MANALAPAN
It looks like the 2014 Manalapan High School football team is ahead of schedule. With a major makeover due to graduation, the Braves figured to be a team in transition early. That has hardly been the case, much to the delight of head coach Ed Gurrieri.
“I knew we had the potential to be a pretty good team,” he said. “I didn’t know how fast we’d get there.”
Manalapan answered any critics who may have questioned how good the team really was following their 41-0 and 51-0 wins over Marlboro High School and Freehold Township High School by crushing perennial state power Sayreville War Memorial High School, 64-28, on Sept. 27.
The Braves (3-0) prevailed in this earlyseason showdown of state powers by sticking to their tried-and-true philosophy of running the ball. They wore the Bombers (2-1) down and scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win the game going away.
“It was our perseverance; we just kept going, pounding them,” Gurrieri said.
The Bombers and Braves have become very familiar with each other through the state playoffs. In 2011, the Bombers beat Manalapan in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title game. Last fall, Manalapan returned the favor by knocking Sayreville off in the Central Jersey Group V semifinals.
“Year-in and year-out, [Sayreville is] a first-class program — one of the best in the state,” Gurrieri said. They’re built around great speed.
“They go east-west, and we go northsouth.”
It was the north-south ground game of Manalapan that prevailed. Over time, the Braves were able to impose their will on the Bombers thanks to their offensive and defensive lines.
“[The offensive line] had a great game,” he said. “They’re getting better.”
Pete Williams is the lone senior on what is a big and very athletic group that includes Joe Sellmeyer, Anthony Tardogno, Jake Levine, Reily Radosevich and Mitchell Trabb.
Imamu Mayfield was the main beneficiary of their dominance, running for 248 yards and five touchdowns of 11, 34, 11, 38 and 48 yards. Mayfield is emerging as one of the best backs in the Shore Conference, and it comes as no surprise to anyone who saw him fill in for injured Tyler Leonetti last fall.
“He could have started for any team in the Shore,” Gurrieri said. “He’s hit the ground running.
“He has the elusiveness and vision of Tyler [Leonetti], and he can wear you down like John Sieczkowski.”
In case anyone thinks the Braves are one-dimensional, quarterback Dan Anerella tossed a pair of touchdown passes — 21 yards to Kyle Mullen and 57 yards to Brian Conforth — in the win.
While the Braves scored at will, the defense had the task of containing Penn State University-bound Myles Hartsfield. He caught three touchdown passes of 65, 6 and 59 yards, but was relegated to being a receiver as Manalapan’s defense held him to just 19 rushing yards on nine carries.
“Our defensive line has been very, very good,” Gurrieri said.
Mullen, Ben Sieczkowski and Alec Mahon have been the anchors of the Braves’ line.
After opening the season with a pair of road games.
Manalapan is back home on Oct. 2 to host Middletown High School North in an A North Division game.
This means a return to Manalapan’s stadium for former Braves head coach Steve Bush, who is now the head man at Middletown North (2-1).
Kickoff is at 6 p.m.
COLTS NECK
Colts Neck High School was the only other Freehold Regional High School District team in action last week. The Cougars (0-3) fell at home on Sept. 27 to Woodbridge High School (1-2), 21-12.
Abdul Quddus ran for 193 yards and scored both Cougars touchdowns on long runs of 64 and 56 yards.
Nick Gargiulo had 14 total tackles and two quarterback sacks in the loss.
Up next for Colts Neck is Long Branch High School (2-1) on Oct. 2 at 4 p.m. This isaBNorthDivisiongame.
Other area teams
Freehold High School, Freehold Township High School, Howell High School and Marlboro High School were all idle last week.
Freehold (3-0) will put its undefeated record on the line at home on Oct. 2 at 2 p.m. in a non-divisional game against Raritan High School (1-1).
Freehold Township (1-2) visits Middletown High School South (2-1) on Oct. 2 in anANorthtiltthatkicksoffa6p.m.
Howell (1-2) steps out of division and travels to Southern Regional High School (1-2) for a rare Sunday afternoon game on Oct. 5 at 1 p.m.
Marlboro (0-3) looks for its first win of the season when it hosts Toms River High School North (2-1) on Oct. 2 at 6 p.m.