Shore Conference Football Week 8 Preview: The Regular-Season Finale

Well, that was fast. 

Somehow we’ve already come to the final week of the regular season for the Shore Conference public schools, and the public playoffs kick off next week. 

All those preseason cliches about working hard in the weight room and having more chemistry than last year’s seniors are way in the rearview mirror as teams ultimately determine their fate over these next few weeks. 

Just about every game has some stakes to it this week, whether it’s related to division titles, must-win games to earn playoff berths, pushing for a home playoff game or grasping for a No. 1 seed. 

With that said, here is something about every game on the Shore Conference schedule this week as all but the non-public teams wrap up the regular season. 

Also, here is the full playoff picture of where Shore Conference teams stand heading into the weekend. The NJSIAA will release the official public school state playoff brackets on Sunday. 

Middletown North (3-3) at No. 3 Holmdel (5-2), Friday 7 p.m.

If the Lions can upset the Hornets, it would not only shake up the rankings but could potentially vault them into the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group 4. Meanwhile, Holmdel has to get a win and some help to possibly land the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group 3. 

Marlboro (2-6) at No. 1 Red Bank Catholic (7-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

The top-ranked Caseys can clinch the outright Class A North title with a victory. RBC still has another regular-season game against Notre Dame the following week because the non-public playoffs start a week after the public brackets. 

No. 7 Rumson-Fair Haven (4-3) at No. 11 Middletown South (3-4), 7 p.m.

This is the only matchup of the week between teams ranked in the SSI Top 12. Rumson-Fair Haven is looking to rebound from a loss to Toms River North, and the defending overall Group 2 champs have to win to hold on to a top-three seed in Central Jersey Group 2 or potentially jump Wall for the No. 2 spot. Middletown South has won three straight and could potentially earn a home game in Central Jersey Group 4 if they pull the upset. 

Jackson (2-6) at No. 2 Brick Memorial (6-2), Friday at 6 p.m.

This is a championship game for Brick Memorial, which has to beat the Jaguars to tie Donovan Catholic for the Class A South title. The Mustangs appear to have already locked down the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group 4, but a win here can’t hurt. 

No. 6 Toms River North (4-4) at Point Boro (3-4), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

This looks like it may be a do-or-die game for Point Boro to make the state playoffs, one season after winning a sectional title. The injury-ravaged Panthers will try to make a stand against a Mariners team on a three-game winning streak and coming off an impressive win over Rumson-Fair Haven. Toms River North, which is the defending Group 5 champion, could potentially earn a home playoff game with a win here. 

No. 10 Manalapan (5-3) at Freehold Township (5-3), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

There will be some scoreboard-watching at this one, as Manalapan can tie Wall and St. John Vianney for the Class B North title if the Braves win this game and then have St. John Vianney upset Wall. Manalapan also is currently projected to be the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group 4, but a loss here could put that in jeopardy. Freehold Township could lock down its state playoff spot rather than potentially worry about getting jumped for the No. 8 seed in Central Jersey Group 5. It would also be Freehold Township’s first win over its Freehold Regional District rival in 21 years. 

No. 8 Wall (5-2) at St. John Vianney (4-4), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Crimson Knights can claim the outright Class B North title by beating St. John Vianney. A win by the Lancers would give them a share of the division title and also allow Manalapan to potentially tie for a tri-championship. A win by Wall is also big as far as potentially securing the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group 2, which could mean possibly facing defending champion Rumson-Fair Haven on Wall’s home field instead of on the road. 

Manchester (0-8) at Brick (3-5), Friday at 6 p.m.

Either the Hawks will break into the win column for the first time this season, or the Green Dragons will end a five-game losing streak. Brick is just on the outside of the playoff picture, but a win here most likely doesn’t generate enough points to get in. 

No. 5 Southern (7-1) at Toms River South (2-6), Friday at 6 p.m.

The Rams can clinch the outright Class B South title with a win as they try to rebound from their first loss of the season. They look to maintain a No. 2 seed in South Jersey Group 5 with a victory. If the Indians can shock Southern, they have an outside shot to earn a state playoff berth. 

