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Asbury Park 13
Shore 10

Blue Bishops seize control in 2nd half

By STEVEN FALK - STAFF WRITER - September 17, 2009 - WEST LONG BRANCH

It was a game that will probably benefit Asbury Park as the season moves along.

The Blue Bishops, ranked No. 6 in the Asbury Park Press Top 10, fought back from a three-point halftime deficit with a solid second half to earn a tough 13-10 win over Shore Regional on Thursday night in a Patriot Division game at Robert E. Feeney Field.

"We had to play through adversity, and that's what we did," said junior running back-linebacker Marquise Johnson, who had the winning touchdown in the third quarter and also had an interception with 2:47 remaining that enabled Asbury Park to run out the clock.

"We learned we've got good unity on this team," said senior quarterback Jamar Small, who was 9-for-16 for 150 yards and a 4-yard TD run. "We know how to come together when its crunch time."

After a first half, in which all three of its first downs and 88 of its 109 total yards came on its first possession, Asbury Park (1-0, 1-0) outgained the Blue Devils (1-1, 0-1), 184-11, had 10 first downs to none and had a 32-7 advantage in plays run.

"We talked about two things the offensive line and leadership," Asbury Park coach Don Sofilkanich said. "I thought that's what the game was going to come down to."

The Blue Bishops, behind Small's arm, moved 80 yards in 15 plays on the first possession of the second half.

Small, who was 6-for-8 for 81 yards in the second half, converted two key third downs on the drive. He hit Lamar Davenport for 14 yards on a third and 11 on the third play of the drive and he connected with Taj Hammary for 23 yards on a third and 12 on the eighth play of march.

"He made some plays," Sofilkanich said. "But, more importantly than the plays, I was more happy that he was calm, he was cool and showed some leadership out there. For a guy who was making his third varsity start, he had a big-time game."

Small, who started games against Mater Dei and Keansburg last season, has the tough task of replacing the graduated Will Johnson, who was a four-year starter and the heart and soul of a team that went 22-2 and won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championship the last two seasons.

"There's a lot of pressure. If I mess up, they joke around with me and say "Will didn't do stuff like that,' " Small said. "I think I did good for the first game stepping in for him."

Johnson capped the drive with a 19-yard TD run on a sweep to the right with 5:17 remaining in the third period. On a night where Shore was zeroed in on senior running back George Stephens and held him to 70 yards on 23 carries, Johnson had 54 of his 66 yards in the second half and three receptions for 29 yards in the second half.

"Besides No. 1 (Stephens), we have a lot of weapons," Johnson said. "We just have to bring them out."

Johnson's interception came on the right sideline and gave the Blue Bishops the ball on the Blue Devils' 28. From there, Asbury Park, behind first down runs of 7 and 12 yards from Johnson ran out the clock.

Shore had grabbed a 10-7 halftime lead on a 95-yard Chris Riley to Thurston Cooper TD pass and a 20-yard field goal by Shane Carroll. However, the field goal came after Shore had a first and goal at the 1. Asbury Park dropped Paul Eremides for a 2-yard loss on third and a foot.