Middletown High School North’s Chad Freshnock squeezes through a hole in the Sayreville War Memorial High School defense as he looks to gain yardage during the North Jersey, II ,Group IV playoff game in Middletown. The Lions set up a semifinals date with their crosstown neighbor, Middletown High School South, by defeating the Bombers, 31-6. FRANK GALIPO Middletown High School South’s football team is looking to return to the NJSIAA championship game, but it has a familiar opponent in the semifinals Nov. 20: Middletown High School North.
It is believed to be the first playoff game between the teams.
Both teams traditionally play on Thanksgiving Day and will again this year. But they’re also meeting six days earlier with the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section II, Group IV championship game berth at stake.
Middletown South (9-0), which lost to Jackson Memorial High School in last year’s Central Jersey, Group IV tournament, is seeded No. 1, while Middletown North (7-2) is No. 4.
The Shore Conference A South Division championship will be at stake when the teams meet again the following week. If Middletown South wins, it will wrap up the title. If Middletown North wins, both teams will finish as co-champions.
“I think this is great, great for Middletown,” said Middletown South coach Steve Antonucci, whose team will be the host to both games.
The Eagles come off a 55-0 victory against No. 8-seed West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North Nov. 13, while the Lions defeated No. 5-seed Sayreville War Memorial High School, 31-6, in their first home playoff game since 1986.
“It will be a lot of fun for both sides. I can’t say enough about how [Middletown North coach] Steve Bush has resurrected that program. The town of Middletown should be proud,” Antonucci said.
“We know each other. The players know each other. The parents know each other,” Bush said.
For Middletown South, Cole Rogers scored three touchdowns while rushing for 147 yards on 11 carries against West Windsor-Plainsboro North. Quarterback Matt Mosquera threw two touchdown passes and handled the kicking chores. James McCarthy, who filled in strongly for Rogers when he was out, scored three touchdowns.
For Middletown North Chad Freshnock rushed for 167 yards and a 6-yard touchdown run that opened the scoring before the Lions broke away from a 14-6 halftime lead. Connor Welsh had rushing touchdowns of 24 and 31 yards in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Donald Glenn threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Dwight Wilkerson in the second quarter that gave the Lions the lead they never lost. Joe Cavanagh kicked a 24-yard field goal and all four extra points.
Antonucci said having the big-game experience of last fall could help his team.
“I think that’s huge in a close game,” Antonucci said. “There’s also the butterflies standpoint, which would give us an advantage. But then again, you can turn that around because they’ll be hungry playing in a big game.”
Middletown South has outscored teams, 377-52, and shut out four opponents. Middletown North has a 248-118 scoring edge.
“I’m really proud of the kids and the effort they’ve given,” Bush said. “They’ve done everything I’ve asked them to do, which is nice to see. It’s paid off. We want to keep it going.”
As for Middletown South, Antonucci said his team is close to hitting its peak.
“I don’t know if we’ve played our best game,” he said. “I still see some room for improvement in all three facets (offense, defense and special teams). Getting off to a good start is important in this game. If we score early, we’ll put them in a hole and playing catch-up is difficult, especially against our defense. But the biggest issue for both teams is being able to control emotions.”
Bush said he could not compare Middletown South’s style to any opponent.
“Every team is a little different,” Bush said. “They’re very solid on both sides. They score points and shut people down. You can’t make mistakes [against them]. They take advantage of opportunities. They play with a lot of confidence.” Corey Baliatico will be back at defensive tackle for Middletown North after missing the Sayreville game with an injury and lines up opposite Tyler Vivian. Two-way lineman Matt Dombrowski and Austin DeWise are the ends. Nick Kish and Thomas Anderson are the inside linebackers and Brock Zanker and Josh Gomez are the outside linebackers in the 4-4 formation. Demetrius Redway, Mark Cerbo and Sam Santiago rotate at cornerback and Wilkerson is the safety.
Glenn has put together a solid season at quarterback, throwing to wide receivers Brandon Kube, Matt Harrison, Cerbo and Wilkerson. Gomez is the tight end. Dombrowski and Jake Goldfarb are the tackles, Matt McGowan and Mike Behan are the guards and Mike Holverson is center.
