2-And-Oh-So-Happy: Hardy's 5 TDs Carry Central to Victory

The Central Regional football team accomplished something Friday night that hasn't been done since most of its players were still in elementary school.

In defeating Pinelands Regional, 47-0, the Golden Eagles improved to 2-0 -- the first time Central has won its first two games since 2001.

And they did it in a way that leaves no doubt they want more. Kalyph Hardy ran for 335 yards and five touchdowns, quarterback Mike Grieco passed for a touchdown and backup quarterback Marquez Drumright threw for another as the Golden Eagles dominated from start to finish at Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field in Bayville.

"We have a special group here," head coach and athletic director Vinny Casale said. "They're playing as a family and we're enjoying this right now."

And they had every right to enjoy it, after dominating Pinelands (0-2, 0-1) from the start of the Shore Conference Class B South game. Hardy scored on Central's first two possessions -- the first lasting five plays, the second just two -- and the Golden Eagles quickly erased any thoughts of a letdown after the previous week's victory over Red Bank.

"This team won't let down," Casale said. "They're working very hard."

"Do you see those guys over there?" Hardy said, pointing to teammates who were making their way off the field. "They're rowdy. They want more. We want more. We have practice tomorrow (Saturday) at 10, that's how bad we want it."

Pinelands, which was coming off a 56-14 loss to Monsignor Donovan last week, made it very easy for Central, as the Wildcats made costly mistake after costly mistake, with the quarterback rotation of Dan MacPhee and Gerard Grimes combining for four interceptions and a fumble.

Getting the shutout was satisfying for the Central defense, junior linebacker Blake Jambor said, especially after the beating that Pinelands gave Central in 2010, when Pinelands won 48-20.

"They whipped our butts last year," Jambor said. "We wanted to come back and show what Central football looks like."

"We were looking forward to this for 365 days," Casale said.

Hardy rushed seemingly at will against the Wildcats, ripping off big runs repeatedly. He had four touchdowns in the first half, on runs of 17 yards, 10 yards, 43 yards and 1 yard. He nearly had five in the first half, but after he blew through Pinelands' defense and dove for the end zone in what appeared to be a 49-yard score, the officials marked him down at the Pinelands' 2 with 7 seconds left in the half. Central was able to run one play before time expired.

The lone bright spot for Pinelands was blocking a PAT by Austin DeRose on Hardy's fourth touchdown.

As important as Hardy's game was, the Central defense simply shut Pinelands down. The passing lanes that had been open a week ago were gone, and MacPhee and Grimes were under pressure constantly and were sacked five times.

"We had to tighten things up and stop the big passes" that they allowed in the game against Red Bank, said Hardy, who doubles at defensive back.

"We just wanted to hit them hard," Jambor said.

By the middle of the third quarter, Casale was emptying his bench, allowing Drumright to get some time under center, and running Vinnie Davis exclusively.

"This is all I can ask for, to be 2-0," Hardy said. "We've had some young men start varsity, and now they've turned into men playing varsity."

And while Hardy was talking about his offensive line, it's safe to say that his sentiment applies to much of the Central Regional football team.

Next up is Barnegat, which lost Friday night to Manchester 35-21, and a chance to go 3-0. And grow up some more.