The attitude for the football players at Toms River High School North is a simple one.
Focus on the next foe, who happens to play in their same town.
“Next is a civil war game. We let this game slip away. The team will comeback and achieve,” sophomore quarterback Jake Kazanowsky of Toms River North said.
The game that Toms River North is now zeroing in on will be the clash with Toms River High School South that will be played at Toms River North’s field on Oct. 12. Kick off for this rivalry showdown is set for 7 p.m.
The game that Toms River North will put to rest was 14-13 defeat that it suffered to Middletown High School South on Oct. 5 in Toms River.
Toms River North junior running back Jarrod Pruitt, who rushed for more than 110 yards in the loss to Middletown South, is optimistic while going forward.
“The team needs to forget about this game. I think we are a really good team. We as a team just made a lot of mistakes this game. The team just needs to win out the season and get to the playoffs,” Pruitt said
Middletown South was able to clinch the Shore Conference’s American Division title with the victory.
But Toms River North coach Dave Oizerowitz was pleased with his team and its bid to win the division title.
“This team is a good football team. This team has earned its way into a division title,” Oizerowitz said about his squad. ” Our team played well tonight. At times we were the better football team. The team made a few key mistakes in the second half. Middletown South capitalized and they beat us.”
Middletown South struck first in the game on the team’s first drive. Starting on the team’s own 20 yard line the offense marched down to Toms River North’s four-yard line where senior quarterback Trevor Brey completed a touchdown pass to senior tight end Matt Tardy for the first score of the game.
Toms River North was heading to a division crown when it gained a 13-7 lead in the third period on a TD pass from Kazanowsky to senior wide out Will Marsh that covered 67 yards.
But Toms River North’s conversion kick was blocked, a play that would later haunt the Mariners.
In the fourth quarter with 6:50 left to go in the game, Trevor Brey scored on a two-yard plunge and the conversion kick was good when Middletown South grabbed a 14-13 lead.
A last-second desperation pass by Toms River North went out of bounds as Middletown South hung on for the victory.
“This team is physically tough. Even when things were not rolling our way at the end we were able to get the ball back and had a chance to make another run. This team almost did it.,” Oizerowitz said.
Toms River North had earlier gained a 7-7 tie with 5:25 left in the first quarter when Pruitt broke free and raced for a 72-yard touchdown.