It was homecoming weekend as Asbury Park hosted Pt. Pleasant Beach on a blustery Saturday afternoon in a Shore Conference Patriot Division showdown. For the Blue Bishops it was a different opponent but a familiar result as the undefeated home team dominated its visitors en route to a 40-7 victory.
After a slow start for Asbury Park, junior running back George Stephens III led the way for the Blue Bishops when he broke several tackles on a weaving 80 yard touchdown run with five minutes to go in the first quarter, giving his team a 7-0 lead.
Stephens added another touchdown, this one from 33 yards, two and half minutes later to up the score to 14-0. Still he wasn’t done. Three short minutes later, at the start of the second quarter, Stephens punched it in again, this time from 23 yards out, all the while dodging and twirling away from would be tacklers. Stephens finished the day with 218 total yards on only 12 carries for an average of 18.2 yards per carry.
There were other busy playmakers on hand for the Blue Bishop, now 6-0 on the season. On third down with six yards to go and three minutes to go in the first half, quarterback Will Johnson connected with wide receiver Derrell Bell for a 40-yard completion to maintain the drive. Johnson and Bell would connect again to finish the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass. Johnson would add a one-yard touchdown of his own as well. Bell had four receptions for 77 yards on the day.
The Blue Bishops defense was as sound as its offense, allowing Pt. Beach less than 50 yards of total offense and contributing with an interception returned for a touchdown.
The top ranked Central Jersey Group 1 Blue Bishops travel to Keyport this Saturday to take on a Red Raiders squad (3-2) that is coming off a 55-34 victory over Monsignor Donovan.
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Published every Thursday.
