Manalapan 35 Manasquan 7 

Manalapan methodically controlled the line of scrimmage with a ground-based attack and had possession for over 27 minutes out of approximately 42 before they sent the reserves into the game for a 35-7 win over Manasquan. 

First Quarter:  Manalapan began the game with a seven-minute drive of 75 yards, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown by Ah’sere Wollfolk, the workhorse of the drive. The drive consisted of 13 plays, 11 on the ground and both passes completed. Manasquan came down the field with a 69-yard drive that consumed two-and-a-half minutes. The first play was a 39-yard pass from Matt Antonucci to JD Teza. After a five-yard penalty, Ace Etienne ripped off a 20-yard touchdown run to the 15, followed by another Antonucci-to-Teza completion for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7. 

Second Quarter: Manalapan drove for almost six minutes on twelve plays, nine on the ground. Woolfolk scored again, this time from two yards out. The biggest play was a 17-yard run from Nick Palmieri on the drive’s first play. After the Braves defense forced a three-and-out, Manlapan started on the 50. The fifth and final play of the drive was an Ethan Fogelstrom run of 28 yards on the sweep down the left sideline for the score. 

Third Quarter: Manasquan came out with the ball and moved down the field, consuming five minutes and eleven plays, seven of which were runs by Etienne. But the drive fell short when a fourth-down pass from the 22 fell incomplete. Manalapan stayed on the ground, except for one pass, consuming nearly six minutes, and scoring on a 28-yard sweep by Vincent DiFilippo with just over a minute left in the quarter.  

Fourth Quarter: A short Manasquan punt returned by DeFilippo to give Manalapan the ball on Manasquan’s 20. Five plays later, Woolfolk scored from five yards out to make it 35-7 with seven-and-a-half minutes left. Shortly after that, Manalapan brought in the backups and no further scoring came. 

Comments:  Manalapan was near perfect on their six drives before the starters came out, scoring five touchdowns. They had possession for over 27 of 42 minutes to control the game with 256 yards on the ground and 47 passing yards. Woolfolk gained 78 yards and 3 touchdowns on 20 carries and a stat sheet does not describe how effective he was with second effort and patience for the right hole to arrive. The offensive line of Nick Monteleone, Reggie Bennett, Alex Osmun, Joe Petriello, and Brody Alfieri blocked well for Woolfolk and the other ball carriers. Except for two drives, the Manalapan defense stifled Manasquan. It was the first win for the Braves after losses to tough Piscataway and Middletown South squads and things could have gone further south, but they passed their test with flying colors. 

For Manasquan, it was their first loss. Aside from two drives, the offense could not get going and the defense had no answer to Manalapan’s offense. They lost to a better team and have to regroup for their next game.