Shore Sports Insider Football Top 12, Week Nine

For 25 Shore Conference public school programs, it’s win or go home this week. 

The public state playoffs kick off with the sectional quarterfinals, while the non-public playoffs begin a week later after the brackets are seeded by a committee following this weekend’s games. 

While the focus is on the playoffs, there also is a massive nonconference regular-season game this week when top-ranked Red Bank Catholic hosts the No. 1 team in the state, St. Peter’s Prep, in their final game before the postseason on Friday night.

The biggest shakeup in the rankings heading into the playoffs concerns previously unbeaten Middletown North, which was stunned 43-42 by unranked Freehold Township (5-4) in Class B North. The Lions led 22-0 and 29-7 but could not hold on despite a monster rushing night from senior Matt Belenko. 

Southern ascends into Middletown North’s No. 5 spot from last week, which may look a little strange considering the Lions beat the Rams by a point in overtime two weeks ago. However, Southern just took No. 3 Brick Memorial to the brink in a 14-13 loss. Southern’s two losses to public schools are each by a single point against ranked opponents, while the Lions lost to a Freehold Township team that was .500 coming into the game. 

You could also maybe argue for Wall to jump Middletown North considering Wall has a win over Freehold Township. However, Wall also has a loss to a St. John Vianney team that Middletown North beat by three touchdowns. 

There also wasn’t exactly a team making a real push for the No. 5 spot considering that last week’s No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 and No. 8 teams all lost. Also, Southern and Toms River North both have wins over No. 9 Point Boro, so it’s tough to move the Panthers up. 

Manasquan also joins the rankings this week as the Warriors enter the state playoffs on an absolute heater. They have beaten their last three opponents by a combined 109-0. 

The postseason will be a differentiator, but there might not be many Shore-vs.-Shore matchups, so it may be trickier to gauge what is a better nonconference win than another. We could get No. 9 Point Boro vs. No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven in the sectional semifinals, we get No. 6 Toms River North in a rematch with last week’s No. 12 team, Manalapan, in the first round, and undefeated Monmouth has a shot to prove itself against No. 8 Wall to bust into the rankings. 

Pinelands also gets a chance to affirm its undefeated record against visiting Triton on the state playoffs this week to bolster its case to be ranked. Will the Wildcats’ dream season extend to the deepest playoff run in school history? We’ll soon find out.

Also, Middletown North, Holmdel and Middletown South are all in North Jersey brackets this season, so we’ll see how they fare against teams the Shore doesn’t usually play in the postseason. 

1. Red Bank Catholic (7-2) – Last week’s ranking: No. 1. 

The Caseys picked up their third straight win and their 13th in a row against Shore Conference competition with a 31-7 win over No. 8 Wall that locked up the outright Class A North title. Sophomore quarterback Rahmir Rivera went 10-for-11 for 172 yards and four touchdowns to help RBC cruise to the win. Junior wide receiver Jason Berecsky had a pair of touchdown catches in the win. Senior linebacker Luke Scaturro led the defense with 10 tackles, three for a loss, and senior defensive lineman Lorenzo Tartamella had three tackles for a loss and a sack. RBC will now test itself before the state playoffs begin with a monster nonconference matchup against the No. 1 team in New Jersey. Next game: Friday vs. St. Peter’s Prep (6-2). 

2. Donovan Catholic (8-1) – Last week’s ranking: No. 2. 

The Griffins battled through injuries to gut out a 20-10 victory over No. 6 Toms River North to clinch the outright Class A South title. Senior running back Alex Staten ran for 102 yards and a touchdown with senior quarterback Kahden Davis out of the lineup with an injury suffered at the end of the RBC game. Linebacker Sean Byrnes recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, and senior kicker Sal Reynoso hit field goals of 35 and 25 yards in the win. Byrnes had 14 tackles, one for a loss, and Ethan Nicolas and Jason Madden combined for 22 tackles, four tackles for a loss and a sack. Linebacker Diondre Foendoe also has a big game with 16 tackles, two for a loss. The Griffins will tune up for the state playoffs with a nonconference game. Next game: Saturday at St. Joseph’s-Metuchen (3-5). 

