No. 1 RBC Rolls to a 41-0 Win Over Manasquan
It’s not necessarily a number on the scoreboard that top-ranked Red Bank Catholic strives for every week. It’s more of a flawless effort that the Caseys are chasing.
“We’ve been playing really well, but we still haven’t played a perfect game yet,’’ said senior linebacker Ryan Schoer. “That’s what we’re looking to play.”
Red Bank Catholic continued its domination of Shore Conference competition with a 41-0 win over Manasquan in a Class A Central game at Vic Kubu Warrior Field on Saturday. The Caseys (2-0, 1-0) have now won 26 straight games against Shore Conference teams after sending the Warriors (1-1, 0-1) to one of the most lop-sided home losses in their storied history. Their chase for perfection on Saturday resulted in 250 yards rushing, including 105 by senior tailback Larry Redaelli, who scored three touchdowns running behind a mammoth and talented offensive line.
“They work so hard in the offseason and our numbers between working out and lifting and them going to do personal training, it’s helped us so much,’’ Redaelli said about his line. “We’re just trying to pound the ball as much as we can, score on every single play and score on defense.”
The Caseys set the tone from the outset when senior defensive end Shawn McCord sacked Manasquan quarterback Will Pezzollo on the second play from scrimmage in the game, forcing a fumble that Schoer returned to the three-yard line. One play later, Redaelli waltzed into the end zone for a 7-0 lead just a minute into the game.
“That (fumble recovery) really fired us up,’’ Redaelli said. “We all just turned up and then we just kept pounding and pounding.”
“It really helped the team,’’ Schoer said. “When I saw Shawn going for the pressure, I knew it was going to be a big play right from the start because when he gets back there, he’s always getting a sack. I saw the ball and just picked it up and started running.”
Later in the first quarter, Manasquan drove 66 yards to RBC’s 27-yard line on 14 plays, but the drive came up empty when McCord’s pressure forced an incompletion on third down and then a 45-yard field goal attempt was short. The Caseys then went 80 yards on six plays, scoring when Redaelli blew through a crease on the right side and took it 47 yards for a 14-0 lead with 8:33 left in the second quarter.
Sophomore quarterback Eddie Hahn, who rotates with senior starter Pat Toomey, had a 15-yard pass to Connor Smith on third-and-10 and also had runs of 11 and seven yards on zone read plays to help the drive.
“Splitting time with Pat is a relief off both of our shoulders,’’ Hahn said. “I also play safety, so just to be out here is a great feeling.”
“He’s young, but he’s doing very well,’’ Redaelli said. “He’s got some moves.”
After RBC’s defense came up with another stop, the Caseys drove 76 yards in 10 plays, culminating in a 9-yard touchdown run by Redaelli for a 21-0 lead with 51.1 seconds left in the first half. On the ensuing kickoff, Manasquan did not cover the live ball, and it was recovered by senior James Sheridan at the Warriors’ 10-yard line. One play later, senior fullback Frank Olmo rumbled 10 yards for a 27-0 lead that RBC took into halftime.
Meanwhile, the defense only allowed 61 total yards in the first half and 181 in the game on its way to its first shutout of the season and second straight goose egg against Manasquan after a 10-0 win last year.
The Warriors had a chance to get on the scoreboard to start the third quarter when senior defensive tackle Monte Sinisi recovered a fumble by Redaelli on the RBC 25-yard line on the first play from scrimmage. Manasquan drove to the 14-yard line before Pezzollo suffered a left leg injury after being sacked by McCord and Schoer and had to be helped off the field. RBC forced another field goal attempt, and this one was blocked by junior Mike Demonte.
Four plays later, Hahn threw his first varsity touchdown pass when he connected with Smith on a 34-yard strike for a 34-0 lead with 6:42 remaining in the third quarter. The Caseys defense then came up with another turnover when junior safety Mike Cordova recovered a fumble at Manasquan’s 43-yard line.
Toomey hit Sheridan for a 36-yard gain on the next play, and two plays later, Cordova scored from three yards out for a 41-0 advantage with 4:23 left in the third quarter for the final margin. RBC has now won its first two games by a combined score of 90-6.
“We don’t try to beat the team by a certain amount of points, we just try to do as best as we can,’’ Redaelli said.
Box score
Red Bank Catholic 41, Manasquan 0
RB Catholic (2-0, 1-0) 7 20 14 0 - 41
Manasquan (1-1, 0-1) 0 0 0 0 - 0
Scoring summary
Redaelli 3-yard run (Toomey kick)
Redaelli 47-yard run (Toomey kick)
Redaelli 9-yard run (Toomey kick)
Olmo 10-yard run (kick failed)
Smith 34-yard pass from Hahn (Toomey kick)
Cordova 3-yard run (Toomey kick)
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