News Flash

STARLEDGER

SHORE POWER

The strength of the Shore Conference is reflected in The Star-Ledger Top 20, in which as many as six teams have been ranked at once. Five Shore teams currently reside in the Top 20.

"I don't think it's anything new," Jackson coach Scott Goodale said. "We've always had strong teams here. I just think the big difference is that there are more teams joining the top two or three. Now, a lot of teams match up well against each other instead of just a couple."

Jackson, ranked No. 2 since the start of the season, and No. 4 Southern Regional of Manahawkin showed just how strong the Shore's top teams are Saturday night when each manhandled a state power that is accustomed to dealing the blows instead of taking them -- No. 7 Paulsboro and No. 14
Phillipsburg. Jackson beat Paulsboro, 39-19, in Jackson and Southern built a huge lead before settling for a 40-21 triumph in its first foray into the infamous Pit in Phillipsburg.

Jackson spotted Paulsboro a 12-0 lead after three bouts, but a 2-1 victory at 103 pounds by Derrick Russell started a string of five straight victories and 10 of 11 to close the match. It was the fourth
straight season in which Jackson beat Paulsboro.

Southern, which captured its first NJSIAA Group 4 crown last winter, beat Phillipsburg twice last season, including in the state final.

"Results like those show how strong it is around here and it continues to get stronger every year," Goodale said. "The fact that we both did so well against flagship programs is a plus for the entire Shore."