Atlantic Physical Therapy Week 2 Shore Conference Football Previews and Picks

The race for division titles begins this weekend. After the first two weeks of the season featured non-conference and non-divisional matchups, Week 2 brings a full slate of divisional games across the Shore Conference as teams begin their pursuit of division championships.

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 2 picks and previews.

	Stump	Smith	Crouthamel	Yeserski	Manzo
THURSDAY
RFH at Holmdel	RFH	RFH	Holmdel	RFH	RFH
Manalapan at Wall	Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan	Manalapan	Wall
Southern at Jackson	Southern	Southern	Southern	Jackson	Southern
Free. Twp. at Midd South	Midd South	Freehold Twp.	Freehold Twp.	Freehold Twp.	Freehold Twp.
Shore at Midd North	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North	Midd North
Howell at Raritan	Howell	Howell	Howell	Raritan	Howell
Neptune at Marlboro	Neptune	Neptune	Neptune	Marlboro	Neptune
Red Bank at Ocean	Red Bank	Ocean	Red Bank	Red Bank	Ocean
Keansburg at Free. Boro	Freehold Boro	Freehold Boro	Freehold Boro	Freehold Boro	Freehold Boro
Colts Neck at Long Branch	Colts Neck	Long Branch	Colts Neck	Colts Neck	Long Branch
Friday
RBC at SJV	RBC	RBC	RBC	RBC	RBC
Donovan at Brick Mem.	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan	Donovan
Point Boro at TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North	TR North
Brick at Pinelands	Brick	Brick	Brick	Pinelands	Pinelands
TR East at Lacey	TR East	TR East	TR East	TR East	TR East
TR South at Central	Central	TR South	Central	TR South	Central
Point Beach at New Egypt	Point Beach	Point Beach	Point Beach	Point Beach	Point Beach
Barnegat at Asbury Park	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat	Barnegat
Manchester at Monmouth	Monmouth	Monmouth	Monmouth	Monmouth	Monmouth
Saturday
Matawan at Manasquan	Manasquan	Manasquan	Matawan	Manasquan	Manasquan
Keyport at Lakewood	Keyport	Keyport	Keyport	Keyport	Keyport
Last week	20-1	16-5	15-6	16-5	17-4
Season record	42-11	42-11	36-17	38-15	39-14

Previews

No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven at No. 6 Holmdel, Thursday at 7 p.m.

One of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season to this point features a pair of teams looking to improve to 3-0. Holmdel has yet to be challenged, cruising to lopsided wins over Hightstown and Red Bank. Rumson-Fair Haven, meanwhile, was tested in a one-point victory over Tottenville (NY) before defeating Middletown South by three touchdowns.

If there are any doubters remaining about the Hornets in the post-Jack Cannon era, this represents their biggest opportunity to silence them. Holmdel’s passing attack, guided by sophomore quarterback Tommy Fletcher, has been impressive with nearly 400 yards and five touchdowns through two games. Fletcher will face a battle-tested Bulldogs secondary featuring senior free safety Hunter Beattie, a ball hawk who has snatched three interceptions in two games.

This will also be the first major test for Holmdel up front. The Hornets will have to contend with a dangerous Rumson-Fair Haven pass rush led by senior defensive lineman Ben Gredell, who has three sacks, and senior linebacker Ryder Izzo, who has added 2.5 sacks.

On the other side of the ball, the Bulldogs have displayed plenty of balance. Rumson-Fair Haven has rushed for 347 yards and three touchdowns, with Izzo and junior quarterback Brady Williams accounting for the bulk of that production. Williams has also been efficient through the air, completing 27 of 44 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns.

Holmdel’s defense will look to disrupt that balance, with senior linebacker Hunter Sanfilippo emerging as one of the Hornets’ top pass rushers with two sacks through the first two games.

No. 7 Manalapan at No. 12 Wall, Thursday at 7 p.m.

There is some historical significance surrounding this matchup, as the Crimson Knights look to christen their brand-new turf field with a victory. Manalapan, meanwhile, will try to spoil the occasion while snapping a two-year losing streak against Wall.

