Caseys maintain unbeaten record

By Jim Hintelmann
RED BANK — A two-week layoff caused by the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which shut down the high school, seemingly had no effect on the Red Bank Catholic football team in its A Central game with Monmouth Regional on Friday.

Walter O’Neill LINKsports Michael DeMonte (16), a sophomore defensive back for Red Bank Catholic, prepares to tackle Azavia Gibson (25) of Monmouth Regional on Saturday night.

The unbeaten Caseys (8-0) scored early and often in rolling to a 41-6 rout of the Golden Falcons to extend its unbeaten streak against Shore opponents to 22. RBC’s last loss to a local team was in 2010 when it was beaten by Freehold Boro, 26-25, in double overtime.
RBC scored the first four time it had the ball with the offense and defense splitting four touchdowns each as the Caseys raced out to a 28-0 first-quarter lead.
“We had a lot on the line tonight,” said RBC coach Jim Portella.” If we won, we would clinch a tie for the division championship. It was also Senior Night and they got the win that they deserved. We also had a chance to clinch home field advantage for our first state playoff game.”
Monmouth (1-7) got the ball first and picked up a first down, but was forced to punt, and RBC wasted no time in scoring,
On RBC’s first play from scrimmage, junior running back Larry Redaelli cut through the left side of the Monmouth line and raced 47 yards for a touchdown. Pat Toomey kicked the first of five extra points.
RBC went 46 yards in eight plays on its next series with Redaelli scoring on a 3-yard run for his eighth TD of the season.
It was the turn of the defense to get the next two touchdowns with defensive back Chris Whitlock, one of the Shore’s most versatile players. scoring first when he picked off a Monmouth pass and returned it 13 yards for a 21-0 lead.
“Their receiver slipped and the ball just fell into my hands,” said Whitlock, who also plays wide receiver and on special teams. “I like to play defense more because you are always in the play every time.”
RBC held for downs and Whitlock broke through to block a Monmouth punt at the 5 with teammate Pat Drum falling on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.
The Caseys made it 35-0 in the second quarter when Jake Flaherty tallied on a three-yard run to cap a 40-yard drive.
Monmouth’s lone score came in the third period on a one-yard keeper by quarterback Jeff Farrah following a 77-yard interception return by Jose Suarez.
RBC, however, came back with an 86-yard drive on 16 running plays with Mike Cordova scoring on a one-yard run. Reserves finished up.
RBC will open play in the NJSIAA Non-Public 3 playoffs Friday when it plays host to Monsignor Donovan. If RBC wins, it will almost certainly play top-seeded and defending champion St. Joseph’s of Montvale in the semifinals.
The Caseys can also clinch the A Central title Thanksgiving Eve if it beats Rumson-Fair Haven.