Caseys Ambush Bucs In "Battle Of Red Bank"

Photos above: #8 Steve Lubischer, #13 Jaden Key, #36 Steve Cmielewski, #52 Chris Hart, #26 Adam Demurjian and #6 Charlie Gordinier

By Mike Ready

RED BANK – Red Bank Regional (2-1) put an early scare into the Caseys (4-0) on the game’s opening possession driving 69 yards in a time consuming 11-play scoring drive that took 7:29 off the clock.

Junior Makai Mickens capped off the drive with a one-yard dive over the pile for a quick 7-0 lead that left the Caseys defense a bit stunned.

Those were the first points the Red Bank Catholic defense had allowed in the first half this season and the first time that the Caseys had trailed in a game at any point this season.

After that though, it was all Red Bank Catholic as senior duel-threat quarterback Steve Lubischer and senior wide receiver Jaden Key stole the show. The dynamic duo connected on four first-half touchdowns and the Caseys went on to put up 42 unanswered points to capture the bragging rights in this year’s edition of the “Battle of Red Bank.”

“I went to Red Bank Catholic and I played in this game so I know how much it means to the players,” Caseys head coach Frank Edgerly said. “It was a unique situation tonight with both teams coming in undefeated in their home opener and there were year’s when I played in this game where you can throw records out the window. And again, you see these guys in town and they see us so I think that made for a heck of an environment.”

On the Caseys first possession of the game following the Red Bank Regional’s score they marched 66 yards in seven plays with Lubischer hooking up with Key for their first of four first-half touchdowns.

Key, who finished with five receptions for 125 yards and four touchdowns – all in the first half – grabbed Lubischer’s pass around the 12-yard line and carried defensive back Nick Ferrogine on his back all the way into the end zone with second-and-third efforts needed to get there.

“It feels good, it feels like home when I get in the end zone,” Key said. “But I just want to give all the credit to my quarterback and my line – the pass protection was awesome.”

“I knew their DB’s couldn’t stay with him so I just kept looking for him,” said Lubischer. “We came out in no huddle so we were going to come out fast and come out passing.”

The lanky 6-foot-1 Key also returned an interception for a touchdown in the second half but a holding penalty on the return negated the score.

On Red Bank Regional’s ensuing possession on third-and-14 from the Bucs eight-yard line Caseys linebacker Steve Cmielewski stopped Mickens after a four-yard pickup forcing a punt on fourth down.

Cmeilewski recorded double-digit tackles including three tackles for a loss (TFL) spending a good part of the night in the Bucs backfield. Senior linebacker John Columbia also had a big night on defense with double-digit tackles, a sack and two TFL.

Ferrogine got a good roll on a punt that was almost blocked and the Caseys took over at the Bucs 40-yard line on the first play of the second quarter and the score still 7-7.

On first down Lubischer hit senior M.J. Wright in the right flats and the 5-foot-9 speedster took it 19 yards to the 21-yard line. Three plays later on third-and-14 from the 25 Lubischer side-stepped a blitz from linebacker Kyle Weisman before dumping the ball off to Key at the 20-yard line.

Key then broke a tackle, danced around two defenders and used a perfectly executed spin move to avoid Robbie DeMarrco before diving into the end zone with Ferrogine on his back.

“Anytime we put the ball in his hands good things can happen,” said Edgerly on Key’s playmaking ability. “We saw opportunities that he took full advantage of. A couple of times we got him the ball but he made the rest of it go.”

With the score now 14-7 the Casey defense forced a three-and-out on the Bucs next possession and took over at the 50-yard line following Ferrogine’s punt.

Junior running back Billy Guidetti was stopped for a four-yard loss on first down but on second-and-14 Lubischer dropped a 39-yard bomb right into the outstretched arms of Wright giving the Caseys a first down at the 15-yard line.

On the very next play, Lubischer found Key open over the middle and tossed him a perfect spiral just as he was crossing the goal line for a 21-7 lead after senior Ryan O’Hara’s PAT. O’Hara was a perfect six-for-six on extra points and boomed five kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

“He’s amazing, this is my best friend right here,” said Key when asked about the connection between him and his quarterback. “It’s cool to have a guy as good as he is because not many guys can put the ball out there 60 yards like he can and on the money. I’m just proud because he’s a dual-threat quarterback but he can also really throw. It feels good to be able to catch the ball in stride and not have to dive.”

Following O’Hara’s second touchback of the night, the Bucs took over at their own 20-yard line and picked up a first down on a Jack Chamberlain to Nick Walsack 20-yard completion to the 42-yard line.

Three plays later on third-and-8 from the 44 Caseys defensive end and Notre Dame commit, Kevin Bauman, batted down Chamberlain’s pass forcing another Bucs punt.

Bauman also combined on a sack with Adam Demurjian on the final play of the first half after two RBC penalties allowed the Bucs to reach the Caseys 38-yard line.

The Caseys took over on their own 20 with 5:48 left in the half and on first down Lubischer lofted a perfect ball to Bauman who hauled it in at the 45 for a 25-yard pickup.

A holding call pushed the ball back to the 50-yard line but three plays later on first-and-30 from the 50 Key beat his man and Lubischer dropped another bomb right into his hands around the 15 with Key taking it in for his fourth touchdown reception of the game and a 28-7 lead with 3:02 left in the half.

The Boston College-bound Lubischer had a near perfect first half going 10-for-11 for 220 yards and four touchdowns through the air and rushed for an additional 33 yards on three carries.

“We felt we could get the ball down field but the thing that was a challenge tonight for the coaching staff was that there (RBR) first two games came against option teams and we weren’t really sure how they were going to play certain sets and schemes,” said Edgerly. “We knew we wanted to get the ball down field and once we had a pretty good read on what they were going to do coverage wise we saw an opportunity and took advantage of it. If you look at the way our first couple of games have gone we’ve thrown the majority of plays in the first half.”

With a 28-7 lead entering the second half the Caseys turned conservative and stuck to their ground game which eventually got untracked in the second half.

Guidetti, who was held to seven-yards rushing on five attempts in the first half, carried the ball nine times in the second half for 81 yards and two touchdowns, including scoring runs on one and 34 yards.

Lubischer attempted just three passes in the second half completing one for 19 yards and had another dropped for what’ve been at least a 40-yard completion. He finished 11-of-14 for 239 yards and four touchdowns along with 32 yards rushing on three attempts as the Caseys accumulated over 400 yards of total offense.

“He makes me look a lot smarter than I am, that’s for sure,” said Edgerly when asked what having a quarterback like Lubischer allows him to do. “He allows you to get deep into your playbook and what separates him from a lot of other players is he’s comfortable and effective working off schedule. A lot of quarterbacks at this level when they get a little bit of pressure they’ll give up on a play but Steve has the ability to extend plays and that really stretches the defense.”

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