Atlantic Physical Therapy Shore Conference Football Top 12, Sept. 3
We’re back.
High school football officially arrived in New Jersey this past weekend when 32 of the 43 Shore Conference teams competed during Week 0. The calendar has barely reacquainted itself with September and we’ve already seen the usual mix of high-flying offensive performances, shutdown defensive efforts, clutch kicks, down-to-the-wire thrillers and exciting comebacks.
A pair of teams that were ranked to start the season suffered defeats and Week 0 and tumbled out of the rankings, which means we welcome two new teams to the Atlantic Physical Therapy Top 12. The two previously ranked teams play a schedule that will give them several opportunities to re-enter the rankings, so there’s a good chance we’ll hear from them again.
A few teams also thrust themselves into the conversation with take-notice showings in Week 0.
Scroll down to see the latest Shore Sports Insider Top 12 rankings heading into Week 1.
1. Toms River North (1-0). Last week: No. 1
Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio completed 14 of 20 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 101 yards and a touchdown as the two-time defending NJSIAA Group 5 champions throttled Downingtown East, 31-2. Downingtown East was 11-1 last season and entered the game ranked No. 27 in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps. Senior wideout Nasir Jackson caught six passes for 144 yards and also intercepted a pass on defense while senior running back Mordecai Ford and senior wide receivers Camryn Thomas and Mekai Morse all caught touchdown passes. The Mariners out-gained the Cougars 303-0 in the first half. Sophomore linebacker Jack Baker had six tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss and senior edge Blaise Boland had eight tackles and six pressures to lead the way. Next game: Friday vs. Toms River East (1-0).
2. Red Bank Catholic (0-1). Last week: No. 2
Senior quarterback Frankie Williams ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Daniel Zabora in the Caseys’ 16-14 loss to Middletown (Del.), which is currently ranked No. 1 in the state by MaxPreps. RBC returns home this week for another matchup with a marquee opponent. Next game: Friday vs. Don Bosco Prep (0-1).
3. Rumson-Fair Haven (0-0). Last week: No. 3
The Bulldogs were idle in Week 0 and will open their season with a marquee nondivisional matchup between top five teams in Week 1. Next game: Friday vs. No. 5 Point Boro (1-0).
VOTE: Week 0 Shore Conference Players of the Week
4. Donovan Catholic (0-1). Last week: No. 4
Senior wide receiver Michael Thomas III caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, hauling in a 67-yard scoring strike from sophomore quarterback Kyle Dow to give the Griffins an early lead, but St. Augustine scored 35 unanswered points to run away with a 35-6 victory. The Hermits entered the game ranked No. 15 in New Jersey by NJ.com, so the Griffins stay put until we see how they fare against Shore Conference competition. The last time they lost to an unranked Shore Conference team was in 2018. They have a bye in Week 1 but will return to action with a massive Class A South game in Week 2. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 vs. No. 5 Point Boro.
5. Point Boro (1-0). Last week: No. 5
Sophomore quarterback Jake Clayton ran for 55 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries and senior fullback Dylan Reitmeyer ran for 108 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries as the Panthers bulldozed visiting Steinert, 49-7. Point Boro unleashed 406 yards rushing on an average of 10.2 yards per carry upon the Spartans with junior fullback Calvin Videon-Perino and senior quarterback Mike Ollendorf also rushing for touchdowns and senior slotback Colin Obser added 50 yards on just three attempts. After easing into the season, the Panthers jump back into the fire with a huge nondivisional game in Week 1. Next game: Friday at No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven (0-0).
6. Brick Memorial (1-0). Last week: No. 6
Senior running back Kevin Andrews ran for 201 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries, junior quarterback Jason Lajara threw for 149 yards and a touchdown and ran for 51 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore kicker Jack Marotta converted the go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter as the Mustangs held off Allentown, 23-20. Senior wide receiver Frank Taylor had a touchdown catch and junior wideout Nyzier Matthews caught six passes for 106 yards. Junior linebacker Trey Tallmadge had 10 tackles with an Interception, one tackle for loss and three pass breakups, while senior linebacker AJ Ehrmantraut had 10 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 tackle for loss. Week 1 sends Brick Memorial across town to meet its biggest rival. Next game: Friday at Brick (0-0).
Holmdel junior quarterback Jack Cannon accounted for 281 yards of offense and three touchdowns in a 38-32 win over Long Branch. (Photo by Tom Smith | tspsportsimages.com)
7. Holmdel (1-0). Last week: No. 11
Junior quarterback Jack Cannon ran for 174 yards and three touchdowns and threw for 107 yards as the Hornets held off Long Branch and dynamic quarterback Quinton Fisher, 38-32, in a thrilling nondivisional game. Cipriano Bodnar blocked a punt that Hamza Elmesi recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, Matt Scheinman ran for a touchdown and Brandon Mueller kicked a 23-yard field goal. Next game: Friday at Ocean (1-0).
