Atlantic Physical Therapy Week 1 Shore Conference Football Previews and Picks

After an exhilarating opening weekend that saw a large number of Shore Conference teams travel outside the area, Week 1 brings the action home, with every game set to be played on a Shore Conference team’s home field.

We are thrilled to have Dave Manzo of Atlantic Physical Therapy as the fifth member of our picks squad.

With more than 30 convenient locations throughout New Jersey, Atlantic Physical Therapy Center provides personalized, patient-focused care to help people of all ages recover from injuries, manage pain and get back to doing what they love. Their licensed physical therapists offer individualized treatment along with services such as sports rehabilitation, dry needling, cupping, kinesiology taping, concussion management and a variety of wellness and performance programs designed to help athletes recover, perform and stay healthy.

Whether you’re working your way back from an injury or looking to perform at your best, Atlantic Physical Therapy Center is committed to helping you come back stronger and more confident than before.

We thank Atlantic Physical Therapy Center for its support of Shore Conference football and Shore Sports Insider.

Now, onto our Week 1 picks and previews.

 

	Stump	Smith	Crouthamel	Yeserski	Manzo
THURSDAY
Asbury Park at Neptune	Neptune	Neptune	Neptune	Neptune	Asbury Park
Brick Memorial at Brick	Brick Memorial	Brick Memorial	Brick Memorial	Brick Memorial	Brick Memorial
Lakewood at Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat
Wall at Freehold Twp.	Wall	FT	Wall	Wall	Wall
Midd North at Lacey	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North
New Egypt at Manchester	New Egypt	New Egypt	New Egypt	New Egypt	New Egypt
Raritan at Matawan	Matawan	Matawan	Matawan	Matawan	Matawan
TR East at TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North
Central at Howell	Howell	Central	Central	Howell	Howell
Holmdel at Red Bank	Holmdel	Holmdel	Holmdel	Holmdel	Holmdel
Manasquan at Point Boro	Point Boro	Point Boro	Manasquan	Point Boro	Point Boro
Marlboro at Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan
Friday
Pinelands at Free. Boro	Pinelands	Pinelands	Pinelands	Pinelands	Freehold Boro
Jackson at TR South	Jackson	Jackson	Jackson	Jackson	Jackson
Donovan at SJV	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan
Midd South at RFH	RFH	RFH	RFH	RFH	RFH
Point Beach at Shore	Shore	Point Beach	Point Beach	Point Beach	Shore
St. Anthony's at RBC	RBC	RBC	RBC	RBC	RBC
Belmont Ch. at Southern	Southern	Southern	Southern	Southern	Southern
Saturday
Ocean at Colts Neck	Ocean	Ocean	Colts Neck	Colts Neck	Ocean
Long Branch at Keansburg	Long Branch	Keansburg	Keansburg	Keansburg	Keansburg
Monmouth at Keyport	Monmouth	Monmouth	Monmouth	Keyport	Monmouth
Last week	22-10	26-6	21-11	22-10	22-10
Season record	22-10	26-6	21-11	22-10	22-10

 

Previews

Asbury Park at Neptune, Thursday at 4 p.m.

It remains a travesty that one of the Shore Conference’s greatest rivalries is no longer played on Thanksgiving, but the intensity remains as high as ever on the field when the Blue Bishops and Scarlet Fliers square off.

Both teams enter the rivalry matchup looking to rebound from lopsided Week 0 losses. Neptune will be favored, with quarterback Caleb Brown-Mason coming off a deceptively strong performance in which he completed 16-of-25 passes for 209 yards, a touchdown and one interception against Winslow. Asbury Park’s defensive front, led in part by senior Israel Villegas, who recorded a sack in Week 0, will need to contain Brown-Mason and prevent one of the Shore Conference’s most dangerous quarterbacks on the move from extending plays with his legs.

