Atlantic Physical Therapy Shore Conference Football Top 12, 9/2/25

It only took one week of games, and we already have a new No. 1 squad. 

Red Bank Catholic ended Toms River North’s 19-game winning streak with a 21-0 victory that marked the debut of highly regarded freshman quarterback Rahmir Rivera and freshman running back Gabe Kemp. 

Those two had a hand in all three touchdowns for the Caseys, while the defense handed Toms River North its first shutout loss since 2021. 

It opened an early argument over the No. 1 spot between the Caseys, Rumson-Fair Haven and Brick Memorial, all three of which won convincingly in Week Zero. 

The good news is that it will get decided on the field. Rumson travels to Brick Memorial on Friday night for a huge nondivisional game, while RBC and Rumson will have their annual rivalry game on Oct. 10. Plus plenty of other teams will look to try to crack that group and make an argument of their own. 

1 Red Bank Catholic (1-0). Last week: No. 3. 

The Caseys made an early statement by ending the state’s longest current winning streak at 19 games with a 21-0 victory over Toms River North. Freshman quarterback Rahmir Rivera threw for 155 yards and two scores and also ran for a touchdown, while Kemp had a 53-yard touchdown catch. Senior Daniel Zabora had a touchdown catch and 12 tackles and an interception on defense, while junior linebacker Luke Scaturro had 14 tackles and defensive ends Lorenzo Tartamella and Asher Cummins combined for three sacks and four tackles for a loss. Now comes another huge test when the top-ranked team in Delaware, which beat the Caseys last year, comes to Count Basie Field. Next game: Friday vs. Middletown (DE) (0-1). 

2 Brick Memorial (1-0). Last week: No. 2. 

Despite having All-Shore senior quarterback Jason Lajara out with illness, the Mustangs didn’t miss a beat with Division I linebacker Trey Tallmadge stepping in at quarterback in a 35-7 win over last week’s No. 9 team, Wall. Tallmadge, who last played quarterback back in his AYF days, rolled up 279 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, including 197 yards passing and TD passes to Ricky Dillon and Nyzier Matthews. The real question now is whether he will have to do it again or whether Lajara will be cleared to play in a huge nondivisional game this week, which is currently up in the air. I could see people thinking Rumson should jump to No. 2 off last week, but you can’t penalize Brick Memorial after a dominant win in its own opener. The Mustangs will be out to prove that they are the No. 1 team in the Shore this week, even if Lajara is not able to play. Next game: Friday vs. No. 3 Rumson-FH (1-0). 

3 Rumson-Fair Haven (1-0). Last week: No. 4. 

The Bulldogs looked as impressive as possible in a dominant 34-0 win over a Point Boro team that hadn’t been shut out in five years. Rumson came out with a two-headed quarterback attack to replace graduated SSI Offensive Player of the Year Owen O’Toole. Junior Casey Moore and sophomore Brady Williams combined for two rushing touchdowns and three touchdown passes in the win. The defense swallowed up Point Boro’s triple option attack behind senior defensive end Ben Roberts, who had nine tackles, including one for a loss on fourth down. They looked like the machine just added new parts after graduating one of the best classes in school history. The Bulldogs now have the Shore’s longest current winning streak at 14 games, which will be put to a stern test on the road this week. Next game: Friday at No. 2 Brick Memorial (1-0). 

4 Toms River North (0-1). Last week: No. 1. 

The Mariners fall from the perch they have occupied since before the 2024 season after having their 19-game winning streak snapped in a 21-0 loss to Red Bank Catholic. They moved the ball against RBC but struggled to finish drives and turned it over four times. Junior Cole Garrison ran for 52 yards on 13 carries out of the wildcat while rotating in with junior quarterback Logan Brill, who threw for 72 yards in the loss. Garrison also had 3 catches for 42 yards at receiver and an interception on defense. Toms River North looks to regroup against an old rival. Next game: Friday at Toms River East (1-0). 

