RBC POUNDS MIDDLETOWN SOUTH, 47-10

MIDDLETOWN Looks like all is well again with Red Bank Catholic after the Caseys endured a rare non-winning campaign a year ago. Zach Bair ran for 166 yards, scoring a pair of touchdowns, in leading No. 2 Red Bank Catholic to a 47-10 victory over Middletown South Friday night in a Shore Conference Class B North game. There was some payback involved. RBC (1-0, 1-0) lost 49-14 when the same matchup took place to open last season. The Caseys now lead the all-time series 3-1. Bair scored on runs of 12 and 79 yards in the first quarter and had an 80-yard run into the end zone negated by a penalty later in the half – little matter, for the Caseys had put the game within mercy-rule range by halftime with a 34-0 lead. Three who mattered Emmett McNamara: The 6-5, 255-pound senior defensive end made his mark early in the first quarter. Middletown South’s fumbled shotgun snap got McNamara’s legs moving and he wrapped up quarterback Ben Kinsella for a 10-yard sack. That set up fourth down – and McNamara promptly blocked the punt. Tahj Beradesco: When RBC got a little bit sloppy late in the game, the senior defensive back recovered a fumble with 5:53 left, and the Caseys played a clean final 5:53 to set the stage for their game next week against Middletown North. Chaz Alessi: Middletown South couldn’t get much going against the Caseys’ defense until Alessi broke a 63-yard touchdown run with 8:50 left in the third quarter, putting the Eagles on the scoreboard. Turning point McNamara’s sack and block of a punt set up the Bair 12-yard run that opened the scoring. And McNamara and his partners on defense didn’t allow a first down until the final minute of the first quarter. Observations Youth is being served: Guidetti is an RBC sophomore who carried the ball seven times for 90 yards. As good as advertised: RBC has clearly reloaded after a 5-5 season. McNamara, who is committed to Virginia, sophomore tight end Kevin Bauman, who has an offer from Rutgers, defensive back Matt Ansell, junior wide receiver Jade Key and senior linebacker Nick Brusca were others who had stellar games. They said it Zach Bair on what RBC’s goals are going forward: “We’ve put last year behind us and I think this game proved that. It was crazy how much we were looking forward to this game and we have the same feeling looking forward to playing Middletown North next week.’’ What’s next? RBC hosts Middletown North and Middletown South visits Ocean on Friday night. Red Bank Catholic 47, Middletown South 10 First Quarter R: Bair 12 run (kick failed). R: Bauman 22 pass from Lubischer (O'Hara kick). R: Bair 79 run (O'Hara kick) Second Quarter R: Brusca 13 run (O'Hara kick). Third Quarter R: Key 68 pass from Lubischer (O'Hara kick). M: Alessi 63 run (Kaldrovics kick). M: Kaldrovics 27 FG. Fourth Quarter R: Guidetti 15 run (O'Hara kick). R: Guidetti 33 run (kick failed). INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING— R: Bair 7-166, Guidetti 7-90, Whelan 1-20, Brusca 2-19, Lubischer 2-10, Columbia 2-7. M: Alessi 14-118, McCarthy 8-34, Brown 1-8, Kinsella 4-7, Krellin 4-6. PASSING— R: Lubischer 7-9-1-164. M: Kinsella 5-7-0-50. RECEIVING— R: Key 3-85, Lombana 2-42, Bauman 2-37. M: Connor 3-42, Petrillo 2-8. INTERCEPTIONS— M: Petrillo.

RBC POUNDS MIDDLETOWN SOUTH, 47-10

BOB JORDAN

Asbury Park Press | 9/11/2017