Memorial football beats Howell in overtime
Mustangs go to 5-2 going into off week
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Just like his teammate Brian Staub, Brick Memorial's Anthony Lepore finds different ways to help his team win games.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above: Brick Memorial's Anthony Altilio (23) tries to break past a pair of Howell defenders during his team's 24-17 victory on Oct. 24. Below: Memorial's Brian Staub tries to gain yards for his team.

This time, it was an 8-yard reception of a curl pattern pass from Staub on the Mustangs' first series in overtime that sealed a 24-17 victory over Howell to keep the Mustangs (5-2) in the running for an NJSIAA playoff berth. It was his third touchdown reception of the season. Howell is 2-4.

"It happened for me once before like this when I played for the Pop Warner Mustang PeeWees when I caught a touchdown pass in overtime in the conference championship game," said Lepore. "Staub threw a perfect pass and the defender was behind me."

"Staub checked off his first receiver and then threw to Lepore, who ran a good pattern," said coach Walter Currie.

Earlier in that series, Lepore ran a reverse 22 yards on third down and 16 that spotted the ball on Howell's 9-yard line. It was only the second time this season Lepore carried the ball on a reverse and was part of an offensive juggernaut that churned out 257 rushing yards, 157 of them from Vincent Sabba. Staub made an interception on Howell's overtime series.

"It was a fun one," said Currie, who recalled coaching Point Pleasant two seasons ago to an overtime victory over Raritan. "It's the kind of game you want to be a part of. You're not signing up for 30-0 blowouts."

Currie pointed out that Staub's game-sealing interception was the product, not only of Staub's efforts, of the defensive line forcing the Howell quarterback out of the pocket "where he prefers to throw from" and defenders in the secondary closely covering the wide receivers.

Along with catching and running the ball, Lepore also holds the ball on extra points as he gets the snaps from sophomore Phil Faccone for kicker Jordan Loiodice, who has made all 21 extra point kicks. Loiodice also kicked a 29- yard field goal after Staub's 5-yard touchdown run, his 11th this season, as Brick Memorial jumped out to a 10-0 lead. After Howell tied it, Glenn McGinnis ran 16 yards for his fourth touchdown this season. Howell tied it with a 10-yard touchdown pass with 40 seconds left.

Currie also credited the offensive line "for doing a real good job. Every week, their grades go up and we expect them to go another level higher."

Along with left guard Nick Alvarez, center Bill Brunner, right guard Anthony D'Elia and right tackle Anthony Spanola, Currie said left tackle Russ Clayton has been "a pleasant surprise. He's a sophomore who has made the huge jump of going from freshman football to varsity."

Especially considering that it's the physical line that usually has upperclassmen playing in those spots.

The Mustangs bid for a returning to the state playoffs that it missed last year is on hold for a bit as the team has a bye week. But Currie isn't complaining.

"It couldn't come at a better time," the coach said. "We have seven or eight guys who are banged up and need a week off, and so could some other guys. When we get back, our destiny [to make the playoffs] is in our hands."

That's a game next Friday night at home at 7 p.m. against Colts Neck, which Currie said, "is one of the hottest teams in the Shore."