Brick-Vs-Brick Football Game Brings A Touch Of Normalcy

BRICK, NJ — A cloud of baby powder rose from the stands as fans clad in white shirts shouted their full-throated support for their Brick Township classmates.

The Brick Dragons had just scored a touchdown, and the visitor stands at Brick Memorial High School were rocking.

Brick Memorial's student section, not to be outdone, cheered and yelled to urge the Mustangs to respond with a score of their own.

Just another fall Saturday in September. Except this one wasn't just any other Saturday. This was the first time Brick and Brick Memorial had been able to take the field against each other for a football game with a full complement of fans and fanfare for the annual crosstown rivalry game.

The two squared off in 2020, in November, but with limitations on attendance and virtually no student section because of the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, the students from both schools packed the stands, trading chants of "We can't hear you!" and jeering "You can't do that!" when penalty flags flew.

"It's so good to see this," one of the adult fans on the sideline said, as another cheer went up in response to a big play.

The Brick Memorial Marching Mustangs got to put on a show for the fans, and the joy in being able to show off their talents was evident, as they blasted out tunes with gusto.

There were some signs of the efforts the school district has made to build unity within the township and keep the rivalry a friendly, on-the-field competition. There was no taunting permitted, and when a student chant started to go in the wrong direction, one of the football coaches shut it down.

"We don't do that," he shouted, curbing the chant.

Brick Township won the game, 36-18, with Tyler Weisneck scoring a pair of touchdowns, including a 56-yard run on the second play of the third quarter to put Brick up 24-11.

It was Darian Newcomb's fumble recovery for a 10-yard touchdown that sealed the victory for the Dragons, however. Newcomb picked up the ball that was knocked loose by a hit on the Mustangs' quarterback and ran it in.

Brick (3-1) opened the scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass from quarterback AJ Grygiel to Tyson Lopez, with Weisneck adding a 2-point conversion run for an 8-0 lead. Grygiel threw a 16-yard TD to Justin Kurc in the second quarter, this time with Ryan Panuska running for the 2-point conversion to give Brick a 16-8 lead. In the fourth quarter, Weisneck tacked on a 2-yard touchdown that put Brick ahead 30-18.

Brick Memorial (1-3) got a 2-yard touchdown from Mike Angrosina and a 2-point conversion run from Connor Dietz to tie the game 8-8, and Nicco Maribo kicked a 21-yard field goal just before halftime to make it 16-11. Dietz then scored from 2 yards out in the third quarter and Maribo's point after closed the gap to 24-18 before the Dragons were able to take control for good.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email [email protected] Follow Brick Patch on Facebook.