10-18-10 Issue

October 18, 2010 Volume-II - Issue-19 Ma m a ' s F amily: L a c e y F e ature Page 3 Soccer: Shore Wins Shootout Page 6 Football Mid-Season Report Page 8-9 Training for Success Page 11 Football Alumni Update Page 13 Melvin's Review Page 14 Stumpy’s Corner Page 15

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All Shore Media

October 18, 2010 I Volume-II I Issue-19

is a multimedia company that provides exciting and innovative coverage to high school athletics in the Shore Conference in order to highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and fans who support Shore Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore Media is your main source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference.

All Shore Media Web Site Features Log on to www.allshoremedia.com regularly to get video highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. Catch up on the action you might have missed and watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. If you can’t make it to the game, we’ll bring the game to you, and if you were at the game and want to relive the excitement, www.allshoremedia.com is all you need to get inside the action .

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 3

MAMA’S FAMILy

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor The siren call has gone out for more than 10 years, spreading through word of mouth, or phone calls and text messages, or simply through the pleasant smells wafting out the window.

Mama U is making her famous meatloaf and has plenty for everyone.

Mama U has a pile of delicious pasta on the table ready to be scarfed down.

Mama U has a hot breakfast to get everyone ready for game day, so come on over, forget your problems for a couple hours, chow down and be happy.

"She's almost like a den mother, like Cub Scouts'' said Lacey head football coach Lou Vircillo. "She's really done a lot for our program, and she is a very strong woman.''

The clouds started to rumble in the distance when Ruth's sister, Ellie MacGillivray, was diagnosed with lung cancer. By the time she only had undergone one chemotherapy treatment, she was into hospice care and then dead at 51 years old in January.

By this summer, the storm had set up shop above Mama U's home like an alien mothership, hurling lightning bolts to see how much the Uveges family could bear.

"You start to wonder, how long can the black cloud stay on them?'' said Darla Dabal, the mother of senior running back Jake Dabal.

John, who does video work for Monmouth University's football team, was hit by a drunk driver in an automobile accident, totaling his car but luckily escaping without any catastrophic physical harm. Meanwhile, Ruth, who had a been a long-time employee for a custom home builder, was laid off from her job, another victim of the cratering real estate market. Losing that job also meant the family had lost its health benefits.

Then at the end of July, Ruth developed a lump on her neck that she and her friends figured was simply an infection. She went to have it checked out and was hit by another one of those lightning bolts. Incurable follicular B-cell Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. A death sentence with a short timeline.

Senior FB/LB Matt Uveges

Ruth Uveges, the mother of Lacey senior fullback/linebacker Matt Uveges, and her husband, Andy, have been an integral part of the Lions' football family for well over a decade, including the 10 years that a majority of this year's senior class have been playing football together.

The Uvegeses have three older children ages 30, 29, and 24, plus a full house that includes Matt, his older brothers John, 19, and Nick, 24, and Lacey senior linebacker/fullback Jeff Jernack, who also lives with them.

"It was a really bad prognosis,'' she said.

Of course, Ruth's first instinct wasn't even for her own well-being.

"I just thought that this is so stressful for my son because this is his senior year and they are trying to have a big season,'' she said.

But the family definitely doesn't end there for the woman affectionately known as "Mama U'' by the Lacey football community.

The Uveges household had always been a boisterous, happy home, a clubhouse of sorts for Lacey's football team, but lately it has been a center of strife.

A house enveloped in gloom suddenly had a reason to come alive again.

"It was a roller coaster,'' Matt Uveges said. "It was great hearing the 80 percent chance (scenario). That was a huge weight off all our shoulders.''

"Matthew was like, 'Not bad enough for the devil, not quite good enough for Jesus!''' Ruth said before laughing.

"They all were ecstatic.''

That still didn't mean the end of the storm, however.

While Ruth was undergoing all of this, Andy was laid off from his job as well. Now both of them are without fulltime work and health benefits, and have been priced out of affordable health care. There are some large medical bills looming when Ruth begins her treatment later this month.

"It's amazing how quickly you can go from everything being fine,'' Ruth said. "You find out you're one sickness away from disaster.''

Ruth kept everything within the family, but soon the word filtered out. Once the other Lacey parents recovered from the initial shock of yet another overwhelming situation hitting the Uveges family, they decided it was time for action, time to reverse the usual order of things.

This time they were putting out the call.

"She was always the first one there for us,'' Jeanine Cicardo said.

"Now we wanted to be the first ones there for her.''

"We would get a call that Mama U was making her meatloaf and my son would be over there before I could even hang up the phone,'' said Jeanine Cicardo, the mother of senior quarterback Craig Cicardo and the wife of Lacey's offensive coordinator, also named Craig.

"She has always done so much for all the kids.''

"We're over there all the time,'' Craig Cicardo Jr. said.

"We've all been playing together since we were about seven years old, so we're more like brothers than teammates. Mama U has always been there for us.''

"It's not curable, but they said there is an 80 percent chance they can put it into remission,'' Ruth said.

"We had to do something,'' Darla Dabal said. "We decided to do whatever we had to do to help.''

In search of a second opinion, she wanted to get an appointment at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, but without benefits, that was a costly undertaking. One her friends, the mother of former Lacey track star Andrew Burt, was able to get her into Robert Wood Johnson. The diagnosis there was much more optimistic, offering some hope to what seemed like a hopeless situation.

Immediately, the Dabals sent out a mass e-mail to friends and family with a link to allow them to make donations through PayPal to Ruth via her e-mail ( RU0603@comcast.net ), and then the Lacey mothers came up with an idea to mix fun with a worthy cause for their friend.

