Balanced Ground Attack Helps Shore Edge Highland Park

With thoughts of defending its state title in the back of its minds, kept the dream alive as it hung on to defeat Highland Park, 26-14, in a nonconference game at Shore's Robert E. Feeney Field on Friday night.

Although it wasn’t always pretty, on this night the Blue Devil’s best defense was their offense as they successfully kept the ball out of the hands of the Owl’s “big play offense” by controlling the ball for majority of the second half.

“We did a good job of controlling the clock late in the game,” Shore head coach Mark Costantino said. “That’s always what we want to do. Signature Shore Regional football is to hold the ball. They are a big play team. They have some kids that can play with anybody. I remember chasing them around last year and thinking ‘Oh god’ (when Shore defeated Highland Park 42-25 last season). We knew that they were going to hang in there. We just did just enough to win tonight.”

On its opening drive, Shore (4-2) capped off an impressive 9-play, 65-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown strike from senior quarterback Brendan Dula (4-5 for 55 yards) to senior tight end Jake Armstrong to give the Blue Devils an early 7-0  first quarter lead.

After Shore mishandled a punt at its own 30-yard line, Highland Park (3-4) then capitalized off the mistake as Quawi Bachelor scampered into the end zone from 11 yards out to make the score 7-6 with 5:26 left in the second quarter. The Owl’s attempted to go for a two-point conversation after the touchdown but the failed pass attempt would be intercepted by defensive back Mark Costantino.

Taking a 14-6 lead into the third quarter, the Blue Devil’s used the power running attack of senior running backs Stefanos Koursaris  and Nick Grigos to grind out a 12-play, 83-yard opening drive to start the second half. The drive, which lasted 6:24, was finished off with a 4-yard touchdown run by Grigos to extend Shore’s lead to 20-6. The extra point was blocked.

Early in the fourth quarter, Highland Park again used another Shore mistake to help it creep back into the game as it turned a Grigos fumble into eight points. A 24-yard halfback option pass from Quatay Nesmith to Na’Dre Hepburn and a Nesmith two-point conversation brought the score to 20-14 with 9:04 remaining.

On the ensuing possession (with 5:01 left in the game), junior fullback Jack Kelly officially closed the door on the Owls with a 38-yard touchdown rumble down the left side line.

Led by Koursaris, who carried 15 times for 104 yards, the Blue Devils’ balanced rushing attack tallied 256 yards.

Friday night’s victory over Highland Park was a big one as it moved Shore past the Owls in the Central Jersey Group I power-point rankings.

“Even though tonight was a bit sloppy, we’re getting better and that’s our goal,” Costantino said. “This was a huge game for us but we have a few more to go. Our goal is to get into the playoffs and defend our title. That’s what we’re looking to do.”

“Being 4-2 we have our backs to the wall. We can’t afford to lose again.”

According to Costantino, Armstrong, also a middle linebacker, looks to have suffered a broken leg on Friday night. The injury occurred after Armstrong caught a 12-yard pass from Dula late in the second quarter. Albeit it turned out to be costly, the pass and catch would set up a 32-yard touchdown run by Koursaris with 3:16 left in the first half to help give the Blue Devils the lead going into halftime.

If Armstrong is indeed out for the remainder of the season, it would be the team’s second season ending injury as sophomore offensive/defensive tackle Chris Okupsky has already been lost for the season with an injury.

Shore will next play on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 1 p.m. when it travels to Mater Dei to take on the Seraphs.