Defense Carries Barnegat to Road Win Over Lacey

Barnegat's Pat Moran has transformed into a do-it-all player who has taken over a huge role on the Barnegat Bengals football team.

After saving the Bengals from an 0-3 start two weeks ago with a last-second field goal that beat Central, the junior took it to another level Saturday afternoon, as the Bengals beat Lacey for the first time in Barnegat history, 26-2.

"Our first two games were heartbreaking," Barnegat head coach Rob Davis said. "We had two great weeks of practice and knew we were going to play well, but I didn't think 26-2 well, against a good Lacey team."

Barnegat scored in the second quarter on a broken play when quarterback Mark McCoy hit David Smithman with a swing pass that Smithman turned into a 51-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.

The Bengals held that lead securely until late in the third quarter, when the Lacey offense started to pick up steam. The Lions drove to the Bengals' 1-yard line, but there Barnegat's defense stiffened. Two huge gang tackles led by Matt Schofield forced a turnover on downs, preserving a 7-0 lead. However, on the next play, the Bengals were called for holding in the end zone, resulting in a safety and two points for the Lions.

That's when Moran made his presence felt. On the ensuing Lacey drive, Moran flew out of nowhere to jump a corner route, picking the ball off at the Barnegat 43 and bringing it down to the Lions' 6. A penalty moved the ball to the 3-yard line and two plays later a McCoy quarterback sneak gave the Bengals a 13-2 lead.

From there, Barnegat added two more touchdowns, on a 16-yard run by Smithman and a Jordan Salt interception return, to finish off Lacey.

"Our defense challenged each other saying, 'We're just an offensive team.' Defense was the game for us today and we needed it," Davis said. "That's the kind of defense we are going to need to win a championship."

Quarterback Mark McCoy went 6-for-13 passing for 105 yards with a touchdown, and more importantly, no interceptions.

Defensively, junior linebacker Chris Stoma played fierce, sticking his nose in about every play that he could.

Barnegat will be back home, hoping for its third straight win since starting 0-2, taking on Matawan Regional High School next Friday.'