Week Two Football Picks

Before I get to this week’s picks, just a quick announcement.

On behalf of myself, fellow All Shore Media owner Steve Meyer and my writing staff led by senior writers Bob Badders and Matt Manley, we are very excited about partnering with Townsquare Media, the owners of The Shore Sports Network. ASM will now be known as The Shore Sports Network as we partner up with good friends and award-winning broadcasters Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca and Matt Harmon.

We now will be covering Shore Conference football online, in print in our bi-weekly newspaper, and on the radio as The Shore Sports Network. I’m excited about the future and our ability to add more features and continue to give Shore Conference football the great coverage that it deserves. I also want to thank Bob and Matt for all the great work they have done since we started All Shore Media in 2008, as well as the job Steve has done in heading up our sales and producing all the great graphics and layouts that have been a hallmark of our newspaper.

Also, a big thanks to the photographers who have been with us for the ride, Bill Normile, Cliff Lavelle, Doug Bostwick and Dave Thorne.

Now, on to the picks after a pretty decent opening week. This week, I will give a reason why each team will win and then the pick.

Last week: 16-4

Season record: 16-4

Friday’s Games

Shore at Asbury Park, 6 p.m.

Why Shore will win: The Blue Devils will bulldoze Asbury Park up front, move the chains, take care of the ball and stuff the Blue Bishops’ run game on defense. Why Asbury Park will win: Filled with adrenaline from the first night game in their storied history, they will have a balanced offense, hit deep throws against Shore’s inexperienced secondary and swarm the Blue Devils’ run game with a stellar group of linebackers. The pick: Shore.

Manalapan at Freehold Twp., 6:30 p.m.

Why Manalapan will win: The Braves will run it with Tyler Leonetti, hit big plays in the passing game with Saeed Blacknall and suffocate the Patriots’ offense with a veteran defense. Why Freehold Township will win: It will create multiple turnovers, catch Manalapan trying to shake the rust off after not playing last week, and turn in a mistake-free game to keep it close into the fourth quarter. The pick: Manalapan.

Lakewood at Msgr. Donovan, 7 p.m.

*Note: This game will be live on The Shore Sports Network on 105.7 f.m.

Why Lakewood will win: The Piners’ fast and physical defense will play assignment football, swarm the Griffins’ run game to make them one dimensional, and Chapelle Cook will have a big game on the ground offensively. Why Monsignor Donovan will win: The Griffins will execute the option to perfection, getting Lakewood off balance with misdirection, and stop Lakewood’s run game to force the Piners to beat them throwing the ball. The pick: Lakewood.

Brick at Middletown South, 7 p.m.

Why Middletown South will win: The Eagles will run the ball effectively with a host of backs to set up Kyle Brey to take shots downfield in the passing game and will tackle well in space defensively and force someone besides Carmen Sclafani to beat them. Why Brick will win: Sclafani will keep the Eagles guessing with his passing and running ability, and the defense will make Middletown South one-dimensional by stopping the run and creating turnovers. The pick: Middletown South.

Middletown North at Brick Memorial, 7 p.m.

Why Middletown North will win: Under new coach Steve Bush, the Lions will show some new wrinkles with a spread offense and play assignment football to defend Brick Memorial’s option attack. Why Brick Memorial will win: The combination of Joe Hans and Mike Basile and the ground will be too much to handle for a Middletown North team that had a first-week bye, and the Mustangs will work out the frustration of a last-second loss to Brick by getting back on track. The pick: Brick Memorial.

St. John Vianney at Rumson-FH, 7 p.m.

Why St. John Vianney will win: The offensive line will give quarterback Billy DeMato time to operate and use a deep group of receivers efficiently like he did in the season-opening win over Monsignor Donovan. The defense will jam up the Bulldogs’ running game, make them a one-dimensional passing team, and create turnovers. Why Rumson will win: The front seven will get consistent pressure on DeMato, forcing him into throws with defenders in his face to create turnovers. The running game will control the clock with Charlie Volcker and keep the Lancers’ offense standing on the sidelines for long stretches. The pick: Rumson-FH.

Middlesex at Holmdel, 7 p.m.

Why Middlesex will win: The Blue Jays will limit Holmdel’s running attack with Frank Condito and take care of the ball on offense to play a field position game. Why Holmdel will win: The Hornets will pound Middlesex with Condito to set up some plays on the perimeter for Jeff Harris, and the defense will bottle up a Middlesex squad that scored one touchdown in a season-opening loss to Spotswood. The pick: Holmdel.

