Jersey Mike’s Team of the Week: Middletown North

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 Four is Middletown North, which defeated Manalapan 18-8 to end the Braves' 33-game Shore Conference Class A North winning streak and improve to 3-1. The Lions and head coach Steve Bush were presented with a special game ball at practice by Shore Sports Network’s Steve Meyer and Jersey Mike’s Middletown owner Ken Bullivant, who is also a Middletown North graduate, on Tuesday. Bullivant and Ramon Villa have owned the Middletown Jersey Mike's since 1988. The players were also treated to free Jersey Mike’s subs.

Sophomore Conner Welsh ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns and junior Dwight Wilkerson had a huge night with 20 tackles, a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Brock Zenker, and a blocked punt. The Middletown North defense had five players register double-digit tackles with junior Nick Kish registering 19, senior Josh Gomez making 14 stops, senior Nick Dombrowski making 11 tackles and Zenker getting 10.

Even more impressive is the Lions taking down the defending sectional champion Braves at less than full strength. Senior standout running back Chad Freshnock is still out with an injury and is an all-shore talent, but the Lions showed their depth in securing the program's biggest win in several years.

Middletown North is lurking just outside the Shore Sports Network Top 10 and can further its case with a win over Ocean on Friday night in a nondivisional game.

Archive

Week One: Raritan

Week Two: Brick Memorial

Week Three: Red Bank