Schools
Toms River North's Playoff Hopes Disappear
Manalapan scores 21 points in the fourth quarter to officially knock the Mariners out of the South Jersey Group IV race
Toms River North tried valiantly, but in the end it could pull off the victory the Mariners so badly needed.
Manalapan scored 21 fourth-quarter points to overcome Toms River North in Manalapan on Friday night. Manalapan's victory secured homefield advantage for the Braves, while ending any hope the Mariners (4-4) had of sneaking into the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV playoff picture.
Toms River North was one of five teams within striking distance of the final playoff seed going into Friday night's game. And for a while it looked like the Mariners, behind a three-touchdown performance (two passing, one rushing) from quarterback Scott Buxbaum, might pull off the upset.
Find out what's happening in Toms Riverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Manalapan running back John Sieczkowski, however, found another gear. He finished with 236 yards and all five of the Braves' touchdowns. It is the second straight year that Manalapan eliminated Toms River North from the playoffs.
Even if Toms River North had won, the Mariners would have needed losses from all four teams in front of it: Rancocas Valley, Washington Township, Cherokee and Egg Harbor. While Egg Harbor lost, Washington Township beat Shawnee on Friday night. That alone may have been enough to leave the Mariners on the outside looking in.