Raritan at Carteret, 7 p.m.

Why Raritan will win: The defense will stop Carteret’s running attack, which is not nearly as potent now that star Jerod Johnson has graduated, and the offensive line will show improvement from a season-opening loss to Neptune by establishing Jared Collins in the run game to set up play action. Why Carteret will win: The defense will create turnovers and short fields against a Raritan offense that had under 40 yards of total offense last week, and the running game will help the Ramblers get an early lead at home and put the pressure on the visitors to catch up. The pick: Carteret.

Southern at Toms River South, 7 p.m.

Why Southern will win: The Rams will establish the run to give quarterback Logan Sheehan time to make plays downfield to Vinnie Colecchia and Mike Gesicki while also keeping Toms River South’s offense off the field, and the defense will turn turnovers into points. Why Toms River South will win: The Indians’ wave of playmakers, Tymere Berry, Khaleel Greene, Darrius Hart and Otis Kearney, will be too much for Southern to slow down, and the defense gets enough stops that Southern can’t keep up in a high-scoring game. The pick: Toms River South.

Toms River East at Jackson Memorial, 7 p.m.

Why Toms River East will win: The Raiders will score early and get confidence after a 45-0 loss to Colts Neck in the opener, establishing the run with Matt Gudzak while stopping the Jaguars’ running game. Why Jackson Memorial will win: The Jaguars will set the tone on the ground from the outset with Khani Glover, Justin Gullo and Co. to allow quarterback Joe DeMaio to take some shots to Marcus Ademilola and others downfield. Ken Bradley and the Jaguars’ linebackers will stuff the run and force Toms River East to have to move the ball by getting out of its comfort zone and throwing it frequently. The Jaguars also will look to put on a good show with their legendary undefeated 2000 team being inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame at halftime. The pick: Jackson Memorial.

Ocean at Neptune, 7 p.m.

Why Ocean will win: The combination of Tyler Thompson and Royal Moore will keep Neptune’s defense off balance and put them in an early hole with some big plays, while the Spartans’ defense keys on Shakeem Richardson and forces someone else to have a big game to beat them. Why Neptune will win: The Scarlet Fliers’ fast and physical defense puts a dent in Ocean’s confidence by stuffing the run game and putting the Spartans in obvious passing downs, while the offense methodically moves the chains with Richardson and the running attack to keep Ocean’s offense off the field for long stretches. The pick: Ocean.

Wall at Red Bank, 7 p.m.

Why Wall will win: Quarterback Jack Gifford and running back Pete Miceli pick up right where they left off from a season-opening win over Jackson Liberty by moving the ball consistently on the ground, and the defense rides its confidence from a shutout to stop Red Bank’s running game. Why Red Bank will win: The Bucs will get some big plays from sophomore Sadiq Palmer to take an early lead in a rare night game on their home field and rise to the challenge defensively to stop the running game. The pick: Wall.

Dunellen at Point Beach, 7 p.m.

Why Dunellen will win: The Destroyers win the battle up front on both sides to stop Point Beach’s Wing-T attack and control the clock with their own running game. Why Point Beach will win: The Garnet Gulls’ line comes out on top, establishing the run and allowing Jake Fioretti to hit some passes to Noah Yates, and the defense plays good assignment football against the single wing and keeps Dunellen in third-and-long. The pick: Point Beach.

Central at Jackson Liberty, 7 p.m.

Why Central will win: The Golden Eagles will build off some explosive offensive plays spearheaded by quarterback Marquis Drumright from last week’s loss to Toms River South, put the Lions in an early hole and dare them to keep up as they try to give new coach Willie Jacobs his first career win. Why Jackson Liberty will win: The Lions score early on their home field, work out the kinks offensively after being shut out by Wall last week, and get consistent pressure on Drumright to force mistakes. The pick: Central.

Barnegat at Manchester, 7 p.m.

Why Barnegat will win: The Bengals will pound Manchester’s front with their mammoth offensive line and tailback A.J. Opre to allow quarterback Cinjun Erskine to hurt Manchester on play action and in the running game. The defense will prevent big plays on special teams and in the passing game. Why Manchester will win: The Hawks will create turnovers to get short fields and use their speed on the perimeter on offense to hit multiple plays of 20-plus yards to stay right in the game. The pick: Barnegat.

Point Boro at Pinelands, 7 p.m.

Why Point Boro will win: The Panthers will play mistake-free on offense behind quarterback Jack Fitzsimmons, establishing the run immediately and putting Pinelands on its heels. Why Pinelands will win: The Wildcats slow down Point Boro’s running game, create multiple turnovers, and find a way to mount some offense after struggling against Lacey last week. The pick: Point Boro.

