Are You Ready For Some Football?

Not only will be it feel like fall this weekend but the stakes are certainly rising as the high school football season enters its sixth week with several high-profile matchuups.
Two of the nine undefeated teams at the shore go head-to-head tonight when top-ranked Middletown South visits Toms River North. The Eagles have won 52 of their last 53 games, including a dramatic one-point victory over Wall just two weeks ago in which quarterback Patrick Campbell ran for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns and then made the tackle on what would have been a game-winning two-point conversion. The Mariners also have a premier quarterback in Anthony Penna but he does most of his damage in the air, having thrown for a shore-leading 12 touchdowns.

The North-South meeting is a non-conference game as is the one sending Southern Regional to Brick in what’s been a one-sided rivalry over the years. The Green Dragons have owned the Rams but times are changing and Southern is not only 4-0 but coming off last weekend’s stunning upset of Toms River East. Meanwhile Brick continues to find ways to lose as against Lacey they had two fumbles returned for touchdowns and at 2-2 are badly in need of a victory. Lacey looks to build on that momentum when they invade Colts Neck Saturday with both teams trying to stay within distance of Constitution Division-leading Howell. The 5-0 Rebels host border-neighbor Jackson Memorial tonight.

Saturday afternoons at Manasquan are always special and tomorrow should be no different when Point Boro invades Vic Kubu Warrior Field. It’s a homecoming for Panthers coach Calvin Thompson, who played for Manasquan. His Boro team is 4-0 and trying to keep pace with undefeated Holmdel, who they’ll play in two weeks. First they have to get past the Warriors, who have injury problems in their backfield and can’t afford another division loss. The game will be broadcast on our Shore Sports Network, including 1160AM.

Among tonight’s other games, Toms River East looks to bounce back from their Southern loss when they visit Brick Memorial (1160AM) and Wall hosts Long Branch in a key Liberty Division match up.

The number of winless teams is sure to drop this weekend because six of the tem play one another, including Pinelands at Central tonight and Toms River South meeting Middletown North Saturday night.