Bucs wins 80th Turkey Day battle with Green Wave
Senior leadership gives RBR latest victory, and
a winning season
CHRIS KELLY Long Branch’s Raheim Frye turns up the speed to avoid Red Bank’s Shannon Rice during the 80th meeting of the two teams on Thanksgiving Day in Long Branch.
Long Branch head coach Dan George couldn’t have described it better when he said, "Every year this game is a dog fight."
For the 80th time, Long Branch and Red Bank Regional squared off on the gridiron for their annual Thanksgiving Day clash, with this year’s bragging rights going to the Buccaneers, who won 12-7.
"Long Branch has a heck of a team," said RBR head coach Harry Chebookjian. "I told my team all week that this game was going to be a war, and it didn’t disappoint anyone. It was an outstanding game."
The game not only featured two 5-4 teams, but included plenty of hard hits, great runs and precision passing.
CHRIS KELLY Red Bank Regional’s Cliff Toddle breaks away from Long Branch’s Ken Gillespie during the Bucs’ 12-7 Thanksgiving Day win in Long Branch.
As always, the game belonged to whichever team wanted it the most, not having a decisive leader until midway in the third quarter.
The Green Wave took possession to open up the second half, stringing together five plays to enter Buccaneer territory.
However, on the sixth play, Long Branch’s Maurice Covin, who rushed 15 times for 25 yards, was hit in the backfield, letting the ball loose for Red Bank’s Mike Zadlock to recover. After a 10-yard sprint, the fumble recovery was halted by a touchdown-saving tackle by Charles Ferrara.
Red Bank took advantage of their outstanding field position, running four plays before senior QB Kevin Snyder fired an 18-yard scoring pass to the man who started the drive, Zadlock.
The Bucs attempted a two-point PAT run, but were denied as Snyder recovered a fumble just inches short of the goal line. But the damage was done, and the Bucs had a lead that they made stand up in the end.
Following a scoreless first quarter, Long Branch opened up the scoring after their defense stuck their guests deep in their own zone.
Bo Olsen gave Red Bank the ball after stopping a 15-play Long Branch drive with an interception against Mike Toffell at the Red Bank 10-yard line.
However, the visiting Bucs were quickly stuffed as Michael Bland hit Snyder for a five-yard sack, and the drive stalled on a two-yard run by Jamar Lane.
Forced to punt from their own end zone, Red Bank turned the ball over to Long Branch at their own 29-yard line.
It only took the Green-and-White three plays for Raheim Frye to finally cross the goal line, from 21 yards out.
Chris Callano converted the PAT kick, giving the Wave a 7-0 lead.
Red Bank cut Long Branch’s lead to a single point late in the third quarter on an 18-yard pass from Snyder to Adam Loucks. With 1:15 remaining in the first half the Buccaneers took over on their own 33-yard line. Three passes and four plays later, the visiting team faced a first and 10 on Long Branch’s 18.
Snyder dropped back several steps before releasing a rainbow-like pass to Loucks, who easily hauled in the over-the-shoulder catch for an 18-yard touchdown.
Red Bank attempted the PAT kick, but Johnny Williams was able to bat down the low-angled kick.
Long Branch had a great opportunity to keep their guests at bay, and give themselves a chance at a go-ahead touchdown. On fourth and two from Red Bank’s 45-yard line, the Wave went for what looked to be a pass play, only to fool Red Bank with a quick kick by Toffell. The trick worked, as senior wide receiver Tim Fitzpatrick raced to the end zone, sliding to stop the ball on the one-yard line.
With 10:06 left in the game, and holding a 12-7 lead, the Buccaneers somehow managed not only to battle their way into Long Branch territory, but chewed up more than nine minutes off the clock.
Long Branch valiantly tried to mount a late comeback, but a pair of fumbles denied them the chance.
"We were really fired up," said Snyder. "We played flat against Lakewood, and that cost us our bid for the state tournament. Even though we were a little flat in the beginning, everyone turned things around in the second half.
"The best part of our game today was our offensive line; they did a great job opening up holes for the backs and giving me time to throw. The first three years I’ve been with the program we lost, so the seniors wanted this game to end our careers."
Long Branch leads one of the oldest Thanksgiving Day rivalries in the Shore, 50-27-3. With the loss, the Green Wave finishes the 2001 season 5-5.
Red Bank finished 6-4.
"I can’t say enough about the seniors," Chebookjian said. "They came up with me as head coach. When they were freshmen, this team was 0-10, but they never gave up, and now we’re 6-4. They made this team what it is. Behind a lot of hard work and desire, they made us winners."