Palmer Has Another Great Day for Seraphs

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By Jim Hintelmann
KEYPORT – A year ago, Mater Dei Prep’s football team achieved its first winning season since 1999.
Now the bar is set even higher as the Seraphs are now seeking the B Division Central championship after their impressive 36-0 rout of Keyport Saturday.
It was the first win over Keyport for the Seraphs since 1997, but two big division games against Shore Regional and Point Pleasant Beach still remain.
Senior quarterback Christian Palmer, whose outstanding play this season has been a big factor to the Seraphs success, had another brilliant game Saturday.
Palmer, ignoring a sloppy field, completed 7 of 13 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns while scoring twice himself and rushing for 94 yards on 11 carries.
“It was just great execution,” Palmer said. “The guys up front did a terrific job and it takes 11 players to make it work. We’ve stepped it up ever since we lost to Dunellen,” which defeated Shore, 16-7 Thursday.
Following a scoreless first quarter, MDP got moving in the second period with Palmer scoring the first touchdown with a 43-yard run on a keeper, but a pass for two points was incomplete, leaving the score 6-0.
MDP scored on its next series when Palmer threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Zach Bragg. The same pair combined for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.
“It all starts up front,” Mater Dei Prep coach Steve Sciarappa said. ”Our line did a real good job protecting Christian. We have nine starting sophomores and it took awhile for them to get their feet wet but, little by little, they are coming along.”

Mater Dei Prep quarterback Christian Palmer gets ready to throw the ball. He had a huge game for the Seraphs, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 232 yards and three TD's.
Mater Dei Prep quarterback Christian Palmer gets ready to throw the ball. He had a huge game for the Seraphs, rushing for 94 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 232 yards and three TD’s.

MDP kept the momentum going during the third quarter when Palmer scored on an 11-yard keeper and passed to Tysaun White for the two-point conversion to make it 22-0.
Palmer and White than hooked up for a 59-yard touchdown pass on the Seraphs’ next series. Palmer passed to Vincenzo Mezzacappa for the two-point conversion.
Palmer closed out his outstanding day by throwing an 85-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Lewis.
Losing to Dunellen “was a wakeup call for us,” said MDP defensive back John Lubintus, one of the many defensive standouts for the Seraphs. “We had to play better with more discipline and did what we had to do.”
MDP travels to South River Saturday, Oct. 11, and Sciarappa expects a tough game. The Rams defeated Keansburg, 22-16, in overtime Saturday.
“As you guys know, it is no joke going to South River,“ Sciarappa said. “It will be a challenge for us but we have to win at the next level. We still have Shore and Point Beach on the horizon.”
Meanwhile, Keyport (0-4), travels Saturday to Highland Park