On the other side of the ball, Neptune’s pass rush will look to make sophomore quarterback Braylon Johnson uncomfortable in his first start under center in this rivalry. As is often the case when these longtime rivals meet, whichever team protects the football and wins the turnover battle will have a significant advantage.

No. 5 Brick Memorial at Brick, Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Mustangs have prevailed over the Dragons in each of the last three seasons and will once again enter as the favorite after opening the season with a dominant victory over Wall. For Brick to have a chance at ending that streak, the Dragons will need to find a way to slow down senior quarterback Tyler Pierce and the wide array of RPO’s built into head coach James Mahoney’s offense that consistently put defenders in conflict. The Dragons generated plenty of pressure against Allentown, recording four sacks between seniors Rowan Foy (1.5 sacks), Sebastian Porebski (one sack) and Cian Foy (half a sack), along with junior Nathaniel Lloyd (one sack). They will face a considerably bigger and more talented offensive front this week, however.

On the other side of the ball, the Mustangs will look to contain a Brick rushing attack that totaled 152 yards in Week 0, led by junior running back Kole Perrine’s 73 yards. That challenge will fall largely on a formidable Brick Memorial defensive front anchored by the All-Shore trio of Jaxon Ellis, Jaxon Pacheco and Joe Livio.

Lakewood at Barnegat, Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Bengals will enter as considerable favorites after opening the season with a three-touchdown victory over Absegami. On the other side is a Lakewood team looking to bounce back from a 47-6 loss to Atlantic Tech.

Overshadowed during a busy Week 0 was a standout all-around performance from Barnegat’s speedy junior running back Ryan Fitzpatrick, who broke loose for a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown, rushed seven times for 49 yards and recorded seven tackles on defense. Junior linebacker Jayson Wallace, who made six tackles last week, and the rest of the Piners’ defensive front will need to remain disciplined in their gaps and prevent Fitzpatrick from getting into the open field, where his speed can quickly turn a routine play into a touchdown.

The Bengals will likely have junior wideout Kasheem Diawara circled on their scouting report. Diawara was one of the bright spots in Lakewood’s season-opening loss, hauling in four receptions for 106 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown. His most likely matchup will be standout sophomore cornerback Chancellor Joseph, who opened the season with an interception and will be tasked with limiting Lakewood’s downfield threat.

No. 12 Wall at Freehold Township, Thursday at 6 p.m.

In last season’s matchup, Freehold Township struggled to protect the quarterback, allowing 7.5 sacks to a Wall defensive front that featured graduated First Team All-Shore selections Justin Davis and Dylan Cohen, who recorded 2.5 sacks apiece. This time around, senior offensive tackles Jake Platt and Dan Fedyshyn will likely be tasked with containing standout junior defensive end Jesse Roth, who recorded two tackles for loss against Brick Memorial in Week 0. If the Patriots can keep senior quarterback Dakota Lasater upright and give him time to operate, there should be opportunities to find success through the air, as Brick Memorial demonstrated against the Crimson Knights last week.

Wall’s offense had its way in last season’s matchup, piling up 49 points and 376 yards of total offense. While much of that production graduated, junior running back Michael Boulard returns after rushing for 73 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries in that game. He will also be running behind an experienced offensive line that returns four starters. Establishing the ground game and sustaining drives could be especially important for Wall, as controlling the clock would help keep Freehold Township’s dangerous passing attack on the sideline.

No. 8 Middletown North at Lacey, Thursday at 6 p.m.

Middletown North has been chomping at the bit to get on the field as one of the few Shore Conference teams that did not play during Week 0. The Lions will finally open their season with a trip to Lacey in a battle between two teams that share the same mascot.

Lacey’s defense did an excellent job creating turnovers in a 12-0 shutout victory over Lawrence, but the challenge will be considerably greater this week. Senior linebacker Jake Sturman and company will be tasked with slowing down returning Second Team All-Shore running back Matt Belenko, the centerpiece of a Middletown North offense eager to make its season debut.

