See It In Photos: Brick's State Football Title Repeat Hopes Squashed by Jackson

(PHOTO: The Dragons will not add a back-to-back title to this one. Credit: Karen Wall)

The Brick Township High School Dragons have not repeated as state sectional football champions since the 1983 season, when they won their third NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV title in a row.

They won’t repeat this year, either.

Jackson Memorial stuffed and stopped the Dragons at every turn Friday night in a 44-0 victory at Keller Memorial Field in the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, in the process avenging the overtime loss to Brick a month ago that is the only blemish on the Jaguars’ season.

The Jaguars (10-1) controlled Brick’s every move, shutting down senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani, who burned Jackson in the first meeting between the teams, and intercepting him three times. But Brick made the job easier.

The Dragons (9-2) have been known for years for playing smashmouth, disciplined football. Friday night, however, they forgot the disciplined part, committing penalties and personal fouls that repeatedly short-circuited even the briefest flickers of hope. Brick was penalized 11 times, with seven of them personal foul penalties, and running back/linebacker Ray Fattaruso was ejected in the third quarter.

Brick’s mistakes started early.

On Jackson’s opening drive, Brick gave the Jaguars a new set of downs on a roughing the punter penalty. Jackson took advantage and three plays later, Vincent Lee was in the end zone from 2 yards out and the Jaguars led, 7-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, Brick fumbled the ball back to Jackon. Mike Gawlik scored the first of his three touchdowns and it was 14-0 with just four minutes gone.

The Dragons never recovered.

Any hope that the halftime break had helped them shake the mental errors evaporated when a penalty negated a big kickoff return by Jasir Taylor that would have set Brick up near midfield.

See photos from the game on the Brick Patch Facebook Page.