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Manasquan junior tailback Lorenzo Venable (above) and a strong offensive line keyed the Warriors ball-control offense.
(Information and videos provided by Territory Manager Travis Johnson)
MANASQUAN - Looking to avoid its first 0-2 start in eons, Manasquan came out with bare knuckles up to win a gritty 3-0 game over visiting Point Boro on Saturday afternoon that threw a wrinkle into the National Division race.
The Warriors used a ball-control offense and a shutdown defense that brought home the victory when junior safety Neal Sterling intercepted a pass from Point Boro's Shane O'Connor with 12.5 seconds left in regulation at Vic Kubu Warrior Field. A 28-yard field goal by kicker C.J. Davis, who had missed a first-quarter field goal try, with 1:39 left in the third quarter stood up as the game's only points as Sterling made several standout plays in the secondary to help wrap up the win. Point Boro entered with a reputation as one of the best offenses in the Shore and exited with its first shutout loss since a 26-0 setback to Pinelands in 2002.
"After last week's (14-0) loss (to Ocean), we just challenged our kids,'' said Manasquan coach Pete Cahill. "The effort was there today.''
The Warriors (1-1, 1-0) were eager to reassert their status after a dismal performance in the opener against Ocean, and with the rival Panthers entering with a lot of hype about being the favorite for the National Division crown, fuel was readily available. Point Boro's head coach, Calvin Thompson, is also a Manasquan graduate.
"Point Boro gave us everything we needed to feed off today,'' said offensive lineman Tucker Brendle. "We weren't going to settle for the loss. We're not putting our heads down, and we don't care what the media says. The tradition here is so great, and we weren't going to be the team that doesn't follow it.''
Manasquan used its offense to drain the clock and punter John Otchy, who received a game ball following the win, to control field position.
"I was just trying to get us good field position,'' Otchy said. "I punted a lot last year because we had some offensive struggles, but it was never this important. I just knew I had to get the job done and give our chance a team to win.''
After barely moving the ball at all last week, the Warriors established their running game from the outset on Saturday by running 14 plays on their opening drive before missing a field goal. Junior tailback Lorenzo Venable had 135 yards rushing, 100 of which came in the first half.
"I have a lot of faith (in the offensive line),'' Venable said. "I wasn't disappointed (with only three points). We just kept driving, and I knew we were going to win.''
"The field position was big,'' Cahill said. "Our defense did play well today, but the three points isn't indicative of the way our offense played. Our offense kept their offense off the field. We had the drives, but we just didn't stick it in the end zone because of some miscues. Still, the offense played well.''
A 40-yard play by O'Connor late in the first quarter put Point Boro (1-1, 0-1), ranked No. 7 in the DigitalSports Top 10, on Manasquan's doorstep inside the 20-yard line, but on fourth down, Manasquan's Nick Balestrieri knocked down a pass to end the threat.
It was still scoreless at the half as Manasquan continued to move the ball, but turnovers or failure to execute kept the Warriors off the scoreboard. After the teams exchanged three-and-outs for most of the third quarter, Manasquan finally was able to come up with the only points it would need.
Manasquan's James Stovall recovered a fumble at Point Boro's 28-yard line, leading to Davis's 28-yard field goal with 1:33 left in the third quarter.
The defense carried that momentum, as linebacker Bryan Colligan sacked O'Connor on third down to end the third quarter to draw a roar from the home crowd. The defense then forced a three-and-out early in the fourth quarter after Point Boro's Chris Tranchita had recovered a fumble on a punt at the Panthers' 43-yard line.
However, the defense would be called upon again when O'Connor hit wideout Ryan Malleck for a 43-yard gain for Point Boro's initial first down of the second half. One play later, the Panthers, who had around 100 total yards in the game, had it at Manasquan's 9-yard line. Defensive end Dan Sullivan stuffed O'Connor on third down and then Sterling came up with a huge play when he tipped away a pass by O'Connor on fourth down to end Point Boro's biggest scoring threat of the game.
The teams then kept exchanging three-and-outs until Sterling snared an interception on a halfback pass and slid into the grass in the final seconds to wrap up the win.
It helped Manasquan avoid an 0-2 hole for perhaps the first time since the 1980s, as the Warriors dug in their heels and threw their name in the ring as a major contender in the National Division race. With a tradition that is nearly unmatched this side of Brick, Manasquan once again defied those who had written the Warriors off.
"Once you put on this uniform, it's a whole different ballgame,'' Venable said.
