EWING, N.J. - It wasn't a case of turnovers being the difference in Saturday's Central Jersey Group 1 football final, as much as it was a case of failing to capitalize on those turnovers.
Asbury Park survived its mistakes en route to a 42-18 victory over Florence at the College of New Jersey.
The Blue Bishops (10-2) won their 12th straight playoff game and fourth sectional title in five years, and Florence (10-2) dropped to 5-7 in the finals and saw its 10-game winning streak snapped.
The Flashes received no points from any of their four takeaways, including three straight interceptions in the first half, whereas both Bishop interceptions resulted in points.
"And what did we lose by, 24 points?" asked Florence running back Jordan Stockton, who ran for 64 yards and a touchdown. "That could have changed the game.
"We missed some field goals. They took their chances and got their points on turnovers. We made some plays, but we couldn't punch it in. That changed the whole game."
Credit a Ra'Zahn Howard-led defense for that, as Florence (10-2) was sacked four times for 42 yards, rushed for just 102 yards, and had 181 yards of total offense. Asbury Park had 195 yards rushing and 115 passing.
"As good as they are offensively, defensively they're just very tough," Florence coach Joe Frappolli said. "Their defensive ends and their interior people, we just didn't match up real well."
After Florence's first possession stalled at the Bishops' 27-yard line, Asbury Park stunned the Flashes on the first play when Thomond Hammary caught a 63-yard bomb from Robert Barksdale to make it 6-0.
The Bishops' next three drives ended in interceptions by Treshawn Roberts, Quadir Franklin, and Stockton. The picks gave Florence possession at its own 33 and Asbury Park's 19 and 11. The results were a punt and two missed field goals.
"We had three opportunities early, and they were overwhelming us at the point of attack," Frappolli said. "We were trying to figure out what we could manage to do."
Asbury Park figured it was time to start running the ball and, after the second missed field goal, went 80 yards on the ground. Armond Conover's 3-yard run and twin Amir Conover's conversion made it 14-0.
Florence cut it to 14-6 early in the third quarter on Stockton's touchdown run, but Asbury Park responded with Tahjier Hammary's 14-yard TD catch. In the midst of that drive, Florence's D'Andre Davis dropped an interception that could have gone for a score.
