Scanning the Scene with Ed Sarluca: Upsetting Weekend

The old adage of “that’s why they play the game” was in play this weekend as #1 Mater Dei Prep, #3 Toms River North, #6 St. John Vianney, #7 Manalapan and #10 Middletown South all were beaten in a weekend that will shake up the new top ten.

Does still unbeaten Toms River East (5-0) finally ascend into the top ten?  I don’t see how we can keep them from not making their first appearance since 2009. Playing without their starting QB Mike Goodall, junior QB Nick Totten threw 2 TD passes to lead the Raiders to a 12-7 win over Matawan. Ocean(4-0) has flown under the radar all year and now everyone seems to have noticed that the Big Red has a very good team featuring talented RB Trebor Pena.  Jackson(3-2) had a huge victory over St. John Vianney and is opening eyes around the Shore with an excellent running game which is led by Will Towns and a defense led by future All-State defensive end Collin McCarthy.  Southern Reg. has opened 4-1 and HC Chuck Donahue has his best team in quite a while.  They have a big one with Middletown North coming up at home Friday night that will probably decide the Constitution Division Championship.  RBC(3-2) with a huge win against previously unbeaten Toms River North(4-1) will certainly re-enter the top 10 after opening the season as the #1 team, but started 1-2, and dropped out.  More about that big win latter.

Wall(5-0) will ascend to #1 and proved to everyone that they belong in the top spot with a come from behind win on the road over previously unbeaten Mater Dei Prep(4-1).  Trailing 7-6 with just over 5 minutes left in the game the Crimson Knights put together a 72-yard drive which took  4:14 and saw Casey Larkin score from 2 yards out to take the lead with 1:06 left.   A 2 point conversion made it 14-7 and a late interception sealed the win for Wall.  Let’s give some credit to defensive coordinator Jeremy Balina who orchestrated a scheme to hold All-Shore RB Malik Ingram to just 73 yards on 14 carries.  In all the Wall D had 3 turnovers, 4 sacks, and kept the ball out of Ingram’s hands.  Ingram had run for 310 yards on 31 carries the week before.  Wall now has games left in the Colonial Division against St John Vianney and Brick and must prevent a letdown to win that crown.

In our Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week at TR North, the Caseys of RBC came visiting and dominated the Mariners en route to a 21-6.  Using a blitzing defense led by Kevin Bauman and Jake Lauro the Caseys sacked QB Jake Kazanowsky 3 times in the first half and held the talented junior QB to 3 completions on 11 throws for only 31 yards.  The RBC “D” was so strong that North had only 23 yards passing and 5 yards rushing in the first half as they built a 13-0 lead. This American Division is truly a “black and blue” war each week with Rumson coach Jerry Schulte likening it to the SEC of the Shore.  Most coaches in the division like the competition but are concerned about the injuries incurred week in and week out.  Keeping players healthy for a playoff run will be interesting to watch as we near the playoffs.

Rumson(3-2) won in OT this week over Manalapan after losing in double OT to TR North last week.  23-20 was the final as QB Collin Coles threw a 14 yard TD pass to Luke Devlin after Manalapan got a 46-yard field goal from Vincenzo Rea on the first possession.  Huge win for Rumson as they take a 1/2 game lead in the tough American Division with a 3-1 record.  TR North is in 2nd with a 2-1 record.

On Wednesday night the Asylum Sports Center Coaches Corner will be at the River Rock Restaurant & Marina Bar in Brick and will feature the Big Red of Ocean.  Joining us will be HC Don Klein and his talented RB Trebor Pena and his offensive leader QB Robbie Nungesser.  Showtime is 7 p.m. and can be watched on ShoreSportsNetwork.com, or listened to on 105.7 The Hawk.

Our Jersey Mikes Game of the Week Friday is at Middletown South as the Mariner’s of TR North visit the Eagles at 7 p.m.  Join us on the Shore Sports Network.com where the game is streamed.