Mustang Stampede: Brick Memorial Wins Central Jersey Group 4 For Its First State Title in 17 Years
BRICK – When Brick Memorial senior linebacker Trey Tallmadge was told that his defensive unit held Middletown North, a team averaging around 150 yards rushing in the playoffs, to eight yards on the ground on Friday night, a big smile came across his face.
“Not surprised,” said Tallmadge, whose thunderous hits kept the Lions’ offense at bay.
The Mustangs’ offense and special teams fed off their defense’s energy, leading Brick Memorial to a 28-0 win over Middletown North to win the Central Jersey Group 4 championship for their first sectional title since 2008 and third in program history. On a team known for one of the Shore Conference’s most high-octane offenses, the defense took center stage in posting its first shutout of the season in the biggest game of the year.
“Our front six is excellent,” said Tallmadge. “If one guy missed, we had other guys flying in there. They hit a couple of big pass plays on us. We bent, but we didn’t break. We have been waiting for this since freshman year. This group of guys deserves this – we all deserve this. I am just glad we got it done.”
Brick Memorial (10-2) advances to the Group 4 semifinals to play the winner of Saturday’s game between Winslow Township, widely considered the top public school program in the state, and Millville in the South Jersey Group 4 final. Winslow beat Millville 49-6 in the regular season and is a heavy favorite to win the overall Group 4 title.
Brick Memorial linebacker Trey Tallmadge celebrates after a tackle (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
The defense set the tone from the outset by forcing a three-and-out by third-seeded Middletown North (5-5) to start the game. The top-seeded Mustangs then took over at the Lions’ 47-yard line.
Taking less than two minutes off the clock in command of Brick Memorial’s quick-strike spread offense, senior quarterback Jason Lajara plunged into the end zone from a yard out, giving the Mustangs a 7-0 lead with 8:18 left in the opening quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Middletown North moved the ball from their 23-yard line to the Mustangs’ 26, aided by a 49-yard completion from senior quarterback Owen Robson to senior wideout Jack Viola. However, the drive ended with a missed 33-yard field goal attempt.
Brick Memorial quickly moved down the field, scoring when senior running Nazeer Whittaker burst 19 yards up the middle to the house to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Brick Memorial running back Nazeer Whittaker carries the ball (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
“He’s the GOAT,” Lajara said of Whittaker. “He’s been dealing with a lot, so this was more than just about football. This was about family, and our brothers in the locker room.”
To start the second quarter, Middletown North went on one of its slow, methodical drives, taking 9:18 off the clock before Robson was intercepted in the end zone by junior defensive back Shawn Fowler with 2:42 left in the half.
On the third play of the ensuing drive, Lajara hooked up with Fowler on a 50-yard toss, getting the ball down to the Lions’ 32-yard line. Lajara hooked up with senior wideout Nyzier Matthews in the corner of the end zone for what would have been a 16-yard TD, but an ineligible receiver downfield penalty and a subsequent post-play unsportsmanlike conduct on the Mustangs moved the ball all the way back to the 36.
A 2-yard run by Lajara, followed by a false start on the offensive line, gave the Mustangs a second-and-38 from the 39 with 13 seconds left in the half. Lajara dropped back to pass, but quickly decided to run, breaking five tackles and leaving three defenders on the ground for a spectacular 39-yard touchdown run to end the half with the Mustangs up 21-0.
Brick Memorial quarterback Jason Lajara celebrates as he runs into the end zone (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
“I saw the receivers were all covered and made the decision to take off,” Lajara said. “Coach (Walt Currie) talked to us all week about seizing opportunities. I looked up at the clock and saw there was a gap. I ended up one-on-one with a linebacker, and everyone did a great job on their blocks downfield.”
Middletown North kicked off to start the second half and Whittaker fielded Seamus Montague’s kick at the 10-yard line, dodged a few defenders and hit the sideline with an electric burst, outracing the Lions for a 90-yard kickoff return and a 28-0 lead.
“Before the kick, I said to myself if they kick it to me, I’m going to grab the ball and run,” said Whittaker. “I trusted my speed, and trusted my blockers, and the rest was history.”
The third quarter ended with a flurry of turnovers, as each team was intercepted and lost a fumble.
Middletown North could not get any momentum in the fourth, as both of its drives ended in a turnover on downs. Lajara took a few knees to close out the win, ending a year of frustration after the Mustangs lost in the sectional final last year.
“We waited a long time here for this moment,” said Matthews, who broke the school record for career receptions owned by former Houston Texans tight end Garrett Graham on his second catch of the game. “I can’t even explain how this moment feels.”
Brick Memorial’s Nyzier Matthews broke the school’s all-time reception record formerly held by Garrett Graham (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Statistics
Passing:
Brick Memorial: Lajara 8-14 134 yards, Int.
Middletown North: Robson 18-30 256, 2 Int.
Rushing:
Brick Memorial: Whittaker 13-77; Lajara 9-80 2 TD; Tallmadge 1-6; Pedre 3-2
Middletown North: Belenko 11-4; Robson 8-4
Receiving:
Brick Memorial: Matthews 2-27; Fowler 1-50; Dillon 3-29; Whittaker 1-11; Tallmadge 1-17
Middletown North: Viola 5-111; Sigler 2-9; Clark 6-102; Little 1-4; Belenko 6-28
