Shore Conference football preseason rankings: Who is in the Top 20?
It is here.
The New Jersey scholastic football season begins Friday with Week 0 games. Twenty-seven of the 42 teams in the Shore Conference will be in action in 20 games.
The highlight game on the schedule is the Toms River North-Millville game Friday afternoon in the Battle at the Beach game in Ocean City. That is a matchup of the No. 1 and 2 teams in the first-ever USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey Public School Top 20.
More: NJ football rankings: See who's No. 1 in the first-ever Statewide Public Top 20
Other highlight games are powerful Bergen Catholic at Red Bank Catholic Friday night in a matchup of the No. 1 and 5 teams in the first-ever USA TODAY New Jersey Non-Public Top 10; the Shore Conference American Division game Friday night between Rumson-Fair Haven and Middletown South at Middletown South and the Shore Conference Colonial Division game Saturday night between Colts Neck and Point Pleasant Boro at Point Pleasant Boro.
More: NJ football rankings: See who cracked the preseason Statewide Non-Public Top 10
Here are our Shore Conference preseason top 20 rankings.
1. Toms River North (Last year’s final record, 14-0): Last year’s final ranking: No. 1.
The Mariners return most of the team that stormed to the first NJSIAA Group 5 championship and outscored their opponents 660-115. The points scored was a state record for a single season. Among the returnees are standout senior quarterback/defensive back and Stanford University-recruit Micah Ford, junior offensive tackle and Penn State recruit Jaylene Matthews, junior wide receiver/defensive back Jeremiah Pruitt, junior wide receiver/defensive back Tareq Council and junior running back/defensive back Josh Moor and offensive lineman Justin Kaye. Some questions need to be answered on the defensive front seven and at center. Toms River North will be tested right out of the gate. First game: Friday at the Battle of the Beach in Ocean City vs. defending NJSIAA Group 4 champion Millville (12-2).
More: Presenting the 2023 preseason All-New Jersey football offensive team
2. Red Bank Catholic (Last year’s final record, 10-2): Last year’s final ranking: No. 2.
The Caseys return a lot of qualify players, including senior wide receiver/defensive back and Stanford University-recruit Emanuel Ross, senior linebacker and Pitt-recruit Davin Brewton, heavily-recruited senior offensive tackle Tyler Burnham, senior offensive guard Lorenzo Portella and junior quarterback Frankie Williams. Red Bank Catholic, the 2021 NJSIAA Non-Public B champion and 2022 Non-Public B runner-up, will have a major test right off the bat. A major game looms in Week 8 when Toms River North hosts Red Bank Catholic. First game: Friday vs defending NJSIAA Non-Public A champion Bergen Catholic (11-1).
3. Middletown South (Last year’s final record, 9-2): Last year’s final ranking: No. 3.
A talented senior class should have Middletown South in contention for an NJSIAA group championship. Among the returnees is senior linebacker/running back Colin Gallagher, senior quarterback/defensive back/placekicker Jake Czwakiel, senior running back Donovan Summey and senior wide receiver/defensive back Owen Richter. The Eagles have gone 18-4 and advanced to a sectional championship game the last two seasons. First game: Friday vs. No. 5 and last season’s NJSIAA Group 2 runner-up Rumson-Fair Haven (8-5).
More: Presenting the 2023 preseason All-New Jersey football defensive team
4. Donovan Catholic (Last year’s final record, 6-4): Last year’s final ranking: No. 4.
The Griffins return many key players from a team that was young last season. Among the returnees are heavily-recruited wide receiver Michael Thomas III, sophomore running back Najee Calhoun, senior defensive lineman Zaeir Day and senior linebacker Hunter Johnson. First game: Friday vs. St. Augustine (6-5).
5. Rumson-Fair Haven Last year’s final record, 8-5): Last year’s final ranking: No. 5.
The Bulldogs will be ready come time for the NJSIAA Group 2 playoffs due to the tough Shore Conference American Division they play. Among the returnees from the team that gave unbeaten Caldwell all it could handle in the NJSIAA Group 2 championship game are junior quarterback Owen O’Toole, who threw for over 2,000 yards, senior receiver Nick Rigby, who had over 60 receptions last season, senior defensive lineman Cooper Bunnell and senior linebacker Reed Elsas. First game: Friday at No. 3 Middletown South (9-2).
