Shore Conference Football Top 10 for Sept. 6

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With one full week in the books and a handful of teams having played two games before school started, it's time for a refresh of The Jeep Store/Shore Sports Network Football Top 10.

Eight of the 10 teams in the initial set of rankings were victorious in Week 1 while three teams - Red Bank Catholic, Toms River North, and Manalapan - improved to 2-0 after also opening the season with wins in Week 0. The two ranked teams who lost in Week 1 did so to teams ranked ahead of them in the Top 10.

Divisional play begins in Week 2 and there are some massive games on the schedule, headlined by Middletown South vs. Manalapan, Point Boro vs. Manasquan, and Donovan Catholic vs. Rumson-Fair Haven, plus intriguing games between Monmouth and Raritan and Freehold Township vs. Marlboro.

1. Red Bank Catholic (2-0). Last week: No. 1

Sophomore quarterback Frankie Williams tossed three touchdown passes and ran for another in the Caseys' 63-0 win over Freehold. Najih Rahman, Emanuel Ross, and Stephen Meyers had touchdown catches and Sabino Portella, Torin Harmon, Devin Mancuso, and Nicholas Bracco also ran for touchdowns. Next game: Friday at Wall (0-0).

2. Toms River North (2-0). Last week: No. 2

Junior quarterback Micah Ford ran for 268 yards and five touchdowns behind a dominant offensive line in the Mariners' 40-27 victory over No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven. Ford had touchdown runs of 2, 3, 33, 11, and 25 yards and also threw for 84 yards. Junior running back Josh Moore ran for 147 yards and sophomore Nasir Jackson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The Mariners piled up 422 yards rushing and 506 yards of offense. Next game: Friday vs. Southern (1-0).

3. Middletown South (1-0). Last week: No. 3

Junior Colin Gallagher ran for a pair of second-half touchdowns and junior quarterback Jake Czwakiel also ran for a touchdown as the Eagles rallied from a two-touchdown halftime deficit to defeat No. 9 Long Branch, 23-13. Gallagher ran for 90 yards and touchdowns of 2 and 44 yards and also recorded 14 tackles, half a sack, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass deflection. Next game: Friday at No. 8 Manalapan (2-0).

4. Point Boro (1-0). Last week: No. 4

Junior quarterback Matt Oliphant ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns while Connor Cilento, Jake Croce, and Colin Obser also ran for touchdowns to power the Panthers to a 42-0 win over Neptune. A huge divisional game against a longtime rival awaits Point Boro this weekend. Next game: Friday vs. No. 7 Manasquan (0-0).

5. Donovan Catholic (1-0). Last week: No. 5

Junior quarterback Todd Lambertson completed 10 of 12 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns and sophomore wide receiver Michael Thomas III caught six passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Griffins to a 41-7 win over Lacey. Zaire Day also had a touchdown catch, freshman running back Najee Calhoun ran for 100 yards and a touchdown, Elijah Davis had a touchdown run, and freshman Zach LaBarca threw a touchdown pass to freshman Emmanuel Gerena. Next game: Friday at No. 6 Rumson-Fair Haven (0-1).

6. Rumson-Fair Haven (0-1). Last week: No. 6

Sophomore quarterback Owen O'Toole threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns in his varsity debut but the Bulldogs had no answer for Toms River North's run game and fell to the No. 2 Mariners, 40-27. Senior wide receiver Scott Venancio caught five passes for 84 yards and a 51-yard touchdown, junior wide receiver Nick Rigby caught four passes for 74 yards and a touchdown, and Brayden Dill and Alastair Orr each had 3-yard touchdown runs. Next game: Friday vs. No. 5 Donovan Catholic.

7. Manasquan (0-0). Last week: No. 7

The Warriors had a bye in Week 1 and will begin the season with a critical division game against a longtime rival. Next game: Friday at No. 4 Point Boro (1-0).

8. Manalapan (2-0). Last week: No. 8

Junior wide receiver Anthony Macchio caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Nick Heckel and also returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown to help lead the Braves to a 14-3 win over Middletown North. Next game: Friday vs. No. 3 Middletown South.

9. Long Branch (0-1). Last week: No. 9

Junior running back Earnest Reevey ran for 107 yards and a touchdown and also threw for 81 yards but the Green Wave had a 13-0 halftime lead evaporate in a 23-13 loss to No. 3 Middletown South. Junior running back Zaheem Brown also ran for a touchdown and senior running back Sekou Kamau ran for 83 yards. Next game: Saturday vs. Lacey (0-1).

10. Jackson Memorial (1-0). Last week: No. 10

Senior quarterback Tai Mann ran for 119 yards and a touchdown and threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Albert D'Alessandro had a touchdown catch and a 90-yard punt return touchdown to lead the Jaguars to a 35-21 victory over Brick Memorial. Next game: Friday at Howell (1-0).