Close, but not enough for Long Branch

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

After spending several years on the Long Brancvh High School football staff as an assistant coach, Ben Woolley takes over the responsiblility as head coach for the 2024 season.

Week Zero is it as known as in high school sports, are football games scheduled before schools open for the new season. Long Branch High School was one of those programs that were scheduled to play on August 30, traveling to Holmdel to face the Hornets, who narrowly beat the Green Wave 38-32.

Long Branch has its third new coach in as many years. Ben Woolley took over the responsibility after Chad King, who replaced longtime NJ Hall of Fame coach Danny George, retired. King was top man for the Wave the past two seasons and is now the head coach at Ocean.

Woolley has been a student of the game for many years and has assembled his coaching staff consisting of Justin Fumando, Gary Beddoe, Chris Riley, Kyle Harms, Damon Colbert and Raul Rivera, Jr.

Long Branch is loaded with speed and athletic players, and once they get in sync, the Green Wave will be a squad to recon with.

The proof of how good a team LB will be was evident after the first quarter was played. Holmdel took their opening drive and marched right into the end zone for an early 7-0. On their first possession Long Branch was forced to punt from deep in their end of the field and had the ball blocked and recovered for another Hornets touchdown. That’s how the first quarter ended with Holmdel up 14-0.

Leading the Long Branch offense was junior quarterback Quinton Fisher. He had 187 passing yards, 171 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

In the second quarter, Holmdel scored on a short run putting them up 21-0. Woolley kept his composure which helped his players keep their focus. Long Branch then worked the ball using the speed of their junior quarterback, Quinton Fisher, who also has a very accurate arm. Aulander Daniels, senior wide receiver and linebacker, used his speed and great hands to score on an 18-yard pass from Fisher. The extra point attempt failed. Holmdel came right back and kicked a 23-yard field goal. That gave them a 24-6 lead just before halftime.

The Green Wave went back to using their speed, which Holmdel was having problems handling at times. Just before the first half ended, Fisher scored on a one-yard run. The kick failed again, but LB went into the half down 24-13.

Starting the second half, Long Branch controlled the ball offensively, chewing up a lot of clock time. It resulted in a five-yard touchdown by Fisher. For the third time in the game, Long Branch missed the extra point. They were now down 24-19 to Holmdel.

The final 12 minutes of action had both teams scoring twice. Holmdel struck first in the fourth quarter with a one-yard run, now up 31-19, and it looked as if the Hornets had locked up the game. Except, Holmdel couldn’t stop Fisher who broke free for a 42-yard run. This time the extra point was good and the Wave were down 31-26.

On their next offensive series, the Hornets showed why their quarterback, Jack Cannon is slated as one of the best in the Shore Conference, as he ran through the middle of the Green Wave defense for a 63-yard run. That gave the Hornets a 38-26 lead.

Long Branch didn’t waste much time as they struck immediately on a 24-yard pass play from Fisher to Daniels. The extra point missed, the fourth miss of the game. The Green Wave were now down 38-32. They had a few chances late in the game, even tried a few lateral passes and some trickery. But it was not enough.

Fisher finished with 13 of 20 pass attempts for an impressive 187 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, he was the leading rusher for the Wave with 18 carries for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels had seven catches for 109 yards, one touchdown ran one in.

Defensively, Long Branch had some key plays from Joseph Corley, Javier Guzman, Miguel Maldonado all playing at linebacker.

Holmdel plays in the C North division of the Shore Conference. They travel to Ocean Township on September 6, and will face Chad King and his Spartans, who were in attendance watching the game against Long Branch.

The Green Wave will host Jackson Memorial on September 6. Long Branch plays in the A North division, which is loaded. Opponents in that division are; Colts Neck, Marlboro, Middletown South, Red Bank Catholic and Rumson-Fair Haven.

More photos of this game will be at www.Facebook.com/TheLinkSports