Week 3 Thursday Night Football Games of the Week Presented by Sansone Jr’s Kia
Shore Conference football divisional games again take the center stage under the lights Thursday night, and Shore Sports Insider will be on hand with coverage of two Week 3 matchups.
Tonight’s Shore Conference Thursday Night Football coverage is presented by Sansone Jr’s Kia, including Sansone Jr’s 66 Kia in Neptune and Sansone Jr’s Keyport Kia.
Lacey (2-1) travels to Pinelands (3-0) at 6 p.m. in a critical Class B South game. The Wildcats have dominated through their first three games, outscoring their opponents 116-6, while Lacey has recorded shutouts in both of their wins. Shore Sports Insider’s Dan Yeserski will be traveling down to Tuckerton.
No. 4 Rumson-Fair Haven (3-0) travels to No. 9 Wall (2-1) at 7 p.m. in what is a rematch of last year’s Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals, a game that the Crimson Knights won 17-13. Shore Sports Insider’s Dave Smith will be present.
Shore Sports Insider will have coverage from both games throughout Thursday night and afterward on ShoreSportsInsider.com.
Below, we take a closer look at both matchups with an expanded preview of Lacey at Pinelands and Rumson-Fair Haven at Wall.
Lacey at Pinelands, 6 p.m.
Series Record: Lacey Leads 25-1
| 1981 | Lacey 25, Pinelands 0 |
| 1982 | Lacey 66, Pinelands 24 |
| 1983 | Lacey 28, Pinelands 6 |
| 1984 | Lacey 21, Pinelands 0 |
| 1985 | Lacey 27, Pinelands 7 |
| 1990 | Lacey 33, Pinelands 0 |
| 1991 | Lacey 24, Pinelands 8 |
| 1992 | Lacey 23, Pinelands 0 |
| 1993 | Lacey 7, Pinelands 3 |
| 1994 | Lacey 41, Pinelands 0 |
| 1995 | Lacey 16, Pinelands 6 |
| 1996 | Lacey 27, Pinelands 7 |
| 1997 | Lacey 14, Pinelands 10 |
| 1998 | Lacey 42, Pinelands 7 |
| 1999 | Lacey 35, Pinelands 0 |
| 2004 | Lacey 7, Pinelands 0 |
| 2005 | Lacey 57, Pinelands 7 |
| 2010 | Lacey 42, Pinelands 0 |
| 2011 | Lacey 53, Pinelands 0 |
| 2012 | Lacey 58, Pinelands 8 |
| 2013 | Lacey 61, Pinelands 7 |
| 2016 | Lacey 16, Pinelands 8 |
| 2017 | Lacey 35, Pinelands 21 |
| 2018 | Lacey 14, Pinelands 7 |
| 2020 | Lacey 42, Pinelands 0 |
| 2025 | Pinelands 14, Lacey 10 |
Preview
The Wildcats are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2023 and have dominated their opponents, outscoring them 116-6 through three games. Junior linebacker Montrell Carter has emerged as one of the state’s most productive defensive players, totaling 30 tackles, four sacks, an interception returned for a touchdown and a blocked kick.
Pinelands RB/LB Montrell Carter. (Photo by Vincent Scarpone)
The Lions bounced back from a lopsided loss to Middletown North by shutting out Toms River East, 10-0, to improve to 2-1. Defense has been the calling card in both of Lacey’s wins.
The winner will gain an early edge in the Class B South race, with Toms River South the only other team that can emerge from the weekend unbeaten in divisional play.
Predictions
Stump- Pinelands
Smith- Pinelands
Crouthamel- Pinelands
Yeserski- Pinelands
Manzo- Pinelands
Rumson-Fair Haven at Wall, 7 p.m.
Series Record: RFH Leads 12-3-1
| 1960 | RFH 12, Wall 6 |
| 1961 | RFH 12, Wall 6 |
| 1962 | RFH 25, Wall 12 |
| 1963 | RFH 13, Wall 0 |
| 1964 | RFH 6, Wall 6 |
| 1965 | RFH 33, Wall 7 |
| 1974 | RFH 34, Wall 12 |
| 1975 | RFH 14, Wall 0 |
| 2017 | RFH 28, Wall 13 (CJ3 Semis) |
| 2019 | Wall 14, RFH 3 |
| 2019 | Wall 14, RFH 13 (CJ3 Final) |
| 2021 | RFH 35, Wall 0 |
| 2022 | RFH 44, Wall 20 |
| 2023 | RFH 21, Wall 0 |
| 2024 | RFH 38, Wall 14 (CJ2 Final) |
| 2025 | Wall 17, RFH 13 (CJ2 Semis) |
Preview
The Bulldogs will be looking to avenge last season’s 17-13 loss to the Crimson Knights in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals, a defeat that snapped Rumson-Fair Haven’s streak of 11 consecutive sectional final appearances. Despite that result, Rumson-Fair Haven enters this matchup as the favorite following an impressive 3-0 start. The Bulldogs have shown tremendous balance offensively, with junior quarterback Brady Williams throwing for 643 yards and seven touchdowns while the rushing attack has piled up 589 yards, led primarily by senior running back Ryder Izzo and Williams.
Rumson junior quarterback Brady Williams put up 298 total yards in a 40-28 win over Holmdel. (Photo by Patrick Olivero)
Wall has leaned heavily on its running game behind a veteran offensive line anchored by seniors Gus Stedronsky and Nick Rogers. Junior running back Michael Boulard has rushed for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns, giving the Crimson Knights a physical ground attack. With both teams capable of controlling the game up front, the battle in the trenches will be one to watch.
The winner of this game will emerge as one of potentially two unbeaten teams in Class A North play, with Red Bank Catholic being the other if the Caseys defeat Manalapan.
Predictions
Stump- Rumson-Fair Haven
Smith- Rumson-Fair Haven
Crouthamel- Rumson-Fair Haven
Yeserski- Rumson-Fair Haven
Manzo- Wall
