TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Friday night lights returned across the Shore Conference with everything from a 42-point shutout to a 103-point shootout. Six local teams came away with victories as the first full weekend of September high school football got underway.
Pinelands blanked Freehold Borough 42-0, Red Bank Catholic outlasted St. Anthony’s of New York 62-41 and Jackson Township knocked off Toms River South 21-10. Donovan Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven and Shore Regional also picked up wins, giving the Shore a busy Friday night from Ocean County to Monmouth County.
- Red Bank Catholic scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to break a 41-41 tie and beat St. Anthony’s 62-41.
- Pinelands, Jackson Township, Donovan Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven all improved to 2-0.
- Donovan Catholic has scored 96 points in its first two games while allowing only 20.
Red Bank Catholic Wins a 103-Point Shootout
There wasn’t much defense to be found when Red Bank Catholic and St. Anthony’s met at Count Basie Field in Red Bank.
The Caseys eventually found enough of it.
The game was tied 41-41 before Red Bank Catholic scored the final 21 points, pulling away for a 62-41 victory and improving to 1-1.
Gabe Kemp was at the center of the offensive explosion, rushing for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Jordan Mosenthine added a late 9-yard touchdown as the Caseys turned a dead-even game into a three-score victory.
It was an emphatic response after Red Bank Catholic opened its season with a 35-28 loss to DePaul Catholic.
The Caseys now head to St. John Vianney for their first Shore Conference divisional game Friday night.
Pinelands and Jackson Township Move to 2-0
Pinelands couldn’t have asked for a much better start.
The Wildcats rolled past Freehold Borough 42-0 on Friday after opening the season with a 40-6 victory over Collingswood.
Through two games, Pinelands has outscored its opponents 82-6.
Jackson Township is also 2-0 after winning on the road in Toms River.
Jackson defeated Toms River South 21-10, with Gavin Dill putting the game away on a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. The pick-six ended Toms River South’s hopes of a late comeback.
Jackson had opened its season with a 21-0 shutout of Ocean Township. That means the Jaguars have allowed just 10 points through their first eight quarters.
They’ll return home Thursday night against Southern Regional.
Donovan Catholic Rolls Again
Donovan Catholic has been even more explosive.
The Griffins went into Holmdel and beat St. John Vianney 45-13, improving to 2-0 after a 51-7 opening victory over Kingsway.
Kahden Davis accounted for four touchdowns in Friday’s win, while Alex Staten rushed for 127 yards.
That gives Donovan 96 points in two games.
The Griffins’ early schedule gets considerably more interesting from here. After another road game at Central Regional, Donovan is scheduled to visit unbeaten Jackson Township on Sept. 18.
Rumson-Fair Haven Stays Unbeaten
Rumson-Fair Haven followed a one-point season-opening thriller with a much more comfortable victory Friday.
The Bulldogs beat Middletown South 32-13 in Rumson to improve to 2-0.
Quarterback Brady Williams has emerged as an early offensive leader for the Bulldogs. Through the first two games, he has thrown for 384 yards and five touchdowns while adding two rushing scores.
Rumson-Fair Haven opened the season with a 28-27 victory over Tottenville of New York.
Middletown South, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2.
Shore Regional Gets Its First Win
Shore Regional also found the win column Friday, beating Point Pleasant Beach 21-13 in West Long Branch.
The Blue Devils entered the night looking to bounce back from a 14-7 season-opening loss at Red Bank Regional.
They did exactly that.
Shore improved to 1-1 while Point Pleasant Beach fell to 1-1 after opening its season with a 43-7 victory over South River.
Friday’s six games also set the table for what comes next.
Pinelands, Jackson, Donovan and Rumson-Fair Haven leave the weekend unbeaten. Red Bank Catholic showed how quickly its offense can take over a game, and Shore Regional avoided an 0-2 start.
High school football is back at the Jersey Shore. Friday night offered a pretty good reminder.
Four Shore Conference teams improved to 2-0 Friday night.
Pinelands, Jackson Township, Donovan Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven all remained unbeaten.
Red Bank Catholic won the highest-scoring game of the night.
The Caseys broke a 41-41 tie with 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points to defeat St. Anthony’s 62-41.
Donovan Catholic has scored 96 points in two games.
The Griffins followed their 51-7 opening win over Kingsway with Friday night’s 45-13 victory at St. John Vianney.
Friday night football returned across the Shore Conference with big wins by Pinelands, Jackson, Donovan, Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank Catholic and Shore.
