PHOTO GALLERY: Brick Tops Brick Memorial As Taylor Scores Twice

Coming into this fall, the belief was the Brick football team was going to have its work cut out for it, if the Dragons were going to have any success this season.

Going against crosstown rival Brick Memorial was expected to be the first test of many for the Dragons, who have a new quarterback at the helm, after dual-threat Carmen Sclafani graduated.

Consider it a test passed with flying colors.

Before a crowd awash in pink for breast cancer awareness and the Godfather of Brick High School football, Warren Wolf, sitting in the stands, the Dragons showed they were ready, handling the Mustangs and coming away with a 36-6 Shore Conference Class A South victory on Saturday for new head coach Len Zdanowicz.

Zdanowicz took over this summer for Rob Dahl, who stepped down as head coach for personal reasons after a four-year run that saw Brick win the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title and Class A South for the first time in nearly two decades.

In an interview with NJ.com, Wolf -- who rarely is seen at football games -- said he spoke he is happy to see his former players at the helm of the team that he coached for more than 50 years. Check out that interview here.

Jay Obenauer ran for one touchdown, Ja’Sir Taylor scored twice and the Dragons controlled the line of scrimmage for much of the game, allowing quarterback Tom Zbranak room and time to maneuver, while corralling his counterpart, Brick Memorial quarterback Tim Santiago.

Both teams struggled early but Brick finally put together a solid drive with Obenauer scoring from 5 yards out early in the second quarter.

The defense then went to work, forcing Brick Memorial to attempt a 38-yard field goal that missed. On the next play from scrimmage, Taylor took the ball on a sweep play and ran 80 yards up the home sideline for a touchdown.

But it was Taylor’s scooping up of a fumble in the third quarter that sealed the Mustangs’ fate. Defensive back John Prato hit a Mustangs’ ball carrier about midfield and jarred the ball loose. Taylor, who was coming up to support the play, picked up the ball and sprinted 60 yards for the score.

Brick Memorial finally got on the board with about 3 minutes left in the game, when Justin Bates finished off a drive with a 6-yard score.

Rahson McCall scored two late touchdowns for Brick.