Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 68

J.P. Stevens Wired North 35-0 JLiomSo Santangelo for passes of 20 and 11 during the drive. Sottiriou wasted little time building the Hawks' lead when he galloped 60 yards on Stevens' next possession to boost the lead to 21-0 at half. The Hawks began the second half with another sustained drive, moving to Middle-town North's 35 before linebacker Jeff Ecklof belted Huey Singley, causing a fumble which was recovered by the Lions' Jay Mayer. But Kelleher lost the handle on a crucial fourth and three play on the Stevens 44 and the Lions went back to defense.

Stevens capped a 54-yard drive on Sing-ley's two-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. By then the game was over and Middle-town North fans began to head for the exits. Kelleher was picked off by Singley on Middletown North's next snap from center and the Hawks went up 35-0 at the 8:01 mark on Sottiriou's third score. Undaunted, Kelleher took the Lions down to Stevens' 10-yard line only to be intercepted by Carl Adams in the end zone. By BOB FOXWORTH Press SUB Writer EDISON TOWNSHIP It was a long bus ride home for the Middletown North football team yesterday.

With nine consecutive victories since an opening-game loss to Bayonne, the Lions were anticipating their first-ever state championship. But J.P. Stevens of North Edison had other ideas. With much of the attention focused on Giants Stadium where Westfield was beating Barringer, Stevens was staking its claim as the premier team in the state. The Hawks, under the guidance of veteran coach Joe Gutowski, easily handled Middletown North, the top-ranked team in the Shore, 3M and won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship.

"Our kids performed well today," said Gutowski. "I doubt If there's any club around that can beat these kids. They're a helluva group." The Hawks not only performed well, but they executed near flawlessly, shut down the Lions' running game and rolled up 341 yards total offense on a field which was soaked from rain that had fallen during the week. "The kids have come a long way," Gu-towksi said. "They're one of the greatest bunch of kids I've ever been associated with.

"This is our first state title. I've gotten more satisfaction out of this group of kids than any other I've worked and I've been coaching for 20 years." It was a downcast Middletown North lorker room where Coach Vic Kubu delivered the post-game mortem to his players. "Fellows," he said, "it's a bad way to end a season. I'm as disappointed as you are. Maybe we weren't intense enough in our preparation.

I don't know. I just hope you learned something out there today. I just want you to know I'm proud of you." Afterwords, Kubu couldn't seem to put his finger on the exact reason for the Lions' demise. "Maybe they outcoached us quite a bit. They were a very good team and we just didn't play very well.

"I just think we weren't mentally prepared to play to today." "That first we should have put it in." The Lions marched from their own 23 to the Hawks' 26 only to stall and turn the ball over. The big play of the drive was a Danny Kelleher-to-Dennis Jacques-pass which covered 32 yards. The Hawks scored on their first three possessions and riddled the Lions' defense with a variety of you name it the Hawks ran it. Senior quarterback Al DeLuca, an All-Middlesex County selection since his sophomore three-time gained nine yards on the Hawks' first snap from center then four plays later broke several tackles en route to a 51-yard touchdown scamper and Stevens was off and running. The Lions moved from their own 29 to midfield on their second possession but were stalled on third and three.

Stevens took over on its own 17 and drove the length of the field in 11 plays, capped by Nick Sottiriou's first of three touchdowns, a a two-yard run. DeLuca connected with wingback Mark Atbury Park PrM scrimmage by Middletown North's Jeff Ecklof (left). Nick Sottiriou of J. P. Stevin it stopped at the lino of Fumble Proves Costly in RBC Loss "'l .4.

IxW vte, i 'CP' Section- CI Asbury Park Press Sun. Leming, Defense Win for Panthers By GABY 8CHOENTNG Press Staff Writer DELRAN TOWNSHIP While bulldozing through the season. Red Bank Catholic High School came up with the big plays it needed to gain a shot at its second consecutive state South Jersey Parochial A title. But the Caseys' game breaker bag was empty yesterday and It was Holy Cross that came up with big plays In a 14-6 victory over RBC to give the Lancers the SJ Parochial A crown. After watching Holy Cross score on a fourth-down, 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that proved to be the game winner, Casey coach Lou Montanaro, fighting his emotions, walked slowly toward the buses.

"Holy Cross played a good football game Montanaro said, forcing the words to come out. "I have a super bunch of kids here and I could never be prouder of a football team than I am today." Statistically, the game was a tossup and a couple of breaks or a different bounce of the football could have meant the difference. "That's the way It goes In a situation like this," Montanaro said, when asked if that's how he saw the game. "That's all I have to say for now." Having knocked off top-seeded Holy Spirit two weeks ago, the Caseys were confident of repeating as SJ Parochial champs. But Holy Cross, which beat second seeded St.

