A look at the Shore Conference Thanksgiving football games, compiled from app.com, nj.com and allshoremedia.net:
Middletown HS South 21, Middletown HS North 13: Kyle Brey threw two touchdown passes, including a 48-yarder to Elijah Smith, who also ran for the winning 9-yard touchdown, and the visiting Eagles (7-3) beat the Lions (2-8).
Middletown North scored first in the annual battle of Middletown, as Jake Betkowski caught an 8-yard pass from Cody Thompson for the score in the first quarter.
The Eagles answered with Brey’s 48-yard connection with Smith that, with Connor Ryan’s PAT made it 7-6 at halftime, then took the lead on a 30-yard connection between Brey and Andrew Wisialko.
Thompson connected with Rob Spinelli for a 27-yard touchdown late for the Lions.
Red Bank Catholic 28, Rumson-Fair Haven 12: Larry Redaelli ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns and Frank Olmo rushed for a touchdown and caught a pass for the go-ahead score as the Caseys (10-0) beat the host Bulldogs (7-3).
Danny Roberto threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter as Rumson drew within 14-12 John Ryan caught a pass that he turned into a 70-yard score, and Michael Clarke caught a 17-yard pass for another touchdown.
But Olmo’s 5-yard reception from Pat Toomey put Red Bank Catholic ahead for good.
Point Pleasant Beach 19, Shore Regional 7: Dan Tighe rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns as the Garnet Gulls (10-0) clinched the Shore Conference Class B Central championship by beating the visiting Blue Devils (8-2).
Point Beach took a 6-0 lead on Tighe’s 4-yard score in the first quarter. But Shore answered with a 15-yard score by Mark Constantino Jr. Jake Monteiro’s PAT gave Shore a 7-6 lead.
The Gulls went ahead for good when Kyle Samaritano caught a pass from Joe Fioretti for a 32-yard touchdown that put them ahead 12-7 going into halftime.
Samaritano finished with 91 yards rushing for Point Beach.
Long Branch 13, Red Bank 0: Dwight Clark ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Vicente Mota kicked field goals of 24 and 28 yards as the Green Wave (9-1) beat the visiting Bucaneers (4-6).
Long Branch rushed for 155 yards as a team, with Clark finishing with 44 yards.
Dan Vilardi rushed for 40 yards for Red Bank.
Manasquan 14, Wall 7: Conor Grogan broke free from 19 yards out and ran in for the winning touchdown, lifting the host Warriors (5-5) past the Crimson Knights (2-7-1).
Wall took a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Jack Gifford to Tyler Ossenfort. Manasquan answered with a 4-yard touchdown run by Joe Murphy to tie the game heading into halftime.
Lakewood 7, Toms River South 0: Tyrice Beverette scored on a quarterback keeper from 12 yards out and the Piners (7-3) held off the host Indians (4-6) in a Class B South game.
Berry passed for 36 yards and Otis Kearney finished with 44 yards rushing for Toms River South.
Freehold Township 28, Freehold 27: Dan Bloodgood and Shane McGhee each scored two touchdowns and Justin Miller successfully kicked all four PATs as the Patriots (4-6) fought off a rally by the visiting Colonials (2-8).
Josh Dixon rushed for two touchdowns, including one of 50 yards, and Tyrod Smith-Rush caught two passes for scores, including the TD that put Freehold ahead.
Bloodgood rushed for 173 yards, with touchdowns of 60 and 81 yards.
Southern Regional 35, Central Regional 0: Dan Higgins threw for 216 yards and four touchdowns, including two to Mike Gesicki, as the visiting Rams (8-2) beat the Golden Eagles (3-6) in the resumption of the schools’ Thanksgiving rivalry.
It was the first time the schools played on Thanksgiving since 1983 and their first meeting since 2005.
Ocean Twp. 15, Monmouth Regional 13: Quarterback Jeff Farrah was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 12 seconds left as the Falcons (2-8) fell to the host Spartans (5-4-1).
