MANALAPAN
I t seems to always come down to the running game and imposing their will on teams for the Manalapan High School football team.
On a night when quarterback Dan Anerella was on target throwing for four touchdowns, the Braves still turned to their running game to put the game away.
Imamu Mayfield ran for 277 yards and two critical second-half touchdowns as Manalapan beat Old Bridge High School, 39-14, in the opening round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V playoffs on Nov. 14 in Manalapan.
Anerella (10-of-15 for 124 yards) threw for three first-half touchdowns as Manalapan took a 21-0 lead in the first half. He connected with Tyson Plummer on a 9-yard strike on a critical third-and-9 play and twice hooked up with tight end Kyle Mullen on passes of 8 and 20 yards.
However, Old Bridge (5-4) did not go quietly into the night. The Knights gained momentum before halftime, scoring on Nick Sodano’s 3-yard burst through the middle of the line.
The Knights received the second half kickoff and promptly scored again with Mike Gargano going in from 8 yards out.
With the score 21-14, Old Bridge was back in the game.
Manalapan restored order on its next possession when Mayfield polished off a run-only long drive with a 27-yard scoring run that made it 27-14.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Braves. Anerella passed to Gerard Hodge- Recourt for an 8-yard touchdown, and Mayfield closed out his brilliant 28-carry night with a 34-yard touchdown run.
Manalapan, which improved to 9-1, ran for 324 yards and piled up 448 yards of total offense. Old Bridge was held to 33 rushing yards and 199 total yards.
Simone Bublis led the Braves in tackles with eight, followed by Mullen with seven.
Kicker Mike Caggiano set a New Jersey state record for most career points after touchdowns with his second PAT of the night, giving him 183. He extended it to 184.
Manalapan, the No. 3 seed in Central Jersey Group V travels to Hillsborough High School (9-1) for its sectional semifinals on Nov. 21. The No. 2-seed Raiders defeated Monroe Township High School, 34-7, in their first-round game on Nov. 14.
Top-seed South Brunswick High School is playing No. 5-seed Trenton Central High School in the other sectional semifinals game.
FREEHOLD
The 2014 season was marked by the reemergence of the Freehold High School Colonials, who brought a 7-0 record into November and were contenders for the Shore Conference A North Division title.
Although the season ended with three consecutive losses, it hardly diminished what these Colonials did. They made Freehold football relevant again.
The Colonials ran into one of the hottest teams in the Shore, Neptune High School, in their Central Jersey Group IV first-round game on Nov. 15 in Neptune.
The Scarlet Fliers (7-2) held the Colonials to just one touchdown in their 21-7 triumph, which was their sixth straight victory.
The Colonials’ lone score was a touchdown pass from quarterback Jake Curry to Bailey Indursky.
The Scarlet Fliers defense held Josh Dixon to under 70 yards and 3 yards a carry. Dixon was the heart of the Colonials offense this year, rushing for close to 1,400 yards.
Consolation action
In consolation action last week, Freehold Township beat North Brunswick Township High School, 20-7, to finish its season at 4-6.
Quarterback Jack O’Brien ran for one touchdown and threw a touchdown pass to Frank Suglia for another score in the Patriots’ triumph.
Jarvis Leaks put together another huge rushing game with 209 yards in leading Howell High School to a 28-19 win over Cherry Hill High School East.
Leaks scored on runs of 71 and 65 yards, and Nick Rossi also scored twice — once on an 80-yard kickoff return and the other on a 38-yard pass from quarterback Mark Iacobino.
The Rebels finished the season with a 3- 7 record.
Colts Neck High School (1-9) went out a winner, capturing its first victory of the season by beating Hightstown High School, 28-0.
Max Mullaney ran for two scores, Abdul Quddus ran for another and Mullaney tossed a 45-yard touchdown to Jordan DeGroot.
Marlboro High School finished at 0-10 after falling to Franklin High School, 44-7, in its consolation game.