Football: Shore Regional wins big over Middlesex
MIDDLESEX - The Blue Jays of Middlesex hosted the Blue Devils of Shore Regional as they were looking for their first win of the season in front of a homecoming crowd Saturday, but it was the visiting team and senior quarterback Matt Pennell who was crowned King of the afternoon.
Pennell rushed seven times for 114 yards and a touchdown and also completed two passes on five attempts for 47 yards and another touchdown to lead Shore Regional to a dominating 35-7 victory.
“After coming off an embarrassing loss last week we knew we had to take everything to another level today, that’s something that does not happen to Shore football,” Pennell said. “Blocking, running, and everything else we had to ramp up because we can’t let that happen here again.”
The first play of the game senior Will Eustace brought down Shore senior running back Lukas Jackey three yards behind the line of scrimmage for a great defensive play to set the tone for Middlesex.
On the very next play, Matt Pennell broke loose on a quarterback keeper for a 55-yard run down the sideline before being knocked out of bounds at the five-yard line. Jackey then took the sweep ten yards for a touchdown to put the first points on the board for Shore Regional and make the score 7-0.
Jackey rushed for 32 yards on seven attempts and a touchdown for the Blue Devils on the day.
Pennell and sophomore cornerback and kicker Gil Goldsmith each caused turnovers for Shore in the first quarter to dismiss any threat Middlesex brought when having possession. Senior running back Mark Russo then plunged into the end-zone from three yards out for Shore to extend their lead 14-0.
“We told our team to do all the little things it takes to win games,” Shore Regional’s head coach Mark Costantino said.” My coaching staff and I were on our guys this past week to stay consistent and pay attention to details.”
After another Shore turnover caused by Pennell from the safety position only 1:19 into the second quarter, Pennell then ran 44 yards for a touchdown three plays later to push their lead 21-0.
“Matt is a three-year starter and he’s one of the best I’ve had,” Costantino said. “We’ve put more on him when it comes to learning more offensive plays and he does a great job with the reading of the option, not to mention his plays he makes as a free safety too.”
With 6:17 remaining in the third quarter, Pennell passed to sophomore running back Quadir Lawson in the flat from 10 yards out to increase the Blue Devil lead 28-0.
Senior running back Josh Campi contributed to the team’s effort with a 48-yard touchdown run at the end of the third to add another seven points on the board for Shore Regional.
Middlesex had a chance to make some noise in the fourth quarter, although a Shore interception by junior linebacker Matt Altomare gave the ball back to the visiting team to run out more of the clock.
Middlesex senior quarterback Michael Cresitello scored a touchdown for the home team with a powerful ten-yard run with 1:34 remaining in the game to put seven points up on the board to please the packed home crowd.
Middlesex junior quarterback and running back John Kressbach completed two passes on eight attempts and ran eight times for 56 yards on the day and Cresitello ran three times for 15 yards and a touchdown while he completed a pass on five attempts through the air.