Watch the Week 8 SSI Football Podcast featuring Manalapan and Matawan

The Week 8 edition of the SSI Football Podcast spotlighted two Shore Conference teams that have turned their seasons around, as Manalapan and Matawan joined Monday night’s live show at Meadow 28 in Farmingdale.

Shore Sports Insider’s Dan Yeserski and Dave Smith welcomed Manalapan head coach Dom Lepore and senior running back Nick Palmieri, followed by Matawan head coach Matt Walsh and senior tight end/defensive end Kevin Auguste.

Both programs have found their footing after difficult stretches earlier in the season. Manalapan has bounced back from a four-game losing streak with consecutive victories, defeating St. John Vianney 32-29 and Central 35-7. Matawan, meanwhile, has rattled off three straight wins over Marlboro, Shore and Toms River East after opening the season 1-4.

Both teams now face pivotal Week 8 matchups with postseason implications. Manalapan will square off against Holmdel on Friday in a showdown that could significantly impact the Braves’ seeding in South Group 5. Matawan will also face a ranked opponent in Middletown South as the Huskies look to strengthen their position in North Group 3.

Yeserski and Smith discussed each team’s turnaround, highlighted key contributors and examined what it will take for both programs to close out the regular season with another victory.

The hosts also recapped an eventful Week 7, broke down the latest Shore Sports Insider Top 12 rankings and previewed other marquee Week 8 matchups from around the Shore Conference.