The last time Manville had a perfect season, there were no playoffs.

The year was 1968, and the Mustangs went a perfect 9-0. They were denied a Central Jersey Group 1 championship, when Highland Park and Bound Brook, both 8-1, finished ahead of them, despite the fact Manville beat the Crusaders during the season.

Gee, a playoff controversy? That never happens.

But we digress.

Manville looks to take the first step toward finishing the job – 57 years later – when the fourth-seeded Mustangs (9-0) host fifth-seed Asbury Park (5-3) in the opening round of the NJSIAA’s Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs Friday night at Ned Panfile Stadium.

They’ll be looking for their first-ever playoff win in just their sixth postseason appearance since the advent of the playoff era in 1974.

You can hear the game live on Central Jersey Sports Radio – our “Bellamy & Son Paving Big Central Game of the Week” – with kickoff slated for 7 pm from Ned Panfile Stadium, and pregame at 6:50 with Mike Pavlichko and Alec Crouthamel. Click here to listen.

Head coach Dave Markowitch will use two different quarterbacks, a difficult enough offense to defend already, using the Delaware Wing-T. Senior’s Josh D’Ambrosio and Sammy Echeverri will alternate, often in the game at the same time, making it more tricky.

D’Ambrosio has thrown for just 512 yards and seven scores, but he’s rushed for over 1,000 with 15 TDs, tied with second-leading rusher Isaiah Bennett (762 yards), who also has 15 touchdowns.

Defensively, Manville has pitched three shutouts this season, and excelled on both sides of the ball, outscoring opponents 375-58 this season.

On the other side, Asbury Park has seven sectional titles to its credit, but none since 2016, when they beat Keyport to win Central Jersey Group 1. A’meire Massie is their big offensive star, running for 1,622 yards on just 115 carries this season for an average of just over 14 yards per trip. He’s scored 22 touchdowns on the year.

Wins this year have come over regular shore opponents like Point Pleasant Beach, Keansburg and Keyport, as well as New Egypt and Freehold Borough. Keyport is a common opponent, with the Blue Bishops dropping them 39-8 on October 4th, while Manville won there on Week Zero, 19-6.

Since then, the Mustangs haven’t scored less than 31 points in a game, and logged three shutouts in a row to start September, over Hopatcong, Belvidere and Middlesex.

Click below to hear Manville head coach Dave Markowitch talk with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko about the game: