Passing game sparks Colonials
Walcott scores
three TDs
in 34–7 win

CHRIS KELLY staff Howell’s Jude Ganthier looks for a hole to run through during the Rebels’ opening-night loss to Brick Township on Friday in Brick.

BY TIM MORRIS

Staff Writer

Larry Boice couldn’t have had a more perfect opening game performance from his Freehold Borough Colonials.

Preaching the need for balance throughout the preseason, the Colonials delivered it Saturday with a 34-7 win over Mater Dei High School, Middletown, in Freehold.

That Damian Walcott rushed for 86 yards on 17 carries and scored three touchdowns was no surprise. But what opened eyes was Chris Coulson’s 9-for-12 passing for 146 yards.

"That’s what the plan was," said Boice. "To try and be more balanced this year. We worked on it in the off-season.

"We may have caught them (Mater Dei) by surprise by how much we threw the ball," he added. "We want to make teams play the entire field."

Pedro Hernandez was Coulson’s favorite target, pulling down eight of his nine completions for 138 yards.

"Pedro is a senior who has been with us for four years," said Boice. "He’s coming into his own now. He’s 6-2, runs and jumps well. He has given Chris a lot of confidence."

In the 6-2 Hernandez, 6-3 tight end Josh Mitchell and 6-5 Tyrell Budd, the Colonials are stocked with receivers who can get into the air and pull down passes. They are a matchup problem, especially for teams with small defensive backs.

Defensively, Freehold Borough put two touchdowns on the scoreboard as James Jadacki and Walcott returned pass interceptions for TDs.

Jadacki stepped in from off a lateral and returned it 91 yards for a score, while Walcott returned one 10 yards for a score.

"We gave up a couple of big plays on defense and that was it," said Boice.

Walcott began the scoring for Freehold on a 35-yard run and a one-yarder. The Colonials’ other offensive score was an 87-yard romp by Nelson Navarro.

The Colonials displayed balance with their running game as well as Brent Donnelly picked up 74 yards on eight carries and Navarro had 87 on just five runs.

Freehold Borough will get to soak up this opening game win because the Colonials have a bye week this week. Freehold will next be in action Sept. 25 at Rumson-Fair Haven at 3 p.m.

Friday night was Fright Night for the Freehold District teams as Marlboro, Manalapan, Howell and Freehold Township all lost.

Bob Acosta made his head coaching debut for Marlboro, and although the ’Stangs fell at Jackson, 28-20, the results were encouraging.

Down 20-0 early, the Mustangs picked themselves up off the deck and gave the Jaguars a scare.

Preston Pleuretes gained 100 hard-earned yards on 23 carries and scored twice. He scored Marlboro’s first touchdown of the season, a 3-yard run, in the second quarter, and scored the final TD when he and quarterback Neil Haynes hooked up on a 65-yard TD pass.

Haynes, making his first start for the Mustangs, was 4-for-10 for 138 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His first touchdown pass was to Kevin Graham, a play that covered 7 yards and made the score 20-14 Jackson in the third quarter.

Marlboro’s offense produced 246 yards against one of the Shore’s best defenses, which was a very promising sign.

Acosta and the Mustangs will look for win No. 1 Saturday at home hosting Brick Memorial, also named the Mustangs. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Brick Memorial came back from a 14-3 deficit to beat Manalapan, 25-14, in Brick.

Manalapan started quickly against Brick Memorial, building a 14-3 lead by intermission.

Alex Widener scored both of the Braves’ touchdowns on a 9-yard run and on the receiving end of a trick play where quarterback Kyle St. Angelo passed to wide receiver Greg Dilorenzo, who then threw the ball downfield to Widener to complete a 31-yard scoring strike. St. Angelo connected with Doug Freuh on the two-point conversion.

Chris Hegel, one of the top returning backs in the area, gained 86 yards on 21 carries.

Manalapan will try to even its record Friday night when the Braves host Jackson at 7 p.m. Last year the Braves snapped Jackson’s long winning streak which had stretched over three seasons.

It looks like Brick Township, the most successful program in the Shore area, could have another powerhouse. The Green Dragons ground out 360 yards against young and inexperienced Howell in their 30-0 win.

Dan Dornacker had 171 yards and three touchdowns for Brick. He had all three scores and 160 yards in the first half alone.

Howell will turn to home cooking in an effort to get its first win of the season. Friday Howell will host Central Regional High School, Bayville, a 24-7 loser to Toms River South in its season-opener.

Freehold Township was the lone team to start at home on Friday night and the Patriots lost to the Shore’s top-ranked team, Toms River North, 26-9.

The Pats had a 9-6 lead after three quarters, but the Mariners struck for 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun Freehold, which was looking for a big opening-game upset.

Rob Bove sacked Mariner quarterback Joe Rankin in the end zone for a two-point safety in the second quarter.

Patriot quarterback Tom Porricelli hit receiver Bobby Malloy on an 18-yard scoring pass to put Township up 9-6.

The Pats hit the road Friday night playing Toms River East at 7 p.m. The Raiders bested Southern 10-8 in their opener.

Saturday, Colts Neck was completely throttled by Rumson-Fair Haven, falling 25-0. The Cougars will try and put that behind them Friday night when they play at Point Pleasant Beach at 7 p.m.