Mater Dei's Offense Hopes To Get Untracked Against Long Branch

Photos by Tom Smith https://www.tspsportsimages.co...

MIDDLETOWN – Following their 10-3 opening-night loss to Red Bank Catholic in a game where they had first-and-goal at the Caseys seven and 5-yard lines in the fourth quarter only to come up empty each time, Mater Dei has reeled off two wins in a row improving to 2-1 on the season.

Two weeks ago they defeated Middletown North 28-17 then last week they got by Middletown South 10-3.

“We’re still behind offensively,” said Mater Dei head coach Dino Mangiero. “In general, I think the defenses are ahead of the offenses right now and offenses got to catch up. I don’t have a clue if that’s true for everybody but that’s certainly true for us. It’s two games that we’ve only scored 10 points.”

In last week’s win over the ranked Eagles, the Seraphs – ranked sixth in the Shore - overcame three turnovers on offense along with several dropped passes. But it was the defense that forced two huge turnovers of their own that turned out to be the difference in the game.

In the first quarter with the game still scoreless and the Eagles driving, 6-foot-0, 200-pound senior linebacker Jahqual Talmadge stripped Middletown South quarterback Tom Schork after a nice pickup deep in the Seraphs territory with sophomore defensive back Joel Boamah recovering for Mater Dei.

The turnover set up the only touchdown drive of the game as the Seraphs capitalized on it to take a 7-0 first-quarter lead. Sophomore running back Daijon Cross finished off the drive with a 4-yard burst off left tackle going virtually untouched into the end zone for the score.

A sack by senior defensive end and University of Michigan commit Dom Giudice gave the ball back to the Seraphs following a South punt. But after a nice pickup by Cross on a catch-and-run screen pass from junior quarterback Alex Brown, he coughed up the ball giving it back to the Eagles.

The Seraphs defense forced another South punt and Brown promptly connected on a bomb to sophomore wideout Codey Gibbs down to the Mater Dei 28-yard line. But on fourth down, Brown’s pass intended for junior Timothy Thomas in the end zone was picked off by Middletown South's Luke Albrecht killing the potential scoring drive right before halftime with the Seraphs still leading 7-0.

In the third quarter, Schork connected with Albrecht on a 56-yard bomb down to the 12-yard line but the defense stiffened and held the Eagles to a Mike Damato field goal.

With the score now 7-3 early in the fourth quarter, Brown hooked up with junior wide receiver Kyree Drake on a long pass down to the 9-yard line but the Seraphs had to settle for a 24-yard Jake Jacobson field goal giving them a little more breathing room at 10-3.

The Eagles, however, marched into Seraphs territory with time running down in the fourth quarter. But the defense came up with the play of the day forcing a game-saving turnover.

South’s junior fullback Austin Ruziecki took a handoff up the middle and was wrapped up by senior middle linebacker Khalil Elamin before Thomas came in low with a hard blow to jar the ball loose. Junior defensive end Tafari Thompson recovered the ball and the Seraphs were able to run out the clock for a hard-fought victory.

“They had us on the ropes there for a little bit on that last drive,” Mangiero said. “Credit Khalil and Timmy for creating the turnover for us and Tafari for the recovery. We do turnover circuits every week in practice. We really concentrate and work on creating turnovers in practice and that one certainly payed off. Listen, no matter what anyone says, it doesn’t matter what level you play at sometimes you just need to get a little lucky and that was our time to get lucky – South’s a good team.”

Mangiero liked the way his offense moved the ball against the Eagles but would’ve liked more points on the board. “We had over 300 yards of offense but we only scored 10 points. It’s the timing of things in the red zone. I think we’re getting better and better though and catching up to the defenses.”

Brown, who can beat you with both his arm and legs, had an excellent game completing 14-of-17 passes for 226 yards and had a couple of passes dropped in the end zone. He also flashed his athleticism rushing for an additional 89 yards on 12 attempts averaging 7.4 yards per carry. The 6-foot-3, 190 pound Brown - a third-team All-Shore selection a year ago - is establishing himself as one of the top signal callers in the Shore and is rapidly gaining the attention of college scouts as a junior – his second as Mater Dei’s starting quarterback.

