Freehold High School’s Ashante Worthy, right, tries to run around Allentown High School defender Samir Queen during the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV playoff game in Freehold Nov. 14. Worthy scored the Colonials’ touchdown in their 10-7 loss to Allentown. SCOTT FRIEDMAN For the Manalapan High School football team, the state playoffs are a restart. Plagued by injuries all year, the defending NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group V champions were just 4-4 at the state cutoff date and the fifth seed in the eight-team field.
But as head coach Ed Gurrieri and his staff kept reminding the Braves, records and seedings matter little once the playoffs begin.
“We are still playing for something,” Gurrieri said he told the team. “As long as you get in the tournament, you can win. … I like our chances.”
That’s because the Braves are finally healthy and playing like the team Gurrieri envisioned back in September.
“The fact is we’re healthy,” said the Manalapan head coach, who has taken the Braves to four consecutive state finals. “This is our real team now. I like how our team is put together right now.”
On cue, the Braves traveled to Trenton Central High School Nov. 14 for their first-round game against the fourth-seeded Tornadoes. With their running game as effective as ever and quarterback Luke Corcione providing balance, the Braves beat Trenton, 20-7, to advance to the sectional semifinals Nov. 20 to face top-seeded South Brunswick High School (9-1).
Marcus Salinas rushed for 159 yards on 25 carries and scored Manalapan’s first touchdown on a 6-yard scamper in the third quarter.
“Marcus is very quietly having a great year,” Gurrieri said.
Salinas surpassed 1,200 yards for the season.
Corcione broke the game open for Manalapan with his 12-yard scoring pass to Reilly Radosevich that gave the Braves a 17-0 lead in the third quarter. He was 7-for- 14 for 126 yards passing.
Cody Wiener kicked field goals of 32 and 41 yards to complete the Manalapan scoring.
The defense played one of its best games of the year, holding Trenton to just one score. Sal Tardogno had six solo tackles to lead the Braves defense plus a fumble recovery.
“We did a great job,” Gurrieri said of Manalapan’s overall game against Trenton.
The game marked the debut of one of Manalapan’s captains, safety Anthony Bassani, who had been out for entire season until the playoffs.
Now that the Braves are healthy and whole again, Gurrieri said they will keep playing together as long as they can. They are just one win away from playing for another state championship.
Manalapan and South Brunswick have a playoff history. They’ve played twice for the Central Jersey title, splitting those games. The Braves beat the Vikings last year, 21-7, to claim their first state championship.
Trenton, an athletic team with speed and size, gave the Braves a preview of what they will be up against. “South Brunswick is a very good team and extremely well-coached,” Gurrieri said. “We’ll have our hands full, but we’re excited to be there.”
Manalapan (6-4) takes a two-game winning streak into its showdown in South Brunswick. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
While Manalapan has moved on to the semifinals, Freehold High School and Freehold Township High School saw successful campaigns come to an end.
Freehold, seeded fourth in Central Jersey Group IV, was beaten at home Nov. 14 by fifth-seeded Allentown High School, 10-7, in a surprising defensive struggle.
Allentown’s defense, hardly a team strength all year, held off the Colonials by coming up with three turnovers inside the red zone.
The Colonials struck first on Ashante Worthy’s 34-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He had 139 yards for the game.
Allentown cut the deficit to 7-3 before the half on Matt Fritsky’s 24-yard field goal.
Redbirds quarterback Jordan Winston connected with receiver Rick Mottram on a 43-yard strike that put Allentown up 10-7 in the third quarter. It proved to be the winning play for the visiting Redbirds.
Winston, a dual-threat, had a big day running and throwing. He was 5-for-5 for 124 yards passing and ran for 100 yards.
Joe Mannino helped Allentown move the chains and control the clock, running for 132 yards on 24 carries against a solid Freehold defense.
Allentown did a fine job of containing the running of the Colonials’ own dual-threat quarterback Jake Curry. He rushed for 35 yards on 12 carries and was 12-for- 20 for 114 yards passing, including one interception.
Freehold head coach Dave Ellis said all year that for the Colonials to win games, they had to stay away from penalties and turnovers. Against Allentown, two fumbles and an interception in the red zone were Freehold’s undoing.
Still, the 6-4 season on the back of last year’s 7-3 campaign, was a sure sign that Freehold is back.
The last time Freehold Township reached the postseason was 2001. In his first season, coach Cory Davies and his pass-friendly Air Raid offense took the Patriots back to the playoffs for just the second time in program history.
Freehold Township was the No. 7 seed in Central Jersey Group V and drew No. 2- seed New Brunswick High School. The teams had played just three weeks before, with the Zebras beating the Patriots, 38-28.
The score was lower in the rematch, but the Zebras still prevailed, 21-14.
Anthony Lottie staked the Patriots to a quick 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 20- yard run.
New Brunswick scored the next 21 points, highlighted by a 90-yard punt return from Maurice Ffrench.
Freehold Township pulled to within 21- 14 in the third quarter on Jack O’Brien’s 10- yard pass to Adrian Rybaltowski.
New Brunswick (9-1) held the Patriots off the board in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Despite the loss, the 2015 season was a big step forward for the Patriots (4-6). In one year, Davies, who led Howell High School to a state sectional title in 2007, has turned the culture around at Freehold Township.