Shore Sports Network Shore 16 Football Rankings for Oct. 31

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There is a new No. 1 team in the Shore Sports Network Shore 16, and this time, the change is probably permanent.

Red Bank Catholic has risen back to the top of the Shore Conference hierarchy following a 14-7 win over Donovan Catholic in Week 9. The host Griffins entered the game ranked No. 1, having held that spot since defeating preseason No. 1 Toms River North on Sept. 15. RBC had been No. 2 since the preseason, and with the game vs. Donovan Catholic coming on the final week of the regular season, there was always the possibility there would be a ton on the line. With the victory, the Caseys clinched their second straight American Division title and ascended to No. 1 in the Shore, Barring some shocking results in the state playoffs, the Caseys look like a lock to finish No. 1 for the third time in the last six seasons.

The first round of the NJSIAA public school playoffs saw Brick Memorial and Holmdel remain undefeated and hold onto their top-five status. Outside of RBC, Long Branch was the big mover following a shutout of Jackson Memorial in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs.

There are still some teams finishing out their season with consolation games, but as far as the ranked teams go, just 11 teams remain alive in the state playoffs. A total of 12 teams will play postseason games this weekend (RBC has a bye and plays next week)) when you factor in Manasquan in Central Jersey Group 3 and Shore Regional in Central Jersey Group 1

Here is the latest Shore 16.

1. Red Bank Catholic (8-1). Last week: No. 2

Senior wide receiver Emanuel Ross ran for a 74-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game, junior quarterback Frankie Williams ran for a score late in the first quarter, and senior linebacker Davin Brewton led a strong defensive effort in a 14-7 victory over Donovan Catholic that clinched the American Division championship and thrust the Caseys into the top spot. RBC is the No. 1 seed in the Non-Public B bracket. Next game: Friday, Nov. 10 vs. the winner of Holy Spirit vs. Immaculata.

2. Donovan Catholic (7-2). Last week: No. 1

Sophomore running back Najee Calhoun ran for a 23-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to pull the Griffins within one score, but the offense could not convert a fourth down in RBC territory in the final four minutes and fell to the Caseys, 14-7, in the defacto Shore Conference championship game. Donovan Catholic received the No. 4 seed in the Non-Public A playoffs and has two winnable games ahead of it before a potential semifinal matchup with state No. 1 Bergen Catholic. Next game: Saturday vs. Paramus Catholic (3-7) in the first round of the Non-Public B playoffs.

3. Toms River North (8-2). Last week: No. 3

Senior quarterback Micah Ford ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more in a 49-7 rout of Southern in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs. The defending Group 5 champion Mariners also received rushing touchdowns from senior running back Josh Moore, junior running back Mordecai Ford, and sophomore running back Brady Cicala. Tareq Council and Camryn Thomas had touchdown receptions. Next game: Friday vs. No. 13 Freehold Township (7-3) in the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals.

4. Brick Memorial (10-0). Last week: No. 4

Senior quarterback Connor Dietz had another huge game with 390 yards of offense and four total touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a 41-7 win over Moorestown in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs. Dietz completed 14 of 18 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown to pass former Mustangs and Monmouth University standout Brian Boland as the program's all-time leading passer. He also ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries to move closer to the rare 5,000-yard rushing mark for his career. Just five players have reached that mark in Shore Conference history. Senior Jasaan Whittaker ran for two touchdowns and sophomore Nyzier Matthews caught four passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Sophomore linebacker Trey Tallmadge led the defense with 14 tackles, three tackles for loss, and an interception. Next game: Friday vs. No. 11 Long Branch (5-4) in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals.

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

Holmdel allowed its first points since Sept. 8 when Matawan scored a second-quarter touchdown, but the Hornets took over from there to score 14 unanswered points in a 21-7 victory in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs. Sophomore quarterback Jack Cannon tossed a 55-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Matt Tempone in the first quarter but suffered an injury and did not play in the second half. The Hornets leaned even more on their ground game with junior running back Matt Iulo and senior Brayden Savage rushing for touchdowns in the second half to cement the victory. Iulo ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and senior running back Anthony Setteducate ran for 71 yards on 15 carries. It was another balanced effort on defense for Holmdel with junior defensive tackle Evan Savarese leading the way with 2.5 tackles for loss. Next game: Friday vs. Camden (8-1) in the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals.

6. Point Boro (8-1). Last week: No. 6

Senior running back Jake Croce ran for 182 yards and five touchdowns on just eight carries when the Panthers walloped Spotswood, 55-7, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 2 playoffs. Senior quarterback Matt Oliphant ran for 92 yards and a touchdown on four carries while Calvin Videon-Perino and Mikey Ollendorf added touchdown runs in the second half. Senior linebacker Owen Dewysockie had seven tackles, two tackles for loss, and an interception, and junior defensive end Nick Jankovich had four tackles and 2.5 sacks to lead the defense. Next game: Friday vs. Cinnaminson (9-1) in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals.

