Long branch defies odds, ends brick memorial’s undefeated streak to reach cj4 final
Stadium night lights over football field during sunset

Long Branch Defies Odds, Ends Brick Memorial’s Undefeated Streak to Reach CJ4 Final

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1 min read
November 5, 2023

BRICK, NJ – The spotlight shone bright on the underdogs, Long Branch, as they ended Brick Memorial’s undefeated streak in a thrilling 21-7 victory during the NJSIAA Tournament, Central Jersey, Group 4 semifinal on Friday night. This triumph not only propelled Long Branch into the CJ4 final but also marked a remarkable upset against a formidable Brick Memorial team.

The first quarter started slow, with neither team managing to put points on the board. However, Long Branch’s Earnest Reevey broke the deadlock in the second quarter with a 3-yard run, followed by a successful kick from Wesley Garcia to bring the score to 7-0.

As the action resumed post-halftime, the momentum stayed with Long Branch. Davon Craft added to the tally with a 2-yard run, and Garcia’s boot split the uprights once again. Not willing to go down without a fight, Brick Memorial’s Kevin Andrews responded with an 8-yard run, and a successful kick from Jack Marotta put Brick Memorial on the scoreboard.

Long Branch was not done yet, as Reevey connected a 20-yard pass to Miguel Maldonado for another touchdown, and Garcia’s kick sealed the score at 21-7.

In a game where ground control was vital, Long Branch’s Davon Craft led the rushing with 112 yards, while Brick Memorial’s Connor Dietz made a notable contribution of 127 rushing yards. In the air, Reevey had a total passing yardage of 133, connecting with Zaheem Brown for a significant 78 receiving yards.

Brick Memorial, now standing at 10-1, faced their first defeat of the season but displayed a competitive spirit that kept the spectators on the edge of their seats.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

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