Week 8 Thursday Night Football Game of the Week Presented by Sansone Jr’s Kia
With the regular season wrapping up this weekend, this marks the last actual Thursday night football game of the season, since playoff games will be played on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons.
In all likelihood, Raritan needs to win against Neptune in order to earn a spot in the South Group 2 playoffs. The Scarlet Fliers cannot make the state playoffs, but a win against the Rockets would end the regular season on a high note. The game also features a sub-plot, as Neptune senior quarterback Caleb Brown-Mason is 360 yards shy of breaking the Neptune career passing record of 3,300 yards set by all-time great Justin Cella back in 1995. While Brown-Mason is unlikely to break the record in this game, an added consolation game or two would give him a realistic shot at it.
Tonight’s Shore Conference Thursday Night Football Game of the Week coverage is presented by Sansone Jr’s Kia, including Sansone Jr’s 66 Kia in Neptune and Sansone Jr’s Keyport Kia.
Raritan (4-4) travels to Neptune (1-7) at 6:30 p.m.
Below, we take a closer look at the matchup with an expanded preview.
Raritan at Neptune, 6:30 p.m.
Series Record: Neptune Leads 18-11
| 1968 | Raritan 7, Neptune 0 |
| 1969 | Neptune 7, Raritan 6 |
| 1970 | Raritan 12, Neptune 6 |
| 1971 | Raritan 14, Neptune 0 |
| 1972 | Neptune 16, Raritan 12 |
| 1973 | Neptune 10, Raritan 6 |
| 1974 | Neptune 6, Raritan 0 |
| 1975 | Raritan 15, Neptune 8 |
| 1976 | Neptune 21, Raritan 0 |
| 1977 | Raritan 7, Neptune 6 |
| 1978 | Raritan 12, Neptune 8 |
| 1979 | Neptune 14, Raritan 6 |
| 1980 | Raritan 52, Neptune 8 |
| 1981 | Neptune 13, Raritan 9 |
| 1982 | Raritan 8, Neptune 7 |
| 1983 | Raritan 35, Neptune 22 |
| 1992 | Neptune 41, Raritan 12 |
| 1993 | Neptune 47, Raritan 10 |
| 1994 | Neptune 34, Raritan 7 |
| 1995 | Neptune 27, Raritan 0 |
| 1996 | Neptune 25, Raritan 7 |
| 1997 | Neptune 60, Raritan 14 |
| 1997 | Neptune 48, Raritan 7 (CJ2 Semifinals) |
| 1998 | Neptune 42, Raritan 6 |
| 1999 | Raritan 32, Neptune 13 |
| 2012 | Neptune 41, Raritan 13 |
| 2013 | Neptune 24, Raritan 0 |
| 2018 | Raritan 13, Neptune 3 |
| 2025 | Neptune 26, Raritan 13 |
Preview
Raritan enters the final week of the regular season with its playoff hopes on the line, needing a victory over Neptune to ensure a spot in the South Group 2 playoffs. The Rockets have dropped two straight games, falling to Ocean 31-28 and Holmdel 49-26, and will look to get back on track against a Neptune team that has lost six consecutive games. The Scarlet Fliers, meanwhile, will be looking to play spoiler and close out a difficult season on a positive note.
Raritan’s pistol flexbone offense has produced 1,838 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns this season. Senior Eric Berg leads the ground attack with 729 yards and 11 touchdowns on 100 carries, while senior quarterback Parker Needham has added 447 yards and seven touchdowns rushing. Senior Marko Brown has also been productive with 370 yards and two scores. Needham has thrown for 764 yards and seven touchdowns, giving the Rockets another dimension offensively. Junior Louis Zwiedinger leads the receiving corps with 272 yards and three touchdowns.
Neptune has struggled to find consistency but has shown flashes of offensive potential behind senior quarterback Caleb Brown-Mason. Brown-Mason has thrown for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns while adding a team-high 612 rushing yards and six scores. However, the Scarlet Fliers are dealing with injuries to two of their top offensive weapons. Senior Jason Whittaker, who leads the team with 431 receiving yards and four touchdowns, and Hassin McMillian, who has contributed 266 receiving yards and three scores, both missed last week’s 34-0 loss to Manasquan. Their availability could play a significant role in Neptune’s ability to move the football against Raritan.
Raritan enters as the favorite, particularly with its ability to control the clock through a rushing attack that averages nearly 230 yards per game. Neptune will need to limit the Rockets’ ground game and generate explosive plays behind Brown to have a chance at the upset. With a postseason berth hanging in the balance, Raritan has plenty of motivation to finish the regular season with a victory.
Predictions
Stump- Raritan
Smith- Raritan
Crouthamel- Raritan
Yeserski- Raritan
Manzo- Raritan
