Shore Conference Football Top 10 rankings after NJSIAA Playoffs Week 2
Six Shore Conference teams remain alive in their bids to win NJSIAA state championships.
Four of those teams are public schools. This season for the first time since the NJSIAA implemented the playoff system in 1974, public schools will have the opportunity to play out to overall state group champions.
The public schools have reached the sectional championship stage. The Shore will have at least one semifinalist because Raritan and Rumson-Fair Haven will meet each other in the South Group 2 championship game Friday night at Raritan.
The Rumson-Fair Haven vs. Raritan winner will advance to the group semifinal Nov. 19 or Nov. 20 at Cherokee High School.
Other public school sectional finalists from the Shore are Toms River North (South Group 5) and Middletown South (Central Group 4).
The non-public portion of the tournament began this past weekend and will have its group quarterfinal-round this weekend.
Donovan Catholic (Non-Public A) and defending Non-Public B champion Red Bank Catholic (Non-Public B) are the non-public teams still alive.
The race to see who finishes No. 1 in the Asbury Park Press Top 10 still rages between No. 1 Red Bank Catholic and No. 2 Toms River North.
This past weekend's results saw minor shuffling in the last two spots of the top five and final three spots in the second five.
1. Red Bank Catholic (8-1): Last week: No. 1. The Caseys did not play and will begin their bid to repeat as NJSIAA Non-Public B champions this week. Red Bank Catholic defeated Curtis (N.Y.) 57-36 in their previous game on Oct. 28 in their final regular season game. Next game: Friday vs. Gloucester Catholic (5-3).
2. Toms River North (11-0): Last week: No. 2. Junior quarterback Micah Ford continued his sensational season by rushing for 257 yards on 21 carries with touchdown runs of 15, 21 and 85 yards, was 6-for-6 for 123 yards with TD passes of 29 yards to junior receiver Tareq Council and 6 yards to senior tight end Ty Kazanowsky and he also had an interception on defense as the Mariners defeated Marlboro 42-6 in a NJSIAA South Group 5 semifinal. Junior Jeremiah Pruitt added a 4-yard TD run. Toms River North has outscored its opponents 542-80 and is 11-0 for the first time since 2016. Toms River North will get a chance to avenge a defeat from last year's South Group 5 final and win its first sectional championship since 2015 and seventh overall. Next game: Friday vs. Kingsway (7-3) in the NJSIAA South Group 5 championship game.
3. Middletown South (8-1): Last week: No. 3. Junior running back Donovan Summey ran for 118 yards and a TD on 16 carries and threw a 33-yard TD pass to senior receiver Logan Colleran, junior Jake Czwakiel ran for a TD and kicked a 35-yard field goal and sophomore linebacker Luke Wafle forced a fumble that was recovered by junior linebacker Colin Gallagher and Will Gallagher forced a fumble that lineman Tommy Whyte recovered as the Eagles defeated defending Central Group 4 champion Winslow Township 24-10 in a NJSIAA Central Group 4 championship game to advance to a sectional final for the second straight season. Middletown South will bid for its 11th sectional championship and first since it went 12-0 in 2015. Next game: Friday vs. Mainland (9-1) in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 championship game.
4. Donovan Catholic (6-3): Last week: No. 5. Junior quarterback Todd Lambertson threw an 18-yard TD pass to junior tight end Hunter Johnson in overtime and the defense then came up with the game-clinching stop on Hudson Catholic's overtime possession as the Griffins recorded a 27-20 win in a NJSIAA Non-Public A first-round game to advance to the Non-Public A quarterfinal. It is the third straight time the playoffs have been held Donovan Catholic has won a game. Lambertson and Johnson also teamed up for a 2-yard TD pass and freshman running back Najee Calhoun ran for 155 yards and two TDs on 21 carries. The Griffins will next meet a state power for the second straight season. Next game: Saturday at Bergen Catholic (8-1) in a NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinal.
