Green Wave keeps rolling with win over Manchester
Four other local teams fail on the gridiron
By chris kelly
Staff Writer

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Red Bank Regional quarterback Kevin Snyder looks for an open man during the Bucs’ game against Middletown South on Saturday.

This was an ugly weekend for the local football scene. Four out of five high schools failed to leave this weekend’s football schedule with a win. Long Branch registered the only victory — 35-15 against Manchester.

The Wave used a quartet of scorers to take control of their hosts, running for 194 yards while throwing for 90.

While it was opposing defenses that kept other area schools from winning, the green-and-white’s D gave up a total of 95 yards.

Long Branch scored once in each of the first three quarters and then struck twice in the fourth. The Branchers took control in the opening quarter as Michael Huff carried the ball 3 yards into the end zone to draw first blood.

After shutting down Manchester in the first quarter, the host team finally lit the scoreboard in the second. Holding Long Branch deep in their territory, forcing them to punt, Manchester was awarded a safety as a blocked punt rolled out of bounds through the end zone.

Before the Hawks could actually score a touchdown, Long Branch increased its lead to 14-2. The Wave took a 12-point lead after QB Berkeley Hutchinson connected with Mario Nelson for a 12-yard touchdown pass.

Manchester’s first six-pointer came from George Skibo, who caught a 52-yard pass from Jeff Struble. The ensuing PAT kick failed.

Following the halftime break, the two teams traded punches in the third quarter, scoring seven points apiece.

The Wave were the first to score in the third when Hutchinson ran the ball in from 1 yard out. Struble responded with his own 1-yard touchdown run. Both teams converted their PAT kicks.

Long Branch sealed their victory over Manchester in the fourth quarter, striking for a pair of TDs. Raheim Frye initially scored on a 16-yard run, while Maurice Covin trotted into the end zone from 3 yards out. Chris Callano took all the Green Wave’s PAT kicks, splitting the uprights all five times.

Rory Payne converted only one of two attempts for Manchester.

Leading the Branchers on the ground was Covin, who carried 14 times for 74 yards. Other ball carriers were Hutchinson (14-52), Gregory Otay (2-28), Frye (8-16), Huff (2-7), Mike Toffell (2-7), Justin Foy (2-6) and Kevin Wallace (1-4).

In the air, Hutchinson connected six of 16 passes for 90 yards. His main receiver was Gregory Hill, who caught a pair of passes for 37 yards. Other receivers were Tim Fitzpatrick (1-28), Nelson (1-12), Huff (1-7) and Frye (1-6).

In other games last weekend, Red Bank Regional fell to Middletown South, 26-6; Monmouth to Point Pleasant Boro, 27-8; Red Bank Catholic to Manasquan, 28-7; and Shore to Colts Neck, 20-16.

The Buccaneers’ only score against the Eagles came in the third quarter when Mike Zadlock caught a 10-yard pass from Kevin Snyder. The PAT kick failed.

South scored its touchdowns in the middle quarters, tallying 12 points on the second and 14 in the third.

At Monmouth Regional on Saturday, the Golden Falcons couldn’t find their scoring combination until the third quarter. After six scoreless quarters (the Falcons were shut out last week against St. John Vianney), Derek Simmons returned a Panther punt 65 yards for a touchdown.

Monmouth converted the two-point PAT play, with Aaron Shaw catching a short pass from Jarrell Coleman.

Point Boro took a 27-0 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a 22-yard pass and a trio of running attacks.

For the Red Bank Catholic Caseys, 193 yards of offense didn’t help them against Manasquan, who scored two touchdowns on an interception and a punt return.

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter that the green-and-gold broke through the Warriors’ defense, scoring on a 15-yard pass from Tyler Schmeltz to Andrew Waters. Schmeltz converted the PAT kick.

Perhaps the biggest upset for the area was Colts Neck downing Shore, 20-16, as the Cougars took full advantage of Shore’s mistakes.

The Blue Devils controlled the field both on the ground and in the air. Shore chalked up a combined 260 yards of offense, while the Cougars got only 200.

Coupled with a rash of missed tackles, Shore also gave Colts Neck life with three lost fumbles and an interception.

Shore struck first with a 51-yard run by Joe Tuccacelli in the first quarter. Both teams then traded scores, with Colts Neck succeeding first in the second quarter on a five-yard run and Jesse Leonard snaring a 35-yard pass from Ben Grandinetti to give the hosting team a 14-7 lead.

In the second half, the Cougars scored the only touchdowns, as one score came off an 81-yard punt return and the other was a 65-yard run.

Shore’s only tally in the second half came off a bad snap to Colts Neck’s punter, which went out of bounds through the end zone.

This week’s gridiron schedule pits Long Branch at Raritan, Asbury Park at Red Bank Catholic, Monmouth at Wall and Point Pleasant Beach at Shore today (all games at 7 p.m.). Tomorrow, Red Bank travels to Matawan and Rumson-Fair Haven goes to Colts Neck (game time is 1:30 p.m.).