As chants of “we still love you” rained down from MiddSouthNation while the Middletown South Varsity Football team exited the field after a loss to Manalapan on September 28th, you couldn’t help but smile. Friday nights at the Swamp have become much more than just a football team and its fans. Football games are more of a marriage of two groups, one student and one student-athlete. It is a school community in its truest sense.
This year’s football team has had its work cut out for it. After losing in the first round of the NJSIAA Group III playoffs last year and losing a solid 2012 class to graduation, redemption is the goal. South has won 9 state titles, with the last one coming in 2006. The Star Ledger has picked the Eagles as the Group III sectional favorites, but the team knows it won’t be an easy road.
“After getting knocked out early last year we realized we had to get stronger to hang with bigger teams,” Senior center Dylan McCabe said. “We’ve put in the work and we’re looking to make a run at the title.”
The season started off on the right foot. The Eagles flipped last year’s 0-2 start, winning their first 2 games of 2012. History was made with the second win over Howell, as coach Antonucci became the winningest coach in Middletown football history. The competition steepened, however, as they faced third-ranked division rival Manalapan in a much-anticipated showdown on September 28th.
The Braves came to South having defeated the Eagles the last 2 seasons. What ensued was an intense, back-and-forth grudge match that came down to the final minute. Senior workhorse Jake Ripnick led the attack, rushing for 242 yards. Junior Kyle Brey threw for a pair of touchdowns. A field goal with just over a 5 minutes to go put the eagles up 31-28, but the game was lost late as South fell 35-31.
“It might have been the best thing that happened to us,” said Senior kicker Connor Ryan of the loss. “Losing made us really come together as a team, but it also gave us the confidence that we can hang with the top teams in the Shore.”
The Eagles bounced back, winning their next 2 games against Manasquan and Freehold Township to bring their record to 4-1. Homefield advantage has really given the team a boost. Since their opening night away game at Brick Township, the Eagles have hosted 4 consecutive Friday night games at the Swamp. This has given the student body at South an opportunity to show their support.
You’ve heard the name before, MiddSouth Nation, but never before has it been at this level. At every single football game is a roaring, organized, uniformly dressed group of South students led by Seniors Kieran Campbell, Andrew Agin, and Eric Uhrig, along with Junior Matt Gray. The fans have shown strong support at all home games and even made the trip to Brick, dressed in all white to cheer on an opening night win. The next 4 games, all hosted by South, saw unprecedented support.
“As far as I know, this is the best we’ve ever been,” Campbell said of the Nation. “It’s the most passionate fan base I’ve ever seen at South.”
The home opener against Howell featured a “Blue Out” from the nation, while last Friday’s win over Freehold Township featured formal wear. But support hasn’t been limited to football. “We’ve even got big crowds at soccer games,” Campbell, a soccer player himself, noted. “That’s saying something.”
A big part of the secret to such consistent crowds has been the Nation’s organization. An official MiddSouth Nation Facebook group, created over the summer, is dedicated to organizing everything from T-shirts to chants. It serves as a forum for athletes and fans to raise awareness for each sport, organize a fan base, and communicate ideas. The group has over 200 members.
As for the football team’s opinion of the Nation, they are nothing but appreciative.
“We absolutely love it,” Ryan said. “They get us pumped up to play.”
At 4- 1, the Eagles are currently 3rd in Class A-North , behind Manalapan and Colts Neck, both 5-0. The team, ranked #8 in the Shore Conference according to All Shore Media, faces #1 Red Bank Catholic next Friday, October 26th, when the Caseys come to the Swamp. One school, a team and its nation, is sure to be in full force.