Weekend of 11/12 + 11/13

Scanning the H.S. Football Scene with Ed Sarluca:



The first round of the 2010 football State tournament is now history and the shore community can be proud of the 12-6 record the winners put up in round 1. The fact that 3 games involved all-shore match-ups, makes the 12-6 record look even stronger. Led by 2009 Group 2 winner Matawan, the shore will be well represented in the semi-final round. Central 4 has Manalapan and Brick Memorial in opposite brackets, so there is a chance one will make it to the finals. Central 3, has perennial participate and winner, in Middletown South still remaining. The bottom of the Central 3 bracket will be an all-shore match, between 2 teams that have both won 7 straight games--Wall and Freehold Boro. Something has to break here. Central 2, besides Matawan, has Rumson in the opposite side, also contending for a title. Matawan, will now take on Manasquan, who held on, in a wild 33-32 victory over Roselle. The health of Manasquan's outstanding RB Tariq Turner(injured in win), has allot to do with who wins that contest. Central 1 has a rematch which matches Shore and Keyport. Shore easily beat Keyport(40-14), in week 2. South Jersey Group 3 has Lacey, as a solid favorite to go the distance and win it all. South 2 took the biggest hit this past weekend, losing Point Boro and Manchester, but upstart Barnegat hung on for a 29-28 victory to advance. It was the first playoff win ever for the 5 year old program. With round 1 played in perfect weather, who knows what lies ahead for the remaining 12 looking for a State title. Get out to a game this coming weekend, you won't be disappointed.



Here's a list you want to be on:



Championships won and finals played in: 2010 participants.



Manasquan 11 championships 16 finals

Middletown South 9 championships 16 finals

Keyport 6 championships 11 finals

Shore Reg. 4 championships 7 finals

Matawan 4 championships 6 finals

Wall 3 championships 4 finals

Lacey 3 championships 7 finals

Brick Memorial 2 championships 4 finals

Freehold Boro 1 championship 2 finals

Rumson 0 championships 3 finals

Manalapan 0 championships 1 finals

Barnegat 0 championships 0 finals



Lets take a closer look at round 1 games:



Matawan(9-0), in a game I personally saw, used the many weapons they have, and easily beat Monmouth 34-6. QB Jared Allison, RBs Cassius Williams, Keith Beaty, and McArthur Underwood, WR Terry Rodriquez and Austin Davis are just some of the names that come up big each and every week. Yes, Matawan has much offensive fire power, to hurt you any where on the field. Offense sells the tickets, but its the defense that will win a championship for the Huskies. Inside linebacker Andre Hodge is the leader of the Huskie "D", which also has John Faccas and Joe Urciuoli, as well as many of the offensive stars doubling up on defense. Lets give some credit to Monmouth, who was making it's second trip to the playoffs, for playing the Huskies tough and moving the ball at times. Scott Satcher, AJ Visconti and Ty Hester(46 yd. TD run) provided the Falcons with some chances, but not enough to beat the Huskies. Matawan vs Manasquan(full staff in attendance), next week on Saturday night-6PM.



Lacey(10-0) won despite not having a great offensive day. Timber Creek(5-4) gave the Lions a scare in the first half, as they limited Lacey to little yardage, and only 1 first down until the final 30 seconds, when Lacey scored to take a 10-6 lead into the locker-room. The Lions drove nearly 70 yards to score on a Craig Ciccardo to Cameron Blackwell 14-yard TD pass. That clearly deflated Timber Creek as they headed to the locker-room half time break. They were not the same team in half #2, as Lacey shut down their offense and used fumbles and defensive opportunities to seize control and win it 27-6. The Lacey offense must play better this week if they are to advance to the finals. The good news is, Lacey has home games, as long as they play and could win it in their own backyard. Next up is Winslow Twp., another dangerous team of skill players.



In Central 4, Manalapan(7-2) had a "Firsker Family Party" in their 49-14 romp of Howell. Brothers Josh(215 yds. rushing/4 TDs) and Anthony(threw a 23 yd.TD pass/caught a 46 yd.TD pass) had a night that the family will long remember. Remember back just a few weeks ago, Manalapn put up 54 points against Howell in a regular A-North game, and now 49 more(103 total) and you have some remarkable numbers. The 103 total points, in 2 weeks, are more points than Middletown North, Freehold Twp., Toms River South, Mater Dei, and Keansburg have scored in "all" their games this year! That's how impressive the offense has been. Josh Firsker(1769 yds./22 TDs) has become the front-runner for "Offensive Player of the Year" Meanwhile the defense held Ryan Davies to just 2 TD passes(32 on year), as he continues his outstanding junior year. Manalapn now get top seeded Sayreville in the semi's. Expect the Firsker family to show up.



