The Jeep Store/SSN Shore Conference Football Top 10, 9/10/19

After going all season without a change at the top of last year’s Shore Sports Network Football Top 10, it took only one week of the 2019 season for a new No. 1 team to emerge.

Rumson-Fair Haven’s 20-14 takedown of Red Bank Catholic ended the Caseys’ 10-game winning streak and knocked the Caseys from a perch they occupied throughout the 2018 season. Now, the team that finished ranked No. 2 last season and again to begin this season ascends to the throne. Mater Dei Prep took care of business in a 40-13 victory over Brick and is the new No. 1 team in the Shore Conference.

The only ranked teams to lose last week were those who also faced top-10 opponents. In addition to RBC being defeated by Rumson, No. 6 Manalapan defeated No. 7 Middletown South, 23-13, in the Shore Sports Network Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week.

Elsewhere in the Top 10, Long Branch held off Neptune, Toms River North blew out Cherry Hill West, Jackson Memorial scored late to edge Brick Memorial, Wall rallied for a win over Middletown North and Donovan Catholic blanked Linden in a statement game over a team that started the season ranked in the state Top 20.

No new teams this week, but some movement throughout.

1. Mater Dei Prep (1-0). Last week: No. 2 

The Seraphs rolled to a 40-13 nondivisional win over Brick as senior running back Malik Ingram scored twice on the ground and also caught a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Alex Brown. Senior wideout Isaiah Noguera also had a touchdown catch as Mater Dei won its 18^th straight regular-season game against Shore Conference opponents. Next game: Saturday, Sept. 13 vs. No. 8 Jackson Memorial (1-0).

2. Rumson-Fair Haven (1-0). Last week: No. 4 

Junior running back John Volker ran for 150 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass as the Bulldogs knocked off Red Bank Catholic, 20-14. It is Rumson’s first win over RBC since 2012. The RFH defense held RBC to just 56 yards rushing and received a 70-interception return for a touchdown by junior safety Ryan Ruane. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 at No. 9 Wall (1-0).

3. Long Branch (1-0). Last week: No. 3 

Senior running back Jermaine Corbett ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns and senior quarterback Kyle Davidson threw for 115 yards and touchdowns to Jordan Farmer and Jayon Farrar to lead the Green Wave to a 25-13 win over Neptune. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Middletown North (0-1).

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

Anthony Borriello had a touchdown run and running back Kevin Degnan tossed a touchdown pass to Sean Rossback, but the Caseys had their 10-game winning streak snapped in a 20-14 loss to rival Rumson-Fair Haven. Borriello also had an interception and senior linebacker Charlie Gordinier recovered a fumble. Next game: Saturday, Sept. 14 at Manasquan (0-0).

5. Toms River North (1-0). Last week: No. 5

Senior running back Jarrod Pruitt had four touchdown runs and junior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky tossed touchdowns to senior wide receiver Dominick Jacob and junior tight end John O’Donnell as the Mariners crushed Cherry Hill West, 45-13. Justin Burkert added a 35-yard field goal when Toms River North erupted for 45 first-half points, including 38 in the second quarter. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 at Southern (1-0).

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

With senior running back Nico Santorelli done for the season after tearing his ACL in a preseason practice, senior Andre Johnson stepped in and made sure Manalapan’s run game didn’t miss a beat by rushing for 113 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries in a 23-13 win over Middletown South. Johnson had a 62-yard touchdown run and added 38 receiving yards. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 vs. Howell (0-1).

7. Donovan Catholic (1-0). Last week: No. 10

If state-ranked Linden was an early test for a promising Donovan Catholic team, the Griffins aced it. Senior quarterback Ryan Clark completed 10 of 16 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns as the Griffins dominated Linden, 35-0. Nasir Calhoun added 58 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Defensively, senior defensive end Chris Aldrich had three sacks and a tackle for loss and senior defensive back Jared Helstowski had an interception and a fumble recovery. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 at Point Boro (1-0).

8. Jackson Memorial (1-0). Last week: No. 8 

A 1-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Nic Ford with 1:16 left in regulation gave the Jaguars a hard-fought 24-17 win over rival Brick Memorial. Junior running back Will Towns ran for 187 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and senior running back Steven Rodriguez added a 14-yard touchdown run. Jake McKown connected on a 27-yard field goal. Jackson posted eight sacks against Brick Memorial, including two by Jaden Persichilli and 1.5 by Collin McCarthy. Christian Pellone pulled down an interception, as well. Next game: Saturday, Sept. 14 at No. 1 Mater Dei Prep (1-0).

9. Wall (1-0). Last week: No. 9 

Trailing 10-7 entering the fourth quarter, Wall rallied with the game’s final 16 points to defeat Middletown North, 23-10. Junior quarterback Logan Peters connected with Dale McNally on an 11-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth to give Wall a 14-10 lead. After a safety on a botched Middletown North punt, Wall put together a game-clinching drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by junior running back Casey Larkin. Peters also had a 5-yard touchdown pass to Mike Galos while Larkin ran for 119 yards and a score on 18 carries. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 vs. No. 3 Rumson-Fair Haven (0-1).

10. Middletown South (0-1). Last week: No. 7

Quarterback Vincent Bonavita threw touchdown passes of 18 and 36 yards to senior wide receiver Matt Krellin, but it was not enough to dig the Eagles out of a three-score hole as they fell to Manalapan, 23-13. Next game: Friday, Sept. 13 at St. John Vianney (0-0).

Keep an eye on: 

Red Bank (1-0): After falling behind 7-0 early, the Bucs responded with 50 straight points in a 50-7 thrashing of Freehold. 

Colts Neck (1-0): The Cougars started year two under head coach Matt Ahearn in style with a 24-0 shutout of district rival Freehold Township. 

Ocean (0-0) 

Manasquan (0-0) 

St. John Vianney (0-0)

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.