The Jeep Store/Shore Sports Network Football Top 10 for Nov. 9
The first round of the playoffs is complete and we now have 12 Shore Conference teams remaining. It's championship season around New Jersey and those dozen teams will try to keep it going this week and move one step closer to a state championship.
Let's get right to it with this week's The Jeep Store/Shore Sports Network Football Top 10.
1. Donovan Catholic (6-4, 9-1 on the field). Last week: No. 1
Senior quarterback Jalin Butler threw for 176 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 72 yards and a touchdown to lead the Griffins to a 48-8 victory over Notre Dame in the first round of the Non-Public A state playoffs. Senior running back Nunes Bukula IV added 139 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 13 carries, seniors Kyree Drake and Mysun Rush-Esdaile and freshman Mike Thomas had touchdown catches, and Anthony Perelli threw a touchdown pass to Eric Zebrowski. Donovan gets its chance at Goliath now and will try to shock the state to keep its championship hopes alive. Next game: Saturday at Bergen Catholic (9-0) in the Non-Public A quarterfinals.
2. Red Bank Catholic (8-1). Last week: No. 2
The Caseys were idle in Week 10 as the Non-Public B playoffs do not begin until this week. Second-seeded RBC opens its title chase at home on Friday night. Next game: Friday vs. Morris Catholic (4-5) in the Non-Public B quarterfinals.
3. Rumson-Fair Haven (8-1). Last week: No. 3
Senior quarterback Colin Kennedy threw for 141 yards and a touchdown and ran for 85 yards and a touchdown and the defense allowed just five yards of offense in a 37-0 thrashing of Oakcrest in the quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs. Oakcrest had negative-seven yards rushing and zero first downs thanks to a tremendous team effort that included an interception by Ryan Kalman, forced fumbles by Ryan McKay and Cooper Bunnell, and fumble recoveries by Owen Sullivan and Luke Mikolajczyk. Markus Brown had a touchdown catch, Geoff Schroeder ran for a touchdown and Justin Worobel kicked a 22-yard field goal. Rumson's march to a seventh sectional title continues on Friday night. Next game: Friday vs. Burlington Township (8-1) in the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals.
4. Middletown South (7-1). Last week: No. 4
Senior running back Dan Primiano ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles scored three times in the fourth quarter to survive an upset bid and hold off North Hunterdon, 34-20, in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals. Middletown South trailed 20-14 before Primiano tallied touchdown runs of 2, 20, and 6 yards in the final quarter. Sophomore running back Donovan Summey and senior quarterback Tom Schork also had touchdown runs. Senior linebacker Jack Willi led the defense with 13 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a tackle for loss. Sophomore linebacker Colin Gallagher added a sack, 2.5 tackle for loss, and a forced fumble, junior linebacker Jason Wagner had two interceptions and junior Jake Czwakiel had one interception. Next game: Friday vs. Sayreville (8-2). in the North 2, Group 4 semifinals.
5. Wall (6-3). Last week: No. 5
Senior running back Matt Dollive ran for a career-high 273 yards and four touchdowns in the first half as the Crimson Knights buried Hopewell Valley early and cruised to a 42-7 victory in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals. Senior quarterback Jake Davis added 82 yards rushing and two touchdowns and senior defensive end Blake Rezk had two sacks and a tackle for loss. The surging Knights will welcome an undefeated powerhouse on Friday with a spot in the championship game on the line. Next game: Friday vs. Delsea (10-0) in the South Jersey Group 3 semifinals.
6. Manasquan (7-2). Last week: No. 7
Junior quarterback Brett Patten completed 10 of 11 passes for 280 yards and five touchdowns and also ran for a touchdown, and senior wide receiver Cole Kozlowski caught five passes for 185 yards and four touchdowns to power the Warriors to a 39-7 win over Holmdel in the Central Jersey Group 3 quarterfinals. Michael Presbrey also had a touchdown catch for Manasquan. The Warriors head west on Saturday in search of the program's 20th appearance in a sectional final. Next game: Saturday at Woodrow Wilson (6-2) n the Central Jersey Group 3 semifinals.
7. Long Branch (7-1). Last week: No. 9
Senior quarterback Christian Rodriguez threw for 225 yards and three touchdowns and junior defensive lineman Luke Tracey recorded three sacks to lead the Green Wave to an emphatic 50-12 win over Freehold in the South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinals. Senior wide receiver Ka'Jion Thorne caught five passes for 114 yards and a touchdown, junior wideout Mike Hall and senior wideout Jayden Farmer also had touchdown catches, sophomore running back Zaheem Brown ran for two touchdowns, and junior running back Sekou Kamau had a touchdown run. Shamar Williams blocked a punt that Josh Vann recovered for a touchdown and Esau Walker recovered two fumbles. The Green Wave will go from one beach to another on Friday night as they try to take down an undefeated team and reach the championship game. Next game: Friday at Ocean City (10-0) in the South Jersey Group 4 semifinals.
8. Manalapan (6-3). Last week: No. 6
Elijah Marquez and Thomas Clark-Glasco had touchdown runs and Michael Calton kicked field goals of 38 and 28 yards but the Braves were unable to hold a 13-0 lead and fell to Edison, 23-20 in overtime, to end their season. Manalapan had five wins vs. playoff teams (St. John Vianney, Holmdel, Southern, Freehold, and Central) and losses to Middletown South, Red Bank Catholic, and Edison. Next game: Season complete.
9. Point Boro (8-1). Last week: No. 8
Senior quarterback Charlie Vitale ran for 114 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and junior Tyler Gordon ran for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown to lead the Panthers to a 34-14 win over Monmouth Regional in the South Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. Sophomore fullback Jake Croce ran for 74 yards and a touchdown and sophomore running back Matt Oliphant added a touchdown run. Junior linebacker JJ Bennett recorded 13 tackles to lead the defensive effort. The Panthers will try to hold seed and reach the sectional championship game this Friday night against a fellow 8-1 team. Next game: Friday vs. New Providence (8-1) in the South Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
10. Toms River North (6-3). Last week: No. 10
Sophomore quarterback Micah Ford ran for 200 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 138 yards and a touchdown to give the Mariners a 28-14 win over East Brunswick in the first round of the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs. Jeremiah Pruitt had a 39-yard touchdown catch on a Hail Mary at the end of the first half and also ran for a 2-yard touchdown. A first-round upset gave the Mariners another home game for the semifinals. Next game: Friday vs. Edison (7-3) in the South Jersey Group 5 semifinals.
Dropped out: none
Keep an eye on:
Raritan (5-4): Kieran Falzon, Joe Campanella, and Dan Calicari each ran for 100 yards to lead the top-seeded Rockets to a 30-6 win over Barengat in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarterfinals. Next game: Friday vs. Hillside (7-2) in the Central Jersey Group 2 semifinals.
Shore (7-2): Senior quarterback Jamie Mazzacco ran for 245 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils to a 42-8 win over Burlington City in the South Jersey Group 1 quarterfinals. Next game: Friday vs. Woodstown (7-2) in the South Jersey Group 1 semifinals.
Colts Neck (6-3): Senior Christian Monteforte kicked a game-winning 25-yard field goal as time expired to send the Cougars to a dramatic 17-14 win over Timber Creek in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals. Next game: Saturday at Winslow Township (7-2) in the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals.
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