Memorial wins title with a shutout
Mustangs defeat Sayreville for state crown
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Brick Memorial football saved its best for last in winning its second NJSIAA Group IV football championship, 24-0, over Sayreville on Saturday night at Rutgers Stadium.

ERIC SUCAR staff Brick Memorial High School's William Miller, (l), Anthony D'Elia, and Michael Heitz celebrate with the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title trophy after winning the game against Sayreville War Memorial held at Rutgers Stadium on Dec. 6. Brick Mewmorial rolled to a 24-0 victory to complete a Shore Conference sweep in four title games on the day.

I don't think anybody could have done any better individually," said quarterback Brian Staub as the Mustangs raced to a 21- 0 halftime lead to seal a 9-3 season, the same record as Sayreville. "Each (player) performed to a peak level."

And they did it in a way that they had done throughout the season — bouncing back solidly from a loss. This time it was a 34-27 Thanksgiving Day loss to Brick Township.

"This team has done a great job, win or lose, of putting the last game behind them and looking forward to the championship game this time," said Coach Walt Currie. "It was an awesome effort by every single player. The defense did such a great job of executing the game plan for the third time in the playoffs. Every kid played his best game and the team played its best game."

Top: Brick Memorial's Anthony Lepore hauls in a pass against Sayreville's Lavone Graham during their Central Jersey Group IV championship game at Rutgers Stadium on Dec. 6 which was won by Brick Memorial, 24-0. Left: Memorial quarterback Brian Staub tries to shake off a slew of defenders during the game.

Brick Memorial allowed only one touchdown in each of the other two playoff games and on Saturday held Sayreville to 150 yards on offense.

"The defense was so relentless they were suffocating," said Currie.

"We played almost perfectly in all three phases — offense, defense and special teams," said Staub, who also played on the defense that recorded its first shutout this season. "We were so determined because it was our last game together."

Certainly, that can be said again for Staub, who accounted for 224 of Brick Memorial's offense by rushing for 115 yards and passing for 109 yards, with his aerials setting up the first two scores. But he had to feel especially glad in his last game having his reliable partner in the backfield, Vin Sabba, back in the lineup after he missed the two previous games with a severely sprained ankle. Sabba said he spent hours in the training room rehabbing the ankle, spending time before practice and two hours after each practice.

Sabba rushed two yards for the first touchdown on Brick Memorial's third play of the game, right after Staub hooked up with Anthony LePore on a 47-yard pass.

"It was a great feeling to come back and play. It was a real great game by our offense working together. We wanted to send our seniors out on a good note because a lot of them are graduating. With all the work they put in, we didn't want to lose," said Sabba, a junior, who rushed for 43 yards on 11 carries. "But if I was not able to go, Jared (Aksdal, a junior) could do it (playing in Sabba's spot as he did the last two games) just fine. But I know Staub did not want to end his career without me behind him."

"That was a boost," said Staub of Sabba's return. "We have the chemistry and we've got down the mesh point — he knows when I want to pull it or give it to him, although Jared Aksdal also did a great job (stepping into Sabba's role)."

Staub continued to show the great athleticism ability reminiscent of Chris James on the 2003 state championship team that also rolled, 29-6, in that title game over Manalapan. He ran one yard for the second touchdown, his 16th of the season, midway through the second quarter after setting it up with a 57-yard run on third down and 27. Brick Memorial converted two fourth down situations on the drive as Staub ran three yards on fourth down and one and hooked up with Glenn McGinnis on a 21-yard pass on fourth down and eight.

"A lot of the stuff that happened that year happened this year," said Sabba.

"All year, people were making parallels to that 2003 team, saying there weren't too many superstars just like that team. It's just a good football team," said Currie. "I know (quarterback) Chris James was a heck of a player on that team and I coached him in the (Ocean vs. Monmouth) All-Star game. He was a good, hard working, committed player and Brian is in the same mold. Both are playmakers. It might not be the prettiest or the perfect play but they get it done."

Alex Berardi ran 21 yards for a touchdown later in the second quarter moments after Matt Heard intercepted a Sayreville pass and Jordan Loiodice sealed it with a 27-yard field goal late in the third quarter, his fourth in five attempts this season. Loiodice also made all three extra point kicks, finishing with 34-for-37 efficiency this season.

"As a senior, you just want to go out on top and there is no better way than this," said Staub, who also is preparing this week for basketball and will return to the baseball team as the shortstop.

Many seniors graduate, including the receiving corps of players like LePore, Berardi and Ryan Wood, who Currie called an unsung hero for his blocking downfield. Also graduating are Heard and defensive standouts JoePittius and Mike Heitz. Center Bill Brunner and two-way lineman Anthony D'Elia graduate but returning are offensive linemen Russ Clayton, Nick Alvarez, Anthony Spanola and Bill Miller, who started two games early and played a lot. It will be tough filling the void left by Staub although there are three quarterbacks in the wings in sophomore Mike DiGuilmi on the junior varsity this fall, Matt Hoffman on the sophomore team and Ray Triano on the freshman team.