American Division
No. 1 Red Bank Catholic 25, Wall 3
Sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams continued his great start by throwing for 133 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for a touchdown as the Caseys (3-0, 1-0) remained unbeaten by defeating a tough Crimson Knights (0-1, 0-1) squad.
Williams completed 11 of 17 passes and tossed touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Najih Rahman and junior wide receiver Emanuel Ross. Rahman caught four passes for 26 yards and Ross caught four passes for 52 yards. Senior running back Sabino Portella ran for 60 yards on 14 carries.
Rahman also had an interception on defense while junior linebacker Davin Breton recorded a team-high 9 tackles, 1 sack, and 3 tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Michael Palmieri had five tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, senior defensive end Aidan Donahue had six tackles and two tackles for loss, and Portella made eight tackles with one tackle for loss.
No. 3 Middletown South 17, No. 8 Manalapan 14
Junior running back Donovan Summey took a swing pass and turned it into an 8-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in regulation as the Eagles (2-0, 1-0) won a thriller over the Braves (2-1, 0-1).
Manalapan led for most of the game on the strength of a stout defense and a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Thomas Clark-Glasco, who set up the short scoring run with a 71-yard run, in the first quarter.
Middletown South got on the board early in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal and then took a 10-7 lead when Summey ran for an 18-yard touchdown on 4th and 3. Manalapan, however, grabbed the lead right back when junior Anthony Macchio returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown and a 14-10 Braves lead.
Junior linebacker Colin Gallagher led the Middletown South defense with 16 tackles, 3 sacks, and 5 tackles for loss. Sophomore linebacker Luke Wafle also had an impactful game with 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 4 tackles for loss.
No. 5 Donovan Catholic 21, No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven 0
Freshman running back Najee Calhoun rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries and the defense allowed under 100 yards of offense to power the Griffins (2-0, 1-0) to a shutout victory over the Bulldogs (0-2, 0-1).
Junior quarterback Todd Lambertson threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to freshman Emanuel Gerena to give Donovan a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. The Griffins' lead grew to 14-0 in the second quarter when Roman Moyers blocked a punt and JJ Correa returned it 15 yards for a touchdown. Later in the second quarter, Calhoun punched it in from six yards out for a 21-0 Donovan Catholic lead.
The Griffins outgained Rumson 182 to minus-8 in the first half.
Colonial Division
No. 2 Toms River North 42, Southern 0
Junior quarterback Micah Ford ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and threw for 64 yards and a touchdown as the Mariners (3-0, 1-0) routed the Rams (1-1, 0-1) to open their division schedule.
Junior running back Josh Moore ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries, junior wide receiver Tareq Council caught four passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, junior wide receiver Jeremiah Pruitt had a 24-yard touchdown run, and sophomore wide receiver Mordecai Ford scored on a 35-yard touchdown run.
Senior linebacker Ty Kazanowsky led the Toms River North defense with 15 total tackles and four tackles for loss. Pruitt added 12 tackles and Anthony Rodriguez made 11 tackles.
Middletown North 21, Central 14
Junior quarterback Luke Sheehan tossed three touchdown passes to lead the Lions (1-1, 1-0) to a victory over the Golden Eagles (0-2, 0-1).
Sheehan completed 15 of 19 passes for 262 yards while junior wide receiver Dylan Briggs caught three passes for 121 yards and a touchdown and senior tight end Peter Dempsey caught four passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns.
Dempsey and fellow senior defensive end Jack Lopez recorded one sack and three tackles for loss each and senior Derek Soto pulled down an interception.
For Central, sophomore quarterback Deven Sisler ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on just three carries and completed 11 of 21 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Senior wideout Tony Brinson caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Senior linebacker Jaivon Tate led the Golden Eagles' defense with 15 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 tackles for loss. Cosmo Zaccaro and Trey Mitchell had one sack each.
Constitution Division
No. 10 Jackson Memorial 20, Howell 19
Senior quarterback Tai Mann accounted for 255 total yards and two touchdowns as the Jaguars (2-0, 1-0) built a three-score lead and held off a fourth-quarter rally by the Rebels (1-1, 0-1).
Mann rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and completed 7 of 12 passes for 102 yards. Senior running back Aidan Sweeney added 102 yards rushing and a touchdown on 23 carries and junior wide receiver Albert D'Alessandro caught five passes for 86 yards.
Junior running back Brandon Wright ran for 41 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and also took a screen pass 69 yards for a touchdown to lead Howell's offense. Junior quarterback Egan Nelms completed 8 of 9 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and senior tight end Damien Padilla caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Freedom Division
Brick Memorial 28, Red Bank 14
Junior quarterback Connor Dietz ran for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and completed 8 of 12 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns to power the Mustangs (1-1, 1-0) to a win over the Bucs (0-2, 0-1).
