Scanning the Scene with Ed Sarluca: The Undefeated

Eleven of 43 Shore Conference schools enter week 3 with undefeated records.  Now while every coach will tell you one week at a time, it’s always nice for us to look ahead.  Leading the way of the undefeated is Mater Dei Prep(3-0), Wall(3-0), Donovan Catholic (3-0) and Toms River North(3-0).  These four have separated themselves from the pack in the early season but cannot rest because trouble looms for each.  #1 Mater Dei Prep, perhaps has the toughest schedule in the Shore. The next few weeks they face 2-0 St John Vianney, 3-0 Wall, 2-1 Rumson, 2-1 Mid North and 2-1 Manalapan.  That’s a tough schedule!  Not to mention the end of the season when a probable matchup with powerful Donovan Catholic looms in the very tough Non-Public 3 State tournament.  Wall’s schedule is just as tough as they play Mater Dei, Brick Memorial(1-2), St John Vianney (2-0), and Brick(1-2).  No break in those games. Donovan Catholic plays Red Bank(3-0) and Lacey(3-0) and always tough RBC(1-2).  TR North plays in the American Division and you know they have a battle each and every week. Besides the division games, they must play 3-0 TR East and TR South(1-1) in inter-town rivalry games.

The second list of undefeated is headed by Red Bank(3-0), which has been a nice surprise this year, especially since they lost Makai Mickens to a torn ACL in June.  It won’t be easy for the Bucs as they play Donovan Catholic, Lacey and Long Branch down the line.

Lacey(3-0) is also off to a great start with a fairly young team.  Three undefeated teams are ahead for the Lions; Red Bank, Donovan Catholic, and TR East.  Buckle the chin strap.  By the way, a pretty nice facility in Lacey with lights and night games has brought huge crowds to Lanoka Harbor.

TR East(3-0) and Colts Neck(3-0) are on a collision course this week.  Someone continues unbeaten, the other suffers their first loss.  The winner also has the lead in the Freedom Division. 12 pm game on Saturday in Colts Neck.

Point Beach(3-0) continues to play well for Joe Zaccone. They face speed this week with Asbury Park, then always tough Keyport, who they will play twice(home and away) as well as Keansburg again, who they already have beaten.

St John Vianney (2-0) and Ocean(2-0) did not play week zero and will not have a bye during the season.  SJV schedule is also a tough one with Mater Dei, Jackson, Wall, Southern Reg, and Long Branch remaining. I like SJV QB CJ Duell who transferred from St Joseph Prep in Philadelphia in 2018 and sat out the beginning of last season.  He’s the difference for the Lancers.  Duell is a local kid from Toms River so he knows all about the Shore.  Ocean has one of the top RBs around in Trebor Pena.  A nice schedule will keep Ocean on top in Patriot Division.

Well, there you have the undefeated after 3 weeks.  Still way too early to say who stays and who goes, but we’ll lose at least 2 in head to heads this week.

Our Jersey Mike’s Friday Night Football broadcast takes us to Brick(1-2) as they entertain the Jags of Jackson (1-2) in a Colonial Division matchup at 7 p.m. streamed on Shore SportsNetwork.com.

The Asylum Sports Center Coaches Corner is at the River Rock Bar and Restaurant in Brick at 7-8 p.m. on 105.7FM The Hawk or streamed live on Shore Sports Network.com.  Joining us is Red Bank HC David Schuman and Buc players Jack Chamberlain and Tyquann Crawford.

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