The Jeep Store Football Top 10, 10/17/17
It was a big weekend in the Shore Conference during Week 6 with three matchups featuring undefeated teams, some thrilling comebacks, and a few other telling results. The resulting fallout, however, has only a slight effect on The Jeep Store Shore Sports Network Top 10 heading into Week 7.
The top three teams all faced challenges from undefeated division foes in Week 6, and all six emerged with their perfect records and spots atop their respective divisions intact. Manalapan rode a career-best rushing effort from senior running back Naim Mayfield to beat Howell and take control of Class A North. The best game of the season so far featured St. John Vianney beating Rumson in an instant classic to take a major step toward locking up their fourth straight Class A Central title. Red Bank Catholic’s offense continued its unstoppable ways by dropping 42 points on Long Branch.
Mater Dei Prep survived a scare from Asbury Park to remain in first place in Class B Central, while Point Boro rallied past Lakewood with a pair of touchdowns in the final two minutes to remain undefeated an all alone atop Class B South.
Brick Memorial and Middletown North were also victorious in convincing fashion to hold down their positions in the rankings.
There is only one ranked matchup in Week 7, but it’s a huge one as No. 3 St. John Vianney heads to Count Basie Field to meet No. 2 Red Bank Catholic on Friday night. There’s also a crucial A North game between Howell and unbeaten* Freehold Township on Friday night and Manasquan hosting Middletown North in a critical B North game on Saturday afternoon.
Here are the rankings for Week 7 of the Shore Conference football season.
1. Manalapan (6-0). Last week: No. 1
Senior running back Naim Mayfield ran for a career-high 275 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Braves to a 49-28 win over Howell. Senior quarterback Luke Corcione tossed a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Scott Scherzer and senior fullback Chris Maksimik had a touchdown run as the Braves took a major step toward securing the Class A North division title. Next game: Friday at Neptune (0-5).
2. St. John Vianney (6-0). Last week: No. 2
The Lancers won a thriller over No. 5 Rumson, 31-28 in overtime, in a pivotal Class A Central game played at Rutgers’ High Point Solutions Stadium. Senior wide receiver Sam East caught a 14-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds left in regulation and senior kicker Will Forman knocked through the extra point, then kicked the go-ahead 22-yard field goal in overtime. The Lancers’ defense then stopped the Bulldogs on downs to win their 35th straight game against Shore Conference opponents. Senior quarterback Haaziq Daniels accounted for 257 yards and three touchdowns and senior Johnny Buchanan ran for 121 yards and a touchdown. Next game: Friday at No. 3 Red Bank Catholic (6-0).
3. Red Bank Catholic (6-0). Last week: No. 3
Senior running back Zack Bair ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns and junior quarterback Steve Lubischer had 200 total yards and four touchdowns to lead the way in a 42-28 Class B North victory over Long Branch at Rutgers. Bair had touchdown runs of 1 and 22 yards while Lubischer ran for scores of 7 and 8 yards, threw an 8-yard touchdown to sophomore tight end Charlie Gordinier and tossed a 16-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Kevin Bauman. Next game: Friday vs. No. 2 St. John Vianney (6-0).
4. Mater Dei Prep (4-0). Last week: No. 4
Senior quarterback George Pearson had a touchdown pass and a touchdown run as the Seraphs held off Asbury Park, 14-13, to win their 16th game in a row. Pearson had a 27-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Noguera and a 13-yard touchdown run, and the Mater Dei defense stopped Asbury Park on a two-point conversion attempt with 4:53 remaining in regulation. Next game: Friday at Lincoln (2-4).
5. Rumson-Fair Haven (4-1). Last week: No. 6
Senior running back Peter Lucas ran for 220 yards and two touchdowns but the Bulldogs fell to No. 2 St. John Vianney, 31-28 in overtime, in an instant classic at Rutgers University. Senior quarterback Dan Harby threw for 178 yards and a 23-yard touchdown to junior fullback Alex Maldjian. Junior wide receiver Donovan Brennan ran for a 26-yard touchdown and junior tight end Ian O’Connor caught 10 passes for 121 yards. Next game: Friday vs. Red Bank (0-5).
6. Howell (5-1). Last week: No. 5
The Rebels fell to top-ranked Manalapan, 49-28. Senior quarterback Eddie Morales was great in defeat, throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for 119 yards and catching a 22-yard touchdown pass from senior wide receiver Naseim Brantley. Senior wide receiver Ryan Mazik caught six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, Brantley had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown, Brandon Wilson had seven receptions for 95 yards and Pat Handy had a touchdown catch. Next game: Friday vs. Freehold Township (6-0).
7. Long Branch (4-1). Last week: No. 7
Senior quarterback Juwan Wilkins threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns, sophomore running back Jermaine Corbett ran for 193 yards and senior wide receiver Pasa Fields caught nine passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-28 loss to Red Bank Catholic. Fields had touchdown catches of 52 and 25 yards and senior wideout T.J. Fosque had a 14-yard touchdown catch. Junior fullback La’Qym Morris scored on a 1-yard run.
8. Point Boro (6-0). Last week: No. 8
The Panthers rallied for a stunning 35-28 victory over Lakewood with two touchdowns in the final two minutes. Senior running back Nate Chiarello scored on a 12-yard run with 1:51 left and senior fullback Tanner Gordon scored on a 25-yard run with 38 seconds left. Gordon ran for 193 yards and two touchdowns, which also included a 53-yard touchdown run. Chiarello also had a 3-yard touchdown run and senior quarterback James Fara had a 14-yard touchdown run. Next game: Friday at Jackson Liberty (1-5).
9. Brick Memorial (5-1). Last week: No. 9
Senior running back Tony Thorpe ran for 191 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to a 35-13 win over Toms River East. Thorpe recorded his 40th career touchdown to pass Vinnie Falkiewicz for the most touchdowns in program history. Senior running back Blaine Netterman added 130 yards and a touchdown and junior quarterback Tyler Sindel also had a touchdown run. Next game: Saturday at Southern (2-4).
10. Middletown North (3-2). Last week: No. 10
Senior running back Connor Welsh ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-14 win over Wall. Welsh had touchdown runs of 3, 17 and 75 yards while junior running back Connor Robbins added a pair of touchdown runs plus nine tackles with two for loss. Senior defensive tackle Nicko Cofone had two sacks. Next game: Saturday at Manasquan (3-2).
Dropped out: none
Teams to watch:
Freehold (3-3): Senior quarterback Ashante Worthy accounted for 276 total yards and four touchdowns in a 35-28 win over Colts Neck. Next game: Saturday vs. Marlboro (2-4).
Monmouth (6-1): Senior Ian Fitzgerald had a 90-yard touchdown catch to force overtime and a 23-yard touchdown catch in the extra period to lift the Falcons to a scintillating 28-27 win over Red Bank. Next game: Oct. 27 vs. No. 5 Rumson.
Freehold Township (6-0): Junior quarterback Nick Reardon threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Patriots to a 31-6 win over Jackson Liberty. Freehold Township is 6-0 for the first time in program history. Next game: Friday at No. 6 Howell (5-1).
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Managing editor Bob Badders can be reached at bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Bob_Badders. Like Shore Sports Network on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest video highlights.
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