As good a year as Firsker has had offensively, Brick Memorial's NT, Will Wowkanyn, has been just as dominate on the defensive side. Keeping in mind that Wowkanyn is a nose tackle, his numbers are also off the chart. 13 sacks, 60 total tackles, 30 behind the line of scrimmage, numerous forced fumbles, and so many pressures on the QB, that the Stang stats lost count. He is the leader of a Mustang defense that has limited opponents to 64 points(6 1/2 per game) and has the Stangs in the semi-finals for the 3rd consecutive year and 5th time in the last 7 years. Just enough offense provided Brick Mem. to stay in the game, until the defense took over in the 4th quarter. Mike Acquaviva made 2 big catches,(one for a 27 yd. TD) and also picked off one of two interceptions by the Stangs, to take home our player of the game award. Logan Smith picked off the second pass and returned it for a 55 yd. TD to ice it for the Mustangs. Next up is #3 seed North Brunswick, a 36-33 winner over Pennsauken, at home on Friday night. The Shore Sports Network will broadcast that game on 105.7 the "Hawk" at 6:45pm Friday.



Shore Reg(8-1) took care of Highland Park 35-6, for the second time this year(42-25 earlier this year). Mark Coleman(229 yds./2TDs) led a punishing ground attack(417 yds.) and the Blue Devils easily advance to the semi's and will take on another team they have already beaten--Keyport. Shore beat Keyport 40-14 in week 2 of regular season. Standing with Keyport head coach Mike Ciccotelli, on the sidelines of the Freehold Neptune game on Sat afternoon, he told me this rematch will be a different football game. Mike was there supporting his little brother Mark, as he led his Colonial team to a victory over Neptune. Meanwhile back to Shore, can anyone stop this Delaware wing-T offense, that Shore runs so well? Keyport will be the next test



Middletown South(7-2) got their starting QB Scott Meeker back full time just in time for the playoffs. While Meeker was hurt, Howie Brey filled in nicely, until he was hurt in the Lacey game last week. It's hard to believe that Mid South has not won a championship since 2006, and Meeker did his part Friday night at the "swamp" to change that. He threw 2 TD passes on a 8 for 11/143 yd. night, as the Eagles built a 35-0 lead going to locker-room at halftime. Andrew Suarez, Kyle Bunge and Tim McArdle shared the RB carries and it looks like the Eagles are in good position to win another title. With Wall playing Freehold in the other side, we are guaranteed to have at least 1 participant in Central 3. I'm betting it will be an all-shore final with the Eagles.



Congrats to Danny George(Long Branch), who won his 100th game as a head coach. Most of the(84) have come as the head man at LB.



How about the "young" head coach at Lakewwod(2-7), Warren Wolf, who helped the Piners win 2 of the last 3. With winless TR South(0-9) on Turkey Day, 3 wins look like a real possibility for the Piners. Every time Coach Wolf takes the sidelines in the last game of any season, you think about the possibility of it being the last time he coaches a high school football team. We all have been blessed to watch a legend tend to his players year in and year out. Coach, if you decide to hang the whistle up after 2010, we all would understand the decision. It has been a career that every coach, that has coached a game, at any level, envies. After Thanksgiving morning Coach will sit back, have some diner with family, watch some football, talk to his wife and friends, and make a decision on 2011.



Rumson(7-2) got a break after their hard fought 42-13 win on Friday night, when they learned that North Plainfield had been upset and that meant Rumson would be home for their semi-final game vs. Carteret. It's rare when a team has to travel in round 1 and then gets a home game in round 2. QB Mike Villapiano has been the spark to the offense this year and again he was the main man Friday against Ewing(8-2). He ran for 89 yds., which included TDs of 77 yds. and 8 yds., and threw for 77 yds. The offense has jelled in the last few weeks, just in time for a run here at the title. I liked head coach Shane Fallon's comments after the game about playing bigger schools during the regular season, getting them ready for the playoffs. How true that statement is.



Congrats to Central Reg(1-8) for getting their first win of 2010. A 22-20 victory over Highland Reg was the result of Kalyph Hardy running for 301 yards. Hardy has now run for 1545 yards on the year.



Top Ten-week11:



1-Matawan(9-0)- The Huskies deserve the top spot this week, coming off their 34-6 win over Monmouth Reg. in first round of CJ 2 playoffs. Jared Allison moves slowly back to the huddle after each snap, but when it's snapped, it's 100 MPH for Allison and the rest of the Huskies. Squan comes calling Sat night at 6pm.



