Atlantic Physical Therapy Shore Conference Football Top 12 for Oct. 22
We head to the final full week of the regular season with division titles, postseason berths and playoff positioning on the line for several Shore Conference football teams.
Middletown North and Freehold Township will clash for the Class B North division title on Friday night, while Rumson-Fair Haven (A North), Toms River North (A South), Central (B South), Manchester (C South) and Shore (D North) can wrap up outright titles after securing at least a tie for the championship two weeks ago. The Class C North situation won’t be settled until Wall and Manasquan meet on Thanksgiving, but Holmdel or Manalapan can clinch at least a tie when the two teams meet this weekend.
As for the NJSIAA playoffs, 24 Shore Conference teams are currently in playoff position ranked in the top 16 in their respective super sections based on the United Power Rankings. For most of those schools, Week 8 will be about solidifying their spot or pushing forward to earn a top seed or home-field advantage. There are a handful of teams on the cusp that are facing must-win games this weekend such as Toms River East, Long Branch, Pinelands, Brick, Raritan and Point Beach.
Here is the latest Shore Sports Insider Football Top 12, presented by Atlantic Physical Therapy Center.
Shore Conference Football Top 12 Rankings
1. Toms River North (8-0). Last week: No. 1
Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns and senior wide receiver Nasir Jackson caught four passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mariners to a 35-o win over Southern. It was Toms River North’s third straight shutout, 13th straight win and 33rd consecutive victory over a public school. It was also the 100th career victory for Mariners’ head coach Dave Oizerowitz. Senior wide receiver Mekai Morse had a touchdown catch and returned an interception for a touchdown, while senior running back Mordecai Ford added a touchdown run. Senior wide receiver Cam Thomas caught a game-high six passes for 108 yards. Senior linebacker Blaise Boland recorded 10 tackles and 2 tackles for loss and senior linebacker Eddie Slosky had 8 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss to lead a defense that has posted four shutouts this season and is allowing just 4.9 points per game. Toms River North can clinch the outright Class A South division title and secure the top seed in the South Group 5 super section with a win this weekend. Next game: Friday vs. No. 9 Donovan Catholic (2-4).
2. Rumson-Fair Haven (7-0). Last week: No. 2
Senior quarterback Owen O’Toole was nearly flawless when he completed 26 of 30 passes for a career-high 331 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs to an electric 56-32 victory over No. 9 Donovan Catholic. O’Toole tossed touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Nick Thomas and junior tight end Jack Gyimesi and also ran for 35 yards and a touchdown. Thomas caught 8 passes for 105 yards and a score and junior running back Kellen Murray ran for 83 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior defensive back Evan Ridgway returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown during a 21-point fourth quarter that sealed the win and kept Rumson undefeated. The Bulldogs can clinch the outright Class A North division title and lock up a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs with a victory in Week 8. Next game: Friday vs. Colts Neck (0-7).
3. Point Boro (6-2). Last week: No. 3
Sophomore slotback Nick Spanola ran for 97 yards and a touchdown on just three carries and returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, while sophomore quarterback Jake Clayton ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and intercepted a pass on defense to lead the Panthers to a 49-14 victory over rival Manasquan. Senior fullback Dylan Reitmeyer ran for two touchdowns, senior quarterback Mikey Ollendorf ran for 50 yards and a score and senior slotback Colin Obser added a touchdown run. Senior defensive lineman Lou DiBiase had eight tackles with one tackle for loss and Obser also made eight tackles to lead the defense. The Panthers have another challenging division game to close out the regular season where a win will be necessary to have any chance at a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs. Next game: Friday at No. 10 Howell (3-4).
