Middletown North Ends Manalapan’s 33-Game Class A North Winning Streak With 18-8 Victory
Sophomore running back Connor Welsh ran for a pair of touchdowns and junior linebacker Brock Zenker returned a fumble 30 yards for a touchdown to as the Lions (3-1, 2-1) snapped Manalapan’s 33-game Class A North winning streak.
Middletown North went up 6-0 on the first drive of the game when Welsh scored his first touchdown. On Manalapan’s first drive, Wilkerson forced the fumble and Zenker scooped up the loose ball and brought it back for the score. Manalapan closed the gap to 12-6 but Welsh scored his second touchdown of the game to put Middletown North up 18-6. The Lions took a safety late in the game when punting from deep in their own territory.
"The kids really played well on defense and kept (Manalapan) in check," said Middletown North head coach Steve Bush. "I fell we like took the next step as a program to beat a team like Manalapan. The kids played their hearts out."
The Lions earned the monumental victory playing without senior standout running back and linebacker Chad Freshnock, who will be out a few more weeks with an injury.
"We have a good team but Chad is our best player and can be a difference maker," Bush said. "The kids stepped up and made plays. It was a total team effort."
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