5 Point Boro (0-1). Last week: No. 5. 

The Panthers could not find a way to solve Rumson-Fair Haven in any facet of the game on their way to suffering a 34-0 loss to the Bulldogs in the opener. On top of that, All-Shore junior quarterback Jake Clayton was banged up in the loss and only played a handful of snaps in the second half. Head coach Brian Staub said after the game that Clayton would be OK to return this week. The Panthers get a chance to prove they still belong in the top five when they travel to old rival Manasquan this week, but another loss and it will be a steep drop for a team that entered the season with high expectations. Next game: Saturday at Manasquan (1-0). 

6 Donovan Catholic (0-1). Last week: No. 6. 

The new-look Griffins’ offense only produced a single score in a 20-7 loss to Kingsway, a perennial playoff contender in South Jersey. Junior quarterback Kahden Davis threw for 128 yards and ran for another 134 in his debut with the Griffins after coming over from Seton Hall Prep, but only found the end zone once. Junior Aidan Kelly, a Jackson Liberty transfer, had six catches for 86 yards in his Donovan debut. They will need to find the offense quickly because they face a Holmdel team that has a star quarterback of its own in Jack Cannon and is looking to show that graduation losses won’t stop the wins from coming this season. Like Point Boro, they get a second chance after a season-opening loss to a quality team, but an 0-2 start threatens to put them on the margins of the rankings. Next game: Friday vs. Holmdel (0-0). 

7 Middletown North (0-0). Last week: No. 7. 

The Lions didn’t play in Week Zero and will kick off their season on the road against Howell, which picked up a shutout in its season opener. The Lions and quarterback Owen Robson will look to make an early argument to move up. Next game: Friday at Howell. 

8 Jackson Township (1-0). Last week: No. 8. 

The Jaguars picked up a historic 33-0 win over North Brunswick in their first game as a unified school after Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial High Schools were merged into one school. The name may have changed, but senior tailback Jonah Glenn is the same, as he rolled up 186 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns on 21 carries to power the win. Senior Jio Kabiri added a touchdown, senior Tucker Pazinko had 8 tackles, one for a loss, and senior defensive lineman Matt Howard had a pair of sacks to power the shutout. Jackson can now bolster its argument to move up over Point Boro and Donovan Catholic with a win on the road against an old Shore Conference foe this week. Next game: Friday at Southern (1-0). 

9 Wall (0-1). Last week: No. 9. 

The Crimson Knights lost 35-7 to the No. 2 team in the Shore in Brick Memorial despite the Mustangs not even having their starting quarterback due to illness. Their lone touchdown came after the game was long decided. They now play Tottenville from Staten Island, which is coming off a 36-35 win over Manalapan. Another loss most likely puts them out of the rankings. This week: Friday vs. Tottenville (1-0). 

10 St. John Vianney (0-1). Last week: No. 10. 

The Lancers suffered a nonconference loss in a 14-12 setback to Seton Hall Prep in a non-public matchup. Senior quarterback Zach LaBarca threw for 117 yards and a touchdown, and Jackson Liberty transfer Corleii Thomas had 67 yards and a touchdown in his debut. St. John Vianney now has an old rival looking to show the Shore that it’s worthy of being ranked after not playing in Week Zero. Next game: Friday vs. Raritan (0-0). 

11 Holmdel (0-0). Last week: No. 11. 

I fear I may have way underrated this team because of all the Hornets lost up front to graduation. They still have star senior quarterback Jack Cannon and some offensive weapons. They open the season this week with a game against a ranked opponent that drew a lot of buzz in the offseason for adding talented transfers. This is Holmdel’s chance to show that it’s still going to be in the mix to be a top-five team in the Shore despite a lot of new faces. Next game: Friday at No. 6 Donovan Catholic (0-1). 

12 Manalapan (0-1). Last week: No. 12. 

I feel like I’m giving out mulligans here like crazy with teams taking losses and not dropping, but Manalapan’s was a 36-35 setback to a Tottenville program that is typically one of Staten Island’s better teams. New quarterback Cameron Desfosse threw for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns and also ran for 85 yards and a score, and senior tailback Ah’sere Woolfolk added a pair of touchdown runs. The Braves look to get back on track against a Middletown South team that lost a heartbreaker in its opener. Next game: Friday at Middletown South (0-1). 

Knocking on the door: Manasquan, Marlboro, Southern, Raritan, Freehold Township, Central, Shore Regional, Ocean. 

Previous rankings:

Preseason Top 12

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com