Shore Sports Network Football Top 10, 10/21/14

After a week of crucial divisional matchups, the Shore Conference landscape is starting to clear up as we hit the home stretch before the playoffs begin.

No. 2 Manalapan took a major step toward its fifth straight Class A North title with a 21-3 victory over then-No. 4 Middletown South for its 30th straight win against Shore Conference competition. The Braves now get a chance to unseat the juggernaut that is Red Bank Catholic. The Caseys have won 38 straight games against the Shore and will host Manalapan on Friday night at Count Basie Field.

In Class A South, Jackson Memorial remained one game behind Brick for first in the division and kept its grip on the top seed in Central Jersey Group IV with a 21-14 victory over Brick Memorial. The Jaguars have another tough opponent this Friday when they face Toms River South.

Shore welcomed back junior standout Doug Goldsmith in a key 14-8 Class B Central victory over Mater Dei Prep that set the Blue Devils up for a shot at the division title in a Halloween game versus Point Beach.

Freehold continued its best start since 2008 when it beat Wall 33-16 to improve to 6-0. Senior Josh Dixon ran for a career-high 282 yards to help the Colonials to their sixth win. They had just seven wins combined in the last three seasons.

Class A South has two intriguing divisional matchups with Toms River South hosting No. 8 Jackson Memorial and Toms River North taking on Southern, but this week is headlined by some big-time nondivisional games.

The Manalapan-Red Bank Catholic game looks to be one of the biggest regular-season games in the Shore in several years. The Caseys can solidify their spot as the unquestioned top team in the Shore while the Braves could send shockwaves throughout the state with a win. No. 5 Middletown South hosts No. 9 Brick Memorial in a game that will be huge for each team’s playoff positioning. There’s also No. 10 Rumson hosting Lakewood and No. 4 Long Branch visiting Matawan.

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

Junior quarterback Eddie Hahn threw three touchdown passes and junior running back Dylan Murphy scored twice during the Caseys’ 53-0 victory over Colts Neck for their 38th consecutive win against Shore Conference competition. Trevor Cowley, John Portela and Nick Cella had touchdown catches and Mike Cordova and Mike Wilen added touchdown runs. The Caseys’ defense also recorded its third straight shutout and has allowed just 23 points all season. Red Bank Catholic welcomes No. 2 Manalapan to Count Basie Field on Friday night for one of the biggest Shore Conference regular-season games in several years.

2. Manalapan (6-0). Last week: No. 2

Senior tailback Imamu Mayfield ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries to propel Manalapan to a 21-3 victory over Middletown South. It is the Braves’ fifth straight victory over the Eagles and their 30th straight against Shore Conference competition. Senior kicker Mike Caggiano set the Shore Conference career scoring mark for kickers by going 3-for-3 on extra points to reach 215 for his career. The Braves will travel to face No. 1 Red Bank Catholic on Friday in a monster regular-season matchup that pits two teams having won over 30 in a row against the Shore.

3. St. John Vianney (6-0). Last week: No. 3

Junior quarterback Anthony Brown threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in a 35-14 victory over Raritan. Aaron Mora, Dan Calabro and Calvin Beaty each had receiving touchdowns and junior Jeff Sheard returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown. The Lancers, who are third in Non-Public Group III in power points, will host Donovan Catholic (1-5) on Friday night.

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

Senior running back Dahmiere Willis continued his huge season by rushing for 286 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries - his fifth consecutive 200-yard game - to lead the Green Wave to a 33-28 victory over Ocean. Senior quarterback Jordan Rodriguez threw touchdown passes to Brandon Lane, John Mims and Dave Colbert to give the Green Wave their fifth straight win. Long Branch will visit Matawan (3-3) on Friday night in a nondivisional game.

5. Middletown South (4-2). Last week: No. 4

First-half fumbles doomed the Eagles in their 21-3 loss to Manalapan. Junior Matt Mosquera connected on a 33-yard field goal for Middletown South’s only points. The Eagles have a chance to get back on track when they host another top 10 opponent, No. 9 Brick Memorial, in a nondivisional game on Friday night.

