By Tom Szieber
Posted: Monday, September 5, 2016 5:00 pm
There was a lot of interstate action seizing headlines, but Bernards and Shabazz put on a show in Newark that may have been the most exciting of the weekend. The Mountaineers walked away with a 54-40 win, but the box scored ended up looking pretty odd. Shabazz led 34-32 after a first half that saw lead change after lead change, but the defenses stiffened up after halftime. In fact, it was a defensive play that allowed Bernards to begin pulling away, when cornerback Curt Gouldin (2 INT) took an interception 22 yards to pay dirt. Mountaineers QB Stephen Dribben threw 3 touchdowns in the win.
Don Bosco Prep certainly has nothing to be ashamed of losing to American Heritage (FL), the preseason #6 team in the USA Today Super 25, but the Ironmen had to be frustrated with the fact that they simply could not generate significant offense in their 21-0 setback. It was Bosco’s first shutout loss of the Gridiron New Jersey era, largely caused by a Patriots defense that kept the Ironmen’s talented skill players from finding much separation in the passing game.
St. Peter’s Prep kicked off 2016 in Ireland, steamrolling Blessed Trinity (GA), 41-28. The game, though, wasn’t nearly as close as the score might suggest, as the Marauders scored all of its points before the end of the third, walking into the final period with a 34-point advantage. Wide receiver/defensive back Jorge Portorreal was a jack-of-all-trades for Prep, hitting the end zone on a 48-yard run, a 27-yard pass from QB Johnathan Lewis and a 45-yard pick-six.
It isn’t even Week 1, but we’ve already seen one impressive rally, in the form of Central’s comeback over Southern after trailing 14-0 at the half. Rams RB Joe Miele had two touchdown runs in the first half, but Central got rolling in the second half. Tight end Denis Corbin scored on a three-yard rush to get the Golden Eagles on the board, and running back Mike Bickford (20 rush, 117 yards) ripped off a 23-yard scoring run with just under 8 minutes left to play to tie the game. Sophomore QB Joe Fowler found Corbin for the game-winning touchdown minutes later to pick up an early Shore Conference Class A South victory.
And both Wayne schools had very different experiences over the weekend. Wayne Valley picked up a 34-31 victory over Downington West (PA), but accrued 70 yards in penalties and showed that it needs to clean up some issues on defense. The Indians will be happy with the victory, nonetheless, but will likely see tougher competition over the next few weeks after facing a Whippets squad that has now allowed 76 points in two losses. Meanwhile, Wayne Hills lost, 34-23, to a good Pahokee (FL) program that has produced a slew of NFL players. With Ramapo, Roxbury and Old Tappan rounding out the Pats’ September schedule, though, Pahokee (FL) was likely a valuable early-season experience.
Tom Szieber can be reached by emailing tom@gridironnewjersey.com.