Manalapan’s rushing attack has been among the best in the Shore Conference, with its Shotgun Wing-T offense piling up 597 yards through two games. Dynamic senior running back Nick Palmieri has led the way with 261 yards and four touchdowns. Wall senior linebackers Christos Tsandiotis (16 tackles) and Max Katsouris (12 tackles) will lead the effort to slow down the Braves in the box.

The Crimson Knights’ secondary has been vulnerable through two games, although it has faced two of the Shore Conference’s top passing attacks in Brick Memorial and Freehold Township. If Wall commits extra defenders to stopping the run, look for senior quarterback Cameron Desfosse to take some shots downfield to his leading receiver, senior Cooper Savage.

On the other side of the ball, Wall senior quarterback Franny Scaramellino and junior running back Michael Boulard showcased their big-play ability in a shootout victory over Freehold Township. Manalapan’s linebacker corps, led by seniors Donny Rocco Sosa (25 tackles) and Chase Osmun (27 tackles), will have to be up to the task against a Crimson Knights offense capable of striking quickly.

No. 9 Southern at Jackson, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The Rams received some frustrating news last week when their game against Belmont Charter (PA) was canceled. They should be well-rested and eager to get back on the field against a Jackson team that is off to a 2-0 start behind strong defensive play.

Southern leaned heavily on the passing game in Week 0, with senior quarterback Carson Abbato throwing for 202 yards and two touchdowns. His top target, senior wideout Chris Raub, was electric, turning his two receptions into a pair of long touchdowns. One of Jackson’s cornerbacks, senior Ashton Martinez or sophomore Brooklyn Mann, will likely draw the assignment against Raub. The Jaguars could also use sophomore free safety Matthew Kellett over the top to limit the big play and force Abbato to look elsewhere.

Jackson has already shown its ability to make game-changing plays in the secondary. The Jaguars returned two interceptions for touchdowns last week, with sophomore linebacker Brayden Ramos and senior linebacker Gavin Dill each recording a pick-six.

On the other side of the ball, Jackson has leaned on its rushing attack, with senior Farrin Blake doing most of the damage. Southern should like its chances of making the Jaguars earn their yards on the ground with the Iliescu twins and junior linebacker Sawyer Grose (11 tackles) leading the effort in the box. If the Rams can contain Blake and force Jackson to throw the football, it could shift the matchup in Southern’s favor.

Freehold Township at Middletown South, 6:30 p.m.

As expected, Freehold Township’s Air Raid offense is once again one of the best passing attacks in the Shore Conference. Senior quarterback Dakota Lasater has thrown for 665 yards and seven touchdowns through two games, with senior wideout Jake Schultzel accounting for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Middletown South has its back against the wall after an 0-2 start and will need to pressure Lasater early and often to disrupt the Patriots’ high-powered passing game. Junior outside linebacker Austin Garrett has recorded two sacks, while senior outside linebacker Anthony Bennett has added 1.5 sacks through the first two games.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles should lean heavily on senior running back Justin Rosato in an effort to control possession and keep Freehold Township’s high-flying offense off the field. Central and Wall both found success running the football against the Patriots, making a heavy dose of the Lehigh commit a logical approach for Middletown South. If Rosato can consistently move the chains and shorten the game, the Eagles could put themselves in position to earn their first win.

Shore at No. 8 Middletown North, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

The schedule makers did the Blue Devils no favors with this matchup, as Group 1 Shore travels to face last year’s Central Jersey Group 4 finalist, Middletown North. In the latest NJSIAA football classifications, Shore’s three-grade enrollment was 395 students compared to Middletown North’s 872, giving the Lions a significant advantage in overall numbers, depth and ability to withstand injuries over the course of the season.

It was no surprise to see senior running back Matt Belenko rush for more than 100 yards on just 11 carries against Lacey, but the emergence of junior quarterback Derek Grasso provided another encouraging dimension to the Lions’ offense. In his first start, Grasso threw for 176 yards, with junior wideout Anthony Christiani hauling in five passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Shore senior defensive lineman Brady MacRae and company will be tasked with containing Belenko while also finding ways to pressure Grasso and disrupt Middletown North’s offensive balance.

