By Wayne Witkowski
It’s like old times for Keyport/Henry Hudson Regional High School’s football team as it heads into its Nov. 18 game at Point Pleasant Beach High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group I semifinals.
Keyport is seeded No. 3 even though it has a 9-1 record compared to No. 2 seed Point Pleasant Beach’s 6-4 record, based on power points.
In the opposite bracket, No. 1-seed Shore Regional High School hosts No. 4-seed Asbury Park High School Nov. 18.
Keyport is on a tear with seven straight victories since losing to Mater Dei Prep, 35-7, in a pivotal Shore Conference B Central Division showdown.
“They were totally the more talented team,” coach Jay Graham, who is in his first season as head coach at Keyport said about Mater Dei, which went on to sweep the division.
Since then, the Red Raiders have steamrolled through the schedule, outscoring teams, 223-74, in that seven-game stretch, with their most victories since the 2003 season, when they won the state title in an 11-1 season.
All four teams in the sectional bracket play in the B Central Division, and Keyport owns wins against the rest of the field.
Red Raiders kicker Christian Smith converted a 25-yard field goal early that became pivotal when they beat Point Pleasant Beach in their opener, a 10-7 comeback victory during which Devin Wollmer scored the winning touchdown.
The Red Raiders also beat Asbury Park, 14-7, as Greg Robinson scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run in the last quarter, and they pulled out a 21-20 victory over Shore Regional, with Cody Young catching a 15-yard pass from quarterback Chris Hogrefe in the fourth quarter and Smith kicking the extra point.
Smith has missed only one of 28 extra point attempts.
“In our 10 games, we were down in six of them, which shows these players are fighters. They work hard and are respectful,” Graham said.
For Graham, a former player at Keyport on its 1987 and 1988 state championship teams, the experience has been electrifying.
“It’s awesome,” Graham said. “We have an alumni association now. This is close to my heart. It’s nice to be where I feel comfortable with a lot of support. I played on the [offensive] line on those state championship teams alongside the father of one of my players, Jay Hansen.”
Keyport advanced to the semifinals in this year’s tournament with an opening-round victory, 41-6, over Manville High School Nov. 11. Wollmer scored three touchdowns in the first half on runs of 61, 26 and 7 yards and finished with 210 yards.
“He has a second and third effort every time he has the ball,” Graham said of Wollmer, who has rushed for 1,275 yards on 174 yards and scored eight touchdowns.
Robinson also has scored eight touchdowns while rushing for 238 yards on 46 carries. Keyport has 27 rushing touchdowns on the season.
Shykim Treadwell, who alternates with Robinson in running the ball, ran for two touchdowns to break open the lead against Manville. He has 151 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the season.
Graham realizes his team will have a challenge against Point Pleasant Beach, which has lost to the other three semifinalist teams. Keyport has outscored its opponents, 254-123, while Point Pleasant Beach has a 211-162 scoring edge behind quarterback Luke Frauenheim, who has passed for 934 yards (45-of-94), 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also his team’s leading rusher with 623 yards on 90 carries and six touchdowns while running a wing T offense.
Connor Kells is Frauenheim’s top receiver with 25 catches for 572 yards and six touchdowns.
“They have a very effective run game and one of the better receivers in the Shore Conference,” Graham said. “They play hard-nosed football, the same as we do.”
Hogrefe has completed 24 of 53 passes for 462 yards and five touchdowns. He’s been intercepted only twice.
He gets solid protection from a line of tackles Kyle Roberts and David Parks, guards Erik Nellis and freshman Devon Meza and center Jarrett Hourihan as well as tight end Zach Frick and fullbacks Hansen and Robinson, who alternate. Cody Young and Joey Kay-Flagg are the wide receivers.
Defensively, they’ll look to contain Frauenheim off the 4-3 that includes tackles Nellis and Brandon Tate, ends Frick and Antonio Collila and linebackers Hansen, Robinson and Skye Blanks. Frick also punts. Young and Rayquan Brown are the safeties and Kay-Flagg and Smith are cornerbacks.
