Season Wrap Up

Scanning the High School Football scene with Ed Sarluca: 2010 wrap up.

Final Football Top Ten-2010

1-Lacey(12-0)-Matawan's upset loss to Rumson, clearly left no doubt as to who is #1. Lacey finishes as the only undefeated team in the shore and won their 4th title on Saturday, with a 56-7 thrashing of Delsea. Offense, defense, special teams were the reasons why Lacey had no trouble with Delsea, and turnovers certainly helped make this one a blow-out. RB Jake Dabal scored 3 times and QB Craig Ciccardo twice, to lead the Lions. Jared Molzon(2 TDs) had his usual all-around game on both sides of the ball and the Lacey defense led by Dave Vieira, Matt Uvegas, Dyan Joslin and Zack Torrell, to mention a few, completely shut down Delsea offense, holding the Cruasders to 1 TD. Defensively the Lions caused 8 turnovers(5 fumbles and 3 picks) and scored one TD on defense, a Torrell fumble return of 8 yards. Congratulations to Lou Vircillo and the 2010 Lacey Lions.

2-Freehold Boro(10-2)-Make it championship #2 for the Colonials as they beat Middletown South 14-12, in the days best game. Freehold concludes a strange season. A season which saw them lose their first 2 games and then win 10 straight, on their way to the title. Coach Mark Ciccotelli squad led 7- 6 at the half and had to hold on as the Eagles had a chance to tie it on a 2-point conversion attempt at the 2:57 mark of the 4th quarter. That conversion was no good and Freehold had it's 2nd championship. Jaxmar Clax scored from 39 yards out late in the 3rd quarter, to make it 14-6, after a weird play, which saw 6'5", 270 lb. DT Ryan Wytanis return a short punt by Scott Meeker, which set up the Clax run. Meeker fielded a bad snap and did a great job just getting the punt off, but it didn't go very far and Wytanis picked it off in the air and returned it 12 yards to mid-field. Steve Antonucci, Mid South's head coach, said it best--"they play football with an attitude". I think that best describes the Colonials. Way to go Freehold.

3-RBC(8-2)-Although they did not play this past weekend, the Caseys move up to the 3rd spot on the strength of their 40-14 victory over CJ Group 2 champs Rumson. They also lost a overtime game to Freehold(26-25). The Caseys lost to finalist Bergen Catholic, who played #1 in the state, Don Bosco, pretty tough before falling in the Non-Public Group 4 finals. This was a season of what could have been, and you cannot hold it against them because they play in the toughest division in the States. If they matched up against anyone in top ten, it would be a ballgame.

4-Rumson(9-3)- The shocker around the state was the upset win by the Bulldogs over previously unbeaten and defending champ, Matawan. The win not only gave Rumson their first ever State Championship, but it will go down as one of the most memorable upsets in the annals of the New Jersey State football championships. QB Mike Villapiano and Conner Riley each ran for plus 100 yards and the Bulldogs controlled the football game, from beginning to end. The win was so one-sided that the Huskies potent offense was held to 2 first downs all day and only 62 yards of total offense! If you told me that, I would have said, you were lying to me. No one at Rutgers(where we were working) could believe what was happening at Kean University, as we kept getting updates in the last few minutes of the game. Then Jared Allison breaks a punt return for 93 yards and a TD, to make it 13-7 with 2:12 left, and everyone held their breathe. Mike Huttner recovered the onside kick by Matawan and Rumson had their championship. Lets give some credit to assistant coach and defensive coordinator Jerry Shultie who devised the game plan that will be watched by many over the winter, to see how they contained the explosive Matawan weapons. One of the great defensive efforts by a team.

5-Matawan(11-1)-The Huskies could not get it done as they fell to Rumson 13-7 in the major upset on championship Saturday. Holding this Matawan team to 2 first downs is nothing short of a miracle, and that's what Rumson did. The Huskies now must begin a new streak next year and they certainly have players coming back to do it. Cassius Williams is the top RB returning in the shore, and QB Kashawn Barnes is going to be a good one. The Huskies will reload in 2011 and will be one of the toughest team around. The big wins this year included Manasquan, Freehold Boro, Rumson(first time around) and Raritan. That's a list of 2 champions and a playoff semi-finalist. Although this loss will sting for awhile, there are no problems in Huskie land.