On the other side of the ball, the Lions know the first priority is slowing down the engine of the Blue Devils’ offense in senior running back Cole Torres. Senior defensive lineman Logan Grenham, senior linebacker Kade Little and the rest of the Middletown North front will be tasked with keeping Torres in check.

The Lions cannot afford to fall asleep in the secondary, however. Sophomore wideout Santino Martini showed his big-play ability last week when he got behind the defense for a 62-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Logan Clark, giving Shore a vertical threat that Middletown North will have to respect.

Howell at Raritan, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Discipline in their option responsibilities will be the name of the game for Howell against Raritan’s shotgun flexbone attack. One missed assignment has the potential to turn into a long touchdown run for senior slotback Eric Berg or senior quarterback Parker Needham. For the Rockets, protecting the football will be equally important after turnovers proved costly in last week’s loss to Matawan.

On the other side of the ball, Howell senior quarterback Connor Acker is coming off a two-touchdown performance and will look to keep the Rebels’ offense moving against Raritan. One of the more intriguing matchups will be how the Rockets defend senior tight end Ivan Padilla, whose size and versatility can create problems both as a receiver and blocking in the running game.

Neptune at Marlboro, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Neptune looked much closer to its form from last season after rebounding from a lopsided Week 0 loss to Winslow with a convincing victory over Asbury Park. The Scarlet Fliers have a variety of big-play threats in senior quarterback Caleb Brown-Mason, senior running back/wide receiver Hassin McMillian and senior wideout Jason Whittaker, all three of whom found the end zone last week. In addition to stopping the run, containing Brown-Mason has to be a top priority for a Marlboro defense that struggled against Manalapan last week. Much of that responsibility will fall on senior defensive ends Jake Bazerman and James Torres.

On the other side of the ball, getting the ground game back on track will be a major priority for Marlboro after rushing for just 66 yards on 24 carries against Manalapan last week. A steady dose of senior running back Shaqur Richardson could help establish some balance and open up the play-action passing game for senior quarterback Nick Dimino.

Red Bank at Ocean, Thursday at 7 p.m.

This is a critical game for a pair of teams that enter the matchup with 1-1 records. Red Bank’s pass defense has allowed at least 100 yards in each of its first two games. While Ocean has not gone to the air often, senior quarterback Jake Garrett was efficient in the Spartans’ most recent game against Colts Neck, completing 5 of 8 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown. Junior tight end Aamir Byrd has emerged as a weapon in the passing game, and senior strong safety Nate Borenius, who has recorded 10 tackles through two games, could find himself matched up with Byrd at times.

The Bucs have been without junior running back Jewelz Forehand, who remains sidelined with an injury. In his absence, senior wideout Kaden Jackson, who operates primarily out of the slot, has become an even bigger part of the offense and currently leads Red Bank in both rushing and receiving. Up front, the Bucs will have to know where Ocean senior linebacker Jake Volek is at all times. Volek has compiled 22 tackles through two games and will be a key player for Red Bank to account for in its run-blocking schemes.

Keansburg at Freehold Boro, Thursday at 4 p.m.

Both teams enter this matchup in do-or-die mode as they look to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start. Keansburg’s offensive line has plenty of potential thanks to its size, but the young and inexperienced unit has yet to translate that potential into consistent production. The Titans will look to gain some traction up front this weekend against a Freehold Boro defense that has allowed 45 points per game through the first two weeks.

The Colonials should also have an opportunity to get their offense going against a Keansburg defense that has surrendered more than 50 points in each of its first two games. Freehold Boro will look to get its sophomore duo of Adrian KrKuti and Reed Bennett going in the passing game as it searches for its first win of the season.

Colts Neck at Long Branch, Thursday at 6 p.m.

The Green Wave are riding high after snapping their 14-game losing streak with a resounding 51-0 victory over Keansburg. Long Branch’s new-look flexbone attack was firing on all cylinders, with six different players finding the end zone. Senior fullback Julian Otey made an impact both on the ground and through the air, scoring a touchdown in each. Slowing him down will be the first priority for the Cougars, as taking away the fullback dive — the first phase of the triple option — will be critical to disrupting the Green Wave’s offense.

