Week 6 Shore Conference football preview: Championship week
It’s championship week in Shore Conference football.
The winners of six divisions could possibly be decided over three days of football in Week Six, or possibly all seven if some underdogs can spring an upset.
Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank Catholic headline the week with their showdown for the Class A North championship, while five other first-place teams have a chance to clinch no worse than a tie for a division title.
Here’s what to watch for in a week where the action kicks off with a big Thursday night slate, followed by an anticipated showdown between Point Boro and Brick Memorial on Friday night.
Bulldogs and Caseys renew one of the Shore’s oldest rivalries
A game that has been circled on the calendar since the preseason goes down on Thursday night at Count Basie Field when Rumson-Fair Haven, ranked No. 2 in the Shore Sports Insider Top 12, faces old rival Red Bank Catholic, ranked No. 3. The winner clinches no worse than a tie for the Class A North title.
The Caseys have beaten the Bulldogs in 16 of their last 17 games in a rivalry that dates back to 1947. This will be the 67th edition, and RBC leads the all-time series, 38-22-6. Both teams enter ranked in the top 20 in the state by NJ Advance Media, with Rumson checking in at No. 11 and RBC at No. 13.
RBC enters with a 17-game winning streak against Shore Conference competition, the longest active streak of any team in the conference. The last public school team from New Jersey to beat the Caseys was Middletown South in 2020. (RBC lost to Middletown of Delaware in the season opener this year). Rumson’s most recent win against the Caseys came in the season opener in 2019.
Frankie Williams and Red Bank Catholic will look to keep the upper hand in their rivalry with Rumson-Fair Haven and win the Class A North title in the process. (WDelk Photography)
Both teams have been rolling over opponents in recent weeks. RBC (3-2, 3-0) enters on a three-game winning streak in which it’s outscored opponents 124-14, while the unbeaten Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) have won their last four games by a combined 146-14.
RBC has played the tougher schedule with the Delaware game and a blowout loss to one of the state’s top-five teams, Don Bosco Prep. Rumson has a big win on its resume with a 41-28 victory over No. 4 Point Boro in the season opener. The Caseys are aiming for their fourth straight division title, while the Bulldogs are looking for their first division crown since 2021.
What this game usually comes down to is who wins the battle up front. Last year, RBC’s front seven stuffed the run and hounded Rumson-Fair Haven star quarterback Owen O’Toole into 10-for-26 passing for 83 yards and intercepted him three times, including one current Pittsburgh freshman Davin Brewton took back for a touchdown.
Rumson’s protection has to be better up front to give O’Toole, who is second in the Shore this season with 1,155 yards passing and 13 touchdowns, time to operate and get the ball to talented wideouts Nick Thomas and Jordan Angstreich. That tandem has combined for 765 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.
The run game is also a crucial element for the Bulldogs. Can they run the ball effectively enough to prevent the Caseys from teeing off on O’Toole in the passing game? Senior Kellen Murray looks to be the key to the whole game for the Bulldogs, and he enters with 575 yards and 12 touchdowns on 8.3 yards per carry. He is coming off a career-high 212-yard rushing performance and four touchdowns in a win over Manchester last week.
The Caseys will look to neutralize the Rumson run game and get after O’Toole with one of the top linebacking groups in the Shore, led by seniors Patrick McGonnell (44 tackles, 11 TFL, 4 sacks), Jamie Gutridge (45 tackles, 5 TFL), and Giorgio Olmo (40 tackles, 5 TFL).
RBC’s now-graduated stars, Emanuel Ross and Brewton, made one big play after another in last year’s game, so it’s a question of who will step up in a big spot this year for the young Caseys. Playmakers from their freshman and sophomore classes have emerged in recent weeks to complement senior Frankie Williams.
A first-team All-Shore pick from a year ago, Williams is also a three-year starter at quarterback like O’Toole. He enters with 789 yards and 9 touchdowns passing and has also run for 128 yards and two scores. This is two of the Shore’s best quarterbacks going head to head.
