COLTS NECK
The Colts Neck High School football team fell just short, 21-7, in its matchup to Freehold High School Oct. 15 in Freehold.
Colts Neck had sliced its deficit to 14-7 in the third quarter when John Prus caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Hayden Volk.
But the Cougars, who dropped to 1-5, were denied in the final quarter when Freehold’s all-around star, Ashante Worthy, took back an interception 48 yards to the end zone in the final quarter to close the scoring. The victory improved Freehold to 2-4.
The girls’ soccer team welcomed back its all-stater Frankie Tagliaferri, who contributed a goal and an assist in Colts Necks’ 5-0 victory over Marlboro High School Oct. 13 in Colts Neck.
She had been away playing with the U17 United States Women’s Team in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.
Colts Neck received a balanced attack that day against Marlboro, as Kayla Lee, Kristen Gambardella, Nicole Loehle and Laila Rosenthal each fired in one goal. Victoria Spieler made three saves to earn the shutout.
The Colts Neck girls’ volleyball team, behind the play of Claudia Bykowski, defeated Neptune High School, 2-0, Oct. 13 in Neptune. Bykowski registered five aces, five service points and five digs.
FREEHOLD
Worthy was a jack-of-all trades — and a talented one, too — Oct. 15 when he guided the Freehold football team to a 21-7 victory over Colts Neck in Freehold.
Worthy, as a quarterback, connected on a touchdown pass to Thomas Papirnik that covered 52 yards, and he kept the ball and bolted 45 yards to the end zone, with both scores coming in the second quarter when the Colonials grabbed a 14-0 lead.
He also boomed punts during the game that kept Colts Neck back in its own territory and sealed the victory when he picked off a pass and dashed 48 yards to a touchdown in the final quarter. His overall play helped Freehold move to 2-4, while the result dropped Colts Neck to 1-5.
Freehold’s field hockey team rung up three victories against one defeat over the past week. Among the triumphs was a key 1-0 decision over Middletown High School North Oct. 10 in Freehold.
Tori Tiefenthaler converted the lone goal, which came in the first half. Belly Reynoso pitched the shutout in goal with her four saves.
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP
Freehold Township High School’s undefeated football team improved to 6-0 behind quarterback Charlie Sabbagh.
Sabbagh passed for three touchdowns — two to Anthony Lotti — as the Patriots rolled past Jackson Liberty High School (0-6), 35-7, Oct. 14 in Jackson.
The Freehold Township gymnastics team, which was sparked by the brilliant performance of Alexis Rogers, edged rival Freehold, 108.15-106.625, at Freehold Township Oct. 13.
Rogers claimed first in the all-around, while she also recorded first place in all of the events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.
Freehold Township’s girls’ soccer team played to an epic 1-1 tie through two overtimes against the host team, Manalapan High School, Oct. 13 in a showdown of the leaders in the Shore Conference A North Division.
Freehold Township had gained the 1-0 edge early in the second half when Nicole Sasso connected on a penalty shot that was awarded after a tripping call. Manalapan tied it later, and both teams could not convert for the remainder of regulation and the two overtimes. Goalie Alessia LaRosa collected 13 saves to preserve the tie.
Freehold Township can clinch the division title with a victory this week against rival Freehold or if Manalapan drops a league game.
HOWELL
Brandon Downey’s goal was the difference for the Howell High School boys’ soccer team that edged Freehold, 1-0, Oct. 13 in Freehold.
The Howell girls’ volleyball team scored a 2-1 victory over visiting Red Bank Regional High School Oct. 13 behind the play of Kelly Farley. She collected six aces, 12 assists and three kills.
MANALAPAN
Manalapan’s girls’ soccer team remained in contention for the title in the Shore Conference A North Division when the Braves tied Freehold Township, 1-1, Oct. 13 at Manalapan.
Freehold Township had struck first, scoring on a penalty kick early in the second half. A tripping call against Manalapan led to the kick. But the Braves earned a 1-1 tie shortly later when Mya Donnelly got free on a breakaway and connected for the goal. Ariel Kamen turned back 17 shots to preserve the tie for the Braves.
Also on Oct. 13, the boys’ soccer team for Manalapan came away with a 1-0 victory over Freehold Township in Freehold. Justin Goldberg provided the game’s only goal and his teammate, goalie Josh Koenig, stopped 10 shots to post the shutout victory.
MARLBORO
Jonathan Helff ran for two touchdowns and gained 169 yards on the ground, but his Marlboro football team fell to Neptune, 41-26, Oct. 15 in Neptune.
Helff, who carried the ball 33 times, scored on runs of 4 and 51 yards. Also scoring for Marlboro, which dropped to 1-4, was Michael DiGangi, who returned an interception 47 yards to the end zone. The victory improved Neptune to 2-3.
Marlboro’s boys’ soccer squad gained a 2-0 home victory over Colts Neck Oct. 13 behind the scoring of P.J. Ringel, who collected a goal and an assist, and Brian Dates, who scored one goal. James Weinberg made three saves to pick up the shutout.
Marlboro’s gymnastic team edged Manalapan, 103.6-100.2, Oct. 13 at Manalapan. Farah Chernov placed first in both the balance beam and floor exercise to lead Marlboro to the triumph.