Shore Sports Insider Football Top 12, Week Seven

The game we had circled in red ink in the preseason is finally here. 

No. 1 Donovan Catholic will welcome No. 2 Red Bank Catholic to Toms River on Friday night in the Shore Conference game of the year. Electrifying running backs, big-play quarterbacks, explosive wide receivers, All-Shore linemen, FBS recruits, veteran coaches – this game has it all. 

The nondivisional showdown not only could decide the final No. 1 ranking in the Shore, it also has massive Non-Public B seeding implications. The clash of non-public powers might only be round one, as the two teams could potentially see one another again in the state playoffs. 

The much-anticipated game is the headliner of the most loaded week of games of the entire Shore Conference season. 

No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven welcomes No. 3 Brick Memorial to Borden Stadium for a game with huge state playoff seeding implications and possible bragging rights as the Shore’s No. 1 public school this season.

No. 5 Southern and No. 6 Middletown North are also angling for those bragging rights as well, and they will square off in a nondivisional game in Middletown. After beating Toms River North last week, Southern could potentially smash its way up to No. 2 if it wins out in the regular season by beating the Lions and then No. 3 Brick Memorial, depending on what happens in the Donovan Catholic-RBC game. Southern’s only loss is to the Griffins. 

On top of that, Pinelands will put its undefeated record on the line against Barnegat (6-1) in their fierce southern Ocean County rivalry, No. 9 Point Boro faces an Ocean team on a three-game winning streak, and No. 11 Middletown South takes on Class C North champion Marlboro. 

There’s also a host of rivalry games, including Raritan-Holmdel, Toms River South-Toms River North and Long Branch-Red Bank. 

A main question now is whether two of the Shore’s four remaining undefeated teams, Pinelands (7-0) and Monmouth (7-0), should be ranked.

Pinelands just had a dogfight against a one-win Central team in a 13-7 win, which keeps the Wildcats on the outside for now. Monmouth picked up its second victory over a team with a winning record this season, and it was a 35-17 win over previously unbeaten Barnegat to clinch at least a tie for the Class D North title.

It will be interesting to compare the scores when Pinelands faces Barnegat this week. As for common opponents between the two, Monmouth beat Brick 5-0, while Pinelands beat the Green Dragons 34-0. 

It always comes down to whether the lower teams in the loaded “A” divisions should get the nod over teams in lesser divisions that don’t lose. Basically, using this week’s rankings, could Monmouth or Pinelands beat Manalapan or Middletown South? I’m sure those fan bases all have their opinions on that.

It feels like the state playoffs will be when Monmouth and Pinelands can really state their respective cases.

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

The Griffins improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2020 and made school history by winning back-to-back division titles for the first time. They picked up a 24-7 win over No. 9 Point Boro to clinch at least a tie for their second straight Class A South crown behind 199 yards rushing and three touchdowns on only 12 carries by senior running back Alex Staten. He has erupted for 570 yards and scored six touchdowns in the last two games. Josh Blum led the defense with 12 tackles and two sacks, and Diondre Foendoe also had 12 tackles. Now comes the big one. Next game: Friday vs. No. 2 Red Bank Catholic (7-0). 

2. Red Bank Catholic (5-2) – Last week’s ranking: No. 2. 

The Caseys held off longtime rival Rumson-Fair Haven in a 31-28 classic thanks to a 27-yard field goal by sophomore Simon Picinich with 1:48 left in the game. Sophomore running back Gabe Kemp ran for a season-high 252 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries to give him 1,176 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns for the season. Junior wide receiver Ethan Kennedy added four catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore quarterback Rahmir Rivera threw a touchdown and ran for another. Senior linebacker Luke Scaturro led the defense with 14 tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss, and junior Jason Berecsky added his fourth interception of the season. Now comes the showdown we’ve been waiting for. Next game: Friday at No. 1 Donovan Catholic (7-0). 

3. Brick Memorial (6-1) – Last week’s ranking: No. 3. 

The Mustangs dispatched Jackson 28-7 for their fourth straight win behind three touchdown passes on 10-for-12 passing from senior quarterback Tyler Pierce, who also ran for 70 yards. Jay’von Ellison, Shawn Fowler and Zyion Weaver all caught touchdown passes, and Fowler also ran for a score. Senior linebacker Colin Schoellkopf continued his outstanding season with 11 tackles, two for a loss, Ellison had an interception, and Weaver finished with eight tackles, two for a loss. They will now be out for revenge and a chance to prove they are the Shore’s top public school program when they face a Rumson team that beat them last year. Next game: Friday at No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven (5-2). 

4. Rumson-Fair Haven (5-2) – Last week’s ranking: No. 4. 

The Bulldogs keep their No. 4 spot despite a loss considering they took No. 2 RBC to the brink in a 31-28 defeat that came down to the final 20 seconds. Junior quarterback Brady Williams threw for a school-record 387 yards on 29-for-54 passing, tossing a pair of touchdowns and running for another. Junior wide receiver Michael Capra finished with a career-high 10 catches for 119 yards and a touchdown, and senior Cole Spoonire added eight catches for 94 yards. Rumson can’t dwell on the loss because next up is a nondivisional game that could go a long way toward deciding the best public school program in the Shore this season and possibly a No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the winner. Next game: Friday vs. No. 3 Brick Memorial (6-1). 

