The Jeep Store Shore Conference Football Top 10, 11/10/20

Now that the regular season has come to a close, the race for No. 1 has hit the home stretch.

The final four is set with Wall, Donovan Catholic, Red Bank Catholic and Mater Dei Prep squaring off in a four-team postseason pod to determine the best team in the Shore Conference. Another pod consisting of Rumson-Fair Haven, Colts Neck, Freehold and Southern will help shape the final ranking, as will a pod that includes Toms River North, Jackson Memorial and Middletown South.

Nine of last week’s ranked teams earned victories in Week 6 with the exception of Toms River North's loss to No. 2 Donovan Catholic, so there are no changes as we head to Week 7. Let’s take a look at what transpired and what to look for this upcoming weekend.

1. Wall (5-0). Last week: No. 1

Senior running back Casey Larkin ran for 130 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and senior quarterback Logan Peters ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Crimson Knights to a 31-10 win over Middletown South. Junior wide receiver Matt Dollive added a 37-yard touchdown run and Max Oakley kicked a 25-yard field goal. Junior linebacker Colin Riley recorded 14 tackles and two sacks and junior linebacker Charlie Sasso made 15 tackles. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 vs. No. 4 Mater Dei Prep (5-1).

2. Donovan Catholic (6-0). Last week: No. 2

Senior running back Jahdir Loftland ran for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, junior running back Nunes Bukula ran for 94 yards and a touchdown and senior wide receiver Jayon Farrar had a touchdown reception as the Griffins shut out No. 9 Toms River North, 35-0. Donovan’s defense recorded 10 sacks with junior linebackers Connor Farrell and Nat Iannello and senior defensive end Ethan Capone recording two sacks each. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 vs. No. 3 Red Bank Catholic (4-1).

3. Red Bank Catholic (4-1). Last week: No. 3

The Caseys were idle in Week 6 as a result of a brief pause in athletics at Red Bank Catholic due to COVID-19 exposure. Originally slated to be shut down through Nov. 19, the school reversed its decision to pause athletics and allowed all programs to resume on Monday, Nov. 9. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 at No. 2 Donovan Catholic (6-0).

4. Mater Dei Prep (5-1). Last week: No. 4

Senior wide receiver Naran Buntin caught nine passes for 151 yards and a touchdown and junior running back Ra’Jahn Cooper ran for 151 yards as Mater Dei topped Manalapan, 27-10, for its fifth straight twin. Junior running back Maurice Hinton added 65 yards rushing and two touchdowns and senior wide receiver Kody Gibbs had a 65-yard touchdown run. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 at No. 1 Wall (5-0).

5. Rumson-Fair Haven (4-2). Last week: No. 5

Senior running back John Volker ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries, including a 73-yard touchdown run, to lead the Bulldogs to a 34-7 win over Ocean. Colin Kennedy ran for a 45-yard touchdown and Ryan Ruane returned the game’s opening kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown. Next game: Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 6 Colts Neck

6. Colts Neck (6-0). Last week: No. 6

Junior quarterback Tommy Fallon ran for 135 yards and a touchdown on just five carries and completed all seven of his passes for 44 yards and a touchdown to lead the Cougars to a 34-0 win over Monmouth Regional. Senior running back Joe Barsky added 119 yards rushing and two touchdowns, John Manos had a touchdown run and Anthony Bonanno had a touchdown catch. Next game: Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven (4-2).

7. Freehold (5-1). Last week: No. 7

Junior kicker Kayden Hutchinson kicked the game-tying and game-winning field goals in the final 3:05 of regulation to lift the Colonials (5-1) to a wild 40-37 victory over Middletown North. Hutchinson’s 36-yard field goal with five seconds left provided the winning points. Senior quarterback Sha’Kim Shuler ran for 267 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries and threw for 132 yards and a touchdown. Yahsin Calhoun ran for 74 yards and a touchdown and Tyler Ochojski had a touchdown catch. Next game: Saturday, Nov. 14 vs. No. 8 Southern (4-2).

8. Southern (4-2). Last week: No. 8

Junior running back Jaiden Brown ran for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to become Southern’s all-time leading rusher and scorer as the Rams blanked Central, 25-0, in the Emmert-Boyd Classic. Senior wide receiver Xavier Hendricks caught nine passes for 76 yards and a touchdown and returned the opening kickoff of the second half 85 yards for a touchdown. Next game: Saturday, Nov. 14 at No. 7 Freehold (5-1).

9. Toms River North (3-3). Last week: No. 9

Senior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky threw for 215 yards and senior wide receiver Zac Browne caught 12 passes for 149 yards but the Mariners could not find the end zone or stop Donovan Catholic in a 35-0 loss. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 at Middletown South (2-4).

10. Jackson Memorial (4-2). Last week: No. 10

Senior running back Will Towns continued his torrid stretch with 303 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 26 carries to lead the Jaguars to a 33-0 win over Jackson Liberty. Damien Henderson added a 42-yard touchdown run and Tai Mann threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Wally Doman. Next game: Friday, Nov. 13 at Freehold Township (2-2).

Dropped out: none

Teams to Watch:

Holmdel (5-1)

Raritan (4-1)

Archive

Week 5

Week 4

Week 3

Week 2

Week 1

Preseason Top 10

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.