RED BANK REGIONAL
In what may be a defining moment, Red
Bank Regional High School’s football team overcame a vaunted opponent, a seven-point deficit and its own mistakes to score a 24-21 victory over Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School Oct. 16.
“I think our guys are starting to really believe how good they are and how good they can be,” Buccaneers coach Nick Giglio said. “That’s so important because they’re playing with confidence now.”
That confidence came into play right away. Red Bank Regional (6-0) drove deep into RBC territory on its first possession, but a short pass by quarterback Jack Navitsky resulted in a fumble that the Caseys’ Mike Balzofiore picked up and ran back for 68 yards to open the scoring.
With momentum hanging in the balance, the Buccaneers calmly responded with an 11-play march that covered 75 yards to tie the score. Alim Godsey’s 15-yard scoring run capped the drive.
RBC (5-1) capitalized on another Red Bank Regional mistake to up its lead to 14- 7 in the second period. The Caseys Zack Bair recovered a fumbled punt at the Buccaneers’ 17-yard line, and Dylan Murphy scored on a 1-yard run.
Giglio’s team again bounced back. Sadiq Palmer, who hauled in two Navitsky passes on the drive, then scored on a short run to knot things up again with less than a minute remaining in the opening half.
After the break, RBC appeared to be in control when it took the kickoff and went 62 yards in seven plays to take the lead on a 3-yard run by Murphy to make it 21-14. It stayed that way until Jack O’Connor’s 37- yard field goal cut the lead to four points with under nine minutes remaining.
The Buccaneers defense then forced an RBC punt, giving Red Bank Regional the ball on its own 43-yard line with just under seven minutes remaining. Navitsky took the next snap and ran through the Caseys defense for 57 yards and what would be the winning touchdown.
RBC got the ball back and took it into Buccaneers territory. Facing a fourth-and- 22, quarterback Eddie Hahn ran the ball and was stopped just short of a first down. A measurement confirmed the officials’ decision, and Red Bank Regional took the ball back on downs and ran out the clock.
While RBC was able to move the ball at times, two of its scores came as a result of Red Bank Regional turnovers.
“Our defense was solid all night,” said Giglio, whose team held the Caseys to 125 yards on the ground. “We made the big stops when we needed to, but our defense really played well all game. Our guys showed a lot of character. They never quit even though they were playing from behind.”
Godsey led all runners with 120 yards on 15 carries, while Palmer ran for 75 yards in 10 attempts and caught six passes for another 65 yards. Navitsky was 8-for-13 for 83 passing yards. Hahn led RBC with 71 yards on 15 runs. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 51 yards.
With the win, Red Bank Regional sits alone atop the Shore Conference’s Class B North division. A victory over Long Branch High School on Thanksgiving would give the Buccaneers the division crown. Giglio’s team is tops in the race for the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group III playoffs with 89 power points. Ocean Township High School is second with 81 power points. The best seven of a team’s first eight games count in the standings.
Red Bank Regional has a week off to savor its win before hosting Holmdel (0-5) Oct. 30. RBC heads to Manalapan High School (4-2) Oct. 23. The Caseys are currently third in Non-Public Group III with 70 power points, behind St. John Vianney High School (87) and Pope John XXIII Regional High School (77).
SHORE REGIONAL
Meanwhile, Shore Regional High School extended its winning streak to 13 games and is now 5-0 on the year thanks to an impressive 45-6 win against Mater Dei Prep Oct. 16.
The Blue Devils were in control from start to finish. Jack Britton and Devin McLaughlin ran for two touchdowns each. Britton finished up with 135 yards on 11 carries, while McLaughlin picked up 66 yards on eight tries.
Shore Regional quarterback Matt Pennell completed 3 of his 6 passes for 83 yards — two of them to Connor Rempel for touchdowns.
Shore Regional is currently in second place with 62 power points behind Asbury Park High School (74 power points) in the race for the Central Jersey Group I playoffs. The Blue Devils look for their sixth win when they travel to South River High School (0-6) Oct. 24.
OCEAN TOWNSHIP
Also on Oct. 16, Ocean Township bested LongBranch,40-14,inaBNorthmatchup. Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett threw for three touchdowns, and Tyler Thompson ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Spartans (5-1).
After Long Branch took a 7-0 lead, Ocean Township came back with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Pickett to Joe Aldarelli to knot things before Tyler Rossback intercepted a pass and brought it back 52 yards to give the Spartans a 14-7 lead.
The Green Wave tied things up midway through the second quarter when Keith Cooper scored his second touchdown of the game, but Ocean Township answered right back when Pickett found Thompson open with a screen pass that covered 54 yards for another score. The Spartans scored the next three touchdowns to pull away.
“That was a tough game,” Ocean Township coach Don Klein said. “B North is one of the toughest division in the conference. Every game is a tough one. Long Branch is a good team.”
Pickett ended the game with 10 completions on 12 passing attempts for more than 200 yards, including a scoring pass to Raquan Dean that covered 25 yards in the third quarter.
The Spartans have a week off before visiting RBC Oct. 30.
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (4-1) also turned in a dominating performance in a 49-6 win over Manasquan High School Oct. 16. The Bulldogs jumped out early and built up a 39-0 lead by halftime.
Bryan Hess scored touchdowns on runs of 75 and 12 yards, and Mike Veccharelli ran for a 2-yard touchdown and scored another on an 11-yard pass from Michael O’Connor. The junior quarterback, who completed 7 of 11 passes for 120 yards, also found Elijah McAllister with a 38-yard scoring pass in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs forced four turnovers, and Mike Ruane and Mike Murdock both returned interceptions to score. The swarming Rumson-Fair Haven defense forced turnovers the first three times the Warriors had the ball, with Ruane’s touchdown opening the scoring.
Rumson-Fair Haven has 70 power points in the race for the Central Jersey Group III playoffs; however, the Bulldogs have played one fewer game than the teams in front of them. Next up for coach Bryan Batchler’s team is a trip to Lakewood High School (5-0) Oct. 24. The Piners defeated Donovan Catholic, 46-20, Oct. 16.