John Vianney'to reach the finals, relied on ball control to clinch the victory after It had taken a 7-0 half time lead. "A lot of people say the best offense is a good defense," said Lancer coach Frank Red Bonn Orthotic .0 0 0 6 .0 7 1 0-14 Holy Cross. HC CounoMo 1 run (Peomo kc. HC Show pots from Sheo (Peomo kick). RBC Mono run (kick toiled) Com stotisncs RBC HC First downs 'J Rushes-yardage 47-101 42-ISO Potting yardage 30 87 Return yardage 3t Pmses -M 7-10-0 Punts 3 FumtMMMt 4-1 1-0 Panomet-vardl S-5J M0 Individual LMkri RutMng Rd Bank Catholic Madsen 1761 J.

tO-61, Bruno Mono nory um gk 4, Magattnca kto 4-35, trwm 7-11. Receiving Rod Bonk Carnollc Mam 1-15. Wllkens VIS. Hory Crow: Shaw M6, wMI Ml FeUt 1-11. Cannua t-K CoMnoMo 1-4.

Patting Roa Bank Catholic J. Motion J-7-1, 30. Hory Crow Stmt 7-10-0. 17. MlOd.

North JJ ..0 0 0 0 7 14 0 14 35 DeLuca 51 run (Oaokowskl kick) Sottiriou two run (Oaoowskl kick) SotHrlou 40 run (Oiapowskl klc) Slnglev three run (Chapowskl kick) Sottiriou four run (Chapowskl kick) Game Stotlstk-s Mldd. Norm Stevens 15 46-776 65 15 4-5-1 1-1 1-13 6-70 First Downs i Rushes-Yards Passing YortH Return Yards Passing FumMes-Last Punts 21-42 117 93 7-16-3 4-1 3-34 1-46 Penotnes-Yards. Individual I Rushing Mlaa. North: North 6-W, Slate 7-11, Kelleher 7-2. Stevens: Sottiriou 10-124, DeLuca 13-91, Slnglev t-24, Santangelo 3-11.

Passing Mldd. North: Kelleher 7-14-3, 117 vards. Stevens: DeLuca 4-4-0, 65 vards, Gresh O-l-l. Receiving Mldd. North: jacaues 4-41, Slate 2-16.

Maresco 1-10. Stevens: Santangelo 4-65. ports Deo. 4. 1877 scoreboard clock, ticking away without interruption.

Finally, in a fourth-and-two situation with 25 seconds left, the Panthers called time out, and brought on placekicker Mike Kil-martin. His 20-yard attempt was low and wide, and the first half ended in a scoreless tie. But if at first you don't succeed, try again. Salem was quickly forced to punt after receiving the second-half kickoff, and Leming and Van Cardo repeated their earlier performances, gaining four, five and six yards at a time. The key play came in a fourth-and-one situation on the Rams' 10-yard line, when Smith handed the ball to Leming instead of punting it away.

The play was good for three yards, and a first down, and three more chances for Leming to try to score. On fourth down, he made it from a yard away, dashing untouched through a massive hole opened for him by the offensive line. Leming revived Panther hopes for an insurance touchdown later in the final period with a leaping, twisting interception of a Brian Sye pass, but the drive fizzled near midfield, and Sye got another chance to try for a game-tying touchdown pass. Two attempts fell incomplete before Randy Johnson rushed for a first down on the Ram 46, but Rath and Kirschner sacked Sye for a nine-yard loss, and a fumbled handoff led to another loss of eight. A 13-yard completion to Tim Jones was short of a first down with 32 seconds left, and Smith ran out the clock.

Point Boro Solem P.B. ..0 0 7 07 ..0 0 0 00 Leming I run (Kllmortln kick). Gome Statistics Point Boro Salem 6 16-33 1 First downs 12 Rushes-varoaoe 49-131 Passing yardage 10 Return yardage 54 42 Posses 7-4-1 3-10-2 Punts 3-28 Fumhles-lost 1-0 1-0 Penalties-yards 6-55 4-30 Individual leaders RUSHING Point Boro: Leming 78-91, Van Cardo 11-49, Stango 2-6; Salem: Johnson 6-24, Sve 6-8, Smith 3-9. RECEIVING Point Boro Mllroth 1-8, Leming 1-2, Salem: Jones 2-26, Gross 1-13. PASSING Point Boro: Smith Salem: Sve Paris, recalling the axiom.

