Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 30

Asbury Park PressSun. Dec. 7, 1980 B3 Raritan's bid falls short in setback to Woodbridge 6 Bishops capture CJ title From page Bl 1 rfl 1 "He's only 160 pounds, but it's all muscle and heart." As it turned out, Johnson and Asbury Park were just beginning at this stage of the game. Before the half was over, Lonnie White would go 102 yards on an interception return, and Samuels would find receiver Wayne Taylor in the end zone for an eight-yard TD toss. This lightning-light offensive blitz stunned the huge section of Voorhees fans, and left the Vikings on the wrong end of a 26-0 halftime score.

Johnson's 56-yard TD catch, to begin the third period, only intensified Voorhees' misery. "If we didn't establish something early," said Conti, "we knew from past games that Voorhees would come at us like a barn-burner in the second half." And come they did, scoring twice in succession (after a successful onsides kick) in the second half to whittle the Asbury Park lead to 32-16. Lou Eglesia, who performed gallantly in defeat with 157 yards on 16 carries, got the Vikings on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a 37-yard TD burst, and scored again to begin the final period, this time from eight yards away. His two-point conversion runs on both TD's brought sudden life to the long-subdued crowd, and caused Asbury Park boosters some anxious moments. But Will Wynn picked off a Tom Polte pass to thwart a third Voorhees march, and Asbury Park was home free, en route to its first-ever state football crown.

And into the record books as champions, for future generations of Asbury Park students to talk about, and reminisce, ever so fondly. tv jrj "l'CTf aiWiMi.ii miUii sft iiriimfniilniitiiiiii iiiimiiiiil mini Ntti vvv:" By BOB SANSEVERE Press Staff Writer HAZLET TOWNSHIP Shoulder pads were stacked high, one on top of the other. Pants were piled in a heap, cleats were thrown together, helmets were scattered. This is what remained of the Raritan High School football team 30 minutes after it had lost the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship to Woodbridge, 7-6. In the space of two minutes and 20 seconds, the time it took Woodbridge to rally late in the fourth quarter, the season ended for the Raritan players and all their gear and it was time to pack it away.

Looking at those pads you never would've known the popping, the crunching, they had just been through. Nor could you realize how that pair of lonesome cleats in the corner had dug in for that extra inch. That equipment had just been in a war and now it had a whole winter to rest. "It's like saying forget about it," said Raritan's Jeff Blaney, referring to the equipment that was being collected by assistant coaches. But there will be no forgetting this game, not for a while.

Not by Blaney, not by any of them who played. "I thought we had it the whole way," said Blaney. It was Blaney whose interception (his second) and 16-yard run set up Len Schultz' four-yard touchdown barrel late in the fourth quarter. The Rockets then missed the conversion, an incomplete pass from quarterback Joe Sansevere to John Downey. Later in the game, when Woodbridge's Pat Barbato was passing his team down the field toward its touchdown, it was Blaney who almost had a third interception to thwart the drive.

"I could've had that interception," he said. "But I was backpedalling and fell." As it was, he broke up the pass to Frank Corbo, Barbato's favorite receiver. But that wasn't enough to suit him. In this game, that little extra by everyone was what counted. Witness: Ed Volpe, who was outstanding on Raritan's defense, sprinting down to cover punts and make almost every tackle.

Witness: Ed Schultz, another stalwart on defense, booming 49 and 46-yard punts to nail Woodbridge deep in its own end, late in the game, when good field position was a must. In Woodbridge's final, fatal drive they all yelled deep inside themselves, players from both teams, begging for that extra smidge of strength. Barbato found it as the clock and the season wound down. He moved his team 83 yards and completed four passes in 2:20, the big one a 34-yarder to Ed Tobin that took the ball to the Raritan one. On the next play, John Scutti scored to tie the game.

Scutti also kicked the killer, the extra point that made Raritan a runner-up. "After Raritan scored I figured I blew the game," said Barbato, who had thrown four interceptions prior to the game-winning drive. After Woodbridge took the lead, Raritan had 50 seconds to plead with the clock. IjJI Russ DeSantisAsbury Park Press Woodbridge's Randy Cuntala. able," Sansevere said.

"He couldn't get it. That's the way it turned out." Although an extra point won the game for one team and lost it for the other, it was a game that wasn't decided on one play. "I have no regrets," Karlik said. "If we played it tomorrow I'd want us to play it the same way." With a slight revision, of course. STATISTICS OF THE GAME Wood Rar First Downs 13 4 Passes 9 25 4 3-13-4 Passing yards 128 21 Rushing yards 16 73 29 116 Return yards 59 133 Punts 6-31 6-368 Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1 Penalties 9-82 5-35 SCORE BY QUARTERS Woodbridge 00 0 7 7 Raritan 0 0-06 6 SCORING L.

