Atlantic Physical Therapy Shore Conference Football Top 12 for Oct. 15
Week 6 was headlined by several pivotal division contests, the results of which saw five teams – Rumson-Fair Haven, Toms River North, Central, Manchester and Shore – clinch at least a share of their respective division titles. Those division races will be put on the back burner until the final full week of the regular season as Week 7 exclusively features non-divisional and non-conference games.
No matter the division implications, games in Week 6, 7 and 8 take on the added importance of having major NJSIAA playoff implications. Entering Week 7’s games, the Shore Conference has 21 public schools and all three non-public schools in position to qualify in their respective sections. Six of those teams are currently in positions 13 through 16 (16 teams qualify) and a few more on on the outside looking in, so postseason berths and positioning will be on the line going forward. The stakes will be high from here on out.
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 (7-0). Last week: No. 1
Senior quarterback T.J. Valerio threw for 104 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 117 yards, and senior running back Mordecai Ford ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass when the Mariners blanked No. 10 Howell, 35-0, to clinch at least a share of the Class A South division championship. It was Toms River North’s 12th straight win and 32nd in a row over public schools. Senior wideout Cam Thomas had a 35-yard touchdown catch and Mekai Morse and Cole Garrison also ran for touchdowns. Sophomore linebacker Jack Baker led the defense with 10 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. The Mariners can clinch the title outright with a win over Donovan Catholic in Week 8. Next game: Friday at Southern (5-2).
2. Rumson-Fair Haven (6-0). Last week: No. 2
The Bulldogs vanquished longtime foe Red Bank Catholic by rallying from a double-digit deficit with 26 unanswered points in a 26-11 victory over the previously-No. 3 Caseys, clinching at least a share of the Class A North division title. Senior wide receiver Jordan Angstreich continued his string of excellent performances with a career-high 10 receptions for 205 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Owen O’Toole was great again with 250 yards passing and a touchdown and junior running back Kellen Murray ran for 182 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries. Senior defensive back Carson Memmott had an interception and a fumble recovery and senior linebacker Jacob Tobias had 10 tackles and a sack to lead the defense. Rumson can clinch the title outright with a win over Colts Neck in two weeks. Next game: Friday vs. No. 9 Donovan Catholic (2-3).
3. Point Boro (5-2). Last week: No. 4
Sophomore running back Nick Spanola ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns on just eight carries and recovered two fumbles on defense to help the Panthers hold off No. 5 Brick Memorial, 27-24, for an important Class A South victory that bolstered their playoff positioning. Sophomore kicker Jack Sullivan connected on field goals of 28 and 35 yards and senior linebacker Colin Obser forced a safety to highlight a night where he recorded 14 tackles, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles. Next game: Friday vs. Manasquan (3-4).
4. Red Bank Catholic (3-3). Last week: No. 3
The Caseys drop only one spot since their loss was to the No. 2 team in the Shore. Senior quarterback Frankie Williams threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Jason Berecsky and junior kicker Blake Caruso bombed a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter, but the RBC offense went sideways from there and finished with just 51 rushing yards and 230 yards of offense in a 26-11 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven. Next game: Friday vs. Paramus Catholic (3-3).
5. Brick Memorial (5-2). Last week: No. 5
Junior running back Nazeer Whittaker ran for 120 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 47 yards and a touchdown but the Mustangs’ rally fell short in a 27-24 loss to No. 3 Point Boro. Brick Memorial played without junior linebacker Trey Tallmadge and senior running back Kevin Andrews, both of whom missed the game win injuries. Junior quarterback Jason Lajara threw for 209 yards and ran for a touchdown and sophomore kicker Jack Marotta kicked a 25-yard field goal. Next game: Friday at Toms River South (4-3).
6. Middletown North (6-0). Last week: No. 6
Junior wide receiver Jack Viola posted a career-high 11 receptions for 205 yards and tied a program single-game record with three touchdown catches as the Lions remained undefeated with a 33-7 victory over Red Bank. Junior quarterback Owen Robson completed 17 of 23 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns and senior running back Shane Volante ran for 114 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Senior linebacker Brody Tooker continued his great season by recording 13 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss and junior defensive back Ryan Clark had a huge day with three interceptions. The victory set up a showdown with Freehold Township in Week 8 for the Class B North division title. Middletown North has a bye in Week 7. Next game: Friday, Oct. 25 at Freehold Township (5-2).
