Rebels, Colonials get key wins; Patriots get first
Manalapan hosting Colts Neck Friday in key game
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Above, Freehold Township's Frank Pascrelli finds some running room during his team's win over Marlboro on Saturday in Marlboro. Below, the Mustangs' QBNick Tyson tries to escape the tackle of Township's Billy August.

If there's such a thing as a utility player in football, it would be Howell's David Hayes.

The junior can play five different positions on offense, and Friday night coach Cory Davies needed that versatility for an assignment that most couldn't handle. His job at Jackson Memorial was to be the team's blocking fullback, and that meant, more often that not, dealing with the Jaguars' outstanding linebacker, Dan Hopkins, who is 6 feet tall, 210 pounds. Hayes is all of 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, and was replacing the injured Eric Feehan, who is 6 feet, 200 pounds, who would have seemed a better match for the Jaguar.

Hayes did not flinch at the assignment and was a big reason that Howell upended Jackson, 24-13, to keep itself in the thick of the state playoff hunt.

"He did a quality job blocking Hopkins," said Davies.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff

Hayes didn't just block Hopkins, giving his quarterback Sean O'Reilly time to throw, but also scored two touchdowns in the win.

"He's very quick," said Davies. "No one on the team would have scored on his runs."

Hayes' first touchdown, a 4-yarder, capped a 96-yard drive that changed the course of Friday night's game.

Jackson (4-2) had opened the game scoring on its very first drive. The second time the Jags had the ball, they drove the ball down the field again only to have Mr. Utility Hayes come up with the big play on defense. His interception on the Howell 4-yard line halted the Jaguar drive. It was one-of-four pass interceptions for the opportunistic Rebel defense.

"We were able to get them in some second- and third-and-long situations," noted Davies.

Howell then drove the ball down the field behind the passing of O'Reilly and scored to cut the Jackson lead to 7-6. But more importantly, the drive gave the Rebels confidence.

Howell would take a 12-7 lead in the third quarter, before Jackson reclaimed the lead 13-12 before the quarter was over when Mark Schiavone (34 carries, 193 yards) scored on a 22-yard run. It was his second TD of the night.

A pass interception by Chris Turiello set up what was the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. O'Reilly's 4-yard pass to Chance Carrick gave Howell an 18-13 lead.

Brian Battaglia then put the final exclamation mark on the win stepping in front of a screen pass and returning it 60 yards for the final score of the night.

O'Reilly was 14-for-25 for 178 yards and his one touchdown. Hayes only carried the ball three times, but picked up 24 yards and those two big touchdowns.

Howell, which had lost homecoming on Monday night to Toms River South, 31-14, evened its record at 3-3 and kept itself the hunt for the postseason.

The Rebels travel to Brick (2-3) Friday night for a game that is critical for both team's playoff chances.

Another game with state playoff implications will be Friday night's Manalapan-Colts Neck matchup in Manalapan. Both teams are 3-2 and in the hunt with Howell for one of the eight playoffs berths in Central Jersey Group IV.

Manalapan, riding a three-game winning streak, is coming off its bye week, while Colts Neck lost at Lacey, 28-0, Saturday. That win gave Lacey the Constitution Division title.

This game will feature two very strong running attacks. Manalapan's is led by David Presby (the Shore's leading rusher after five games with 710 yards) and the Colts Neck duo of Ashton Jackson and Pat Six.

The quarterbacks, Craig Peterson for Manalapan and Kevin Kelly for Colts Neck, could make the difference Friday.

Both teams have very good defenses against the run as well. Manalapan is led by Billy Dokouslis and the Cougars by Kevin Hanvey.

Kickoff in Manalapan is 7 p.m.

Freehold Borough can harbor postseason thoughts as well. Although the Colonials were outside the Top 8 in CJ Group III, they improved their position by rallying for 21 points in the second half to top Red Bank, 21-7, and move to 3-2 on the season. The Colonials had their running game clicking, coming up with 292 yards.

Freshman Malik Parrish is a star in the making. He made his varsity debut the previous week, helping Freehold Borough best Central Regional, 21-14. He picked up 85 yards on just seven carries, and coach Mark Ciccotelli made a point that "he'll carry the ball more next week."

He did. The frosh picked up 136 yards on 18 carries Saturday in Red Bank as Freehold beat the Bucs, 21-7. The Colonials scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, two of them on Parrish runs of 32 and 15 yards.

Robert James was also over 100 yards for the Colonials, pounding out 121 on 15 carries. His 33-yard run late in the fourth quarter iced it for the Colonials.

Freehold Borough will certainly have its hands full Saturday when the Colonials host defending North Jersey Section 2 Group III champion Middletown South. The undefeated Eagles are only riding a 42-game winning streak. The Colonials would love to see the streak end in Freehold.

Game time is 1 p.m.

Freehold Township (1-5) has had a tough-luck season. The Pats have played hard and been in most games, they just weren't able to put together a complete game. Saturday, Dominick Lepore's squad did just that beating Marlboro (0-5) on the road, 42-7.

It was a breakout game for the Pats' struggling offense. Kyle Ramos-Herrara, who has been the one constant for Freehold Township, broke out for 225 yards 23 carries. He scored three times on runs of 15, 60 and 2 yards.

Quarterback Jack Lapietra threw for one TD and ran for another.

Sure-handed receiver Brian Birkowski scored his touchdown on a 35-yard return of a pass interception.

Lepore was able to get a look at a number of his players Saturday and he watched sophomore John Bennett pick up 73 yards on 10 attempts.

Freehold Township's defense, which has played well all year, had a stellar outing shutting out Marlboro until late in the fourth quarter when Jim Tierney romped 70 yards for a score. That was more than half of the 133 total yards the defense permitted.

Now that it has gotten that first win, the Pats will look to carry the momentum over to Friday night's game at home against Southern (1-4). Game time is 7 p.m.

Marlboro goes to undefeated Toms River East (5-0) Friday night looking to get its first win for new head coach Joe Passo. Kickoff is 7 p.m.