Here is a look at the region’s high school football teams.
COLTS NECK
Colts Neck High School dropped a road game at Toms River High School East, 20-3, on Oct. 26. With the loss, the Cougars finished the 2018 regular season at 2-6.
They beat Monmouth Regional High School, 8-7, on opening day, Sept. 8, and Marlboro High School, 20-14, on Oct. 13.
The Cougars will host Princeton High School in a consolation game on Nov. 3 at noon.
FREEHOLD
Freehold High School quarterback Sha’Kim Shuler accounted for all six touchdowns on Oct. 26 when he guided the Colonials to a 42-7 home victory over Howell High School. Shuler threw three touchdowns and ran for three scores. He helped stake Freehold to a 28-0 first quarter lead.
The Colonials won their last two regular season games by a combined score of 77-14, finishing the regular season with a 5-3 record.
Freehold is the No. 4 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional playoffs. It will play Brick Memorial High School in a first round game on Nov. 3. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP
Freehold Township High School had trouble moving the ball in its regular season finale at Jackson Memorial High School on Oct. 26. The Patriots lost to the Jaguars, 7-0.
The defeat prevented Freehold Township from ending the regular season above .500. After starting 4-2, the Patriots lost their last two games, finishing 4-4.
MANALAPAN
Manalapan High School closed the regular season in style on Oct. 26, beating Lacey Township High School, 42-21, at home. The victory clinched a 5-3 regular season for the Braves.
Running back Nico Santorelli had another big game, rushing for 129 yards and two touchdowns, catching two passes for 28 yards and a score. Manalapan’s Andre Johnson also rushed for two touchdowns. Quarterback Sean Kehley went 13-of-17 for 192 yards and two scores.
Manalapan won five of six games to finish the regular season, after starting 0-2. The Braves will be the No. 5 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 5 sectional playoffs. They will battle Hunterdon Central Regional High School in a first round matchup on Nov. 2. Kickoff is locked in for 7 p.m.
MARLBORO
Marlboro High School ended the regular season by playing its best football. The Mustangs beat Matawan Regional High School, 47-14, on Oct. 26. They also topped Freehold Township, 26-14, on Oct. 20.
So, Marlboro won its last two games by double digits.
On Oct. 26, quarterback Alex Schutzer threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score. Dontrell Alston rushed for touchdowns of 21, 56 and 74 yards, respectively. Vincent Spitalleri raced for a 73 yard score.
Billy Delaney and Matthew Budveit caught the touchdowns from Schutzer.
Marlboro finished the season at 3-5, falling short of the state sectional playoffs. But if they had made the playoffs, the Mustangs would have been the team that no one wanted to play.
HOWELL
Howell High School had trouble slowing down Freehold quarterback Sha’Kim Shuler on Oct. 26, in a 42-7 road loss. Shuler accounted for six touchdowns, three passing, three running.
Gerard Urso scored Howell’s touchdown, on a four yard run in the fourth quarter. Howell quarterback Jason Caston rushed for 81 yards.
The Rebels closed the regular season with a 1-7 record. They opened the year with a 21-12 victory over Central Regional High School on Sept. 7.
JACKSON LIBERTY
Jackson Liberty High School struggled to move the ball in its regular season finale on Oct. 26, a 12-0 home defeat to Manchester Township High School.
The Lions, who stand at 2-6, featured a strong defense, holding three different opponents to no points. They also enjoyed a historic victory on Oct. 12, beating Jackson Memorial High School, 14-0, for their first triumph in 11 meetings between the schools.
JACKSON MEMORIAL
Jackson Memorial High School snapped a two-game losing streak on Oct. 26, beating Freehold Township, 7-0. With the victory, the Jaguars ended the regular season at 6-2.
The Jaguars’ defense is capable of leading a postseason run. In the regular season, Jackson Memorial’s defense shut out two opponents and held six to single digit points.
The Jaguars will be the No. 6 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional playoffs. They will play Brick Township High School in a first round game on Nov. 2. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
