Shore Sports Insider Football Top 12, Week 1

It was a solid opening week for the Shore Conference, which went 17-8 in games against nonconference opponents in Week Zero. 

While top-ranked Red Bank Catholic suffered a loss to defending Non-Public B champion DePaul, St. John Vianney scored an overtime victory over reigning Group 3 champion Cedar Creek, Donovan Catholic routed defending South Jersey Group 5 champion Kingsway and Manasquan rallied to stun a perennially tough Westwood program. 

Most of the rankings remain status quo after the first week of action. St. John Vianney opened some eyes with its win over Cedar Creek and can now send a shockwave across the state if it can take down No. 2 Donovan Catholic in an anticipated nondivisional match-up on Friday night. 

1. Red Bank Catholic (0-1) – Last week’s ranking: No. 1. 

The Caseys had DePaul on the ropes but could not hold on, absorbing a 35-28 loss to the defending state champs at the Battle in the ‘Boro at Rowan University. Sophomore running back Gabe Kemp was sensational with 207 yards rushing and a touchdown on 36 carries, but RBC could not slow down the DePaul passing attack. DePaul also held RBC sophomore quarterback Rahmir Rivera to 4-for-14 passing for 84 yards and recorded two interceptions. The Caseys will try to rebound this week against another nonconference power. Next game: Friday vs. St. Anthony’s (NY) (0-0). 

2. Donovan Catholic (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 2. 

The most impressive showing of any Shore team in Week Zero belonged to the Griffins, who romped 52-7 over a Kingsway team that won the South Jersey Group 5 title last season. Senior quarterback Kahden Davis was 15-for-18 for 223 yards and two touchdowns passing and also ran for a touchdown. Senior Alex Staten rolled up 103 yards and two touchdowns on the ground on only eight carries, and senior wideout Aidan Kelly had 4 catches for 101 yards and a score. Senior linebacker Henry Byrnes added two sacks, two tackles for a loss and seven tackles, and UConn recruit Jason Madden had 8 tackles, a sack and two tackles for a loss to lead the defense. Next game: Friday at No. 11 St. John Vianney (1-0). 

3. Toms River North (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 3.  

The Mariners pulled off an impressive comeback by scoring 17 unanswered points to beat Northern Highlands 17-14 at the Jim Grasso Classic at Northern Highlands. Senior Carter Tamaro hit the game-winning 25-yard field goal with 18 seconds left after touchdowns by quarterback Cole Garrison and running back Lucas Elias helped tie it up. Elias finished with 122 yards and a touchdown on just six carries, and Garrison added 96 yards rushing. Junior linebacker Kam Morse had 12 tackles, three sacks and four tackles for loss to lead the defense, which had 5.5 total sacks in the game. Next game: Thursday vs. Toms River East (1-0). 

4. Rumson-Fair Haven (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 4. 

The Bulldogs played a barnburner against Staten Island power Tottenville, pulling out a 28-27 win thanks to three touchdowns of 50 or more yards. Junior quarterback Brady Williams threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for 52 yards. Senior running back Ryder Izzo had 107 yards rushing and a touchdown, senior wide receiver Cole Spoonire had 5 catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, and junior Bodie Matchett had a pair of touchdown catches. Izzo also had 11 tackles and two sacks at linebacker. Next game: Friday vs. Middletown South (0-1). 

5. Brick Memorial (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 5. 

The Mustangs looked impressive in their first game since graduating some of the top players in school history, as they took care of last week’s No. 11 team, Wall, in a 28-3 nondivisional win. New quarterback Tyler Pierce threw for 110 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 82 yards and a score to lead the way. Senior Shawn Fowler had a touchdown run as well as an interception on defense, and Pierce threw touchdown passes to Colin Schoellkopf and his twin brother, Casey Pierce. Next game: Thursday at Brick (1-0). 

6. Holmdel (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 6. 

The Hornets’ high-octane offense picked up right where it left off even without the graduated Jack Cannon, as they blitzed Hightstown 45-14 behind new quarterback Tommy Fletcher. The sophomore went 3-for-3 for 142 yards passing and two touchdowns in his debut, and senior All-Shore star Michael Todisco also threw a touchdown and ran for another. Next game: Thursday at Red Bank (1-0)

7. Manalapan (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 7. 

The Braves kicked off the season with a 41-25 win over Hillsborough behind senior running back Nick Palmieri, who racked up 191 yards and three touchdowns rushing and added a two-point conversion. PJ Pape added 63 yards and a touchdown on just four carries and ran a kickoff back 95 yards for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Donny Rocco Sosa had 14 tackles, two for a loss, to lead the defense. Next game: Thursday vs. Marlboro (1-0). 

8. Middletown North (0-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 8. 

The Lions were one of only three Shore Conference teams to not have a game in Week Zero. They will open up 2026 with a nondivisional matchup against a Lacey team coming off a 12-0 win over Lawrence. Next game: Thursday at Lacey (1-0). 

