ALLENTOWN: Redbird roll in playoff opener

By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
   The Allentown High School football team rode a fast start to its first state playoff win and a rematch with Neptune.
   Nick Palladino threw for a pair of touchdowns and the top-seeded Redbirds jumped out to a 21-0 lead as they scored on their first three possessions on their way to 35-7 win over Ocean Township on Friday in the Central Jersey Group III playoffs.
   ”Our players, they worked hard all week,” said Allentown head coach Jay Graber after his squad improved to 9-1. “They knew we had to execute at the point of attack and were able to do that early and often. That’s how we got off to an early lead.”
   Palladino hit Jake Lewis for a 31-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Daivone Williams’ 30-yard touchdown run made it 14-0 with five minutes still left in the opening quarter. After the Redbirds picked off a pass, Palladino finished a 48-yard drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Mark Duffy to make it 21-0 before the quarter ended.
   ”It gave us confidence right away to come out to a fast start like that,” Graber said.
   The Allentown defense rose to the occasion for the remainder of the game. They surrendered a 65-yard pass play for Ocean’s only score, but clamped down to secure stops the rest of the way.
   ”Our defense played very well,” Graber said. “We gave up one long pass, but other than that, they played well. We had a big stop at the end of the half up 21-7. That was huge for us. We stopped them at the goal line.
   ”Their quarterback was very good. He was a run-pass threat. We had to be a very disciplined defense.”
   Allentown padded its lead when Williams scored on a 33-yard burst with six minutes to go in the third quarter. Frank Juba closed out the scoring with a 6-yard dive in the final two minutes of play. The Redbirds were able to build off their regular-season success in the West Jersey Football League to celebrate their first playoff victory.
   ”We felt we played a good schedule,” Graber said, “This year we weren’t going to sneak up on everybody, so we knew we had to play our best every game and come playoff time we were prepared for that.”
   Much of the Allentown team was part of last year’s first playoff appearance when they fell to eventual sectional champion Neptune in a wild 40-33 affair. That experience was in the back of their minds as they looked to advance for the first time.
   ”I think it helps for this game,” Graber said. “But once the ball gets kicked off, it’s still football and high school student-athletes competing.”
   It’s been a long year building up to the playoffs. Allentown came off last year’s breakthrough season ready to work toward another shot at the sectionals.
   ”You really work hard to get to the playoffs,” Graber said. “I think our kids did a great job of playing one play at a time, one game at a time. Now we’re here. This is what we’re working for.”
   Allentown faces Neptune next in a rematch of last year’s thriller. The Redbirds certainly earned Neptune’s respect with their efforts last year, and they are hoping to go one better and advance past the No. 4 seed this year when the teams meet Nov. 30.
   ”That team is a great team,” Graber said. “They’re extremely fast. They bring a lot of pressure on defense. On offense, they run a lot of different plays. They try to outflank you and get outside. We’re going to need every bit of two weeks to prepare for them. They have a great coach. He’s won a lot of sectional championships. He’s a good coach.
   ”Our kids are excited,” he added. “They’re putting a lot of hard work and time and effort into it.”