FB, CN, Howell each score football victories
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
Freehold Borough, Colts Neck and Howell high schools were the victors on the gridiron over the weekend.

CHRIS KELLY staff Colts Neck High School's Brendan Cotter (21) tries to evade the grip of Middletown North's Tom Booth (64) during a home game on Oct. 11 which was won by Colts Neck, 20-17.

Mark Ciccotelli's Colonials maintain their winning ways in Jackson, beating Jackson Liberty, 47-25, to improve to 4-0.

Colts Neck worked overtime to send previously undefeated Middletown North down to its first loss of the season, 20-17.

Howell forged a remarkable comeback that just might have saved the Rebels' season. Cory Davies' Rebels overcame a 28-6 deficit at Manalapan to storm back to a 37-28 win that evened their record at 2-2 and kept their chances of making it to the state playoffs for a fourth straight year very much alive.

Howell drew on its experience earlier in the season when the Rebels came back from a 21- 0 deficit at Brick Township to win 34-27.

"I told the guys, 'Don't stop playing,' " said running back Will Hayes.

Hayes helped to swing the momentum in Howell's direction when he scored on the last play of the first half on a pass from quarterback Jimmy Ryan. Instead of trailing 28-6 at the half, it was 28-12.

"That was a big momentum change," said Hayes, of the TD at the end of the half.

Ryan said he kept reminding the team that "it happened before, it can happen again."

If the Rebels may have had some trouble believing it could happen again, they became believers just 1:05 into the second half. That's when Chris Simmons picked up a fumble and returned it 45 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Just like that, it was 28-18 and Howell could sense it was back in this Shore American Division game.

"Chris Simmons' touchdown turned the tide for us," said Ryan, who had something to do with it.

There was no stopping Howell after the Simmons TD. Ryan engineered a 50-yard drive culminating in a 9-yard scoring pass to Rob Handy. With Travis Mascitelli's PAT kick, it was 28-25.

Howell was on the march as the third quarter sparked by Ryan's third-down pass to Adam Feehan. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ryan kept the all himself and scored from 2 yards out to give Howell its first lead, 31-28.

Manalapan (2-3) knows something about comebacks as well, winning twice as time expired this year. So, despite falling behind, the Braves were still very much in it.

But, after Howell's scored, it was threeand out for the Braves and the red-hot Howell offense (Ryan was 11-12 in the second half) got the ball back on the Manalapan 46.

"The defense played great in the second half," said Hayes. "It really stepped it up."

Ryan completed the Howell comeback, taking the team 46 yards in seven plays and capped by a 2-yard Hayes run that made it 37-28.

Ryan credited the Rebel offensive line and the pass protection it provided him in the second half with making the comeback possible. For his part, Ryan was an accurate 20-24.

Hayes had three touchdowns with a 4- yard pass from back-up quarterback John Bukowiec in the second quarter. He picked up 57 important yards on the ground on plays that kept the Brave defense honest.

"In the second half they were playing three safeties deep and we were able to run the draw up the middle," said Hayes.

Everything was working for Manalapan in the first half from trick plays like a running back Jimmy Gilburn's 46-yard pass to his 85- yard return of a pass interception for a TD.

Gilburn had a flawless first-half, scoring all four of Manalapan's touchdowns, three on short runs, and the fourth was the pass interception return that made it 28-6 and appeared to have broken Howell's back. He ran for more than 170 yards.

Brave coach Tom Gallahue agreed that the game's momentum shifted with the Howell touchdown at the end of the half and the quick score by Simmons.

Howell returns home for just the second time this fall to host that Middletown North team that saw its undefeated aspirations ended in Colts Neck. Kickoff is 7 p.m.

Manalapan faces another tough test on Friday night when the Braves visit Brick Memorial (2-3). The Braves' playoff ambitions could lie in the balance. Game time is 7 p.m.

Freehold Borough's offense was clicking on all cylinders on Saturday night, rolling up a season-high 47 points and more than 500 yards of offense.

The Lions are still trying to catch Brandon Brown who pulled down six catches for 180 yards and a pair of scores. He was on the receiving end of 36- and 39-yard touchdown passes from Nick Tyson.

Tezzy Thorpe scored on a 46-yard run and rushed for more than 130 yards.

Colonials spread the wealth around in this Shore Federal Division game as Tyson, Frank Nocosia, Willie Thomas and Martin Corso scored on touchdown runs for the undefeated Colonials.

Freehold Borough returns home Saturday after two weeks on the road to take on Long Branch (1-3) in a nondivision game at 2 p.m.

Middletown North, one of the surprise teams in the Shore this year, was looking to improve to 4-0 overall and remain in first place in the Shore Constitution Division when the Lions visited Mike McArthur's Colts Neck Cougars Saturday.

Middletown North appeared to be cruising after taking a 14-0 lead into the locker room after a pair of Uly Gibson touchdown runs (11 and 4 yards).

But a 65-yard scoring pass from quarterback Chris Chiarelli to Brendan Cotter sparked the Cougars' rally in the fourth. Chiarelli tied it up on a 2-yard keep. (Eric Spillane kicked the extra points.)

In overtime, the Lions had the ball first and the Cougar defense held, forcing a 37- yard field goal. Dylan Marescas split the uprights and North had a 17-14 lead.

When the Cougars took over, they needed a field goal to extend the game, or could win it with a touchdown. The Cougars promptly went for the win as Chiarelli slipped a pass to running back Sean Moore who turned it into the gamewinning touchdown from 6 yards out.

By handing the Lions their first division loss, the Cougars thrust themselves into the division chase. Four teams now have one loss in the division. The Cougars will be taking on one of those one-loss teams Friday night when they go to Toms River to take on TR East (2-2 overall, 2-1 in division). Start time is 7 p.m.

Freehold Township gave Neptune all it wanted before falling to the 4-1 Scarlet Fliers, 20-14.

Visiting Neptune used its big-play talents to open a 20-0 lead, but then had to hold on in the fourth as the Patriots scored 13 unanswered points.

Ryan Spadola and Camer Beatty each threw a touchdown pass in Freehold Township's rally. Spadola connected with Anthony Maak for an 11-yard strike and Beatty found Kevin Borden on an 18-yard score.