Jackson Memorial High School running back Justin Gullo tries to elude Manalapan High School linebacker Anthony Barone during the first quarter of the Jaguars’ 30-12 loss to the Braves on Sept. 7 in Jackson. ERIC SUCAR staff I n the past, it has been a keenly anticipated neighborhood rivalry when the New Egypt High School football team plays Allentown High School.
The enrollment disparity between the schools did not matter with Allentown, a Group III school, playing New Egypt, a Group I school.
New Egypt had the upper hand over the years until Allentown won for the first time last season, 31-28, and the Redbirds will be the favorite when the teams meet again on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at Allentown.
Allentown comes off a 24-0 victory over Steinert High School on Sept. 7 as Norman Williams scored two touchdowns.
New Egypt opened the 2012 season by losing to Florence High School, 43-0, in what Warriors’ coach Luke Sinkhorn called “a big morale and ego hit” for a program that won 15 games over the past two seasons and qualified for the Central Jersey Group I state playoffs both years.
Allentown finished 6-4 in each of the past two seasons, qualifying for the Central Jersey Group III state playoffs for the first time last season.
“There weren’t too many positives in our game,” Sinkhorn said.
Although the Warriors did not do much against Florence, Allentown coach Jay Graber said he and his Redbirds know New Egypt’s young, rebuilding lineup will look to raise its game against Allentown.
The Warriors who are back in 2012 certainly remember last season’s loss to the Redbirds.
“We need a good week of practice,” Graber said. “The most important part of the season is from the first to the second game. Our players know how important it is to practice well. Our players know (New Egypt is) very good, very tough. They have a really good coach and will bring a great crowd.”
Although Graber saw his own team play well in spots against Steinert, he said the Redbirds also “played a little sloppy. We made a lot of first-game mistakes, but we were resilient and able to come back from mistakes and still not give up any points. We just were not crisp.”
Both coaches are looking for improved efforts from their teams.
“Allentown is a better team (than Flo- rence),” Sinkhorn said. “They have a very good team with a lot of players back. Defensively, we did some good, decent things against Florence.
“Our sophomore safety, Chris Simms, made some nice plays, and D.J. Cristman had a good interception, but we need everybody to get game experience in order to get better,” he said.
At Allentown, Graber praised his defense, especially Queon Gore, who ran back an interception 30 yards for a touchdown, along with Jake Lewis, who made big hits from his position in the secondary, and linebackers Chi Oriji, John McGinnis and Frank Juba, who anchored the defense. Ernest Pitts hammered solid hits on the defensive line.
Williams ran seven yards for Allentown’s first touchdown against Steinert before Gore widened the lead with his interception return. Williams then turned a short pass from quarterback Nick Palladino into a 64-yard scoring play in the second quarter. Placekicker Markus Colin connected on a 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
New Egypt is breaking in a new quarterback in junior Shane Gallant. Senior Kevin Mason is the leading ball carrier for New Egypt.
Neither coach reported any significant injuries coming off the opening game.