Colonials rally to stay undefeated
Beat Long Branch in second half; CN, FT also win
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
There is something uniquely Americana about Freehold Borough football and its continuity. Fathers come out to see their sons play. Former players return to check out the latest Colonial edition. It's true community.

ERIC SUCAR staff Freehold Boro quarterback Nick Tyson dives for some extra yards during the second half of an Oct. 18 game against Long Branch. Freehold Boro went on to win the game by a score of 21-14.

Saturday, there was Walt Freeman chatting with Jack Mayes prior to the game. They were on Freehold Borough's championship teams of the early 1950's.

One of the biggest fans of the 2008 Colonials is the great Joe Henderson, star of Freehold's 1985 championship team.

They were all there along with other formers players to get a look at this year's undefeated Colonial team and see how it stacks with the great teams of the past.

The Colonials did not disappoint, rallying in the second half to defeat Long Branch, 21- 14, and remain perfect (5-0) on the season.

"We had to play through adversity today," said linebacker Rakim Thorpe, who spearheaded the defense that made a goalline stand in the final seconds of the game. "We kept playing hard."

Quarterback Nick Tyson, who led the Colonials' second half rally said the victory revealed 'the character of this team.'

"We just never give up," he pointed out. "It's all about playing for each other."

Long Branch shredded the Colonials proud defense for two long touchdown runs in the first quarter. Quarterback Miles Shuler broke free on a 41-yard gallop and less than two minutes late, it was John Stovall breaking it for a 57-yard score.

Eight minutes into the game, Long Branch led, 14-0.

On both long runs, the Green Wave runners broke tackles at the line of scrimmage and had nothing but green grass in front of them once they broke it into the open.

Jonathan Robertson got loose on a 56- yard run before the first quarter was over setting the Green Wave up for a third score.

The drive would reach the Colonial two early in the second half. On fourth down from the seven, the Wave would go for the touchdown. They wouldn't get as Shuler's pass fell incomplete. The defensive stand made by the Colonials would prove to be vital to the comeback.

Meanwhile, while Long Branch was holding a track meet, Freehold Borough's offense that had scored 133 points in its first four games, couldn't get out of its own way. Turnovers and penalties combined to keep the team off the scoreboard.

"We were very shocked," wide receiver Brandon Brown said of the 14-0 halftime deficit. "We were not playing Freehold Borough football."

It didn't get any better for Freehold Borough on its first possession of the second half. A 20-yard punt return by Brown set the Colonials up on the Green Wave 48, but, they fumbled the ball away on the first play.

The defense would force a three-and-out and the Colonial offense would find its spark. Two runs by Tyson in the middle of the wave line got the team moving. His option pitch to Frank Nicosia would be the play that got Freehold Borough back into the game. Nicosia took the pitch and went 63 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Gerry Plescia's extra point kick cut the deficit in half, 14-7. Nicosia led all runners with 131 yards.

Tyson noted that the Colonials made a halftime adjustment.

"We flipped formations to get them unbalanced," he said. "On the pitch, we went where we had the numbers in our favor."

On Freehold's next possession, the Colonials would march 71 yards on 10 plays capped by Tyson's 25-yard scoring run through the middle of the softened Wave defense. With 21 seconds left in the third quarter, it was all square at 14-14 after Plescia's kick.

Following another Long Branch three-andout, Freehold Borough went to work and beat the wave through the air as Tyson found a wide open Brown down the middle of the field and the speedy Brown took it all the way for a tiebreaking 60-yard touchdown. Brown said that the Colonials had set the play up earlier by running off that formation.

"We ran the same play three times and every time the safety bit (for the run)," said Brown. "It was time to go up top."

Tyson said he knew that a wide-open Brown wasn't going to be chased down.

"He's hard to catch," said Tyson.

Now leading 21-14 and clearly with momentum on their side, the Colonials would have to make a goal-line stand before getting the win.