9. Southern (1-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 9. 

The Rams gave new head coach Matt Abbato his first career victory as they embarked on the post-Chuck Donohue Sr. era with a 34-14 win over Bridgeton at the Battle at the Beach. Senior quarterback Carson Abbato threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score. Senior wide receiver Chris Raub had two catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. All-Shore junior linebacker Niko Iliescu finished with 15 tackles, one for a loss, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown, and his All-Shore twin brother, Lukas Iliescu, had nine tackles, one for a loss, an interception, and a touchdown on a fumble recovery of his own. Next game: Friday vs. Belmont Charter (Pa.) (1-0). 

10. Point Boro (1-0). Last week’s ranking: No. 12. 

The Panthers started their season with a workmanlike, 24-10 win over Sterling in which senior quarterback Jake Clayton ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass to freshman Grayson Williams. Junior defensive lineman Ford Kelly and sophomore defensive lineman Austin Diamond each had huge games, as both of them had 11 tackles, six for a loss, and a sack. Next up is a longtime rival eager to break into the rankings after a big win in Week Zero. Next game: Thursday vs. Manasquan (1-0). 

11. St. John Vianney (1-0). Last week’s ranking: Unranked.

The Lancers join the rankings after one of the most exciting wins of Week Zero. They took down defending Group 3 champion Cedar Creek 29-28 on a two-point conversion run in overtime by quarterback junior Anthony Petracca at the Battle at the Beach. The story was junior wide receiver Noah Fitzpatrick, an FBS prospect whose three catches for 55 yards were all for touchdowns. Senior Lucas Farrah ran for 100 yards on 23 carries and Petracca ran for 76 yards on 10 carries in relief of starting quarterback Will Calcagno, who threw three touchdown passes before leaving the game with leg cramps. Most impressively, they pulled out the win without starting running back Corleii Thomas or wide receiver Brayden Delavega. The Lancers can now put the whole state on notice with a win this week. Next game: Friday vs. No. 2 Donovan Catholic (1-0). 

12. Wall (0-1). Last week’s ranking: No. 11.

The Crimson Knights fell 28-3 to No. 5 Brick Memorial for a frustrating start, but it’s hard to ding them too hard for losing to a team that was ranked six spots ahead of them. They had 198 total yards, but nearly all of them were on their opening drive or in garbage time. Wall will need to get the offense in gear in a hurry as it faces a Freehold Township attack that put up 38 points in its opening game. Next game: Thursday at Freehold Township (1-0). 

Fell out:

Matawan (0-1): The Huskies fell 27-7 to a solid River Dell squad as they were held to 216 yards of total offense. Junior wideout Cayson Williams had 3 catches for 77 yards in the loss. They can’t let it fester, as they now face rival Raritan, which is coming off a 41-0 win in its opener.  

Keep an eye on: 

Manasquan (1-0): The Warriors went up north and knocked off perennial playoff contender Westwood in a 20-19 comeback win at the Jim Grasso Classic at Northern Highlands. Senior quarterback Kyle Dow found Dax Klein for the winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Dow was 16-for-22 for 195 yards and two scores and junior wide receiver Connor Lalli had 7 catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Senior defensive lineman Lucas Kubu had two sacks to lead the defense. They now travel to old rival Point Boro for an opportunity to bust into next week’s rankings. 

Freehold Township (1-0): The Patriots lit it up in a 38-21 win over Central, as senior quarterback Dakota Lasater threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for 69 yards and a score. Senior running back Dennis Quattrache III had 78 yards rushing and a score and also caught five passes for 81 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots can make their case to join the rankings this week when they take on No. 12 Wall (0-1). 

Howell (0-0): The Rebels were one of three Shore Conference teams to not have a Week Zero game. They take on a Central squad looking to bounce back from a season-opening loss to Freehold Township. 

Jackson (1-0): The Jaguars smothered Ocean with a 21-0 win highlighted by a pick-six by junior linebacker Sha’Zir Taylor and 105 yards rushing by senior Farrin Blake. They can make it 2-0 with a nondivisional win over Toms River South (1-0) this week.

Red Bank (1-0): The banged-up Bucs grinded out a 14-7 win over Shore Regional without their starting running back. Senior Kaden Jackson had a 92-yard touchdown run to highlight the offense, while senior Nate Borenius had 10 tackles, 2 for a loss, and Colton Hughes and Kaz Neice combined for 23 tackles. They can make a big statement this week when they face No. 6 Holmdel (1-0). 

Raritan (1-0): The Rockets stormed out of the gate with a 41-0 win over Madison to give new head coach Chris Damian his first win in green and white. Senior Eric Berg ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries, and junior Lou Zweidinger added a pair of touchdowns. Senior Brennan Spengler and junior Zahir Jones combined for three interceptions on defense. Is Raritan for real? We’ll find out this week when they take on rival Matawan (0-1). 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com