“Alex is getting better every week; he’s a really good player who’s improving,” said Mangiero of his junior signal caller. “We’re happy about his progress. Hey, on two different drives his receivers dropped balls in the end zone that should’ve been scores. But the receivers have been doing a great job – they just dropped a couple of balls - nothing you can do about that. It’s going to happen, they drop them in the NFL. But Alex has certainly been playing well and he had a nice day’s work.”

For the season, Brown is 27-of-41 for 399 yards and one touchdown along with 147 yards on the ground on 26 carries. Junior linebacker/running back Ra’Jahn Cooper leads the team in rushing with 194 yards and two scores on 32 attempts for a 6.1 yards per carry average. Senior Naran Buntin – a Kent State University commit – and Drake each have seven receptions on the year with Buntin racking up 111 yards through the air and Drake 100.

Drake finished with three catches for 62 yards while Cross added 68 yards rushing and a touchdown on 17 attempts for a 4-yard per carry average - an impressive game for the young sophomore.

Mater Dei’s defense has allowed just 30 points in three game for a 10 points per game average which ranks sixth in the Shore Conference.

Mangiero applauded Giudice, Talmadge (9 tackles), Elamin (9 tackles) Thompson (16 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QB pressures, fumble recovery) Thomas (11 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 3 pass defensed, 1 interception) , Boamah (7 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass defensed), 6-foot-4, 275 pound DL/OL Rakim Cooper (9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack and 3 QB pressures), 6-foot-2, 305 pound junior defensive tackle Elijah Wilson (12 tackles, 1 TFL), senior cornerback Elijah Johnston (8 tackles, 1 TFL, 3 pass defensed), and sophomore linebacker Christian Buchanan (16 tackles, including 12 solo) for their standout play on defense so far this season.

He’s especially high on Giudice, who leads the team with 24 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 21 quarterback pressures, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble, “He’s a big load out there - a 280-pound kid who can run. He can run and rush the passer and is very physical. Mentally he’s also very, very smart so Dom’s been doing really well.”

Giudice also anchors the offensive line at center and has been just as dominant there, “Dom calls everything on the offensive line for us and is just a tough, physical, smart player.”

Up next for the Seraphs is a Saturday home game against Long Branch (1-2)

The Green Wave – in a semi-rebuilding mode this season - opened the season upsetting Middletown South – ranked No. 9 in the Shore at the time – 14-10 but have since been shutout by Rumson-Fair Haven, 28-0, and Middletown North, 6-0, on a rainy, cold and windy night.

Junior quarterback Christian Rodriguez is going through some growing pains in his first season as a starter but has the tools needed to deliver the goods as he did in their win over South when he went 17-of-23 for 135 yards and two passing touchdowns with two picks. Rodriquez has thrown for two touchdowns but has been intercepted six times this season. He doubles as starter in the secondary where he started last season as a sophomore.

Besean Frazier, an All-Division defensive back last season, is a favorite target of Rodriguez and is capable of breaking one from anywhere on the field. Junior Jayden Farmer and sophomore Sekou Kamau are also reliable targets for Rodriguez as is junior tight end/defensive end Jyshon Presley. Farmer is a returning starter in the secondary as well.

Senior Bobby Lawrence and Kamau share responsibilities in the backfield.

Long Branch’s strength is in its defense and Lawrence, a second-team All-Division linebacker as a junior last season, leads the team in both sacks and tackles. Senior linebackers Marwan Dismuke, David Rodriguez and Andrew Conklin and senior 6-foot-3, 245 pound defensive end Melvin Moultre are standouts on defense for the Green Wave. Conklin is the anchor on the offensive line at right tackle and the only returning starter on the line.

“Football to me is all about matchups,” said Mangiero. “I think we’re a skilled team that has a lot of speed and Long Branch matches up with us really well. They have some fine players and we’re looking for a battle. Like I said, offensively we need to get going and score some points and put all these miscues, penalties and dropped balls and put it all behind us. So we have a big challenge for us on Saturday to get going. I think we’re solid defensively so we just got to put it all together offensively and we’re on the right path.”