In only its fourth season, the Jackson Liberty High School football team goes into the final three games before the qualifying cutoff date still in contention for an NJSIAA state playoff berth.
Players from the Howell (blue) and Middletown North high school soccer teams go toe to toe as they wait for the soccer ball to come their way during an Oct. 15 Shore Conference A North Division match in Middletown. The Lions defeated the visiting Rebels, 2-0. For more photos, see the GMN Photo Galleries at www.gmnews.com. “The kids are doing a great job playing 48 minutes,” coach Tim Osborn said. “They’re playing all-out, all the time. That’s the key to our program.”
On Oct. 17, Jackson Liberty won its third game, the most in a season in its young history, when it beat Central Regional, 36- 35, in overtime. Matt Filosa scored three touchdowns, including a three-yard scoring run in overtime, and Taylor Hayton kicked the extra point for a 36-35 lead.
Central Regional answered with a touchdown, but Mike Patterson came around the end to pressure the Golden Eagles’ kicker into hitting it wide on his game-tying attempt.
Jackson Liberty improved to 3-2 overall, 1-2 in the Shore Conference Federal Division. Filosa has seven touchdowns and 500 yards rushing on the season after missing last season with an injury.
Jackson Liberty came back in the game from deficits of 14-0 and 21-12, erasing the latter with 17 straight points as Filosa ran 25 yards for a touchdown and caught a 25- yard scoring pass from quarterback Dylan Wright.
Hayton kicked a 27-yard field goal in the comeback for a 29-21 lead before Central’s Sam Pepe ran two yards for a touchdown and then ran in the game-tying two-point conversion with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. Pepe scored three touchdowns for the Golden Eagles in the game.
“Our past history is not coming back from adversity,” said Osborn, a sentiment he expressed even during preseason practices. “If we can do this, we’ll find ourselves in the playoffs.”
The Lions showed that a few weeks ago with a dramatic comeback win in the closing minutes over Barnegat. But the challenge ahead is a tough one, as Jackson Liberty will travel to Wall Township for a game against the Crimson Knights on Oct. 23, then play Neptune, a state playoff qualifier last year, and then Manchester on the final weekend for state playoff qualification.
“Manchester is a very dangerous team,” said Osborn. “They have had injuries, but they’ll be healthy by the time we play them.”
Filosa, who early in the season in a 55-6 victory over Lakewood had the first 100- yard rushing game in school history, ran for 151 yards against Central Regional.
Mike Patterson rushed for 150 yards against Barnegat.
“We’re averaging 300 yards on offense,” said Osborn. “Our quarterback has come around, but it’s been our offensive line where four seniors have played a huge role with the zone blocking we have had them do this season.”
New offensive line coach Len Zdanowicz, a former line coach at Brick Township High School, has worked with a solid line at Jackson Liberty that includes Matt Tracy, John Leto, Mike Smith and center Brendan Kahle, who Osborn said also has been “unbeatable” on defense at middle linebacker.
Kahle calls the signals for the offensive line and for the defense. Few players have the opportunity to call signals on both sides of the ball. And Kahle is looking at the possibility of playing NCAA Division I football in college, said Osborn. Tracy has been tough against the run at defensive end, and Ron Brown has four interceptions.
“I think the key this year is that we have the leadership,” he said. “That’s not a knock to the seniors last season (when the team won two games), but this is a young program, and those seniors did not have the chance to have seniors before them show them the ropes like this group has.”
Although the Lions were beaten convincingly by Middletown South, 38-0, they battled Freehold tough before suffering their other loss, 28-14.