Week Six Shore Conference Football Preview: Championship Week

It’s championship week in Shore Conference football. 

Six teams have a chance to clinch no worse than a tie for division titles in Week Six, while several others could clinch a share if they win and another first-place team loses. 

We’re hitting the home stretch of the regular season, with divisional clashes this week, a group of nondivisional games next week, and then the divisions wrapping up in the regular-season finale for the public teams. 

Also, make sure to check out our in-depth state tournament watch to see where each Shore team sits in the state playoff picture heading into this weekend’s action. 

Here are the games to watch this week. 

No. 1 Red Bank Catholic (6-0, 3-0) at No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven (4-1, 2-1), Friday at 7 p.m.

This is the 68th edition of the rivalry game between these two programs, and once again it’s huge for a bunch of reasons. RBC can clinch no worse than a tie for the Class A North title with a win, while the defending Class A North champion Bulldogs can keep their hopes alive for a share of the division title with a win. A Rumson victory also puts Holmdel back in play for a share of the division title. 

A victory by either team also goes a long way toward securing a top seed in the state playoffs, and a win by Rumson would officially throw the Shore Sports Insider Top 12 rankings into total chaos. 

Other than that, just your usual ho-hum game.

In all seriousness, this will once again feature some of the Shore’s top talents in a rivalry that Rumson sparked last year with just its second win over the Caseys in the last 23 years and first since 2019. The last time Rumson beat RBC twice in a row was in 1986-87. The Caseys lead the all-time series 38-23-6. 

RBC has a tendency to start slow, so Rumson will try to pounce early and get the home crowd at Borden Stadium rocking. 

Rumson had an extra week to prepare thanks to the bye and enters averaging 35.2 points and allowing 14 points per game. RBC is one of only two unbeaten teams left in the Shore Conference and is only allowing 9.5 points while scoring 26.3 per game. 

Just like last season, the primary deciders of this game should be the linemen. Rumson decisively won up front last year, crushing the RBC run game and getting in the backfield on defense, while giving quarterback Owen O’Toole plenty of time to throw and establishing the run with Kellen Murray on offense.

RBC aims to flip that script this year with one of the Shore’s top defensive lines, led by defensive ends Lorenzo Tartamella and Asher Cummins and tackle Jordan Key. Junior linebacker Luke Scaturro and senior safety Daniel Zabora anchor the other two levels of the defense. 

Can Rumson move the Caseys off the ball, establish the run with Ryder Izzo and sophomore quarterback Brady Williams and then hit some big plays off play action? Will the Bulldogs use a quick passing game almost like the run game? 

Conversely, if RBC can jam up Rumson’s run game and make them one-dimensional to unleash the pass rush, that would change the whole game. In Rumson’s lone loss, the Bulldogs threw four interceptions against Holmdel, with the majority of them coming when the quarterback was under heavy pressure.

Against most teams, RBC and Rumson can shake off turnovers and just keep scoring without a hitch. In this game, takeaways should be massive. Any team that gives the other a short field or points on defense will be digging a hole. 

A primary goal for Rumson will be stopping RBC freshman running back Gabe Kemp, who is coming off a 282-yard performance on 42 carries in a win over St. John Vianney. He often stabilizes the offense and breaks a big run when the passing game is struggling. Rumson’s defensive line led by the Bens, Roberts and Gredell, can change the game with hits for a loss. Linebacker Toby Najenson is another playmaker. 

Kemp’s presence helps standout freshman quarterback Rahmir Rivera get some room to make plays on the run to a deep group of receivers led by Zabora and sophomore Jason Berecsky. Rivera has 1,062 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and one interception in his debut season. 

The kickers for each team, Rumson’s Drew Cavise and RBC’s Simon Picinich, could also be factors if it’s a dogfight down the stretch. Picinich attempted a 59-yard field goal last week, which lets you know what head coach Mike Lange believes his range is.  

No. 3 Manalapan (5-1, 2-0) at No. 10 Wall (3-2, 2-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

The winner of this game clinches at least a tie for the Class B North title, so a championship is on the line. 

Wall has been sitting in the weeds a little bit, waiting for its moment in the spotlight after starting 0-2 and winning three straight. Manalapan has not lost to a New Jersey team this season, and this looks like the Braves’ biggest test so far. 

This should be strength on strength because Manalapan’s calling card is an offense averaging 29.5 points per game, and Wall’s backbone is a defense allowing 17.6 points per game and only 11 during its current winning streak. 

It’s all about establishing the run with Ah’sere Woolfolk and Nicky Palmieri for Manalapan. Junior quarterback Cameron Desfosse can then attack downfield to senior Ryan Melendez and a deep group of pass-catchers. 

Desfosse has only attempted more than 20 passes in one game, and that was in the Braves’ lone loss in the season opener against Tottenville of Staten Island. Wall will try to put the game on his shoulders by going all out to stop the run, so Desfosse should have some chances to make big plays downfield. 

Wall senior edge rusher Justin Davis and linebacker Dylan Cohen are game-wreckers who will try to put Manalapan behind the chains with sacks and hits for a loss. Cohen is also a primary figure on offense as Wall’s leading rusher, and his name will be circled by the Braves’ defense. 

