St. Joseph falls to Red Bank Catholic

RED BANK – Behind a dominant offensive line, the Caseys scored on their first five possessions to put the game out of reach early in their first matchup against St. Joseph (Metuchen).

“Our offensive line is really starting to gel, they’re playing really well and are getting great pushes at the point of attack,” RBC coach Jim Portela said.

For the second straight week, senior running back Thomas Spernal helped lead the Caseys to victory after rushing for 171 yards with two touchdowns when RBC defeated the Falcons, 42-10, at Count Basie Park on Friday night.

Spernal helped RBC grab an early lead when he ran 77 yards on the Caseys’ first offensive possession of the game. He later scored on a 70-yard run set up by some big blocks from his offensive line late in the first quarter.

“My guys up front always block so good for me and I love them all to death because they help make my job easier,” Spernal said.

Red Bank Catholic (3-0, 2-0), who is the No. 1 ranked team in the Asbury Park Press Top 10, maintained control of the game with its rushing attack as the Caseys rushed for 397 yards.

Spernal wasn’t the only running back with long touchdown runs, as senior Nick Cella cemented the Caseys win on a 65-yard touchdown run with 4:45 remaining in the game.

Junior quarterback Eddie Hahn threw for 55 yards with one touchdown and had a 24 yard rushing touchdown with just under 11 minutes left in the second quarter.

Portela was happy with the win but said there are still many teams on the schedule who will challenge the Caseys and he believes the defense has to play better.

“I don’t think we’re being physical enough and we need improve if we want to have the season we hope to have,” Portela said.

Despite trailing 34-0 at halftime, the Falcons (0-2), who play in the Greater Middlesex White Division, did not quit in the second half and outscored the Caseys 10-7.

Jonathan Sot kicked a 35-yard field goal and junior quarterback Breein Tyree found senior Marcus Chambers for a six-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Senior receiver Javon Hicks also spent sometime at quarterback on Friday throwing for 110 yards and rushing for 62.

“We’re a young football team here, we graduated 22 seniors and I’m extremely proud of how our kids played today, they’re (RBC) one of the best programs in the state,” St. Joseph coach Casey Ransone said. “We’re going to keep getting better and I don’t care what that score says, we got better as a football team.”

The Falcons are in their third season as a program and won their division last year with a record of 9-1.

“Sitting at 0-2, at no point and at no time do any of us think that we’re not going to get on a roll here because we are and we understand where we are as a program,” Ransone said.