Barnabas Health Football Top 10, 11/10/15

The playoffs are here and 27 Shore Conference teams will be vying for sectional titles across several brackets this coming weekend. The Shore Conference is against well-represented with six No. 1 seeds and three No. 2 seeds.

Week Nine was quite stable compared to the madness of Week Eight, so there will be no movement in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 as we enter the playoffs. Four division titles were settled, however, so there were plenty of important games on the schedule.

Point Boro outlasted Lakewood 14-13 to claim a share of the Class B South title with the Piners on a late touchdown and extra point, while Shore topped Asbury Park 20-7 to win its third straight outright Class B Central title. St. John Vianney shut out Manasquan to win the Class A Central title for the second straight year. In Class A South, Brick defeated Toms River South 17-7 and Brick Memorial beat Southern 44-7 to force a three-way tie for the championship with Toms River North.

The Class A North and B North titles will both be settled on Thanksgiving Day when Middletown North and Middletown South, and Red Bank and Long Branch battle for the respective titles.

Other big wins in Week Nine included Monmouth knocking off a playoff-bound Raritan team 30-21 behind 226 yards rushing and three touchdowns from junior Casey Pachucki, and Red Bank Catholic defeating Jackson Memorial 21-10 in a matchup of playoff teams.

Marlboro also picked up its first win of the season with a 26-7 win over J.P. Stevens.

1. Middletown South (8-0). Last week: No. 1

Senior running back Cole Rogers ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way in a  38-7 Class A North win over Freehold that clinched at least a tie for the division title. The Eagles are the No. 1 seed in the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV playoffs and will host West Windsor-Plainsboro North (5-4) on Friday in the quarterfinals.

2. St. John Vianney (9-0). Last week: No. 2

The Lancers walloped Manasquan 67-0 to win the Class A Central division title for the second consecutive season. It is the first time they have won back-to-back division titles in program history. Senior quarterback Anthony Brown threw for 255 yard and 5 touchdowns while running for 78 yards and a touchdown to lead the way. St. John Vianney is the No. 1 seed in the Non-Public Group III tournament and seeks its first state title since 1980. They host Donovan Catholic (3-5), a team they beat 63-21 already this year, in the first round.

3. Red Bank (8-0). Last week: No. 3

Senior running back Alim Godsey ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Sadiq Palmer caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown, and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in a 31-14 win over Manchester. The Bucs are the No. 3 seed in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs and will host South Plainfield (6-2) in the first round. Red Bank’s last state title came in 1975.

4. Toms River North (8-1). Last week: No. 4

Senior running back Asante Moorer ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns and junior wide receiver Darrion Carrington caught three passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-21 win over Neptune, the ninth straight victory for the surging Mariners. As the No. 4 seed in the South Jersey Group V playoffs, Toms River North will host Kingsway (4-4) in the first round.

5. Brick (8-1). Last week: No. 5

Ja’Sir Taylor and Rashon McCall ran for touchdowns and Javion Harris connected on a field goal in a 17-7 win over Toms River South that clinched a share of the Class A South title. Brick is the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and will host Jackson Memorial in the first round. It is a rematch of a regular season game won by Brick, 2-0.

6. Brick Memorial (7-2). Last week: No. 6

The Mustangs clinched a share of the Class A South division title with a 44-0 win over Southern. Sophomore fullback Tony Thorpe ran for 110 yards and three touchdowns and senior quarterback Tim Santiago ran and threw for a score. Brick Memorial is the No. 1 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and hosts Jackson Liberty (4-5) in the quarterfinals.

7. Rumson-Fair Haven (7-1). Last week: No. 7

Rumson’s defense recorded its fourth shutout of the season and junior running back Matt Veccharelli ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-0 win over Holmdel. The Bulldogs won two straight state titles in Central Jersey Group II and will for for the three-peat competing up in Central Jersey Group III this season. They are the No. 1 seed and host Rahway (3-5) in the first round.

8. Ocean (7-1). Last week: No. 8

Senior running back Tyler Thompson ran for 150 yards and a touchdown and junior quarterback Kenny Pickett tossed three touchdown passes - two to Joey Aldarelli - in a 26-0 win over Colts Neck. The Spartans have won five straight games and are the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs. They will host Hamilton West (4-4) in the quarterfinals.

9. Shore (8-0). Last week: No. 9

Senior running back Jack Britton ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns, senior Doug Goldsmith ran for 130 yards and senior George Notte kicked a pair of field goals as the Blue Devils clinched their third straight outright Class B Central title with a 20-7 win over Asbury Park. Shore is the defending Central Jersey Group I champion and the No. 1 seed as it goes for its second straight title and seventh overall. They host Burlington City (3-5) in the first round.

10. Red Bank Catholic (6-2). Last week: No. 10

Senior quarterback Eddie Hahn threw for 175 yards and a touchdown and ran for 120 yards and a touchdown to lead the Caseys to a 21-0 comeback victory over Jackson Memorial. RBC, which is the defending Non-Public Group III champion, starts its title defense as the No. 5 seed on the road at Pope John.

Dropped out: none

Teams to watch:

Middletown North (6-2): The Lions got a boost from the return of senior running back Chad Freshnock, who had missed six games, in a 27-14 win over Freehold Township. The Lions are the No. 4 seed in the North Jersey Section 2, Group IV playoffs and will host Sayreville in the quarterfinals.

Freehold (6-3): The Colonials fell to top-ranked Middletown South 38-7. They are the No. 4 seed in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs and will host Allentown in the first round.

Matawan (6-3): Makiya Ceasar ran for 162 yards and two touchdowns and the Huskies won their sixth straight game with a 31-0 shutout of Barnegat. Matawan is the defending Central Jersey Group III champion and will travel to fourth-seeded Hopewell Valley in the first round.

Asbury Park (6-2): The Blue Bishops fell to Shore 20-7. They are the No. 2 seed in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs and will host Keyport in the first round.