The Caseys are young up front, but they are already battle-tested given the early part of their schedule. Sophomore Jordan Mosenthine is averaging 10 yards a carry and has emerged as a playmaker among the Caseys’ deep group of ballcarriers. Williams’ younger brother, Johnny Williams, leads the wideouts along with junior Daniel Zabora and freshman Jason Berecsky.
A Rumson defense led by senior Jacob Tobias (31.5 tackles, 7.5 TFL), senior linebacker Austin Kiernan (29 tackles) and sophomore defensive lineman Ben Gredell (22 tackles) will look to get a stalemate at the line of scrimmage against RBC’s physical line and then bracket Williams on dropbacks.
This game is also huge when it comes to these teams cementing home playoff games, plus a possible top seed for Rumson-Fair Haven in South Group 2.
RBC is re-arming the Death Star this season after graduating some of the best players it’s ever produced, so this feels like Rumson’s chance to get the Caseys. RBC, meanwhile, is out to remind people that it still has the Bulldogs’ number no matter who graduates.
Point Boro and Brick Memorial square off in a top-five showdown
One of the most exciting games on paper looks to be No. 4 Point Boro heading to No. 5 Brick Memorial on Friday night in Class A South.
A Point Boro offense averaging 33.7 points per game (2nd in the Shore) takes on a Brick Memorial unit averaging 26.3 points per game and 30.4 a game if you throw out their 35-6 loss to No. 1 Toms River North.
Point Boro head coach Brian Staub is a former star at Brick Memorial who was coached by Mustangs’ head man Walt Currie. The flexbone option that Point Boro runs is the one Staub ran when he starred for Brick Memorial, while the Mustangs are more of a spread attack now under Currie.
This game features two of the Shore’s top young quarterbacks in Point Boro sophomore Jake Clayton and Brick Memorial junior Jason Lajara, who both can break a long run on any play. Which team can control the clock and which defense can come up with turnovers should decide what is essentially the de facto second-place game in Class A South.
This is not only the first time Staub has faced his old coach, it’s the first time the two Ocean County teams that are only separated by about 5 miles have played each other in more than 20 years.
Favorites looking to lock down division titles
Some strong favorites going into this week’s action can all clinch no worse than a tie for division titles with wins.
No. 1 Toms River North (6-0, 3-0) can clinch at least a tie for the Class A South title by beating a gritty Howell (3-2, 1-2), which just knocked off the first-place team in Class C North, Manalapan, in a 14-6 win, and reentered the SSI Top 12 at No. 10 this week.
The Mariners, who have won 11 in a row overall and 32 in a row against public schools, rolled past rival Toms River South 41-0 in “The Civil War.” They are shooting for their second division title in the last three seasons. If they beat Howell, they would then need to defeat local rival Donovan Catholic on Oct. 25 to win the title outright.
Cole Torres and Shore Regional can clinch at least a tie for the Class D North title with a win over Neptune. (Photo by Tom Smith/tspsportsimages.com)
Shore Regional is also looking for its second division crown in the past three seasons when it faces Neptune. The Blue Devils (5-0, 4-0) can clinch no worse than a tie for the Class D North title with a victory over the Scarlet Fliers (3-2, 3-1). Shore has only allowed seven points all season and has outscored its divisional opponents 156-0.
For comparison’s sake, Neptune lost 7-6 to New Egypt, and Shore just beat the Warriors 32-0 last week to take sole possession of first place in the division. However, Neptune enters with some offensive confidence off a 47-14 win over Point Beach in which sophomore quarterback Caleb Brown had 200 total yards and two touchdowns, Jeremiah Montgomery went over 100 yards rushing and Daaron Lynch had over 100 yards receiving.
If Shore wins, it can claim the outright title with a win over Asbury Park on Oct. 25 or a loss by New Egypt to Point Beach on Oct. 25. This Neptune game is also crucial in the Blue Devils’ push to get a No. 1 seed in the South Group 1 section.
