KEANSBURG – For a time last winter, Mater Dei Prep looked as it would not even have a school, let alone a football team, but everything is back to normal this season.
Thanks to a successful fund-raising drive that gave Mater Dei Prep the necessary financial aid to remain open, the football season opened as usual, and the Seraphs got off to a great start with a solid 35-0 rout of rival Keansburg Saturday. It was a successful debut for new coach Shannon Hoadley, who replaced former coach Steve Sciarappa.
“I’m at a loss for words,” said Hoadley following a Gatorade bath after the game. “There was a lot of emotion out there after what happened nine months ago. My team was great out there on the field. They wanted to show the Mater Dei Prep community what kind of football team we have and receive respect.”
Wide-receiver Eddie Lewis, one of the returning starters from last year’s 8-3, team did it all for the Seraphs. He returned a punt 75 yards for one touchdown after having another called back by a penalty, caught a 40-yard scoring pass for another score and set up a third touchdown with a pass interception.
“Lewis has seven Division I offers so far,” said Hoadley. “This important thing, however, is his maturity. He took optional courses during the summer to get extra college credit.”
“There was not any difference this year,” said Lewis. “Coach Hoadley was on our staff last year so there was no pressure. Everybody did their jobs.”
The game also marked the debut of sophomore quarterback Kyle Devaney, who has the difficult task of replacing standout quarterback Christian Palmer, who set a Shore Conference scoring record with 42 total touchdowns (passing and running) last season and is currently playing defensive back and on special teams at Salve Regina in Rhode Island.
“I can’t replace Christian,” admits Devaney, who completed six of 12 passes or 105 yards and two touchdowns. “I got all of the nervousness
out of the way during the week, and winning the opener felt great.”
Mater Dei Prep scored on its first series following the kickoff, going 50 yards in 10 plays with Devaney throwing an eight-yard touchdown pass to Justice George. Sky Cherry kicked the first of three extra points.
Lewis set up the next touchdown by intercepting a Keansburg pass and returning it 50 yards to the Titans 5-yard line. Jonathan Lubintus, who rushed for 70 yards, scored on the next play.
The Seraphs picked up a safety just before halftime when Keansburg’s Arkeyel Brown was dropped in the end zone by Mater Dei Prep’s Justice George.
Lewis returned a punt 80 yards for an apparent touchdown in the third quarter, but it was nullified by a holding penalty. Lewis, though, got another chance when Keansburg made the mistake of punting to him again. This time he returned it 75 yards for the touchdown and a 21-0 lead.
“I was surprised that they kicked the ball to me again,’ said Lewis, “but the ball came right to me and I got some good blocks and scored.”
Lewis had the game’s most spectacular play when he grabbed a punt at his own 35 and returned it 40 yards, dragging what looked like half of the Keansburg team with him before he was brought down.
Juwan Mitchell scored the other Mater Dei Prep touchdown when he picked up a Keansburg fumble and returned it 50 yards for the score.
The Seraph defense held Keansburg to just 50 yards total offense, and it never got closer than the Seraph 40-yard line.
Mater Dei plays host to Newark Academy Saturday while Keansburg, under new coach John Bird, makes a trip to Highland Park Friday.