"But with a team as explosive as Red Bank Catholic, I think the best defense is a good offense so they don't get the ball." Paris said game films of RBC had him in awe of the Caseys' triple wishbone threat of Mike Mazza, Mike Madsen and Jerry Bruno with Jeff Mahon at the helm. And the back-field performed as advertised, rolling up more than 200 yards on the ground. But a stalled 16-play drive in the first period and a fumble at the Lancer 7 late in the third period proved costly. After scoring in the opening drive of the fourth period, Holy Cross controlled the ball. The Caseys didn't get it back until there was just a minute left and then it was on their own 20 and their timeouts were exhausted.

"No question about It, they hurt themselves," Paris said. "They have a hell of an offense. Their backs are murder. I'll tell you, I didn't get any sleep all week thinking about them." When the game began, It appeared the Caseys, who finished at 8-io, would pick up right where they left off against Holy Spirit. Mahon, calling his number as well as the other three, moved RBC from its 12 to the Lancer 26 before a fourth-and-two play failed.

But then Holy Cross stiffened and after several exchanges, the Lancers had possession at their 39. Running from a slot I formation, the Lancers marched all the way in a 61-yard drive highlighted by a third-down, 18-yard pass from Chris Shea to Steve Fekete. Tom Colangelo went in from the one and Jim Peditto kicked the first of two extra points. In the first series on the second half, Holy Cross drove again, this time using 8 12 minutes to eat up 81 yards. Two big plays made the drive.

First, when the Lancers were fourth-and-one at midfield and ready to punt, RBC was drawn offside to give Holy Cross a first down. "We have what I call a shutdown play," Paris said. "We take the snap all day with the linemen up. Snap, snap, snap. And when we try to draw someone offsides, we come to the line the same way but have the linemen go into a three-point stance without the ball being snapped." Then, on a fourth-and-three from the 20, Shea, a chunky reserve quarterback filling in for the Injured Larry Nece, lofted a pass into the wind that tight end Mike Shaw ran under in the end zone.

"Mike Shaw is probably the best football Having personally directed the Rams to a 28-0 decision over Red Bank Regional yesterday in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championship, their 10th consecutive victory since a 2-0 loss to North Brunswick on opening day, Hudak Is thereby assured of his own special place in South River football annals. Afterward, surrounded by his friends and teammates, he simply told Inquirers "It feels good; we came to play," said Hudak. "We were a better team but they (Red Bank) hit hard" Atbury Park Pratt Red Bank Catholic's Aaron Quinn drops past after being hit by Holy Cross player. Red Bank Falls to Rams' Tradition By RICK MAKIN Press Staff Writer SALEM Al Saner, head football coach for Point Plea-sant Boro High School, called it, "my proudest moment in 21 years of coaching. "I'm the emotional one, not the kids," said Saner, his cheeks glistening with tears moments after his charges wrapped up the NJSIAA South Jersey Group LT championship yesterday, defeating the stubborn Rams of Salem High School, 7-0.

"We have a great, great ball club," he said, and the South Jersey skeptics doubtless believe it. Saner's Panthers closed out a 9-2 season with their first state title in the four-year history of football playoffs, dominating the play most of the way and holding the vaunted rushing attack of the Tri-County Conference champion Rams to 33 yards. It was no easy victory, and those who expected a high-scoring matchup of ball-control offenses were disappointed. The name of the game was defense. The Panthers' winning effort rolled up 141 yards total offense, an unusually slim total, and Salem's multiple-T offense was limited to 72 yards.

It was a great day for individual efforts. Russ Leming, the Shore's season scoring leader, rushed for 91 yards in carries, caught a pass, intercepted another and scored the game's only touchdown, raising his total output to 92 points. Defensive backs Mike Stango and Rick Baduini and linemen Colin Rath and Geoff Daniels turned in inspired defensive efforts. After winning the opening coin toss and choosing to receive the kickoff, the Panthers controlled the ball for all but 10 plays from scrimmage during the first half. Forced to punt after a single first down, their defense choked off the Rams' running attack and forced Salem to kick the ball away.

Leming and Van Cardo led the first downfield march from the Panther 13-yard line to near midfield befoe disaster struck, and was just as quickly turned around again. Smith threw a pass slightly wide of his intended receiver and Salem's Al Baytops picked it off, but couldn't hold it when he was tackled. Stango fell on the fumble, but the Salem defense, stunting and shifting, shut down the running game and sacked Smith for a 10-yard loss, forcing another punt. "We adjusted our blocking in the second quarter, and that was what made the difference," Saner said later. "We went to straight-ahead stuff instead of pulling out linemen to lead the play, and it worked for us." Two personal-foul penalties helped the Rams move to their own 35 before they were forced to punt again, with time waning in the half.