Manalapan will almost certainly be trying to double Wall receiver Heath Reinhardt, who is the main target in the passing game. 

This is the annual game between a Wall team coached by former Manalapan head man Ed Gurrieri, and a Manalapan team coached by Gurrieri’s former defensive coordinator, Dom Lepore. The two are both Staten Island natives and longtime friends whose teams will battle for a title. 

Wall is seeking its first division title since 2019, while Manalapan is looking to win its first division crown since 2017.

No. 7 Donovan Catholic (3-3, 2-1) at No. 9 Point Boro (2-3, 1-1), Friday at 6:30 p.m.

This is a major Class A South game because Donovan Catholic can clinch at least a tie for its first division title since 2019 with a win. Point Boro can keep its hopes for the title alive with a win of its own. 

Two teams that have battled injuries to key players and the inconsistency that comes with it will slug it out in a game where stopping the run is paramount. Point Boro junior quarterback Jake Clayton is expected to be back at the helm of the flexbone option after injuring his ankle two weeks ago and resting it during the bye. 

Donovan Catholic has been without starting quarterback Kahden Davis since the second game of the season but has been grinding out wins with freshman quarterback Chris McClaren stepping up. Point Boro senior linebacker Jack Scalabrini is having a strong season with 51 tackles and five tackles for a loss and will be spearheading a group looking to slow down Donovan’s running game

Junior Alex Staten continues to emerge as a playmaker at running back and on special teams for Donovan, and the Griffins’ defense at its best has shown it can bottle up some talented offenses. The next challenge will be Point Boro senior fullback Calvin Videon-Perino, who has been a key to the Panthers’ success. 

No. 11 Red Bank (4-1, 3-0) at No. 8 Manasquan (4-1, 2-1), Saturday at 1 p.m.

Red Bank can clinch at least a tie for the Class C North title with a win. Manasquan can keep its drive alive for a share of the title with a victory at Vic Kubu Warrior Field. Red Bank’s last division title was in 2015. 

The Bucs come in having won four in a row as one of the surprise teams in the Shore thus far under fiery new head coach Tyler Karalewich. Manasquan has fought through injuries and inconsistency and now is pretty much at full power with junior Kyle Dow at quarterback and senior Ace Etienne leading the running game. 

To beat Manasquan, teams have to either score in the 30s like Matawan did or stop Etienne (715 yards rushing, 11 TDs, 8.4 ypc), neither of which is easy against the Warriors. Manasquan has only completed 18 passes all season, so the running game is how it wins. 

Red Bank’s defense enters allowing just 11.5 points per game, thanks to 42 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks by senior linebacker Jah’mir Lane-Bailey, and a combined 88 tackles from senior twins Matt and Jason Huss. Senior Bennett Lopez also has five sacks, so this team gets in the backfield consistently. 

Dow is an X-factor as this is just his second game since becoming eligible after transferring from Donovan Catholic. His first game was a 35-0 win over Long Branch where the Warriors didn’t have to show much, so they could break out some new wrinkles with him this week. 

Junior Brett Laude has improved at quarterback as the season has progressed for Red Bank and has a good group of wideouts led by Ari Fraser, who has 19 catches for 268 yards and a pair of scores. Establishing Matt Huss on the ground is also key. Junior linebacker Luke Barry has been a breakout player for the Warriors and is tied for the team lead with 23 tackles with junior defensive lineman Nick Loughrey. 

Other games to watch: 

Manchester (0-6, 0-2) at No. 2 Southern (6-0, 2-0), 7 p.m.

The main note here is that Southern can clinch at least a tie for the Class B South title and improve to 7-0 for the first time in program history with a win. It would be back-to-back division titles for the Rams. 

Asbury Park (3-2, 0-2) at Raritan (2-3, 2-0), Friday at 7 p.m.

Ocean (3-3, 2-1) at Neptune (5-1, 2-0), Saturday at 1 p.m.

These games are noteworthy because if Raritan and Neptune both win, it sets up a winner-take-all championship game for the Class D North title on Oct. 24 at Neptune. If one wins and the other loses, the winner would clinch at least a tie for the division crown. If both lose, Ocean would be back in play for a share of the title. 

Raritan has been ravaged by injuries but is hopeful to return some of its top players this week against an explosive Asbury Park team led by senior running back Amiere Massie. Neptune has won five straight and is searching for its first division crown outside of a public title since 1998. 

Barnegat (3-2, 1-2) at Pinelands (3-2, 2-0), Friday at 6 p.m.

Lacey (2-3, 1-1) at Toms River East (3-2, 2-0), Friday at 6 p.m.

Similar to the Neptune-Raritan scenario, if Pinelands and Toms River East both win, they will play each other on Oct. 24 for the Class C South title. If one wins and the other loses, the winner clinches no worse than a tie for the division title. If they both lose, that opens the door for Lacey to potentially claim a share of the title. 

Brick (3-3) at No. 6 Brick Memorial (4-2), Friday at 6 p.m.

Freehold Township (3-3) at Freehold (1-5), Saturday at noon 

Brick Memorial and Freehold Township are both heavy favorites in these games, but it’s always worth noting the rivalry games. Some crazy stuff can happen sometimes.

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