Mustangs ready for showdown with Ocean

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick Memorial’s unbeaten football team gets its biggest test of the season at home on Friday at 7 p.m. against Ocean in a Shore Conference Constitution Division showdown.

“This will be the best team we’ve played so far,” said coach Fred Sprengel, pointing out that Ocean has allowed only 37 points in a season marred only by a loss to Lacey.

“Ocean is a fast team but playing home helps a lot. We’re home for two of our three [remaining regular-season] games,” said quarterback Chris James.

It comes at a good time as the Mustangs’ volatile offense got some added firepower as Prince Young made a dramatic return to the backfield when the Mustangs routed Toms River South, 42-0, on the road on Friday night.

Young, a transfer from Neptune who has been sidelined since early in the first game when he injured ligaments in his ankle, carried the ball 12 times for 149 of Brick Memorial’s 346 rushing yards and scored a touchdown. Vin Falkiewicz chipped in 112 yards on 12 carries and scored another touchdown as the 5-0 Mustangs (4-0 in the Constitution Division) have outscored opponents, 199-20. Falkiewicz has 735 yards rushing this season.

It made for an easier day for Chris James, who threw two touchdown passes, breaking the tie for the school career record with Brian Boland. James now has 35 scoring strikes in his three seasons as a starter. He completed only six of 16 passes for 102 yards on Friday but on the season, he has thrown for 840 yards on 38-for-55 passing efficiency.

James also rushed for 74 yards on seven carries and had a 35-yard touchdown run called back, one of three big gainers negated by penalties.

“Having him [Young] helps a lot. He can score from anywhere on the field,” said James of his backfield partner. “Our run opens up the pass, and the pass opens up the run.”

With a spot in the NJSIAA playoffs assured, Brick Memorial needs to keep winning to win the conference title and to get a home seed for the state playoffs. Brick Memorial won the Central Jersey championship two seasons ago.

But even James admits he is a bit surprised at Brick Township’s great start. “I knew we’d be good but I never thought we’d be that good, but we still have work to do [to get better],” said James, as the defense has secured three shutouts this season.

“We had six different guys score against Toms River South and we had two 90-yard scoring drives, and I’m pleased in that respect,” said Sprengel. “Both of our running backs played excellent, and we played them in the backfield at the same time a lot, which we had not been doing.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Brick Memorial got all of its scoring in the second quarter when Young ran two yards for a touchdown and Mike LePore caught a touchdown pass from nine yards out, his sixth this season. It was James’ school record 34th career touchdown pass.

The Mustangs exploded for three more touchdowns in the third quarter and Dan Burke continued to connect on the extra points. John Rutowski caught his fourth touchdown pass of the season on a 24-yard play before Falkiewicz ran five yards and Young scampered two yards for touchdowns later in the quarter. Falkiewicz has six touchdowns of the season, two shy of what he scored last fall.

Andy Case closed out the scoring in the final quarter with a three-yard run. It marked the third straight game that Brick Memorial has scored 40 or more points.