3. Brick Memorial (8-1) – Last week’s ranking: No. 3.

 

The Mustangs most likely cemented themselves as the Shore Conference’s No. 1 public school program this season with a 14-13 nailbiter over No. 5 Southern in Class A South. Do-it-all senior Shawn Fowler ran for 83 yards and both of Brick Memorial’s touchdowns on only eight carries and also had eight tackles on defense. Senior linebacker Devin Mingalone had 10 tackles, one for a loss, and a sack to lead the defense. Brick Memorial now begins its defense of the Central Jersey Group 4 title as the bracket’s No. 1 seed. They host a South Jersey squad coached by former Lacey star quarterback Warren Smith. Next game: Friday vs. Absegami (2-7) in the Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. 

4. Rumson-Fair Haven (6-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 4. 

The Bulldogs were tied at halftime before pulling away to beat St. John Vianney 42-28 in Class A North to snap a three-game losing streak. Junior quarterback Brady Williams was brilliant again with 291 yards passing and two touchdowns along with two rushing TDs. Senior tailback Ryder Izzo had 144 yards rushing and a pair of scores on 19 carries, and junior wideout Michael Capra continued a strong season with 10 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Rumson is now in the rare role of underdog in the sectional playoffs behind top-seeded Glassboro. The second-seeded Bulldogs, who had a Shore Conference-record streak of 11 straight sectional final appearances snapped last season, look to start a new streak this fall. Next game: Friday vs. Sterling (6-3) in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. 

5. Southern (6-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 6. 

The Rams are four points away from being 8-1 after suffering another one-point heartbreaker in a 14-13 loss to No. 3 Brick Memorial in Class A South. Senior quarterback Carson Abbato was 16-for-21 for 217 yards and two touchdowns and senior wideout Chris Raub had seven catches for 86 yards and a score in the loss. Twin linebackers Niko and Lukas Iliescu combined for 29 tackles, three for a loss, and a sack, to lead the defense. Southern is the No. 2 seed in South Jersey Group 5 and gets a home game to kick it off. Next game: Friday vs. Trenton (5-4) in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals. 

6. Toms River North (6-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 7. 

The Mariners fell 20-10 to No. 2 Donovan Catholic in Class A South, but in some good news they returned star Cole Garrison from injury. He played only on defense in the loss. Senior Wesley Tanner ran for 63 yards and a touchdown, and Carter Tamaro hit a 27-yard field goal. Junior Kam Morse continued his big season with 13 tackles, four for a loss, and sophomore Finn Boland added 12 tackles, 2.5 for a loss. They will open the playoffs with a rematch against a team they beat 29-23 during the regular season. Next game: Friday vs. Manalapan (4-5) in the South Jersey Group 5 quarterfinals. 

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

The Lions get dinged two spots after falling 43-42 to unranked Freehold Township to shake up the Class B North race and guarantee rival Middletown South at least a share of the division title. Middletown North led 22-0 and 29-7 but could not hold on against the Patriots’ relentless passing attack. Junior quarterback Derek Grasso threw for 177 yards and two touchdowns, while senior tailback Matt Belenko exploded for a career-high 248 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 31 carries in the loss. Middletown North can make the loss a distant memory with a run to its first state sectional title since 1996. They are the No. 1 seed in North Jersey 2 Group 4. Next game: Friday vs. Watchung Hills (4-5) in the North Jersey 2 Group 4 quarterfinals. 

8. Wall (4-4) – Last week’s ranking: No. 8. 

The Crimson Knights fell 31-7 to No. 1 Red Bank Catholic in Class A North as senior quarterback Frannie Scaramellino ran for 94 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Wall’s state playoff opener will be on the road against an unbeaten squad eager to prove itself against top competition. The Crimson Knights are trying to make a run to their third straight sectional final. Next game: Friday at Monmouth (9-0) in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. 

