Red Bank Catholic's Dominance over Shore Conference Teams Continues

Photo: Junior RBC quarterback Eddie Hahn

Red Bank – The count is now up to 35-straight wins against Shore competition for the Caseys after opening the 2014 season with two impressive wins against two of its new division opponents in Class B North, Wall Township and Long Branch.

“We got a great group of seniors starting at the varsity level for the first time,” Casey head coach Jim Portela said. “We get to use a lot of kids so they all have game experience as underclassmen and they’re prepared to step up as starters.”

The Caseys (2-0) are bidding to become the first Shore Conference team to win five straight division titles since Middletown South won seven straight from 1999-2005, but more importantly they’d like to finish the job by bringing home their first state title since 1976.

“The playoffs are so far away, it’s hard for me to say who’s going to be standing or not,” Portella said. “We have a lot of areas we need to work on to be where we want to be, but as the season rolls on and the kids gain experience, and varsity reps I think we’ll be okay.”

RBC easily handled an overmatched Wall Township squad in their season opener as junior quarterback Eddie Hahn introduced himself to the Shore Conference in his first game as the Caseys full-time starting quarterback.

“Wall’s a very young team,” Portela said. “They have talent and will get better as the season moves on.”

Hahn officially signaled his arrival by running for 109 yards and three touchdowns on just three carries, and threw for 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns – all in the first half. Running back/defensive back Mike Cordova rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while running mate Tommy Spernal added 80 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries as the team combined for 297-yards rushing.

“Eddie can hurt you with his legs as well as throwing the ball,” says Portela. “We feel our whole team is like that. We have a great group of running backs, guys who can catch the ball and an offensive line that can really block -It’s going to be hard for teams to defense us.”

Travor Cowley, a 6-foot, 170 pound wideout, hauled in a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter and 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior wide receiver/cornerback Nick Lubischer grabbed a ten-yard scoring strike from Hahn in the second quarter.

“Nicks a very good football player – very athletic,” Portela said. He’s done a great job at corner and that’s what he focuses on, but because of his athleticism we have in the receiver rotation as well and he’s produced. Trevor’s had a great start for us and is a bit-time receiver. ”

The defense held the Crimson Knights to 102 yards total offense on just five first downs and had four takeaways. University of Miami-bound linebacker Jamie Gordinier had nine tackles including two solo stops while 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior defensive tackle Ryan Kroeger, 6-foot-3, 215-pound senior defensive end Doug Zockoll and 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive tackle Dan Wilen each recorded a sack. Zockoll was credited with two quarterback hurries and Wilen one. Senior defensive lineman Mike Reverendo added seven tackles, one for a loss.

6-foot-2, 195-pound senior defensive back Mike Demonte pick up his first interception of the year and junior defensive back Dan Lukawski, senior defensive back Nick Lagrippo and Lubischer all recovered fumbles.

Portela likes what he sees in his defense, “Jamie’s been a great player for us for a couple of years now. We’ve been very fortunate to have Jamie – he’s one of the hardest workers we have, he’s a serous kid and football’s important to him. We have a very good linebacking core, we’re extremely tough upfront and our secondary has a chance to be exceptional – they’re all veteran kids back there. We’re fortunate; we got a good group to work with.”

In week two, the Caseys took care of a good Long Branch team 42-7. It was still a game at halftime with RBC up by only a touchdown, 14-7, but the Caseys broke the game open in the second half scoring 28 unanswered points after taking the lead right before halftime.

“Long Branch is a very good team that has a lot of talented kids,” Portela said. “They’re very well coached and we expected it to be a fight and we got one; it was good for us.”

Spernal had touchdown runs of 41 and 10 yards while rushing for a team-high 111 yards on just 11 carries. He also returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown. Cordova added 49-yards rushing on seven touches with a nine-yard touchdown run.

“Cordova and Spernal have done a great job for us so far,” Portella said. “It’s great to have two running backs as good as they are. They both play a lot of defense as well so having the two split time helps to keep them fresh.”

Hahn threw for 147 yards on 8-for-11 attempts with a touchdown and interception. Lubischer was the benefactor of the Hahn touchdown toss going for 29 yards.

Gordinier had a monster game registering 15 tackles - three solo, one for a loss - a quarterback pressure, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt that Zockoll recovered for a touchdown.

5-foot-11, 195-poiund junior linebacker/running back Dylan Murphy had 12 tackles and an interception while Wilen and Zockoll both recorded their second sack of the season and had two quarterback pressures each.

The Caseys, ranked No. 6 in the state and of course No.1 in the Shore Conference face Saint Joe’s Metuchen (0-1) Friday night September 19, playing their second of a string of six consecutive home games, before facing Ocean Township on the road Halloween night, October 31.

“This year’s schedule is probably the most ambitious one we’ve had since I’ve been here (2002),” Portella said. Eight of the nine teams we play were playoff teams last year. Four of them were division winners, three were one-loss teams and two went to the state finals. We’re going to be challenged and have our work cut out for us.”

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