6. Freehold (6-0). Last week: No. 9

Senior running back Josh Dixon erupted for a career-high 282 yards and five touchdowns as the Colonials stopped Wall, 33-16, to remain undefeated. Dixon has rushed for 913 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 8.1 yards per carry this season. The Colonials’ win against Wall, which beat Brick, gave them the leverage to jump the Green Dragons and the rest of the A South teams to the No. 6 spot. Freehold can equal its win total from the last three seasons combined when it travels to Toms River East (0-6) on Saturday.

7. Brick (5-1). Last week: No. 6

The Dragons rebounded from their stunning loss to Wall with a 41-7 victory over Lacey. Senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani ran for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns to continue his monster season. Senior tight end Simon Bingelis and senior wide receiver Ja’Quez Johnson had touchdown catches while senior running back Ray Fattaruso had a touchdown run. Jay Obenauer blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. Brick plays at winless Colts Neck on Saturday as it tries to catch Jackson Memorial for the top playoff spot in Central Jersey Group IV.

8. Jackson Memorial (5-1). Last week: No. 7

The Jaguars edged Brick Memorial, 21-14, on senior linebacker Zach Tetro’s fumble return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Senior quarterback Joe DeMaio led a 316-yard rushing attack with 108 yards, while senior Matt Castronuova had a 73-yard touchdown run and junior Vinny Lee scored on a 23-yard run. The Jags have another intriguing Class A South matchup on Friday night when they travel to Detwiler Stadium to face Toms River South.

9. Brick Memorial (4-2). Last week: No. 8

Junior quarterback Tim Santiago ran for a six-yard touchdown and threw a 30-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Karl Kumm in a 21-14 loss to Jackson Memorial. The Mustangs get an opportunity to jump up the rankings when they head to “The Swamp” on Friday night to take on No. 5 Middletown South.

10. Rumson-Fair Haven (3-2). Last week: No. 10

Senior running back Charlie Volker returned after missing two games with an ankle injury to rush for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries in a 28-21 victory over Manasquan. Sophomore quarterback Mike O’Connor’s touchdown pass to senior tight end Kenny Ferrare with 16.8 seconds left in the game snapped a 21-21 tie as the Bulldogs ended a two-game skid. Rumson welcomes Lakewood (4-1) for an interesting nondivisional showdown on Friday night with major Central Jersey Group II seeding implications.

Dropped out: none

Teams to watch: 

Toms River North (4-2): Sophomore quarterback Mike Husni ran for a career-high 262 yards and two touchdowns and also threw for 101 yards and a pair of scores in a 47-22 victory over Toms River East. Junior running back Asante Moorer had two rushing touchdowns and ran for 234 yards of his own while also catching a touchdown pass as the Mariners racked up 517 yards rushing. Bryce Watts added a touchdown reception. The Mariners host Southern (3-2) on Saturday.

Southern (3-2): Junior kicker Brandon Barnetti booted a 27-yard field goal with 1.6 seconds left in regulation to deliver the Rams a surprising 16-13 victory over Toms River South. Pat Walker had a touchdown run and senior Jon Bleichner threw a touchdown pass to junior tight end Evan Henken. The Rams can make a case for moving into the Top 10 by beating Toms River North in a Class A South game on Saturday.

Middletown North (4-2): Junior running back Chad Freshnock ran for 195 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries and also caught a touchdown pass in a 36-7 victory over Howell as the Lions surpassed their win total from last season. Sophomore quarterback Donald Glenn threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a touchdown pass to senior tight end Troy Thompson. The Lions have a bye this week before returning to action against North Brunswick (1-5) on Halloween.

Shore (4-1): Junior running back/linebacker Doug Goldsmith returned from injury to make his season debut, and ran for 141 yards and two touchdowns to lead the way in a 14-8 victory over Mater Dei Prep. The Blue Devils face South River (2-4) on Friday night.