Colts Neck
The Colts Neck High School football team fell to 1-6 Oct. 22 when the host Cougars were defeated by Central Regional High School, 28-7.
Colts Neck was led in the defeat by running back Carmen Catena, who rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries and scored the lone touchdown on a 7-yard run in the second quarter. Central Regional improved to 6-1.
The powerful girls’ cross-country team for Colts Neck was the clear-cut winner at the Monmouth County Cross-Country Championships that were run at Holmdel Park Oct. 18.
Colts Neck earned the title with 59 points, while Middletown High School South was a distant second with 79 points. It was the first Monmouth County girls’ cross-country championship since 2006 for Colts Neck.
Colts Neck’s winning effort was guided by Colleen Megerle, who placed fourth. Also contributing to the title for Colts Neck were Delia Russo, who placed eighth; Natalie Shapiro, who ended in 14th place; Eva Gibson, who finished 17th; and Catherine Anderson, who placed 18th.
The Colts Neck boys’ cross-country team placed second in the county championship race that same day. Colts Neck scored 43 points — second to Christian Brothers Academy’s (CBA) 33. The Monmouth County title was the 15th straight for CBA.
Colts Neck’s top boys’ runner, Jordan Brannan, placed second with a time of 16:02. He was nipped by rival Elliot Gindi of Ocean Township High School, who crossed first with a time of 16:01.
Freehold
Freehold High School’s football team picked up its third straight victory thanks to the astounding exploits of its star quarterback, Ashante Worthy.
Worthy kept the ball for six touchdowns and amassed 315 yards on the ground to guide Freehold past Marlboro High School, 48-32, Oct. 22. Two of his dashes to the end zone came from long distance — 66 and 62 yards. His other touchdown runs were from 36, 9, 4 and 2 yards out.
He also threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Markee Gill. He ended with six completions on 10 attempts for 85 yards. This sparking effort came two weeks after he rung up a total of seven touchdowns in Freehold’s 52-27 triumph over Monroe Township High School Oct. 7.
The victory left Freehold at 3-4 and put Marlboro at 2-5.
Freehold’s field hockey team rolled to a pair of victories last week.
On Oct. 18, Freehold advanced in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) when the Colonials eliminated Pinelands Regional High School, 3-0, in Freehold.
Alex Bock, Katie Byrnes and Katie Ricker each put in one goal to lead Freehold to the victory in the SCT.
On the next day in regular-season play, Freehold edged rival Freehold Township High School, 2-1, at Freehold Township. Tori Tiefenthaler connected on both goals for the Colonials.
Freehold Township
Freehold Township’s gymnastic team swept two meets at its home gym Oct. 17.
The Patriots defeated Central Regional, 100.6-99.1, and Toms River High School South, 100.6-80.7. Spearheading Freehold Township’s sweep were Alexis Rogers, who won the uneven bars in both meets, and Gianna Spinale, who won both in the balance beam.
Jasmine Colbert connected on two goals when Freehold Township scored a 6-0 victory in girls’ soccer over rival Freehold Oct. 17 at Freehold Township.
The Freehold Township boys’ soccer squad was also a winner over Freehold Oct. 17, when the Patriots posted a 3-0 triumph at Freehold’s field. Adrian Barajas, Josh Cagan and Mark Cohen each scored once in the victory.
Howell
To say that Niamh Hayes was dominant in winning the Monmouth County Girls’ Cross-Country championship Oct. 18 at Holmdel Park is clearly an understatement.
Hayes won the title with a time of 18:54. The meet’s runner-up, Rachel Kenny of Matawan Regional High School, crossed next in a time of 19:42. That margin adds up to 48 seconds and word has it that when Hayes finished, Kenny was almost 300 yards behind.
Manalapan
Manalapan High School’s football team continued to stand undefeated when the Braves moved to 7-0 after they rolled past visiting Neptune High School, 55-21, Oct. 21.
The spearhead once again for Manalapan was its junior quarterback, Luke Corcione, who is emerging as one of the premier passers in the Shore Conference.
Corcione clicked on 14 of his 17 passes and racked up 250 yards and five touchdowns through the air.
His three quick-strike touchdown passes in the second quarter turned the tight game into a dominating one for the Braves. Manalapan was holding onto a 14-13 edge in the second quarter when Corcione first hit Michael Taylor for a 12-yard scoring pass. Then Corcione and Taylor hooked up for a 30-yard touchdown pass before the Braves entered halftime with a 35-13 lead on the strength of Corcione’s 13-yard touchdown pass to L.J. Holder.
Corcione also hit Holder for a 49-yard touchdown play in the fourth quarter.
Offensive stars were not the only standouts for Manalapan. Eli Avivi set up Manalapan touchdowns with two interceptions. The loss dropped Neptune to 2-4.
Next up for Manalapan is the showdown with a fellow heavyweight, Piscataway Township High School (5-1) Oct. 29 at Rutgers University. Game time is at 11 a.m.
These two teams could meet again later this season in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group V playoffs.
In boys’ soccer action last week, James LaSpina fired in two goals to guide the Braves past Freehold, 3-0, Oct. 19 in Manalapan.
The next day, the Braves continued to shine when Manalapan defeated visiting Toms River High School East, 4-0. Rocky Garretson collected a goal and an assist and Josh Koenig made five saves to lead Manalapan.
Marlboro
Marlboro’s football team could not slow down Freehold quarterback Ashante Worthy, who ran for six touchdowns and 315 yards and threw a scoring pass Oct. 22, when Freehold posted a 48-32 victory in Marlboro.
Marlboro slipped to 2-5, while Freehold won its third consecutive game to go to 3-4.
Marlboro’s boys’ soccer tam rung up its biggest victory of the season when the Mustangs stunned previously undefeated CBA, 3-1, at CBA in Lincfort Oct. 19.
P.J. Ringel was the leader of the upset when he scored two goals in the first half, as Marlboro opened a 2-0 edge. CBA cut into Marlboro’s lead in the second half, but Josh Grun headed in a goal in the 64th minute to ice the victory.
Goalie James Weinberg stopped seven shots to earn the victory and help Marlboro improve to 14-1-1. The loss dropped CBA to 15-1.
The victory for Marlboro avenged the Mustangs’ 1-0 loss in overtime to CBA Sept. 13.