Allentown High School’s Stephanie Otten, right, and Freehold High School’s Jess Pianko try to win this 50/50 ball during the non-conference game played at Allentown Oct. 27. The two state playoff-bound teams played to a scoreless tie as they made their final preparations for the state tournament. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR Allentown High School’s football team secured a return to the NJSIAA football playoffs for the fifth straight year by handing Hopewell Valley Central High School only its second loss of the season, 27-17, Oct. 30.
Joe Mannino staked Allentown (4-4) to a 13-3 lead with touchdown runs of 12 and 3 yards, and quarterback Jordan Winston made it stand up with 299 yards that put him over 1,000 on the season (1,270 yards) on 33 carries with two touchdown runs. Winston, who has 14 touchdown runs on the season, also had a big interception.
Mannino has rushed for 828 yards and 10 touchdowns. Each has impressive numbers despite missing a game.
“I had no idea what it would be like this year for me,” Winston said. “I knew I just had to step up and start to be a leader like we had with Mike Curry last year and other guys before that.”
“He played a good game, a very complete game,” coach Jay Graber said of Winston after the Hopewell Valley game. “He’s a good player who comes to play, and the offensive line did a good job.”
That includes the blocking of center Matt Schreck, tackles Ryan Huth and Ian Grant and guards Joe Pritchard and Drew Whalen.
“We just needed this win to get into the playoffs. We know we can play with any team in the state,” Winston said. “We had our hearts in it, and I think this was our best overall team win.”
Winston also acknowledged the play of the line.
“[It’s] a great line with everyone back,” he said. “We trust every one of the linemen.”
Pritchard returned the compliment after what he called “a huge game.”
“[It was] the first game we played as a team for all four quarters and came together as a team and executed well,” he said.
“I’m thankful for the words [from Winston]. We’re working our butts off opening holes up front. It’s good to receive the recognition, but it’s what they do afterward breaking tackles and juking around people.”
Pritchard pointed out that with four of five linemen back as starters from a year ago, the chemistry was there from the start.
“We love each other as brothers. I can trust any other guy to do the job,” Pritchard said.
He said it comes at a good time as the Redbirds have a big November ahead. They look to keep the string going of .500 or better seasons in all six years Graber has coached the team when they host Trenton Central High School at 2 p.m. Nov. 7.
“They’re big, physical, excellent on defense and haven’t given up a lot of points,” Graber said. “We have to stop their run game because they really execute on offense.”
After that comes the playoffs, where Allentown reached the Central Jersey Group III finals last year. This year, Graber expects a No. 5 seed and a game at Freehold High School (6-2) if Burlington Township High School (6-1) wins its game against Ewing High School (4-4) Nov. 6. If Burlington Township loses, Allentown moves up to No. 4 seed and will play Steinert High School (5-2) if it beats winless West Windsor- Plainsboro High School South.
What also helps Allentown is that Graber said the Redbirds continue to get better in winning the last two games, particularly on the defensive side where Huth and Liam McDermott recovered fumbles and Samir Queen and Winston had interceptions against Hopewell Valley.
“I’m happy for our guys who have battled through adversity,” Graber said. “They came together, and I hope we can keep it going.”
The Redbirds have no players sidelined by injury at this time.
Girls’ soccer
Allentown (15-4) looked to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Notre Dame High School in the Mercer County Tournament finals when it played its NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III opener Nov. 2 at home against Westampton Tech. The winner played in the quarterfinals Nov. 4 against Wall High School, which knocked Allentown out of last year’s state tournament, 7-1. Wall (13- 5-1) has two losses to state-ranked Colts Neck High School, 2-0 and 1-0.
“I hope [they can bounce back]. I hope they don’t think that was the end of this season because the states is the most important part and it’s a tough road,” coach Kim Maurer said.
Her team wiped out three of its losses toward the end of the season, including a 3-0 loss to Hopewell Valley that decided the Colonial Valley Conference Patriot Division with a 1-0 county tournament semifinals victory Oct. 26. Kali Hartshorn decided that game with a goal off a corner kick by Toni Catelli that sent the Redbirds to their second county tournament final, the other coming in 2012.
Notre Dame had beaten Allentown, 2-1, during the season.
“Notre Dame outscored teams, 15-1, in the tournament and was on a mission,” Maurer said. “Maybe we charged ourselves against Hopewell Valley, like last year when we beat them in the state tournament and then played Wall. They play on turf all year and we don’t, and we had to adjust and we haven’t had much luck on that field. They were a step quicker.”
Freshman Emma Pacarella, who had scored some timely goals, again was out of the lineup and is expected to miss the rest of the season.
Field hockey
Fresh off a Mercer County Tournament title run capped by a 1-0 victory over Robbinsville High School, Allentown (14-0-3) played to a scoreless tie in a non-divisional game against Freehold Oct. 27. It opened in the state tournament against Seneca High School (12-7) Nov. 2.
Boys’ soccer
Closing the regular season with a 1-0 overtime victory over Lawrence High School Oct. 26 on a goal by Mo Kotby, Allentown (4-10-1) opens in the Central Jersey Group III tournament against West Windsor- Plainsboro High School North (9-6-1) Nov. 3. Allentown lost an early season game, 5- 0, to West Windsor-Plainsboro North.
Cross-country
Sophomore Devon Hoernlein of Allentown is expected to be one of the frontrunners when Allentown’s cross-country teams compete in the Central Jersey Group III meet Nov. 7 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg. Hoernlein finished third in the county meet in 19:11.29 at Thompson Park Oct. 23, leading the Redbirds to an eighth-place finish. Juniors Sara Gutter and Jesse Bragger also have a shot at advancing to the group championships Nov. 14 at Holmdel Park.
“The goal pretty much every year is for the team to be in the top five [to advance as a team to the group championships],” coach Brian Harshman said. “Individually, Devon Hoernlein is one of the favorites. Our top runners have a shot at qualifying for groups but as a team, we’re a little bit hurt and not the team we were hoping to be with two freshmen we were counting on who are out with injuries — Cassie Anthony and Georgia Borkowski.”
As for the boys, junior Nat Byrnes has led Allentown’s runners in races all season and sophomores Matt Gregor and Tom Bethea have been close behind. Freshman Charlie Carey has been outstanding, according to Harshman, and Hunter Mulryne is looking to close out strongly as the lone senior in the regular lineup.