Different Formula, Same Result: Brick Memorial Holds Off Southern, 14-13

BRICK TWP. — Brick Memorial has spent the 2026 season making its case as the best public school football team in the Shore Conference, and the Mustangs have shown they can win in just about any fashion.

One week after putting up 48 points in an offensive shootout against Rumson-Fair Haven, Brick Memorial relied on its defense to survive a physical battle with Southern. Behind two touchdowns from senior wideout Shawm Fowler and a clutch defensive stand in the closing minutes, the Mustangs held off the Rams, 14-13, in a game that had all the intensity of a playoff matchup.

With temperatures roughly 20 degrees cooler than the previous week, the atmosphere was noticeably different from the start. Both defenses wasted little time establishing themselves, forcing punts on the opening possessions. Neither offense could find the end zone in the first quarter, with Brick Memorial also coming up with a turnover on downs to keep the game scoreless.

The Mustangs finally broke through in the second quarter, putting together an eight-play scoring drive that ended with Fowler breaking loose for a 31-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-2.

“The first one, it’s just, like, on instinct. You know, breaking a tackle, I look to my left, there’s a guy on my leg, I shake him off and just keep pushing. That’s what we praise. Keep pushing in everything we do,” Fowler said.

Southern wasted little time answering. The Rams marched down the field on a nine-play drive of their own, capped by a five-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Carson Abbato to freshman wideout Mason O’Brien. Brick Memorial had an opportunity to reclaim the lead before halftime but could not capitalize, sending the teams into the break tied at 7.

The defensive struggle continued in the third quarter, with both teams turning the ball over on downs on their opening possessions of the second half. Neither offense managed to score in the period, but Brick Memorial began putting together what would become the decisive drive with 3:28 remaining in the quarter.

The Mustangs methodically worked their way down the field on a 12-play, 65-yard possession that extended into the fourth quarter. Fowler finished it with his second touchdown of the night, a five-yard run that put Brick Memorial back in front, 14-7.

Southern responded once again, with Abbato directing another scoring drive and connecting with senior wide receiver Chris Raub for a 21-yard touchdown. After failing on a two-point conversion attempt in the previous week’s game, the Rams elected to kick the extra point this time. However, Brick Memorial blocked the attempt, preserving a 14-13 advantage.

The Rams still had an opportunity to pull off the upset.

After their defense forced a punt, Southern moved the ball to the Brick Memorial 33-yard line, putting itself in position to take the lead in the final minutes. With the Mustangs needing a stop, senior defensive lineman and Stetson commit Jaxon Pacheco delivered the biggest defensive play of the night.

On first-and-10, Pacheco broke through Southern’s protection and sacked Abbato, putting the Rams behind the chains. The pressure proved decisive, as Abbato threw three consecutive incompletions to turn the ball over on downs and seal Brick Memorial’s eighth victory of the season.

Pacheco explained that the sack came after he recognized how Southern’s offensive line had been adjusting to the Mustangs’ defensive twists throughout the game.

“I knew they were going to see it coming. So when Coach wanted to run twist, I said, ‘Let me go down,'” Pacheco said. “So when I went to go, like, push the center down, I saw him overset, so I just dipped under him and got to the quarterback.”

The defensive performance was particularly satisfying for a Brick Memorial unit that had surrendered 41 points to Rumson-Fair Haven just one week earlier. Although the Mustangs escaped that contest with a 48-41 victory, their defensive struggles had not sat well with the players.

“I mean, last week was unacceptable. As long as I’ve been here, our defense has never done anything like that. Forty-one points is unacceptable,” Pacheco said. “So we come back the next week, we’re in group period, individual period, we’re focusing really extra on that defense, making sure that we get it.”

Head coach James Mahoney credited his defense for delivering in critical situations, even though he felt there were opportunities to get off the field earlier in the game.

“We just hunkered down in big spots, and I didn’t think defensively we played a great first half,” Mahoney said. “We played first and second down tremendously, and then third and long, credit to Southern, the offensive coaching staff and their quarterback and their receivers made a couple really big third-down conversions.”

The victory was another example of Brick Memorial’s versatility, a quality that could prove especially valuable as the Mustangs prepare for the state playoffs. Against Rumson-Fair Haven, the offense carried the load. Against Southern, the defense rose to the occasion when the game was on the line.

That balance has helped Mahoney guide Brick Memorial to an 8-1 record in his first season after taking over for long-time head coach Walt Currie. Despite losing several key contributors from last year’s team, the Mustangs have continued to build on the program’s winning tradition behind a talented group of veteran leaders.

Senior quarterback Tyler Pierce completed 9 of 10 passes for 70 yards against Southern and added 16 yards rushing. Fowler supplied both touchdowns, continuing a season that has put him among the Shore Conference’s top offensive playmakers. Pacheco, meanwhile, has anchored one of the conference’s strongest defensive fronts and delivered the game-clinching sack.

Together, the trio has helped establish Brick Memorial as a legitimate state championship contender. More importantly, the Mustangs believe their best football is still ahead of them.

“100 percent confident. Nobody else saw it, but we see it. We saw it from the start of the offseason,” Pierce said when asked about the team’s championship aspirations.

Pacheco echoed that confidence but emphasized that Brick Memorial must put together a complete performance to accomplish its ultimate goal.

“If we play like we did against Donovan, we’re not bringing home a state championship,” Pacheco said. “We play like we did, like, defensively tonight, and offensively against Rumson, we could beat anyone in the state. I don’t care who they are. If we play our best football, no one can stop us.”

With the regular season complete, Brick Memorial has demonstrated it possesses both the offensive firepower and defensive toughness needed to make a deep postseason run. The challenge now is bringing those two elements together when the stakes are highest.

Both Brick Memorial and Southern will learn their respective state playoff opponents on Sunday.