Farrah, who passed for 241 yards, threw a 53-yard score to Sheldon McCue and ran for an 11-yard score.
Holmdel 30, Raritan 27: Frank Condito rushed for two touchdowns and caught a pass for another as the visiting Hornets (4-6) rallied to beat the Rockets (0-10).
John Russo threw two touchdown passes for Holmdel.
Manalapan 51, Marlboro 0: Saeed Blacknall and Mike Isabella combined for three touchdowns, including one of 85 yards, as the Braves (10-0) took a 28-point lead and cruised to victory over the host Mustangs (4-6).
Blacknall finished with 150 yards receiving. Tyler Leonetti, whose 4-yard touchdown opened the scoring, rushed for 80 yards.
Barnegat 49, Pinelands Regional 0: A.J. Opre rushed for 245 yards and three touchdowns, including scores of 97 and 82 yards, and the Bengals (5-5) beat the host Wildcats (0-9).
Barnegat finished with 377 yards rushing.
Colts Neck 48, Howell 7: Anthony Garguilo rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns as the Cougars (9-1) cruised past the host Rebels (1-9).
John Quinlan passed for 146 yards for Howell, which scored on Tory Robinson’s 5-yard run.
Jake Mullaney rushed for 105 yards, including a 49-yard score for Colts Neck.
Jack
9:15 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Went is Middletown North ever going to get a better Football Program going? Really North have to go back since 1983 went north last went 10-0 North really Stink no wonder why all the kids who want to play football want to go to MHSS.
Jack
9:23 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
It really a shame for those kids to goes to Middletown North. They haven't have a good football program since 1983 went North last time went 10-0. its no wonder why all the kids who want to play football want to go to MHSS. I really wish that North would get someone to come in there and get this Football program to back as it was in the 80"s.
ASimon
2:54 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
May be bad for the few kids at North who are focused on kicking around a football, but much better for the majority of kids at North who are focused on academics. A much better atmosphere for learning exists where resources and attention are not so focused on the football program. South should take some lessons from North in that regard.
john doe
4:32 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Believe it or not a good football program should enhance academics......it also gets your school noticed by good colleges.
Tom D
8:24 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
It is my understanding that there are players on South that should be playing at North, but go to South to play on the " better team " I guess it's who you know in Middletown not what you know.
john doe
5:25 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
as long as the rules allow a student to go to either school you can't blame someone who wants to play for a better program.
concerned fan
1:28 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
With no football coach in place which also means there is no off season workout program for football players to attend. Which could be putting those children in harms way when season starts. This one big happy family type township with2. high schools. North football players should be able to attend hs south's off seasons w.o. program. Just saying......... my tax money supports both school .......
john doe
4:16 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
North still has a strength and conditioning coach....the football team should be in the wieght room....and in the bubble going thru agilities.... getting faster and stronger
fan
10:09 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Don't be fooled there is no s and c program in place. And the so called coach has no plan in place for football conditioning. Just taking turns lifting weights isn't what I would call proper football conditioning.... the kids need some leadership.
john doe
1:18 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
maybe North should be looking for a new strength and condition coach to go along with the new football coach......if the kids don't condition they are going to get hurt.....i see lawsuits in norths future....its a shame thats the way it is
fan
3:41 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Maybe the middletown a.d. should spend a little more time with the north program or is it too hard for him to pull his lips off coach antonuccis ass..
john doe
4:14 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
everybody is focused on south getting all the talented players.....in my opinion that wasn't the reason for the poor football program........I know most of the players for both schools.....and the talent level was pretty equal.
fan
9:54 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
I agree about the talent level being equal. So tell me what is the problem.waiting til June to hire a coach help S no one. It only sets the program another full year.
john doe
1:45 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Well the Senoirs that busted thier butts for 3 yrs are screwed........they are not going to be conditioned and they are going to have to learn a new system in 2 months......another talent senoir class going to waste. GET A COACH IN PLACE NOW !!!!!!!