2-Lacey(10-0)- The Lions got a little scare in the first half vs. Timber Creek, but straighted things out in the locker room at halftime, and cruised to a 27-6 win. Next up Winslow in semi-finals on Sat. afternoon.



3-Middletown South(7-2)- The Eagles playing at the "swamp" is always a tough task! Steinert found that out early as they fell behind 35-0 at the half. Scott Meeker's older brother won 4 championships while he played at South, Scott looks to put one more in the Meeker household in 2010. Next up is Hamilton West on Friday night at the "swamp".



4-Brick Memorial(8-2)- The Stangs used their veracious "D" to turn around a close game and revenge the loss to East Brunswick in last years finals in CJ 4. The Stangs face a tough opponent in North Brunswick, if they are to play in their 3rd consecutive State Final. They get them at home on Friday night. The "Hawk"(105.7) and the Shore Sports Network will broadcast this one at 6:45PM.



5-Manalapan(7-2)- What more could you say about Josh Firsker. He has owned 2010 in the shore conference, and now he takes his game to top seeded Sayreville. Manalapan is looking to win their first State Championship.



6- Freehold Boro(7-2)- 2 wins(regular season and 1st round of States), against always tough Neptune, has given the Colonials a shot at Wall on Sat afternoon in their house. Both teams are coming in with 7 straight wins after 2 losses to open the season. It's amazing how these two teams have mirrored each other. Something has to break on Sat.



7-RBC(7-2)-How much can we penalize RBC in the rankings for a loss to a team that may just beat some bad college teams. Bergen Catholic's 65-34 victory was a classic shootout with the Crusaders scoring 30 points in the 4th quarter to win it going away. The Caseys are a top ten team and will stay in the bottom 5, only because their quest for a title is history. RBC closes out season against semi-finalist Rumson, scheduled for Wednesday night Nov 24th, at 7PM. If Rumson makes the finals in CJ 2, that game may get moved to later in week.



8-Manasquan(8-1)- The Warriors are playing well at the right time, but they needed a little luck on Sat against Roselle to advance to the semi-finals in CJ 2. Roselle(6-3) had missed 2 extra points earlier in the game, and after they scored what could have been the tying TD, to send it into OT, with 0.5 seconds left, they decided to go for the win and a 2-point conversion. Well the Squan defense rose to the occasion and stopped them to preserve the win. Perhaps the Warriors most pressing question will be the health of star RB Tariq Turner, who was injured in the 3rd quarter, and was seen on crutches at the end of the game. I feel, if Manasquan has a chance against Matawan, it's with Turner in the backfield and a ball control offense. It's not brain surgery, you must keep the ball away from the Huskie's explosive weapons, and Manasquans excellent running game can do that. If Turner can't go, it falls on RBs Christian Morgan, and Kodie McNamara, as well as QB Tyle Saito.



9-Wall(7-2)- When do we stop asking the question-who has Wall beaten? Well I heard more than one media personnel whisper that question, and I am not one of them. Wall is rolling like no other team, at the right time. Junior QB Steve Cluley has gotten better each week and the Knights have a good shot at Freehold on Sat. They will have to do it on the road, as it's a 7 vs 3 match-up. Look for the Knights to come out flying on Sat. The defense is also getting better after their 0-2 start. The is also a classic coaching match-up with Chris Barnes and Mark Ciccotelli. Might be the best game of weekend.



10-Shore(8-1)- The Blue Devils are the Group 1 small school that gets little respect. All I know is that they have an offense that has scored 344 points(38/game) and given up only 79(8 1/2/game). Those are big numbers for any size school. Here's the problem for Shore. They are in a bracket with teams that they have beaten already. Highland Park was one, and now Keyport is another. You know what they say--it's always tough to beat a team twice in the same season. Standing with Keyport Head Coach Mike Ciccotelli on the Freehold sideline on Sat. watching the Neptune, Freehold Boro game, he guaranteed me it would be a different game this time around. Now, he didn't say the Red Raiders would win, only that things will be different.



Just outside looking in:



Rumson(7-2) Good enough to be in top ten--not enough spots. Win one more your in.



TR North(6-3) Best team not in playoffs. The Mariners, I feel, are better than at least 5 teams in the SJ 4 playoffs.



Keyport(7-2)They have their second shot at Shore this week in semi's.They lost to Shore 40-14 in week 2.



Barnegat(6-3) They got a break on Sat. when Lower Cape May missed a short field goal(23 yds.) to win it in the waning minutes of their 29-28 victory. It was the first playoff win in Barnegat history. Congrats to Rob Davis who is in his 5th year as the Bengal coach. They take another ride to #1 seed West Deptford on Friday night.