6. Point Pleasant Boro (Last year’s final record, 9-1): Last year’s final ranking: No. 6.
The Panthers, who move up to the Shore Conference Colonial Division this season, have the offensive firepower to compete with senior quarterback Matt Oliphant and senior running back Jake Croce leading the triple-option running attack out of the flexbone alignment. Among the other returnees is two-way lineman Charles Davison. Point Boro was unbeaten until a defeat to Willingboro in last season’s NJSIAA South Group 2 semifinal. First game: Saturday vs. No. 9. Colts Neck (6-3).
7. Jackson Memorial (Last year’s final record, 7-3): Last year’s final ranking: No. 9.
The Jaguars, who shared the Shore Conference Constitution Division championship with Colts Neck last season, return all 11 players who saw significant playing time on defense. Among the returnees are safeties Jaiden Hernandez and Albert D’Alessandro and defensive end Shaun Hubbard. Jackson Memorial did graduate quarterback Tai Mann, but seven starters return on offense, including receivers Hernandez and D’Alessandro. The Jaguars are in the Shore Conference Freedom Division with Howell, Lacey, Marlboro, Middletown North and Southern. First game: Aug. 31 vs. 16. Manalapan (3-7).
8. Matawan (Last year’s final record: 6-3): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Huskies, in head coach Jay Graber’s fifth season, appear primed to make a run for a return to among the Shore’s elite after winning the Shore Conference Liberty Division championship last season. Among the key players are junior quarterback Am’ir Martinez, junior running back Colin Palumbo, sophomore receiver Welman Crooms and junior lineman Jayden Elijah. Both Crooms and Elijah are being highly recruited. First game: Sunday at The Battle at the Beach in Ocean City vs. Cedar Creek (4-7).
More: High school football summer snapshots: 2023 Shore season previews, players to watch
9. Colts Neck (Last year’s final record: 6-3): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Cougars, who shared the Shore Conference Constitution Division championship with Jackson Memorial last season, should be in the thick of the Shore Conference Colonial Division race. Among the returnees is senior running back Chris Scully, who rushed for 1,313 yards and 15 TDs last season, senior defensive lineman Eric Loureiro and Anthony Lombardi. First game: Saturday at No. 6 Point Pleasant Boro (9-1).
10. Long Branch (Last year’s final record, 7-4): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Green Wave won six of their final seven games last season. Included in that run was a win over then unbeaten Pennsauken in a NJSIAA Central Group 4 quarterfinal and a victory over Red Bank on Thanksgiving Day. Senior quarterback Earnest Reevey, who is an accurate passer and threw for 1,624 yards and 15 TDs and rushed for 392 yards and four TDs, is among the returnees. Other key returnees are senior running back/defensive back Zaheem Brown and linemen Fernando Flores Martinez, Tyler Taylor and Joseph Corley. First game: Friday at Piscataway (6-4).
11. Brick Memorial (Last year’s final record, 6-5): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Mustangs have one of the Shore Conference’s most electrifying players in senior quarterback Connor Dietz, who threw for 2,083 yards and 13 TDs and ran for 1,858 yards and 23 TDs. Other key returnees are junior running back Kevin Andrews, senior wide receiver/defensive back Jasaan Whitaker and senior wide receiver/defensive back Nicco Maribo. First game: Friday vs. Allentown (4-5).
12. Red Bank Regional (Last year’s final record, 7-4): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
A solid senior class has made steady progress in Shane Fallon’s three seasons as head coach. Among the returness are two-way lineman and Harvard University-recruit Griffin Egan, two-way lineman and placekicker and punter Nick Gandolfo, running backs Ja’Cire Jones and Gunnar Eckerstrom and receiver Liam Stock. The move up the Shore Conference Colonial Division will test the Bucs’ depth. First game: Sept. 1 at Freehold Township (5-5).
13. Wall (Last year’s final record, 4-7): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Crimson Knights would be a major contender for a divisional championship and a contender for a top 10 ranking if they were in any other division, but the ultra-tough American Division. Wall does return four starting offensive linemen, including Ben Sasso and Chris Rogers, senior quarterback Andrew Olsen and junior running back/linebacker Mason Adam. First game: Friday at No. 16 Manalapan (3-7).
14. Middletown North (Last year’s final record, 3-6): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Lions, after ending last season with five straight defeats, drop down to the Freedom Division where they will compete with Howell, Jackson Memorial, Lacey, Marlboro and Southern. The return of senior quarterback Luke Sheehan, running back Neno Morgan-Acker and receiver Dylan Briggs, should give the Lions a chance to rebound. First game: Friday at Freehold Township (5-5).