Saturday’s Games

Long Branch at Monmouth, 12:30 p.m.

Why Long Branch will win: The Green Wave get a better performance out of their offensive line after getting beat up front in a loss to Manasquan, establish Deon Williams in the running game and create turnovers while playing disciplined against the zone read on defense. Why Monmouth will win: The Falcons will ride their confidence in front of their home crowd from a season-opening win over Point Boro, executing the running game behind quarterback James Green, and creating turnovers and points on defense like Green did with a pick-six last week. The pick: Long Branch.

North Brunswick at Colts Neck, 1 p.m.

Why North Brunswick will win: The Raiders will have to play their best game of the season and Colts Neck will have to play its worst, considering North Brunswick is coming off a 55-6 loss to Monroe. Why Colts Neck will win: The Cougars execute their game plan, pound the Raiders with Anthony Gargiulo and the running game and dominating on defense to roll to another easy win after blowing out Toms River East in the opener. The pick: Colts Neck.

Howell at Marlboro, 1 p.m.

Why Howell will win: Quarterback Connor McGlynn and wideout Joey Schultz will stay hot after career performances in the season-opening win over Toms River North, and Howell will do what it does best – blow up the scoreboard and force the other team to keep up. Why Marlboro will win: The Mustangs need to score early to gain confidence after a season-opening loss to J.P. Stevens, and they will have to get a consistent pass rush against McGlynn. The pick: Howell.

Red Bank Catholic at Manasquan, 1 p.m.

Why Red Bank Catholic will win: The Caseys will move up and down the field behind a stout and deep offensive line and tailbacks Mike Cordova and Larry Redaelli, while jamming up Joe Murphy and Manasquan’s running game to force the Warriors to throw the ball 15 or 20 times. Why Manasquan will win: Matt Forst, Monte Sinisi and Co. up front on both sides get a stalemate against RBC’s imposing line and keeps the Warriors close on their home field. The defense creates turnovers and alters field position while forcing RBC into second-and-8, second-and-7 consistently to force the Caseys to pass. The pick: Red Bank Catholic.

Matawan at Freehold, 1 p.m.

Why Matawan will win: The Huskies’ defense will continue to play well after scoring twice in the win over Bishop Ahr, creating turnovers and slowing down Freehold running back Josh Dixon, while the offense gets on track, wins the field position battle, and takes care of the ball. Why Freehold will win: The Colonials play mistake-free, work to move the chains between the tackles with the run game, and hit some big plays in the air by giving Brad Jones time to work. The defense continues its great effort in the red zone from the loss to Lakewood to bottle up the Huskies. The pick: Freehold.

Keyport at Highland Park, 1 p.m.

Why Keyport will win: The Red Raiders’ defense continues to stop the run game like it did in the loss to Asbury Park to shut down Highland Park’s offense, and Alex Thomson and the passing game make a jump forward while the running game continues to improve. Why Highland Park will win: The Owls will need to force multiple turnovers and possibly score on defense while getting a consistent pass rush. The pick: Keyport.

Keansburg at Spotswood, 1 p.m.

Why Keansburg will win: The Titans will build off an explosive running performance by quarterback Kason Preston in their season-opening loss to Mater Dei Prep and consistently move the ball on the ground, while stopping the run defensively to give new head coach Chris Damian his first career win. Why Spotswood will win: The Chargers will force Keansburg to throw to beat them and control the clock with their own running game. The pick: Spotswood.

Cardinal McCarrick at Mater Dei Prep, 2 p.m.

Why Cardinal McCarrick will win: The Eagles force numerous turnovers and possibly score on defense to keep up on the scoreboard. Why Mater Dei Prep will win: The Seraphs execute their game plan with big plays on special teams and an explosive running attack to overwhelm an undermanned Cardinal McCarrick team from the get-go. The pick: Mater Dei Prep.

Lacey at Toms River North, 7 p.m.

Why Lacey will win: The Lions will attack Toms River North’s secondary with quarterback Tom Kelly, wideout Christian Tutela and Co. a week after the Mariners struggled badly against Howell while mounting a consistent pass rush on defense. Why Toms River North will win: The defensive front gets consistent pressure on Kelly, and the secondary shows improvement after last week. The offense grinds out the clock and keeps the Lacey offense off the field with a pounding running game that sets up some deep shots downfield for R.J. Bromell and others. The pick: Lacey.