By Jim Hintelmann
WALL – Red Bank Catholic and Middletown South made impressive football debuts over the weekend.
RBC extended its winning streak against Shore Conference schools to 34 with a 55-5 rout of Wall in the initial B Division North game for both clubs while Middletown South, which had a rare off-season last year, crushed A Division North rival Marlboro, 56-0.
RBC Junior quarterback Eddie Hahn, who shared the duties last year with Pat Toomey, made a brilliant debut as a starter by scoring three touchdowns and passing for two more as the Caseys built a 48-6 halftime lead before turning the game over to the reserves in the second half.
“We scrimmaged a lot of strong teams like Bergen Catholic, Montclair and Elizabeth in the preseason and that helped us get ready for the regular season,” Hahn said.
Hahn scored touchdowns the first times he carried the ball, beginning with a 24-yard run on a draw play to give RBC an early 6-0 lead. He later added scoring runs of 30 and 55 yards and threw touchdown passes of 38 and 9 yards to Trevor Crowley and Nick Lubischer, respectively, before sitting out the second half.
“My offensive line did a great job,” Hahn said.” Our running backs and receivers stepped up nicely and everything clicked tonight.”
“We wanted to come out hard and physical,” RBC coach Jim Portella said. “That is the way we always play. Eddie was outstanding.”
RBC will have a stronger opponent Friday, Sept. 12, when it plays host to Long Branch. It will be the first of six straight home games for RBC.
“Long Branch has an excellent running back (Dahmiere Willis),” Portella said. “He’s very athletic and can do it all. They have a good team, but we are looking forward to the game.”
Middletown South, helped by returning players from last year’s unbeaten and unscored upon freshman team, rolled up a 49-0 halftime lead on Marlboro before sitting the regulars down in the second half.
Sophomore Jim McCarthy scored two touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards on six carries for the Eagles while junior Cole Rogers scored three touchdowns on runs of 3, 7 and 20 yards. The South defense held Marlboro to minus-18 yards rushing.
South will play host Friday, Sept. 12, to South Brunswick.