Central (6-0, 3-0) can grab no worse than a tie for its first division title since 2021 with a victory at Brick (3-2, 2-1) on Friday night. The Green Dragons are coming off an overtime win over Jackson Liberty, while the Golden Eagles rolled over Barnegat 30-0 after their clutch comeback win over Southern. Brick could be a real wildcard in the division with games remaining against Southern and Central. If Central wins, the Golden Eagles would then need to beat Toms River South on Oct. 25 to claim the outright title or have Southern get upset by Lacey.
Manchester (4-2, 3-0) can lock down no worse than a tie for its first division title in school history when it takes on Lakewood (3-3, 1-2) in Class C South on Saturday. The Hawks are looking to bounce back from a lop-sided loss to No. 2 Rumson, while the Piners enter on a three-game losing streak after a 3-0 start. If they knock off Lakewood, the Hawks could then claim the outright title with a victory over winless Monmouth on Oct. 25.
The C North title scenario
While Manalapan is 0-3 outside Class C North, the Braves are unbeaten against divisional foes. That means Thursday night’s home game against Wall marks an opportunity to clinch no worse than a tie for the division title with a win.
Manalapan (3-3, 3-0) lost 14-6 to Howell in a nondivisional game last week in which its offense was shut down by their Freehold Regional District rival. They will try to shake it off against No. 8 Wall (4-1, 2-1), which is coming in off its bye week after suffering its first loss of the season against Holmdel.
Beyond the usual subplot of former Manalapan coach Ed Gurrieri leading Wall against his old team, there’s the question of both squads trying to get back on track on offense after struggling in losses. This game also has major playoff seeding implications, as Wall is currently in ninth in the United Power Rankings in South Group 2 while Manalapan is in eighth in South Group 4, so a win could also bolster the chances of home games in the postseason.
Mason Adam and Wall are looking to put themselves in play for the Class C North title with a win over Manalapan. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
The Crimson Knights still have their own division title hopes, and a win over Manalapan would tie them for first with the Braves with one divisional game left for each team. A Wall win would also put Holmdel in position to grab a piece of the title if the No. 7 Hornets can beat rival Raritan on Thursday night in their “Battle of the Border” game and then beat Manalapan on Oct. 25.
Middletown North, Freehold Township looking to set up a championship showdown
There’s the possibility that either Middletown North or Freehold Township could clinch no worse than a share of the Class B North title this week, but both teams enter their games as favorites.
If Red Bank (3-2, 1-2) upsets Middletown North (5-0, 3-0) on Thursday night, that would open the door for Freehold Township (4-2, 3-0) to clinch at least a tie for the title by beating Freehold (2-4, 0-3) in their rivalry game the same night. The Patriots have never won a division title in program history.
Obviously the scenario works the other way as well, where if Middletown North wins and Freehold Township falls to the Colonials, the Lions clinch no worse than a share of the title. If both teams pick up victories, then it’s winner-take-all for the division title when Middletown North travels to Freehold Township on Oct. 25.
If either team lost this week, they could still get a tie for the title by coming back and getting the win in the game in two weeks.
Here’s what else to watch for this week:
- Asbury Park standout junior running back Am’iere Massie returns this week against Keansburg after sitting four games due to NJSIAA rules. The Blue Bishops are coming off a 44-6 victory over Keyport for their first win of the season.
- Raritan has averaged 36 points per game over its last two games after scoring 20 total points in its first three games. The Rockets face Holmdel in their rivalry game on Thursday.
- The Middletown South-Long Branch game on Thursday night is huge for both teams’ playoff aspirations. The Eagles (2-4) sit 15th in South Group 4, while the Green Wave (1-4) are 18th. Teams must be in the top 16 and have at least two wins to qualify.
- Pinelands’ game at Barnegat on Friday night is a must-have for both teams as far as their playoff hopes are concerned. Both are currently out of the picture with Pinelands at No. 20 and Barnegat at No. 24 in South Group 3, so a win is crucial for a spot. Pinelands is gunning for its first state playoff berth since 2004 and only the third in program history.
- Point Beach will look to keep its push toward its first state playoff berth in seven years going with a game at Keyport on Saturday. The Garnet Gulls sit in 13th in the South Group 1 region.
Scott Stump is an award-winning 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]
