Aseason of high drama and individual brilliance culminated with the Freehold High School football team winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship.
Coach Mark Ciccotelli’s Colonials capped an incredible season of football in the Freehold Regional High School District when they defeated fellow Shore Conference member Middletown South, 14-12, on Dec. 4 at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway to win their second state sectional title in three years.
The Colonials (10-2) also were the Shore Conference B North Division champions for the third time in the last four years.
The Colonials displayed their character as well as pride and heart in a season in which they started 0-2, came back to win three games in overtime and ended the season on a 10-game win streak en route to the state sectional championship. Freehold had standouts on both sides of the ball in Sterry Codrington, Derek Bender, Jazzmar Clax and Michael Kasten.
The Manalapan Braves brought excitement and outstanding football back to the school and the community. Led by running back Josh Firkser, the Braves were 8-3 and won the Shore Conference A North Division title and advanced to the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional playoffs before falling to eventual champion Sayreville War Memorial High School.
Firkser, who broke loose for a school record 317 yards in a regular season win over Howell, became the first back in the Freehold Regional High School District to rush for more than 2,000 yards in one season. Firkser was the dominant offensive force in the Shore Conference with multiple 200-yard rushing games.
No one made a more spectacular varsity debut than Howell quarterback Ryan Davies, who threw seven touchdown passes in Howell’s opening-game win over Toms River North and never looked back. The junior threw eight touchdown passes in a win over Middletown North later in the season and set all kids of records before the season was over. More important to Davies, however, was the fact that the Rebels qualified for the state playoffs and went 6-4 in a transition year.
Marlboro made some noise during the season, something the Mustangs have not done in a decade on the gridiron. Coach Derek Sininsky’s team made the turnaround he has been looking for, going on a threegame win streak and finishing the season with a 4-6 record.
Firkser, Davies, Codrington and Clax head up Greater Media Newspapers’ 2010 All-Freehold Regional High School District Football Team on the offensive side of the ball.
Davies and Manalapan’s Mike Bimonte are the quarterbacks. Joining Firkser in the backfield are Freehold’s Dayshawn Perry, Colts Neck’s Pat Murtha and Marlboro’s Brian Rodrig. The fullback is Manalapan’s Charlie Addessi.
The wide receivers are Mike Clark and Jack Gailing of Howell, Rameer Wright of Freehold, Mike Bravaco of Manalapan and Nick Jensen of Marlboro. The tight end is Manalapan’s Josh Grey.
The offensive line has Steve Carr, Thomas Barber and Andrew Morgenbesser of Manalapan; Tim Donahue and Brian Sherlotti of Howell; Kasten and Ryan Wytanis of Freehold; and Mark Kapnick of Colts Neck.
The offensive utility player is Jesse Hunt of Freehold and the Colonials’ Mike Hembling is the placekicker.
On defense, linebacker Clax and defensive back Codrington lead the way.
The defensive linemen are James De- Blase and Jesse McEnery of Manalapan; Jake Conver of Howell; Brandon Weiss of Freehold; Matt Frazier of Marlboro; and Andrew Glantz and Adam Rihacek of Freehold Township.
The linebackers are: Clax and Jordan Ellis of Freehold; Daniel Masterov and John Sieczkowski of Manalapan; Rob Rigby of Howell; Tyler Von Wagoner of Colts Neck; and Mike Mullen of Freehold Township.
The defensive backs are Freehold’s Codrington and Bender; Manalapan’s Reggie Hodge-Grant and Dom Caggiano; Howell’s Ryan Handy; Freehold Township’s Matt Intile; and Colts Neck’s John Andl.
The punter is Freehold Township’s Kevin Borden, and the defensive utility player is Freehold Township’s Gene Blanco.
Firkser could not be brought down by one tackler. He shed more tackles than anyone in the Shore Conference and turned those broken tackles into long touchdown runs as he became the focal point of Manalapan’s balanced attack. Firkser also did damage catching and throwing the football.
Firkser rushed for 2,053 yards in 2010, averaging 8.8 yards per rush. He caught 18 passes for 374 yards (20.8 yards per catch), and scored 32 touchdowns (27 rushing, five receiving). All in all, it was one of the greatest seasons by an individual in FRHSD history.
