Birch Powers Manasquan Past Red Bank Catholic

Photos above courtesy of Tom Smith: No. 33 Canyon Birch, No.12 Tommy Antonucci and No.23 Damaso Jaime

RED BANK – Manasquan entered Friday night’s contest against Red Bank Catholic with star running back Connor Morgan and starting quarterback Jerry Maher both watching from the sidelines with injuries.

However, behind a career night rushing in his first start by sophomore Canyon Birch and a solid job behind center by junior Tommy Antonucci Manasquan didn’t miss a beat. The duo led the Warriors to their first win over the Red Bank Catholic since 2003 downing the Caseys 32-21 Friday night at Count Basie Field in Red Bank.

Birch rushed for 187 yards on 33 carries and three touchdowns including two fourth quarter scoring runs that put the game out of reach as the Warriors built a 32-13 lead with 1:50 left in the game.

“I know it’s cliché but you preach next man up,” Manasquan head coach Jay Price said. “No one remembers but when we played Long Branch the first game of the season Connor Morgan goes down in the second quarter and Canyon runs for 108 yards; and Tommy’s got the heart of a lion. So it really didn’t affect the kids at all, they were fine with it.”

“When Connor went down, I knew I was the next man up, and I just wanted to step in and do everything perfect to help my team,” said Birch who ran for 120 yards 18 carries in the first half.

“When the game started I wasn’t focused on the injuries or our opponent, I just wanted to play. I wanted to give it all for this team, and do my part to contribute to the win.”

Trailing 18-7 at the half, Red Bank Catholic (5-4) came out swinging and surprised the Warriors with an onside kick recovering the ball at the Manasquan 35-yard line.

Five plays later, sophomore quarterback Steve Lubisher found junior wideout Brandon Lomabana on a 12-yard fade in the right corner of the end zone and all of a sudden the Caseys were within striking distance of taking the lead down by just six, 18-13, after a failed two-point conversion attempt.

The two teams then traded punts on consecutive possessions and as the fourth quarter started Red Bank Catholic – with momentum now on their side after recovering a Birch fumble - was facing a third-and-6 from the Warriors 44-yard line. On the fourth- down play Lubisher was forced out of the pocket and stripped of the ball by defensive end Dylan Pacetti with defensive tackle Ben Barry recovering at the 35.

Manasquan (7-1) then drove to the Caseys 35-yard line where they were looking at a third-and-7 situation when they called Birch’s number one more time and the sophomore stud bulled his way up the middle for an 11-yard pickup and a critical first down.

Three plays later, Birch took a handoff off right tackle, broke it to the outside and showed off his deceptive speed racing 20 yards for the score pushing the lead to 25-13 after the extra point with 4:59 remaining in the game.

On the Caseys ensuing series, the Warriors defense forced a turnover on downs after Pacetti sacked Lubisher for a five-yard loss on third down and then on fourth-and-14 from the 30 Cam Teza stopped Lomabana short of the first down after picking up just six.

“We like to think we’re a team led by defense so it feels great to have closed this game out the way we did in the fourth quarter, especially when they came out firing to open the second half,” Pacetti said. “This win is huge for us, especially after back-to-back 3-and-7 seasons where RBC blew us out twice. This is a big win for our team.”

Birch carried the ball four straight times on Manasquan's next possession before scoring on his fourth touch of the drive on the same off-tackle play he scored on earlier this time going 22 yards for the touchdown and a 32-13 lead with 1:50 left in the game.

Lubischer closed out the scoring with a meaningless 13-yard run with seconds remaining in the game and the Warriors recovered the ensuing onside kick before taking a knee.

On the Caseys opening possession of the game, Manasquan senior linebacker Jack Mallett stopped running back Zach Bair after a 1-yard pickup on third-and-11 but Manasquan’s Damaso Jaime fumbled the ensuing punt with the Caseys recovering deep in Warriors territory.

A Lubischer to Lomabana 30-yard pass play set a first-and-goal at the one and two plays later offensive lineman Tommy Smith bulled his way into the end zone for the Caseys only lead of the game, 7-0.

Manasquan answered immediately, driving 69 yards in nine plays with Birch taking it in from one-foot out to make it 7-6 after Adam Schreck’s kick sailed wide of the post. Birch picked up 32 yards on the ground on the drive setting the tone for the night.

The Warriors got the ball back with 7:06 left in the half after the defense forced a three-and-out taking over at their own 29 after the punt went out of bounds.

Birch opened the drive with a 41-yard burst off right tackle – the same play that worked all night – then on second-and-goal from the 8-yard line Antonucci found Schreck on slant over the middle for the touchdown to make it 12-7 after Schreck’s extra point try again sailed wide.

On Red Bank Catholics next possession with 1:12 left in the half, Jaime picked off a Lubischer pass deep into the middle of the field and returned it 55 yards for the score but the two-point conversion attempt to Jamie was stopped short and the score stood at 18-7 at the half.

“I kept an eye on it all throughout the play and I just grabbed it,” said Jaime of his game-changing interception. “It felt great. That was my first long interception run of the year, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. From watching film all week I knew they loved the deep ball down the middle to the tight end and I anticipated it.”

“It’s guts,” said Price of Jaime’s great all-around play Friday night. “We weren’t supposed to have him back till late November with a shoulder injury from baseball season but he worked himself onto the field game two. He wouldn’t sit his senior year and it means everything for him showing younger kids how to win.”

Jamie also had a crucial 15-yard third-down reception to keep Manasquan’s first scoring drive of the second half alive on a play where he made a sensational catch laying on his back.

After two consecutive uncharacteristic 3-7 seasons the Warriors will be making their first trip to the state playoffs in three years and appear primed to make a run at a state championship.

“I can tell you this, the last two years have been pretty dark,” Price said. “And watching these guys do what they do and smile and laugh - the things we missed the last two years - it’s a special, special thing. Getting rid of 3-7 really means a lot to these guys and they really put in the work to do it. People don’t realize they’re still learning how to win; tonight they had to learn how to win and I think they grew up a little tonight.”

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