15. Marlboro (Last year’s final record, 6-4): Last year’s final ranking: No. 10.
The Mustangs have gone 13-7 the last two seasons. Last season, they won an NJSIAA playoff game for the first time since they won the Central Group 4 championship in 1994 for their only sectional title. Marlboro also defeated Freehold Regional district rival Manalapan for the first time since 1994. Among the returnees is standout linebacker/running back Matt Cassidy, senior fullback/linebacker Anthony Tropeano and senior safety/wide receiver Nick Scaff. Senior quarterback Brayden Klein, who started the final six games last season after the season-ending knee injury to A.J. Schwartz, also returns. First game: Sept. 2 vs. No. 20 St. John Vianney (5-5).
16. Manalapan (Last year’s final record, 3-7): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
Manalapan will be trying to rebound from a season where it was defeated in seven of its eight games. The drop down to the Shore Conference Colonial Division could help. Among the returnees are senior wide receiver/defensive back Anthony Macchio, senior middle linebacker Aidan Wilmot and senior offensive tackle, Princeton University-recruit Evan Radosevich, tight end Joseph Melo and tailback Jason Rodriguez. Manalapan lost five games to public school teams by a combined 20 points last season. First game: Friday vs. No. 13. Wall (4-7).
17. Brick Township (Last year’s final record, 4-5); Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Shore Conference’s flagship program has not had a winning season since 2018, which is also the last time it won an NJSIAA playoff game. The pieces for a revival could be there this season. Seven starters return on defense. Among the returnees there are senior linebackers Jake Toye and Will Walsh and junior defensive back Jayden Johnson. Johnson also returns at wide receiver. Three starters return on the offensive line. First game: Friday vs. Toms River East (3-7).
18. Howell (Last year’s final record, 5-5): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
Howell, which had two defeats by a point last season, including one to Jackson Memorial and also had a defeat to Colts Neck by eight points, returns quarterback Egan Nelms and receiver Kevin Maloney. First game: Sept. 1 vs. No. 13. Wall (4-7).
19. Raritan (Last year’s final record, 8-3): Last year’s final ranking: No. 8.
The Rockets move up to the Shore Conference Colonial Division and will compete with Group 4 schools Colts Neck, Manalapan, Long Branch, Red Bank and Group 2 Point Pleasant Boro. Among the returnees are senior two-way lineman Tommy Jeleniewski, senior quarterback Logan Goldsberry, senior linebacker Kyle Walling, senior offensive tackle Jaxon Tsap and senior wide receiver/cornerback Jayden Craft. First game: Aug. 31 vs. No. 3 Middletown South (9-2).
20. St. John Vianney (5-5): Last year’s final ranking: Not ranked.
The Lancers move up to the Shore Conference Constitution Division, where they will compete against Group 3 Manasquan, Ocean, Holmdel and Group 1 powers Shore and Asbury Park. St. John Vianney sustained major graduation losses and will have three freshmen who are going to start. First game: Friday at the Battle of the Beach in Ocean City vs. Hammonton (9-3).
This Week's Schedule
FRIDAY
AMERICAN DIVISION
Rumson-Fair Haven at Middletown South, 6 p.m.
CONSTITUTION DIVISION
Manasquan at Shore, 7 p.m.
NONDIVISIONAL
Toms River East at Brick, 6 p.m.
Middletown North at Freehold Township, 6 p.m.
Monmouth at Barnegat, 6:30 p.m.
Wall at Manalapan, 7 p.m.
NONCONFERENCE
Absegami at Lacey, 5 p.m.
Allentown at Brick Memorial, 6 p.m.
West Windsor United at Southern, 6 p.m.
North Plainfield at Manchester, 6 p.m.
St. Augustine at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Bergen Catholic at Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.
New Egypt at Point Beach, 7 p.m.
Hamilton West at Central, 7 p.m.
Long Branch at Piscataway, 7 p.m.
BATTLE AT THE BEACH
AT CAREY STADIUM, OCEAN CITY
St. John Vianney vs. Hammonton, 1 p.m.
Toms River North vs. Millville, 4 p.m.
SATURDAY
COLONIAL DIVISION
Colts Neck at Point Boro, 7 p.m.
NONCONFERENCE
Manville at Keyport, 12 p.m.
SUNDAY
BATTLE AT THE BEACH
AT CAREY STADIUM, OCEAN CITY
Matawan vs. Cedar Creek, 1 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore football preseason rankings 2023 led by Toms River North
