Toms River South Holds Off Lakewood in 92nd Thanksgiving Meeting

By Joe Adelizzi

The annual Thanksgiving meeting between Toms River High School South and Lakewood continues to be the gift that keeps on giving.

In Thursday’s 92nd renewal of the Shore’s longest continuous Thanksgiving football matchup, the Indians put together a bold goal-line stand in the game’s final seconds to withstand a comeback attempt by the Piners for a 28-20 victory that gave coach Ron Signorino Jr. his third victory in this, his first season.

“This was a game we had to win,” said Signorino. “It makes our season, especially for the seniors who went through some tough times.”

To win it the Indians used a variety of tactics, including a fake field goal that led to the team’s first touchdown.

Backup quarterback Matt Larsen took a pitch from holder Anthony Mannato as kicker Mike Tomkowich faked an attempt at a 45-yard field goal. Larsen spotted Dallas Mederios wide open and hit him on a 24-yard completion. The drive ended when Zach Liguori pounded into the end zone from a yard out.

“We’ve been practicing that play for nine weeks,” said Larson whose playing time has been limited because the Indians changed their offense this season. “As soon as I got the pitch, I saw the play was open. I just threw it.”

Both Larsen and Mannato, fellow seniors, said that they remembered the pain of last year’s loss at home when the Piners carried coach Warren Wolf off the field in his last game.

“It was sweet returning the favor,’’ said Larson.

“My dad and my nephew all agreed that it was the right call,” Signorino Jr. said. His father, Ron Sr., was the coach at South for two decades and his nephew, Matt Martin, was a quarterback at South and now is on the staff.

All that family stuff is part of the lore of this traditional game that continues to draw Indian fans like Dan Batchelor of Toms River who was decked out in maroon and white.

“There’s nothing like football on Thanksgiving. I went to Palmyra High School and the games against Burlington City brought out everyone.
 
”It’s a family thing. People come home and this game starts the holiday,’’ said Batchelor.

Those who came saw a masterful performance by Tyrice Beverette, the Lakewood quarterback. He brought Lakewood back when he connected on the first of his three touchdown passes, a  46-yard toss to Michael Randolph and then threw for a two-point conversion for an 8-7 lead.

But the Indians put together a late drive just before the half when Trevor Signorino hit Mike Purporo from five yards out with eight seconds left.

In the third period luck went South’s way when Liguori scooped up a fumble and went 10 yards for a score. It was perhaps justice because the Indians would lose three fumbles on the day, including one when they were five yards from a score.

The game seemed over when Trevor Signorino hit Darius Hart on a 55-yard touchdown for a 28-8 lead. But Beverette wouldn’t go away.  He hit Bashir Wilson for touchdowns of 52 and 32 yards.

Still, all seemed lost when Lakewood faced a fourth-and-12 from its own 2-yard line. Beverette wound up and threw a 60-yard strike to Joe Keraitis, who ran the ball to the 4-yard  line.

South stopped a run and three passes to end the game.

“”My heart was in my mouth when he threw that ball,’’ Signorino Jr. said. “”But our defense did a great job.

"We did a great job all day keeping Beverette from running wild, but you can see why the big schools are looking at him,” Signorino said.

The outcome was sure to put a smile on the face of Indian fans such as Quinn DesLondie, who was there with the South band.

“I went to school here and I was in the band. I marched here in pouring rain. But there is nothing like getting up on Thanksgiving morning and getting to this game,’’ she said.

Signorino agreed.

“There’s so much tradition here, It still matters and that’s part of history. A win here starts you for next year,” Signorino said.