Schultz 1 run (pass tailed) Scutti 1 run (Scutti kick) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Woodbridge. Sacco 9 37. Barbato 9 17. Simon 3-13, Rudko 3-4, Scutti 2-2. Raritan: L.

Schultz 9-50. Blaney 9-39. Twaddle 7-18. Nicholl 1-5. McGregor 1-3, Sansevere 2-1.

PASSING Woodbridge: Barbato 9-25-4. 128 Raritan: Sansevere 3-13-4, 21. RECEIVING Corbo 4-53. Tobin 2-49. Demuro 2-22.

Simon 1-4. Raritan: Blaney 1-13. Nicholl 1-8. Twaddle 1-0. Raritan's Bill Twaddle is dropped by Sansevere's instructions were to come out firing; he threw a pass to Mike Nicholl, who lateraled to Blaney, who had nothing but a patch of sideline separating him from the end zone.

But he slipped and crawled out of bounds to stop the clock. "If I stayed inbounds I would've been gone," he said. The drive ended when Sansevere launched a desperation prayer in the last 20 seconds that was picked off. There were a lot of "would have beens" and "might have beens" and "what its" in this game. What would have happened if the ball didn't bounce off Nicholl's chest in the end zone and get intercepted in the second quarter? Might Raritan have won if a receiver didn't run a wrong route near the goal line and caught the ball instead of it being intercepted in the third quarter? What if Downey had been able to hold onto the conversion pass from Sansevere, the two points that might have (would have?) won the game? "We knew we could get that two points," said Emil Karlik, the Raritan head coach.

"From the films we knew that pass was there." "It was high, but I thought it was catch- STATISTICS OF THE GAME AP First Downs 14 Parses 7-11-1 Passing yards 142 Rushing yards 29-125 Return yards 0 Punts 2-470 Fumbles-lost 0-0 Penalties 3-45 SCORE BV QUARTERS Asbury Park 7 19 6 0 32 Voorhees 0 08 8 16 SCORING AP D. Johnson 5 run (Taylor kick). AP D. Johnson 5 run (Taylor kick). AP White 102 interception return (kick tailed).

AP Taylor 8 pass from Samuels (pass tailed). AP 0. Johnson 48 pass from Samuels (kick failed). Eglesia 37 run (Eglesia run). 1 Eglesia 8 run (Egelesia run), INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING AP: O.

Johnson 21-124; Smith 13-81. Eglesia 16 157. PASSING AP: Samuels 7-111. 142; Polte RECEIVING Wilson 3-20. Monden 1-10.

Taylor 18. Johnson Shaw 2 26. Smith 1-5. 5-16-3 Steve Scholfield Asbury Park Press Asbury Park's Lonnie White picks off pass in the end zone (top photo) and sets sail 102 yards for a touchdown which game the Blue Bishops a 20-0 lead. Defense paves way for Lancers Fliers top-ranked in preseason poll NJSIAA Playoffs North Jersey, Section 1 Group 4 Passaic Val 20 Fair Lawn 0 Group 3 Ramsey 10 Hoboken 0 North Jersey.

Section 1 Group 2 Sparta 13 Saddle Brook 7 Group 1 Glen Rock 22 Park Ridge 21 Central Jersey Group 4 Woodbridge 7 Raritan 6 Group 2 Asbury Park 32 Voorhes 16 Group 1 South River 24 Spotswood 13 South Jersey Group 4 Pennsauken 14 Willingboro 0 Group 3 Mainland Reg 15 Overbrook 12 Group 2 Burlington 12 Haddon Twp 7 Group 1 Paulsboro 16 Glassboro6 South Jersey Parochial A St. John Vianrey 14 Red Bank Catholic 6 From page Bl Before the game, all week long as a matter of fact, RBC coach Lou Montanaro had emphasized one thing: "We have to stop them from getting the big play." But Lancer lightning struck twice in the second quarter, through no fault of a dogged Casey defense led by nose guard Steve Bidun and tackle Wally Case. First, with 8:27 left in the half, Eustace retreated to pass on fourth-and-U from the RBC 27. Golden, who had four of SJV's five receptions on the day (for 98 yards), ran a deep out, lost the double coverage, gathered in the ball inside the five, and scooted in for the score. Tom Mulroy converted, and the Lancers had themselves a 7-0 lead.

Then, following some fairly strange goings on over the next eight minutes-plus (including two awful RBC punts, a Clarey goof "I thought it was third down, I wanted to bang my head against a wall" on fourth-and-goal at the two, and an ill-conceived fourth-and-one RBC pass), SJV got the ball on RBC's 44 with 15 seconds to go before intermission. It was obviously prevent Tralka's Purple Roses rate as premier team time, and the Casey defense played its hand accordingly. Yes, Golden was well covered, double-covered, as he had been and would continue to be all day. But. somehow, with a magnificent leap between the two guys shadowing him, Golden snared Eustace's pass at the RBC seven, and, with six seconds left, it was first-and-goal.

