Same score, different results for local teams

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick Memorial and Brick Township football teams were on different ends of 7-0 results in Shore Conference games postponed to Saturday night because of the rainy weather late last week.

Brick Memorial, coming off a 32-29 non-conference loss to Long Branch in its opening game, held on to a 7-0 American Division victory at Freehold Township off a one-yard touchdown run by Vin Falkiewicz in the third quarter. Dan Burke kicked the extra point.

The Mustangs have a bye week this week.

Brick Township, meanwhile, was on the losing side of a 7-0 Constitution Division outcome at home against Toms River North whose quarterback - Arin West - ran 31 yards for the lone touchdown with 9:23 left. Coming off a 27-0 victory at Middletown North, Brick Township evened its record at 1-1.

"We won, which was definitely good, but I thought we played sloppy and we have to get better," said Brick Memorial coach Fred Sprengel.

Brick Township coach Warren Wolf said he was "disappointed in the loss but we played well defensively. We have to work on our offense. It was one broken play and they had an exceptional quarterback. It was a great game offensively and defensively."

Wolf said he was pleased with just about every player on defense and praised the efforts of linemen Anthony Chadwick and George Krauzser as well as linebackers Vin Marra, Matt Cuccinello and Joe Cusanelli.

"I think on offense, it's just some mistakes we're making and things not going our way," said Wolf. "We're not executing."

After Toms River North scored, sophomore quarterback Jordan Roschala hooked up with running back F.J. Lucchetti on a 30-yard pass play but the Green Dragons advanced the ball only one more yard after that.

Brick Township on Friday plays host to Manalapan, which comes off two close losses. A year ago, Manalapan rallied for two touchdowns in the final quarter to pull out a 21-19 victory.

"We need to do some major improving," said Wolf, who wants to get good production in the running game from Cuccinello, Cusanelli and Lucchetti to give Roschala more maneuverability.

Brick Memorial also will be spending the off week ironing out the kinks that kept it out of the end zone despite the fine one-two rushing punch of Falkiewicz and Prince Young, who each compiled about 135 yards and gave Brick Memorial "nice balance in the backfield," said Sprengel.

Greg Penta, a junior, has established himself as the starting quarterback, completing half of his eight passes for 37 yards. James McConnell, a senior who started the opener at quarterback before giving way to Penta, has been moved to wide receiver. McConnell has the chance to embrace the challenge like Mike LePore did when Chris James won the quarterback spot four years ago and LePore emerged as one of the top receivers in the Shore.

"He's progressing," said Sprengel of Penta. "He's a good leader who gives us 100 percent but doesn't hurt us. We need to get better on our pass routes. And penalties hurt us."

Mistakes certainly took their toll when a fumble at Freehold Township's one-yard line blunted a threat by Brick Memorial just before halftime.

"That motivated us," said Falkiewicz after the game. "We said that can't happen again."

Sprengel said the players were quiet in the locker room at halftime but committed to doing better in the second half.

"The kids knew at halftime that we were not playing well," said Sprengel. "We weren't playing to our potential. We just said they have to come out and play well in the second half."

And the Mustangs certainly played well enough to win.