Sports

Football Roundup: Toms Riiver South Misses First Championship Since 1998

Through one half of football on Saturday afternoon at Detwiler Stadium, Toms River South was nearly flawless. The Indians had a three-score lead on visiting Shawnee in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV semifinals. They out-gained the Renegades 201-58 and ran nearly 30 more offensive plays. Just two quarters separated the Indians from their first trip to a sectional final since 1998. And then it slipped away, according to Shore Sports Network.

Quarterback Michael Welsh ran for a one-yard touchdown with 2:11 left and Shawnee stopped Toms River South on fourth down with 20 seconds left in the game to complete a stunning comeback as the Renegades rallied for a 28-24 win after trailing 24-0 at halftime. Welsh also fired touchdown passes of 8 and 17 yards in the second half, and Anthony DiOrio ran for 108 of his 146 yards while also scoring a touchdown to propel Shawnee (7-3) to its ninth sectional final in program history, according to Shore Sports Netwook.

Toms River South (7-3) stormed out to a 17-0 first quarter lead and pushed its advantage to 24-0 at the break. The Indians, however, gained just 54 yards and achieved only one first down in the second half, allowing Shawnee to crawl back and deliver a heartbreaking defeat in the closing minutes, according to Shore Sports Network.

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