FRIDAY NIGHT EXTRAS

Some thoughts/tidbits from Friday night’s games

Before I head out the door to Toms River East for its nondivisional game against Ocean, here is some quick stuff from Friday night.

Nothing like finding out you have a clutch kicker in the second game of the season, as Toms River North did with junior Pat Szukics. Not only did he hit the game-winning 22-yarder with just over 2 minutes to go in a 9-7 victory over Brick, he did it after missing an extra point that could have cost the Mariners the game. He didn’t let that missed PAT carry over to the field goal attempt, which is big to know as the stakes get higher later in the season.
I thought Brick’s Jordan Roshala did a nice job of directional punting and pinning TR North deep on several occasions. I know he’s better known as the quarterback, but he has some punting talent as well, in addition to having made an interception on defense on TR North’s first play from scrimmage.
Nice win for Holmdel, 28-6 over St. John Vianney, shutting me up for the second week straight, as I picked against the Hornets. Andy Carlstrom and his staff have done a tremendous job of bringing this program back to life following the turmoil of the entire coaching staff leaving in the middle of the season in 2005 after a dispute with members of the administration who were subsequently fired or demoted. I think Holmdel’s defensive line, led by tackle Kevin DeMaio and defensive end Will McGurk, is in the top three or four defensive fronts in the Shore. Also, QB Ryan Haslett is bigger than most team’s fullbacks and could become more and more dangerous as the season goes on. You’d have to say right now that the Hornets are the No. 1 challenger to Point Boro in the National Division.
As I mentioned in a previous story on Manchester’s Craig Leppert for the season opener against Wall, a Toronto film crew was in town to do a feature on Leppert. Check it out here.
Great win for Manasquan, 27-21 in overtime against Barnegat. I stayed on the Warriors’ bandwagon and they rewarded me. Chazz Coursey busts out for 225 yards and a pair of TDs. However, this game also showed just how lethal Barnegat’s quick strike offense can be. Barnegat is still a very dangerous team and still has games against Point Boro and Holmdel in which it can jump right back into the thick of things. As for Coursey, his performance reminded me of a funny line from Rutgers-bound offensive lineman Art Forst in the preseason. Last year, Chazz informed us that his first name had two ‘z’s and not one, so this year I asked him in the preseason if he was still going with the two ‘z’s. After Coursey nodded, Forst said, “It’s gonna be three z’s after he runs for 1,500 yards.”
Rumson’s passing game continues to do a number on Keyport. Quarterback Matt Wassel has thrown a combined seven TD passes against the Red Raiders in the last two years and wideout Ryan Kirchner has caught a combined five TD passes the last two years against Keyport following last night’s 38-14 victory.
Red Bank Catholic may have been dealt a blow last night when speedy junior tailback David Reeves left the game with a possible concussion after taking a big hit away from a play in last night’s 42-3 win over Monmouth.
Congrats to Asbury Park’s Don Sofilkanich and Monsignor Donovan’s Dan Duddy, who picked up their first wins with their programs last night. Donovan went 0-10 last year and lost to Barnegat in the season opener before picking up a 21-7 win over Raritan. Looks like it’s going to be an uphill battle for the Rockets (0-2), who were without injured starting quarterback Brian Kalarjian (foot injury) and had trouble mustering any offense. The Griffins, meanwhile, got a big game from Duddy’s son, Mike, who ran for a pair of touchdowns. Asbury Park gave Sofilkanich a 27-6 win over Shore in his second game in his first season with the Blue Bishops, who I think are clearly the third-best team in the Patriot Division behind Keansburg and Rumson-FH.
The last two Central-Neptune games have been close ones, as last year the Scarlet Fliers had to block a punt late in the game to save the day and give coach John Fiore his first win with his alma mater, while this year Stephen Floyd had to break up a two-point conversion pass with just over a minute remaining to seal a 28-26 win over the Golden Eagles.

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