Week 5 Jersey Mike’s Shore Conference Football Team of the Week: Point Boro
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 5 is Point Boro, which used an unstoppable offensive attack to defeat Rumson-Fair Haven, 42-28, in a matchup of Group 2 state title contenders. Shore Sports Network stopped by practice on Tuesday to present the Panthers and head coach Brian Staub with a special game ball and a $500 Jersey Mike's gift card.
Senior quarterback Matt Oliphant was tremendous in going 7-for-7 for 164 yards and three touchdowns along with 144 yards rushing and a touchdown. Oliphant ran for a 40-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give Point Boro an early lead. He then tossed a 26-yard touchdown pass to junior slot back Colin Obser, found senior wideout Brayden Forfar on an 8-yard touchdown late in the first half, and connected with senior slot back Brian Simes for a 61-yard touchdown in the second half. Senior running back Jake Croce ran for 202 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 4 and 65 yards as the Panthers rolled up a whopping 523 yards of offense.
The Panthers' defense did a strong job against Rumson standout junior quarterback Owen O'Toole, limiting the Shore's leading passer last season to 161 yards. O'Toole did throw two touchdown passes and run for another, but Point Boro limited almost all plays beyond 10 yards and forced the Bulldogs to mount long drives. Simoes had an interception and 10 tackles while Obser and junior linebacker Dylan Reitmeyer had 12 tackles each.
Point Boro jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter on Oliphant's 40-yard touchdown run and his touchdown pass to Obser. Rumson answered on a 5-yard touchdown pass from O'Toole to Nick Thomas and a 27-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Kellen Murray, but Point Boro was able to mount an 80-yard scoring drive to take a 21-14 lead on Forfar's 8-yard touchdown catch with just eight seconds left in the half.
Forfar then made another big play to start the second half when he executed and recovered a perfect drag onside kick to give the Panthers the ball right back. Croce capped a 49-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run and a 28-14 advantage.
A 39-yard touchdown catch by Rumson senior Nick Rigby pulled the Bulldogs within eight points after the extra point hit the left upright, but Point Boro continued to find the end zone and went ahead 35-20 on Simoes' 61-yard touchdown catch. Croce sealed the victory with a 65-yard touchdown run before a late touchdown run by O'Toole accounted for the final scoring margin.
Point Boro is now 6-0 and moved up to No. 4 in the latest Shore 16 rankings. They also extended their advantage atop the United Power Rankings in Group 2. The Panthers travel to Manalapan (2-4) this weekend where they will look to move closer to the Colonial Division title.
Archive
More From Shore Sports Network
