Shore Conference football Week 8 preview: Crunch time
It’s all on the line in Week Eight in Shore Conference football – division titles, playoff berths, home playoff games, legacies, school records and more.
That’s why it’s the best time of the year.
There are so many games with stakes to them this week, which marks the cutoff for public state playoff qualifying and seeding, that I have a breakdown of them in groups.
Here are the playoff criteria. Note that the non-public brackets, which don’t begin for two weeks, are seeded by a committee, not the United Power Ranking formula like the public school brackets. The cutoff for non-public teams is not until Nov. 2.
Teams ranked in the top 16 in UPR in each region qualify for the playoffs.
Here are the updated UPR rankings for playoff seeding, and the full Week Eight schedule. The official brackets will be posted on Sunday and will be official at noon.
Also, just to note for the non-playoff qualifiers, there are no more crossover/consolation/whatever-you-want-to-call-it games starting this year, but teams are allowed to schedule extra games if they don’t want the season to be done this week.
Buckle up. The playoffs await.
Division title games
No. 6 Middletown North at Freehold Township, Friday at 6:30 p.m.
This is the winner-take-all game for the Class B North championship. Middletown North (6-0, 4-0) won a share of the Independence Division title in 2021 but hasn’t won an outright division crown since going 11-0 in 1983, a season that keeps popping up with every win by the Lions this season.
Freehold Township (5-3, 4-0) is seeking its first division title in program history. The Patriots are coming off a 55-19 loss to Freehold Regional District rival Manalapan, while Middletown North has had two weeks to prepare for Freehold Township’s aerial attack due to a bye.
This comes down to whether Freehold Township’s defense can get enough stops against a balanced and talented Middletown North offense that has a formidable offensive line, senior running back Shane Volante, junior quarterback Owen Robson and a deep group of wide receivers.
On the other side, Middletown North’s strong defensive line will look to get consistent pressure on Patriots’ senior quarterback Nick Cardone, the school’s all-time leading passer.
Both teams are headed for the postseason. For Freehold Township, this marks the first time in program history that the Patriots have made the state playoffs in three straight seasons.
Toms River South at No. 11 Central, 7 p.m. on Friday
The unbeaten Golden Eagles (8-0, 4-0) can clinch the outright Class B South title and tie the single-season school record for wins set in 1994 and 1971. They also would be 9-0 for the first time since finishing with that record in 1971.
Toms River South (4-4, 3-1) can tie Central for the B South title with a win, which would give the Indians back-to-back division titles for the first time since winning three straight Class A South championships from 1985-87 under Hall of Fame coach Chip LaBarca Sr.
A win by Toms River South would also allow Southern to grab a piece of the division title with a three-way tie if the Rams beat Brick.
It will be Central’s balanced offense led by senior running back Nick Ruggiero, quarterback Joe Vezzosi and wideout C.J. Yates against a Toms River South offense led by senior running back Jake Henehan. In all of the Indians’ wins this season, Henehan has gone over 100 yards rushing. How he fares against a Central defense giving up only 8.8 points per game led by linebackers Zach Cramer and Austin Jarvis should tell the story.
No. 7 Holmdel at Manalapan, 7 p.m. on Friday
The wild Class C North race finally gets some clarity because the winner of this game clinches no worse than a tie for the division title.
Manalapan (4-4, 3-1) is seeking its first division crown since ending its dominant run in Class A North in 2017, while Holmdel (6-1, 3-1) is looking for back-to-back division titles for the first time in program history.
Holmdel and Jack Cannon are looking to win consecutive division titles for the first time in program history. (Photo by Tom Smith/tspsportsimages.com.
Two big questions in this one. Which Manalapan team will show up? The one that just unloaded 55 points on Freehold Township and put 35 on St. John Vianney? Or the one that mustered one offensive touchdown in two full games in losses to Howell and Wall? The key to it all is the running game led by Ah’sere Woolfolk and Nicky Palmieri.
The second question is whether the Braves can stop Holmdel junior dynamo Jack Cannon at quarterback. He’s almost cleared 1,000 yards passing and 1,000 rushing this season and has not been completely bottled up by any opponent this year.
The way St. John Vianney beat Holmdel was by gashing them on the ground with Abdul Turay and putting up 33 points of its own, while forcing turnovers and getting stops in the red zone. Easier said than done against a Holmdel offense that averages 40 points per game.
