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The merry-go-round didn’t stop in Week 3.

With ranked teams falling left and right, the Shore Sports Network Top 10 looks quite different as we get set to begin the second half of the regular season. Only one team – No. 1 Wall – remains in the spot it occupied last week. There are risers, fallers and three new teams in this week’s rankings, so let’s get right to it.

 

1. Wall (3-0). Last week: No. 1

Senior running back Casey Larkin ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns, senior quarterback Logan Peters tossed a 28-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Matt Dollive and sophomore Cris Mozeika blocked a punt that resulted in a safety to lead the Crimson Knights to a 22-0 win over Jackson Memorial. The defense, led by junior linebackers Charlie Sasso and Colin Riley and junior defensive end Blake Rezk, held Jackson to 72 yards of offense and six first downs while recording its second straight shutout. Wall was scheduled to play Manalapan in Week 4 but with the Braves being shut down for two weeks because of COVID-19 exposure, the Crimson Knights will now have a bye week. Next game: Friday, Oct. 30 vs. Manasquan

 

2. Donovan Catholic (3-0). Last week: No. 3

The Griffins won by blowout for the third straight week as senior running back Jahdir Loftland ran for 146 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Evyn Menta completed 8 of 9 passes for 182 yards and two scores in a 49-6 victory over Toms River South. Senior wide receiver Jayon Farrar caught three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown and senior wideout James Bivins had 95 yards and a touchdown on just two catches. Sophomore running back Robert Green also had a touchdown run and senior offensive tackle Cam McNair even found the end zone on a 3-yard touchdown run as the Griffins rolled up 480 yards of offense. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at Brick (1-2).

  

3. Southern (3-0). Last week: No. 5

The Rams erupted for their most points in a game since 2006 in a 48-14 win over frequent nemesis Toms River North. Junior running back Jaiden Brown continued his torrid start to the season with a career-high 240 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just 12 carries to lead a Southern offense that approached 500 yards from scrimmage. Senior defensive back Xavier Hendricks returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown, senior Nick Fabrizzio ran for a 37-yard touchdown, junior Nate Committee scored on a 5-yard run and senior quarterback Taylor Munt threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Taylor Munt. Southern is 3-0 for the first time since 2008. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 vs. Toms River South (2-1).

  

4. Red Bank Catholic (2-1). Last week: No. 6

Turnovers were the name of the game – five to be exact – in the Caseys’ 21-14 win over rival Rumson-Fair Haven to push them back into the top five. Sophomore Najih Rahman returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown while junior cornerback Joe Diorio and senior cornerback Lenny Loria also came down with interceptions. Senior quarterback Anthony Borriello had a 6-yard touchdown run and sophomore Robert Stolfa had a 7-yard touchdown run. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at Middletown North (1-2).

  

5. Rumson-Fair Haven (2-1). Last week: No. 2

For the third straight game, senior running back John Volker scored on Rumson’s first play from scrimmage but the Bulldogs were undone by five turnovers in a 21-14 loss to Red Bank Catholic. Volker finished with 166 yards rushing and a 56-yard touchdown on 26 carries and senior Von Factor scored on a 2-yard touchdown run. Senior safety Ryan Ruane recovered a fumble and defensive linemen Jack Kelly and Aidan Moriarty each recorded sacks. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 vs. Middletown South (1-2).

 

6. Mater Dei Prep (2-1). Last week: No. 7

Daijon Cross scored on a 4-yard touchdown run and Jake Jacobson kicked a field goal in a 10-3 win over Middletown South. Junior quarterback Alex Brown completed 14 of 17 passes for 226 yards and ran for a team-high 89 yards on 12 carries. Next game: Saturday, Oct. 24 vs. Long Branch (1-2).

 

7. Jackson Memorial (2-1). Last week: No. 4

The Jaguars two-game shutout streak came to an end at the hands of No. 1 Wall in a 22-0 defeat. Senior running back Will Towns was held to just 32 rushing yards and the Jaguars’ offense was limited to 72 yards from scrimmage. Senior Wally Doman had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery on special teams. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at Toms River North (1-2).

 

8. Colts Neck (3-0). Last week: not ranked

The Cougars crack the Top 10 this week after a 21-7 win over Howell improved their record to 3-0. Senior running back Joe Barsky had his third straight three-touchdown game with 135 yards rushing and three scores on 22 carries. Junior quarterback Tommy Fallon completed 5 of 10 passes for 71 yards and ran for 51 yards on seven carries. Junior Anthony Bonnano recorded 13 tackles with two tackles for loss, senior defensive end Delano Marcelus made 11 tackles with one sack to lead and junior defensive back John Runfolo intercepted a pass to lead the defensive effort. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at Freehold Township (2-0).

  

9. Holmdel (3-0). Last week: not ranked

Junior running back Jaden Gallo ran for 186 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries and senior running back AJ DeCicco ran for 53 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in a 35-7 win over Red Bank. The Hornets ran for 322 yards on an average of 6.9 yards per carry to start 3-0 for the first time since 2010. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at St. John Vianney (2-1).

 

10. Freehold (2-1). Last week: not ranked

Junior running back/free safety Yahsin Calhoun ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries and made nine tackles, forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in the Colonials’ 42-14 win over Marlboro. Senior quarterback Sha’Kim Shuler ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and completed 10 of 16 passes for 145 yards. Kamore Gill added 82 yards rushing on six carries and junior tight end Tyler Ochojski caught seven passes for 77 yards. Next game: Friday, Oct. 23 at Howell (1-2).

 

Dropped out: No. 8 Long Branch, No. 9 Middletown South, No. 10 Toms River South

 

Teams to watch:

Barnegat (3-0)

Raritan (2-1)

 

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Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.

 

 

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