Atlantic Physical Therapy Shore Conference Football Top 12 for Sept. 24
Another week, another set of changes to the Shore Sports Insider Shore Conference Football Top 12.
The middle of the rankings continues to be fluid with different teams ranked at No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 after a Week 3 that saw the division races narrow down to two teams in most cases. We also have a new team re-entering the rankings after a major victory last week.
Week 4 offers another heavy dose of divisional contests, including No. 1 vs. No. 4, No. 3 vs. No. 11, No. 5 vs. No. 9, No. 6 vs. No. 10, and No. 7 vs. No. 12. There are also massive games in Class B South (Southern vs. Central) and Class C South (Manchester vs. Barnegat) where the winner will earn a major leg up in their quest for a division championship.
Here is the latest Shore Sports Insider Football Top 12, presented by Atlantic Physical Therapy Center.
Shore Conference Football Top 12
1. Toms River North (4-0). Last week: No. 1
Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio accounted for 218 yards and two touchdowns and senior running back Mordecai Ford totaled 116 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns when the Mariners scored on offense, defense and special teams in a 35-6 win over then-No. 4 Brick Memorial. Senior cornerback Cam Thomas returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown and sophomore Cole Garrison returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Blaise Boland recorded 13 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss to lead a defense that limited Brick Memorial to 136 yards. The Mariners have now won 30 straight games vs. fellow public schools. Toms River North can take command of the Class A South race when it faces another top-five opponent on the road in Week 4. Next game: Friday at No. 4 Point Boro (3-1).
2. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-0). Last week: No. 2
Senior quarterback Owen O’Toole completed 16 of 18 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs rolled to a 35-0 win over Long Branch. Junior running back Kellen Murray ran for 93 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and senior wideout Jordan Angstreich set career-highs with eight receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Nick Thomas caught a touchdown pass and senior James Presti secured his first career interception to highlight a balanced defensive effort. Next game: Friday at Middletown South (2-2).
3. Red Bank Catholic (2-2). Last week: No. 3
Junior wide receiver Johnny Williams caught a touchdown pass and ran for a touchdown as one of five different scorers for the Caseys in their 41-7 victory over Colts Neck. Senior quarterback Frankie Williams threw for 170 yards and a touchdown while senior Jamie Gutridge and sophomores Jordan Mosenthine and Jake Bickerton each ran for a touchdown. Junior kicker Blake Caruso blasted field goals of 44 and 43 yards to give him the two longest field goals in the Shore this season. Patrick McGonnell and Jordan Key led the defense with one sack and two tackles for loss each. Next game: Saturday at No. 11 Marlboro (2-2).
4. Point Boro (3-1). Last week: No. 5
Senior fullback Dylan Reitmeyer ran for a career-high 152 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries and sophomore quarterback Jake Clayton accounted for three touchdowns in the Panthers’ 34-24 win over No. 8 Jackson Memorial. Clayton ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and tossed a 29-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Nick Albanese. Senior defensive lineman Lou DiBiase made his season debut and led the charge with 8 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and 2 pass deflections. After defeating a pair of ranked division opponents the last two weeks, Point Boro will take its shot at the No. 1 team in the Shore. Next game: Friday vs. No. 1 Toms River North (4-0).
5. Brick Memorial (3-1). Last week: No. 4
Junior quarterback Jason Lajara ran for a touchdown to pull the Mustangs within a point of No. 1 Toms River North in the first quarter, but the Mariners pulled away from there on the way to dealing Brick Memorial a 35-6 defeat. The Mustangs will look to get back on track with another important division game this week. Next game: Friday at No. 9 Donovan Catholic (1-2).
6. Wall (4-0). Last week: No. 7
A 90-yard fumble return for a touchdown by senior linebacker Joe Vaccaro with under a minute left in the game sealed the Crimson Knights’ dramatic 36-26 victory over then-No. 6 St. John Vianney. Junior Heath Reinhardt ran for a touchdown and caught another, senior Tony Credle scored the go-ahead touchdown on a fantastic 58-yard catch-and-run and sophomore quarterback Franny Scaramellino threw for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Senior running back Mason Adam returned a kickoff that sophomore Luke Davis recovered for a touchdown after Adam was stripped at the 1-yard line. Wall is 4-0 for the first time since 2020. Next game: Friday vs. No. 10 Holmdel (3-1).
