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Sunday, September 9, 2007

Thoughts on the Saturday night games:

Red Bank Catholic, in its 55-12 win over Matawan, proved what many thought, that it might have the best offense in the Shore. The Caseys ran for 450 yards and had 563 yards of total offense. Red Bank Catholic has the offensive firepower to go 9-0 against its regular season schedule. However, the Caseys have the misfortune of being classified in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group IV playoff bracket, the same bracket that Don Bosco Prep and St. Peter's Prep are in.
Toms River North's 49-3 win over Toms River South was impressive because it was the widest margin of victory in the 36-year history of the series. That is saying something considering some of the whippings the Indians laid on the Mariners in the early years of the series.
We will find out much more about Toms River North this week, when it hosts Brick.
Two questions from this game: Was it necessary for Toms River North to put its first team offense back in the game after Toms River South kicked a field goal to close within, 42-3? And was it necessary to throw a 66-yard TD pass with the score 42-3?

17 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

If I was in LaBarca shoes, I would of done the same exact thing. South finally scores on a long field goal and then Wilks opts to go for an onside kick. Why attempt an onside kick down by 39 points late in the 3rd QTR? An onside kick suggests that the game isn't over, thus why not put your first stringers back into the game. The funny part is LaBarca had most of his starters out of the game on the series prior to the field and onside kick.

Alot of unhappy campers at Toms River South, 47 yards of offense is pitiful. You cant expect to win ANY game running the same 5 offensive plays the entire game. I think everybody in the stadium knew TRS playcalling even before the offense snapped the ball

September 9, 2007 at 2:30 PM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Tony Graham here..No matter the onsides kick, and I don't blame TR South for trying one there, I am still not a fan of throwing for a TD with a 39-point lead at that juncture...

I am sure Chippy had his reasons..but I personally can't see it..

Let me put it this way..does Warren Wolf. Bob Generelli, the late Vic Kubu, etc. throw there?? My guess is - no.

September 9, 2007 at 7:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what about the punt that went around 50 yards for north when the fumble was caused and recovered by north. that kid had a boot. i think it was #17 Tynon or something?

September 10, 2007 at 4:44 AM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

TG here. No. 17 for TR North is Jon Tynon, a junior punter. Maybe the Eagles could use him. And I don't mean Middletown South.

September 10, 2007 at 7:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What about when chip was at lakewood and south put up 46 on them and they were throwing bombs up by 40 in the 4th quarter. North pulled their starters and south did not so north put their starters back in. Should north have kept their jv in against souths varsity? As for wolf, didn't he put up 64 on duddy's central team in 03 or 04?

September 10, 2007 at 8:25 AM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

What happened any number of years ago is irrelevent as far as I'm concerned....


Teams losing by a lot late in games routinely keep their starters on the field while the winning team has opted for its JV..happens all the time.

As for the Central game vs. Wolf - I was at that game and Brick was playing third graders in the fourth quarter...and Wolf apologized to Duddy after the game..

September 10, 2007 at 8:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So if chip apologized it would be ok.Brick was running an unbalaced line and had the back up running back score on a trap with 5 seconds left. wolf could have taken a knee. But what your saying is that it was ok because he said he was sorry. how do you think the central kids felt? Also you said it was ok for south to run the score up on lakewood but because that was a long time ago north is wrong.

September 10, 2007 at 9:16 AM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

I didn't say it was Ok for TR S to run up the score on Lakewood..just that it's meaningless in this argument...

As far as I know Wolf has never purposely run up scores. Many of his qbs have grass stains under their skin for life from taking so many knees...

Actually, I don't have a problem with a back up RB running the ball presumably against a varsity defense late in a game, no matter what the score....If (varsity) they can't stop a JV kid..yikes.


Bottom line..I don't think it was right for TR N to be throwing TD passes up by a zillion points no matter the circumtances...

I have known Chippy Jr. since he he was in high school ..a good guy and a very good coach..It's just not something I - personally - would have done.

That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!!!

Can we agree to disagree? Aren't there other high school topics to chat about.

Is Holmdel the real deal for instance?. Southern?? . The Fr. qb at SJ Vianney? Etc. Etc. The TRN-Brick game?

September 10, 2007 at 9:48 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

trn will roll over brick because of its o and d lines.