Wall (6-1, 3-1), which is idle this week, can tie the winner of this game for the Class C North title by winning its Thanksgiving game against Manasquan.
No. 9 Donovan Catholic at No. 1 Toms River North, Friday at 6 p.m.
In the latest installment of a fierce rivalry, the top-ranked Mariners (8-0, 4-0) can clinch the outright Class A South title by beating the Griffins (2-4, 2-2). Toms River North has the state’s longest current winning streak at 13 games, but Donovan Catholic won’t be daunted by that fact. The Griffins ended the Mariners’ 17-game winning streak last season with a 21-7 win.
These teams compete for talent in Toms River, and Donovan head coach Dan Curcione is a former defensive coordinator on state championship teams at Toms River North, so there’s plenty of entanglements between these teams.
One of the Shore’s top coaches, Toms River North’s Dave Oizerowitz, is coming off his 100th career victory in a 35-0 wipeout of Southern.
While Toms River North’s offense has an array of dazzling stars, its defense only gives up 4.9 points per game and has registered three straight shutouts and four overall. Donovan Catholic enters with its most offensive momentum of the season after back-to-back games of 30-plus points and a career-high eruption from Rutgers recruit Michael Thomas III last week in a loss to No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven.
If Donovan shocked Toms River North, it would open the door for Point Boro to tie the Mariners for the Class A South title by beating Howell.
Colts Neck at No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m. on Friday
The Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0) can lock up the outright Class A North title by taking care of business against the Cougars (0-7, 0-4). It’s their first division crown since winning the American Division in 2021.
The Bulldogs just dropped 56 points on Donovan Catholic in a 24-point win for their highest point total since putting 56 on Raritan in 2017.
This is the last tune-up before a playoff run in which Rumson hopes to finish the job after losing in the Group 2 final in the past two seasons. While it looks like a win here would lock up the No. 1 seed for the Bulldogs in the South Group 2 region, NJ Advance Media, which has close ties to the NJSIAA, reported that it looks like Camden will actually jump Rumson for the No. 1 seed.
That could mean a bracket with both Rumson and Point Boro going head to head for a sectional title. The Bulldogs beat Point Boro 41-28 in their season opener.
Manchester at Monmouth, 6 p.m. on Friday
The Hawks (6-2, 4-0) can clinch their first outright division title in program history by beating the Falcons (0-8, 0-4) on the road.
Manchester has already locked up just its third state playoff berth in school history and possibly its first home playoff game. The Hawks sit in fifth in UPR in South Group 2.
Asbury Park at Shore, 7 p.m. on Friday
The Blue Devils (7-0, 5-0) can clinch the outright Class D North title by beating the Blue Bishops (2-4, 2-2) as they gear up for a run in the Group 1 playoffs. They are coming off head coach Don Klein’s 100th career victory in a win over his old squad, Ocean, in a nondivisional game.
They will have an eye on South Jersey as Glassboro and Woodstown meet in a battle of unbeaten teams this week. The winner likely determines the No. 1 seed in the South Group 1 region. The main question is how many home games Shore will get after the dust settles. It looks like either way they are going to have to head to the wilderness of South Jersey to face Woodstown or Glassboro if they advance.
If Asbury Park stunned Shore, it would open the door for New Egypt to tie the Blue Devils for the D North title by beating Point Beach.
Also, check out my feature on Shore Regional senior TE/DE Braden Miller, who found out he had epilepsy in 2023 after a frightening seizure but has returned to start both ways for the Blue Devils.
Must-win games to qualify for the playoffs
Raritan at No. 12 St. John Vianney, 6:30 p.m. on Friday
The host Lancers (5-3) are already in the Non-Public B bracket, but this is a do-or-die game for Raritan. The Rockets (3-4), who have scored 30-plus points in three straight games, have to upset St. John Vianney to get in because they currently sit in 19th in South Group 2.
Long Branch at Marlboro, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Despite only having one win, the Green Wave (1-6) still have at least an outside shot at making the field by upsetting Marlboro (4-3), which is already in the postseason.
Long Branch is in 19th in South Group 4, but Marlboro is a four-win team that is currently No. 9 in the same section, so a win makes a berth at least a possibility for the Green Wave. Teams have to have at least two wins to qualify, which makes it a must for Long Branch.
