Red Bank Regional wins 101st meeting against Long Branch

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

Long Branch sophomore Nyron Snerling (3) had two catches, both for touchdowns during the 27-20 loss to Red Bank Regional.

Two of the longest high school football rivalries is between the Bucs of Red Bank Regional and the Green Wave of Long Branch. For 100 years they faced off on Thanksgiving Day, however that tradition ended last year. For the 101st meeting, the game was played on October 19, ending the turkey day game.

The game was changed as a result of the modified tournament schedule that is being used by the NJSIAA. However, this season the outlook for a tournament spot for the Green Wave is not looking very bright. They were defeated by the Bucs 27-20 on Saturday afternoon. That loss drops Long Branch to 1-6 overall this season and they are 1-3 in the A North division of the Shore Conference.

Long Branch has one regular season game remaining.  They travel to Marlboro on October 26 to face the Mustangs who are currently sitting in third place in the A North division at 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the division.

Long Branch started the game strong and had a 7-6 lead after the first quarter. In the second quarter they took a 14-6 lead after completing a 12-yard pass, and that is how the first half ended.

In the third quarter, Red Bank Regional scored on a third down and short. They completed the two-point conversion and tied the game at 14 with 2:24 left in the quarter.

With 8:36 to play and the game locked at 14, Red Bank Regional scores on a one-yard quarterback keeper to take a 21-14 lead. The Bucs defense stepped up in the second half as they rushed and hit Long Branch junior quarterback Quinton Fisher.

With 6:40 to play, Long Branch had a third down and 24 from their own 21-yard line. Red Bank Regional sacked Fisher twice, forcing the Green Wave to punt. The Bucs took over on the LB 35 following the punt, and scored on a 35-yard pass. With 3:27 to play, they now had a 27-14 lead.

Red Bank Regional sacked Fisher for a third consecutive play and he had to leave the game with an injury. Coming in to replace him was Anthony Luque, a sophomore. Luque completed a big pass the Green Wave to midfield.

With 1:29 to play, Luque completed a 36-yard pass to fellow sophomore Nyron Snerling and Long Branch was now down 27-20. Red Bank Regional took over and ran out the clock and took the victory and improved to 4-3 on the season.

Long Branch drops to 1-6 overall and are 1-3 in the A North. Leading the division is Rumson-Fair Haven followed by Red Bank Catholic, Marlboro, Middletown South, Long Branch and then winless Colts Neck.

The last time Long Branch recorded only one win in a season was back in 2020-2021, when they went 1-6 overall. Over the past decade, Long Branch has a 61-46 record. They have only had four losing season, besides the 2020-2021 year they went 4-7 in 2019-2020, and 2-8 in 2016-2017 and 3-7 in 2015-2016.

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