7. Rumson-Fair Haven (5-4). Last week: No. 7

Junior quarterback Owen O'Toole completed 14 of 19 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns and senior tight end Jackson Gallagher caught four passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a 47-13 win over Delaware Valley in the first round of the South Jersey Group 2 playoffs. O'Toole also ran for a touchdown while senior Griffin Kolb led the ground attack with 70 yards rushing and a touchdown on six carries. Nick Thomas caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown and seniors Alastair Orr and Luke Marascio also had touchdown runs. Sophomore defensive tackle Jack Harris had three tackles for loss and senior defensive back Wesley Kennedy had an interception to lead the defense. Next game: Friday vs. Haddon Heights (7-2) in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals.

8. Middletown South (3-5). Last week: No. 8

Senior quarterback Jake Czwakiel threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and ran for 95 yards and a touchdown but the Eagles fell at home to Shawnee, 35-21, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs. Czwakiel ran for a 7-yard score and tossed a 62-yard touchdown pass to Logan Burbank. Senior Colin Gallagher also had a touchdown run. Middletown Soth holds at No. 8 because of its 30-14 win over Colts Neck in Week 5. The Eagles will now gear up for a Thanksgiving Day clash with rival Middletown North. Next game: Thanksgiving at No. 14 Middletown North (5-4).

9. Colts Neck (6-3). Last week: No. 9

Senior running back Chris Scully ran for 195 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries and senior defensive end Eric Loureiro recorded 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt to lead the Cougars to a 41-0 wipeout of Toms River South in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs. Senior quarterback Dom Beninato threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior Aidan Manasso and sophomore Bryson Royal added a touchdown run. Next game: Friday at Mainland (10-0) in the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals.

10. Marlboro (7-2). Last week: No. 11

Senior running back Matt Cassidy ran for 129 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and senior quarterback Brayden Klein completed 9 of 13 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown as the Mustangs erased an early deficit to defeat South Brunswick, 26-16, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs. Senior Mike Consolazio caught three passes for 48 yards and a touchdown and had two tackles for loss on defense. Cassidy recorded a team-high 13 tackles. Next game: Friday at Hillsborough (8-2) in the South Jersey Group 5 semifinals.

11. Long Branch (5-4). Last week: No. 14

Senior quarterback Earnest Reevey tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Zaheem Brown and ran for a touchdown while junior linebacker Joseph Corley recorded four tackles for loss on defense to lead the sixth-seeded Green Wave to a 13-0 shutout of No. 3 seed Jackson Memorial in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs. Next game: Friday at No. 4 Brick Memorial (10-0) in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals.

12. Jackson Memorial (7-2). Last week: No. 10

The Jaguars were shut out by Long Branch, 13-0, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 4 playoffs and finished their season with a 7-2 record. Jackson shared the Freedom Division championship with Marlboro and posted wins over Middletown North, Manalapan, and Howell to headline the season. Sophomore running back Jonah Glenn enjoyed a breakout season with 1,454 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Jags defense allowed 17 points or less in all nine games and received standout performances from senior defensive end Shaun Hubbard (11 sacks), senior linebacker Ethan Kalinauskas (75 tackles), and senior defensive backs Albert D'Alessandro (78 tackles, 3 INTs) and Jaiden Hernandez (70 tackles, 2 INTs. Next game: Season complete.

13. Freehold Township (7-3). Last week: No. 13

Senior quarterback Nick Cardone and senior running backs Sebastian Andujar and Nick Whisten ran for touchdowns and Cam Greenberg intercepted a pass that led to the go-ahead score as the Patriots went on the road and shocked previously undefeated North Brunswick, 21-20, in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 5 playoffs. Greenberg's pick set up Andujar's 5-yard touchdown run and senior Bobby Loff's extra point to give the Patriots the biggest win in program history. Senior Nick Carnevale also had a key fumble recovery while Andujar had eight tackles with three tackles for loss to lead the defense. Next game: Friday at No. 3 Toms River North (8-2) in the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals.

14. Middletown North (5-4). Last week: No. 12

The Lions fell to Irvington on the road, 26-7, in the first round of the North 2, Group 4 playoffs. They picked up a game with Ocean City this week and also have their Thanksgiving Day game with Middletown South still on the schedule. Next game: Thursday vs. Ocean City (3-6).

15. Toms River South (6-3). Last week: No. 15

The Indians were shut out by Colts Neck, 41-0, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs to end their resurgent season under second-year head coach Matt Martin. The Indians finished 6-3 and won the Liberty Division title for the program's first division championship since 2002. Next game: Season complete.

16. Manalapan (4-5). Last week: No. 16

Junior quarterback Ryan Dougherty threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns but the Braves could not overcome a powerful Mainland team and fell to the undefeated Mustangs, 56-20, in the first round of the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs. Junior Jarrett Barber caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, sophomore running back Ah'sere Woolfok caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown, and junior wide receiver Jackson Pfister caught five passes for 51 yards and a touchdown. The Braves had a wildly inconsistent season but showed flashes of greatness such as their 24-23 win over Point Boro in Week 6. Several key players return next season. Next game: Season complete.