Atlantic Physical Therpay Shore Conference Football Top 12, Sept. 17
The Shore Conference football season is in full swing and the division races and the Shore Sports Insider rankings are beginning to take shape.
Division play got off to a flying start in Week 2 with multiple ranked matchups and several other notable results. The top-five remain mostly unchanged, but two new teams have pushed into the top half of the rankings and two more have returned after being bounced from the initial Top 12.
The high stakes continue in Week 3 with three games between ranked teams, including two huge Class A South games and a Class C North game that will give the winner a major leg up in the race for the division crown.
Here is the latest Shore Sports Insider Shore Conference Football Top 12, presented by Atlantic Physical Therapy Center.
Shore Conference Football Top 12
1. Toms River North (3-0). Last week: No. 1
The Mariners put on a show in a 54-10 win over No. 8 Jackson Memorial by scoring 21 points in the first quarter en route to a 48-3 halftime lead. Senior wide receiver Cam Thomas had the best game of his career by catching four passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, returning a punt for a touchdown, and chasing down Jackson star running back Jonah Glenn at the 4-yard line to prevent a touchdown on defense. His 51-yard touchdown reception over a Jaguars defender was No. 2 on ESPN’s “You Got Mossed!” segment. Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio completed all eight of his pass attempts for 220 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown, while senior Nasir Jackson caught a touchdown pass and intercepted a pass on defense and senior running back Moredai Ford ran for a touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Cole Garrison added a touchdown run in the second half. Senior linebackers Eddie Slosky and Blaise Boland helped lead a ferocious defensive effort. Next game: Friday at No. 4 Brick Memorial (3-0).
2. Rumson-Fair Haven (2-0). Last week: No. 2
Senior quarterback Owen O’Toole completed 17 0f 23 passes for a career-high 310 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Nick Thomas caught six passes for 112 yards and a score when the Bulldogs throttled visiting Marlboro, 35-6, in a Class A North game. Senior wide receiver Jordan Angstreich caught six passes for 85 yards and a touchdown, junior running back Kellen Murray ran for 50 yards and three touchdowns and senior receiver Nic Economou caught four passes for 72 yards. Senor linebacker Jaco Tobias led the charge on defense with seven tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception. Next game: Friday at Long Branch (0-3).
3. Red Bank Catholic (1-2). Last week: No. 3
After defeats at the hands of Middletown (Del.) and Don Bosco Prep to begin the season, the Caseys got off the schneid in a big way with a 41-7 Class A North victory over Long Branch. Senior quarterback Frankie Williams completed 11 of 16 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 46 yards and a touchdown, while sophomore running back Jordan Mosenthine had a touchdown run and a touchdown reception. Junior wideout Daniel Zabora and sophomore receiver Chris Gibson also had touchdown runs and sophomore running back Jake Bickerton added a touchdown run. Senior linebackers Patrick McGonnell and Jamie Gutridge, sophomore defensive end Lorenzo Tartamella, senior defensive end James Forsyth led the way for an RBC defense that shut down a Long Branch offense that was averaging 33.5 points per game. Next game: Saturday at Colts Neck (0-3).
4. Brick Memorial (3-0). Last week: No. 5
Junior quarterback Jason Lajara completed 9 of 14 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to power the Mustangs to a 34-14 win over then-No. 11 Howell. Sophomore wide receiver Shawn Fowler had a breakout game with three catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns plus an impressive one-handed interception. Junior wideout Nyzier Matthews caught two passes for 67 yards and a touchdown and junior linebacker Trey Tallmadge led the defense with seven tackles and two for loss. Next game: Friday vs. No. 1 Toms River North (3-0).
5. Point Boro (2-1). Last week: No. 6
Sophomore Jake Clayton recovered a surprise onside kick at the beginning of the second half to jump-start a rally that saw the Panthers score 23 unanswered points in a 30-14 victory over then-No. 4 Donovan Catholic. Clayton ran for 52 yards and a touchdown and kicked a 32-yard field goal, senior fullback Dylan Reitmeyer rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns and sophomore Nick Spanola returned the opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and intercepted a pass on defense. The Panthers pitched a shutout in the second half with Reitmeyer (16 tackles, forced fumble), senior linebacker Colin Obser (18 tackles, fumble recovery) and senior defensive lineman Paul Hagenmeyer (8 tackles, 2 TFL) leading the way. Another big division game awaits Point Boro this weekend at Al Saner Field and standout senior two-way lineman Lou DiBiase will make his debut after transferring from Donovan Catholic and sitting the first three games as per the NJSIAA’s transfer rule. Next game: Friday vs. No. 8 Jackson Memorial (2-1).
6. St. John Vianney (3-0). Last week: No. 9
Sophomore running back Abdul Turay had the best game of his already-excellent young career by rushing for a career-high 223 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries and catching three passes for 102 yards to lead the Lancers to a 33-19 win over then-No. 7 Holmdel in a battle of Class C North unbeatens. Junior quarterback Zach LaBraca completed 14 of 19 passes for 202 yards and one touchdown, connecting with sophomore Brayden Delavega on a 15-yard score. Delavega also had an interception while Turay starred on defense, as well, with 11 tackles, a sack and two hits for a loss. The Lancers can put a stranglehold on the division with a win this weekend. Next game: Friday at No. 7 Wall (3-0).
