Holmdel runs over Nottingham

HOLMDEL >> For one possession the Nottingham High football team looked as if it was going to hang with Holmdel.

But after one play from scrimmage for the hosts, the wheels came off and the fourth-seeded Hornets crushed the fifth-seeded Northstars, 42-0, in the first round of the Central Group III playoffs on Friday night.

“I can’t sugarcoat tonight,” Nottingham coach Jon Adams said. “There was nothing good. It was just a thorough butt whoopin’.”

Holmdel (8-1) struck early and often against the Nottingham defense as running backs Dan Gallo and Jeff DeCicco combined for 289 yards and six touchdowns on the ground.

Gallo busted an 88-yard touchdown run on the Hornets’ first play from scrimmage.

“We had the guy in our sights at midfield and gave up on the play and just let the kid score,” Adams said. “To me that was a microcosm of what our problems were tonight. They imposed their will on us whenever they wanted.”

Gallo scored from a much shorter eight yards out on the Hornets’ second possession and DeCicco followed with touchdown runs of 25 and 26 yards on the next two to give Holmdel a 28-0 lead.

DeCicco added two more touchdown runs in the second half to give him four total. Gallo finished with 193 yards, while DeCicco gained 96.

Quarterback added 142 yards as the Hornets racked up nearly 500 total on the ground.

“This game was won in the weightroom,” said Adams, who watched top lineman Mario Medina leave with an injury. “Their offensive line, defensive line kicked the crap out of us all night and that bottom line. You can’t sugarcoat it. They were much more physical then us. We couldn’t stop fullback trap, fullback dive, we should be ashamed of ourselves.”

The Northstars (6-3) moved the ball to the Holmdel 32 on their opening drive thanks to a 14-yard Mirac Judeson run and a 14-yard completion from Bryan Smolka to Alix Oge, but on a 3rd-and-3 they committed a false start then lost seven yards on the next play.

Nottingham was held to 58 total yards (33 rushing, 25 passing).

Unlike previous Shore Conference teams Nottingham has met in the playoffs, Holmdel does not have a glittering past. The Hornets were making their second straight playoff appearance and notched their first playoff win since 2007 (and third in 10 games).

The program has turned around under coach Jeff Rainess, who inherited a team that had gone 1-8 in 2015 and guided it to records of 2-8, 6-4 and its current mark of 8-1. This was the Hornets’ fifth shutout as they have outscored opponents, 29520, in their eight victories.

Nottingham, whose last playoff win came over Middletown North in 2013, has lost its last four playoff games to Shore Conference entries Holmdel, Freehold Boro, Jackson and Colts Neck.

“I’m so proud of the kids with what they accomplished this year,” Adams said. “We have a consolation game next week. Hopefully, we will go out and send our seniors out on the right note.”

Nottingham (6-3) 0 0 0 0 - 0

Holmdel (8-1) 14 14 7 7 - 42

H- Gallo 88 run (Unanski kick)

H- Gallo o8 run (Unanski kick)

H- DeCicco 26 run (Unanski kick)

H- DeCicco 25 run (Unanski kick)

H- DeCicco 1 run (Unanski kick)

H- DeCicco 2 run (Unanski kick)

Follow Rich Fisher on Twitter @Fish4scores