Marlboro has qualified for the state playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in program history.
Red Bank at Matawan, 6 p.m. on Friday
This might not totally be a must-win for Red Bank (4-3), which sits 15th in South Group 4, but it’s awfully close. The Bucs don’t want to be furiously refreshing Gridiron New Jersey on Sunday morning hoping they didn’t get jumped for one of the last few spots.
This would be Red Bank’s first state playoff appearance in five years.
Southern at Brick, 6 p.m. on Friday
Southern (5-3) is already in the field in Group 5, but Brick (3-4, 2-2) is sitting at No. 20 in South Group 3 and has to have this one to have a chance. The Green Dragons took unbeaten Central to the brink in a 10-7 loss and also had a one-score loss to Toms River South, so they are looking to get over the hump against a playoff-bound opponent.
This game could also be crucial in the Class B South race if Toms River South upsets Central. If that happens, Southern can get a piece of the division title by winning this game.
Lacey at Toms River East, Friday at 6 p.m.
The main question in this one is whether the Raiders (2-6) will get enough points for beating the Lions (0-7). Toms River East is right on the dividing line at No. 17 in South Group 4, so it has to get this one and hope things break in its favor to sneak in.
Lacey has never had a winless season in the Hall of Fame tenure of head coach Lou Vircillo, which began with the inception of the program in 1981, so the Lions are looking to break into the win column.
Pinelands at Jackson Liberty, 6 p.m. on Friday
Jaimin Parkinson (#28) and Pinelands have a must-win game against Jackson Liberty to try to grab a rare playoff berth. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com
The Wildcats (4-3) gave themselves a shot at just their third state playoff berth in school history and the first one in 20 years when they pulled out a comeback, overtime win against Neptune last week. That put them at 17th in South Group 3, so they have to beat the Lions (4-4) and hope that is enough to get them over the hump into the top 16.
Point Beach at New Egypt, Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Point Beach needs to prevent a party on Evergreen to have a shot at making the field in South Group 1. The Garnet Gulls (4-3) sit at 20th right now, but a win over the Warriors (5-2), who are in 12th in the same region, might be enough.
Point Beach was in 14th a week earlier before plummeting to 20 heading into this week. New Egypt has been the second-best team in Class D North all season, so Point Beach is going to have to find a way to pull the upset to have a fighting chance at its first state playoff berth since 2019.
Barnegat at Lakewood, 1 p.m. on Saturday
Similar to Red Bank, this might not be completely must-win territory for Barnegat, but it’s awfully close. The Bengals (5-3) sit in 14th in South Group 3, so they don’t want to potentially get jumped if they don’t beat the Piners (4-4). The good news is that if there is a tie between them and Pinelands for a final spot, they have the tiebreaker because they have a head-to-head win over the Wildcats.
Quick notes on some remaining games
- No. 4 Red Bank Catholic (4-3) hosts Middletown South (3-5) in a game where both teams appear to have qualified for the playoffs and are looking to improve their position. RBC’s win over Paramus Catholic last week was huge. If the Caseys can close out the regular season with wins over the Eagles and then Donovan Catholic, that win over Paramus Catholic might give them the ammunition to get a No. 2 seed in the Non-Public B bracket. The key is avoiding heavy favorite DePaul until the final, so a 2 or 3 seed is ideal for the defending Non-Public B champs.
- No. 5 Brick Memorial (6-2) heads to “The Jungle” to play Jackson Memorial (4-4) in a game between playoff-bound teams. This is both teams seeking a higher seed and a home game in the playoffs. Brick Memorial has also returned All-Shore linebacker Trey Tallmadge, who became the program’s all-time leading tackler (279) as a junior in a win last week. He had missed three games with injury.
- No. 3 Point Boro (6-2) heads to No. 10 Howell (3-4) in a matchup of ranked teams going to the postseason. The Panthers are currently No. 4 in UPR in South Group 2 and looking to nudge up higher with a win. This game could also have division title implications if Donovan Catholic upsets Toms River North. Point Boro could tie the Mariners for the title with a win over the Rebels.
Scott Stump is a reporter, newsletter writer and editor who first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point.
Email: [email protected]