Leming and Van Cardo alternated carries again from their own 43-yard line to a first down on the Salem 10 with less than a minute remaining. They continued runnng plays while Panther fans became vocal and upset about the By BILL EDWARDS Press Staff Writer LITTLE SILVER South River, whose list of alumni Includes quarterbacks Joe 'Theismann and Drew Pearson, Is proving that old traditions don't die easily. Ten years after Theismann went on to gain prominence at Notre Dame, and nine years after Pearson stamped his own mark at Tulsa University, South River is proud to call quarterback Keith Hudak a native son. And its simply delighted that he's only a junior. SMS nil" ii drove again and this time Mazza swept lett for a five-yard touchdown midway in the fourth period.

But the Lancers controlled the ball, gaining four first downs before being stalled at the Casey 20 by a knifing John Sullivan tackle on fourth down. RBC's title hopes were killed as defensive lineman Craig Multer picked off a last second desperation Mahon pass. afterward. "I'll take sole responsibility for the loss." "The momentum was in their favor, right from the start. They were definitely on the money." "We just didn't anticipate the breakdowns defensively." It was, simply, frustration compounded by frustration for Red Bank's Shore Conference Class champions.

Their first four possessions resulted in the first of five punts by Pete Bennett, safety Joe Banciski's interception at the South River 18, the Lewis fumble that set in motion South River's second scoring drive at the Red Bank 27, and a punt. A fumble by Mack Jones (10 carries, 52 yards) short-circuited Red Bank's first possession of the second half at the 39-yard line, a 26-yard punt set in motion South River's final score, starting from the Red Bank 32, before the Bucs punted the ball away their final two possessions. .741 i-n .0 0 0 0-0 SR HK 1 run (HIM SR Hudak 1 run (kick blocked). SR K. Joe ton 2t pass from Hudak (Hill run).

SR -Owrgev pass from Hudak (HIH kick). Cam Statistics South River 17 41-190 113 4 -U-0 5-35 RBR 11 27-56 41 72 4-17-1 5-31 32 4-32 Rushing Yards Passing Return Passes 7-5 kvStvkSual I RUSHING Soutn River Hudak 1-4. Hill 13-47, Rul-sM 4-12, F. Jackson 4-25. Rod Bank: Jones 10-52, Rooin-son 4-14.

RECEIVING South River K. Jockson 4-97, F. Jock-son 1-10. Red Bonk: VvomBkt 3-2. PASSING South River Hudak 9-lt-O, 111.

Red Bank: M. Lewis $-16-1 41, Atkinson 0-1-0 0. player on this team," Paris said. "He's 6-foot-3, 220 pounds and he's the fastest guy on the team and you saw what kind of hands he has." The ball at first appeared to be overthrown but the wind held it up and Shaw made a spectacular leaping grab just before stepping over the end line. RBC drove to the 7 but fumbled.

They His two-yard burst up the middle in the second quarter, two touchdown passes of 28 and eight yards in the second half, and a combined 182 yards of offense said slightly more. "Keith was right on the money," summed up South River Head Coach Bill Csatari, In his 12th year at the Middlesex County high school, and fourth as head coach. "He was like a commander in chief." "He did everything." Operating a highly-diversified offense that listed "19 or 22" formations, the 6-1, 160-pound practioner of the roll-out option completed nine of 18 passes for 113 yards, and added 69 yards rushing. Sophomore tailback Troy Hill, who put the Rams on the scoreboard midway in the first quarter on a one yard plunge, added 47 yards on 13 carries, sophomore Ken Jackson chalked up 97 yards on six receptions, and gave South River a 19-0 lead midway in the third quarter. Add a ball-hungry, pressure-plus defense, behind linebacker Bob Lanes and nose guard Mike Schmidt, that held Red Bank's usually-reliable offense to 56 yards on the ground, including 25 in the second half, picked off one pass, recovered three fumbles, and sacked Buc quarterback Mark Lewis (5-16-1, 61 yards) five times, twice in the fourth quarter, for losses that amounted to 32 yards.

Red Bank Coach Lou Vircillo, clearly, was a picture of disappointment, a man whose team had lost its only game in 11 assignments this season, and lost for the second straight year in the Central Jersey Group championship. "I believe our players played the best possible game they could play," said Vircillo in: rya, IV Inside. Sports Basketball Previews C2 Bernie King's a Favorite C3 All-Shore Soccer Team C5 Classified Automotive 1 3-25 Boating C26 Help Wanted C26-28 Merchandise C29-30 Apartments C30-3 1 Homes for Sale C3 1 -34 i 1 Atbury Park prtt Red Bank Regional's Robert Womble evades South River tackier Rich Marches! yesterday but South River won championship game, 23-0..