No. 1 Red Bank Catholic at No. 11 St. John Vianney, Friday at 6 p.m.

The Lancers were handed a difficult early-season stretch, as they are forced to host the No. 1 team in the Shore Sports Insider Top 10 just one week after facing the No. 2 team and falling to Donovan Catholic, 45-13.

As talented as the Caseys are at quarterback and wide receiver, everything starts with trying to slow down sophomore running back Gabe Kemp, who has rushed for 421 yards and five touchdowns through two games against top-tier competition. Standing between Kemp and the Lancers’ defense is a mammoth Red Bank Catholic offensive line featuring seniors Jordan Key, Joe Amadeo and Christian Peter. Junior defensive tackle Dom Cottrell and senior defensive tackle Lucas Faas bring good size to the interior of St. John Vianney’s defensive front and will need to be up to the challenge of resetting the line of scrimmage.

A key for the Lancers offensively will be avoiding becoming one-dimensional and overly reliant on the passing game. They need to create running lanes for senior running back Lucas Farah and junior quarterback Anthony Petracca, who provides a change-of-pace threat with his legs. That will open up opportunities on the outside for star junior wideout Noah Fitzpatrick and speedy sophomore wideout Jaheim Worthy. That will be no easy task against an impressive Caseys linebacking corps led by senior Luke Scaturro, who has recorded 32 tackles through two games, and junior Brock Goodman, who has added 18.

No. 2 Donovan Catholic at No. 5 Brick Memorial, Friday at 6 p.m.

The Griffins edged the Mustangs, 15-14, in this matchup last season despite playing without standout quarterback Kahden Davis. Since then, Brick Memorial has graduated several of the most accomplished players in program history, while Donovan Catholic returned the majority of its core from last season, making the Griffins the favorite heading into this year’s matchup.

Opposing defenses have yet to find an answer for Davis and his top target, senior wideout Aidan Kelly, who has totaled 204 receiving yards and two touchdowns through two games. The Mustangs’ secondary, which features highly touted freshman Zyion Weaver, will face its biggest test of the season. Weaver has already made an impact with seven tackles and an interception through his first two varsity games.

On the other side of the ball, keep an eye on the battle in the trenches, where standout Brick Memorial offensive tackle Jaxon Pacheco could find himself matched up with Donovan Catholic edge rusher and University of Connecticut commit Jason Madden. That individual matchup could go a long way toward determining how much success the Mustangs have offensively.

No. 10 Point Boro at No. 3 Toms River North, Friday at 6 p.m.

Football purists should enjoy this matchup, as Point Boro will deploy senior quarterback Jake Clayton and its flexbone offense against Toms River North senior quarterback Cole Garrison and a power-spread scheme that incorporates elements of the old single-wing offense. These programs have met in each of the last two seasons, with the Panthers earning a 17-14 victory last year after the Mariners escaped with a 24-21 win the year before.

The health of Point Boro slotback Nick Spanola will be worth monitoring. Spanola did not play against Manasquan last week and is a vital part of the Panthers’ offense as their biggest speed threat, particularly on the rocket toss to the perimeter. With Spanola on the mend, the offense has leaned heavily on Clayton, who consistently keeps his legs churning to pick up tough yards after contact. Toms River North linebackers Finn Boland, a sophomore with 19 tackles, and Kam’ron Morse, who has recorded 18 tackles, will be tasked with limiting those extra yards and getting Clayton to the ground on first contact.

Toms River North features a more balanced rushing attack, with senior running back Lucas Elias already surpassing 200 yards on the ground and Garrison sitting just under 200 through two games. Point Boro’s defensive front, led by senior defensive end Mason Morris and senior defensive tackle Ford Kelly, has consistently created penetration and produced tackles for loss through the first two weeks. If the Panthers can win up front, put the Mariners behind the sticks and force them into obvious passing situations, it could go a long way toward slowing down Toms River North’s offense.

Brick at Pinelands, Friday at 6 p.m.

