed and will look for another trophy to put in their case. Brick Memorial, in CJ Group 4, will look for their 3rd title and try to make their 3rd straight final. A couple of teams, Point Boro and Barnegat, lost this weekend and still managed to get into the SJ Group 2 race. Boro as a #8 seed and Barnegat as a #5 seed. CJ Group 3 has Freehold Boro, Wall and Neptune to go with Mid South, so that group has a good chance to have a shore champ. Shore Reg. is the top seed in CJ Group 1, and have already beaten 2 of the teams in the bracket. Lacey, in SJ Group 3, looks to be a heavy favorite, especially after the very convincing 27-7 victory over Middletown South this past weekend.

Howell got into the CJ Group 4 playoffs with a 14-7 win over Brick Memorial. The bad news is that their #5 seed gets them a rematch with #4 seed Manalapan in week 1. Manalapan defeated Howell 54-27 earlier this year. The winner of that one will probably get #1 seed Sayreville on the road, if Sayreville defeats Rancocus Vally in round 1. Monmouth(CJ Group 3), Keyport(CJ Group 1), and RBC(Non-Public-4), round out the 18 schools who have made it. In the heartbreak category, TR North(1 point) and TR East(2 points) each missed the SJ Group 4 picture. North's fate was decided by a heartbreaking loss to Manalapan in the wanning seconds of their game, as RB Josh Firsker caught a 80 yard TD pass from QB Mike Bimonte to win it 28-24. East lost to RBC 28-0 on Saturday. To further complicate matters in SJ Group 4, Mainland had to forfeit all their wins this year, due to an ineligible player. This helped the #8 seed Absagami gain a berth. Without that decision, North is in.



You want winners: How about finals? Winners will come in a few weeks. These groups involve shore teams. Finals in all, except South Jersey, will be played at Meadowlands, or Rutgers.



CJ Group 1---Shore vs New Egypt

CJ Group 2---Matawan vs Rumson

CJ Group 3---Middletown South vs Wall

CJ Group 4---Brick Memorial vs Manalapan



SJ Group 3---Lacey vs Delsea

SJ Group 2---West Deptford vs Willingboro

Non-Public Group 4---Don Bosco vs Bergen Catholic



Lets look at last weeks key games:



Lacey(9-0) had a statement game as they easily defeated Mid South(6-2), 27-7. The Lions dominated this one,while knocking out a few Eagles along the way. Howie Brey(Eagle QB) went down early(2nd play) in the 2nd half. Scott Meeker had to finish up, Scott is returning from a previous injury, and still is not quite 100%. Lacey used a balanced attack with Jake Dabal, Jarod Molzon and Craig Ciccardo each playing very well. The Lacey defense held the Eagle offense to 55 yards rushing and forced 3 turnovers. Lacey led 27-0 at the end of 3 quarters. Lacey has made a serious case for #1 in the shore, but I'm going to keep Matawan there for at least another week.



Howells(5-3) 14-7 victory over Brick Memorial(7-2) got them into the playoffs. It's always tough for a team that's fate has already been decided, to play a big game. That was the case with Brick Mem., who was playing their 9th game of the season(only 8 count towards playoffs). Howell needed the win, and played better on this day, and held off a 4th quarter rally by the Mustangs. These two have played some memorable games in the last few years and Sat afternoon was no exception. QB Ryan Davies, of Howell, withstood the pressure of Will Wowkanyn and the Mustang "D" to get the victory. Howell now gets a chance to avenge a 54-27 loss to Manalapan earlier in the year, in round 1 of the playoffs.



Neptune(5-3) beat Colts Neck(1-7) 15-14 in 2 overtime sessions, to make it into the playoffs



Monmouth Reg.(4-4) broke a 4 game losing streak with their 26-14 win over Red Bank(3-5). This win gets Monmouth into the playoffs.



Manchester's(5-3) 14-13 win over Point Boro(4-4) got them into the playoffs, while Boro also made it as the #8 seed, despite the loss



Wall(6-2) now has won 6 in a row, and is one of the hot teams in the shore. They get a #7 seed in CJ 3, but the Knights are better than that. Keep and eye on them.



Brick(3-6) won their 3rd game of the season with a 19-7 victory over JFK Iselin. The Dragons have kept it together in Pat Dowlings second year.



Congrats to Mike Smith and the Jackson Jags(4-4) who have evened up their record after a 46-6 victory over Freehold Twp.



Rumson(6-2) knocked Asbury Park(5-3) out of a chance to make a run at 4 State titles in a row, with their 35-7 pasting of the Bishops. There are many teams in CJ 1 happy to see the Bishops outside looking in, as they can beat anyone in that bracket, on any given day.



Week 10 Top Ten:



1-Matawan(8-0)- They sit atop the shore and have a chance to repeat in CJ 2.

2-Lacey(9-0)- The Lions could be 1"B", its that close. Any slip up by Huskies, in playoffs, can vault them to top spot.

3-RBC(7-1)- Only loss was to Freehold Boro 26-25 in OT earlier in year.

4-Middletown South(6-2)- The Eagles have losses to Manalapan(35-25) and Lacey(27-7). I'll keep them ahead of the Braves, because of the 15-8 loss to Jackson(4-4).

5-Brick Memorial(7-2)- The Stangs try to make their 3 finals in a row in CJ4, and 5th in last 7 years. They have 2 titles. Wins against Manalapan and TR North were big. Losses to Mid South(13-3) and Howell(14-7).

6-Manalapn(6-2)-The Braves hold victories over Mid South and Howell and TR North, but lost to Jackson(4-4). You can exchange any of the 4-5-6 teams and get no argument from anyone.

7-Freehold Boro(6-2)-Have won 6 in a row and are a hot team entering plyoffs in CJ 3. Loses are to Matawan(22-2) and Monmouth(27-19).

8-Manasquan(7-1)-The Warriors have cruised along after a 24-18 loss to Raritan(4-4) in week 2.

9-Wall(6-2)-6 wins in a row since losing their first 2 of season. They will play Manasquan on Turkey Day for C-Central title

10- Howell(5-3)-You have to put the Rebels in the top ten, because they have wins vs. Brick Memorial(7-2) and TR North(5-3)



Just outside top ten:



Shore(7-1) The Blue Devils could very well be a top ten team by the end of year.

Rumson(6-2) The Bulldogs may make Matawan sweat in CJ 2.

Manchester(5-3) The Hawks made theri second playoffs in school history.

Keyport(6-2) The Red Raiders are a different team that lost to Shore in week 1.

TR North(5-3) You have to feel for the Mariners, who missed playoffs by a fluke ruling in SJ 4.