The Jeep Store Shore Conference Football Top 10, 11/17/20

It all comes down to this.

The second and final week of the NJSIAA Postseason Groupings is here and it will be No. 1 Wall vs. No. 2 Donovan Catholic for Shore Conference supremacy. Week 7 featured several marquee games, including Wall vs. Mater Dei Prep, Donovan Catholic vs. Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Colts Neck and Freehold vs. Southern Regional. The outcomes of those set up a final week that will determine who is the best team in the Shore Conference and shape the final SSN/Jeep Store Top 10.

1. Wall (6-0). Last week: No. 1

Senior running back Casey Larkin ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and junior tight end/defensive end Blake Rezk caught a 7-yard touchdown pass and recovered a fumble for a touchdown as the Crimson Knights devoured No. 4 Mater Dei, 42-0, in a Shore Conference Pod A semifinal game. Wall’s defense was incredible in holding the Seraphs to 49 yards of offense and three first downs, including negative-5 yards rushing, to post its fourth shutout of the season. Senior quarterback Logan Peters ran for 61 yards and threw a touchdown pass and junior Jake Davis added a touchdown run. Wall will square off against Donovan Catholic for Shore Conference supremacy in Week 8. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 vs. No. 2 Donovan Catholic (7-0).

2. Donovan Catholic (7-0). Last week: No. 2

Senior quarterback Evyn Menta completed 14 of 16 passes for 128 yards and four touchdowns and senior wide receiver Jayon Farrar caught 10 passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns, ran for a 2-point conversion and intercepted a pass to lead the Griffins to a 28-14 victory over No. 3 Red Bank Catholic in one of the most important games in program history. Senior running back Jahdir Loftland continued his great season with 160 yards rushing on 30 carries and senior tight end Ethan Capone had a touchdown catch in the Shore Conference Pod A semifinal victory. Donovan now has a chance to complete its ascent to the elite when it takes on Wall this Friday. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 at No. 1 Wall (6-0).

3. Red Bank Catholic (4-2). Last week: No. 3

Senior quarterback Anthony Borriello threw a 67-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Najih Rahman and sophomore running back Sabino Portella ran for a touchdown but the Caseys could not overcome No. 2 Donovan Catholic in a 28-14 defeat in the Shore Conference Pod A semifinals.. The Caseys will not play in Week 8 due to COVID-19 exposure. The status of a game vs. St. John Vianney that was originally scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 25, is yet to be determined. Next game: TBD.

4. Mater Dei Prep (5-2). Last week: No. 4

The Seraphs suffered their worst defeat in eight years with a 42-0 loss to Wall but remain in the No. 4 spot thanks to a victory over No.  5 Rumson-Fair Haven in Week 5. Next game: Season complete.

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

Senior running back John Volker ran for 115 yards and a touchdown and senior wide receiver Patrick Jamin caught a pair of touchdown passes from senior quarterback Josh Harmon as the Bulldogs stopped Colts Neck, 28-14, to hand the Cougars their first loss of the season. Junior running back Geoff Schroeder had a touchdown run and senior safety Ryan Ruane had an interception as Rumson’s defense shut out Colts Neck in the second half. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 vs. No. 7 Freehold (6-1).

6. Colts Neck (6-1). Last week: No. 6

Senior running back Joe Barsky ran for 64 yards and a touchdown and junior quarterback Tommy Fallon threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Matt Scully but the Cougars could not find the end zone in the second half and suffered their first loss of the season, 28-14, at the hands of No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven. Colts Neck stays at No. 6 thanks to its win over No. 7 Freehold in Week 2. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 at No. 9 Southern (4-3).

7. Freehold (6-1). Last week: No. 7

The cardiac Colonials pulled off another late-game comeback win when junior Kayden Hutchinson connected on a 34-yard field goal in the final minutes of the fourth quarter to give Freehold a 38-35 win over No. 9 Southern. Southern led 28-6 at halftime before senior quarterback Sha’Kim Shuler, and junior playmakers Yahsin Calhoun and Kamore Gill led the second-half rally. Shuler completed 8 of 13 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown and ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns to go over the 1,000-yard passing and 1,000-yard rushing mark this season. Calhoun caught five passes for 108 yards and a touchdown, ran for 84 yards and a touchdown, scored a pair of 2-point conversions and made 24 tackles and one interception on defense. Gill ran for 105 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and caught three passes for 63 yards. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 at No. 5 Rumson-Fair Haven (5-2).

8. Toms River South (5-2). Last week: not ranked

Senior running back Travis Squire ran for two touchdowns and sophomore running back Devin Bond ran for a touchdown to lead the Indians to a 22-8 victory over Neptune. The Indians move back into the rankings thanks to their wins over Southern and Toms River North this season, but will have to pass another test this Friday to remain in the Top 10. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 vs. Jackson Memorial (4-3).

9. Southern (4-3). Last week: No. 8

Junior running back Jaiden Brown ran for 137 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark and senior quarterback Taylor Munt completed 11 of 20 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns but the Rams could not hold a three-score lead against an explosive Freehold team and suffered a 38-35 defeat. Senior wide receiver Xavier Hendricks caught six passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns and junior H-back Nate Committee had a touchdown catch. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 vs. No. 6 Colts Neck (6-1).

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

The Mariners were idle in Week 7 because their scheduled game with Middletown South was canceled due to the Eagles’ football team being shut down. The Mariners will try to hold onto the final spot in the rankings when they head down the Parkway this Friday. Next game: Friday, Nov. 20 at Lacey (4-3).

Dropped out: No. 10 Jackson Memorial (4-3)

On the Bubble:

Holmdel (6-1)

Raritan (5-1)

Archive

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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.