4. Red Bank Catholic (4-3). Last week: No. 4
Senior quarterback Frankie Williams completed 13 of 20 passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 36 yards and a touchdown when the Caseys blitzed Paramus Catholic, 42-14, for a huge non-conference win. RBC was coming off a loss to rival Rumson in Week 6 and Paramus Catholic entered the game ranked No. 14 in New Jersey and several spots ahead of RBC in the Non-Public B United Power Rankings. Junior wide receiver Johnny Williams caught four passes for 94 yards and a touchdown and returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown, while junior wideout Daniel Zabora caught five passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns and senior running back Matt Lonzcak had an 8-yard touchdown reception. Senior linebacker Patrick McGonnell led the defensive effort with 8 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. Next game: Friday vs. Middletown South (3-4).
5. Brick Memorial (6-2). Last week: No. 5
Junior quarterback Jason Lajara accounted for multiple touchdowns for the seventh time in eight games and junior linebacker Trey Tallmadge returned from a three-game absence to set a school record when the Mustangs blanked Toms River South, 34-0. Lajara completed 8 of 11 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Tallmadge missed the three previous games with an injury and returned with 12 tackles and 2 tackles for loss to become Brick Memorial’s all-time leading tackler with 279 and counting. Junior running back Nazeer Whittaker ran for 155 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, junior wide receiver Nyzier Matthews caught four passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Tallmadge had a 16-yard touchdown reception. Next game: Friday at Jackson Memorial (4-4).
6. Middletown North (6-0). Last week: No. 6
The Lions had a bye in Week 7 and will return to action this weekend with a winner-take-all game for the Class B North division title. Next game: Friday at Freehold Township (5-3).
7. Holmdel (6-1). Last week: No. 7
Junior quarterback Jack Cannon completed 9 of 12 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 64 yards and a touchdown on nine carries to lead the Hornets to a 49-12 win over Monmouth. Senior wide receiver Frankie Serini caught three passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, and junior tight end Alex Reyes and sophomore Michael Todisco also had touchdown receptions. Freshman Anthony Serini ran for his first varsity touchdown, senior linebacker Matt Iulo returned a fumble for a touchdown, and sophomore defensive back Joseph Marino secured his first varsity interception. The Hornets can clinch at least a share of the Class C North division title with a victory this weekend. Next game: Friday at Manalapan (4-4).
8. Wall (6-1). Last week: No. 8
Sophomore quarterback Franny Scaramellino threw a pair of 56-yard touchdown passes, one to junior tight end Justin Davis and another to senior wide receiver Tony Credle to help the Crimson Knights earn a 24-14 win over No. 10 Howell to lock up a playoff spot and a first-round home game. Junior Heath Reinhardt kicked a 31-yard field goal and senior linebacker Joe Vaccaro delivered a 15-yard pick-6 with 1:01 left to seal the win. Junior linebacker Wyatt Capro had a huge game on defense with 12 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 tackle for loss and a forced fumble while Davis had 10 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Wall can clinch a share of the Class C North division title but will have to wait until Thanksgiving. A bye in Week 8 means the Knights’ next game will be in the state playoffs. Next game: TBD, NJSIAA state playoffs on Nov. 1
9. Donovan Catholic (2-4). Last week: No. 9
Senior Michael Thomas III was incredible with a career-high 278 yards rushing and three touchdowns plus a touchdown pass but the Griffins could not slow down the Rumson-Fair Haven offense in a 56-32 defeat to the No. 2 Bulldogs. Thomas had a 94-yard touchdown run on his first carry and a 93-yard touchdown run on his second carry. He added a 13-yard touchdown run and tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Jayden Nascimento. Sophomore quarterback Kyle Dow threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Isaac Correa. Next game: Friday at No. 1 Toms River North (8-0).
10. Howell (3-4). Last week: No. 10
Senior quarterback Vin Meehan threw two touchdown passes to senior running back Juan DeJesus and intercepted a pass on defense during the Rebels’ 24-14 loss to No. 8 Wall. Senior defensive back Zach Padilla also had an interception. Next game: Friday vs. No. 3 Point Boro (6-2).
