Thoughts on a few of this weekend's games:
Brick at Toms River North, tonight, 7 p.m. These two old rivals should wage a defensive slugfest. Brick, even though it went 5-5 last year, played well on defense all season. It has six starters back from that defense. Toms River North, even though it lost standout safety Arin West to graduation, is probably a better all-around defensively than it was last year. The Mariners are big up front and have an outstanding middle linebacker in Zach Kane. Brick did not get much done offensively in this game last year. It managed just four first downs and lost 7-0 as West had the game's lone touchdown. Toms River North marched up and down the field last week in a 49-3 win over Toms River South. It will not march up and down the field tonight. The playmaking ability of Penna and Toms River North's size should be the difference. TRN 14-7.
St. John Vianney at Holmdel, tonight, 7 p.m.: Who would have thought going into last weekend, that this would become a big game in the National Division? But, both teams recorded upset wins last week. St. John Vianney thrashed Raritan at Raritan as it unveiled the all-around talents of freshman Charles Davis. Holmdel defeated Manasquan, 10-7, at Manasquan on the day that Vic Kubu Warrior Field was officially dedicated. St. John Vianney showed last week it has two dangerous backs in Davis, who also lined up at quarterback and wide receiver, and Chris Mayo. That should give Holmdel's defense a lot to think about. Last week, the Hornets were able to zero in on Manasquan's Chaz Coursey without the threat of being hurt by somebody else. Holmdel's win over Manasquan was no fluke, though. It was physically the better team. However, the Lancers have more big-play potential than the Hornets. That should spell the difference. St. John Vianney 20-14.
Manasquan at Barnegat, tonight, 7 p.m.: This game points out how things can change in a year. Last year, Manasquan, with one of the Shore's all-time great teams, thrashed the Bengals, who were in their first varsity season, 56-0. However, this time, Manasquan graduated 28 seniors from last year, many of whom were great players. It also lost legendary coach Vic Kubu, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on Aug. 26. Barnegat returns everyone from last year and has multiple weapons on offense in quarterback Brandon Clarke, running back Rob Fitzpatrick a corp of speedy wide receivers. The potential for Barnegat to record a win that will show everyone in the Shore it is for real is definitely there. The Bengals, for the good season they had last year, which saw them qualify for the NJSIAA South Jersey Group I playoffs, did not come close against any of the top flight teams they played last year. They will tonight. However, I am slow to change when it comes to picking a new school against an tradition-laden program. I am not giving up on Manasquan yet. I look for Coursey to run behid Rutgers University-bound right tackle Art Forst all night and have a big game. Manasquan 21-14.
Ocean at TR East, tomorrow, 1 p.m.: Ocean is a team that is tough to get a read on because it graduated a ton of good players from last year, and it has a new coach in Don Klein. But, Ocean is another one of these tradition-laden programs. It has had 5-6 coaches since George Conti Jr. retired from coaching after the 1993 season, and it has still churned out good teams most of the time. The Spartans were slow to get started last week against Central, but they had a big second half and won 20-0. I expect them to try and get physical with a Toms River East defense that flies to the football. In this game last year, Toms River East won 21-7, but Ocean dominated the game statiscally. Toms River East rolled to a 48-0 win over Freehold Township last week, with the aid of three blocked punts. It played three quarterbacks in Ryan Sandberg, Tyler Groves and Ryan Dolan, and it hardly threw the ball. Ocean will try to gang up against the run here, but I think Toms River East's speed on the turf will be too much. Toms River East 20-7.
Also, look for Jackson Liberty, which was routed, 43-0, by Bridgeton last week, in its first varsity game, to get its first win tonight at Group I Wildwood, which did not have a team the last two years, has not won a game since 2002 and has always been one of South Jersey's weakest teams.
St. John Vianney at Holmdel, tonight, 7 p.m.: Who would have thought going into last weekend, that this would become a big game in the National Division? But, both teams recorded upset wins last week. St. John Vianney thrashed Raritan at Raritan as it unveiled the all-around talents of freshman Charles Davis. Holmdel defeated Manasquan, 10-7, at Manasquan on the day that Vic Kubu Warrior Field was officially dedicated. St. John Vianney showed last week it has two dangerous backs in Davis, who also lined up at quarterback and wide receiver, and Chris Mayo. That should give Holmdel's defense a lot to think about. Last week, the Hornets were able to zero in on Manasquan's Chaz Coursey without the threat of being hurt by somebody else. Holmdel's win over Manasquan was no fluke, though. It was physically the better team. However, the Lancers have more big-play potential than the Hornets. That should spell the difference. St. John Vianney 20-14.
Manasquan at Barnegat, tonight, 7 p.m.: This game points out how things can change in a year. Last year, Manasquan, with one of the Shore's all-time great teams, thrashed the Bengals, who were in their first varsity season, 56-0. However, this time, Manasquan graduated 28 seniors from last year, many of whom were great players. It also lost legendary coach Vic Kubu, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on Aug. 26. Barnegat returns everyone from last year and has multiple weapons on offense in quarterback Brandon Clarke, running back Rob Fitzpatrick a corp of speedy wide receivers. The potential for Barnegat to record a win that will show everyone in the Shore it is for real is definitely there. The Bengals, for the good season they had last year, which saw them qualify for the NJSIAA South Jersey Group I playoffs, did not come close against any of the top flight teams they played last year. They will tonight. However, I am slow to change when it comes to picking a new school against an tradition-laden program. I am not giving up on Manasquan yet. I look for Coursey to run behid Rutgers University-bound right tackle Art Forst all night and have a big game. Manasquan 21-14.
Ocean at TR East, tomorrow, 1 p.m.: Ocean is a team that is tough to get a read on because it graduated a ton of good players from last year, and it has a new coach in Don Klein. But, Ocean is another one of these tradition-laden programs. It has had 5-6 coaches since George Conti Jr. retired from coaching after the 1993 season, and it has still churned out good teams most of the time. The Spartans were slow to get started last week against Central, but they had a big second half and won 20-0. I expect them to try and get physical with a Toms River East defense that flies to the football. In this game last year, Toms River East won 21-7, but Ocean dominated the game statiscally. Toms River East rolled to a 48-0 win over Freehold Township last week, with the aid of three blocked punts. It played three quarterbacks in Ryan Sandberg, Tyler Groves and Ryan Dolan, and it hardly threw the ball. Ocean will try to gang up against the run here, but I think Toms River East's speed on the turf will be too much. Toms River East 20-7.
Also, look for Jackson Liberty, which was routed, 43-0, by Bridgeton last week, in its first varsity game, to get its first win tonight at Group I Wildwood, which did not have a team the last two years, has not won a game since 2002 and has always been one of South Jersey's weakest teams.
posted by Steven Falk at 12:16 PM
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