Bengals Top Dragons in B-South Matchup

For how close they have been the past few years, it was fitting for the Barnegat Bengals to have to scratch and claw their way to a win; setting themselves up to clinch a share of the B-South division title with a win over Pinelands Regional on Thanksgiving.

Coming into the game, huge B-South implications were on the line in the balanced division as a Brick win would have clinched a share of the title. In the end, the Dragons fell 27-21 to the Bengals.

"It's unexplainable," said junior wide out Pat Moran. "It's far from just me though, coach Davis, all the coaches, we have a great line and a quarterback too."

Moran caught six passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns, all while handling defensive duties, kicking and kick returning as well.

For Brick, this is one of the very few bumps in the road they have had to deal with in their programs bounce back season.

"It was fun to be a part of," said Brick head coach Robert Dahl. "It just stinks to be on this end of it."

For opening quarter of the game both teams traded punts back and forth. Barnegat quarterback Mark McCoy would find Moran for 11 yards on third and four bringing the ball to the 34 yard line of Brick. Two plays later, the duo would connect again on a 30 yard touchdown pass, Moran tacked on the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

With the aid of two, 15 yard penalties, Brick would answer just minutes later on the following possession as Brick quarterback Brandon Kieslor nailed wide out John Fuino in stride on the 25 yard touchdown connection, tying the game following a Steve Ferlisi kick.

The game was about even as could be imagined for the first half, which was finished with the score tied at seven. Brad Applegate, Tom Winters and Dan Watson each made their presence felt defensively for Brick while Matt Schofield, Ryan Morris, and Greg Moran did the same for the Barnegat defense.

Barnegat took the lead on the first possession of the second half as McCoy found Moran again.

"That might be the thing that is best about us," said Moran. "We communicate extremely well and it pays off in big ways when we need it".

McCoy went 14-186 yards and two touchdowns, on top of running the ball 18 times for 47 yards and two scores.

After punts were traded, Brick drove down the field abd converted two third and 10-plus. John Funio caught a pass for 26 yards on third and 18 on their own 45, prior to Kevin Matthews hauling in a gain of 28 on third and 14.

Brick running back Doug Cuccinello gained a yard on first and goal the first play of the fourth quarter and the score was tied at 14-14.

Cuccinello rush ten times for 71 yards and two scores.

Not to be out done by the Kieslor-led scoring drive, McCoy operated another ending on his 10 yard rush as he dove into the end zone. Schofield would throw a great block on the edge, cutting of the flow of the linebackers as McCoy scampered to the end zone.

Kieslor found Matthews over the middle and got the ball to the 50, before throwing an interception to Jordan Salt on the next play, giving Barnegat the ball on their 19 yard line with 5:18 left to play. The defense picked up their quarterback and forced a three and out. One the ensuing drive, Cuccinello would score from a yard out with 1:19 left in regulation.

Even more fitting it was for Barnegat as they came up with a defensive stop, a turnover on downs in overtime as they have relyied on the offense heavily at times. On offense the Benagls wasted no time attacking the defense, as it was Moran who caught a 16 yard pass down to the nine, McCoy stretched across the goal line two plays later, and Barnegat finally had clinched a stake in a claim of their first championship.

"I told the kids that it just comes down to what the scoreboard says at the end of a day," said Dahl. "I'm proud of how they played, but next week we have go out and beat a tough team to get to the playoffs."

"It's not really about me," said an overjoyed Rob Davis, Barnegat head coach. "It's all them, they did a great job and should enjoy this."