Defense dominates local football games once again
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Defense certainly has been the name of the game for both Brick high school football teams.

While Brick Township has not allowed a point all season, including Thursday night’s 35-0 victory over Ocean Township, Brick Memorial’s defense has not allowed a touchdown since the second quarter of its opening game 10 quarters ago after its 12-10 thriller over Southern on Friday. Both teams are 3-0. Brick Township is ranked No. 5 in the Shore and Brick Memorial breaks into the poll at No. 10.

"I think we expected to have a pretty good defense [this season]," said Brick Township coach Warren Wolf, who has the most victories in state history with 330. "We have to be satisfied with this start."

The one question is whether Wolf will abandon the two-quarterback system he used last season after Kyle Watson threw for two touchdowns, both to Russhon Anderson, and 170 yards against Ocean.

"We’ll play that by ear and see what the game brings," said Wolf.

Watson hooked up with Anderson on a 50-yard touchdown pass play on the Green Dragons’ second series and followed Alex Smith’s two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter with a nine-yard scoring strike to Anderson as the lead grew to 21-0 by halftime. Dan Dornacker and Steve Saher locked up the victory with touchdown runs of 12 and 26 yards, respectively, in the third quarter. Ted Urban kicked all five extra points.

The mistakes in execution that led to turnovers in losses last season, and at times have plagued the Green Dragons this season, were not evident on Thursday.

"So far, we’re executing and converting," said Wolf.

Next up is a Friday night home game against Central Regional.

"Our coaches recognize that we’re 3-0, but we have to be humble," said Wolf. "We have a whole season ahead."

And Brick Memorial coach Fred Sprengel is not looking past his next opponent on Friday night at home — Freehold Township — despite the Patriots’ 0-3 record, after 0-3 Southern gave Brick Memorial all it could handle.

"They’re a very dangerous team," said Sprengel of Freehold Township. "They played very tough against Toms River North, which they led by a point at one time, and Toms River East as well as Jackson."

But the Mustangs realize that defense helped them pull out a scary victory on Friday night when Mike Nicholson blocked a game-winning 36-yard field goal attempt by Southern in the closing seconds. Garrett Graham kicked a 30-yard field goal with just under two minutes left to win it for the Mustangs. Graham actually had a 26-yard field goal attempt blocked, but a facemask penalty gave him another opportunity five yards closer for the winner.

"That was too close for comfort," said Sprengel. "The defense was outstanding but the offense had a lot of assignment breakdowns. And I was very disappointed with the officiating. Every time we made a big play, it was negated by a call. I looked at the film and I don’t know where some of those calls came from."

Sprengel said he is looking to file a complaint with the officials’ association.

One play that did hold up came in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Chris James connected with Nick Spataro on a 49-yard pass play to the nine-yard line. It was one of the few bright spots for an error-prone offense that needed help from a defense led by linebackers Brian Karatz and Frank Todero and lineman Matt Cusick. Sean Armstead ran four yards for a touchdown shortly afterward. Graham’s extra point kick gave Brick Township a 7-3 lead after Garrett Burgess put Southern ahead early with a 30-yard field goal.

Chris Brooks pushed Southern back ahead in the third quarter, 10-7, with an 81-yard punt return.

Brick Memorial’s defense again came to the rescue, pinning Southern back on its one-yard line early in the fourth quarter, which led to a safety as the Mustangs pulled to 10-9. Brick Memorial then got good field position with the ensuing kickoff to set up its game-winning field goal.