"Typical Golden," said Clarey. "Every-time we threw the ball today I just had this feeling that that little rascal was going to catch it." The next play was also intended to go to Golden. "It was a 100-pass, an out pattern, to Greg," Clarey explained. "But he got decked in the end zone." Eustace looked for Golden, didn't see him, tucked the ball in, and beat a strung out defense into the end zone. "What happened was that when Greg got decked," said Clarey, "the guy who knocked him down went down too.

If he hadn't, he probably would have been there to stop John." After allowing for SJV's only first down of the second half Mowing the kickoff, the Caseys ate up the third quarter with a 15-play, 65-yard march that died at the SJV 20. Dave MayAsbury Park Press Which, of course, was very reminiscent of RBC's first two drives, in the first quarter one stymied by a Sean Gioffre fumble recovery, the other halted by a John Sauickie interception. Three good fourth-quarter punts by (who else) Golden and a fumble recovery by Bill Wiegand kept the Caseys out of decent field position, but RBC finally managed to punch over with 3:21 to play. Peter McNamara rambled in untouched from 14 yards out after QB Bob Bauer got hot, connecting on big passes to Mike McNamara (4-46) and Bill Light (2-13). But Golden 's final punt of the day, a 46-yard gem under heavy pressure, pinned the Caseys down on their own nine, with 1:35 left.

They managed two first downs from there, moving up to their 49, but Gioffre alertly batted down a trick pass by wide receiver McNamara, and tackle Tom Clancy and end Drew Cowley put together back-to-back sacks to end it. STATISTICS OF THE GAME RBC SJV First Downs 1 7 5 Passes 9-23-1 5-13-1 Passing yards 102 109 Rushing yards 47-157 30-70 Return yards 17 35 Punts 210 5-33 Fumbles-lost 2-2 10 Penalties 3 12 3 25 SCORE BY QUARTERS RBC 0 00 6 6 SJV 0 14 0 0 14 SCORING SJV Greg Golden 27 pass from John Eustace (Tom Mulroy kick) SJV Eustace 7 run (Mulroy kick) RBC Peter McNamara 14 run (pass failed) INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING RBC Jay Colao 17-58; P. McNamara 8-48; Jim McHeftey 9-31. SJV: Joe Breen 16-35; Eustace 4-19; Scott Navitsky 6-12. PASSING RBC: Bob Bauer 9-20-1, 102 yards.

SJV: Eustace 5-13-1. 109 yards. RECEIVING RBC: Mike McNamara 4-46; Bill Light 2-43; Scott Walsack 2-18. SJV; Golden 4 98, Robert Qui-dorel-11. Saddle River scores victory over Ranney SADDLE RIVER Saddle River defeated Ranney School, 53-42, yesterday in a scholastic boys basketball game as Bernie Joseph scored a game high 19 points and Jeff Kuhlman added 16.

Jay Doll led Ranney School with 14 points while Carl Hunter added 10. Ranney School is now 1-2 this season. Saddle River is 1-0. Saddle River took a 10-5 lead after one quarter and led 27-15 at halftime. Saddle River upped its lead to 38-25 after three quarters before Ranney School outscored the winners 17-15 in the final quarter.

Ranney (42): Rudolph 2 4-5 8. Hunter 5 0 0 10. Doll 5 4-5 14. McLam 2 0-0 4, Davis 1 2-2 4. Posnick 1 0-0 2.

Totals 15 10-13 42. Saddle River (53): Kuhlman 7 2-4 16, Kat2 5 4-7 14, Joseph 8 3-9 19, Emsbo 1 12 3. Guttman 0 1-31. Totals 21 11-25 53 Ranney 5 10 10 17 42 Saddle River 10 12 16 15 53 THE NEPTUNE High School basketball team began the 1978 and 1979 high school basketball seasons in the exact same position it is now, No. 1 in the Asbury Park Press top 10 poll of Shore Area basketball teams.

This year, however, coach Henry Moore's Scarlet Fliers intend to do what the other two Neptune teams were unable to accomplish, namely make that ranking hold up. Middletown South's Shore Conference and NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV champions finished as the No. 1 team in 1978-79 and Long Branch's Group champions emerged as No. 1 at the end of last year. "We were No.

1 in the Shore Conference, Long Branch was No. 1 in Group that's a very subjective choice," said Moore. Lombardi, is ranked second to the Purple Roses. St. Joseph, the only other independant team besides St.

