Jersey Mike’s Football Team of the Week: Neptune

Every week this fall, Jersey Mike’s and Shore Sports Network will be selecting a Team of the Week based on its performance over the past weekend.

The Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week for Week 3 is Neptune, which snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 20-14 Shore Conference Liberty Division victory over Colts Neck. Shore Sports Network was at practice Tuesday to present the Scarlet Fliers and head coach Tarig Holman with a special game ball and a $500 Jersey Mike's gift card.

Senior running back Najiere Hutchinson had a pair of touchdown runs, the second of which came with just over four minutes left in the third quarter to tie the score at 14. Late in the fourth quarter, the Scarlet Fliers pulled ahead for good when sophomore quarterback Nino Bua connected with senior wide receiver Saadiq Armstead on a 45-yard touchdown, giving Neptune a 20-14 advantage.

Colts Neck mounted one final drive and pushed the ball inside the Neptune 20-yard line in the closing minute. Hutchinson came up with a clutch tackle for loss on second down with 30 seconds left and the Fliers forced an incompletion on fourth down to clinch the victory and put an end to the long losing streak. The win was also the first for Holman in his second season at Neptune.

The Scarlet Fliers could use the good vibes more than any team in the Shore. After going winless in 2017, Neptune began this season 2-0 with hard-fought losses to Raritan (13-3) and No. 6 Manasquan (21-10). The team has also been reeling following the death of former teammate Braedon Bradforth, a 2018 graduate who passed away following a junior college practice.

Neptune will try to build momentum when it faces a tough Point Boro (2-1) team on Friday night.

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