Dietz also recorded eight tackles, intercepted a pass, and converted all four extra point attempts.
Pierce Olsen threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Liam Stack and Gunnar Eckerstrom had an 11-yard touchdown run for Red Bank. Olsen completed 13 of 19 passes for 136 yards, Eckerstrom ran for 70 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries and also caught three passes for 43 yards, and junior Jah'Cire Jones ran for 73 yards on 10 carries.
Ocean 43, Neptune 14
Senior quarterback Tyler Douglas ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and completed 6 of 10 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown to send the Spartans (2-0, 1-0) past the rival Scarlet Fliers (0-2, 0-1).
Senior CJ Flannigan ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns (29 and 34 yards) on just three carries and also caught two passes for 31 yards. Senior wide receiver Mateo Andrews caught two passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, including a 71-yard touchdown reception, and also returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Brick 29, Toms River South 8
Senior quarterback AJ Grygiel ran for 100 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and threw for 79 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Dragons (1-1, 1-0) to a victory over the rival Indians (1-1, 0-1).
Junior running back Travis Trempy also ran for 100 yards and a touchdown and did so on 13 carries. Jayden Johnson had a 24-yard touchdown catch, Trempy had a 1-yard touchdown run, and Logan Donnely hauled in a 44-yard touchdown reception to give Brick a 21-0 lead. Grygiel's 65-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 27-0 before the Dragons recorded a safety to make it 29-0.
James Alexander had a 7-yard touchdown run for Toms River South.
Independence Division
No. 4 Point Boro 39, No. 7 Manasquan 13
Junior quarterback Matt Oliphant ran for 228 yards and four touchdowns on 19 carries and the defense harassed Manasquan All-Shore quarterback Brett Patten all night to lead the Panthers (2-0, 1-0) to a decisive victory over the Warriors (0-1, 0-1).
Oliphant had touchdown runs of 1, 1, 67, and 30 yards and averaged 12 yards per carry. Junior running back Jake Croce ran for 76 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries and senior running back Connor Cilento ran for 61 yards on seven carries.
Patten had a 1-yard touchdown run and senior running back Jhamier Howard had a 38-yard touchdown run for Manasquan. Howard ran for 86 yards and also caught three passes for 60 yards.
Raritan 21, Monmouth 13
Senior running back Kieran Falzon ran for 142 yards and a touchdown and senior slot back Dan Calicri ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown pass to lead the Rockets (2-0, 1-0) to a win over the Falcons (1-1, 0-1).
Calicari caught three passes for 70 yards and a touchdown from Logan Goldsberry and also ran for 46 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Senior running back Julian Jones ran for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries to lead Monmouth. Senior linebacker Nick Huisman led the Falcons' defense with 10 tackles and a forced fumble.
St. John Vianney 34, Holmdel 27
Anthony Setteducate ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns, Tim Haggerty ran for 97 yards and a touchdown, and Brayden Savage ran for 53 yards and a touchdown to lead Holmdel.
Liberty Division
Manchester 21, Toms River East 13
Junior running back Josh Love ran for 114 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and senior wide receiver Tyrone Benjamin caught four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown as the Hawks (2-0, 1-0) beat the Raiders (0-2, 0-1) to start the season 2-0 for the first time since 2017.
Benjamin caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from senior Eli Casalan and Love had a 3-yard touchdown run. Sophomore quarterback Aidan Lunn threw for 102 yards and a touchdown, a 27-yard scoring pass to Antonio Sarama. Senior Christin Pasos and freshman Kurtis Mayer each recorded two sacks and one tackle for loss.
Amari Phillips ran for 70 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and Joe Scala ran for 51 yards and a touchdown on three carries for Toms River East. Brian Schnur caught three passes for 92 yards.
Barnegat 7, Pinelands 6
Senior running back JoJo Bivins ran for 66 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and senior linebacker Seth Freiwald made nine tackles with four tackles for loss as the Bengals (1-1, 1-0) clipped the Wildcats (1-1, 0-1) in a defensive slugfest.
Senior quarterback Ryan Allen threw a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Mike Frawley to account for Pinelands' touchdown. Sophomore running back Jaimin Parkinson ran for 74 yards on 17 carries. Senior defensive end Mike Hall made seven tackles with two tackles for loss while senior linebackers Liam Villinger and Logan Russo both made 13 tackles.
Matawan 42, Jackson Liberty 7
Sophomore quarterback Am'ir Martinez de Scott ran for 149 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and threw for 91 yards and a touchdown to power the Huskies (1-1, 1-0) to a victory over the Lions (1-1, 0-1).