8. Jackson Memorial (1-0). Last week: No. 8
Junior running back Jonah Glenn ran for 205 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, senior quarterback Dennis Caswell ran for a touchdown and senior kicker Joe Muzzillo booted a go-ahead 36-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to send the Jaguars to a 17-7 win over North Brunswick. Glenn also had a fumble recovery and junior linebacker Aidan Choronobroff recorded a sack as Jackson’s defense held the Raiders to 68 yards of offense, including just 23 yards rushing. Next game: Friday at Long Branch (0-1).
9. Freehold Township (1-0). Last week: No. 10
Senior quarterback Nick Cardone completed 16 of 32 passes for 265 yards and four touchdowns and also ran for 43 yards to lead the Patriots to a 35-14 road win over Toms River South. Senior wide receiver Luke Meehan caught four passes for 111 yards and a touchdown, senior wideout Noah Cancela caught six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown, junior Nick Schicchi had a 30-yard touchdown catch and senior Noah Marchica caught a 5-yard touchdown pass. Senior running back Justin Tamai added 49 yards rushing and a touchdown on eight carries. Junior linebacker Shane Monge recorded a team-high eight tackles, junior linebacker Johnathan Kokotis and junior defensive lineman Dominick Fiore had three tackles for loss each, and seniors Braden Larkin and Jake Minniear each had a sack. Next game: Friday at Howell (0-0).
10. St. John Vianney (1-0). Last week: No. 12
Sophomore running back Adbul Turay ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries and returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown, and junior quarterback Zach LaBarca completed 13 of 19 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown to lead the Lancers to a 34-0 win over Carteret. Dante Campagna caught seven passes for 80 yards and a touchdown and Adam Urs caught three passes for 80 yards. Next game: Friday vs. Marlboro (1-0).
Wall junior Heath Reinhardt ran for a 31-yard touchdown and kicked four extra points in a 34-7 win over Matawan in Week 0. (Bob Badders | rpbphotography.com)
11. Wall (1-0). Last week: not ranked
Senior running back Mason Adam ran for two touchdowns and caught another and sophomore quarterback Fran Scaramellino threw for 115 yards and a score when the Crimson Knights defeated Matawan, 34-7, for their first road victory since 2021. Junior wide receiver Heath Reinhardt and junior running back Dylan Cohen also had touchdown runs. Wall’s defense forced five turnovers, led by junior linebacker Justin Davis recording a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception. Next game: Saturday at Colts Neck (0-1).
12. Marlboro (1-0). Last week: not ranked
The Mustangs showed there is still plenty of gas in the tank despite graduating a fantastic senior class. Senior running back Christian LaFonte ran for a career-high 214 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 22 carries and senior linebacker Nick Diadema had four tackles for loss and two sacks when Marlboro blanked district rival Colts Neck, 34-0. Senior running back Jemell Bender also ran for a touchdown and junior quarterback Zach Caporale tossed a short touchdown pass to senior fullback A.J. Muhlbach. Junior linebacker Jennaro Percodani also had a big game on defense with 12 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery. Next game: Friday at No. 10. St. John Vianney.
Dropped out
-No. 7 Middletown South (lost 30-0 to Cherokee)
-No. 9 Manalapan (lost 21-11 to Piscataway).
Knocking on the door
Long Branch (0-1)
Despite a 38-32 loss to No. 7 Holmdel (ranked No. 11 last week), the Green Wave showed they could be a contender in Class A North. Junior quarterback Quinton Fisher dazzled in a duel with Hornets quarterback Jack Cannon, erupting for 181 yards passing and two touchdowns and 175 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Senior wideout Aulander Daniels caught six passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown. Long Branch will get another crack at a ranked team this week as it looks to break into the Top 12. Next game: Friday vs. No. 8 Jackson Memorial (1-0).
Manasquan (1-0)
Junior quarterback Matt Antonucci threw a touchdown pass to junior wideout Jack O’Reilly, ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass while junior running back Ace Etienne ran for 118 yards and a touchdown when the Warriors overpowered Neptune, 33-0. Junior running back Dylan Lu added a touchdown run and senior defensive lineman Adam Murphy had five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and was in on a sack. Next game: Saturday vs. Monmouth (0-1).
Brick (0-0)
The Dragons open their season at home on Friday vs. No. 6 Brick Memorial.
Shore (0-0)
The Blue Devils will open the Don Klein era with a home game vs. a Pinelands team that was also idle in Week 0.
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