SSZ hears from the coaches at Brick and Jackson leading up to their big showdown
The Central Jersey Group 4 Semifinals features a pair of regular season rematches with the stakes much higher. Friday night’s winners advance to the state championship in two weeks. Top seed Middletown South hosts #4 seed Neptune, while #2 and defending champ Brick Township takes on #3 Jackson Memorial.
Brick’s 30-24 overtime win over Jackson Memorial was one of the top regular season games of 2014. Since then, the Jaguars are on a six game winning streak, highlighted by an upset win over RBC. One big change in round two is Matt Castruonova, the versatile Jaguars wide receiver and defensive back, who sat out the regular season game against Brick due to transfer rules.
Neptune was a different team when they were dominated at home by the Eagles 41-0 in Week Three. The Scarlet Fliers quarterback/safety Royal Moore was not in the game due to transfer rules. Neptune has won six straight games and has given up just seven points over the last 16 quarters:
Here’s the schedule of post-season matchups on Friday and Saturday. Shore Sports Zone will have a Friday night highlights show with action from Neptune/Middletown South and Jackson Memorial/Brick Township as well as the showdown between RBC and St. Joe’s Montvale.
| Week 11 Playoff Scoreboard | ||
|---|---|---|
| Central Jersey Group 5 | ||
| (3) Manalapan | 28 | |
| (2) Hillsborough | 6 | FINAL |
| Central Jersey Group 4 | ||
| (4) Neptune | 3 | |
| (1) Middletown South | 27 | FINAL |
| (3) Jackson Memorial | 44 | |
| (2) Brick Township | 0 | FINAL |
| Central Jersey Group 3 | ||
| (8) Ocean Township | 20 | |
| (5) Matawan | 23 | FINAL |
| (3) Carteret | 21 | |
| (2) Long Branch | 17 | FINAL |
| Central Jersey Group 2 | ||
| (3) Cinnamonson | 13 | |
| (2) Rumson-Fair Haven | 49 | FINAL |
| Central Jersey Group 1 | ||
| (4) Middlesex | 13 | |
| (1) Shore Regional | 28 | FINAL |
| South Jersey Group 5 | ||
| (8) Toms River North | 14 | |
| (4) Cherokee | 37 | FINAL |
| South Jersey Group 3 | ||
| (4) Central Regional | 18 | |
| (1) Allentown | 25 | FINAL |
| Non-Public Group 3 | ||
| (4) Saint John Vianney | 26 | |
| (1) Delbarton | 38 | FINAL |
| (3) St. Joe's (Montvale) | 14 | |
| (2) Red Bank Catholic | 44 | FINAL |
| Non-Public Group 1 | ||
| (5) Mater Dei Prep | 18 | |
| (1) St. Joe's (Hamm.) | 41 | FINAL |