Toms River North and Brick Memorial are among the shore’s top football programs. With exceptions both schools contend annually for division titles
and spots in the state playoffs. North is 38-17 over the last five-plus seasons while Memorial is 40-19 over that same span. The two American Division rivals meet tonight in Brick and it’s a crossroads game for both for different reasons. The Mustangs of Memorial are 3-1 with their lone loss a non-conference heartbreaker to Sayreville in the opening weekend of the season. They are a perfect 3-0 in the division with wins over Southern, Freehold Township and Jackson Memorial and a victory tonight would set the stage for a showdown with undefeated Howell in two weeks for the Shore American title.

The visiting Mariners were picked by some in the pre-season as the #1 team at the shore and they opened the season with easy wins over Toms River South and Manalapan with a bye in between. Last Saturday night they held explosive Howell to just 7 points but managed only a field goal of their own and lost to the Rebels, who are now the top-ranked team in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Because they’re in the highly competitive South Jersey Group 4 playoff bracket North might have to run the table to earn a post-season spot which means tonight is almost a “win or else” even though its only their fourth game of the season.

Tonight’s confrontation features some outstanding senior performers….Vinnie Sabba, Bill Miller and Glenn McGinnis from Memorial and North’s Steve Barroso, Drew Kollman and Rob Cassidy just to name a few. It should be fun and it’s our game of the week on the Shore Sports Network, including 105.7 The Hawk and 1160 WOBM AM. If you are planning to attend the game then be sure and bring at least two non-perishable food items because it will get you free admission. Brick Memorial is running a food drive in conjunction with The Foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Congratulations to Monsignor Donovan High School Tennis coach Tom Connerton on collecting his 300th career victory as the Griffins beat Bishop Ahr in the NJSIAA Girls Tournament Thursday. Connerton is a former Donovan player and in his 12th season coaching the tennis team.