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Basile's 4 TD's lift Brick Memorial
If you started Mike Basile on your fantasy team the first three weeks of the season, you probably wouldn’t have needed anyone else in order to register a win.
The junior hasn’t just hit the ground running for Brick Memorial, he’s in a full blown sprint -- and so far opposing teams have not been able to slow him down one bit.
"It's great, last year I mostly played defense as a sophomore and this year I am getting to do a lot on offense which I really like," said Basile. "But the defender inside of me definitely wanted to shut them out."
In a 34-7 victory over Jackson Memorial Friday night, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Basile was in beast mode, grabbing three touchdowns through the air, scoring on the ground and registering three sacks.
With Jackson threatening to come back early in the second half, Basile caused a fumble that spelled the beginning of the end for the Jags.
In Brick’s first three games Basile has scored ten times and has been Brick’s best player. He is one of 16 senior captains leading the charge for a team which, at 3-0 now, has some high expectations for 2012.
"We saw signs of it from him last year at free safety and he put a ton of work in this offseason in the weight room and going to camps and he's really doing a great job all over the field," said Brick head coach Walt Currie.
Jackson wasn’t unable to move the ball; it simply couldn’t finish drives early in the game. Penalties and miscues would derail the Jags' first few possessions and by the time they righted the ship, Brick had opened up a 27-0 lead.
Wearing the number 33 in honor of his late brother, Khani Glover got in the end zone from a yard out with 2:00 left in the third quarter, but that would be all that Jackson could muster.
Jackson will have to regroup now at 1-2, and its travels to Toms River North next week. Next up for Brick Memorial is 0-2 Toms River East at home and a great chance to start the season 4-0.
"We have been successful because we have been able to run the ball and play defense when we need to. Nick Costa up the middle and you see what it does for Ryan (Cieplinski) and Mike on the perimiter."
With its third straight win, the Mustangs are eyeing their first state title since 2008, but a lot of work still remains. One thing is clear though, this team is talented and having a heckuva lot of fun.
"Our boys love football and they love each other," said Walt Currie after he addressed his team postgame. "It's kind of cool."
Contact John Quirk at jquirk@cablevision.com. Follow him on Twitter: @QuirkMedia
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