Rogers, Shutdown Defense Lead Middletown South Past Freehold

Videos and statistics by Ryne Olsen - Shore Sports Network contributor

As it gears up for the state playoffs, Middletown South put together one of its best games of the season on Friday night when it routed Freehold 42-0 in Class A North by rolling up 340 yards on the ground.

Middletown South junior Cole Rogers, pictured earlier this season, scored three touchdowns and went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season in a rout of Freehold Boro on Friday night. (Photo by Middletown South Eagles Football & Cheer)

The No. 4 Eagles (6-2, 4-1) clinched a home playoff game and put themselves in the running for the top seed in Central Jersey Group IV by blanking the No. 9 Colonials (7-2, 4-2) as junior running back Cole Rogers went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark by running for 176 yards on 21 carries and scoring three touchdowns on runs of 11, 2 and 18 yards.

Sophomore James McCarthy added a 5-yard touchdown run, wideout Spencer Pereless had a 44-yard touchdown run on a reverse, and Samson Dube had a 35-yard scoring run for the Eagles. The defense posted its fifth shutout of the season, holding Freehold to 34 total yards.

Check out the video highlights. (Scroll down for box score)

Box Score

Middletown South 42, Freehold Boro 0

. M F

First Downs: 15 2

Rushes/Yards: 43-340 29-27

Passing/Yards: 4/7-43 4/7-7

Penalties: 1-10 1-10

Freehold Boro (7-2, 4-2) - 0 0 0 0 - 0

Middletown South (6-2, 4-1) – 21 14 7 0 – 42

Scoring Summary:

C. Rogers 11-yard run (Mosquera kick)

McCarthy 5-yard run (Mosquera kick)

C. Rogers 2-yard run (Mosquera kick)

S. Pereless 44-yard run (Mosquera kick)

C. Rogers 18-yard run (Mosquera kick)

Dube 35-yard run (Mosquera kick)

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: M: Rogers 21-176, Dube 8-65, S. Pereless 2-45, McCarthy 7-31, Grant 2-15, Leandro 1-6, Pignataro 1-1, Lewandowski 1-1. F: Dixon 14-28, Curry 7-5, Tims 4-1, Indursky 2-(-2), Fenn 2-(-5)

Passing: M: Mosquera 4/7-43-0-1 F: Curry 4/7-7-0-0

Receiving: M: Tobacco 1-21, C. Rogers 1-10, Marron 1-7, S. Pereless 1-5. F: Worthy 1-6. Smith-Rush 1-4, Dixon 2-(-3).