Shore Sports Network Football Top 10, 10/1414

At some point in the season the Top 10 gets exploded, and that time came this past weekend during Week Five.

Undefeated Brick, coming off its thrilling overtime win over Jackson Memorial, was stunned by winless Wall, 28-27 in double overtime, thanks to four total touchdowns from junior quarterback Matt Cluley and a perfect kicking night from junior Nick Maciejewski. It would be easy to send the Dragons tumbling toward the bottom of the Top 10, but their resume prior to the loss - which includes wins over both the Jaguars and Brick Memorial - can’t be ignored.

Long Branch continued its strong start by picking up a key nondivisional victory over a Rumson-Fair Haven team still without star senior tailback Charlie Volker. The Green Wave have only lost to top-ranked Red Bank Catholic, and their four-game winning streak coupled with Brick’s loss allows them to jump all the way into the top five.

Oddly enough, even with the upsets there are no new teams in the Top 10 this week, just some shuffling. The teams on the cusp of being ranked are only one big win away from jumping in, so it should be an interesting ride the rest of the season.

Week Six has a pair of Top 10 matchups that will help clear the picture even more. No. 2 Manalapan will host No. 4 Middletown South in a huge Class A North game on Friday night. The Braves have won 29 straight games versus Shore Conference opponents and have defeated the Eagles four consecutive times since 2010.

No. 7 Jackson Memorial travels to No. 8 Brick Memorial on Friday night in a separation game in A South. Both teams have only one loss - to Brick - so second place will be on the line when the two teams square off.

1. Red Bank Catholic (5-0). Last week: No. 1

The Caseys’ stranglehold on the No. 1 spot continued after a 56-0 victory over winless Colts Neck. Junior quarterback Eddie Hahn ran for a pair of 24-yard touchdowns and also threw a 36-yard touchdown to Dan Lukawski. Senior running back Mike Cordova and Anthony Purge had rushing touchdowns, senior Nick Lubischer had a punt return touchdown and Dylan Murphy returned a fumble for a score as the Caseys won their 37th game in a row against the Shore. The defense, led by Miami-bound senior linebacker Jamie Gordinier, held Colts Neck to 25 total yards, including minus-23 rushing yards. RBC hosts Red Bank Regional (2-2, 2-1) on Friday night at Count Basie Field.

2. Manalapan (5-0). Last week: No. 3

The Braves move up to No. 2 thanks to Brick’s loss, and kept mowing down the competition with a 42-14 victory over winless Lacey. Senior running back Imamu Mayfield ran for 99 yards and four touchdowns, senior John Cheung returned a punt 55 yards for a score and Kyle Mullen had a fumble return for a touchdown. The Braves have scored 42 points or more in every game this season. Their biggest test of the season comes this Friday when they welcome No. 4 Middletown South for a game that will likely decide the Class A North division title. The Braves have won four in a row against the Eagles dating back to 2010.

3. St. John Vianney (5-0). Last week: No. 4

Junior quarterback Anthony Brown threw a career-high five touchdown passes in a 51-22 victory over winless Manchester as the Lancers continued their best start since 1998. Keyport transfer Jeff Sheard appeared in his first game after sitting out 30 days and had a pair of touchdowns, while Dan Calabro, P.J. Braccia and Khalil Haskins also had receiving touchdowns. Senior running back Aaron Mora scored twice on the ground. The Lancers will travel to Raritan (2-2) this Friday night looking to stay unbeaten.

4. Middletown South (4-1). Last week: No. 5

The Eagles recorded their fourth shutout in five games by blanking Howell 44-0. Junior running back Cole Rogers led a 367-yard rushing attack with 182 yards and four touchdowns on just seven carries, while James McCarthy and Ed Pinto also had rushing touchdowns. Linebacker Dylan Rogers led the defensive effort with 8 tackles, a sack and a tackle for a loss. Middletown South has a chance to take control of the A North race and assert itself as a state championship favorite when it travels to face No. 2 Manalapan on Friday night.