Long Branch started to get its offense back in gear running trap plays. The Wave would get down to the Colonials 11 before fumbling, Richard Schwartz would recover for the Colonials.

Freehold, though, couldn't get a first down and had to punt the ball back to Long Branch giving the Wave one last chance to score.

Long Branch took over on the Freehold 47 and promptly picked up where it left off on its last drive. Two runs by Stovall took the ball down to the Colonial eight with under 2:00 to play.

The drive would get to the two, but, no further. On a second down run off tackle, a hole opened up for Robertson and he appeared to have the momentum to dive into the end zone, but, Thorpe (13 tackles and half a quarterback sack) stood him up stopping his progress at the two.

Long Branch went for the pass on third down and it fell incomplete. It was now fourand goal with eight seconds left in the game. The Wave again went up top on a fade pass in the corner of the end zone only to have Brown intercept it and seal Freehold's win.

"As cornerbacks, we play pass first on every play," said Brown.

Having survived the no-division tilt with the Green Wave, the Colonials will put their undefeated record on the line Saturday at home against Central Regional (3-2) in a Shore Federal Division game. Freehold is 4-0 in the division one game clear of 3-1 Middletown South. Kick off is 1 p.m. for the Homecoming game.

Colts Neck remained in a first place tie in the Shore Constitution Division shutting out Toms River East Friday night, 16-0.

The Cougars, had a new running star in this win with Brendan Cotter. The junior ran for more than 190 yards allowing the Cougars to control time of possession and wear the host Raiders down. His one-yard plunge in the fourth quarter put the game away.

Sean Smith provided the big play for Colts Neck returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter that made it 10-0. Eric Spillane had put Colts Neck on the scoreboard with a 29-yard field goal earlier in the quarter.

The victory lifted the Cougars to 3-1 in the division tied with Brick. Middletown North is 2-1.

The Cougars (4-1 overall) return home on Saturday to take on Lacey (3-2) in a division game that kicks off a 1 p.m.

It was Homecoming at Freehold Township and the Patriots (2-4) treated their fans to a 22-19 win over Jackson Memorial. The Pats scored all of their points in the second as they rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit.

Freehold Township got the balance it has looked for all year producing just under 300 yards of total offense passing for 160 and running for 130.

Quarterback Cameron Beatty threw two touchdown passes to get the Pats back into the game. The first was a 48-yard strike to Vincent Verdolino and the second a nine-yarder to tight end Matt Faiella made the score 19-14.

Jonathan Bennett's four-yard run in the final 2:00 won it. Beatty, a junior, came of age in that final drive taking the Patriots 70 yards.

Freehold Township went for two to push the lead to three and got it when Beatty hooked up with Faiella on the two-point conversion.

Beatty, was a steady 12-18 for 163 yards and the two scores.

Freehold Township travels to Toms River North Friday night to take on the Shore American Division leading Mariners who are 4-1 overall and 4-0 in division play. Under the lights, the game will kick off a 7 p.m.

Howell (2-3) had its Homecoming as well Friday night with a far different result. The Rebels never got their offense in gear and lost to once-beaten Middletown North (4-1), 20-0, in a non-division tilt.

The loss put Howell's state playoff ambitions in serious jeopardy. The Rebels will try to get back on track Friday night when they host Brick Memorial (4-2) at 7 p.m.

Manalapan (2-4) fell at Brick Memorial, 34-13, on Friday. Jimmy Gilburn rushed for more than 100 yards (118) and scored one touchdown (three yards) and quarterback Mike Bimonte and tight end Jason Firkser connected on an 11-yard scoring toss to account for the Braves' scoring.

Manalapan will host once-beaten Southern (4-1) Friday night in a Shore American contest that kicks off at 7:30 p.m.

Marlboro (0-5) lost at Lacey (3-2), 41-0 on Saturday. The Mustangs are home to Toms River South (2-3) Saturday at 1 p.m. in a Shore Constitution Division match-up.