Week 4 Jersey Mike’s Shore Conference Football Team of the Week: Keyport
Every week this fall, Jersey Mike’s and Shore Sports Network will team up to select a Shore Conference Football Team of the Week based on its performance over the past weekend.
The Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week for Week 4 is Keyport, which earned a pivotal Patriot Division victory by defeating previously unbeaten Manchester, 35-33, in a back-and-forth offensive thriller. Shore Sports Network stopped by practice on Wednesday to present the Red Raiders and head coach Jason Glezman with a special game ball and a $500 Jersey Mike's gift card.
Sole possession of first place was on the line when Manchester, starting the season 4-0 for the first time in program history, headed to Jackson Street to take on a 3-1 Keyport squad whose only defeat came at the hands of Freehold Boro in a non-divisional game.
Manchester scored on the first play of the game when senior running back Josh Love broke free for a 56-yard touchdown run but Keyport tied the score early in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Mekai Henderson.
Manchester went back ahead, 14-7, on a 5-yard touchdown run by Love but Keyport battled back again on a 1-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Nazir Treadwell with 13 seconds left in the first half that was set up by his own 33-yard run on fourth and long.
The Red Raiders took a 21-14 lead when Henderson scored from 15 yards out to cap a drive that lasted nearly six minutes to begin the third quarter. Love brought Manchester within one point when he scampered for a 43-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left in the third quarter, but the extra point hit off the upright leaving Keyport ahead, 21-20.
Treadwell extended Keyport's lead to 28-20 on a 10-yard touchdown run with 7:16 left in the game. Manchester junior quarterback Aidan Lunn ran for a 13-yard touchdown with 4:15 on the clock but Keyport stopped the 2-point conversion attempt just shy of the goal line to remain in the lead, 28-26.
Manchester appeared to have stopped Keyport on fourth down to take over possession, but a penalty gave the Red Raiders a first down and extended the drive. Treadwell then ripped off a 40-yard run down to the 1-yard line and scored on the next play for a 35-26 Keyport lead with 2:08 left. Once again, Manchester responded and pulled within two points on a 65-yard touchdown pass from Lunn to Love with a successful extra point.
The Hawks recovered the ensuing onside kick but the ball did not travel the required 10 yards and Keyport took over with under two minutes left and Manchester out of timeouts, and was able to run out the clock for the major divisional victory.
Treadwell ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns and Henderson ran for 184 yards and two touchdowns Henderson also had a standout game on defense with 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles. Freshman kicker Marshall Collangelo was clutch in converting 5 of 5 extra points.
Keyport has received tremendous offensive production from its three standouts. Treadwell has flourished in his move from running back to quarterback, rushing for 749 yards and 15 touchdowns on an absurd average of 11.3 yards per carry, and has completed 28 of 35 (80 percent) for 500 yards with seven touchdowns and just two interceptions. Henderson has rushed for 498 yards and five touchdowns on an average of 9.4 yards per carry and junior wide receiver Andrei Matthews has caught 21 passes for 396 yards and four touchdowns. Both Henderson and Matthews are also dangerous returners on special teams with one kickoff return touchdown each.
Defensively, seniors Ryan Burns and Vincent Cavallo have helped to lead the charge. Burns has a team-high six tackles for loss and one sack and Cavallo leads the team with 32 total tackles. Henderson has also shined on defense with 31 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and three forced fumbles
Keyport is now 4-1 and has a great shot at building even more momentum heading into the playoffs. The Red Raiders are currently fifth in the South Group 1 United Power Rankings. They will travel to South Jersey to face Gateway (1-3) on Friday in a non-conference game.
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