On the other side of the ball, standout senior linebacker Kade Little and the Middletown North defense will look to stifle Lacey’s run-first offense and force the home Lions into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations.

New Egypt at Manchester, Thursday at 6 p.m.

Junior quarterback Thomas Marabuto was inconsistent through the air in Week 0, completing just 6-of-19 passes, but he delivered when it mattered most. Marabuto tossed three touchdown passes, including two in the fourth quarter, and converted a pair of two-point conversions to help lead the Warriors to victory. He was also dangerous with his legs, rushing for 90 yards on 10 carries. Senior linebacker Mike Fink and the Hawks’ front seven will need to keep Marabuto contained and prevent him from extending drives on the ground.

The Hawks are looking for a major bounce-back performance offensively after finishing with minus-five yards in their lopsided Week 0 loss to Toms River East. Cleaning up those struggles will be the priority during the week of practice before facing a New Egypt defense led by senior defensive back Kaiden Grosso, who was all over the field with 13 tackles in the season opener.

Raritan at Matawan, Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Rockets are riding high after a dominant 41-0 victory over Madison on opening night, while Matawan will look to bounce back from a frustrating loss to River Dell. The Huskies got the better of Raritan in last season’s matchup, rolling to a 37-14 victory.

For Raritan to flip last year’s result, it starts with containing standout junior wide receiver Cayson Williams. Williams has the ability to win contested catches against just about anyone, making it crucial for the Rockets to provide help over the top and prevent him from creating explosive plays downfield. That responsibility will fall on a secondary that made plenty of plays in Week 0, including senior safety Brennan Spengler, who recorded two interceptions, and junior cornerback Zahir Jones, who added another.

On the flip side, Raritan’s triple-option attack presents plenty of challenges of its own. Senior slotback Eric Berg was explosive in the opener, rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns on just five carries. While containing Berg and the Rockets’ ground game will be a priority, the Huskies cannot afford to get caught with their eyes in the backfield. Senior quarterback Parker Needham threw two touchdown passes on just eight attempts last week, putting added pressure on senior safety Zach Johnson and the rest of the Matawan secondary to remain disciplined against play-action.

Toms River East at No. 3 Toms River North, Thursday at 6 p.m.

It has been a while since Toms River East has gotten the better of rival Toms River North. The Raiders’ last victory over the Mariners came in 2014, in the final Thanksgiving Day meeting between the two programs. The rivals have played nearly every season since, with Toms River North winning every game in that time frame.

Once again, Toms River North enters as a heavy favorite after opening the season with a 17-14 victory over North Jersey powerhouse Northern Highlands. Toms River East is riding some momentum of its own following a dominant 42-0 win over Manchester. Raiders junior quarterback JoJo Totten delivered a breakout performance, throwing for 107 yards and two touchdowns while adding 67 yards and two scores on the ground. He will be tested by a Toms River North pass rush that piled up 5.5 sacks last week, led by junior Kam’ron Morse with three sacks and senior Christian Davis-Joseph with 1.5, along with returning All-Shore standout Finn Boland.

On the other side of the ball, the Raiders’ defense, led by Anthony Bonich and his three tackles for loss, will have to contain a Toms River North quarterback run game spearheaded by senior Cole Garrison. Garrison rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown against Northern Highlands while adding 71 yards through the air on four completions. The quarterback run game presents an added schematic challenge for Toms River East, giving the Mariners an extra blocker in the running game and creating an additional gap for the Raiders’ defense to account for when the extra blocker inserts.

No. 6 Holmdel at Red Bank, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Sophomore quarterback Tommy Fletcher passed his first test with flying colors last week, throwing two touchdown passes on just three attempts. The Hornets’ receiving corps, which features returning All-Shore standouts Michael Todisco and Anthony Serini, along with sophomore Charles Murphy, who led the team in receiving last week, showed it remains a difficult group to cover. Red Bank has plenty of talent in the secondary, including returning cornerback Ahmare Bonus, who will be tasked with helping contain Holmdel head coach Noel Kavanagh’s sophisticated passing attack.

