The Magnificent Seven
Seven Shore Conference schools will represent the State in the finals of the football championships on the weekend of Dec.6-8th.
The seven are: Manalapan, Brick, Rumson, Shore, Point Beach, Barnegat and Colts Neck. Missing on this list of finalist is the Shore’s top ranked team RBC.
RBC’s 28-7 loss at the hands of New Jersey’s #1 ranked St. Joe Montvale, although closer than some might have thought, is still a loss and begins a 2 week debate on whether RBC or Manalapan should be #1 ranked in the Shore.
Of course Manalapan must win out and finish 12-0 and RBC must defeat unbeaten Rumson on Friday night for that scene to be played out. That’s a question for another day. This blog is about the winners and these 7 teams have a chance to be called champions.
We are guaranteed 2 winners, as Shore and Point Beach go head to head in CJ 1 and Colts Neck and Brick play for it all in CJ 4. Manalapan(10-0) has a tough one with Hunterdon Central who has upset 2 opponents to get a chance at the top seeded Braves in CJ 5. Rumson gets unbeaten Weequahic in CJ 2 and Barnegat plays Delsea the #2 seed in SJ 3. More about those games next week, as we take a week off to play the traditional Turkey Day games.
The New Jersey state playoff system must be changed from this format of interrupting the playoffs to play a game before the finals. Makes no sense, but because of Thanksgiving, no changes will take place. Even the upcoming vote, to take place on Dec 2nd, to change the format to play out to an overall Group Champion, will still allow teams the option to play on Thanksgiving.
The teams that didn’t make it through the semi-finals were Mater Dei, Jackson, Lakewood, Manasquan, Toms River South, Ocean, Asbury Park and RBC. Of those 8 teams, TR South’s loss at the hands of Shawnee was by far the toughest to take. South had taken a 24-0 lead into halftime and fans were already asking how to get to Rowan University where the South Jersey finals will be played. Well someone forgot to tell Shawnee the game was over, as they came back with 4 second half TDs to win 28-24 and send the Indians to a devastating loss.
Shawnee used a defense that held South to 1 first down in the second half and the power running and passing of a revised offense, from halftime adjustments, to victory and a chance to play Timber Creek in the SJ 4 finals. This loss will stay with the Indians for a while. At the end of this game QB Tymere Berry was hurt and his status for the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Lakewood, is questionable.
The other favorite to lose was previously unbeaten Ocean. The “Big Red” was the choice in CJ 3, but someone forgot to tell Hopewell Valley(9-1) as they beat Ocean 30-14. Ocean’s tough offense was shut down by Hopewell. The Big Red had just 1 first down and 31 yards in the second half, and managed just 105 yards for the game, while Hopewell accumulated 391 of offense. Ocean has already won the B-North title and will play Monmouth Reg. on the road on Thanksgiving.
I believe the other 6 losses were all “dogs” in their games and only Asbury Park(15-6 loser) made it close. Of the 6, RBC has the biggest game of this week, as they play unbeaten Rumson for the A-Central title. That game will take place on Friday night at 7pm at Count Basie field in Red Bank. Will be interesting to see if the Shore’s leading rusher Charlie Volker can run against the vaulted RBC defense. I’ll take in that contest, if I can get away from the table of leftovers, and give a detailed report in next week’s blog.
Brick’s game against Burlington Twp. saw the Dragons get 400 yards rushing and control the ball throughout the contest. The final was 45-24, but the score was not a good indicator of how close this game actually was. Brick held a 31-25 lead until 2 late TDs put the game away for the Dragons.
Brick is back in the finals for the first time since 1994(19 years). Hard to believe that, but that’s how long the Dragons have been down. Brick will be looking for their 7th Championship, while their opponent Colts Neck(9-1) will be looking for their first title.
Manalapan(10-0), after their scare last week to Brick Memorial(14-13 win), took care of a nemesis in Sayreville by completely controlling the Bombers 35-7. Tyler Leonetti’s 138 yards rushing and 2 TDs controlled the ball for the Braves and a tremendous defensive effort created the lopsided victory.
Sayreville was held to just 17 yards until a late run of 53 yards put them on the board or the Braves would have pitched a shutout against a team that had won 10 straight playoff games and 3 straight Championships. Now it’s the Braves turn to get that long awaited trophy. First a short turn around game against Marlboro on Wed night.
Shore(9-1) and Point Beach(9-1) will play back to back games. First a Thanksgiving game at Shore on Wed night for the B-Central Championship and then a game on Dec. 7th at TCNJ at 10am for the CJ Group 1 Championship. These 2 teams will certainly know each other very well in the next 2 weeks.
Barnegat(9-1) finds itself in its first ever finals and a chance to win a title in only their 7th year. The Bengals are tough with QB Cinjun Erskine leading the show and a massive offensive line that rolled up 356 yards rushing in their 28-25 win over Northern Burlington. Sam Madden and Zach Andrews lead a line that averages 280 lbs.
The Bengals will play a tough Delsea (9-2) team in the finals, but win or lose; it’s been a great year for the Bengals. They can wrap up a B-South Championship on Thanksgiving with a win over 1-8 Pinelands.
Top Ten week 12:
1 - RBC (9-1) - Loss their shot at a State Championship, but can still win A-central with a win over Rumson on Friday night.
2 - Manalapan (10-0) - The Braves play Marlboro and must focus before thinking about Hunterdon Central in CJ 5 finals.
3- Rumson (10-0) Charlie Volker’s 306 yards rushing in semi-final victory over Rahway leaves him 31 yards short of 2000 for the year. Final was 28-21, with Volker going on an 80 yard TD run with 6 seconds left to win it for the Bulldogs. Next up on Friday night is #1 RBC on the road on Friday night.
4- Colts Neck-(9-1) The Cougars used Anthony Gargiulo’s 4 TDs to win 28-19 vs. Nottingham. Chance to win their first title ever in 2 weeks. First up is pass happy Howell on Turkey Day at home.
5- Brick (8-3) The Dragons do what you have to do to win championships-run the ball. 400 yards worth against Burlington Twp. in semi’s. Have 2 weeks to get ready for Colts Neck in finals. Dragons have 2 chances to see CN live(semi final win and Turkey Day). I think that’s a big advantage.
6- Ocean (9-1) Final game vs. Monmouth on Thanksgiving.
7-Barnegat (9-1) The Bengals have had a breakout season. On verge of B-South Championship and a trip to finals.
8-TR South (7-3) The Indians must recover after a devastating loss to Shawnee. QB Tymere Bery is questionable for game at Lakewood.
9-Jackson (7-3) Loss in semi’s to top Public School in South Jersey(Cherokee) not a bad loss for A-South Champs.
10-Manasquan(7-3) Meets Wall again(win in first round of States) at Wall on Turkey Day in a game we will broadcast at 11am on 1160 and 1310am.
Just on the outside:
Shore(9-1) In another final.
Beach(9-1) Have never won a title. Chance this year.
Brick Memorial(6-4) Who knows what would have happened if 14-13 loss to Manalapan had different results??
Join us Wednesday night this week at Water Street Grill from 7-8pm for our Investors Bank Football Show.
The Sonny's Recycling Game of week kicks off Thursday morning at 11 a.m. on WOBM 1160 or 1310 am. for Wall/Manasquan.
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