By Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN – It was a big day for area teams in the opening round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) football playoffs over the weekend as Middletown South, Mater Dei Prep, Shore Regional and St. John Vianney rolled to lopsided victories.
Middletown South blanked Burlington Township, 25-0, in Central Jersey Group IV to avenge a loss in last year’s playoffs. Mater Dei Prep routed Morristown Beard, 48-0, in Non-Public 1 while Shore whipped Point Pleasant Beach, 49-0 in CJ 1, and St. John Vianney crushed Pope John, 56-6, in Non Public 3.
Middletown South, which lost to Burlington Township in a shootout by a 52-45 score last year, held Burlington to minus-4 yards rushing and never permitted their opponents to get past the South 35-yard line Friday.
The Eagles will play host to Neptune in the semifinals Friday. South crushed Neptune, 40-0, in a regular season game this year.
Running back Cole Rogers and quarterback Matt Mosquera provided the brunt of the offense with Rogers gaining 205 rushing in 30 carries along with scoring a touchdown. Mosquera kicked three field goals and placed two punts inside the 5-yard line.
“Our defense has been playing great this year,” South coach Steve Antonucci said. “We lost some key players by graduation, but some of the younger players have stepped up and done a good job. “
Antonucci disregarded the first game with Neptune this year.
“We ‘ll have to play well in all phases of the game to win against Neptune,” he said.
Mater Dei Prep quarterback Christian Palmer, who is having a great season, accounted for six of the Seraphs’ touchdowns – throwing for four touchdowns and scoring twice himself.
Palmer completed 9 of 18 passes for 270 yards while rushing for 138 yards in 10 carries and two touchdowns.
Palmer threw touchdowns passes of 69 yards and 22 yards, respectively, to Tyson Stamper in the second quarter plus a 50-yard pass to Eddie Lewis and a 78-yard scoring strike to Tysaun White. He scored touchdowns on runs of 3 and 42 yards.
Mater Dei Prep, which tied a school record for wins with eight, will have a hard time breaking that mark when it travels to state power St. Joseph’s of Hammonton for its semifinal contest Saturday.
Shore played well in every facet of the game in its rout of Point Beach, which avenged a loss to the Garnet Gulls in last year’s playoffs.
Tyreek McCain scored touchdowns on runs of 5 and 59 yards and James Bedell nabbed a 17-yard intercepted pass for a score.
Quarterback Ryan Campi threw a 27-yard scoring pass to Connor Rempel and scored himself on a 5-yard run. Chris Johnsen scored on a 33-yard run and Devin McLaughlin added a 40-yard touchdown for the Blue Devils.
Running back Jeff Sheard led unbeaten St John Vianney with three touchdowns on a 15-yard run and touchdown receptions of 51 and 32 yards from quarterback Anthony Brown.
Khalil Haskins added touchdown runs of 43 and 10 yards while Brown threw touchdowns passes of 15 and 9 to Danny Calabro and Josh Taylor respectively.
SJV travels to top-seeded Delbarton Saturday for a semifinal game.
