By Rich Chrampanis
It’s time to fire up the Friday Night Lights and kick off the 2019 season. Holmdel and Saint John Vianney will make their season debuts in the NJSIAA designated Week One next week but the other eight teams in our area are set to get things started this weekend in Week Zero.
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN AT
RED BANK CATHOLIC
FRIDAY, 7 P.M.
RBC has a knack for opening the season with a must-see game. Last year, the Caseys opened the year by ending Saint John Vianney’s 38-game Shore Conference win streak. The 2019 opener is an epic rematch from one of the best games of last year. RBC needed a Jaden Key blocked extra point to hold on for a 14-13 win at RFH. We can only hope to have that kind of excitement to set the tone for this fall. There are plenty of familiar faces on both sides who have proven varsity experience but watch out for two newcomers: Ryan Edgerly makes his first start as Caseys quar terback and John Volker steps in as Rumson-Fair Haven’s featured back. RFH has two huge holes to fill at linebacker with Christian Lanzalotto and Keegan Woods gone to graduation. Rumson’s defense always figures out a way and it will be interesting to see who steps up. No matter what the result, both of these teams should once again be among the top teams in the Shore Conference.
MANALAPAN AT
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
FRIDAY, 7 P.M.
One of the great memories from the Eagles eight-win 2018 was Chris Kaldrovics booting a 20-yard field goal to give Middletown South a 17-14 win at Manalapan. The Braves bring back eight starters on both sides of the ball and the South defense will need to key on Nico Santorelli who averaged 10 yards a carry on the way to a 900-yard season. He’ll get a lot more touches his season. Steve Antonucci has been vocal about how tough his team’s schedule is and he’s right, with games against state champ RBC and two bowl winners in RFH and Long Branch. Winning at home will be vital to Middletown South because of their tough slate which means this game carrys some extra weight.
COLTS NECK AT
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP
FRIDAY, 6:30 P.M.
The Cougars begin the first of three straight games on the road against a Patriots squad that’s known to spread the ball around and attack through the air. Colts Neck will lean on its run attack with Romeo Thomas leading the way. Two transfers make their NJ debut: Defensive end Delano Marcelus comes from Washington and DB Rahim Diallo is a Maryland import. Coach Matt Ahearn begins his second season leading the Cougars and the building blocks are in place for this team to improve from last year’s three-win effort.
SHORE REGIONAL AT
ASBURY PARK
FRIDAY, 6 P.M.
The Blue Devils begin their second season as a Group 2 school and open the season with an old rival from their Group 1 days. It’s a chance for Shore to build some confidence as they step up to the Patriot Division and games against predominantly Group 2 and Group 3 schools. Look for Shane McLaughlin to set the tone in Shore’s Wing-T attack.
FREEHOLD BORO AT
RED BANK REGIONAL
FRIDAY, 7:00 P.M.
The first game of the David Schuman era begins in Little Silver where the Bucs are looking to prove they are more than Makai Mickens. The senior running back is out for the season with a torn ACL and would have been one of the most high profile running backs not only in the Shore but the entire state. Nick Ferrogine moves into the running back slot and his athleticism as a sophomore proves he’s capable of stepping into a high profile role and deliver. RBR’s offensive line is a big strength and it will be interesting to see if the Bucs throw the ball around a little more with Jack Chamberlain back leading the offense.
WALL AT
MIDDLETOWN NORTH
FRIDAY, 7:00 P.M.
The young Lions get thrown into the fire facing a Wall team that won six games, returning a number of key players who missed 2018 due to injury. Nick Ferreira gets his first varsity start at quarterback and Anthony Soto makes the shift from receiver to running back. Middletown North’s schedule was brutal in 2018 and the early start to the 2019 slate isn’t much better. But if the Lions can stay healthy, there’s a lot of optimism to improve on last year’s 2-8 effort.
BRICK TOWNSHIP AT
MATER DEI PREP
SATURDAY, 1:00 P.M.
The new structure to Shore Conference divisions means the Seraphs will have a much tougher schedule than in recent years and the result should be an even more battle-tested team come November and the playof fs. Brick Township is coming off an impressive eight-win 2018, but Mater Dei Prep has a lot of fire-power and will still be able to climb to the top of the Shore Conference. We’ll get our first look at Alex Brown, the sophomore quarterback who already has earned Division I interest from Boston College and Rutgers. With coach Mark Ciccotelli running the Mater Dei offense and plenty of weapons, look for Mater Dei Prep to show great balance behind the running of Malik Ingram and Isaiah Noguera leading the receiving corps.