They’ll challenge Middletown South’s defense, led by end Chase LoPriore; tackles Will Gulick and Jack Uhrig; linebackers Dylan Rogers, Kevin Higgins and McCarthy; cornerbacks Tom Coffey and Rob Hulse; and safeties Maxx Imsho and Samson Dube.
On offense, Mosquera relies on blocking from tackles Tom Lopez and Bob Burke, guards Mike Wilson and Adam Markmann and center Joe Rutkowski, as well as tight end Uhrig.
“They’ve done a great job. We’re lucky all five stayed together, knowing one another and knowing our schemes,” Antonucci said.
Jeff Lewandowski, Spencer Pereless and Dube alternate at slot receiver, Coffey and Jeremy Joyce share time as the X receiver and Tom Marron is the Z receiver.
MATAWAN
George Pearson completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to fullback Isaiah Phillip in the third overtime for the winning score as Matawan Regional High School (7-3) won its seventh straight game, 24-18, at Hopewell Valley Central High School (7-3).
The Huskies are the defending Central Jersey, Group III champion.
Matawan, the No. 5 seed, travels Nov. 20 to Shore Conference A Central Division rival Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School — a 43-6 winner over Rahway High School. Rumson-Fair Haven beat Matawan, 17-0, in the second game of the season when a rash of injuries led to Matawan’s slow start.
“We’re a little more two-dimensional now,” Matawan coach John Kaye said of the balance with the running and passing game.
Kaye said minimizing mistakes is essential, as Matawan’s reliable field-goal kicker, Adam Elliott, missed a game-winning 27-yard attempt with :04 left in regulation, while another was blocked and two punt returns were fumbled away against Hopewell Valley.
Matawan offensive tackle Dan Sherman with an ankle injury and two-way lineman Mike McHugh with a knee injury missed much of the game, but Kaye said sophomore John Kemp did a great job on the defensive line along with Jacob Signorile, while defensive tackle Andrew Conzo doubled up on the offensive side as well. Kaye hopes both injured linemen will be back.
Against Hopewell Valley, Matawan got on the board early, first with a 65-yard touchdown run by Shawn Ramcheran and then with a 9-yard touchdown run by Makiya Caesar in the first quarter before Caesar went out late in the first half with an injury after picking up 96 yards. Kaye said he is not sure
KEYPORT
Des Underwood ran 5 yards and Jay Hanson ran 1 yard for touchdowns in a fourth-quarter comeback for No. 7-seed Keyport High School (6-4) as it knocked off No. 2-seed Asbury Park High School (6-3), 21-18, in the first round of the Central Jersey, Group 1 playoffs in Asbury Park.
The third straight victory for Keyport avenged a regular-season loss, 28-21, to Asbury Park. Christian Smith caught a 36-yard touchdown pass from Chris Hogrefe in the first quarter for Keyport.
The Red Raiders next face on Nov. 20 Palmyra High School (8-1), which won its sixth straight, 34-16, over Point Pleasant Beach High School in its playoff opener.
ST. JOHN VIANNEY
Anthony Brown threw two 60-yard touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown as topseeded St. John Vianney High School (10-0) rolled to a 41-0 victory over Donovan Catholic (3-6) in the first round of the Non- Public,Group III playoffs Nov. 14 in Holmdel.
Calvin Beaty added two rushing touchdowns for St. John Vianney, which led, 20- 0, at halftime. Chris Chukwuneke also ran for a touchdown, while Michael Stapert and Khalil Haskins each caught a TD pass.
St. John Vianney moves on to face Red Bank Catholic High School (8-2), a 21-14 winner over Pope John XXIII Regional High School, in the sectional semifinals.
MATER DEI
Marvin Pierre ran 15 yards and Eddie Lewis caught a 25-yard pass from Kyle Devaney in the first quarter, but top-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy (10-0) rallied back with two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to beat No. 8-seed Mater Dei Prep (3-7), 13-12, on Nov. 14 in Non-Public Group II opening-round action.