Red Bank Beats Ocean To Keep Unbeaten Season and Title Hopes Alive

Photo above: Red Bank Regional offense on the attack

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – A decisive fourth-quarter interception, two late-game defensive stands and three touchdowns by Syracuse-bound running back Sadiq Palmer helped third-seeded Red Bank Regional secure a 21-14 win over second-seeded Ocean Township at Carelli Field Friday night. With the win the Bucs advance to their first NJSIAA sectional final since 2003.

Red Bank junior defensive back Jalen Willis snuffed-out a screen pass intended for Ocean junior wide receiver Joey Aldarelli before intercepting the ball at the Ocean 35-yard line and returning it to the 16 with 10:36 left in the game and the score knotted at 14-14.

“I think we just come up big, when the spotlights on we come up big,” Willis said. “We’ve been practicing that play a whole bunch. We’ve been watching film of the play and running it and running and drilling it in practice. I was on it from the beginning because they had run it a couple of times and made sure I was there each time. The first time he (Ocean quarterback Kenny Pickett) saw me and stopped, this time he threw it and I just caught the ball.”

Three plays after the interception, Palmer fought off a host of would-be tacklers to find his way into the end zone for a 21-14 lead with 9:24 left in the game. It was Palmer’s third touchdown of the game which saw him pick up 53 hard-fought yards on 11 carries while also catching three balls for 60 yards.

On defense, Palmer helped the Bucs take a step closer to their first sectional title since 1995 recording at least 12 tackles and a red zone interception in the monumental win.

“We’re going to the championship and that hasn’t been done in years,” Palmer said. “Whatever we got to do for the team, that’s what we’re going to do, each and every one of us. If we all play together we’ll see the right outcome. Ocean was hard competition and I’m just glad we won.”

On the Spartans (8-2, 5-1) ensuing possession following the interception they drove to the Red Bank 46-yard line before a third-and-3 incompletion forced a punt with 6:21 remaining in the game.

Red Bank (10-0, 5-0) then ran close to four minutes off the clock and appeared to driving for the clinching touchdown when a holding penalty on a Palmer 25-yard run to 18 derailed the drive pushing the Bucs all the way back to their own 48-yard line. A double reverse on a third-and-15 netted two yards and Red Bank was forced to punt the ball back to Ocean giving them one last shot to tie with 2:08 left in the game.

Pickett immediately moved the Spartans into Red Bank territory finding junior wideout Joey Aldarelli open down the left sideline for a 31-yard gain down to the Red Bank 45-yard line. However, intense pressure by the Bucs defensive line - led by senior end Sean Naiman (1 sack) – forced Pickett into three straight incompletions before Palmer and junior defensive back Matt Reardon knocked Aldarelli out of bounds four-yards short of the first down marker on fourth down to seal the win.

Adarelli had a magnificent game with 10 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown as Ocean outgained the Bucs (349-241), but Red Bank won the turnover battle and made the crucial plays when they had to be made.

Pickett finished the night 20-for-29 for 270 yards and a touchdown but his three interceptions were drive killers that turned the game in Red Bank’s favor. His interception on fourth-and-7 from the 11-yard line with 2:36 remaining in the half wiped out a chance to go into halftime tied and with momentum on their side.

To his credit, Pickett took his team 58 yards in seven plays to forge a 14-14 tie to open the second half, hitting Adarelli in stride as he crossed the goal line for a 30-yard scoring strike for their final points of the game.

Navitsky was picked off on the Bucs first two possessions of the second half with Spartan defensive back Greyson Stoothoff getting both picks. However, Ocean turned the ball over on downs after the first pick when Naiman stopped Thompson for no gain on fourth-and-1 from the 50 and then the Willis interception on their next set of downs gave the ball back to the Bucs.

The Bucs defense bent, but did not break and came up big in one spot after another to preserve the win. Junior linebacker Chris Outterbridge was again sensational in racking up double-digit tackles including a sack of Pickett.

Red Bank never trailed in the game scoring on their second possession after getting excellent field position when they pinned Ocean back at their own one on their first possession of the game and forced them to punt from the end zone after a Naiman seven-yard sack. Then on fourth-and-nine from the 33-yard line, senior quarterback Jack Navitsky found Palmer at the hash marks around the 20-yard line and the elusive back did the rest to give Red Bank an early 7-0 lead.

Ocean responded on their next possession with a Pickett to Adarelli 56-yard completion setting up a Palmer 11-yard touchdown run to take the lead back.

Red Bank answered right back with a quick 53-yard, five play drive highlighted by a 40-yard pass from Navitsky to Reardon that set up a Palmer three-yard touchdown run with 30 seconds left in a wild first quarter of end-to-end action.

Navitsky was solid and did a nice job managing the game against an exceptional defense going 6-for-13 for 103 and a touchdown, but more importantly he avoided heavy pressure all night with his legs to keep drives moving in a positive direction.

“From the beginning of the season people doubted us,” Navitsky said. “They doubted we were going to beat RBC, and then they said we couldn’t beat this Ocean team twice. Our mindset every week is that we have something to prove.”

Red Bank will play longtime rival Long Branch on Thanksgiving with a chance to clinch the outright Shore Conference Class B North title after already being assured of at least a tie for its first divisional crown since winning Class C in 1977 under current Lacy coach Lou Vircillo. Following that, it’s the ‘Battle of Ridge Road’ as the Bucs will face No.1 seeded Rumson-Fair Haven for a shot at their first state title in forty years.

“We’re going to take it one game at a time,” Palmer said. “We got Long Branch next so we’re worried about Long Branch. Then when it’s time for RFH comes we’re going to work even harder so we can get the win.”

No team in Red Bank history has gone 12-0, which is two wins away and another shot at making program history for this very likeable team. The Bucs are currently ranked third in the Shore Conference, No. 15 in the state and No.21 in the MSG Tri-State rankings.

“This is uncharted territory but I’m loving the ride,” Bucs head coach Nick Giglio said. “We talk about being hungry and humble all the time and not let those stats go to our head. Right now we’re just worried about Long Branch.”

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