Jersey Mike’s Football Team of the Week: Toms River South

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 1 is Toms River South, which delivered a shocking upset by rallying from a 15-point deficit to defeat archrival Toms River North, 28-21. Shore Sports Network was at practice Tuesday to present the Indians and interim head coach Matt Martin with a special game ball and a $500 Jersey Mike’s gift card.

After taking a 6-0 lead, Toms River South fell behind 21-6 at halftime with Toms River North’s third touchdown being scored in bizarre fashion. Senior quarterback Jack Huber appeared to have connected with sophomore slotback Devon Bond for a touchdown with no time left, but the ball came loose, was ruled a fumble and picked up and returned 100 yards for a touchdown by Toms River North.

It was a deflating play for Toms River South and surely could have been a back-breaker, but instead, the Indians responded with a great second half to score 22 unanswered points and earn the program’s biggest win in nearly a decade.

With 2:56 left in the third quarter, Huber found senior wide receiver Tyler Madeo for a 25-yard touchdown that cut South’s deficit to 21-13. A short touchdown run by Huber followed by a 2-point conversion pass to senior Anthony Jonin tied the score at 21 with 8:09 left in the game. Bond delivered the go-ahead touchdown from five yards out with 3:53 left as the Indians’ flexbone offense chipped away and wore down the Mariners’ defense. At the same time, Huber was making tons of plays through the air in a career-best passing game.

Another key play came with 3:41 left in the game when senior safety Dominic Cats intercepted Toms River North senior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky, who is the reigning Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year. It was the final dagger for a defense that pitched a second-half shutout against an offense that figures to be among the Shore’s best again this season.

Huber completed 21 of 30 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown, ran for a touchdown and tossed a 2-point conversion. Bond ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns, Madeo caught five passes for 44 yards and a score, Gavin Migliore caught six passes for 102 yards and Gerry Ferrigno totaled 115 yards from scrimmage to pace a well-balanced attack.

Toms River South is coming off a 4-6 season in 2019 and has posted a winning record just three times in the last 20 years, but this year’s senior-heavy group is looking to change that and made a massive statement in Week 1. In addition to being selected as the Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week, Toms River South is also ranked in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 for the first time since 2013. The Indians will try to keep the momentum going when they take on longtime Thanksgiving rival Lakewood on Friday night.

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.