Middletown High School South football is back.
So said receiver Matt Krellin.
Krellin and quarterback Trevor Brey hooked up on the crucial play of the game on Sept. 14 when the Eagles went on to defeat Manalapan High School, 17-14.
Brey floated the ball down the sideline to his junior wide receiver, Krellin, who caught the ball and raced down the sideline for a 45-yard gain. About a minute later, kicker Chris Kaldrovics connected on a game-winning 20-yard field goal as time expired.
The Eagles on the sideline stormed the field to celebrate with their teammates.
Middletown South had improved to 2-1 with that dramatic victory. The Eagles had suffered a loss on opening weekend against a Pennsylvania power, Coatesville Area Senior High School.
Since that defeat, the Eagles beat Freehold Township High School, 37-0, on Sept. 7 before they came into Manalapan and knocked off Manalapan, which had lost in the Central Jersey, Grouo 5 state playoff sectional final a year ago.
“This win (against Manalapan) shows that Middletown South is back,” Krellin said.
“This is great,” Brey said.
Middletown South’s defense has been elite in its two victories, shutting out Freehold Township and holding Manalapan to 133 yards from scrimmage, on 33 plays, an average of 4.0 yards per play.
Manalapan’s first touchdown came after an interception, too, so the Braves only had to travel three yards to punch the ball into the end zone. Middletown South allowed just one extended drive all night, a 56-yard touchdown march in the third quarter that put Manalapan up 14-7. Even on that drive, Manalapan had to struggle for every yard, traveling 56 yards on 14 plays.
Middletown South also forced four three-and-outs and held the Braves to six first downs.
The Eagles’ offense has been a little less consistent, dropping 37 on Freehold Township but accumulating just 161 total yards at Manalapan. Middletown South struggled to run the ball as much as the Braves did. And Brey’s interception, when a defensive back jumped a route, set up Manalapan’s first touchdown.
But by the end of the game, Brey had redeemed himself with the only big play of the contest, his throw to Krellin. His ability to come back and keep playing showed his varsity chops.
“After that interception I was very mad at myself. I didn’t want to come in here and set the tone like that,” Brey said. “But we stayed on our feet and came back.”
The big play came on a classic double move, a hitch and go route where Krellin cut inside and then broke back down the sideline. Brey sold the double move by pump faking as Krellin cut inside.
“I froze him on the pump fake and put it right in the window before the safety got there,” Brey said. “He (Krellin) made a great catch and broke a few tackles down the sideline.”
“The coach showed his trust in me and I guess I just ran a good route,” Krellin said. “The kid bit and we made the play.”
Brey clearly has the arm to make plays downfield. All three of his completions went for 16 yards or longer on Sept. 14. The quarterback, and the passing game in general, just have to get more consistent. Brey was 3-of-9 [assing for 77 yards against Manalapan.
If Brey and the passing game become consistent, the Eagles may really be, as Krellin said, “back.”
Their next game is against Howell High School at home on Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