Red Bank (4-3) at Long Branch (0-8), Friday at 6 p.m.

The two longtime Thanksgiving rivals meet in the regular-season finale as Red Bank can clinch no worse than a tie for the Class C North title with a win. It would be the first division title in 10 years for the Bucs, who can also most likely lock down a home playoff game in Central Jersey Group 4 with a win. Long Branch will try to stun its rival for its first victory of the season. The Green Wave’s last winless season was in 1929. 

Matawan (5-3) at Shore (5-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

The Huskies can clinch at least a tie for the Class C North title with a win, but they will have to go through a tough Blue Devils team on the road to do it. Shore needs the win to most likely solidify the No. 2 seed in Central Jersey Group 1, while Matawan needs a win and maybe some help to avoid potentially playing Holmdel on the road in the first round in Central Jersey Group 3. 

Toms River East (4-3) at Pinelands (5-2), Friday at 6 p.m.

This one of the biggest home games in Pinelands history. The winner of this game wins the Class C South title. Toms River East’s last division title came in 2019, while the only division title in Pinelands history was in 1987. Pinelands also needs to win this game to ensure a state playoff spot. The Wildcats have only been to the state playoffs two times in their history, and their last appearance was 21 years ago. Toms River East, which looks to be in the playoffs for the first time in six years, projects to be a No. 6 seed in South Jersey Group 4 and could possibly move up with a victory over the five-win Wildcats. 

Raritan (3-4) at Neptune (7-1), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

This game is for the Class D North title, and both teams are looking to end long droughts. Raritan’s last division title was in 2008, and Neptune’s last overall division title was in 1998. The Scarlet Fliers are on a seven-game winning streak for the first time since 2011, so this is the biggest Neptune home game in almost 15 years. They have an outside shot at a home playoff game with a win over the Rockets. 

Monmouth (5-3) at New Egypt (3-4), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

If anything, this game will be entertaining with these teams’ ability to light up the scoreboard. A victory by Monmouth would give the Falcons six wins, one year after they finished 1-9. Both teams are currently on the outside of the playoff picture. 

Keansburg (1-6) at Point Beach (5-2), Friday at 7 p.m.

Point Beach can clinch the outright Class D South title with a victory. The Garnet Gulls also look to solidify their projected No. 6 seed in the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs. 

No. 4 Donovan Catholic (5-3) at Howell (3-5), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Griffins are coming off a heart-stopper over Manalapan and are looking for their fifth straight win as they try to argue for a top-three seed in Non-Public B. An upset by Howell would lock down a playoff spot, while a loss could leave the door open for other teams to jump the Rebels in Central Jersey Group 5. 

Keyport (1-7) at Barnegat (3-5), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Barnegat is looking for a win as it tries to push for at least a .500 season, while the Red Raiders will try to snap a four-game losing streak. 

No. 12 Central (7-1) at Ocean (4-4), Friday at 7 p.m.

The Golden Eagles will try to enter the state playoffs on a six-game winning streak and solidify a home state playoff game in South Jersey Group 4. Ocean is currently out of the playoff picture and looks to play spoiler while trying a Hail Mary shot to get a playoff berth. 

Colts Neck (2-6) at No. 8 Manasquan (6-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Manasquan can claim its share of the Class C North title with a win over the Cougars. A victory also most likely solidifies a home game in Central Jersey Group 2 and could even let the Warriors jump Wall or Rumson-Fair Haven for a higher seed if those teams lose. 

Lacey (2-5) at Lakewood (2-6), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Both teams are out of the running for a state playoff berth. Lacey head coach Lou Vircillo could pick up career win No. 315, which trails only late Brick legend Warren Wolf (364 wins) in Shore Conference history. 

Asbury Park (4-3) at Freehold Boro (2-6), Saturday at noon

The Blue Bishops can clinch their first winning season in three years and potentially earn a home game in Central Jersey Group 1 with a win over the Colonials. 

Scott Stump is the football editor and a reporter for Shore Sports Insider. He first started covering Shore Conference football in 1999 and has covered basketball, baseball and seemingly every other Shore Conference sport at some point. 

Email: scottstump25@gmail.com