7. Wall (3-0). Last week: No. 11
The Crimson Knights keep climbing after beginning the season unranked and move to No. 7 after a 28-13 victory over Raritan. Sophomore quarterback Franny Scaramellino has been a revelation and turned in another impressive performance with 183 yards and three touchdowns on 10 of 13 passing plus 28 yards rushing and a score. Senior wide receiver Derrick Boss caught three passes for 117 yards and a touchdown, including a 39-yard scoring reception late in the closing seconds of the first half. Juniors Heath Reinhardt and Justin Davis also caught touchdown passes. Wall’s biggest test of the season comes this Friday at home. Next game: Friday vs. No. 6 St. John Vianney.
8. Jackson Memorial (2-1). Last week: No. 8
The Jaguars ran into a buzzsaw in Week 2 and fell to No. 1 Toms River North, 54-10. Junior running back Jonah Glenn eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark, senior wideout Eric Zebrowski delivered a highlight-reel 81-yard touchdown reception in the second half and senior Joe Muzzillo kicked a 22-yard field goal. Jackson will try to rebound this week with another challenging Class A South game against a top-five team. Next game: Friday at No. 5 Point Boro (3-0).
9. Donovan Catholic (0-2). Last week: No. 4
The Griffins dropped to 0-2 and tumbled five spots in the rankings after a 30-14 loss to No. 5 Point Boro. Sophomore Gavin Nascimento ran for a pair of touchdowns to give Donovan a 14-7 halftime lead but the offense went cold in the second half when Point Boro scored 23 unanswered points. It’s fair to question why Donovan is still ranked, but considering their losses are to a state-ranked St. Augustine team and No. 5 Point Boro, we still believe the Griffins will turn it around given their recent history under head coach Dan Curcione. With that being said, their grace period is running out. Next game: Friday vs. Howell (1-1).
10. Holmdel (2-1). Last week: No. 7
Junior quarterback Jack Cannon threw for 212 yards and a touchdown and ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns but the Hornets had no answer for St. John Vianney’s offense and surrendered 495 yards in a 33-19 loss to the now-No. 6 Lancers. Matt Scheinman caught a 10-yard touchdown pass late in the game and Cipriano Bodnar recorded a sack on defense. Next game: Friday vs. Manasquan (2-1).
11. Middletown South (2-1). Last week: not ranked
The Eagles return to the Top 12 after blanking Colts Neck, 21-0, to win their second straight game. Junior quarterback Luca Donofrio ran for a game-high 93 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and completed 7 of 12 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back/defensive back Brendan Sliva had a big two-way game with 45 yards rushing and two touchdowns on seven carries plus 12 tackles and a tackle for loss on defense. Next game: Friday vs. Marlboro (1-2).
12. Manalapan (1-2). Last week: not ranked
Another team back in the rankings is Manalapan, which delivered a vintage Braves performance by rushing for 255 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-7 win over then-No. 12 Manasquan. Junior running back Ahsere Woolfolk ran for 80 yards and three touchdowns while senior Vin DeFillippo and sophomore Ethan Fogelstrom added touchdown runs. Senior defensive end Nick Leone had a strong game to help lead a defense that limited talented Manasquan junior running back Ace Etienne to 64 yards rushing one week after he rushed for 230 yards and a school-record six touchdowns. Senior linebacker Dennis Healy blocked two punts, one of which led to a touchdown. The Braves have been a Jekyll and Hyde team for the past two seasons so consistency will be their mantra heading into Week 3. Next game: Friday at Raritan (0-2).
Dropped out
-N0. 11 Howell (lost 34-14 to No. 5 Brick Memorial)
-No. 12 Manasquan (lost 35-7 to Manalapan)
Knocking on the Door
Central (3-0)
Senior running back Nick Ruggiero ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-7 win over Toms River East. The combined record of the Central’s first three opponents is 1-8, so while the Golden Eagles will remain in consideration if they continue to win, it’s going to take a notable victory to break into the rankings. Next game: Saturday at Lacey (0-2).
Middletown North (2-0)
Senior running back Shane Volante ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns and senior defensive back T.J. Rey recorded three tackles for loss in a 14-0 shutout victory over Matawan. The Lions’ first two opponents have a combined record of 0-5 so we’ll learn more about Middletown North as it gets into the teeth of its schedule. Next game: Friday vs. Ocean (1-2).
Southern (3-0)
Sophomore running back Chris Raub caught two touchdown passes from Cooper Dempsey, sophomore Levi Foote ran for a touchdown and senior Keegan Foote kicked a field goal and ran for a 2-point conversion in a 24-8 win over Toms River South. The Rams have been excellent on defense this season allowing just eight points in three games. The schedule difficulty will begin to tick up in the coming weeks and give them an opportunity to break into the rankings. Next game: Friday vs. Toms River East (1-2).
Shore (2-0)
Senior running back/linebacker Brendan O’Brien ran for two touchdowns and posted seven tackles and an interception to lead the Blue Devils to a 34-0 win over Point Beach. Shore looks like the clear favorite in the Class D North division, but the reality of the situation is that their schedule will make it difficult for them to break into the rankings this early in the season. Next game: Friday vs. Keyport (0-3).
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