By Jim Hintelmann
RED BANK – If Red Bank Catholic had any adverse affects from the previous Friday’s overtime loss to Jackson Memorial, there was certainly no evidence of it during the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) playoffs.
The Caseys crushed Bishop Eustace of Pennsauken, 62-7, last Friday during the Non-Public Group 3 contest, played at Count Basie Field.
“We just put out that Jackson Memorial game in the past and just concentrated on Bishop Eustace,” RBC coach Jim Portela said. “We played a great game.”
RBC will now play host to defending Non-Public Group 3 champion St. Joseph’s of Montvale this Friday in the semifinals.
St. Joseph’s, which defeated Camden Catholic, 45-32, in its opening round game Saturday, ousted RBC from the playoffs the previous two years and will be a formidable obstacle once again.
“They are just as good as their previous teams,” Portela said. “They have great size, are well-coached and have strong passing and running games. They also are strong on defense.
“We must execute our assignments and avoid mistakes. If we do, we’ll be competitive,” he said.
RBC played St. Joseph’s tough last year, holding the Green Knights, the consensus No. 1 team in the state last season, to just 7-0 late in the third period before St. Joseph’s pulled away in the final period.
Last Friday, RBC’s nine touchdowns were divided among eight different players with Tommy Spernal scoring two of them.
RBC scored on all first-half possessions while taking a 41-0 halftime lead. Reserves played most of the second half.
RBC moved 58 yards in seven plays following the opening kickoff for its first touchdown, a 7-yard run by Spernal. Vince Gallo kicked the first of nine extra points.
Defensive back Mike DeMonte made it 14-0 minutes later when he picked off a Crusader pass and returned it 35 yards for the touchdown.
Spernal scored his second touchdown early in the second quarter on a 37-yard run to finish off a 50-yard drive. Michael Cordova added a 30-yard touchdown run on RBC’s next series to make it 28-0.
RBC quarterback Eddie Hahn threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to John Portela while defensive lineman Dan Wilen blocked a Bishop Eustace pass and returned it 10 yards for the final touchdown of the first half.
Despite playing its reserves in the second half, RBC still managed three more touchdowns on a 24-yard run by Dylan Murphy, a 34-yard scoring effort from freshman Nick Brusca, and a 72-yard run by Mike Wilen, who is Dan Wilen’s brother.
