Shore Routs South Hunterdon 42-12

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By Jim Hintelmann
 
UNION – A major reason for the success of the Shore Regional football team this year has been its powerful running game and one of the area’s strongest defenses.
Both were on full display Saturday at Kean University in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title game, as the Blue Devils – after just falling short the previous two years in the finals – won with one of their finest efforts in a 42-12 rout of South Hunterdon despite a pouring rain.
It was the sixth sectional title in school history for Shore and the third for Mark Costantino, in his 23 years as head coach.
“All of them were great,” said Costantino, “but this one was special because there was a little pressure on them after we lost close games in the finals the past two years.”
The Shore ground game rolled up 348 yards with junior running back-linebacker Doug Goldsmith leading the way with 141 yards in 28 carries and a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble, one of four forced by the Shore defense, that set up another Shore touchdown.
“This is a great feeling coming out as a team and winning the way we did,” said Goldsmith, who also plays lacrosse.
Goldsmith missed four games because of injuries, one of them in Shore’s lone loss, a 16-7 setback to Dunellen.
“I injured my knee in the preseason,” said Goldsmith. “While on the sidelines, I just couldn’t wait to play again.”
Although the game ended up a one-sided victory for Shore, it was a tough battle for three quarters before the Blue Devils broke it open with three touchdowns in the final quarter.
“Hunterdon Central scored one of their touchdowns on a broken play,” said Costantino. “The other one was in the third quarter but, otherwise, we were able to keep them in check.
“Statistically, I think that was my best team ever defensively,” he said. Shore allowed only 61 points in 12 games this season.
Shore’s defense set up its first touchdown following an interception by Mike Moore at the Eagles 41.
Tyreek McCain set up the touchdown with 26 yards in two carries to the 1-yard line and then quarterback Ryan Campi scored on a keeper and Jake Monteiro kicked the first of six extra points for a 7-0 lead.
South Hunterdon, which had won eight in a row coming into the game, came back and scored on a 5-yard touchdown by Shane Carey after quarterback Ty Frazee set it up with a 46-yard pass to Jeff Brown on the previous play. The PAT (points after touchdown), however, failed leaving Shore with a 1-point lead.
If there was a turning point in the game, it came in the second quarter when the Eagles, faced with a fourth and 1 on their 29, elected to gamble but were stopped by the Shore defense.
Capitalizing on this play, Shore scored in four plays with McCain getting the touchdown on a 19-yard run for a 14-6 advantage.
Shore made it 21-6 on its second series of the third quarter when Campi threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Moore after Goldsmith set it up with a fumble recovery.
The Eagles threatened later in the quarter when it reached the Shore 23, but they fumbled with Shore linebacker James Bedell recovering at the 20.
Shore then drove 80 yards for its next touchdown, a 22-yard run by Kyle Masica, who had set it up with a 30-yard run.
Masica followed with an interception to set up the next Shore touchdown, a 4-yard run by Goldsmith.
Frazee came back with a 68-yard touchdown pass to Brennan Carr, but Masica ran 15 yards for the final Shore touchdown.
Shore should have another solid season next year with many key players coming back.
“We have most of our line along with a lot of our defense retuning,” said Goldsmith. “We lose some good players like Bedell, but I think we’ll have players step up and replace the ones we lost.”