Jackson flexes its muscles in big win over Freehold Jags set to face an improved Red Bank team this Saturday

Jackson flexes its muscles in big win over Freehold
Jags set to face an
improved Red Bank team this Saturday

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Jackson’s Jim Migliore runs for some positive yardage during the Jaguars’ impressive victory over Freehold Township on Friday.

Billed as the game of the week in the Shore Conference, the Jackson High School-Freehold Township matchup Friday night amounted to little more than an exercise in routine execution for the Jaguars.

Jackson bought into none of the hype that this would be the week it would be knocked off.

Instead, the Jaguars put on an awesome offensive display, collecting nearly 500 yards in total offense to easily outdistance Freehold Township, 59-12, in front of a standing room only crowd at John J. Munley Field.

The Jaguars, who improved to 6-0 this season, have now won 19 straight as they head to this Saturday’s 1 p.m. meeting with host Red Bank High School.

"We really had a fine offensive game," Jackson second-year coach Reggie Lawrence said. "The kids played well on both sides of the ball. We clicked in all phases of our game. Hopefully we can keep that kind of consistency going."

Lawrence said Red Bank is a dangerous team. The Jags won’t go in and take the home team lightly.

"They’re probably the biggest and fastest team we’ve played all season," Lawrence said. "They have a couple of kids who have already committed to play at Rutgers (New Brunswick) next year. They’re a team that we can’t afford to underestimate. They can be explosive."

Red Bank is coming off its bye week, and should be hungry when the top-ranked Jaguars roll into town. The Bucs have shown flashes of excellence throughout the season, and are generally regarded as one of the Shore’s most improved teams. But none of this is news to the Jaguars, and by now they have grown accustomed to facing teams who are capable of pulling off the upset.

In beating Freehold, Jackson claimed its second consecutive Shore Conference American Division title. The Jaguars’ 59 points also set a new school record for the most points earned in a single game.

Jackson raced out to a 31-6 lead by intermission. Ignited by its defense in the first quarter, the Jags’ Kelvin Vaughan intercepted a pass and returned it 25 yards deep into Freehold territory.

Two plays later, running back Nick Castellano scored on a six-yard run to give the Jags an early lead. Things would only get worse for Freehold following Vaughan’s play.

Jackson would score three more times before halftime. Senior running back Joe Serratelli, who finished with 85 yards on nine carries, scored on a 42-yard burst late in the first quarter.

Senior quarterback Nick Anzalone put forth a big effort. Anzalone completed 7 of 10 passes for 190 yards, including a 72-yard scoring strike to wideout Jim Migliore, who caught four passes for more than 120 yards.

"He (Anzalone) had a great game," Lawrence said. "He made a few nice passes. But his offensive line gave him plenty of time to throw. He couldn’t have done it without them."