While the Dragons were not satisfied with the final result, last week’s 27-14 loss to rival Brick Memorial was encouraging in the grand scheme of things, showing they can compete with one of the top teams in the Shore Conference. Pinelands has yet to face a major test, but the Wildcats have to be pleased with a 2-0 start that has featured a pair of wins by around 40 points.

Brick has spread the ball around offensively through its first two games, including utilizing two quarterbacks in senior Weston Baumert and junior Gavin Delgado. Junior running back Kole Perrine leads the Dragons on the ground, with most of his production coming in the opener when he rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries. Pinelands junior linebacker Montrell Carter has been a force through two games with 16 tackles, making the battle inside the box one to watch.

The Wildcats have also distributed the ball to a variety of playmakers, with seven different players already finding the end zone. Junior running back RJ Clark leads the team with four touchdowns. Slowing down that rushing attack will be the responsibility of a strong Brick linebacking corps featuring Cian Foy, Rowan Foy and Owen Maffei, who have each recorded 19 tackles through two games. If the Dragons can contain the Wildcats on the ground, expect Pinelands senior quarterback JJ Jenkins to take to the air more frequently than he has needed to during two lopsided victories. Jenkins has completed 10 of 18 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

Toms River East at Lacey, Friday at 6 p.m.

Both the Raiders and Lions will look to bounce back and improve to 2-1 after suffering Week 1 losses to ranked opponents. Toms River East will look to regain the offensive balance it displayed in its Week 0 victory, when the Raiders threw for 167 yards and rushed for 161. Much of that production came through junior quarterback JoJo Totten, who will be the focal point for the Lacey defense. Senior defensive end Alex Talbot, who has recorded 10 tackles and a sack through two games, and the rest of the Lions’ defensive front will need to maintain contain and prevent Totten from escaping the pocket and creating plays with his legs.

On the other side of the ball, Lacey has opened up its passing game more this season, with senior quarterback Joseph Geiger throwing for 135 yards through two games. Some early success through the air could create additional running room for Geiger and sophomore running back Taven Santonasso. The ground game starts with accounting for Toms River East junior linebacker Anthony Bonich, who has recorded seven tackles and three tackles for loss and has been a disruptive presence against the run.

Toms River South at Central, Friday at 6:30 p.m.

It’s do-or-die time for a Central team that entered the season with high expectations before stumbling to an 0-2 start. The Golden Eagles will face a much-improved Toms River South team looking to improve to 2-1 after a competitive 21-10 loss to Jackson. With the status of junior quarterback Isaiah Troiano uncertain, Central could lean more heavily on its running game with senior JJ Twohig and junior Gus Copes. Toms River South junior linebacker Chris Barbieri was all over the field against Jackson, compiling 15 tackles, so the Golden Eagles will need to keep their eyes up when coming off double teams and make sure they get a hat on him at the second level.

Junior quarterback Xavier Santago has shown no hesitation to push the ball downfield through the first two games, throwing for 242 yards and a touchdown along with two interceptions. The Indians have spread the production around in the passing game, with senior Grayson Thumm and juniors Finn Degnan and Darrian Giordano all contributing. The strength of Central’s defense lies in its secondary, led by CJ Yates and Zyshun Carroll, making ball security and smart decision-making a major emphasis for Santago and the Indians this week.

Point Beach at New Egypt, Friday at 6:30 p.m.

This game is critical for both teams, not only in the divisional race but also for South Jersey Group 1 playoff seeding down the line. For the Warriors, everything offensively runs through junior quarterback Thomas Marabuto, who leads the team with 155 rushing yards while also throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns. The chess match between Marabuto and the quarterback of the Point Beach defense, junior linebacker Gage Boyle, will be one to watch. Boyle has been all over the field through two games, piling up an astounding 30 tackles.

The Garnet Gulls have distributed the ball fairly evenly on offense, but junior running back Thomas Aiosa has emerged as their biggest home-run threat in the rushing game. Slowing him down will start up front for New Egypt, where senior defensive linemen Michael Rousseau, who has recorded three tackles for loss, and Nick Johnson, who has 10 tackles and two tackles for loss, will be counted on to reset the line of scrimmage and prevent Aiosa from getting into the open field.

