We Are The Champions (X6)

It started on Friday night at Kean University where Matawan beat Carteret and it ended last night at MetLife Stadium with Red Bank Catholic ending a 38-year drought thanks to a win over Delbarton.

The greatest weekend in the history of Shore Conference football saw six sectional champions crowned with the only loser coming when one shore team beat another. Matawan and Red Bank Catholic were joined by Jackson Memorial, Rumson-Fair Haven, Shore and Manalapan who all ended their seasons by hoisting NJSIAA Championship trophies. Each were significant but the ones earned by Jackson, RBC and Manalapan stand out for different reasons.

In a steady rain at Rutgers Saturday night the Jaguars brought Jackson their fourth state title with a gut-wrenching 21-18 win over fellow Shore Conference school Middletown South in the Central Jersey Group 4 Championship game. This one had a little bit of everything and the last couple of minutes were totally chaotic and left fans of both schools exasperated.

The Eagles were unsuccessful on a fake field goal attempt in the final seconds which clinched the victory for the Jags which will also secure their place as the #1 team in the final Shore Sports Network Top Ten. Manalapan began the long day of football at High Point Solutions Stadium with an impressive 21-7 win over previously undefeated South Brunswick to claim the Central Jersey Group 5 crown. It was the fourth straight year the Braves had been in a sectional final and after losing the first three they finally prevailed for the first title in school history.

Red Bank Catholic has finished each of the last three seasons as the top-ranked team at the shore and while most would celebrate that the Caseys have had a void in their football resume. That void was filled last night with a 45-20 win over Delbarton in the Non-Public Group 3 Final at MetLife Stadium and the program’s first state title since 1976.

Junior quarterback Eddie Hahn was brilliant as he completed 9-10 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown while running for another score. It’s ironic that in a year they will finish #2 at the shore RBC is finally a state champion.

The six titles won this weekend is the most ever for the Shore Conference and was a fitting end to an exciting season. The Shore Sports Network will unveil its All Shore teams and more later this week.