An Explosion of Offense

Everyone knows the age old saying-"offense scores points, but defense wins championships". Well there are some teams around the Shore that can score some points, the defensive part we'll have to wait till December to see how that turns out.

To illustrate my point--here are the point totals from this week's games of your top teams in the Shore.

• Manalapan-64
• Brick-48
• Jackson Memorial-45
• Shore-44
• TR North-44
• SJ Vianney-41
• RBC-37
• Point Beach-36
• Rumson-35
• Long Branch-35
• Lakewood-32

All won their games with offensive power. TR South even scored 34 in a losing effort. Why the sudden explosion of points? You can attribute the explosions to top skilled players who are bigger, stronger, and faster than I could remember in quite some time.Multiple players who can score every time they touch the ball.

Coaching has become a 12 month job. Kids who work out round the year to get ready for August when practices start, are common nowadays. 7-on-7 tournaments throughout the summer, which gets your skill players plenty of work, while the linemen are in the weight room getting stronger by the day. It should be an exciting year to watch what happens, as we get closer to playoff time in November, when the defenses get better and the points are tougher to come by.

Had the pleasure to take in the Manalapan/Sayreville "track meet" on Saturday night. While there, I saw 2 of the top players around the State have fantastic games.Manalapan's RB Imamu Mayfield had the game of his short life as he ran for 250 yds. and scored 5 TDs in the Braves 64-28 rout of State power Sayreville.

On the other side of the ball, Penn State bound Myles Hartsfield singlehandedly tried to keep the Bombers in the game. Hartsfield had TD catches of 66, 58, and 6 yards. He ran with conviction whenever he touched it and had a 70 yarder for a TD called back via penalty. He also threw in 3 blocked kicks. But it was Manalapan's Mayfield who electrified the capacity crowd every time he touched the ball. TD runs of 48, 38, 34, 12 and 11 yards had the huge student section of fans chanting all night.

With many other good players, QB Dan Anerella, who has improved his throwing ability, 2 way LB/ fullback Ben Sieczkowski is a major force on both sides of the ball, kicker Mike Caggiano can hit it with the best of them, TE Kyle Mullen can catch the ball and Dan Debner is dangerous whenever he touches the ball. The season is ahead for the Braves, as they will play one tough schedule.

A very good Middletown South, unbeaten and # 1 in the Shore RBC and unbeaten Freehold Boro will make it an interesting 3 game stretch beginning Oct. 17. The Braves have been here before, we know their history. Get to the finals of the State tournament, but lose. Can they get over that hump and get that elusive first State title? Standing in their way this year is a very good South Brunswick team who is 3-0 in the early season and play in the same bracket- CJ Group 5.

I have either watched, coached in, or announced just about every Civil War matchup between TR North(2-1) and TR South(2-1) in the 43 year history of this game, but this years version could have been the most exciting one ever. A 44-34 North come from behind victory was as good as it gets.

Two players among many good players on both teams stood out. RB Asante Moorer from North and QB Tymere Berry of South put on a display of running the football that will be hard to match in any game this fall. The 5-foot-11, 215 lb. Moorer ran for 205 yards and 4 TDs on 30 carries, while Berry rushed for 145 yards and 5 TDs and threw for another 79 yards in defeat.

These 2 teams laid it all on the line in a spectacular game that had the standing room only crowd of 5,000 roaring from beginning to end. Even the 40 minute Homecoming halftime couldn't deter from the excitement this game created. South's stumbling block the last few years has been their defense and they must get better there if they are to challenge Shawnee and others in the tough South Jersey Group 4 playoffs.

I think they have the players in place and will get better if they continue to work, such you know they will. This loss will hurt for awhile, but they will recover and make a run into the playoffs and A-South race. This North team reminds me of the 1979 team that won North's first State title under Bob Fiocco. Athletic, big, strong and very physical, with excellent skill players up and down the lineup.

They may be a year away, as they have many underclassmen on the team, but they will be a tough out for anyone on their schedule. Soph. QB Mike Husni, soph RB Parker Day, senior TE Jordan Craig, senior giant DL Adam Kakar and the above mentioned Junior Asante Moorer will make it tough for anyone they play. Quick turnaround for the Mariners as they travel to Marlboro for a rare 6pm Thursday night game.

With the Jewish holiday of Yon Kippur this weekend, there are scattered games Thursday-Sunday this week. We however, will be at Water Street Grill in Toms River on Thursday night 6-7:30pm for the Investors Bank HS Football Show on NewsTalk Radio WOBM 1160 and 1310 AM or ShoreSportsNetwork.com.