Barnegat at Asbury Park, Friday at 5 p.m.

Asbury Park has dealt with a pair of extremely unfortunate circumstances through the first two weeks that have prevented the Blue Bishops from completing a full game. Last week against Neptune, an Asbury Park player was hospitalized after collapsing due to heat exhaustion. Shore Sports Insider reached out for an update on the player’s condition but has not yet received one.

The week before, Asbury Park’s game against Newton was called at halftime following repeated lightning delays. After two difficult weeks, the hope is that the Blue Bishops can get back on the field and play a complete game safely.

Barnegat, meanwhile, has come out firing with a pair of lopsided victories over Absegami and Lakewood. Junior running back Ryan Fitzpatrick has emerged as a big-play weapon, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns while also returning a kickoff 95 yards for a score. The Bengals will enter this matchup as heavy favorites.

Manchester at Monmouth, Friday at 6 p.m.

The Falcons could not have asked for a better start to the season, opening 2-0 with victories over Spotswood and Keyport. Freshman running back Conall Hicks has already emerged as one of the Shore Conference’s most productive underclassmen, rushing for 201 yards and a touchdown. While Manchester would love to make stopping Hicks its primary focus, the Hawks also have to respect junior quarterback Ryan Corwin and the passing game. Corwin has thrown for 304 yards and three touchdowns through two games. Senior linebacker Mike Fink, who has recorded 11 tackles, and junior linebacker Ryan Hetzel, who has 13, will play key roles in trying to slow down both facets of the Falcons’ offense.

The Hawks have struggled to generate offense through two games, scoring just seven points, but those seven proved to be enough in last week’s 7-3 victory. Most of Manchester’s production has come through junior quarterback Trevor Freyer, who has thrown for 61 yards and a touchdown while adding 72 yards on the ground. For the Falcons, junior defensive lineman Amari Roach, who has five tackles for loss, and senior defensive lineman Jaden Hall, who has four, have been disruptive forces early in the season. If they can continue creating negative plays and help give Monmouth’s offense short fields, the Falcons could put themselves in position to generate a lot of points.

Matawan at Manasquan, Saturday at 2 p.m.

All eyes will be on the status of Manasquan senior quarterback Kyle Dow. After throwing for 195 yards and two touchdowns in Week 0, Dow was injured in Week 1, and his absence crippled the Warriors’ offense as they attempted zero passes in a 20-6 loss to Point Boro. If Dow is unable to go, expect senior running back Dax Klein to operate out of the Wildcat after rushing for 99 yards and a touchdown last week. Matawan will counter with a pair of junior linebackers in Joseph Martucci, who has recorded 11 tackles, and Sean Euell, who has five, as the Huskies look to take away Manasquan’s ground game.

On the other side of the ball, junior quarterback BlairCarter Gagneron will look to pick apart the Manasquan secondary for the second straight year after throwing for 276 yards and three touchdowns against the Warriors last season. Junior wideout Cayson Williams was his primary weapon in that matchup, hauling in seven receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns, making him the top priority for the Manasquan defense. Williams will present a difficult matchup for whichever Warriors defensive back draws the assignment, putting added importance on generating a consistent pass rush. Senior defensive ends Lucas Kubu, who has recorded two sacks, and Nick Loughrey will be counted on to pressure Gagneron and prevent him from having enough time to find Williams downfield.

Keyport at Lakewood, Saturday at Noon

Both teams will enter this matchup searching for their first win of the season. Keyport’s passing attack showed some potential in last week’s opener, with senior quarterback Marshall Collangelo throwing for 119 yards and two touchdowns, both of which went to junior wideout Justin Way. Lakewood senior defensive back Rias Sanchez intercepted a pass in Week 0, and creating more turnovers could go a long way toward taking some pressure off a Piners offense that has scored just six points through two games.

Lakewood has struggled to establish the run, totaling just 33 yards on 31 carries through its first two games. Keyport surrendered 163 rushing yards against Monmouth last week, however, presenting the Piners with an opportunity to finally get their ground game on track. If Lakewood can take advantage and establish some success on the ground, it could provide the balance the offense has been missing.