This autumn has delivered summer-like temperatures but the athletes have been turning in some hot performances at our local scholastic fields and gyms.
Check out who remained hot this past week in our area.
Ashante Worthy appears to be able to do it all on the football field.
As the quarterback for Freehold’s football team, this past weekend he punished visiting Colts Neck from all directions.
He connected with Thomas Papirnik for a 52-yard touchdown pass, he kept the ball and sprinted 45 yards to the end zone and he iced the 21-7 victory on Oct. 15 when he took an interception back 48 yards for a touchdown. He also kept Colts Neck pinned back deep in its own territory with his punting.
In one of the biggest games of the weekend, St. John Vianney received a big effort from back Chris Chukwuneke, who rushed for 137 yards and one touchdown in his team’s 28-3 triumph over Rumson-Fair Haven. The victory raised St. John Vianney to 6-0 for the season and the result dropped Rumson-Fair Haven to 3-2.
Old Bridge dealt state-ranked Piscataway its first defeat of the season when the Silver Knights scored a 24-20 upset on Oct. 14.
The thorn in the side of a now 5-1 Piscataway was Old Bridge back Nick Sodano. He scored three TDs, including the winning score with just 25 seconds to play.
His 42-yard dash to the end zone to ice the victory had followed another brilliant play less than two minutes earlier. It was then that he stripped the ball from a Piscataway ball carrier and bolted 45 yards to the end zone to hand Old Bridge a short-lived 17-13 lead.
But Psicataway struck right back and took the lead again but Sodano’s 42-yard TD wrapped up the game as Old Bridge improved to 3-1-1 on the year.
Manalapan has been recognized for its defense this season. But on Oct. 14, the Braves called on the offense to remain undefeated at 6-0 with a 41-31 victory over rival Howell.
Manalapan’s attack was steered by quarterback Luke Corcione, who passed for 231 yards and three touchdowns, and back Naim Mayfield, who rushed for 203 yards and scored two TDs.
Wall’s undefeated season came to an end when Middletown North came to town and scored a 21-20 victory on Oct. 14. Middletown North was able to improve to 4-1 and drop Wall to 5-1 behind QB Donald Glenn, who clicked on 12 of his 20 passes for 280 yards and three TDs.
Vito Aleo rushed for 176 yards on 14 carries and scored two TDs on Oct. 14 when he guided Raritan past rival Matawan, 35-14.
Reminiss Funderburke erupted for 157 yards on the ground and two touchdowns on Oct. 14 when Bishop Ahr blanked Metuchen, 34-0.
Red Bank pitched a 33-0 triumph over Monmouth Regional on Oct. 15 when Chris Brannagan picked up 130 yards on eight rushes and scored tow TDs.
Marlboro was defeated by Neptune, 41-26, on Oct. 15, but Jonathan Helff shined in a losing cause. Helff managed to run through Neptune for 169 yards on a tireless 33 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Joe Goerge is not a player, but he has done a stellar job over the years teaching and coaching players. The veteran coach was awarded with his 200th victory as his South Brunswick club turned back East Brunswick, 21-0, on Oct. 14.
Moving over from the field to the soccer pitch…..
D.J. Cobb collected three goals during a week when North Brunswick won twice in boys’ soccer. North Brunswick defeated Spotswood, 2-1, on Oct. 15, and earlier in the week on Oct. 11, the Raiders beat Colonia, 4-1.
Patrick Kollman connected on three goals n Oct. 17 when Christian Brothers Academy rolled past host Manalapan, 5-0.
In girls’ soccer, Mya Stolarski rung up three goals and two assists as she sparked Metuchen to a 5-2 victory over North Brunswick on Oct. 14.
Now to field hockey….
Madison Hoskins registered two goals and one assist in leading Freehold Township to a 3-0 victory over Henry Hudson in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament in Freehold on Oct. 17.
In another Shore Conference Tournament first-round match, Lily Croddick hit for three goals to pace Rumson -Fair Haven, the top seed, to a 9-1 victory over Jackson Memorial on Oct. 17 in Rumson.