The question for Davies is what does this junior do for an encore? The Howell quarterback had everyone checking out the record books this fall as he put up numbers few have achieved anywhere in the state. His season started with his seven-touchdown debut. His eight scoring passes against Middletown North was a state record. Davies added the deep throw that stretches a defense to Howell’s highly productive spread offense.
For the season, Davies completed 168- 250 passes (.672 percentage) for a Shore Conference record 2,864 yards. His 36 touchdown passes this season are also a Shore Conference record. He only threw six interceptions. Davies also set the singlegame yardage record when he passed for 470 yards against Toms River North.
The strong-armed Bimonte, who will continue his football career at Rutgers University, expanded his game this fall as he became more than just a downfield thrower. He learned to manage the game, which was what Manalapan needed to be a championship team. He managed the clock, stayed away from turnovers and took charge in the huddle. Bimonte passed for 1,738 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010. He completed 95- 170 passes and only threw four interceptions.
Rodrig was Marlboro’s principal offensive weapon. The senior ran for 865 yards (he missed one-and-a-half games with an injury) and scored nine touchdowns for the Mustangs.
The versatile Perry did it all for Freehold, running, catching passes out of the backfield and blocking. He helped spring his team’s running backs for big plays. Perry averaged 19 yards a catch and scored three touchdowns on receptions.
Murtha did a little bit of everything for Colts Neck. The Cougars’ senior scored touchdowns running (five), receiving (two) and on kickoff returns (one). He moved the first down chains with his power running as he rushed for 407 yards on 85 carries. He returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown.
One of Manalapan’s unsung heroes was Addessi. The Braves’ fullback punished linebackers with his blocking skills, which helped spring Firkser. Addessi also stayed in the backfield and protected Bimonte. When he did run the ball, he averaged 4.6 yards a rush (11 carries, 51 yards) and scored a touchdown.
Clark had a record-setting 2010 season catching the football from Davies. He was Howell’s big play threat, catching 47 passes for 1,053 yards (22.4 yards percatch) and 17 touchdowns. His 1,053 re- ceiving yards are a school record, as are his 17 touchdowns. Clark’s 17 touchdowns receiving are believed to be a Shore Conference record for a single season.
Gailing caught 25 passes for 316 yards (12.6 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns as Davies spread the wealth around. In fact, 13 Howell Rebels caught passes during the 2010 season.
Jensen complemented Rodrig’s running abilities by catching 41 passes for 745 yards and providing balance to Marlboro’s attack.
Bravaco was Bimonte’s favorite target and the Manalapan player who made plays down the field. He caught 26 passes for 568 yards (21.8 yards per catch). Bravaco was on the receiving end of six touchdown passes.
Wright’s 25-yard touchdown reception against Middletown South got the Colonials their state championship. He was the player Codrington, at quarterback, looked for when Freehold needed big yardage. Wright caught 17 passes for 318 yards and two touchdowns. As a defensive back, Wright had five interceptions.
Grey is the prototype tight end. He was an additional blocker and a receiving target for the Manalapan offense.
For the offensive linemen, their effectiveness was best represented by the numbers their teams put up.
Manalapan seniors Morgenbesser, Carr and Barber did not let defenders get a hand on Firkser until he was beyond the line of scrimmage. They are the reason why the Braves averaged more than 30 points a game.
Seniors Wytanis and Kasten anchored the Freehold offense that ran and passed the ball equally well.
Sherlotti and Donahue helped Davies put up his record-setting numbers at Howell.
Kapnick, a two-year starter and team captain for Colts Neck, quietly did his job game in and game out. He is ranked No. 1 in his class and is headed to the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Hunt did a little bit of everything for the Colonials, from catching passes to blocking downfield. He did things that don’t show up on the state sheet, but do please the coaches.
No one had more pressure kicks in 2010 than Hembling. With the Colonials playing three overtime games, his kicks were the difference in all three, including a field goal that beat Neptune. Hembling kicked 31 extra points and three field goals in 2010.
DeBlase and McEnery were twin forces up front for Manalapan, stuffing the run and pressuring the quarterback. De- Blase led the Braves with 8.5 sacks and McEnery chipped in with 5.5 sacks.