11. Central (8-0). Last week: No. 11
Senior running back Nick Ruggiero ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and sophomore wide receiver C.J. Yates caught three passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-0 win over Freehold. Senior quarterback Joe Vezzosi threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns and freshman linebacker Gus Copes had a pick-6, 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss and a forced fumble. Central can clinch the outright Class B South division title and head to the playoffs undefeated with a rivalry victory this weekend. Next game: Friday vs. Toms River South (4-4).
12. St. John Vianney (5-3). Last week: No. 12
Sophomore running back Abdul Turay ran for a career-high 241 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries and junior quarterback Zach LaBarca totaled 223 yards and two touchdowns in the Lancers’ 42-21 win over Matawan. Turay now has five games of 200 or more yards rushing this season. LaBarca ran for 116 yards and a touchdown on just five carries and completed 9 of 13 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown. Junior wide receiver Adam Urs had a touchdown catch and senior Jahmere James intercepted a pass on defense. Next game: Friday vs. Raritan (3-4).
Dropped out
-None
Knocking on the door
Shore (7-0)
The Blue Devils remained undefeated and gave first-year head coach Don Klein his 100th career win with a 37-14 victory over Ocean, Klein’s former team which he coached for 17 years. Shore can clinch the outright Class D North division title and potentially secure a No. 1 seed in the state playoffs with a win this weekend. Next game: Friday vs. Asbury Park (2-4).
Marlboro (4-3)
Senior running back Christian LaFonte ran for 96 yards and three touchdowns and senior Luke Houston had a touchdown catch and a punt return touchdown in a 35-0 win over Lacey. Marlboro has wins over Middletown South and Freehold Township and all three of its losses have come to ranked teams. Next game: Saturday vs. Long Branch (1-6).
Jackson Memorial (4-4)
With standout junior running back Jonah Glenn still out of the lineup, junior Jio Kabiri turned in a career day with 219 yards rushing and two touchdowns plus 13 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a 35-21 victory over Brick. Senior Eric Zebrowski also had a huge game with a touchdown catch, a touchdown run and a 73-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. All four of Jackson’s losses have come to ranked teams. The Jaguars currently sit in playoff position as the No. 11 team in the South Group 4 UPR and a win this weekend could potentially see them earn a first-round home game. Next game: Friday vs. No. 5 Brick Memorial (6-2).
Manalapan (4-4)
Junior running back Ahsere Woolfolk ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns and sophomore running back Nicky Palmieri totaled 166 yards and three touchdowns from scrimmage when the Braves blew out district rival Freehold Township, 55-19, for their 18th straight win over the Patriots. Senior defensive back Jackson Pfister and junior defensive back DJ Corsaro returned interceptions for touchdowns and senior quarterback Ryan Dougherty threw for 159 yards and a score. It has been a roller-coaster season for Manalapan but the Braves are still in position to clinch a share of a division title and earn a first-round home game in the state playoffs. Next game: Friday vs. No. 7 Holmdel (6-1).
Southern (5-3)
The Rams lost to No. 1 Toms River North 35-0 to fall to 5-3. All three of their losses have come to ranked teams (TRN, Brick Memorial, Central) and they hold wins over Manchester and Toms River South. Southern is currently 7th in UPR in South Group 5. The Rams could earn a share of the Class B South title with a win coupled with a Central loss and are still in line for a first-round home game in the state playoffs. Next game: Friday at Brick (3-4).
Manchester (6-2)
Senior running back Avery Phillips ran for a career-high 186 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries to power the Hawks to a 42-14 win over Point Beach. Senior quarterback Aidan Lunn threw touchdown passes to senior receiver M.J. Goins and senior tight end Ny’Zyr Battle and sophomore linebacker Mike Fink recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first varsity touchdown. The victory clinched Manchester’s third playoff berth in program history. A win this weekend would give the Hawks their first outright division title and first home playoff game in program history. Next game: Friday at Monmouth (0-8).
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