The Middletown High School North football team took Neptune by storm, winning 42-6 in their first home game of the year and proving, after last year’s disappointment in the NJSIAA North, Group IV championship game against Sayreville, that their motivation was not diminished.

The Scarlet Fliers’ fate was nearly inevitable as early as halftime, with the Lions at a 42-0 advantage. With Middletown North’s defense remaining solid throughout the game, their offense led them to score six touchdowns with key players such as senior running back Connor Welsh, who ran for 115 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, junior quarterback

Sean Glenn, whose four passes in the first half were completed, Junior running back Connor Robbins, who earned the team two touchdowns, and senior Austin Dewise, who caught two passes for 55 yards.

Neptune only scored one touchdown, despite being at the same ranking as Middletown North in the A North division of the Shore Conference. The absence of their new head coach, Tarig Holman, may have influenced their defeat, after Holman was required to serve a one-game suspension.  He was thrown out from the final game last year as the head coach of Randolph High School.

Middletown North is set to play Red Bank Catholic High School this Friday, September 15. “We got off to a good start, which is what you want, and we did some good things on offense, defense and special teams,” Lions head coach Steve Bush told Asbury Park press. “It was a nice way to start the season.”