Block Party: No. 8 Middletown North Edges No. 11 Manasquan With Late Special Teams Touchdown

MIDDLETOWN — With two physical defenses refusing to give an inch, Middletown North found a game-changing play in the space Manasquan left unprotected.

Senior strong safety MJ Parulis broke through the Warriors’ punt protection and blocked a fourth-quarter punt before junior and linebacker Nick Panetta pounced on the ball in the end zone, delivering the decisive touchdown in the Lions’ hard-fought 21-14 victory Friday night.

It was a fitting conclusion to a game controlled by defense, field position and the details that often decide divisional matchups. Middletown North’s offensive balance kept Manasquan from completely selling out against the run, but when neither offense could create separation late, the Lions’ special teams unit did.

“We had to win this game as a team,” Middletown North senior running back Matt Belenko said. “It was not just one player who could do it all.”

The victory moved Middletown North to 3-0 and strengthened its position as an early contender in the Shore Conference’s Class B North division.

Manasquan could not have scripted a better beginning. Junior free safety Kennedy Larned intercepted junior quarterback Derek Grasso’s second pass of the game, giving the Warriors possession in Lions territory. Three plays later, senior quarterback Kyle Dow dropped a perfectly placed deep ball to junior wide receiver Connor Lalli for a 29-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The momentum did not last.

Middletown North immediately leaned on Belenko and its offensive line. Belenko carried six times for 43 yards on the ensuing possession, finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown before the Lions used some trickery with a muddle huddle on the two-point attempt, as junior holder Ryder Kane found Parulis who was lined up as an eligible long snapper to make the score 8-7.

After Manasquan turned the ball over on downs at Middletown North’s 31-yard line, the Lions struck again. Grasso completed passes of 26 yards to senior wide receiver Brennan Cross and 18 yards to junior wide receiver Anthony Christiani before Belenko scored another 1-yard touchdown to make it 14-7.

Those drives showed what makes Middletown North difficult to defend. Belenko punished Manasquan between the tackles, but Grasso’s ability to attack downfield prevented the Warriors from consistently loading the box. Grasso completed 9 of 14 passes for 141 yards, with Christiani catching five passes for 77 yards and senior wide receiver and cornerback Danny Sigler adding three receptions for 38 yards.

“If people are loading the box against the run, we can throw a screen or take a deep shot with Derek’s arm,” Belenko said. “That versatility makes us dangerous because we can run or throw in several situations.”

Belenko rushed for 68 of his 78 yards during Middletown North’s first three possessions, as Manasquan’s defense adjusted and largely contained him afterward. The Warriors recorded a handful of tackles for loss and held the Lions’ offense scoreless throughout the second half.

Manasquan struggled to create balance on offense.

Middletown North crowded the line of scrimmage, maintained its gap discipline and held senior running back Dax Klein to 57 yards on 20 carries. The Lions allowed him few clean rushing lanes and, most importantly, no explosive runs. After Manasquan’s opening touchdown, the Warriors produced only one first down over their next four possessions as Middletown North repeatedly forced them into difficult passing situations.

The Warriors finally broke through late in the third quarter, with an assist from an unlikely source. Senior Jackson McDonald, serving as Manasquan’s backup punter with senior Luke Barry sidelined by injury, delivered a booming 46-yard punt that pinned Middletown North at its own 2-yard line.

Manasquan’s defense forced a punt, and the Warriors regained possession deep in Lions territory. Klein supplied 16 rushing yards on the ensuing drive, Lalli made a 9-yard reception and Dow powered across the goal line on a 1-yard quarterback sneak to tie the game at 14.

Lalli accounted for nearly all of Manasquan’s production through the air, finishing with four receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown. Dow completed 7 of 12 passes for 80 yards while adding 17 yards and a score on the ground.

The Warriors’ defense responded with another stop, but two false-start penalties stalled their next possession and forced out the punt unit. Parulis shot through the protection, and Panetta pounced on the loose ball in the end zone to turn a tied defensive struggle into a 21-14 Middletown North lead.

Manasquan still had an opportunity to answer, but the Lions forced Dow into an intentional-grounding penalty on third down. Dow left the game following the possession, sat on the sideline with an ice pack on his knee and did not return.

The Warriors’ defense produced another three-and-out to give the offense one final chance. On Manasquan’s next snap, however, senior linebacker Kade Little intercepted Larned to seal the victory.

Little said Middletown North’s match-quarters coverage took away Larned’s primary reads as the quarterback rolled out and pressure closed in.

“We got over, took away his main reads and got some pressure,” Little said.

That play completed an impressive performance by a Lions defense that limited Manasquan’s rushing attack throughout the night.

“Our guys were relentless and all over the field,” Little said.

The Lions (3-0, 2-0) will travel to Matawan next Friday night, while the Warriors (2-2, 1-1) will host Middletown South on Saturday.