6-Middletown South(9-3)- The loss to Freehold Boro was the 3rd loss in a row by the Eagles in the finals. Of course they have won it 9 times, so we should not concentrate on those losses, as we all know how hard it is just get to the finals. The Eagles made it close in the last quarter when Rob Dickerson returned a fumble 36 yards for a TD, but missed the 2-point conversion, which would have tied it. That TD game with 2:57 left, but Freehold's DB Rameer Wright, knocked down the 2-point try to send Mid South to defeat. The Eagles complete a season, where they had victories over Howell and Brick Memorial, on their way to the finals.

7-Brick Memorial(9-3)-The Stangs were cut down in their bid for a 3rd championship by a better team-Sayreville(11-1). The final score of 14-0 was not an good indication of how one-sided this one really was. The exceptional play of the Mustang defense kept the Stangs around well into the 4th quarter, as they fumbled away a chance at the 3 yard line late in the game which would have made it 14-7 and a chance. Sure they gave up yardage (239), and offensively, only had 112, but the consistently bad field position, kept the Stang offense in constant trouble. The Bombers were bigger, stronger and faster on this given night and Memorial played well, just to hang around all night. The Stangs will learn from this loss and take away the knowledge of what it will take to get back to the finals. This is a program which has been one of the best in the shore in the last 8 years(5 finals-2 championships), and they won the A-South championship this year. They are here to stay.

8-Manalapan(8-3)-The Braves were beaten by Sayreville in the semi-finals which concluded their season. They won the A-North title and beat Mid South and Howell twice. Coach Tom Gallahue now steps down to go into administration and Eddie Gurrierri takes over full rein, even though he was the head coach this year. The Braves graduate POY RB Josh Firsker and Rutgers bound QB Mike Bimonte.

9-Shore(11-1)-The Blue Devils won the CJ Group 1 title with a very convincing 30-6 win over Dunellen. Evan Ruane and company ran up and down the field on Saturday to the tune of 209 yards. Defensively the Blue Devils were under-rated all year and they held Dunellen, who came in averaging 42 points a game, to 1 TD. The only negative that came out of this one was Mark Coleman, who separated his left shoulder early in 4th quarter. Mark had played great until that point on both sides of the ball, running for 116 yards in the 3 quarters he played, and playing great on "D". RB Pat Maggio ran for 74 more and Shane Carroll caught a TD pass from Ruane, and kicked a 27 yard field goal. All and all, a complete win for the Devils and championship # 5.

10Manasquan(9-2)- The Warriors won the C-Central title to put another championship in the trophy case. They lost to Matawan in the semi's, but their effort was not wasted on this reporter. i thought they played as good as they could have against the high powered Huskies and came up a little short. Their 11 State championships still lead the shore. Their marque wins this year included Wall(7-4) on Turkey Day and Shore Reg(their only loss).

Just missed:

Wall(7-4)-Lost to Freehold Boro in semi-s. Solid year and return top QB next year in Steve Cluley.

TR North(7-3)-A season of what could have been for the Mariners as they missed playoffs(by a point) because of fluke ruling on Mainland, which had to forfeit games they had won. Demetri Davis completes his tremendous career for the Mariners.

Howell(6-4)-Ryan Davies broke passing records in his first varsity season for dad Cory. Only a junior, he will be back to drive defensive coordinators crazy.

Keyport(8-3)-Mike didn't get another championship(he's won 6), however he did have the opportunity to cheer on brother Mark, as Freehold won one. Add in brother Steve(head coach at Scotch Plains/Fanwood) and you have a pretty good coaching family.

Barnegat(6-5)-The Bengals won their first ever playoff game and establish themselves as a program to watch in the future. The 5 year program has done nothing but improve under Rob Davis and his assistants. QB Nick SanGiacomo set school records which will stand for quite awhile. He takes his tools to Tulane University next year. Senior receiver Mike DeTroia led shore in catches on "O" and interceptions on "D".

Manchester(6-4)-A playoff berth this year for the Hawks. RB Joe Johnson returns to lead the Hawks in 2011.

Raritan(6-4)-Nice year for the Rockets as Anthony Petruzzi completes his first year as head coach.

Neptune(6-4)-Don Soficanick completes his first year at Neptune with winning record. Injuries hurt the Fliers all year.