Shore Sports Network Football Top 10, 10/16/18

The Week 6 schedule was loaded with nondivisional matchups and as is typical with crossover games, there were some interesting results.

Standing (way) above the crowd was Jackson Liberty’s shocking 14-0 shutout of previously undefeated Jackson Memorial, which is the first win by the Lions over the rival Jaguars in program history. That win turned the Shore Sports Network Top 10 on its side, ejecting both Jackson Memorial and Wall from the rankings. Wall lost to Jackson Memorial earlier in the season and also lost in Week 5.

Elsewhere in the Top 10, No. 4 Long Branch beat then-No. 8 Wall, 26-0, to bounce back from a loss to Red Bank Catholic and No. 2 Mater Dei Prep flexed its muscles with a 41-0 victory over previously-undefeated Manasquan.

With two teams dropping out two teams must of course enter. There are several candidates, including a few one-loss teams, but we head to the American Division to fill the spots. There’s a logjam behind Middletown South with Toms River North, Manalapan and Freehold Township each sitting at 4-2 while trading wins over each other to create an unending triangle. Based on their point differential and the fact their defeats have come by a combined seven points, we’ll go with Toms River North and Manalapan at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively.

This week’s schedule is headlined by a monster clash between No. 1 Red Bank Catholic and No. 2 Rumson-Fair Haven. There’s also No. 10 Manalapan heading to No. 4 Long Branch, Brick meeting Jackson Memorial in “The Jungle”, Freehold at Lacey and Donovan Catholic at Mater Dei.

1. Red Bank Catholic (6-0). Last week: No. 1 

The Caseys had a bye in Week 5 and return to action this week with a huge road game against No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven. The former Thanksgiving rivals have not met since 2013. This week: Friday at No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven (6-0).

2. Mater Dei Prep (7-0). Last week: No. 2 

Junior running back Malik Ingram ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and senior quarterback Rob McCoy threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns – both to senior wide receiver Isaiah Alston – as the Seraphs dominated Manasquan, 41-0. Jahqual Talmadge also had a touchdown run while senior linebacker Shittah Sillah recorded two sacks and a tackle for loss to lead a defense that recorded its third shutout of the season. Mater Dei has now won 17 straight games against Shore Conference teams. This week: Saturday vs. Donovan Catholic (4-1).

3. Rumson-Fair Haven (6-0). Last week: No. 3

Senior running back Alex Maldjian ran for 195 yards and three touchdowns and sophomore running back John Volker returned a punt for a touchdown and added a touchdown run as the Bulldogs pounded winless Lakewood, 47-7. Ryan Dupree blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown and Pete Crowley also ran for a touchdown. Senior linebacker Christian Lanzalotto had 10 tackles and an interception, senior linebacker Keegan Woods made 13 tackles and recorded one sack and senior defensive lineman Henry Sullivan had nine tackles and two sacks to lead the defense. This week: Friday vs. No. 1 Red Bank Catholic (6-0).

4. Long Branch (5-1). Last week: No. 4 

Senior quarterback Marc Dennis completed 8 of 12 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns and junior running back Jermaine Corbett had a kickoff return touchdown and a rushing touchdown as the Green Wave shut out Wall, 26-0. Devyn Blount had two interceptions on defense. This week: Friday vs. No. 10 Manalapan (4-2).

5. Middletown South (5-1). Last week: No. 5

The Eagles had a bye in Week 5 and return to action Friday night against St. John Vianney. The Eagles have won five straight games and have not lost to a Shore Conference teams this season. This week: Friday vs. St. John Vianney (2-4).

6. Manasquan (5-1). Last week: No. 6

Senior fullback Scooby Tuddles ran for 42 yards on six carries and quarterback Ryan O’Leary completed 4 of 7 passes for 60 yards but the Warriors were overwhelmed by No. 2 Mater Dei Prep, 41-0. Senior James Pendergist caught three passes for 41 yards, blocked an extra point and intercepted a pass. This week: Bye week.

7. Red Bank (5-1). Last week: No. 10 

Senior Nigel Mitchell ran for 148 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and junior Makai Mickens ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries as the Bucs scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take down Raritan, 35-14. Quarterback Jack Chamberlain had a 1-yard touchdown run and senior linebacker Gavin Mahoney had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown. Mickens had two interceptions and Kashaun Turner had a fumble recovery and two sacks to lead the defense. This week: Friday vs. Monmouth (2-4).

8. Brick (4-2). Last week: No. 9 

Junior quarterback Anthony Prato completed 7 of 12 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns and senior Jimmy Leblo accounted for 130 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dragons to a 42-14 win over Lacey. Leblo ran for 75 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and caught two passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Shane Williams had a 45-yard touchdown catch and senior running back Jake Wynkoop had a team-high 82 yards rushing plus a touchdown on just four carries. Senior running back Joe Carchio made his season debut and ran for 78 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and Val Grigorian also had a touchdown run. This week: Friday at Jackson Memorial (5-1).

9. Toms River North (4-2). Last week: not ranked

Sophomore quarterback Jake Kazanowsky threw three touchdown passes, junior running back Jarrod Pruitt ran for a pair of touchdowns and senior Dashawn Wilder also had a touchdown run as the Mariners cruised to a 42-0 win over Toms River South in ‘The Civil War”. Dominick Jacob had an 80-yard touchdown reception, Wilder had a 47-yard touchdown catch and Aaron Craig hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass. Junior C.J. Niedzielski blocked a punt to set up Wilder’s 8-yard touchdown run. This week: Friday at Toms River East (2-4).

10. Manalapan (4-2). Last week: not ranked 

Junior running back Nico Santorelli took over as the feature back following an injury to senior Dale Sieczkowski and ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries to lead the Braves to a 31-28 over Brick Memorial. Junior Andre Johnson had a 3-yard touchdown run, junior quarterback Sean Kehley tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back Anthony Matrone and senior Jack Dematteo kicked a 32-yard field goal that stood up as the deciding points. This week: Friday at. No. 4 Long Branch.

Dropped out: Jackson Memorial (No. 7 last week); Wall (No. 8 last week)

Teams to watch 

Freehold Township (4-2) 

Holmdel (5-1) 

Barnegat (5-1)

Donovan Catholic (4-1)

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