Football Game Preview: Manalapan Braves vs. Middletown North Lions

The Manalapan Braves will welcome the Middletown North Lions at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

Manalapan is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They breezed past Hamilton to the tune of 40-0. The result was nothing new for the Braves, who have now won three matchups by 28 points or more so far this season.

Meanwhile, Middletown North hadn't done well against Middletown South recently (they were 1-8 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Lions came out on top against the Eagles by a score of 28-19.

Manalapan better keep an eye on Matthew Belenko. He was instrumental in Middletown North's win, rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns while picking up 8.6 yards per carry. Belenko really tore up the turf during one magnificent 75-yard run. Kade Little got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Middletown North didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Little and Mj Parulis. Parulis is becoming a predictor of Middletown North's success: when he posts at least one interception the team is 2-1 (and 2-3 when he doesn't). Little got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

The victory made it two in a row for Manalapan and bumps their season record up to 7-3. The wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 7 points in those games. As for Middletown North, the victory got them back to even at 4-4.

Manalapan beat Middletown North 14-3 in their previous meeting back in September of 2022. Will the Braves repeat their success, or do the Lions have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.