Here is the Friday night high school football rundown, all courtesy of All Shore Media:
No. 6 Brick Memorial 35, Brick 13
Senior quarterback Ryan Cieplinski ran for a pair of touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Joe Hans as the Mustangs (1-0, 1-0) roared back from an early 13-0 deficit with 35 unanswered points on their way to beating the Green Dragons (0-1, 0-1) in the season opener for the third straight year.
Junior Mike Basile added a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown for Brick Memorial, and junior Nick Costa added the team's other score. Sophomore running back/linebacker Ray Fattaruso had a 17-yard touchdown run and a 35-yard interception return for a score for Brick's two touchdowns.
Nondivisional
SJ Vianney 40, Msgr. Donovan 0
Senior Billy DeMato was outstanding in his debut for the Lancers (1-0) after transferring from Bishop Ahr, as he did not throw an incompletion and tossed touchdown passes to Ishmael Hyman and Steve Rosso as St. John Vianney routed the Griffins (0-1).
Chris Colapinto and Matt Falco added touchdown runs, while the defense registered the team's first shutout since 2007.
No. 4 Southern 28, Freehold Twp. 0 (Ended in 3rd Q due to lightning)
Junior wideout Mike Gesicki caught a touchdown pass and Southern (1-0) also scored on a fumble return as it built a four-touchdown lead over the Patriots (0-1) in a game that was ended in the third quarter due to lightning.
No. 3 Manalapan 30, Jackson Memorial 12
The Braves (1-0) started slowly but used the big play on special teams in the passing game to end a three-game losing streak to the Jaguars (0-1) and take a 13-12 lead in the all-time series between the teams. Manalapan got on the board with 3:50 left in the first quarter on a 50-yard pass from senior quarterback Michael Isabella to senior wideout Anthony Firkser. Manalapan extended the lead with 4:40 left in the first half on a 19-yard reverse by junior Saeed Blacknall, capping an 11-play, 84-yard drive. Manalapan went up 17-0 after it tacked on a field goal on the last play of the first half, a 27-yarder by sophomore Mike Caggiano, that was set up by a 68-yard punt return by Blacknall.
Jackson Memorial cut the lead on their its first drive of the third quarter, a 9-play, 75-yard march that ended with a seven-yard run by sophomore quarterback Joe DeMaio that cut the lead to 17-6. The score stayed that way till early in the fourth quarter when Manalapan went on an 11-play, 74-yard drive that was capped by a 3-yard run by senior David Debner. The Braves added their last score on a 52-yard strike from Isabella to Firkser to make the score 30-6. Jackson Memorial closed out the scoring on a 36-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Charles Lombanoto to senior Nick Specht.
Central 29, Toms River South 26
Kicker Austin DeRose booted a 27-yard field goal as time expired to give the Golden Eagles (1-0) a thrilling win on the road over the Indians (0-1).
Junior Javon Hardy ran for a pair of touchdowns, sophomore Manny Bowen returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and Vinny Davis caught a touchdown pass from junior quarterback Marcus Drumright to help power Central. Sophomore Khaleel Green had a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, senior quarterback Trevor Signorino threw a touchdown pass to Robert Hailey and backup quarterback Tymere Berry threw a 60-yard touchdown pass for the Indians.
No. 5 Lacey 58, Pinelands 8
Senior running back Kyle Spatz ran for a pair of scores and also caught a touchdown pass, and junior quarterback Tom Kelly threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including two to senior Bill Belford as the Lions (1-0) rolled past the Wildcats (0-1).
No. 2 Neptune 41, Raritan 13
Senior quarterback Ajee Patterson had a sensational debut in his first varsity start, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two more, and senior running back Myles Martin added touchdown runs of 40 and 54 yards as the Scarlet Fliers (1-0) rolled past the Rockets (0-1).
Sekou Harris and Keith Kirkwood each had touchdown catches for Neptune. Senior C.J. Pulcine threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to James Wines and a 40-yarder to Jordan Joaquin for Raritan's two scores.
Holmdel 21, No. 10 Barnegat 0
The Hornets (1-0) surprised the Bengals (0-1) to equal their entire win total from all of last season with a big win in the opener. Senior quarterback Robbie Cantelli ran for a 21-yard score and also threw a touchdown pass to wideout Mark Scherzer, and sophomore fullback Frank Candito added a 30-yard touchdown run in the win. Senior linebacker Brett Lambert led a defense that posted a shutout in the season opener for the second straight season.
No. 7 Rumson-FH 13, Shore 10 (OT)
Junior kicker Jake D'Amelio hit a 36-yard field goal in overtime and then Rumson's defense stopped the Blue Devils (0-1) on downs to seal a victory that gave Bulldogs coach Shane Fallon his 100th career win.
The Bulldogs (1-0) trailed 10-0 going into the fourth quarter before senior quarterback Danny Roberto threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to junior wideout Melquan Reevey to cut it to 10-7 with 7:49 left in the game. Rumson tied the game when D'Amelio hit a 29-yard field goal as time expired in regulation after rushing on to the field with no timeouts left.
Shore had built a 10-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal by sophomore Jake Monteiro in the second quarter and a 39-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Matt Muh to senior wideout Derek Joyce in the third quarter.
Jackson Liberty 21, Wall 6
Senior quarterback Bob Davies threw a pair of touchdown passes and linebacker Bruce Almodovar had an interception return for a touchdown to lead the Lions (1-0) past the Crimson Knights (0-1).
Sophomore Matt Castronuova had a 21-yard touchdown catch and junior Dan Niblack scored on a 65-yard catch for Jackson Liberty. Jack Gifford scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper for Wall's lone touchdown.
Ocean 30, Manchester 22
Senior quarterback Andrew Mehr ran for a 45-yard touchodwn and also threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Royal Moore to help the Spartans (1-0) top the Hawks (0-1) in the opener.
Freshman running back Tyler Thompson also had a huge debut for Ocean with 170 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns in his first varsity game.
Nonconference
No. 8 Matawan 24, Bishop Ahr 6
New Matawan head coach John Kaye picked up his first victory with the Huskies (1-0) as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead on the way to downing the Trojans (0-1) on the road.
Point Beach 48, Cardinal McCarrick 8
Danny Tighe ran for a pair of touchdowns and Kyle Samaritano and Joe Wegrzyniak each ran for scores as the Garnet Gulls (1-0) built a 34-0 halftime lead on their way to a win over the Eagles (0-1).
I have noticed on Friday Night Football that up North there were many schools which have stopped Night football and the games were played after school with little or no parent or students allowed at game. Is this what it must come to??