We get a taste of Shore Conference football action in Week Zero with a five-game slate this weekend before the full meal next week, which means it’s time (for better or worse) to get back into the prognostication business.

The good news is that starting next week, I will be joined by my Shore Sports Network colleagues Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca, Matt Harmon and Bob Badders in picking games, which at least gives me the opportunity to make fun of others for their bad picks rather than just staring at mine and shaking my head.

Pinelands will open its season with a Class B South game at Donovan Catholic on Friday night. (Photo by Bill Normile)
Pinelands will open its season with a Class B South game at Donovan Catholic on Friday night. (Photo by Bill Normile)
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As for coverage this weekend, our Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week will be Red Bank Catholic at Wall at 7 p.m. on Friday. The game will be live on the radio on 1310 a.m. and 1160 a.m. and the audio will stream live right here at ShoreSportsNetwork.com. Also, our own Bob Badders will be there for a story and video. We also will have coverage of all the other games this weekend.

Good luck to all the teams this week as we get things started.

Friday’s Games

Howell at Freehold Township, 6:30 p.m.: This game is interesting because Howell is somewhat of an unknown entity with entirely new schemes on offense and defense under new coach Luke Sinkhorn. It will be kind of surreal to see Howell grinding it out with the run game instead of an all-out aerial assault. Meanwhile, Freehold Township has also made some wholesale changes, mainly on offense, where it will now run the spread. You can bet the stands will be full of Class A North opponents looking to get a good scouting report on both of these teams with so many changes. The pick: Howell.

Pinelands at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.: Picking this game would have been a no-brainer in Donovan’s favor in the past few seasons, but this year could be different. Pinelands appears to be much-improved under second-year coach Brian Wilkinson and is now running the multiple-wing rushing attack similar to that of Toms River East. Meanwhile, Donovan Catholic changed its school name and nearly its entire lineup. The graduation of all their leading skill players and almost all their starters means they need production out of a host of newcomers and experienced returner David Calderon, who is now the quarterback. Pinelands went 1-9 last year, so a win in this game would be a huge confidence boost in Class B South. I’m going out on a limb. The pick: Pinelands.

Freehold Boro at Middletown North, 7 p.m.: This is the game I will be covering on Friday night. It’s been awhile since I’ve been to the Lions’ Den, so this should be fun. There are some great playmakers in this game on both sides. You have Middletown North sophomore quarterback Donald Glenn and junior tailback Chad Freshnock vs. Freehold junior quarterback Jake Curry and senior tailback Josh Dixon. This could be a highlight-fest. Middletown North also has Jordan Pitts and Troy Thompson in the passing game. While the big names are the skill players, this will come down to line play on both sides. Which offensive line will give its playmakers room to work, and which defensive line will stop the run? This is also a chance to get a look at highly-touted Colonials freshman Ashante Worthy, who will be lining up all over the field. The pick: Middletown North.

No. 1 Red Bank Catholic at Wall, 7 p.m.: Jeez, what scheduling gods did Dan Curcione anger to wind up with RBC in his first game as a head coach at Wall? The Caseys enter having won 33 in a row against Shore Conference competition, and this is now a Class B North game after RBC was realigned into the division heading into this year. Eddie Hahn takes over full time at quarterback, the explosive senior tandem of Mike Cordova and Tommy Spernal line up in the backfield, the offensive line is again the biggest and deepest in the Shore, and the defense is led by a linebacker going to Miami. Not the easiest task for a young Wall team, but at least they will have seen the best right away as they embark on the rest of their schedule. The pick: RBC.

Saturday’s game

Middletown South at Marlboro, 1 p.m.: Hopefully this game gets played with all the thunderstorms and rain forecast for Saturday. It’s a David-and-Goliath situation for the home team against an Eagles squad that has looked good in the preseason against a quality scrimmage schedule. Middletown South seems ready to reclaim its place atop the division, and it starts here. This is a chance to get a good look at the stellar sophomore class coming up led by running back/linebacker James McCarthy as well as an opportunity to see new quarterback Matt Mosquera under center. For Marlboro, I’m interested to see if the return of Dewann McAllister and Mo Omar can boost an offense that struggled last year. The pick: Middletown South.

 

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