The Bucs have an explosive weapon of their own in senior wideout Kaden Jackson, who broke loose for a 92-yard touchdown run last week while also catching seven passes for 97 yards. Holmdel’s force defenders will have to remain disciplined on the perimeter and prevent Jackson from turning the corner on jet sweeps, motion tosses and other plays designed to get him the ball in space.

Manasquan at No. 10 Point Boro, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

One of the biggest challenges when facing a Flexbone team is adjusting to the speed and efficiency with which the offense operates. Point Boro adds another dimension with a level of physicality and heavy tight end sets that are not often seen in traditional triple-option offenses. Manasquan’s front seven, featuring players such as senior defensive lineman Lucas Kubu and senior linebacker Luke Barry, will need to be assignment-sound while matching the physicality of a stout Panthers offensive line led by junior center Travis Scully and sophomore guard Nico Cangiano, in order to slow down senior quarterback Jake Clayton, who rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns last week and the rest of the offense.

On the other side of the ball, the Panthers will have to prepare for a much different Manasquan offense than the one they saw a year ago. Traditionally a run-heavy team operating out of its patented I-Formation, the Warriors leaned on the passing game in Week 0, with senior quarterback Kyle Dow throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wideout Connor Lalli emerged as his top target, hauling in seven receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. Point Boro’s best chance to disrupt that passing attack will be generating pressure up front, led by senior defensive linemen Aidan Dombrowsky, who recorded 1.5 sacks last week, and Mason Morris, who added one sack.

Marlboro at No. 7 Manalapan, Thursday at 6 p.m.

These rivals have not met since 2022, when the Mustangs came away with a 17-14 victory. The Braves enter this matchup as the favorite after opening their season with a 41-25 win over Hillsborough. Manalapan’s Shotgun Wing-T rushing attack was dominant, piling up 357 yards and five touchdowns on 38 carries, led by standout senior running back Nick Palmieri’s 191 yards and three touchdowns. Marlboro’s best approach defensively may be to load the box and attack with blitzes and stunts, utilizing senior linebackers Zach Mojares, who recorded nine tackles last week, and Ardy Mehmedaj, who added seven tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.

Senior running back Shaqur Richardson had a breakout performance of his own, rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown in his first start. Marlboro’s offensive line will need to create movement at the line of scrimmage, get off double teams and reach the second level against senior Donny Rocco Sosa. A stout run plugging linebacker, Rocco Sosa was all over the field last week with a team-high 14 tackles. If the Mustangs can consistently get a hat on Sosa and Manalapan’s other linebackers, Richardson should have opportunities to make plays in the open field.

Pinelands at Freehold Boro, Friday at 4 p.m.

The Wildcats displayed impressive offensive balance in their opener, throwing for 202 yards with senior quarterback JJ Jenkins leading the passing attack while adding 191 yards on the ground. Senior wideouts Dom Colosi and Anthony Bonds combined for 183 receiving yards and a touchdown. For the Colonials, the priority defensively will be limiting Pinelands’ passing attack and preventing the explosive plays that fueled its Week 0 success.

The Colonials struggled to generate offense last week, finishing with just 90 total yards, 60 of which came from sophomore quarterback Adrian KrKuti between the passing and running games. Freehold Boro will need another playmaker to emerge alongside him. Sophomore wideout Reed Bennett and freshman running back Breyon Bell showed flashes in the opener, but they will face a difficult challenge against an experienced Wildcats defense featuring junior linebacker Montrell Carter, who racked up 12 tackles last week.

Jackson at Toms River South, Friday at 6 p.m.

