Schedule Release: Barnegat Football Looks to Continue Recent Success

After finishing last season as a No. 5 seed in the South Jersey Group II tournament, the Barnegat Bengals pulled off an upset on the road to earn their first ever playoff win. 

This season, the Bengals look to go even farther, after finishing over .500 in 2010 for the first time as well.

When the season kicks off Friday, September 9, the Bengals will attempt to keep their perfect opening day record going at 6-0, remarkable for the program that first started play in 2006. Barnegat opens up against a familiar foe, Rumson Fair Haven. The Bengals escaped with a slim 34-27 victory over the Bulldogs last year on opening night at home. This year they will travel north for the tilt.

Barnegat then will play their home opener against Manchester in a toss-up game, having defeated the Hawks by seven points the prior year.

After a trip to Central Regional, whom the Bengals beat 20-7 last year, Barnegat will be on the road again, with a Saturday afternoon match-up with the local powerhouse Lacey Lions. Coming off a SJ Group III title win last year, the Lions will be a great measuring stick as the Bengals, who will have extra time to prepare for the October 8 game, with their bye week coming the week before.

The following week, the schedule does not lighten up, with 2010 CJ Group II state finalist Matawan rolling into town. The Huskies will be followed by Red Bank Regional and Brick Township who will also play visitor's to Bengals. The Bengals won in Brick against the Dragons last year 21-7 and fell in Red Bank 28-19 to the Buccaneers.

The final regular season game with playoff implications will come on Friday, November 11, at Holmdel. Barnegat and Holmdel combined for thrillers the last two years with the Bengals winning 14-13 on opening day 2009, also an away game. Last year however, Holmdel stole a victory on the road, with their 29-23 overtime win.

In what could be the last Thanksgiving Day game due to potential changes in the NJSIAA playoff format, the Bengals will take on Pinelands Regional on November 24. Barnegat would love to have bigger things to worry about, as the SJ Group II final will take place the following week.

Barnegat Patch will keep you updated with any changes in the schedule throughout the season. A full schedule can be found here.