Saint John Vianney Bombs Shell-Shocked Manasquan 67-0

Photo above: #56 Micah Clark and #13 Anthony Brown are all smiles after big win

HOLMDEL – Saint John Vianney - ranked No.4 in the state and second in the Shore Conference – drove 65 yards in five plays on their first possession of the game with senior Jeff Sheard running it in from the 10-yard line for their first of four first quarter touchdown drives.

The Lancers (9-0, 6-0) methodically marched up-and-down the field appearing to score at will as they put up 30 first-quarter points - with three scoring drives three plays or less - en route to a 67-0 shellacking of Manasquan Friday night in Holmdel.

The win clinches the Shore Conference Class A Central title for the second straight season as well as their second straight undefeated regular season and divisional record.

Things weren’t so rosy for this team just a few short months ago when a week before preseason camp was set to begin, the Saint John Vianney players were stunned by the announcement that head coach Mark Ciccotelli would no longer hold that position.

Two days later, the school announced that former Marlboro and Monmouth Regional head coach Derek Sininsky would be taking over the reins. No official reason has ever been given for Ciccotelli’s sudden exit, but his abrupt departure left the team reeling.

It was a rough start for Sininsky and his team but after getting a Gatorade bath from his jubilant players Friday night the turmoil of last summer seems like a distant memory.

“I was just telling our AD that from August till now what a 360 this team has made,” Sininsky said. “We had some personality conflicts, and I told our seniors tonight, it says a lot about their character. They switched their attitudes just like that, and everyone jumped in and believed.”

The Lancers racked up 407 yards of total offense in the first half while holding Manasquan (3-5, 2-4) to 23 yards and two first downs – both coming as a result of penalties. It took the Warriors until 9:46 of the fourth quarter to earn their first, first down of the game with score already 60-0 at that point.

“My job here is don’t mess this thing up,” Sininsky said. “Let’s be honest, we’re very good, we’re good all-around and that’s not being arrogant or cocky, it is what it is. There was some talk that they could run the ball on us but our kids stepped up to the challenge.”

After Boston College-bound senior quarterback Anthony tossed his fifth touchdown pass of the game on the Lancers first possession of the second half, Ciccotelli called off the dogs and emptied his bench.

Brown accounted for 372 yards of total offense while playing just over one half of the game. He went 9-of-11 for 260 yards with five touchdowns passing and rushed for 112 yards on three carries, including a 78-yard run on a keeper down the right sideline to push the score to 39-0 on their first play of the second quarter.

“Anthony makes plays,” Sininsky said. “He’s a very special player.”

“We really hadn’t fired on all cylinders yet this season but it was there tonight,” Brown said. “We were playing extremely fast and when we came out we were extremely excited to play this game and win back-to-back division championships; it’s never happened at this school before.”

Brown had first quarter touchdown passes to 6-foot-6 senior Marcque Ellington for 30 yards and an eight yarder to 6-foot-5 senior wideout Michael Stapert. Along with Sheards rushing touchdown, junior Chris Chukwuneke added a 42-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Ellington recorded a safety on a botched snap into the end zone on a Manasquan punt as well.

After Saint John Vianney kicker Joe Rice boomed his fourth straight kick into the end zone for a touchback with one minute left in the first quarter, the Lancers defense forced the Warriors into their fourth straight three-and-out. Then another failed snap over the punters head resulted in yet another safety with linebacker Tyler Tedeschi getting the credit.

Brown’s touchdown run made it 39-0 and following another Manasquan three-and-out, Brown connected with Stapert on a 50-yard bomb down the right sidelines before he hit senior Khalil Haskins for an eight-yard touchdown and a 46-0 lead with 7:52 still remaining in the half.

Manasquan’s sixth straight three-play possession and a short punt out of bounds, gave the Lancers a first down at the Manasquan 40. Three plays later, Brown tossed his fourth touchdown pass of the half; this one a 22-yard strike to Sheard on a slant over the middle for a 53-0 bulge with 3:43 remaining before halftime.

Saint John Vianney’s defense was absolutely impenetrable. It’s hard to single out any one player as the unit is comprised of so many standouts. Sheard, Tedeshi, Calvin and Jamal Beaty, Ellington, Eddie Sheridan, Matt Bordfeld, Nick Densieski and Micah Clark all played decisive rolls in shutting down the Warriors offense.

Brown’s 45 yard touchdown pass to senior Calvin Beaty swelled the lead to 60-0 before junior quarterback Matt Degennaro’s fourth quarter 23-yard pass to sophomore Zyaire Sterling for a touchdown completed the scoring.

As a team, the Lancers have outscored their opponents 410-80; including 234 points in their last four games for a 58.5 per game scoring average. The shutout was the fourth of the year and second in a row for the defense.

“I have to be honest, you really don’t have to do a lot with these guys,” Sininsky said. “They are not only gamers now, they have become really good practice players, they motivate each other and are just really coachable kids now.”

The Lancers now turn their sights to the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III playoffs beginning next weekend with an opponent still to be determined. As the No.4 seed a year ago they lost to No.1 seed Delbarton in the semifinals.

“After we lost that game in the semifinals it was horrible,” Clark said. “We knew we had to come out this year and practice hard every day and get back to it and win it. But tonight is feels great, all our hard work has paid off.”

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