7. Holmdel (5-1). Last week: No. 7
Junior quarterback Jack Cannon went off for what is believed to be a school-record 520 yards of offense and six touchdowns in a 56-31 win over Raritan in the “Battle of the Border” rivalry game. Cannon completed 17 of 19 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. His 352 passing yards are also assumed to be a program single-game record. Senior running back Matt Iulo ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, senior wide receiver Frankie Serini caught six passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, junior tight end Carmine Aliperti caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, and senior wideout Trey Critchley hauled in a 35-yard touchdown reception. The Hornets can clinch at least a share of the Class C North division title in two weeks. Next game: Friday at Monmouth (0-7).
8. Wall (5-1). Last week: No. 8
Senior running back Mason Adam ran for a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter and senior Tony Credle blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter to send the Crimson Knights to a 7-6 win over Manalapan in a defensive tug-o-war. Junior linebacker Dylan Cohen led the defense with 11 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss. Wall’s win created a three-way tie atop Class C North with the Crimson Knights, Holmdel and Manalapan. Wall can clinch at least a share of the division title by beating Manasquan on Thanksgiving. Next game: Friday vs. No. 10 Howell (3-3).
9. Donovan Catholic (2-3). Last week: No. 9
Senior running back Dante Vernieri ran for two touchdowns and caught a 79-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Kyle Dow as the Griffins jumped out to a big first-quarter lead en route to a 32-7 win over Jackson Memorial. Ethan Nicolas and Jayden Nascimento also ran for touchdowns. Unfortunately, Donovan lost standout sophomore Gavin Nascimento to a serious season-ending leg injury. Next game: Friday at No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven (6-0).
10. Howell (3-3). Last week: No. 10
The Rebels trailed just 7-0 at halftime before No. 1 Toms River North scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to pull away for a 35-0 victory. Senior linebacker Quincy Shaw made a game-high 11 tackles. Next game: Friday at No. 7 Wall (5-1).
11. Central (7-0). Last week: No. 11
Senior quarterback Joe Vezzosi threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Liam Hurley in the second quarter and junior kicker Michael Nieves kicked a go-ahead 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter when the Golden Eagles defeated Brick, 10-7, to clinch at least a share of the Class B South division title. Junior linebacker Austin Jarvis led the defense with 15 tackles 1 tackle for loss and 1 forced fumble. Central can clinch the title outright by defeating Toms River South in Week 8. Next game: Friday vs. Freehold (2-5).
12. St. John Vianney (4-3). Last week: No. 12
Sophomore running back Abdul Turay ran for a career-high 232 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries to power the Lancers to a 52-20 win over Manasquan. Senior Jahmere James returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Zach LaBarca. Senior kicker Brendan Allen kicked a 35-yard field goal and went 7-for-7 on extra points. Junior linebacker Danny Breen recorded a career-high 18 tackles with 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss to lead the defense, while D.J. Carter and Brayden Delavega had one interception each. Next game: Friday at Matawan (2-4).
Dropped out
-None
Knocking on the door
Marlboro (3-3)
The Mustangs had a bye in Week 6. Next game: Friday at Lacey (0-6).
Shore (6-0)
The Blue Devils rallied for a 27-21 win over Neptune to clinch at least a share of the Class D North division title. They can clinch the title outright with a win over Asbury Park in Week 8. First, Shore and head coach Don Klein will make the short drive to face Klein’s old team on Friday. Next game: Friday at Ocean (1-5).
Freehold Township (5-2)
Senior quarterback Nick Cardone threw for a career-high 331 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two touchdowns as the Patriots secured “The Duke” with a 32-20 win over Freehold Boro. Senior wide receiver Noah Cancela caught eight passes for 170 yards to set a program single-season record with 52 receptions. Senior running back Justin Tamai ran for 84 yards and a touchdown while junior Nicholas Schicchi and sophomore Jake Schultzel had touchdown catches. Junior linebacker Johnathan Kokotis posted 10 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 tackle for loss and a pass breakup to lead the defense. Next game: Friday vs. Manalapan (3-4).
Southern (5-2)
Senior running back Justin Silva ran for a career-high 142 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 28-7 win over Lacey. Southern’s losses are to No. 11 Central and No. 5 Brick Memorial. Next game: Friday vs. No. 1 Toms River North (7-0).
Manalapan (3-4)
The Braves dropped below .500 after a 7-6 loss to No. 8 Wall. Manalapan has shown it can compete with and beat some of the top teams in the Shore but has been inconsistent week-to-week. Next game: Friday at Freehold Township (5-2).
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