Toms River North Beats Millville to Highlight Day One at the Beach
Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Gameday Hub, pfn
Phil Myers | August 26, 2023
Toms River North and Millville faced off on the first day of high school football action at ‘The Battle at the Beach’ Classic in Ocean City, NJ. It was the third game of the day, but the most anticipated of the four games played on Friday. It was also the best attended game of the day as the stands were mostly filled with onlookers. Both teams won their respective class state title in 2022, T.R.N. in Group 5 and Millville in Group 4. This was their opening game of the 2023 campaign.
The game was scoreless after one, but the Mariners of Toms River North scored twice in the final 6 minutes of the second to take a 14-0 lead into the intermission. They were led by their all-state quarterback, Micah Ford who rushed for over 150 yards. He scored on a 24-yard run and then led his team 90 yards to pay dirt by throwing a 15-yard TG pass to Jeremiah Pruitt with 35 seconds left in the half. Josh Moore set up that score by rambling for 57 yards the play before. Moore finished the game with 123 yards rushing.
Moore #24 with ball in center of picture.
Millville got the best of it in half two, but fell short. The Thunderbolts were led by their all-state quarterback, Jacob Zamot, who threw for 218 yards and a touchdown early in the 4th quarter. Even though their next two drives managed to start or make it into Mariner territory, Toms River North’s defense came up big with sacks and an interception to seal the game.
In the first game of the day, Mainland Regional upended Washington Township 26-7. The Mustangs were paced by a strong running game. Stephen Ordille and Rocco DeBiaso led the way when they both rushed for over 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Washington’s only TG was scored by their quarterback, Jared Dzierzgowski, on the last play of the first half. Mainland’s defense played well not allowing the Minutemen to get over 100 yards of offense until the final quarter.
Rocco DeBiaso scores on an 84-yard jaunt.
The second game of the day found Hammonton routing St. John Vianney 35-0. It was the Kenny Smith show, as the junior tail back scored all five of the Blue Devil touchdowns. He rushed for over 160 yards and scored four TDs on runs of 10, 21, 2, and 60 yards. He also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass. The Lancers of St. John Vianney were able to move the ball at times but eventually the Hammonton defense stifled St. John drives.
The last game featured Ocean City and Pleasantville. After a scoreless first half, Pleasantville scored first when Ahmad Jones connected with Khalil Witherspoon for an 8-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 6-0 lead half way through the third. But the momentum changed later in the third when a muffed punt by Pleasantville gave O.C. the ball at the Greyhound 15. Ryan Hendricks, the backup QB for the Ocean City, tossed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Duke Guenther to put the Raiders up 7-6. Hendricks followed that with a 4th down 12-yard TD toss to Jon Moyer to give the home squad the hard-fought 14-6 victory. The second scoring drive came after Moyer intercepted a wayward Pleasantville pass.
Moyer right after his touchdown catch.
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