Colts Neck High School quarterback Mike Campbell scrambles away from a Middletown High School South defensive lineman during the Cougars’ Dec. 1 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinal playoff game played in Colts Neck. Visiting Middletown South avenged a regular season loss to the Cougars with a 45-35 win. JEFF GRANIT staff Middletown High School South’s football team was a case of mistaken identity when it lost 28-9 at Colts Neck High School in a regular season game in mid-November.
The Eagles played in sharp contrast to that slumbering offensive effort in its Dec. 1 return to Colts Neck for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinals, as it rolled to a 45-35 victory. Middletown South (8-3) goes for its 10th sectional championship, its last coming in 2006, and plays in its 10th sectional title game since 2000 at 4 p.m. on Dec. 8 at Rutgers University’s High Pont Solution Stadium against unbeaten defending state champion Sayreville War Memorial High School.
Colts Neck High School’s Anthony Garguilo tries to escape from the attempted tackle of Middletown High School South’s Conner Spreen (No. 46), who has a hold of his jersey during the Dec. 1 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinal playoff game in Colts Neck. The visiting Eagles handed the Cougars just their second loss of the season, 45-35. JEFF GRANIT staff Eli Smith, a virtual nonfactor in the first game, put forth an inspiring effort. He carried the ball 25 times for 229 of his team’s 566 offensive yards and scored a touchdown late in the third quarter.
“We came out flat in that [first game]. We knew we had to prove everyone wrong,” Smith said. “We knew what we had to do and did it as planned. We just came to play today. My line blocked.”
Although Jake Ripnick consistently led Middletown South in rushing this season, Smith said there was no plan beforehand to make him the go-to guy, even though he had thrown, caught and run for touchdowns in a Thanksgiving Day victory over Middletown High School North to earn the Offensive Player of the Game award.
“We just came out and whatever was open, we were going to take it,” Smith said. “I ran hard but can go way harder. I’ll run twice as hard in the state championship.”
Middletown South coach Steve Antonucci, whose team scored on six of its first eight possessions, said it was not a tough decision to turn to Smith, who he called “the best player on the field.”
“Best players step up in games like this,” the coach said.
As for his team bouncing back from the previous loss, Antonucci said, “Nobody likes to be embarrassed and I was embarrassed by the way we played the last time we were here. Win, lose or draw, I wanted our kids to play hard for all 48 minutes and have no regrets.’’
Taylor Hendrickson sealed the win when he reached up for a 4-yard touchdown pass in the right side of the end zone with 5:32 left for a 45-29 lead. Smith ran 75 yards down the left side on the first play of that series to spot the ball on the 5-yard line. Tim Vangelas caught his third touchdown pass, a three-yard strike from quarterback Mike Campbell, for Colts Neck (9-2) late in the game to close the scoring. “If you were to tell me we’d score 35 points and lose a game, I’d say you’re crazy,” said Colts Neck coach Greg LaCava after his team’s farthest advance into the postseason. “It comes down to kids making plays and playoff-caliber teams and playoffcaliber athletes are going to make plays, and they made more plays than we did. “
Anthony Citarella caught two touchdown bombs beyond Colts Neck’s defense of 78 yards and 44 yards in the second quarter for a 21-7 lead that the Eagles held from there as Kyle Brey completed 25 of 32 passes for 311 yards. “Ultimately, those two big throws were the difference in the game,” LaCava said.
“We weren’t as pumped up the first time and we came out a lot more pumped up and ready to go,” Brey said. “We got our passing game going at the beginning and stuck with it, and then we ran the ball later. Our line [slant] passes were working and they were going straight to our chutes and we were able to get behind them and score. It worked out.”
Antonucci said that Colts Neck’s defense ganged up at the line of scrimmage early, as it did in the first game, and opened up the opportunity to throw the ball. “We took what they gave us,” Antonucci said. “We weren’t looking to do anything in particular [going into the game]. We wanted to control the clock and to control the game on the offensive side. We’re a run team first, but we had so much success with the pass that it opened up the run.” Colts Neck’s Campbell, regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the Shore Conference, completed 18 of 35 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars repeatedly battled back in the air after their ground game that included 1,000-yard rusher Anthony Garguilo was held to 66 yards.
Colts Neck had its only lead when Campbell connected with Dan Calabro for a 44-yard scoring strike and the first points of the game, with help from a great block downfield by Garguilo.
“Their defense did nothing unexpected. We knew that in order to have a chance to win the game, we had be able to throw the ball and we were able to move it downfield in the air,” LaCava said. “But it came down to them making big plays they didn’t make in the first game, but I’m happy with my kids’ efforts.”
That was evident late in the game when LaCava decided against kicking the extra point when his team pulled to 38-29 and went for two points, thinking they would score again and take a crack at a game-winning two-point conversion.
Colts Neck was in a feverish chase throughout the game after Ripnick tied the score on a 1-yard touchdown dive before Citarella pulled in his two touchdown catches for a 21-7 edge.
Garrett Federico kicked a 33-yard field goal to pull Colts Neck to 21-10 when Middletown South’s Andrew Wisialko answered with his first of two touchdown catches on a 17-yard play for a 28-10 Eagles lead.
Middletown South used the clock to its advantage in the second half with doubledigit play drives on its first two possessions. A 15-play series off the kickoff ended with Ryan’s 25-yard field goal attempt bouncing off the crossbar and through for a 31-17 lead. He was wide on a 28-yard attempt ending the first half.
Garguilo ran 13 yards for a touchdown on the next series and Smith answered back with his touchdown after Hendrickson pulled in a 9-yard, third-down pass on the previous play to usher in the exciting final quarter.