Rose at tne Shore this year, has eight letter winners back, including top scorer Joanne O'Shaughnessey who missed 17 games last season with an injury. Despite her absence the Griffins were 15-9 a year ago and with virtually the entire starting team back are ranked third in the preseason poll. A pair of Shore Conference Class North contenders, Red Bank Catholic and Ocean, occupy the fourth and -fifth spots, respectively. Asbury Park, preseason favorite in Class South is ranked sixth. Neptune and Matawan, challengers to Middletown North in Class A North, are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively.

Manchester, with senior Priscilla Lane and Brenda Henderson leading the way, is favored in Class and ranked ninth. Karen Hughes-led Central, among the favorites in Class A South, is ranked 10th. Here is the Asbury Park Press preseason basketball poll with last season's records in parenthesis: 1. St. Rose (21-2); 2.

Middletown North (18-6); 3. St Joseph (15-9); 4. Red Bank Catholic (12-12); 5. Ocean (20-9); 6. Asbury Park (15-9); 7.

Neptune (21-7); 8. Matawan (13-11); 9. Manchester (11-13); 10. Central (10-12). "But Long Branch (which defeated Neptune in the Jubilee final in their only head-to-head clash last season) did a tremendous job last year," said Moore.

"They played well and deserved the No. 1 ranking. "I think out kids would like that prestige, too," said Moore. "But you have to earn it and we intend to go out there and give it a good try." Neptune, which has not finished No. 1 at the Shore since its 31-1 season in 1975-76, opens its season Friday at Ewing.

Neptune returns both starting guards, Terry Fischer and Brian Gabriel, from last year's 21-5 club as well as three-year starter Carl Braggs, forwards Bobby Bruan and Kevin Thomas and swingman Eddie Arlington. "You can't win games on paper, you've got to do it on the court," said Moore. St. Joseph, with four starters back from last season's 23-4 team, including 6-8 junior John Dolan (20 ppg.) and augmented by transfer guard Mickey Hennessy (son of Mater Dei coach Larry Hennessy) could be the class of Ocean County and begins the year ranked No. 2.

"This is the best team we've ever had," said St. Joseph coach Steve Gepp. The Griffins have won all their scrimmages impressively, including a victory over Lakewood. "This team is better than the teams with Kevin Billerman and Wayne Gantt, and that Jim Dolan is the best big man we've ever had," said Gepp. "This season is up to these kids and how bad they want to win.

They have all the credentials to do it but they have to put playing first above all other outside activities other than their academics." Manasquan, led by senior Mike Sullivan and junior Jack Sheehan, is No. 3. Senior Ron Young (18.5 ppg. last year) leads No. 4 Long Branch which hosts No.

5 Middletown South and its standout player, guard Jim Murray, Friday night. Lakewood's Shore Conference Class A South favorites are ranked No. 6 followed by Asbury Park which shared Class South with Manasquan last year. St. Rose, which, may surprise is eighth, followed by Class powers Holmdel and Freehold.

Here is the 1980-81 Asbury Park Press preseason poll with last year's records in parenthesis: 1. Neptune (21-5); 2. St. Joseph (23-4); 3. Manasquan (19-7); 4.

Long Branch (26-3); 5. Middletown South (20-5); 6. Lakewood (14-8), 7. Asbury Park (17-8); 8. St.

Rose (15-10) 9. Holmdel (11-12); 10. Freehold (8-13). i rtll II Js jSAt'a: ASBURY PARK St. Rose girls basketball coach Vinnie Tralka claims his team is as good as any at the Shore.

The Purple Roses, 21-2 a year ago, have a veteran team returning for the 1980-81 season. "We have experienced players, depth, good size and good shooters," said Tralka, who is beginning his seventh year as coach of the Roses and who has compiled a 131-20 record in that time. "The season will be a tough one for us because of all the travel we have to do," he said. The Purple Roses' gym burned down last summer so all of the games will be on the road this season. The Purple Roses have the team and tradition to keep on winning.

Wiht this in mind, the Roses have been tabbed as the No. 1 team in the Asbury Park Press preseason poll of Shore girls basketball teams. St. Rose will depend upon nine returning letter winners, including 5-7 sophmore Ellen Clark who led the team in scoring and rebounding a year ago. In addition, Tralka will count on seniors Sheila and Sharon Hea-vey, Grace Paterno and Megan Sweeney.

While the Purple Roses look to be the strongest team at the Shore this year, there are a number of legitimate contenders for the top spot in the poll. Middletown North, with seven returning letter winners under first-year coach Bart St. John Vianney quarterback John Eustace unloads pass as Red Bank Catholic's Robert McGowan applies pressure in Parochial A title game. 1 ai.aia.aii.