No tricks this past weekend when champions were crowned and crucial games were won by a slew of athletes whose costumes were their school’s athletic uniforms.
Take a look at these stars who were earned their treats.
On the football landscape……
Freehold Township shook off its loss the previous week to Howell and defeated East Brunswick, 36-21, on Friday night, Oct. 28 in East Brunswick.
The engineer of the Freehold Township attack was quarterback Charlie Sabbagh, who completed 20 of his 32 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown and he also kept for a TD.
He must remain sharp this Friday, Nov. 4 when Freehold Township (7-1) pays a call to tackle undefeated Manalapan, which has won all eight of its games.
Red Bank Catholic quarterback Steve Lubischer was on target during his team’s 35-0 victory over town-rival red Bank on Friday, Oct. 29. Lubischer hit on five of his 10 passes for 184 yards and three TDs in Red Bank.
QB Donald Glenn was behind Middletown North’s rally that ended in a 38-34 victory on Friday, Oct. 28 in Long Branch. Glenn completed 12 of his 17 passes for 189 yards and threw for three TDs.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett steered his Ocean Township troops past Point Pleasant Boro when he connected on seven of his 15 throws that resulted in 147 yards and two TDs and he kept for two touchdowns as well on Friday, Oct. 28, in Point Pleasant.
The two quarterbacks in the matchup on Friday, Oct. 28 between Freehold and host Edison each shined using a different weapon.
Freehold QB Ashante Worthy relied on his legs while rushing to score four touchdowns, including TD dashes of 77 and 72 yards, to carry his team to a 31-10 victory.
Edison QB Justin Turner, in a losing effort, displayed his strong arm when he completed 18 of his 31 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown.
Worthy’s effort came after he scored six touchdowns and rushed for 315 yards in Freehold’s 48-32 victory over Marlboro on Oct. 22.
Another offensive whiz who also followed up with a strong performance after starring the previous week running the ball was Bishop Ahr’s Andrew Brazicki.
Brazicki picked up 207 yards on 35 carries and scored three touchdowns when Bishop Ahr defeated Asbury Park, 20-7, on Oct. 28 in Edison.
Brazicki ripped off 327 yards and scored five touchdowns on the ground to led Bishop Ahr past Spotswood, 46-30, on Oct. 22.
Mater Dei Prep improved to 8-0 when it coasted past visiting South River, 41-0, on Oct. 29 in Middletown.
Mater Dei QB George Pearson played just the first half but steered Mater Dei to its 41 points before halftime. Pearson hit on six of his eight passes for 96 yards and one touchdown. He also ran for 60 yards.
Saint Joseph claimed the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division championship when it held off Carteret, 14-7, on Oct. 29 in Metuchen.
Saint Joseph’s called on its fine running back, Manny Resto, to carry the Falcons to the division crown. Resto was the workhorse, carrying the ball 39 times and producing 153 yards and two TDs, both from a yard out.
Offensive stars were not the only ones who shined this past weekend on the football fields.
Raritan knocked off visiting Spotswood, 32-6, on Oct. 28 in Hazlet behind the play of linebacker Ryan Dickens, who picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown.
Tournament championships were settled on various local fields and schools this past week.
In boys’ soccer….
Fabrizzio Reyes converted a goal in overtime when 10th-seeded North Brunswick edged fifth-seeded South Brunswick, 2-1, in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final on Oct. 29 at Woodbridge High.
Christian Brothers Academy won the rubber game in its series this fall with rival Marlboro when the Colts captured the Shore Conference Tournament title with a 2-0 victory on Oct. 29 at Central Regional in Bayville. Each team had won once during the regular season.
In the SCT final, Matt Mawson and John Askin delivered a goal each to lead top-seeded CBA to its second straight title and its 10th overall. Marlboro was the No. 2 seed in the field.
Shifting over to girls’ soccer…
East Brunswick is once again the champion of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament.
East Brunswick won its 12th title in the last 14 years when the second-seeded Bears beat ninth-seeded South Brunswick, 2-0, on Oct. 29 at Woodbridge High.
Sabria Glasgow connected on both goals as East Brunswick avenged its 1-0 loss to South Brunswick in last year’s GMC final. The GMC championship was the 29th for the program since the tournament began in 1979.
Colts Neck successfully defended its Shore Conference Tournament title when the Cougars, the fifth seed, defeated the No. 2 seed, Freehold Township , 3-0, in the final that was played Oct. 29 at Central Regional High School in Bayville.
And once again, Colts Neck is the SCT champion thanks to its All-Stater, Frankie Tagliaferri.
Tagliaferri connected on two goals — the first breaking a scoreless tie at 49:43. Her other goal iced the game when she scored at 65:20.
Heading over to field hockey….
Elena Werner’s gal eight minutes into the game was the lone score when Rumson-Fair Haven edged Shore Regional, 1-0, to win the Shore Conference Tournament championship on Oct. 30 at Monmouth University. The victory provided Rumson-Fair Haven with its third straight SCT title.
Inside the gyms….
East Brunswick, sparked by Jordyn Horowitz, Beth Anania and Kayla Benez, claimed the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship in girls’ volleyball when the Bears defeated Colonia, 2-1, on Oct. 29 at J.P. Stevens High in Edison.