Keyport once again too much for upstart Cougars
Late mistakes cost Colts
Neck in 23-8 loss
JERRY WOLKOWITZ Colts Neck’s Obi Nkwuo uses a stiff arm to try to escape Keyport defensive back Dezmin Laing in Saturday’s Group I semifinal in Keyport.
The Colts Neck Cougars, in their first year of varsity football, have certainly proved that they can play with two-time defending Group I champions, the Keyport Red Raiders. They just can’t seem to beat them.
The Red Raiders and the Cougars played for the second time this season on Saturday in a Group I semifinal game in Keyport, and the result was similar to their first meeting, which was won by Keyport, 20-7. In both games, the Red Raiders capitalized on several late penalties and turnovers in distancing themselves from the upstart Cougars, who have surprised everyone (except maybe themselves) with their strong play this year.
Keyport, who at 9-0 is one of the Shore Conference’s three unbeaten teams, got off to a quick start when Ken Cattouse ran in from seven yards out on their second possession of the game at 4:21 of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, junior Jamie Gutridge extended the lead with a 34-yard touchdown run with 10:14 left in the first half. Keyport’s defense got into the act when defensive back Sean Toran tackled Colts Neck’s Obi Nkwuo for a safety to extend the lead to 16-0 just before the half.
The Cougars regrouped after halftime and seemed poised to make a game of it from the first snap of the second half. In the second half, the defense stiffened, holding Keyport’s vaunted running game to just 37 yards rushing.
Offensively, the Cougars began to show signs of life on their first possession. After forcing Keyport to punt from deep in their own territory on their first possession, the Cougars launched a drive of their own, culminating in a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brad Emmons. Fullback Mike Marziotto added the two-point conversion, cutting the Keyport lead to 16-8.
The Cougars then tried to keep the momentum on their side by attempting an onside kick, but the officials ruled that the ball traveled less than 10 yards before being touched, allowing the Red Raiders to take over from midfield.
This is where Colts Neck’s mistakes began to cost them, much like they did in the first meeting. On a third-and-7, the Cougars’ defense stepped up and stopped Cattouse after a 5-yard gain, seemingly ending the drive; however, a face-masking penalty gave the Red Raiders new life at the Cougars 25.
On the very next play, Gutridge dashed 25 yards into Colts Neck’s end zone to effectively put the game away with 2:50 remaining.
The win was a big one for Keyport, setting up a rematch of last year’s Group I Championship game with South River. The Rams got past Dunellen, 28-0, behind the running of junior Zack Earvin (27 carries for 138 yards and two touchdowns). The Dec. 2 final will be played in Keyport at 1 p.m. Keyport will be looking for yet another state title, while posting its first undefeated season under head coach Mike Ciccotelli.
They will have their work cut out for them against a good South River team, which is playing its best football of the year right now.
Colts Neck will play on Saturday in the inaugural Colts Neck-Freehold Borough Thanksgiving match-up (the game was moved to Saturday because of the Cougars’ game against Keyport).
Despite what happens against the resurgent Colonials, the Cougars have made their first varsity season a successful one, exceeding what was expected of them by leaps and bounds.