In the end, the 24-0 victory by Monroe Township High School’s football team over East Brunswick High School Nov. 6 did little to change the fortunes of both teams this season.
However, this annual Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division tussle has turned into an old-fashioned backyard rivalry game, and this one proved to be just that. Forget the Falcons’ seemingly comfortable margin of victory. They had to earn every yard and every point against an East Brunswick team that grudgingly stood its ground for most of the contest.
Monroe was able to register its points by scoring touchdowns in each of the first three quarters. The initial score came when workhorse back Cameron Coleman bulled his way into the end zone from 2 yards out. The final two were the result of quarterback Matt van de Sande connecting on touchdown passes to Chase Santiago (20 yards) and Miles Shipp (47 yards). Josh Wood closed out the scoring with a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Falcons (3-5 division, 4-5 overall) can finish .500 if they defeat Montgomery High School Nov. 12 in an NJSIAA regional crossover game. The Somerset County team owns the same overall record as Monroe. The Falcons have not finished below .500 since 2012, when their record was 3-7.
“This is the first year for us as a staff, and believe me when I tell you the season went by fast,” Monroe head coach Dan Lee said. “I think this win [against East Brunswick] was a testament to how our team hung together, especially our seniors.”
Lee had special praise for Shipp, who demonstrated his game-breaking ability by averaging over 27 yards a catch this season. “He’s a special player on the field and in the classroom,” Lee said. “Miles has a 3.9 grade-point average and is a tremendous kid.”
East Brunswick (2-5, 3-5 overall) can also reach the .500 mark by defeating its crossover opponent Hillsborough High School (3-6) Nov. 12 and traditional Thanksgiving rival Old Bridge High School. The Knights (5-2 division, 5-3 overall) will face Edison High School in the first round of Central Jersey Group V Nov. 13.
Soccer
The South River High School boys’ soccer team is again flirting with winning an NJSIAA sectional championship. The fifth-seed Rams (12-8-1) met top-seed Shore Regional High School Nov. 10 for the right to play the winner of second-seed Metuchen High School and third-seed Burlington City High School for the Central Jersey, Group I championship Nov. 13.
The Rams have been led in scoring by Jonathan Franco (19 goals, eight assists) and Nark Miranda Jr. (14 goals, 13 assists). Erick Lucas has been stellar in goal with 153 saves.
In another boys state tournament contest, fourth-seed Monroe Township High School (16-4-1) met top-seed New Brunswick High School in the Central Jersey, Group IV semifinals Nov. 10. If victorious, the Falcons play the winner of third-seed Princeton High School and seventh-seed Freehold Township High School Nov. 13 for the sectional title.
Zach Hroch (16 goals, two assists) and Alex Fernandez (10 goals, 16 assists) lead Monroe in scoring, and Matt Hoyt has contributed 16 assists. Nick Rios has made 106 saves in net.