9. Point Boro (5-4) – Last week’s ranking: No. 9. 

The Panthers took care of Jackson 34-14 for their second straight win heading into the state playoffs. Senior quarterback Jake Clayton threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns to power the win. Wideout Dylan Comstock also had two catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Four players had double-digit tackles on defense, led by 12 from senior linebacker Luca Cangiano. Defensive lineman Mason Morris added a sack and two tackles for a loss. Point Boro could get a potential sectional semifinal matchup with old playoff rival Rumson-Fair Haven with a first-round win this week. Next game: Friday vs. Lower Cape May (7-2) in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. 

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

The Hornets grinded out a 15-12 win over last week’s No. 12 team, Manalapan, in Class A North thanks to junior star Anthony Serini, who had 10 catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Serini also had a two-point conversion run in the win as well as eight tackles, two for a loss. Senior linebacker Matt Scheinman added 10 tackles, one for a loss, and senior defensive back Michael Todisco had an interception. Holmdel is a defending NJSIAA sectional champion, but the Hornets are in a new bracket this season as a No. 3 seed. Next game: Friday vs. Somerville (5-4) in the North Jersey 2 Group 3 quarterfinals. 

11. Middletown South (5-3) – Last week’s ranking: No. 11. 

The Eagles had a night to remember when they beat Matawan 28-21 and then clinched no worse than a tie for the Class B North title after rival Middletown North was upset by Freehold Township. Quarterback Jack Schneider threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Justin Rosato ran for 101 yards and had two catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the win. The defense had seven tackles for a loss, led by two from Anthony Bennett. Middletown South’s playoff run begins at The Swamp against a tough opponent. Next game: Friday vs. Ridge in the North Jersey 1 Group 4 quarterfinals. 

12. Manasquan (5-3) – Last week’s ranking: Unranked. 

The Warriors are back in the rankings off a dominant stretch as they march into the state playoffs. They beat Shore 34-0 and have beaten their last three opponents by a combined 109-0. Senior quarterback Kyle Dow threw for 125 yards and two scores, and senior tailback Dax Klein continued his big season with 135 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Senior defensive lineman Nick Loughrey had a strong game on defense with three sacks, three tackles for a loss and eight tackles overall, and senior Lucas Kubu added a sack and seven tackles of his own. They will be on the road to start their state playoff run as a No. 5 seed. Next game: Friday at Gloucester City (7-2) in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. 

Keep an eye on: 

Pinelands (9-0): The Wildcats extended their single-season school record for wins and became the first team in program history to ever finish the regular season undefeated. They beat Toms River South 20-12 to win their first outright division title in school history in Class B South. Quarterback JJ Jenkins ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, and junior Montrell Carter continued to dominate on defense with 10 tackles, three for a loss, and a sack. Now comes the Wildcats’ chance to push into the rankings with just their second state playoff win in history. They host Triton (4-4) in the South Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals. 

Monmouth (9-0): The Falcons completed their first unbeaten regular season in school history and set a school record for wins in a season with a 34-14 win over Colts Neck to clinch the outright Class D North title. Junior Ryan Corwin threw for 163 yards and a touchdown, Liam Faulkner had 4 catches for 112 yards and a score, and freshman Conall Hicks ran for a pair of touchdowns in the win. Senior linebacker Aiden Trocchi had 7 tackles and an interception to lead the defense. Now comes a golden opportunity to prove they are undefeated for a reason. Monmouth welcomes eighth-ranked Wall in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals on Friday night. 

Manalapan (4-5): The Braves pushed Holmdel before falling 15-12 in Class A North despite 133 yards rushing and a touchdown from senior running back Nick Palmieri, who also had 13 tackles and a sack at linebacker. They have one last chance to shake up the rankings when they face No. 6 Toms River North on the road in the first round of the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs on Friday night. The Mariners beat Manalapan 29-23 on Oct. 2, so it’s a chance for the Braves to turn the tables. 

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