Conover was Howell’s impact player on the defensive line with 27 total tackles and a quarterback sack.
Weiss had six quarterback sacks and nine tackles for a loss for Freehold.
Frazier drew the opponent’s attention and made them game plan for him because of the way he could disrupt an offense. He recorded 28 total tackles (in eight games), including eight tackles for a loss, and he had two quarterback sacks for Marlboro. He also caused a safety.
Glantz and Rihacek helped the Freehold Township defense retain its toughness. They combined for 65 total tackles and 3.5 quarterback sacks.
Clax, a junior, led a mobile and aggressive line-backing unit that was the heart of the Freehold defense. He led the team with 68 total tackles, including nine for a loss, and four sacks. He was the team’s battering ram on offense, rushing for 618 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. The Colonials used his power running in the fourth quarter to pick up first downs and take time off the clock.
Ellis tied Weiss for the Freehold team lead in quarterback sacks with six. He had eight tackles for a loss and 37 total tackles.
Howell’s defense was designed for the linebackers to make plays and Rigby made a lot of them with 53 solo tackles and 31 assists.
Mullen made plays from sideline to sideline for the Patriots, recording 101 total tackles, including 22 tackles for a loss. He had three quarterback sacks.
Van Wagoner was in on 95 tackles for Colts Neck and was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks with his blitzing skills. He recorded 11 sacks and forced five fumbles with his hard hits.
Codrington did it all for Freehold in 2010. At quarterback, the senior made the Colonials’ option offense click with his ability to run (a team leading 1,108 yards and 14 touchdowns) and passing (893 yards, eight touchdowns). Codrington was also valuable in the defensive backfield where he led the team with six pass deflections. He made 48 tackles, including nine tackles for a loss.
Bender led the Colonials in interceptions (six) and returned two of those picks for scores. He made 41 tackles. Offensively, he gave Freehold an added downfield threat when he moved to wide receiver. He caught 25 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns, and ran the ball for 659 yards and six touchdowns.
Handy was one of the best all-around players in the FRHSD. On the defensive side of the ball he made 51 tackles and assisted on 22 others for Howell, and he led the team with five tackles for a loss. He was one of Davies’ primary receivers with 32 catches for 563 yards (17.6 yards per catch) and six touchdowns.
Hodge-Grant made big plays for Manalapan. Whether it was intercepting a pass, breaking up a pass or returning a kickoff, he always did something positive to sway momentum in every game. He made 34 total tackles and had two interceptions. On offense, Hodge-Grant caught 15 passes for 225 yards.
Caggiano was in on 36 tackles and five pass breakups as he and Hodge-Grant made it difficult for opponents to pass against the Braves.
Intile made 41 tackles from the secondary for Freehold Township and had six pass breakups.
Andl made 32 tackles for Colts Neck. He was also the team’s top receiver with 32 catches for 350 yards (10.9 yards per catch) and five touchdowns.
Utility defensive player Blanco was in on 87 total tackles for the Patriots, including two quarterback sacks.
Field position was important for the Patriots and Borden made teams go a long distance with his directional punting. He placed six punts inside the 20 and averaged 33 yards per punt.
Players who have earned All-FRHSD honorable mention recognition based on their performance in 2010 are Vic Scalici (running back) and Dylan Cottrell (quarterback), Colts Neck High School; Marvin Morris (linebacker), Harrison Stokes (offensive line), Louis Toscani (linebacker) and Jaaree Locklear, Freehold High School; Allreal Rosa (defensive back), Ryan Kiernan (linebacker) and Ryan MacFarland (defensive back), Freehold Township High School; Christian Peck (defensive line), Tory Robinson (linebacker), Matt Hadley (defensive line), Nick Schwartz (offensive line), John Labbozzette (offensive line), Max Fontaine (defensive back) and Brandon Yaegle (wide receiver), Howell High School; Brandon Pearce (offensive line), James Danella (offensive line), Anthony Firkser (wide receiver), Jon Appice (defensive line), Alex MacPherson (linebacker), Vinny Harris (defensive back) and Vito Gadaleta (defensive back), Manalapan High School; and Rob Doyle (linebacker), Dan Mancini (offensive line) and Sean Manzi (linebacker), Marlboro High School.