7. St. John Vianney (3-1). Last week: No. 6
Sophomore running back Abdul Turay ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns and junior wide receiver Adam Urs caught a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Zach LaBarca in a 36-26 loss to then-No. 7 Wall. The Lancers will try to bounce back with another big Class C North game this weekend. Next game: Friday at No. 12 Manalapan (2-2).
8. Jackson Memorial (2-2). Last week: No. 8
Senior wide receiver Eric Zebrowski caught six passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns and senior quarterback Dennis Caswell completed 11 of 18 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown in a 34-24 loss to No. 4 Point Boro. Jackson played without standout junior running back Jonah Glenn, who is considered week-to-week according to Jaguars head coach Vin Mistretta. Senior kicker Joe Muzzillo continued his strong season with a 32-yard field goal. Next game: Friday vs. Howell (1-2).
9. Donovan Catholic (1-2). Last week: No. 9
The Griffins picked up their first win of the season by grinding out a 13-6 win over Howell. Senior running back Luke Vernieri and senior wide receiver Michael Thomas III each ran for touchdowns and the defense held Howell scoreless through the first three quarters. Next game: Friday vs. No. 5 Brick Memorial (3-1).
10. Holmdel (3-1). Last week: No. 10
Junior quarterback Jack Cannon had another monster game with 209 yards passing and four touchdowns plus 44 yards rushing and a touchdown to lead the Hornets to a 41-0 win over Manasquan. Senior receiver Frankie Serini caught two touchdown passes, senior running back Matt Iulo had a touchdown run and a touchdown catch, and sophomore Matt Scheinman had a touchdown reception. Junior linebacker Alex Reyes led the defense with eight tackles, one sack and one tackle for loss. The Hornets can insert themselves right back into the Class C North title race with a win this week. Next game: Friday at No. 6 Wall (4-0).
11. Marlboro (2-2). Last week: not ranked
The Mustangs return to the rankings after beating last week’s No. 11 team, Middletown South, 3-0. Matt Luzio’s 22-yard field goal in the fourth quarter held up thanks to a defense performance that limited the Eagles to 157 yards of offense and forced two turnovers. Junior linebacker Jennaro Percodani and senior defensive back A.J. Muhlbach each had one sack, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble, while junior defensive lineman Alex LaQuinta intercepted a screen pass late in the game to help clinch the shutout victory. Next game: Saturday vs. No. 3 Red Bank Catholic (2-2).
12. Manalapan (2-2). Last week: No. 12
The final spot is a little tricky because Middletown South has a head-to-head overtime victory over Manalapan, but we’re sticking with the Braves this week after they blanked Raritan, 27-0, for their second straight dominant win. Senior tight end Anthony Hammel caught two passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore running back Nicky Palmieri ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Senior linebacker Dennis Healy recorded two sacks and one tackle for loss to help spearhead the shutout. With both of its losses coming out of the Class C North division, Manalapan still controls its fate for a division championship and can take a huge step forward with a big home game this weekend. Next game: Friday vs. No. 7 St. John Vianney (3-1).
Dropped out
-No. 11 Middletown South (lost 3-0 to Marlboro)
Knocking on the door
Southern (4-0)
The Rams blasted Toms River East 42-0 for their third shutout of the season, setting up a huge first-place Class B South game with rival Central on Friday night.
Central (4-0)
The Golden Eagles remained unbeaten with a hard-fought 14-7 victory over rival Lacey. Now they’ll square off with their other main rival, undefeated Southern Regional, in a first-place showdown in Class B South.
Middletown North (3-0)
Senior running back Shane Volante ran for a career-high 161 yards and a touchdown in a 24-7 win over Ocean. The Lions’ first-string defense has yet to allow a touchdown this season.
Shore (3-0)
The Blue Devils have won both of their Class D North games by a combined 83-0 and look like the heavy favorite to take home the division title. New Egypt appears to be their only obstacle as long as the Warriors remain undefeated ahead of their Week 5 clash.
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