By Jim Hintelmann
RED BANK – For one of the few times this season, the Red Bank Catholic football team’s offense was stopped, but only for a half.
After struggling in the first half against Neptune in Friday night’s B Division North contest, leading only 10-0, RBC erupted for three touchdowns in the third quarter while coasting to a 37-0 rout of the Scarlet Fliers.
The victory extended RBC’s win streak against Shore Conference schools to 36 with the last loss being to Freehold in a double-overtime setback in 2012.
“Neptune came out with a different game plan,” RBC coach Jim Portela said. “They used a different front than we usually see from them, but we worked on that at halftime and made some adjustments to our blocking.”
RBC, after being held to less than 100 yards in total offense in the first half, came out a different team in the second half, scoring on its first three possession of the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“We did a lot better in the second half, but I also think that we wore them down. It’s good that we had to play four quarters,” the coach said.
RBC took the second half kickoff and moved 55 yards in six plays with quarterback Eddie Hahn throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Spernal for a 16-0 lead.
The Caseys held for downs and took over on their 45 after a Neptune punt. This time, they scored in seven plays with Hahn getting the touchdown on a 12-yard bootleg. Hahn set it up with a 38-yard pass to Cowley.
“The coaches did a good job of preparing us for Neptune,” Hahn said. “We play a tough schedule and there is no week in which we can take it easy. We knew that we had to come out in the second half and put up points.”
RBC made it 30-0 just before the end of the third quarter when Hahn, who completed 9 of 14 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns, tossed an 18-yard touchdown pass to Cowley to finish a 6-play, 55-yard drive.
RBC’s defense scored the final touchdown when Doug Stockroll knocked the ball loose from Neptune quarterback Ralph McLean and defensive end Jamie Gordinier picked it up and ran it in from 30 yards out.
RBC stalled on its first two series of the first half. The team finally got moving on its third series and drove 50 yards in six plays with Hahn throwing a 27-yard touchdown pass to Cowley, who eluded a Neptune defender at the 15 and ran it in. Vinnie Gallo kicked the first of four extra points.
“I just broke outside and then came back for the ball,” Cowley said. “On my second touchdown, I went 6 yards, faked to the outside and caught the ball. Eddie is amazing. It’s great to have a player like him throwing the ball.”
Gallo, who came out for football this season after playing soccer last year, kicked a 25-yard field goal in the second quarter for a 10-0 RBC lead.
Neptune’s best scoring threat came late in the second quarter when McLean threw a 45-yard pass to Isaiah Calderon, who made a leaping catch at the 35 and seemed about to score, but Hahn dragged him down from behind at the 22 to prevent a touchdown.
RBC held for downs and a 35-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Mike Demonte.
RBC has a bye week and then returns to action Friday, Oct. 10, when it plays host Colts Neck.
