Scanning the Scene: 11/28/11

Another Turkey Day in the books and our "Fab Five" didn't fair too well. Only Manalapan and Neptune managed to get wins on Thanksgiving weekend. Asbury Park, Rumson and Matawan all took losses, as they head into Championship Saturday on Dec. 3rd.

The battle for #1 in the Shore was easily won by RBC on Friday night. The Caseys(10-1) were on a mission to prove to everyone that they deserve the #1 ranking and they certainly left no doubt that they belong there. Using a punishing ground game and an swarming defense they beat Rumson 21-0. Rumson(10-1), playing without starting RB Connor Riley and offensive tackle Matt Jewett, were unable to get any offense going, as RBCs DT Joe Coscarelli and Josh Klecko along with LB Chris Donald limited the Bulldogs to 111 total yds. and just 6 first downs. RBC, was coming off as tough a loss as you could possibly take, in the semi-finals of Non-Public 3. Delbarton beat them 30-23 in double OT, to end their chance at a State Championship. But with the running of Soph RB Larry Redaelli(140 yds. on 30 carries) and the passing of Ryan Spahr(88 yds. and 2 TD passes), the Caseys made it 9 straight victories over the Bulldogs. Little doubt who #1 is this year. Congratulations to RBC and good luck to Rumson, as they play for a chance for back to back CJ-2 titles on Dec. 3rd, at Rutgers, 7pm.

The other huge game, in which 2 playoff finalist were facing each, other took place at Asbury Park. Neptune(10-1) held on to a 29-28 victory to head to the State Finals on a high note. Meanwhile the Bishops will try to make it 4 titles in 5 years as they head to The College of NJ, for a match-up with Florence, at 10am Sat morning. Plenty of offense in this game, but it was a goal-line stand by the Fliers, with minutes remaining, that sealed the deal, and gave the Fliers their 43rd victory in this outstanding series. Asbury has 37 wins in the series, that was played before a packed house in Asbury Park. Neptunes Jaheem Woods, Geoff Fairbanks brought them back from a 28-22 fourth quarter deficit and overcame the brilliant play of Armond and Amir Conover, of Asbury. Two good teams, and both playing this week with a State Championship on the line.

This and that from the 2011 season:

Congrats to the Champs:

A-North--Manalapan

A-Central--Rumson

A-South--Southern

B-North--RBC

B-Central--Asbury Park

B-South--Barnegat

C-Central--Wall

Congrats to Mater Dei prep, who picked up their first win of season, a 35-29 victory over Keansburg.

More congratulations go out to Long Branch and Danny George. The Green Wave won their 5th straight game to finish 5-5 and set the table for 2012. They beat Red Bank 19-7. Red Bank also must be congratulated, as the finished 5-5 under coach Nick Giglio.

TR East(2-8) "Rules the River", as their 29-17 win over TR North on Turkey Day, to go along with their early season win over TR South, gives them the TR Championship.

Speaking of TR South, their 28-20 win over Lakewood gives them 3 wins on the season. Coming off a 0-10 year, Ron Signorino Jr and his staff has turned the program around in 1 short year. Look for the Indians to get better in 2012. I must also mention Tyrice Beverette, who threw for 393 yds. in a losing effort for Lakewood. Beverette has been outstanding all year for the 2-8 Piners and must get some post season recognition.

SJ Vianney(5-5) beat playoff bound Matawan 35-8 on a Sat morning game. QB Anthony Carlucci proved that he is one of the top QBs in the Shore. He threw for 249 yds. and 2 TDs, as the Lancers under Andy Carlstrom won their 5th game of the year.

How about Point Beach and John Wagner? Beach beat Shore Reg. 14-12 to complete a 8-3 season. Wagner is my "Coach of the Year" in the Shore this year. He has completely turned around a program that has struggled for so many years. The Gulls will stand tall when they hit the beach this summer.

Colts Neck's Vic Scalici ran for 332 yds. and 5TDs as the Cougars beat Howell 41-28. Scalici has quietly had a tremendous season running the football and must be recognized as one of the top backs in the Shore. Also in the this game, we must mention QB Ryan Davies who threw for 236 yds. and became the 7th QB in NJ history to throw for 6000 yds. Davies finished the year with 3,031 yds. and 6,059 for his 2 year career. Only 2 other QBs have had 6000 yds., Colin Gaynor(6619 yds.) of TR East(1997-2000) and Nick SanGiacomo of Barnegat, who had 6,341 for the Bengals in 2007-2010.

John Dunbar of Point Boro(6-4) has had a great year for the Panthers. He led the Panthers to a 41-34 win over Central(5-5). In this game Kalyph Hardy rushed for 107 yds., which gave him 2,050 for the year. The first time a Central Reg back has ever done that. Hardy finished with 28 TDs on the year and 5000 yds. for his career. record book time for Kalyph Hardy!

My best wishes to QB Tyler Saito of Mansaquan who was injured early in second half at Wall on Thanksgiving. A hit on Wall sideline and the knee gave out. Saito was carted off to hospital and an MRI is scheduled for today. Lets hope for the best to this outstanding QB and better baseball player. With modern medicine, lets hope he's on the mound this spring.

No unbeaten teams in the Shore this year, after Rumson fell Friday night.

10 wins: RBC, Neptune, Rumson and Manalapan

9 wins: Manasquan and Asbury Park

8 wins: Southern, Jackson, Wall, Matawan, and Point Beach

7 wins: Middletown South and Barnegat

6 wins: Brick, Mon Don, Point Boro,Shore and Colts Neck

Top Ten week 13:

RBC(10-1) Clearly #1 for the Casey's. Season complete
Neptune(10-1) The Fliers won a thriller against Asbury Park and now play for CJ-3 Championship at 4 pm Sat at Rutgers.
Rumson(10-1) Loss to RBC drops them in poll, but they are still alive for CJ-2 title. Sat at 7pm vs Matawan at Rutgers.
Manalapan(10-1) The Braves are rolling into the CJ-4 title game against Sayreville on Sat afternoon at Rutgers(1pm).
Southern(8-2) A-South Champs, a first in program history. Season complete.
Jackson(8-2) Beat Jax Liberty on Wed night. Solid comeback year for Jags.
Asbury Park(9-2) Loss to Neptune, but play for CJ-1 title at College of NJ at 10am Sat morning.
Matawan(8-3) Will play for CJ-2 title for 3rd straight year. Rumson is opponent, Sat night at 7pm in feature game at Rutgers.
Wall(8-2) You had to feel good for Wall seniors, who go home with Championship. Steve Cluley will be heard from in future college career.
Manasquan(9-2) and Barnegat(7-4) Couldn't make a decision here, so they both are #10. Barnegat won a Championship and Manasquan won 9 straight before losing last two.