5. Point Pleasant Boro (9-1): Last week: No. 4. Senior slotback Connor Cilento returned a kickoff 79 yards for a TD and also had a 7-yard TD run, senior running back Ty Gordon had a 3-yard TD run, junior quarterback Matt Oliphant a 20-yard TD run and junior Jake Croce blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety, but Willingboro freshman quarterback Lamar Best threw five TD passes as Willingboro defeated the Panthers 50-30 and avenged a defeat in last year's NJSIAA South Group 2 championship game in a Central Group 2 semifinal. Next game: Season completed.
6. Ocean (8-1): Last week: No. 6. The Spartans' season ended with a 34-7 loss to Burlington Township in a NJSIAA Central Group 3 quarterfinal on Oct. 28 in a game in which standout senior quarterback Tyler Douglas did not play due to what he said was an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. Ocean won the Shore Conference Freedom Division championship. Next game: Season completed.
7. Raritan (8-2): Last week: No. 7. Senior running back Kieran Falzon returned the opening kickoff for a TD and ran for two TDs and senior slotback Dan Calicari ran for a TD as the Rockets defeated Pleasantville 28-7 in a NJSIAA South Group 2 semifinal to advance to a sectional final for the second straight season. Raritan's opponent in the sectional final will be a team that has become a perennial sectional final participant. The Rockets will be trying to win a sectional title for the first time since 2015 and third overall. Next game: Friday vs. No. 8 Rumson-Fair Haven (6-4) in the NJSIAA South Group 2 championship game.
8. Rumson-Fair Haven (6-4); Last week: No. 10. Junior running back Alastair Orr ran for 107 yards and three TDs on 18 carries, senior running back Brayden Dill added a TD run and 78 yards on 18 carries and senior strong safety Ryan Kalman had his sixth interception of the season as the Bulldogs defeated Oakcrest 28-6 in a NJSIAA South Group 2 semifinal and advanced to a sectional championship game for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons the state playoffs have been held and the ninth straight season the playoffs have been contested. The Bulldogs will be bidding for their seventh sectional title, all since 2010. Next game: Friday at No. 7 Raritan (8-2) in the NJSIAA South Group 2 championship game.
9. Jackson Memorial (7-3): Last week: No. 8. The Jaguars built an early nine-point lead and led defending South Group 4 regional champion Millville by a point at halftime after a TD with no time left in the half, but Millville rallied for a 34-16 win behind a 294-yard, two TD passing performance by quarterback Jacob Zamot hat ended Jackson Memorial's season. Senior quarterback Tai Mann ran for a TD. It was a bounce back season for Jackson Memorial. It shared the Shore Conference Constitution Division championship with Colts Neck. Next game: Season completed.
10. Marlboro (6-4): Last week: No. 9. Junior placekicker Luke Rubin kicked field goals of 27 and 31 yards for the Mustangs in their 42-6 defeat to No. 2 Toms River North in a NJSIAA South Group 5 semifinal. Marlboro played without star junior running back/middle linebacker Matt Cassidy because of an injury. The Mustangs had a memorable season. They overcame a season-ending knee injury to senior quarterback A.J. Schwartz in Week 4 and Cassidy's injury in the first quarter of the sectional quarterfinal win over Washington Township to record their second straight winning season, their first playoff win since 1994 in their first playoff home game since that same season and earn their first playoff berth since 1999. Next game: Season completed.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
NJSIAA PUBLIC SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
SOUTH GROUP 5
2. Kingsway at. 1. Toms River North, 6 p.m.
CENTRAL GROUP 4
3. Mainland at 1. Middletown South, 7 p.m.
SOUTH GROUP 2
2. Rumson-Fair Haven at 1. Raritan, 7 p.m.
NJSIAA NON-PUBLIC B QUARTERFINAL
8. Gloucester Catholic at 1. Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
NJSIAA NON-PUBLIC A QUARTERFINAL
7. Donovan Catholic at 2. Bergen Catholic, 12 p.m.
THURSDAY
NJSIAA REGIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
SOUTH GROUP 3
Pinelands at Wall, 6 p.m.
SOUTH GROUP 4
Brick Memorial at Red Bank, 5 p.m.
REGIONAL CROSSOVER GAMES
THURSDAY
Hamilton West at Neptune, 5 p.m.
SATURDAY
Long Branch at Manasquan, 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore NJ Football 2022: The Top 10 after Week 2 of the NJSIAA playoffs
