Goble's 177 yards help Township to 23-21 victory
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
It's only midseason but players and some coaches talked about a "new season" for Brick Township's football team that jumped back into the Shore Conference Constitution Division race with a 23-20 victory at Toms River South.

"It's the start of a new season," said Joe Goble, the team captain who scored all three touchdowns, giving him six for the season, as the Green Dragons improved to 3-2, including 3- 1 in the division. "We got great blocking from our line from the weak to the strong side."

Goble, who rushed for 177 yards on 24 carries, scored the winning touchdown from a yard out with 1:38 left and Pat Kearns kicked his third extra point, giving him nine for the season.

"This is definitely a new season for us," said quarterback John Applegate. "We sat down (before the game) and talked about it. We had a great week of practice and the coaches had a great strategy."

"Definitely," agreed Kevin Watson, who opened up some big holes at center for the Delaware wing-T offense that kept Toms River South (2-3, 1-3) on its heels in the first half when Brick held a 154-34 edge in rushing yards. "It's exciting, great. We're starting to get excited and to get the momentum going to return to the states."

Coming into the game, Brick Township was third in power points in NJSIAA South Jersey Group III, a distant 17 points behind Shawnee and 18 behind Hammonton, in its first year back in South Jersey in four years.

"It's not so much a new season but that

we're kind of rejuvenated," said Warren Wolf after getting his 357th coaching victory. "I was proud of the way they came back when they were behind. "Our boys showed determination because this game always is so tough, especially when you play at South. And to win here, you never forget it. There's a mystique about playing here. You have to play almost a perfect

game to win."

Especially with the electrifying atmosphere of Senior Night.

After taking a 9-0 first-quarter lead on Goble's 50-yard touchdown run and a safety, Brick Township gave way to 20 unanswered points that kept it playing catch-up until the final 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive that was vintage Brick. Applegate, who completed only one pass in the first half for 38 yards to Brennan Candito that launched an 8-play, 80-yard scoring drive culminating with Goble's oneyard touchdown plunge right before the half, hit some big ones on the winning drive.

It started with a 20-yard reception by Justin Kamen. Then, Applegate and Candito connected on a pair of fourth down passes, the first one a diving reception for 13 yards on fourth down and 7 that kept the drive alive at Toms River South's 41-yard line. The second one, on fourth down and 4, covered 30 yards to the five-yard line. Goble carried the next two plays for the touchdown.

"The pass was supposed to go to the fullback but he was covered and I saw Candito open and the cornerback came back on the play and he made an excellent catch," said Applegate of Candito's 30-yard catch.

"That catch did it for us," said Wolf.

Candito, making only his second start on defense after playing it last season on junior varsity, also had a number of big hits, including a punishing sack on fourth down that shook up the Toms River South quarterback on fourth down to seal the victory. "It was the best defensive game I ever had," said Candito. Watson had a sack on the previous play.

But Wolf also singled out a big interception by Applegate in the third quarter that ended a Toms River South threat at the Brick Township 10-yard line. After trailing, 20-16, at halftime, the Green Dragons did not allow a point in the second half.

"The defense played well and they (Toms River South) have such great team

speed," said Wolf as Brick Township decisively outrushed Toms River South for the game, 227-26. What made it even more challenging is when one of Brick Township's defensive standouts — Jordan Roshala — injured his leg early in the second half and never returned. Roshala is on a comeback from anterior cruciate ligament surgery in the spring and was playing on defense and punting. He did

not play much on offense where he was the starting quarterback last season, although he was the intended receiver on one errant pass in the first half. It was not determined whether Roshala would be back for the next game on Friday night at Jackson Memorial.