Something will have to give between a pair of Ocean County teams coming off decisive Week 0 victories. The Indians spread the ball around to a variety of playmakers in their opener, including sophomore running back Denzel Abban, who led the team with 67 rushing yards on just four carries. Defensively, Jackson senior Farrin Blake and sophomore Braden Ramos emerged as game-wreckers, recording 11 and nine tackles, respectively. Ramos added a sack, while Blake forced a fumble.

Blake was equally impactful on the offensive side of the ball, rushing for 113 yards and a touchdown. The Jaguars also suffered an injury at quarterback in their opener, which will make their rushing attack even more important this week. For the Indians, the defensive strategy will likely start with loading the box, limiting Blake and forcing Jackson to find other ways to move the football.

No. 2 Donovan Catholic at No. 11 St. John Vianney, Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Griffins lived up to their lofty expectations in Week 0, pummeling Kingsway 52-7, while the Lancers exceeded the modest expectations surrounding them after graduating a significant number of starters. St. John Vianney opened the season with a 29-28 overtime victory over defending Group 3 state champion Cedar Creek. It remains to be seen whether Cedar Creek is in the same stratosphere as last year’s championship team, but regardless, the Lancers earned their way into the Top 12 and now have an opportunity to prove they are for real against one of the Shore Conference’s premier teams.

St. John Vianney junior wideout Noah Fitzpatrick scored three touchdowns on three receptions last week, earning a Penn State offer shortly afterward. One intriguing matchup will be whether Donovan Catholic head coach Dan Curcione gives highly-touted sophomore Kam McBride an opportunity to test himself against Fitzpatrick. The more likely approach would be to provide help over the top, with East Carolina commit Ja’el Hester roaming at free safety to limit Fitzpatrick’s ability to create explosive plays.

The Griffins displayed impressive balance offensively last week, finishing with 223 passing yards and 218 rushing yards. Senior running back Alex Staten was particularly explosive, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries. St. John Vianney will lean heavily on senior Isaiah Shade, one of the Shore Conference’s top linebackers, to slow Staten and the Donovan Catholic rushing attack. If the Lancers can contain the run and force the Griffins to become one-dimensional, they will give themselves a much better chance of pulling off the upset.

Central at Howell, Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Rebels were one of the few Shore Conference teams that did not play in Week 0, giving them an extra week to prepare for a Golden Eagles team looking to bounce back from a 38-21 loss to Freehold Township. Central’s quarterback situation is the biggest storyline entering the matchup after junior Isaiah Troiano went down with an injury, forcing seniors CJ Yates and Derek Roth into action under center.

Regardless of who gets the start at quarterback, Howell will look to unleash senior defensive lineman Ivan Padilla, who recorded 13.5 sacks last season. The Golden Eagles’ offensive line will have to account for him in pass protection, whether that means providing extra help or making sure he is matched up against one of their better offensive linemen rather than leaving a running back responsible for him. The simplest way to ease the burden on a backup quarterback, however, would be to lean on a running game that piled up 273 yards last week. Gus Copes led the way with 69 yards and a touchdown on just six carries.

Howell’s running game was a major weakness last season, with the Rebels finishing with just 465 rushing yards as a team. Until they prove they can consistently establish the run, expect the offense to lean heavily on senior quarterback Connor Acker and the receiving corps. That puts added pressure on a Central defense that failed to record a sack last week and will need to find a way to generate more pressure against Acker.

Middletown South at No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven, Friday at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs have defeated the Eagles in each of the last three seasons, although last year’s matchup came down to the wire in a hard-fought 17-14 game. Middletown South’s run defense struggled against Cherokee, surrendering 268 yards on the ground, and it will face another stiff challenge this week against a Rumson-Fair Haven offensive line that returns all five starters. Senior running back Ryder Izzo rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries last week, while junior quarterback Brady Williams added 52 yards on eight attempts. Senior safety Justin Rosato led the Eagles with nine tackles and will need to be heavily involved in the run fit if Middletown South is going to slow down the Bulldogs’ rushing attack.

