By PAUL BOOTH
Ocean Township defeated rival Long Branch with a touchdown in the waning minutes of the game Friday night. It would prove to be the only points either team would put up for the evening, as Ocean Township took the victory 7-0 in front of a home crowd.
With just over five minutes to play and the score still tied at 0-0, Ocean Township’s Christian Bailoni dropped back and completed a 27 yard touchdown pass to a wide open Rhett Cowley. It was the deciding play in a game where yardage was a priceless commodity.
Indeed, the two defenses dominated for a large portion of the game. It seemed that for every yard they surrendered they took right back on the next play.
In the first half, Long Branch managed only one first down, and Ocean Township just four.
Every time it seemed the offenses were poised to strike, as when Long Branch’s Billy George intercepted a pass at Ocean Township’s 25 yard line in the 2nd quarter, or when Ocean’s Eric Buckelew recovered a fumble at midfield in the 3rd, the defenses steadily beat them back.
Except, of course, when Bailoni found that opening with five minutes to go for the victory.
With the win, Ocean Township improves to 3-1 on the season. They travel to Red Bank Regional for a 1 p.m. game against the Bucs on Saturday.
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- Ocean Township quarterback Christian Bailoni looks for a receiver. He threw for 35 yards and a touchdown in the Spartans’ 7-0 win over Long Branch.
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- Rhett Cowley, who caught the game’s only touchdown, carries a host of Long Branch defenders for extra yardage.
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- Ocean Township’s senior running back Jamaar Jefferson gives extra effort to gain another yard against Long Branch’s defense. Jefferson had 57 yards rushing in the Spartans’ 7-0 win.
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