5. Southern (6-1) – Last week’s ranking: No. 7. 

The Rams jump into the top five after they picked up their second straight win with a 27-19 victory over last week’s No. 5 team, Toms River North, in Class A South. It marked the first time since 2004-05 that Southern has beaten the Mariners two years in a row. Senior quarterback Carson Abbato threw for 219 yards and a touchdown, senior wideout Chris Raub had two catches for 117 yards and a score, and senior running back Levi Foote exploded for a career-high 179 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Foote also had 13 tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks at defensive end. The Rams can make a case to push up into the top four this week in a nondivisional game against one of only four undefeated teams left in the Shore. Next game: Friday at No. 6 Middletown North (5-0). 

6. Middletown North (5-0) – Last week’s ranking: No. 8. 

The Lions sat back on their bye week and watched teams knock each other off to move them up two spots. This is their chance to really open some eyes around the Shore this week and move into the top five. Next game: Friday vs. No. 5 Southern (6-1). 

7. Toms River North (5-2) – Last week’s ranking: No. 5.

The Mariners drop two spots after falling 27-19 in Class A South to Southern, which was ranked No. 7 last week. Toms River North continues to battle without injured stars Cole Garrison and Jack Baker, as senior Wesley Tanner ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and senior running back Lucas Elias had 147 yards rushing and a touchdown on only nine carries in the loss. Sophomore Finn Boland led the defense with 18 tackles, one for a loss, and junior linebacker Kam Morse had 11 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, and a sack. Next up is the Civil War, which they have dominated. Next game: Friday vs. Toms River South (5-2). 

8. Wall (3-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 12. 

The Crimson Knights are the biggest mover of the week, as they pop up four spots after winning a 14-13 thriller over last week’s No. 6 squad, Holmdel, in Class A North. The Hornets went for two and the win in the final minutes, and the Crimson Knights stuffed an option play to seal the victory. Junior Mike Boulard ran for 162 yards on 34 carries, junior Jesse Roth had a touchdown run, and senior quarterback Frannie Scaramellino threw a touchdown pass to John Partusch. Roth and linebacker Max Katsouris each added two tackles for a loss, and Shea Fagan, Clay Rickle and Jake Butkus each picked up interceptions to lead the defense. Next game: Friday vs. Jackson (2-5). 

9. Point Boro (3-4) – Last week’s ranking: No. 9. 

The Panthers fell 24-7 to No. 1 Donovan Catholic in Class A South, with the lone score coming on a 65-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jake Clayton to Dylan Comstock. Defensive lineman Mason Morris had a sack and a forced fumble in the loss to continue a strong season. They will look to bounce back in a nondivisional game against a team playing its best football of the season in the midst of a three-game winning streak. Next game: Friday at Ocean (5-2). 

10. Holmdel (4-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 6. 

The Hornets suffered their first loss to a team ranked below them when Wall beat them 14-13 by stopping Holmdel on a two-point conversion run late in the game. Sophomore quarterback Tommy Fletcher threw for 217 yards and a touchdown but was picked off three times. Wide receiver Charles Murphy had seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Junior Anthony Serini had 15 tackles and senior linebacker Matt Scheinman added 10 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack in the loss. They will look to bounce back in their Battle of the Border rivalry game. Next game: Friday vs. Raritan (4-3). 

11. Middletown South (3-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 11. 

The Eagles had a bye week to get healthy and will face a team that just clinched at least a tie for the Class C North title. Next game: Friday at Marlboro (5-2). 

12. Manalapan (3-4) – Last week’s ranking: Unranked.

The Braves reenter the rankings after a 32-29 thriller over St. John Vianney thanks to a 27-yard field goal by Brandon Kaplan that snapped a four-game losing streak. Senior quarterback Cameron Desfosse added a pair of touchdown passes, senior Nick Palmieri ran for 120 yards and a touchdown, and senior TE/DE Ethan Fogelstrom had 158 total yards and a touchdown to go with 13 tackles and a sack. Linebacker Chase Osmun had 17 tackles, two for a loss, and a sack in the win. Next game: Friday at Central (1-6). 

Dropped out:

St. John Vianney (2-5): The Lancers lost a 32-29 heartbreaker to previously unranked Manalapan in Class A North to drop out. They still have a win over No. 8 Wall on their resume and will look to bounce back in a nondivisional game against Brick (4-3) this week. 

Keep an eye on:

Manasquan (3-3): When the Warriors have been at full power with senior quarterback Kyle Dow in the lineup, they have been impressive. They buried Freehold Township 41-0 behind a career-high 208 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 26 carries from senior Dax Klein. They look to build steam heading into the postseason with a nondivisional game against Neptune (1-6) on Saturday. 

Pinelands (7-0): The Wildcats are 7-0 for the first time in program history and clinched at least a tie for their first division title since 1987 with a hard-fought, 13-7 win over Central. RJ Clark ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the offense in a game that was scoreless at halftime, while junior linebacker Montrell Carter continued his massive season with 13 tackles, three for a loss, and two sacks. Now comes maybe the biggest edition of the Barnegat-Pinelands rivalry ever when the Wildcats head to Exit 67 on Friday to face the Bengals (6-1). 

Monmouth (7-0): The Falcons improved to 7-0 for the first time in program history with an impressive 35-17 win on the road against previously undefeated Barnegat to clinch at least a tie for the Class D North title. Junior quarterback Ryan Corwin threw a pair of touchdown passes and also ran for a score, and the Falcons’ defense came up with three interceptions, one of which Sam Jackson returned for a touchdown. Monmouth can now tie the school single-season record for wins set in 2006 by beating Keansburg (3-4) in a nondivisional game this week.

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