Red Bank Rallies but Falls to Barnegat 20-17

The football team lost a dramatic game to a tough Barnegat team last night, coming close in the last minute to an upset that would have put them in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

But never fear - a win next week will do the trick.

"Win and we're in," said a junior who wished to remain anonymous. "Write it just like that, dad."

Under the lights in Barnegat, the Bengals came out strong, scoring on their first drive. By the end of the first quarter, they were up 10-0 after a field goal.

In the second quarter, Red Bank struck back with a 31-yard Mike Malley field goal with just over four minutes left in the half. And minutes later, with just five seconds left in the half, the Bucs' Ross Gisondi blocked a Bengals punt. Junior Garrett Sickels picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown, and after Malley kicked the extra point, the first half ended all tied up, 10-10.

The Bengals came roaring back in the third with a 74-yard touchdown pass to put them up 17-10 with just over six minutes left. By the end of the third, after recovering a Bucs fumble, the Bengals had put three more points on the board with another field goal, bringing the score to 20-10.

The Bucs came close in the fourth after a long drive and a 42-yard field goal attempt came up just short. But with 2:31 left to play, junior Dillon Stambaugh recovered a Bengals fumble and ran the ball to within scoring distance. Senior quarterback Terrance Scanlon then hit senior Ajhan Wilson with a swing pass for a touchdown, and after Malley kicked the extra point, it was a three point game with just over two minutes left to play.

The Bengals held on to an onside Red Bank kick at their own 45. Moments later, though, a solid hit by Gisondi prevented a Bengals first down. Barnegat was forced to punt, and Thyeem Crawford returned the kick to the 35 yard line to start a final drive by the Bucs. But the Bengals continued to frustrate the Red Bank passing game, and with less than 30 seconds left, and on fourth down, a Hail Mary pass was intercepted, ending the Bucs' chances.

"They are a good football team, and they made stops when they needed to on defense," said head coach Nick Giglio.

So with their record now at 4-3, the Bucs need to win next week against Monmouth Regional High School to make the playoffs.

"Big opportunity for us," said Giglio.

The game - the last of the regular season - will be at and kicks off on November 5 at 2 p.m. The following two weeks are set aside for state playoff games, and on November 24, the Bucs take on Long Branch at 10:30 at home in their annual Thanksgiving Day battle.

Editor's Note: This story comes to you from Little Silver Mayor Robert C. Neff, Jr., who was previously a newspaper reporter for the Red Bank Register and Asbury Park Press. Neff's son Carey plays football for Red Bank.