By Ryan Fennell
Colts Neck – The Middletown South Eagles had a chance to secure a home state playoff game this weekend but were unable to get it together against a now 7-1 Colts Neck team last Sunday afternoon at Colts Neck High School.
After knocking the rust off Colts Neck jumped out to a 13-0 lead on a 7-yard touchdown run from Anthony Garguilo and a 1-yard sneak from quarterback Mike Campbell.
The Eagles got on the board with under a minute to go in the half on a 40-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Brey to Anthony Citarella. But, that would be as much as the Eagles could muster, falling 28-9 in their final state playoff qualifying game of the season.
“They outplayed us today,” said Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci. “They outplayed us on offense and defense. I didn’t think we played to our capabilities today.
“We had an opportunity to do something here today and get a home game next week, which I thought would be motivation for our guys,” he added. “We just didn’t play well.”
Instead of grabbing the 3-seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, the Eagles enter the postseason as the 7-seed and will travel to face second-seeded West Windsor South (8-1) Friday night at 7pm.
Interestingly enough, if the Eagles are able to overcome its seeding and defeat West Windsor South this weekend, they could be back at Colts Neck High School on Nov. 30 to take on the third-seeded Cougars in the Group IV semifinal.
Colts Neck will host sixth-seeded Steinert (5-3) on Saturday at 1 pm.
In stunning, comeback fashion the Manasquan Warriors (4-4) upset Rumson-Fair Haven, 14-9, last Saturday in Manasquan. While it was the first loss of the year for the Bulldogs, they had already secured themselves at place at the postseason table and will enter the Central Jersey Group III playoffs as the 3-seed against sixth-seeded Weequahic (6-2) Friday night at 7pm at Borden Stadium.
Red Bank Catholic remains unbeaten heading into the first round of the playoffs after downing Monmouth Regional, 41-6, last Saturday. The Caseys (8-0) take the fourth seed into the NJSIAA Non-public Group III playoffs where they will host fifth-seeded Monsignor Donovan in the first round Friday night at Count Basie Field at 7 pm.
Shore Regional earned the top seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I playoffs with a 7-1 record, losing only to Rumson-Fair Haven in the season opener. The Blue Devils will host eighth-seeded Keansburg Friday night at 7 pm
