The Shore Conference’s Top Games: Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we preview some of the Shore Conference's top games going into Week 4 of football here in the great, Garden State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Friday, September 27</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Central Regional (4-0) at Southern (4-0), 7pm<br><br>Of all the games to highlight this week, this matchup might be the easiest choice. With both teams sitting at 4-0, and with both teams in the Shore - B South Division, this matchup might go a long way to determine the division champion.<br><br>In order to maintain division dominance, Central Regional will look to their quarterback-receiver tandem in [player_tooltip player_id='1476838' first='Joe' last='Vezzosi'] and his favorite target [player_tooltip player_id='781001' first='Royalty' last='Riley']. So far, the duo has linked up 14 times for 217 yards and 4 scores. Vezzosi has continued to go on to have a stellar start to the season thus far, using all of his targets to the tune of 38-74 for 597 yards with 9 touchdown passes to 1 interception, while pitching in with 110 yards on the ground on just 7 attempts. Defensively Central Regional is lead by [player_tooltip player_id='1476839' first='Zach' last='Cramer'], a junior, who has made 28 tackles (22 solo stops), 1 TFL, and 1 sack. <br><br>Southern looks to claim the mantle as the division's team-to-beat as they have relied heavily on defense this year. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476840' first='Ty' last='Eck'Art'] is off to a strong start to his campaign with 24 tackles, while making 3 tackles for loss and forcing a fumble. Additionally, sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1476842' first='Levi' last='Foote'] has contributed with 9 tackles (6 solo), 2 TFL, and 2 fumble recoveries - one of which went for a touchdown. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='787199' first='Justin' last='Silva'] is where we pivot, as the two-way star leads the team with 26 tackles and rushing yardage with 107. Lastly, young sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1476843' first='Chris' last='Raub'] will look to plant his flag in this rivalry, as he has caught 3 scores already this season - apparently leading the team to this point.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Barnegat (3-1) at Manchester Township (3-1), 6pm<br><br>Having seen Barnegat's two-headed threat at running back at a camp this spring, I expected them to dominate on the ground. It appears, however, that [player_tooltip player_id='1269599' first='Johnnel' last='Johnson'] has seized the lead role in the backfield, having rushed for 44 yards and 339 carries with a gaudy 10 touchdowns so far. Behind the ground game is a defense that matches the Bengals' style of play. Johnson gets his licks on defense too, having made 19 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, recovering two fumbles, and picking off a pass. He is joined by fellow seniors Jamison Prince (23 tackles, 2 FF, 1 Int) and [player_tooltip player_id='736704' first='Cole' last='Toddings'] (42 tackles, 12 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 1 Int). <br><br>Manchester, on the other hand, deploys three rushers who are all very close in terms of production. [player_tooltip player_id='1259091' first='Marquis' last='Goins, Jr.'] appears to be the lead back, leading the team in carries (37) and has rushed for 123 yards with 1 score. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476847' first='Malik' last='Pharmes'] is right behind him in yardage with 116 yard, with two scores on 17 carries. However, their senior quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='855764' first='Aidan' last='Lunn'], leads the way with 168 yards and 2 scores on 23 attempts. Lunn has also gone 27-44 for 586 yards with 4 touchdown passes to 1 interception. Goins, Jr., is also Lunn's favorite target, leading the team in all receiving categories (14/334/2). Two defenders to be mindful of are junior lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1287238' first='Kurtis' last='Mayer'] (30 tackles, 2 sacks) and senior [player_tooltip player_id='801497' first='Dante' last='Mortellite'] (45 tackles, 1 sack).</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Rumson-Fair Haven (3-0) at Middletown South (2-2), 7pm<br><br>A yearly favorite to win it all in Group II are the Rumson-Fair Haven Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are led by a very balanced offensive approach thus far. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='545577' first='Owen' last='O'Toole'] quarterback's the squad to a tune of 40-51 passing for 660 yards and 8 touchdowns to no picks. His fellow targets are a pair of seniors: [player_tooltip player_id='1476850' first='Jordan' last='Angstreich'] (17/229/3) and [player_tooltip player_id='1476852' first='Nick' last='Thomas'] (11/260/4). On the ground, junior [player_tooltip player_id='1088333' first='Kellen' last='Murray'] leads the team by 30 carries as he has slashed 44/281/8 on the ground thus far.<br><br>Middletown South will take a ground-heavy, defensive approach to stop Rumson-Fair Haven. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='787198' first='Brendan' last='Sliva'] leads the way with 44 attempt, making 185 yards and 2 scores. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476858' first='Luca' last='Donofrio'], who also quarterbacks the team, has rushed 35 times for 248 yards and 1 score, while also going 25-48 for 255 yards with 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Lastly, [player_tooltip player_id='1476859' first='Justin' last='Rosato'] has rushed for 235 yards on 36 attempts and scored once. Defensively, Silva leads the team with 45 tackles, while junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1476861' first='Michael' last='Murphy'] must be identified at all times, as he has made 37 tackles with 4 for a loss and 1 sack.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Saturday, September 28</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Long Branch (0-4) at Colts Neck (0-4), 11am<br><br>Saturday will feature a matchup of two teams looking to turn their season's fortunes around. Long Branch appears to be led offensively by the dynamic play of dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1476865' first='Quentin' last='Fisher']. Fisher has gone 41-86 through the air for 613 yards, connecting for 8 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Further, Fisher has rushed a team-high 47 times for 318 yards and scored twice. On the defensive side of the ball, a pair of brothers make a big impact. Am emerging offensive weapon to be mindful of is receiver [player_tooltip player_id='910817' first='Nyron' last='Snerling']. In his debut season he has caught 8 balls for 140 yards and 1 score. Freshman lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1476866' first='Imeer' last='Jones'] is also making an early impact with 7 tackles.<br><br>With very little information about Colts Neck available, [player_tooltip player_id='1476870' first='Brady' last='Tormey'], a junior, has tossed 1 touchdown pass to junior [player_tooltip player_id='1476872' first='Bryson' last='Royal']. Brady has also converted an extra point. <br><br></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->