Brick Memorial hammers Jackson Memorial in Jersey Mike’s Match of the Week

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BRICK TOWNSHIP – Brick Memorial hasn’t had much success against longtime rival Jackson Memorial over the last five years, but Friday night offered a much different and much-welcomed result.

The Mustangs, ranked No. 4 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10, won 10 of 14 bouts to secure a dominant 46-20 victory over No. 5 Jackson for a key Class A South win in the Jersey Mike’s Match of the Week. Junior Ruben Lizardi delivered a clutch pin at 182 pounds that put the Mustangs in great shape before their imposing group of lowerweights closed out the match with five straight wins, four of which came with bonus points.

With the victory, Brick Memorial put itself in position to claim a share of the division title if it can defeat No. 2 Toms River North on Wednesday.

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Decision victories by sophomore Ryan Smith at 138 and junior Victor DiPianta at 145 staked Brick Memorial (9-2, 3-1) to a 6-0 lead, but Jackson answered with two straight wins to jump ahead. Mike Rauch defeated Cory Martin, 5-3, at 152 pounds and Rob Lagravenis dominated JT Henderson to the tune of a 19-4 technical fall at 160. The Jaguars led 8-6, but that was the final time they would hold a lead.

Brick Memorial winning the pre-match coin flip allowed it to dictate certain matches, one of which was getting senior Joe Colon on Jackson senior Hunter Smith at 170 pounds. Colon, a two-time state qualifier, came out hot and never took his foot off the accelerator, scoring eight takedowns in a 19-6 major decision victory that gave Brick Memorial a 10-8 lead.

The turning point came at 182 pounds when Lizardi, trailing 4-3 and nearly sent to his back in the first period, tossed Jackson’s Dylan Fischer to his back for a 5-point move and then finished off the pin in 3:05. The unexpected fall gave Brick Memorial a 16-8 win and sent it on its way.

The teams traded pints at 195, 220 and heavyweight. Jackson senior Kyle Epperly, the state seventh-place finisher at 195 last season, pinned Ricardo Perez in just 14 seconds at 195. Brick Memorial junior David Szuba won by fall over Nick Afandor in 30 seconds at 220 and Jackson senior Brad Galassi won by fall in 3:03 over Kyle Kohlmann at 285.

Brick Memorial still led, 22-20, and was in fantastic shape with the teeth of its lineup ready to bite. Standout freshman Anthony Santaniello defeated Jackson junior Brett Blaess, 6-0, at 106 pounds in a matchup of two of the top 106-pounders in the Shore. At 113, sophomore Braden Scott scored a 9-0 major decision over Lucas Lipari to make it 29-20 and junior Vincent Santaniello, the state third-place finisher at 113 pounds last season, won by fall in 1:48 to give Brick Memorial a 35-20 lead and clinch the match.

Senior Michael Richardson was dominant in a 16-1 technical fall win over Lance Hobbs at 126 and junior Michael Cate made his season debut with a defensive pin late in the second period at 132 pounds, giving Brick Memorial the 46-20 victory.

Friday’s meeting could certainly be a preview of the Central Jersey Group 4 final where Brick Memorial and Jackson Memorial are expected to be the top two seeds.

Box Score

No. 4 Brick Memorial 46, No. 5 Jackson Memorial 20

Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.