See It In Photos: Toms River North Wins Wild 'Civil War' Over Toms River South

It received billing as one of the greatest high school rivalry games in America. And the way Toms River North’s 44-34 victory over Toms River South in the “Civil War” of Toms River played out Friday night, it lived up to the billing.

Asante Moorer rushed for four touchdowns, including the gamewinner with 4 minutes left, and quarterback Mike Husni connected with Jordan Craig for a pair of long touchdown passes for Toms River North in the Shore Conference Class A South matchup.

The Mariners (2-1, 2-1) came into South’s Detwiler Stadium with something to prove after a tough loss to Brick Memorial last week, and left no doubts about what kind of season they expect to have. After rallying for what appeared to be the winning touchdown against the Mustangs, Brick Memorial moved down the field and kicked the winning field goal in the waning seconds.

Friday night, once Toms River North went ahead for good on Moorer’s touchdown late in the fourth quarter, the Mariners slammed the door on the Indians.

First the Mariners swarmed Toms River South’s return men on the kickoff, giving the Indians their worst starting field position of the game at their own 13. Then Toms River North controlled Tymere Berry, who had given the Mariners fits the entire game with his spinning, dodging, cutback running. Berry had five touchdowns for the Indians (2-1, 2-1), all rushing, all created by the way he made tacklers miss again and again.

This time, however, with the clock winding down, the Mariners were having none of it and on third down, put a lick on Berry that could be heard all the way to Gernerd Field. Berry was slow to get up, and even after he got to his feet, was slow to get in the huddle, clearly still feeling the effects of the hit. After a Toms River South timeout to let Berry get his wind back, the Mariners blew through the Indians’ front line for a tackle in the backfield to take the ball back on downs.

The Mariners added another touchdown to seal the win.

“This is the greatest North-South game I’ve ever been involved in,” Toms River North coach Dave Oizerowitz told the Mariners after the game, a sentiment shared by many veteran observers of Shore Conference football.

“These are two programs trying to establish themselves,” said Joe Arminio, athletic director of the Toms River Regional School District. “I’m proud of both teams’ efforts. They both left it all on the field.”

The game was receiving billing as one of the Great American Rivalry games by iHigh Inc., an organization that highlights high school football rivalry games throughout the country. Its representatives made presentations to scholar-athletes on both football teams as well as a trophy to the Mariners afterward. More about the Great American Rivalry can be found here.

It was back and forth from the start. Toms River South intercepted Husni and made the Mariners pay, scoring the Indians’ first touchdown on a 2-yard keeper by Berry. North responded with a field goal and then upped the ante with Moorer’s first touchdown, a long run he broke down the right sideline.

North then added another Moorer touchdown for a 16-6 lead with 2:45 before halftime, but South answered, closing the gap to 16-13 on a Berry score.

South opened the second half by forcing the Mariners into the first punt of the game by either team, then drove the length of the field helped by two big penalties, with Berry finishing it off for a 20-16 Toms River South lead. Toms River North fumbled two plays later, and Berry made quick work, breaking free on third-and-11 for a touchdown to put South ahead 27-16.

North replied with its own score, a big-play touchdown pass from Husni to Craig to make it 27-23, then forced South to punt. On its next possession, North again broke the South defense with a Husni-to-Craig score to go ahead 30-27 with 8:46 to go in the game.

Berry quickly answered for South with a long touchdown run to make it 34-30, before North shut the door for good.

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(PHOTO: Jordan Craig catches a go-ahead touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for Toms River North. Credit: Karen Wall)