When the outcome of the game is on the line, Freehold Borough looks to its offensive line
RICH GRAESSLE Willie Thomas and his Freehold Borough teammates will take an undefeated 8-0 record into Saturday’s home Central Jersey Group III playoff game against Nottingham. Kick off is 1 p.m. “We just take care of business,” said lineman Dan Barrow. “We’re tough competitors.”
Taking care of business is grinding out time-consuming drives. It has been a forte for the Colonials’ championship teams of the past two years, and it was on display again Friday night when the Colonials hung on to defeat Howell 34-27 and remain undefeated (8-0).
After Howell pulled to within a touchdown of the Colonials with 9:02 remaining in the game on Will Hayes’ 14-yard run and had all the momentum, the Colonials promptly burned more than five minutes off the clock, running the ball behind center Mac Matthews, Barrow, Alan Barnstead, Brandon Weiss, Mike Kasten and Darrin Love.
When they were stopped on downs in Howell territory, Gerry Plescia’s punt was downed on the 10-yard line. Howell was going to have to march 90 yards in 3:58 to tie the game.
After a quick Rebel first down, Plescia’s interception gave the Colonials the ball on the Howell 38 with 2:45 left in the game. If the Rebels could force a three-and-out, they’d have one more opportunity to tie it. But the Rebels would not get the ball back. Running behind his trusty line, Frank Noscia picked up two first downs, and the game ended with quarterback Nick Tyson taking a knee.
The Colonials were able to rush for more than 300 yards without any one, single rusher gaining 100 yards. Whoever’s number was called, he rode the backs of the offensive line for yardage.
“We’ve got good chemistry,” said Matthews. “We come together when we need to. It’s all about conditioning.”
The Colonials take pride in the work ethic that leaves them stronger in the fourth quarter.
Tyson, for one, appreciates what the offensive line means to Freehold Borough.
“They’re tough,” he said. “They get off the ball so well. They know what they have to do, and they do it.”
Friday’s nondivision tilt was an important one for the Colonials as they get ready for Saturday’s Central Jersey Group III playoff game at home. Beating a Group IV team that won the state sectional title last fall was a good momentum builder.
“They’re [Howell] big and physical,” said Tyson. “It was a great win for us.”
Friday’s game was an entertaining one as both team displayed their wares.
The visiting Colonials struck first with the big play, a 52-yard touchdown pass from Tyson to Plescia.
Howell (2-6) bounced back by scoring twice off runs by Hayes (who scored all four of Howell’s TDs) before the first quarter was over to take a 14-7 lead.
Brandon Brown took over in the second quarter. He scored on a four-yard run and then, after intercepting a pass that gave the Colonials the ball deep in Rebel territory, scored on a four-yard pass from Tyson. Freehold led 21-14 at the halftime.
It didn’t take Howell long to tie it up in the third quarter as Hayes scored on a 32- yard run. The Colonials were now in a dogfight on the road.
“We try and never lose focus during a game,” noted Tyson. “We never doubt ourselves. We know we can rally.”
Which the Colonials did. Noscia capped a 63-yard drive that included a first-down pickup on fourth down by Willie Thomas, scoring on a four-yard run.
On the first play after the kickoff, Howell fumbled and Martin Corso recovered, setting the Colonials up on the Rebel 34.
Brown picked up 30 yards on an end around, and a facemask penalty against Howell put the ball on the two. Tezzy Thorpe scored on the next play, and in 29 seconds the game went from 21-21 to 34- 21 for Freehold Borough.
The Rebels would answer with a 58-yard scoring drive that culminated in Hayes’ fourth touchdown of the night.
There was 9:02 left in the game, plenty of time to get the equalizer. But that’s when the Colonial offensive line took over, and the Rebels would run just five plays for the rest of the game.
The Colonials are scheduled to play Nottingham (5-3), the eighth seed in the first round of the state playoffs, in Freehold on Saturday. Kickoff is 1 p.m.
Last year it was “one and done” for the Colonials in the postseason. The Colonials don’t expect a repeat of that this time.Winning the division title isn’t enough for this group.
“We’re a lot more hungry,” said Barrow.
Colts Neck in playoffs, wins division
It’s been a tough two weeks for the Colts Neck football team. The Cougars went from 5-1 and in control of their destiny in the Shore Constitution Division to 5-3 and in need of help. When the Cougars lost to Toms River South on Nov. 1, they fell behind Brick Township in the division. They followed that up with a 40-26 loss at Brick Memorial Friday night.
But by Saturday night, the news wasn’t all that bad. Brick Township had lost to Middletown North, 22-14, creating a trichampionship between those two teams and Colts Neck, with all three at 4-2 within the division. The Cougars had won their firstever division title on the gridiron after all and had a better feeling about themselves heading into the state playoffs.
The Cougars are the sixth seed in Central Jersey Group IV and will play at No. 3 seed Sayreville (7-1) Friday night.
Players have come and gone, but coach Mike McArthur’s Cougars have maintained a winning tradition at Colts Neck.
“We’ve got kids with a great work ethic,” noted McArthur.
He attributed this year’s success to the Cougar seniors.
“It’s a tribute to senior leadership,” he said. “They know you have to play four quarters.”
McArthur also pointed to the intensity of the team’s practices as led by the 12thgraders.
If Colts Neck had a question mark heading into the season it was on the defensive line. As it turns out, the quartet of Tom Schiemeyer, Chris Echols, Jim Grech and John Weber, have become one of the team’s strengths.
“They are strong, you can’t move them,” said McArthur.
Their play has freed linebackers Richie Foligno and Coddy Bello to roam free and make plays.
Manalapan (3-5) kept its chances of having another non-losing season alive Friday night by winning at Freehold Township (2- 6), 27-6.
Freehold Township struck first with Ryan Spadola catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Cameron Beatty.
But the Braves came back with a pair of touchdown runs by Jimmy Gilburn (five and two yards) to grab a 14-6 lead.
The backbreaker for the host Pats was a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Charlie Adessi that put the Braves up 21-6 at intermission.
Gilburn’s option pass to Kevin Cruz covering 40 yards accounted for the final points of the night.
If Manalapan can win its consolation game (opponent not determined by deadline) and its Thanksgiving Day game with rival Marlboro, the Braves can get to 5-5.
Howell, Freehold Township and Marlboro (0-8), which lost 20-0 to Southern Regional Saturday, will be playing consolation games against opponents to be determined.