LIVE from The Jersey Shore
First Up ... TR North Football
Let me start by saying; I have a ton of respect for the LaBarca family's ability to coach a football team. From Chip Sr.'s Monmouth County days to Chip Jr.'s 12-0 season with the 2007 TRN team, their accomplishments speak for themself... a standard that's probably caused LaBarca (the younger) a few headaches lately.
After starting 4-1, North has lost their last two games, and (unless I failed math) they'll miss the NJSIAA playoffs. That doesn't happen often, and I'll admit to being afflicted with "Notre Dame" mentality when it comes to this school. LaBarca has built a program that I expect will qualify for the playoffs each year. That's the expectation level, albeit unrealistic. The analyst in me knows North is young, two of their most skilled players are sophomores, and they have given up more big plays this year than I've ever seen. They'll get better, and if not for a Colts Neck player jumping offsides, North could be 3-4 with a game coming up at Manalapan as (what should be) a heavy underdog.
Still, allowing Southern's running back to score 6 TDs, then letting Brick Memorial turn 3 yard screen passes into multiple 60 yard TD receptions is frustrating to watch...but I'm sure not half as frustrated as the coaching staff and players at TR North feel. Keep improving North.. the future looks bright !
Comment
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Comment by Toms River TV on November 6, 2011 at 4:56pm -
Love the Space Jam reference
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Comment by Joe Erickson on November 5, 2011 at 8:09am
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Manalapan 35-30. Playoff hopes ended. After watching another in a seemingly endless line of RBs shred the Mariners for 200+ yards and multiple (5) touchdowns, I found myself repeating this Bill Murray gem from Space Jam in every post game conversation. "Whoa hoa hoa! I don't play defense."
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Gridiron NJ tells me my math (or reading) skills need just a bit more tweaking. I needed to deduct 1 power point from the current win totals of Jackson, Southern, and Brick Memorial. Which explains my 92 vs. their 89. They agree with my projections.
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I STAND CORRECTED. I was under the impression the NJSIAA cut was this past weekends games. Given the fact that nobody corrected my mistake, I'm obviously not alone in my confusion.
Anyway, I found the NJSIAA formula. It took a half dozen calculator batteries, and a long conversation with an old math instructor, but it appears mathematically possible for TR North to qualify for the playoffs. For the record, I calculated TRN's power points 3x, using the NJSIAA formula, and came up with 92. Gridiron NJ shows North with 89 through last night. I can't figure that one out, so won't dwell on it.
First things first: They MUST defeat a very good Manalapan team (currently seeded 3nd in CJ IV)...in Manalapan. If they can find a way to pull out a "W", the scoreboard watching begins.
North has the potential to add 40 power points this weekend, but the realistic number is closer to 31. Three of the teams North has defeated will be heavy underdogs (only TR South will be favored against a winless Pinelands team), so counting on those extra 9 points isn't realistic. A win likely gets them to 123 points, well in range for a berth (with help). Back to the subject of needing help: Eleven teams sit ahead of the Mariners, and many of them play teams with equal or better records. Two games of interest: 1. Egg Harbor (4-3 & currently just ahead of North) vs. St. Joe's of Hammonton (7-0), and 2. Atlantic City (6-1) at Millville (7-0). The other 3 teams just ahead of North all have games against opponents with winning records, so... WIN, NORTH ! Then, light a few candles.
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In the past decade (or so), the North program has been solid.. their staff appears to build the offense around the skill set of current players. Despite their record, TR South is rapidly improving thanks to a different coaching family. I'll save that one for a future blog.
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Comment by Paul Brush on October 29, 2011 at 3:39pm -
And Coach Chip tells me their Freshman Team is terrific so his program keeps getting better!
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