Big Night in Jackson

The Week One schedule allowed me to see three games and six teams up close and personal.

With so much video and opinions that you can get after games are played, there is nothing better than seeing a team live.

Friday night, crosstown rivals Jackson Memorial and Jackson Liberty played in front of about 5,000 fans, as each school opened up their 2014 schedule. While the game wasn't close (50-16 final), Jackson Memorial, the defending Class A South champs, showed everyone that they have reloaded with a team that will be very competitive. Senior QB Joe DeMaio leads an offense that will be as good as, if not better, than last year. Last year Khani Glover carried the load at RB. This year junior Vinny Lee and sophomore Mike Gawlik will be a dual threat, which will allow the Jags to rest one or the other and keep them fresh for the long season.

Jackson Liberty, although struggling in week One, will only get better and there are wins on their schedule. The big crowd was entertained by perhaps the two best bands in the Shore. The pre-game show performed by Jackson Memorial was outstanding at 240 members strong. The MacArthur Park theme was truly entertaining. The halftime show by Liberty was equally entertaining and performed well, as the capacity crowd cheered their hometown students.

By the way, the facilities at Jackson Liberty are second to none around the Shore. With seating for close to 4,000, and plenty of parking for fans, a great press box to broadcast from, tremendous treatment to our crew, it's one of our favorite places to work a game. Thank you to the administration for the hospitality.

On Saturday afternoon crosstown rivals from Brick opened their season in front of another capacity of 4,000 fans at Brick Memorial. The Dragons won big (42-0), and the defending state champs showed everyone they are on a mission to repeat. Carmen Sclafani ran and passed for over 300 yards to lead the offense, and an improved and tenacious defense completely shut down the flexbone offense of the Mustangs.

RB/LB Ray Fattaruso, WR/DB Joe Phillips, WR Ja'Quez Johnson, TE Simon Bingelis, DT Chris Kimbiz, and LB James Juliano are names you will hear about throughout 2014. Some great games will be played in the A South this year with Jackson Memorial, Toms River South, and Toms River North expected to be Brick's main concern.

On Saturday night, Toms River North was very impressive in a 30-14 victory over Lacey. Another team loaded with running backs, the Mariners, coming off a one-win 2013, can throw junior Asante Moorer, sophomore Parker Day, and sophomore QB Mike Husni at you for a relentless running game. Husni can also throw the football with Jordan Craig being his main target. Craig stands 6'5, 225 pounds, and is a physical player who catches the ball.

The defense this year is being run by Rich Malek, who has been a good coach at a few teams in the Shore. He seems to have a home now running the Mariner "D." The anchor of the D-line is massive Adam Kakar at 6'3, 325 pounds. The Mariners are young and athletic with power up the middle and perimeter speed and will not be an easy out this year. They might be a year away from championship talk, but don't tell the players that.

Congrats go out to new head coaches Luke Sinkhorn of Howell (a 20-16 winner over Colts Neck), Rodney Taylor of Neptune (a 30-27 winner over Ocean) and Mark Ciccotelli (a 31-10 winner over Matawan) for their first wins. Sinkhorn previously was the head coach at New Egypt while Taylor, a Neptune grad, proves the transition from assistant to head coach can be smooth. Ciccotelli won two State championships at Freehold and one at Neptune before taking the SJV job. Could the Lancers be another RBC down the line?

Rumson finally opens up the 2014 season this week. A first-week bye is not a coach's dream, but the Charlie Volker-led Bulldogs are primed for another run at a state championship. They won Central Jersey Group II last year and set a school record with 11 wins while watching Volker run for more than 2,000 yards.

Surprise winners last week were Raritan (41-34 over Manasquan) as head coach Anthony Petruzzi gets out of the blocks quick. Also Monmouth Regional under the enthusiastic and energetic Rich Mosca opened its season with a thrilling 39-37 win over Holmdel.

Freehold Boro won the battle with Freehold Township, 29-7. Head coach Dave Ellis, coming off a 2-8 season, equals his team's 2013 win total in just two chances.

How about No. 7 in the country Don Bosco beating No. 3 St. Thomas Aquinas of Florida 24-7 at Michie Stadium up at Army. Bosco, No. 1 in New Jersey, will surely move up in the national poll.

Although it's still very early, teams that don't want to be 0-2 are Brick Memorial, Manasquan, Matawan, Toms River East and Lacey. All are in must-win situations, already in the young season, if they want to challenge the big boys. All are in tough games this week.

Join us Thursday night for our Investors Bank HS Football Show from Water Street Grill when we talk high school football around the Shore. NewsTalk Radio WOBM 1160 and 1310 AM or ShoreSportsNetwork.com is where you can find us. This week's game of week is Toms River East at Toms River South at 7 p.m. on Friday.