5. Long Branch (4-1). Last week: No. 8

The Green Wave make the biggest jump of the week in climbing three spots to No. 5. Senior running back Dahmiere Willis ran for 245 yards and three touchdowns on 36 carries to lead Long Branch past Rumson-Fair Haven, 19-7, in a key nondivisional game. Willis now has four straight 200-plus-yard rushing games and is over 1,000 yards on the season. Since a season-opening loss to No. 1 Red Bank Catholic, Long Branch has won four in a row and allowed just 20 total points. The Green Wave host Ocean (1-3) in a B North game on Friday night.

6. Brick (4-1). Last week: No. 2

What to do with Brick was the biggest question in assembling the Top 10 this week. The Dragons shocking 28-27 home loss to previously winless Wall is arguably the biggest Shore Conference regular season upset of the last 15 years. Brick couldn't drop too far, however, because of wins over No. 7 Jackson Memorial and No. 8 Brick Memorial, both of which have been playing well. With all due respect to Wall, the only way to look at this loss is as an outlier. The Dragons are still a Top 10 team. Where, is the only question. The Dragons’ strength of schedule allows them to remain just outside the top five, but there’s work to be done for the defending NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV champions. They host another winless team when they welcome Lacey to Keller Memorial Field on Friday night.

7. Jackson Memorial (4-1). Last week: No. 6

The Jaguars had no issue shaking off a crushing 30-24 overtime loss to Brick in demolishing Toms River North, 35-7. Senior Jackson Liberty transfer Matt Castronuova made his Jaguars debut in style with 165 total yards and two touchdowns, including a 71-yard rushing score on his first offensive touch. He also caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Joe DeMaio, who himself accounted for four total touchdowns. The defense, led by lineman Glenn Kipila, stopped the Mariners’ dangerous combination of junior running back Asante Moorer and sophomore quarterback Mike Husni. The Jaguars will try to remain in striking distance of Brick in A South when they go on the road to face No. 8 Brick Memorial on Friday night.

8. Brick Memorial (4-1). Last week: No. 10

Junior quarterback Tim Santiago ran for 211 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries as the Mustangs racked up 436 yards of total offense in a 35-23 nonconference victory over Old Bridge. Senior fullback Connor Owen had 78 yards rushing and two touchdowns and halfback Elie Lavarin had 93 yards and a touchdown on just five carries as part of a 386-yard outburst on the ground. The Mustangs will host No. 7 Jackson Memorial on Friday night in a crucial game for both teams. The winner will stay within striking distance should first-place Brick falter within the division, while also gaining a haul of power points that will be crucial in their respective brackets.

9. Freehold (5-0). Last week: No. 9.

The Colonials are one of four undefeated teams in the Shore Conference after a 38-14 victory over winless Marlboro. Junior quarterback Jake Curry threw touchdown passes of 55 and 67 yard to junior Jamel Smith-Rush, and added a 7-yard touchdown run. Senior running back Josh Dixon had a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown and freshman Asante Worthy added a rushing touchdown. On Friday night the Colonials will travel to face a Wall team fresh off its upset of Brick in a nondivisional game.

10. Rumson-Fair Haven (2-2). Last week: No. 7

Playing their second straight game without star senior tailback Charlie Volker, the Bulldogs fell to Long Branch, 19-7, in a nondivisional game. Sophomore quarterback Mike O’Connor threw a touchdown pass to Murray McHeffey in the loss. Rumson will try to get back on track when it travels to Manasquan on Saturday afternoon.

Dropped out: none

Teams to Watch:

Toms River North (3-2): The Mariners fell to Jackson Memorial, 35-7, but are still a dangerous team with junior running back Asante Moorer and sophomore quarterback Mike Husni leading the way. They will host winless Toms River East on Friday night.

Toms River South (3-1): The Indians return from their bye week to take on Southern on Saturday night. South has a loss to Toms River North, but still has games against Jackson Memorial, Brick Memorial and Brick remaining, and can certainly still be a factor in the A South race.