Imsho Helps Middletown South Spoil Edgerly's Homecoming as Eagles Bomb Caseys 49-14

Photo above: Eagles race onto field prior to Friday night's game with Red Bank Catholic

RED BANK – Maxx Imsho was everywhere Friday night at Count Basie Field. The senior two-way standout, who didn’t come off the field until the outcome of the game was firmly in hand, convincingly stepped into the Eagles leadership role as he led the reigning NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 champions to a 49-14 opening night victory over Red Bank Catholic.

The lopsided victory, wrecked the return to the sidelines of former Casey head coach Frank Edgerly, who guided Red Bank Catholic to a 57-43 record from 1999-2008 including a 9-1 season and the No.1 ranking in the Asbury Park Press Top 10 in the final season of his first tenure before leaving for the NFL.

Entering the season ranked No.1 in the Shore Conference and No.5 in the state, Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci was left with a huge hole to fill this season when senior All-State linebacker/running back James McCarthy, a University of Pennsylvania commit who was starting to get looks from NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (DI-A) programs, sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament just prior to the opening of preseason camp and was lost for the season.

“When James went down, you’re looking for the next best guy to be an impact player,” said Antonucci , who piloted the Eagles to their 13th consecutive win. “Maxx was up to the task and I knew he’d do what he’s doing now. Maxx is an athlete. He’s a jack of all trades.”

In a dominating performance, all Imsho did was rush for a 48-yard touchdown, scoop up a fumble and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown, pluck a tipped pass for an interception, record double-digit tackles (10), catch a pair of passes for 24 yards and turn a botched extra point attempt into a two-point conversion.

Not a bad night’s work.

Imsho led the Shore Conference with seven interceptions a year ago as a first team All-Shore selection. Friday night, Imsho put a stamp on last season’s accolades cementing himself as one of the premier safety’s not only in the Shore but in the state.

“The whole thing is fun, I love playing the game no matter where I am on the field,” Imsho said. “I just want to win the game, help everyone out and be an asset to our team and do our job together.”

Ishmo credits long-time defensive coordinator Al Bigos for his ability to be around the ball on seemingly every play.

“I got to give it up to Bigos,” Ishmo said. “He just gives us the whole scheme of everything. We know what’s coming in-and-out of every play.”

The senior strong safety wasn’t the only one who impacted the game as the defense as a whole was suffocating while holding the Caseys to under 200 yards of total offense. Junior linebacker Jake Krellin led the charge recording a sack, a tackle for loss, forced fumble and fumble recovery in his first game at linebacker after playing on the defensive line last season.

And in an interesting twist to the game, the Eagles received an appreciable boost from sophomore running back Anthony Summey, who recently transferred from Red Bank Catholic and just barely got his six practices in order to be eligible for Friday night’s game. Summey, who spent last season St. Joseph (Montvale), came back to haunt the Caseys rushing for 127 yards on 19 carries including touchdown runs of 34 and 32 yards.

“We talked (Thursday) about him just being Anthony,” Antonucci said. “I knew he was going to be under a lot of scrutiny coming in here (Friday night). I just wanted him to be poised and calm. He really did a good job with that. He doesn’t know our entire offense, but he knows the basics of it. He’s got some God-given talents, so that helps too.”

Summey actually got the start Friday night. With senior wide receiver Jeff Lewandowski out with a concussion Antonucci needed to move senior Samson Dube into the slot receiver spot opening the running back spot up for Summey.

“It wasn’t that weird,” said Summey, of opening the season against his former team. “I came with a good attitude, thinking it was just another football game. It was difficult (getting to know the playbook). I’m still perfecting things and willing to get better. We got the win, that’s the most important thing.”

Senior Holmdel transfer Aneesh Agrawal also had a solid debut at quarterback for the Eagles going 14-for-24 for 100 yards with an interception and a six-yard touchdown pass to senior Jeremy Joyce and had a potential touchdown pass dropped on a bomb down the middle of the field. He also rushed for 41 yards on eight carries and had a four-yard rushing touchdown while running the Eagles no-huddle offense to perfection.

“I would say the best part of the offense is that everyone can make a play,” Agrawal said. “With so many athletes it allows us to spread the ball around.”

Red Bank Catholic put a scare into the Eagles driving 64 yards for touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Junior quarterback Tommy Lang found senior wideout Max Hazard alone in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Hazard caught a 38-yard pass from sophomore wide receiver Jaden Key after Key gathered in a bubble screen from Lang and hit Hazard downfield at the one to set up the score.

The Eagles then scored 28 unanswered points to take a 28-7 lead into halftime.

With the score 7-7 after Summey’s 34-yard touchdown up the middle on a trap play, senior Ryan Ruzieki snuffed out a Red Bank Catholic fake punt on fourth-and-two setting up the Eagles at their own 45-yard line.

Nine plays and 55 yards later, Agrawal hit Joyce for a 14-7 lead with 8:55 left in the half.

After trading punts, Ishmo’s interception gave the ball back to the Eagles at their own 14-yard line. Eight plays into the drive Ishmo cashed in on his interception breaking one 48 yards up the middle for a 21-7 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, junior Aidan Mccann picked up a loose ball giving the Eagles possession at the Casey 24-yard line before Agrawal took it in from the four-yard line handing South a 28-7 lead.

Samson Dube fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half leading to Casey quarterback Steve Lubischer’s three-yard touchdown run cutting the Eagles lead to 28-14.

After a South punt gave the ball back to the Caseys with a chance to cut into the deficit once again, a bad snap on fourth-and-two at the 45-yard line resulted in the ball rolling all the way to the 30-yard line before Ishmo – yes, that guy again – scooped it up and bolted for the score to make it a three-touchdown game once more.

The Caseys never recovered. Summey then capped a nine play 69-yard drive with 32-yard touchdown run, spinning off a would be tackler at the line of scrimmage before breaking it up the middle untouched for a 42-14 lead with 10:04 remaining in the game.

Ruzieki closed out the scoring picking off Lang at the 32-yard line and taking to the house for a touchdown and a 49-14 final.