By Wayne Witkowski
Jackson Memorial High School’s injury riddled football team faces an uphill climb in the Shore Conference A South Division after losing to Brick Township High School for the third year in a row.
Unlike closely contested games the past two seasons, Brick Township 29-6 victory Sept. 16 was a more convincing one in what has been a pivotal game for the division championship. This one came earlier in the season — a week after the Jaguars handily beat Jackson Liberty High School in their season-opener contest.
Brick Township took charge early when quarterback Anthony Costanza ran 2 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game after Ja’Sir Taylor completed a 54-yard option pass to John Prato. Two blocked punts led to a touchdown and field goal for Brick Township, which took a 16-0 lead into halftime. The scores off the blocked punts were Costanza’s 1-yard touchdown run and John Bruno’s 25-yard field goal. Costanza later ran 20 yards and Taylor ran 1 yard for touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“They came out well-coached and executed their game plan. Hopefully we’ll get another chance to see them in the playoffs,” coach Walt Krystopik said.
That happened the last two years when the Jaguars avenged regular-season losses to Brick Township with commanding victories in the playoffs en route to back-to-back NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV titles.
But this year, they’ll need to pick up steam early to be assured a playoff spot and will need help to get back in the division race, where one loss like the Jaguars’ setback to Brick Township can be devastating. Jackson Memorial fans will not only root for their team when it hosts Central Regional High School at 7 p.m. Sept. 23, but they also will hope Toms River High School North knocks off Brick Township that night in Toms River. Jackson Memorial hosts Toms River North Oct. 14.
“We’re just trying to get in the state tournament,” Krystopik said.
A South newcomer Central Regional (2-1), which posted division victories over Southern Regional High School and Toms River High School East opening its season, suffered a 41-6, nondivision loss to Wall High School Sept. 16.
Toms River North (2-0) comes off victories over Brick Memorial High School, 40-12, Sept. 16 and Southern Regional, 41-7, in its opener. Brick Township had beaten Brick Memorial, 28-14, in its opener.
“We’ve had several injuries. We’re hoping to get some [players] back,” Krystopik said of the Central Regional game.
Zach Lubertazzi, a linebacker, has been sidelined throughout the season. Linebacker Tom Pellone and strong safety Leo Shimonovich also sat out the Brick Township game, and depth is a concern with this year’s team. Thin on seniors, the Jaguars usually have to turn to less-experienced underclassmen when injuries take place.
“We’ve got to get somebody to step up and make the plays on offense,” Krystopik said. “I think we’re better on defense, and we have to limit mistakes on special teams.”
Central Regional runs downhill right at you, Krystopik said — out of an I-formation — and lines up defensively in a 5-2 formation.
The Jaguars also hope Mike Gawlik in his third season starting at running back gets his game back in high gear. Against Brick Township, he rushed for 127 yards, putting him about 100 yards away from the school career record, but most of that yardage came on runs of 47 and 34 yards. Jackson Memorial had four stalled drives in Brick Township territory — two of them in the red zone.
Jackson Memorial quarterback Dan Barker ran 8 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close the scoring.
While Jackson Memorial moves into a greater sense of urgency to win games, Jackson Liberty faces a daunting challenge in the B South Division when it hosts Lakewood High School Sept. 16. The Lions fell to 0-2 Sept. 16 in a 32-21 loss to Manchester Township High School, and another loss will put the Lions out of the division race and threaten their state playoff hopes, although last year’s team made the playoffs with four victories.