Martinez had touchdown runs of 3 and 25 yards and threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Cameron Cooper. Freshman running back Welman Crooms added a 38-yard touchdown run and sophomore running back Colin Palumbo had a 12-yard touchdown run. Cooper also ran for a touchdown and finished with four catches for 88 yards.
Patriot Division
Keyport 30, Asbury Park 22
Sophomore quarterback Roman Blanks ran for a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lift the Red Raiders (1-1, 1-0) to a comeback win over the Blue Bishops (0-2, 0-1).
Blanks also threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Ford. The Raiders had a defensive touchdown when Michael Nichols recovered a fumble in the end zone. Keyport also recorded a safety. Junior running back Nazir Treadwell ran for a team-high 131 yards on 19 carries while Blanks ran for 67 yards and two scores on 13 carries. Ford finished with 52 yards receiving on three catches.
Kevin Fitzgerald led the Keyport defense with a sack and three tackles for loss while Logan Blanks had a sack and recorded a safety.
Rah'Lee Stephens had a 60-yard touchdown run and I'Quann Crawford had a 10-yard touchdown run for Asbury Park. The Bishops were playing in their first game of the season after being forced to forfeit their season-opener against Weequahic due to not having enough eligible players. Asbury had a roster of 18 players vs. Keyport.
Point Beach 32, Keansburg 22
Roman Grauso ran for 70 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries and also caught a touchdown pass as the Garnet Gulls (1-1, 1-0) topped the Titans (0-2, 0-1) in the division opener for both teams.
Grauso also had a big day on defense with 14 total tackles and two tackles for loss. Jake Mullins ran for a team-high 143 yards and a touchdown and added a sack and two tackles for loss on defense. Quarterback Joe Beley threw for 49 yards and a touchdown and made 15 tackles on defense.
Jaheim Hill threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns for Keansburg. Jahmere James caught four passes for 97 yards and a touchdowns, Shane Debow had an 11-yard touchdown catch, and Ian Mendez ran for a 3-yard touchdown.
Colonial Division
No. 9 Long Branch 34, Lacey 21
Senior running back Sekou Kamau ran for 201 yards and two touchdowns and returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to help lead the Green Wave (1-1, 1-0) past the Lions (0-2, 0-1) and give head coach Chad King his first career win.
Kamau had touchdown runs of 75 and 79 yards in addition to his kick return touchdown. Junior running back Zaheem Brown also had a big game with 131 yards rushing and two touchdowns on nine carries, scoring on runs of 49 and 56 yards.
Juniors Aaron Tobia and Trevor Santucci caught touchdown passes from junior quarterback Nicholas Maertens and Dominic Perrone ran for a touchdown to lead Lacey.
Constitution Division
Colts Neck 50, Freehold 13
Junior running back Chris Scully ran for a career-high 204 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries and junior quarterback Dom Beninato completed 6 of 10 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cougars (1-1, 1-0) to an emphatic victory over the Colonials (0-2, 0-1).
Senior Sal Marinelli caught two passes for 60 yards and a touchdown, sophomore Jack Lefkowitz caught two passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, and junior Aidan Manasso had a 10-yard touchdown catch. Senior Will Surdez ran for 65 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and on defense made 11 tackles with three tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Junior Eric Loureiro also recorded a sack, Tesio Carrabello blocked a punt, Devin Donnelly forced a fumble, and Jack Tormey recovered. fumble.
Marlboro 35, Freehold Township 7
Senior quarterback AJ Schwartz accounted for two touchdowns and junior linebacker Anthony Tropeano had a big game on defense to lead the Mustangs (2-0, 1-0) to a decisive victory over the Patriots (1-2, 0-1).
Schwartz completed 11 of 14 passes for 112 yards and a touchdown and also ran for a touchdown. Junior running back Matt Cassidy ran for 118 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, senior Lucas McEvoy had a 5-yard touchdown catch, and senior Ryan Mendes caught five passes for 70 yards.
The Marlboro defense found the end zone twice as Tropeano and senior Jake Houston each had interceptions that they returned for touchdowns. Tropeano made nine tackles with three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a 20-yard pick-6 while Houston had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown. Cassidy recorded a team-high 12 tackles with two tackles for loss and one sack. The Mustangs had nine sacks in total with Mendes posting two and Alex Frank, Corey Shanin, and Hunter Boilen each recording one sack each. Mendes and Boilen also forced fumbles.
Sophomore wide receiver Nick Cardone caught three passes for 51 yards and a touchdown from junior quarterback Mark Augello to account for Freehold Township's touchdown. Nick Carnevale made 15 tackles and Jayden Holmes-Cotter had two tackles for loss.
Patriot Division
Shore 35, Lakewood 6
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