BY ELLA BROCKWAY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ’17
This is the fifth edition of the Buc Sports Weekly, your recap of this week in RBR sports.
Football (4-6, 3-3)
The Bucs closed out the 2016 season with a tough 27-0 loss to rival Long Branch on Thanksgiving morning. RBR and Long Branch have met on the gridiron every Thanksgiving morning for 94 years (since 1922!) in the Shore Conference’s second longest Turkey Day rivalry, and the Green Wave leads the all-time series with a record of 61-30-3. Bucs junior quarterback Stephen Navitsky threw for 24 yards on four completions, and senior running backs Tyrese Morris (30) and Chris Brannagan (25) combined for 55 rushing yards in their final games for the Bucs. The Bucs end the season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-3 finish in the A Central division. After graduating more than half of their starts from the 2015 season and moving into a tough division, many knew that 2016 would be a rebuilding year for the Bucs. To finish just shy of the .500 mark after battling injuries and facing a competitive schedule that matched the Bucs against three 2015 state finalists is an accomplishment in itself, and should inspire the underclassmen as they settle into the A Central for the 2017 season.
A Central rank: 4th
From the field: “All year, starting back in early June, we attacked each practice, lift and game with a great mentality. Unfortunately, we were hit with injuries and adversity throughout the season, but each time we would have guys step up and perform, which was great to see! Through the struggles and successes, we were able to create a great family dynamic, and we will definitely relive the memories we shared with each other for the rest of our lives!” – senior center and long snapper Kevin Laughlin
Ice Hockey (0-1, 0-1)
The Bucs opened the season with a matchup against crosstown rival Red Bank Catholic on Saturday afternoon, and the Caseys used an early first period lead to defeat the Bucs by a score of 6-2. The Bucs attempted to stage a comeback in the second period, as senior captain Frank Taddeo netted two goals to put RBR on the board, but RBC took the momentum back in the third period with two more goals to seal the win. Bucs freshman goalie Mitchell Quinn had 36 saves in the loss. Check out Shore Sports Zone’s video highlights from the game here:
The Bucs will look to bounce back this week, as they face Bernards on Wednesday. For a more detailed look at what to expect and watch for from the Bucs on the ice this season, give Chris Rotolo’s preview for the Asbury Park Press a read.
Shore – B rank: 1st
From the ice: “[Saturday vs. RBC] was a tough-fought game. We played very well, and I believe that we have a good season ahead of us. We were missing a few guys on the team, and we have a lot of time to improve our game, so it should be an interesting season.” – senior forward and defenseman Frank Taddeo, who led the Bucs last year with 14 goals
What’s next: vs. Bernards (11/30, 8 P.M.); vs. Montclair Kimberley (12/03, 8 P.M.)
The Buccaneer 