September 10, 2007 at 3:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony, I have a deep respect for you as an AP writer but you NEVER have been on the other end of a beating by a staff where they intentionally ran up the score. Most coaches, don't get upset - they shake hands - file the game away in their brain and when the time comes around - whether it be one or ten years - they repay in full. I believe Chip just gave them some well deserved payback. Coaches do NOT forget. I'm sure the South staff will return the serve when the time arises.

I thought you were being a bit unfair with the comparison to Wolf and Kubu - although great coaches and good men - both of them are fierce competitors and have thrown the ball late for needless scores on occasion.

By the way, this is my first post.

September 10, 2007 at 4:04 PM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

First, thank you for posting.

Again - I am just speaking for myself and have never coached anything except maybe little league wiffle ball..

Now, let's say I am coaching a team that is losing 54-0 and the winning team throws a TD pass or runs in for another score in the final minute...Am I ticked off? You bet.

Three-four years later, now my team is whipping that team 47-0...But do I throw for six in the fourth quarter? Me, personally, I don't, even if I had it rubbbed in my face four years ago or whatever.

That's just me. I take my win - am satisfied with that, and go home.


As for Kubu, Wolf, etc. I have covered many of their blowouts over the years and have never seen nor have I ever heard of them "running up the score," at least not on purpose.

September 10, 2007 at 4:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Tony...as a long time Brick Memorial fan it is upsurd for you to stick up for the Great Coach Wolf...altough like I said great, his hands are far from clean...I attend both Brick games on a weekly basis and one game in particular sticks out in my mind...Lacey/Brick I believe it was 2003. Brick is up something like 35-0 late in the fourth quarter. They run a fake punt in the fourth quarter...although not late but very unnecessary. I don't believe you included that in your blog that week...lay off the guy at North whatever happened I wasn't there so I won't comment.

September 10, 2007 at 5:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree: enough already. I like the question you raise: is Holmdel the real deal? I saw they made your top 10 - probably too early for that - like to see how they do vs. SJV and Raritan before I write them in my top 10. Who has votes in that Poll anyway? But I liked your comment vs. Manasquan - that their defensive front 4 did not get pushed around by Forst and Co. despite Squan's press clippings. Holmdel has some skill players including a stud QB #17, a speedy RB #11 who got hurt and came back to kick winning FG, and a big horse #45 who played FB/WB. If they stay healthy - could turn National division on its head - wide open right now. Saw the Holmdel - Squan game and they got the better of a bigger Squan club. But probably too early for #10.

September 10, 2007 at 8:44 PM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Soooo..what some of you are` saying is ...because maybe 3-4 years earlier that team did it to your team..or for whatever reason..it's OK then to throw a b omb when you're up by 30-40 points in the fourth quarter. Because someone else did.

If that's how you feel - fine. It's a free blog to express your opinion.

I'm not personally bashing any person or coach.

And it's not like it's never happened before. To some degree that's why we're having this dicussion.

I have my opinion and all I'm really saying is - I wouldn't do it.

I guess I'm wrong then?

September 10, 2007 at 9:13 PM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

Steve Falk covered that game and does our Top 10 Poll, so he would be better served to comment on Holmdel.

He also made the comment about the front four since he covered the game.

But..I believe when a team takes down a top 10 team, so early in the season...unless there's another clear cut replacement..why not put that team in the top 10??

As you say, Holmdel has some seemingly very tough games in the wings including Friday night. So they will rise and or fall on merit.

September 10, 2007 at 9:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you don't want to discuss such topics as throwing a deep ball late in the game....don't ask questions like was it necessary to put the offense back in etc....if you are going to bash one coach, then bash them all when this sort of thing happens...and yes the way you wrote your blog you were truely bashing the coach...don't back track just because people are now responding to your comments

September 11, 2007 at 8:01 AM  
Blogger Tony Graham said...

1. We encourage comments (as long as they are in discussion mode).

2. I am not bashing coaches ....I said, "I am sure Chippy had his reasons, but I personally can't see it.''

That's bashing? You want bashing?. You should have seen the Monmouth U. blog after last basketball season.

But I digress. No matter who the coach.....I am not in favor of throwing deep in the fourth quarter by the winning team or after a game is out of hand.

If you would do that - good for you.

It's just not something I would do - but wait, I've already said that 500 times.

September 11, 2007 at 8:30 AM  

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