Wall Stuns Red Bank Catholic With 20 Point Second Half

Photos above: Two of Friday night's stars, Sean Larkin and R.J. Janeczek

WALL – Being down at halftime is nothing new to this Wall football team and never a concern.

The Crimson Knights, ranked No. 7 in the Asbury Park Press Top 10, have already staged three second-half comebacks in their five wins this season outscoring its opposition by a whopping 90-7 margin in the second half.

Friday night the “Comeback Kids” were at it again as they rallied from a 21-7 halftime deficit to score 20 unanswered points in the second half and stun No. 8 Red Bank Catholic (3-2, 2-2) in a key Class B North battle.

Wall (5-0, 3-0) drove 58 yards in just under three minutes as senior Sean Larkin’s one-yard plunge with 42.6 seconds left in the game capped yet another Wall second-half rally.

“We stayed focused. We knew we were a second half team,” Larkin said. “We knew we could just keep plugging away; it was the calm before the storm.”

Senior quarterback Eddie Scott’s clutch 23-yard pass completion to wide senior wide receiver R.J. Janeczek on a crucial third-and-15 from the 24 kept the drive alive before Larkin powered his way in over the left side for the clincher.

Wall’s defense, led by middle linebacker Kyle Dallicardillo, forced a Red Bank Catholic three-and-out leading to a Caseys punt which Janeczek handled at the Wall 25-yard line and took it all the way to Red Bank Catholic 42 setting the Knights up in excellent field position for the game-winning drive.

“We’re solid all-around,” Janeczek said. “Like coach said ‘big players make big plays’ and when it matters we’ll make the plays.”

On Wall’s third possession of the second half and still trailing 21-7 with 4:02 left in the third quarter Janeczek’s 34-yard reception from Scott on first down from their own 45 gave the Knights a first down at the Caseys 21-yard line. Six plays later Scott hit his older brother Gene for a 4-yard touchdown pass to pull within 21-14 and the rally was on.

Shane Richey’s interception gave the ball back to Wall on Red Bank Catholic ensuing possession but after a 10-yard sack by the Casey’s Tom Smith the Knights were forced to punt the ball away with 7:58 remaining in the game and trailing by a touchdown.

On second-and-8 from their own 45 on their ensuing possession Nick Brusca broke a number of tackles for a 22-yard pickup giving the Caseys a first down at the Wall 33. However, on the next play a botched handoff resulted in a fumble with the Knights Mike Andrejco falling on it for the recovery at the 36.

On the very next play, Larkin took a handoff from Scott, started to his right, pulled up and hit a wide open Chevesse Covin along the right side in perfect stride at around the 40 and Covin took it to the house for a 64-yard score that tied the game 21-21 with extra point.

“We knew we were going to hit it big,” Larkin said. “We had the outside zone open all day and they were just biting up on it so we knew we had them beat. As soon as I released it I knew he was going to catch it; I trust my guys. ”

After running the play in practice it was the first time Wall had used the halfback option pass in a game.

Dallicardillo – who recorded double-digit tackles – and defensive end Darryin Valme then teamed to stop the Caseys on three consecutive plays forcing the punt that led to Janeczek’s return and the game-winning drive.

Larkin, who finished with 163-yards rushing on 30 carries and two touchdowns, capped off his big night intercepting a last-ditch Brusca pass to seal the win with 36 seconds left in the game.

It’s Wall’s first 5-0 start to the season since 2011 when the Knights opened up going 7-0 before finishing 8-2 and being upset in the first round of the state playoffs.

Red Bank Catholic built a 21-7 halftime lead on a Zach Bair 2-yard touchdown run, a 16-yard touchdown run by Brusca out of the wildcat formation and a 36-yard Jaden Key to Brandon Lomabana touchdown pass.

Bair led the Caseys with 84 yards on 17 carries with 76 of those yards coming in the first half when the Caseys ran for 135 yards. In the second half the Knights held the Caseys to just 39 total yards and two first downs.

Scott made some huge plays in the second half with his arm and well as his legs finishing 9-of-16 for 104 yards and a touchdown while running eight times for 23 yards, including picking up a huge first down to set up a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line on the Knights first touchdown drive of the second half.

After Red Bank Catholic took the opening kickoff of the game 65 yards for a touchdown, Wall answered with a 73-yard scoring drive with Larkin picking up 62 of those yards on the ground.

“I think this is a pivotal moment in our season,” Larkin said. “It gives us great momentum going into the next three or four games.”

Wall will find out just how good they are in those next four games which include: No. 9 Middletown North (3-1, 2-0), always tough Matawan (1-4), No. 1 Middletown South (5-0, 3-0) and No. 10 Manasquan (3-1) in that order.

Follow @getmready