Senior quarterback Jack Schneider showed plenty of promise in his debut, completing 12-of-16 passes for 208 yards and a touchdown, although he also threw two interceptions. If Schneider can protect the football, he has a pair of dangerous targets in senior Owen Maguire and junior Cillian Duffy, who recorded 82 and 66 receiving yards, respectively, last weekend. They will match up against a Bulldogs secondary that returns just one part-time starter from a year ago in senior Lloyd Bush. Senior defensive back Hunter Beattie made an immediate impact for the Bulldogs in his first start, finishing with 10 tackles and an interception.

Point Beach at Shore, Friday at 7 p.m.

The Garnet Gulls have had this game circled for nearly a full year after losing twice to the Blue Devils last season, by scores of 63-7 and 30-6, with the latter coming in the playoffs. For the Point Beach defense, everything starts with slowing down Shore senior running back Cole Torres, who rushed for more than 350 yards across the two matchups last year. Junior linebacker Gage Boyle has picked up where he left off, racking up 11 tackles last week. Boyle and the rest of the linebacking corps will have to be up to the task of bringing down Torres when he gets a full head of steam.

On the other side of the ball, the chemistry between brothers senior wide receiver Danny Cavanaugh and junior quarterback Billy Cavanaugh was on full display last week, as the duo connected for two touchdowns. Shore’s defensive line will need to generate enough pressure on Billy to disrupt the timing between the two and prevent the brothers from finding the same rhythm.

St. Anthony’s (NY) at Red Bank Catholic, Friday at 6 p.m.

After opening the season with a narrow loss to defending Non-Public B state champion DePaul, Red Bank Catholic continues to test itself with a matchup against New York power St. Anthony’s. The Caseys’ linebacking corps of senior Luke Scaturro (14 tackles), junior Brock Goodman (nine tackles) and senior Che Patrick (four tackles) will be put to the test against highly-touted Boston College commit Xavier Bala, a three-star recruit.

Of course, the Caseys have an FBS-caliber running back of their own in sophomore sensation Gabe Kemp, who racked up 207 yards on 36 carries against DePaul. If Kemp can outplay Bala in this high-profile matchup, his stock will only continue to rise.

Belmont Charter (PA) at Southern, Friday at 6 p.m.

There are plenty of unknowns surrounding Belmont Charter out of Philadelphia. The Tigers finished 10-2 last season but ended the year ranked No. 183 in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps, raising some questions about the strength of their schedule. They opened this season with a convincing 26-6 victory over Neumann-Goretti.

With limited information available on their opponent, the formula for the Rams is relatively simple: stick to their identity, execute their game plan and lean on what they do best.

Ocean at Colts Neck, Saturday at 11 a.m.

Both teams are coming off losses in which they struggled to generate much offense. Sophomore running back Trevor Baum scored Colts Neck’s lone touchdown in a 28-7 loss to Marlboro, while Ocean was shut out in a 21-0 loss to Jackson.

Senior linebacker Jake Volek was all over the field for Ocean, racking up 11 tackles in the opener. If Colts Neck wants to establish its running game, its offensive line will need to account for Volek at the second level, particularly when working off double teams. Keeping their eyes up and getting a hat on Volek will be key to creating running lanes for Baum and the Cougars’ ground game.

Long Branch at Keansburg, Saturday at Noon

Both teams are looking to bounce back after lopsided losses in Week 0. The Green Wave will look to slow down Keansburg junior quarterback Mason Rand who passed for 215 yards and a touchdown last week.

Monmouth at Keyport, Saturday at Noon

The Falcons are coming off an encouraging 21-7 victory over Spotswood on opening weekend, while the Red Raiders will be making their season debut. Monmouth freshman running back Conall Hicks made an immediate impact in his varsity debut, rushing for 100 yards and giving the Falcons an early glimpse of what he can bring to the offense.