Red Bank Catholic tops Long Branch in battle of undefeateds

PISCATAWAY – With two previously undefeated teams going head to head, the first half went just as expected with both teams trading blows and entering the half at a stalemate. Then the Red Bank Catholic football team proved why it’s considered one of the best football teams in the state. The Caseys couldn’t separate themselves from Long Branch in the first half as the score remained tied at halftime, but RBC outscored the Green Wave 28-14 in the second half to defeat Long Branch 42-28 on Saturday night at High Point Solutions Stadium at Rutgers University. Red Bank Catholic (6-0) took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when junior quarterback Steve Lubischer kept the ball himself and ran for a seven-yard touchdown. Long Branch (4-1) responded early in the second quarter when junior fullback La'Qym Morris punched the ball in from one yard out to tie the score at seven. The Green Wave took a 14-7 lead with 7:07 left in the first half on a 14-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Juwan Wilkins to senior wide receiver TJ Fosque, but the Caseys tied the score when senior running back Zach Bair ran for a one-yard touchdown shortly before half. It was all Caseys the rest of the way. Bair and Lubischer each ran for a rushing touchdown while Lubischer added two passing touchdowns, one to each of his tight ends, Charlie Gordinier and Kevin Bauman. Three who mattered Steve Lubischer: The quarterback was superb on Saturday, leaving his fingerprints on four touchdowns. He completed eight of 13 passes for 114 yards and two passing touchdowns and also ran for 97 yards on seven carries and added two rushing scores. Zach Bair: The dominant back did it once again on Saturday. Bair’s punishing running style was too much for the Green Wave to handle as he finished with 227 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Juwan Wilkins: The Long Branch QB almost mounted a Green Wave come back with two passing touchdowns late in the fourth quarter. Wilkins completed 15 passes on 29 attempts for 241 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Turning point The Casey scored on their opening drive of the second half when Lubischer tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to Gordinier. RBC took that 21-14 lead and ran with it, never conceding the lead the rest of the way. Observations Punishing play: The Caseys conducted very long, both in time and yardage, drives in the first half, and it started to wear down the Long Branch front seven. In the second half, the Caseys were able to impose their will up front, and it led to four second half touchdowns.

RED BANK CATHOLIC TOPS LONG BRANCH IN BATTLE OF UNDEFEATEDS

DANIEL LOGIUDICE

NJ Football | 10/15/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Ackerman