Central Regional is the Week 4 Jersey Mike’s Shore Conference Football Team of the Week
Shore Sports Insider is proud to partner with Jersey Mike’s this fall to present our weekly Football Team of the Week award that recognizes one school’s accomplishments during the prior week.
The Jersey Mike’s Shore Conference Football Team of the Week for Week 4 is Central Regional, which rallied past longtime rival Southern Regional, 26-21, on a touchdown in the final 30 seconds to remain undefeated, claim the Boyd-Emmert Trophy for the first time in five years, and take over sole possession of first place in Class B South. Shore Sports Insider stopped by practice on Tuesday to present the Golden Eagles and head coach Jarrett Pidgeon with a special game ball and a $500 Jersey Mike’s gift card for a team meal.
Steve Meyer
Central and Southern both entered last Friday’s game with 4-0 records. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead when senior quarterback Joe Vezzosi started red-hot with a 62-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Yates on the first play of the game. Central capped its opening possession with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Vezzosi to junior running back Austin Jarvis. The Eagles then went ahead by two touchdowns when Vezzosi connected with Yates for a 53-yard touchdown on fourth down.
Southern clawed back with three straight touchdowns to take a 21-14 early in the fourth quarter. The ground game was led by seniors Justin Silva and Evan Wyrsch as Southern put together a long scoring drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Wyrsch. In the third quarter, Southern tied the score when senior quarterback Cooper Dempsey tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Talon Plenge. A second 1-yard touchdown run by Wyrsch put the Rams ahead 21-14 early in the fourth quarter.
Central’s comeback began with a 79-yard drive that culminated with Vezzosi floating a 20-yard touchdown pass to Yates with under three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The extra point missed its mark, however, leaving the Eagles behind by a point. Central’s defense rose to the challenge and forced a three-and-out, giving Vezzosi and the Eagles’ offense one more shot with just 1:32 on the clock and 68 yards to the end zone. On fourth-and-10 from just shy of midfield, Vezzosi found senior wideout Royalty Riley over the middle and Riley turned the reception into a 41-yard gain down to the Southern 11-yard line. On the next play, Vezzosi tossed a pass to the back-right corner of the end zone that Yates hauled in for the go-ahead score with 20 seconds on the clock.
The dramatic victory improved Central to 5-0 for the first time since it started 6-0 and won the Liberty Division title in 2021. Vezzosi had a career night with 301 yards passing and four touchdowns, as did Yates with six catches for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Riley finished with six catches for 113 yards, none bigger than his fourth-down catch to set up the winning score.
Central must still get past Brick (2-2) and Toms River South (3-2) to clinch the Class B South division title. They head up the Parkway to face the Dragons on Oct. 11 and host Toms River South in the final week of the regular season. The Eagles will venture out of the division this week to face a familiar Ocean County foe and former division rival when they host Barnegat (3-2) on Friday night.
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