'Stangs Stay Alive in Playoff Race; Beat T.R. North 27-21

In Brick Memorial's three losses this season, the total differential margin has been nine points.

The Mustangs ended that trend Saturday night, toppling Toms River North (4-3), 27-21 in a Shore Conference class A-South match-up, in a game the Mustangs (4-3) needed to win to stay afloat in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Zack Santos and Mike Basile came up with interceptions on Mariners' quarterback Scott Buxbaum on the final two Toms River North drives of the night, leading the 'Stangs to a much-needed victory.

"I just knew we all had to pick it up as a team," Santos said. "Them doing there job makes my job easier - to make interceptions."

Ryan Cieplenski continued to progress, pitching, debatebly, his most impressive game as Brick Memorial's signal caller. He was 8-12 passing for 193 yards, tossing three touchdowns and one interception.

After falling behind by seven points on two seperate occassions, Cieplenski found wing-back Justin Hockaday twice - both time in the left flat - and Hockaday took the ball the distance for big touchdowns.

Following the Mariners opening touchdown, Cieplenski hit Hockaday, who was wide open, and the senior picked up a block on the outside and took the ball 70 yards for the score.

On Brick Memorial's next possession, Hockaday made the catch on the first play of the drive, and took it 68 yards for a game-tying score.

Hockaday ended up with three catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

Brick Memorial took their first lead late in the second quarter, when Cieplenski connected with Vincenzo Diodato for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

The Mustangs were put in position to score when Jarred Eccles sacked Buxbaum and Diodato recovered the fumble at the Mariners' 40-yard line.

The drive was kept alive when Hockaday carried the ball for three yards on fourth and three, putting the ball inside the redzone.

Toms River North answered on the ensuing possession, when Buxbaum lead an impressive 68-yard drive to tie the game. Buxbaum kept the drive alive when he hit tight end Jesse Tate on an eight-yard pass on third and five, and later, Nick Pizzola carried the ball for 33 yards, inside the Mustangs one-yard line.

Tailback Chris Hunter then pounded in the one-yard score, tying the teams at 21.

Brick Memorial took the lead for good on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Cieplenski. The Mustangs took over possession at the Mariners' ten-yard line when the snap to punter Chris Gulla sailed over his head, and he was tackled by Hockaday.

The snap on the extra point was bobbled, and Brick Memorial had to settle for the six-point advantage.

The Mariners had three chances to put the ball in the endzone, but Brick Memorial's defense stood tall, most notably forcing the Mariners into a turnover on downs on the Mustangs' 25-yard line. 

Buxbaum was sacked by Tom Sindel on fourth and ten, giving the ball back to Brick Memorial.

After a punt, Buxbaum and the Marienrs took over with 4:14 remaining, but Santos came up with an interception on a deep pass down the sideline.

"There was like 50 seconds left and I was just playing deep and reacting," Santos said. "The kid only had one arm, so I figured I had the upper hand on him."

Later, Toms River North would get the ball back with 43 second left, and, after gaining enough yardage to cross midfield, Basile came up with the interception to seal the win for Brick Memorial.

"This defense makes big plays when they had to," Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie said. "That's the important thing. When we're into the 48th minute and you're defense steps up the way we did tonight, that's just an awesome job by our guys and our defensive staff."

Buxbaum was 19-30 passing for 209 yards, hurling one touchdown and two interceptions. His favorite target was Joey Fields, who made 11 catches for 117 yards, but the Mariners couldn't make the plays when they needed to, dropping their third divisional game of the year.

Tate was the big target for Buxbaum, catching five balls for 53 yards and a touchdown.

Brick Memorial's defense was the key in the win, making the stops on a Mariner's offense that has proved to be lethal this year.

"We're a tough, hard working team, and we're not going to give up. It doesn't matter who we play," Santos said.

The Mustangs will travel to Manalapan on Friday, Oct. 28, in hopes to win and clinch a playoff berth.