A favorite aerobic activity of the Lacey moms has been

See

Mama’s

Page 7

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 4

Charles In Charge: Neptune Upends First-Place Monmouth Behind Davis

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor As he was being carried off the field by his teammates without being able to put pressure on his left leg late in the first half against Monmouth Regional in Week Six, Neptune senior running back Charles Davis admitted to thinking he was done for the day and maybe worse.

"I didn't think I was coming back,'' Davis said. "But then a miracle happened.''

step up because he's out,' but I came back and showed what I can do.''

"At halftime, I thought he would be done,'' said Monmouth coach Sal Spampanato. "The kid showed some heart, came back and was able to break it.''

Even after Davis ripped off a 59-yard touchdown run on just his second rushing attempt of the second half for a 21-13 lead in the third quarter, Monmouth made Neptune sweat it out. The Falcons blocked a punt to put themselves in business at Neptune's 18-yard line, and then senior quarterback A.J. Visconti scored on a 1-yard keeper to slice the lead to 21-19 with 8:35 left in the game, but his two-point conversion pass was incomplete to keep Neptune in front for good.

"I love Charles like a brother, and I knew that unless they were taking him off in an ambulance, he was going to come back and play,'' said Neptune senior defensive end Clinton Bell.

While it may have been a little short of divine intervention, the Rutgers recruit did return from a left knee injury early in the second half, and his 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter proved to be the difference in a 21-19 win over the Falcons, who were ranked No. 8 in the All Shore Media Top 10. The win by the Scarlet Fliers dragged Monmouth out of sole possession of first place in Class B North, and created a three-way tie for first in the loss column between the Falcons, Freehold and Red Bank Catholic.

Senior RB Charles Davis

Davis finished with 108 yards rushing on 20 carries, including 70 yards on nine carries in the second half, after being helped off the field in the second quarter when a pair of tacklers had him around the ankles and then one belted him up high to wrench him backwards. He also had an 81-yard kickoff return that set up a second-quarter touchdown.

"We've got great trainers on our sideline,'' Davis said.

"They stretched it out really well, put ice on it, and I was able to play. It was a bone in my knee connected to a few muscles, and the muscles pulled a little. When I was on the ground (in the first half), I heard a (Monmouth) coach say 'We've got to

"This is really big because we had two heartbreakers and now this is going to boost our momentum,'' said senior offensive lineman Josh Johnson, who did his best Charles Davis impression earlier in the game.

Neptune took a 7-0 lead on its opening drive when Davis fumbled and the ball was scooped up by the 260-pound Johnson, the starting right guard, who was then living the lineman's dream when he smashed over two tacklers and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown.

"It slipped out of (Davis's) hand, I recovered it, ran a couple defenders over and scored,'' Johnson said. "I was real surprised nobody caught me, but I guess everybody blocked and I scored.''

The Falcons finally answered when Visconti hit senior Davonte Thomas streaking down the sideline for a 36-yard

touchdown strike that tied the game at seven with 4:14 left in the second quarter. However, Neptune answered right back when Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to Monmouth's 9-yard line.

Calderon then ran it in on the first play and senior Matt Gannon kicked the second of his three important extra points for a 14-7 advantage with 3:28 left in the half.

Monmouth was able to chip away before Senior OL Josh Johnson halftime as Ford nailed a 23-yard field goal with 54 seconds left, and shortly after, Davis went down after being tackled awkwardly.

"When Charles went down, it was like the momentum went straight down,'' Johnson said. "When Charles came back, it went right back up.''

Just like with his kickoff return earlier in the game, Davis again completely reversed the momentum with one play when he bolted for a 59-yard touchdown run on Neptune's first play from scrimmage after Ford's second field goal to help provide a 21-13 lead with 6:39 left in the third quarter.

"That play was about a lot of heart and emotion,'' Davis said. "I wanted to show everybody I was good and I was back, so I came out and ran hard.''

Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump

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Photos by:

Cliff Lavelle

www.clea red ge.zenfolio.com

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 5

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 6

Boys Soccer: Shore Wins Shootout

By Matt Manley – Staff Writer Not only did Marlboro's matchup against East Brunswick look like the most lopsided matchup on paper at the fourth annual Greater Middlesex Conference-Shore Shootout on Oct. 16, but the Mustangs needed a win to have any chance of qualifying for the NJSIAA Group IV Tournament. As it turns out, the Mustangs still have a little bit of magic left in them.

Sophomore Dave Nigro scored the first two goals of his varsity career in the second half to erase a one-goal deficit and the Mustangs handed the Bears (12-1) their first loss of the season by winning 3-2 in the third game of the day at Monroe High School. The Shore Conference finished the day 3-1-1 against the GMC in the five-game showcase.

spending some time at sweeper, Weisberger was back in the middle against East Brunswick, and while he is still visibly affected by the injury, he was active in the Marlboro victory. Weisberger tied for the team lead in points as a junior last season and also led the Mustangs in game-winning goals.

The defending Shore Conference Tournament champions did not qualify for this year's SCT, but it appears they will have a chance to compete for a Central Jersey Group IV title as a dangerous doubledigit seed.

Jackson Memorial 1, South Brunswick 0

On the gametying sequence, senior defender Terrance Maliff played the ball high in the air toward the 18-yard box. The ball bounced over the head of a Monroe defender and sophomore forward Conor Nichols headed it toward the right side of the 18-yard box. Walsh ran onto it, dribbled once through a defender and buried a shot to the far left corner of the net

The Jaguars were the other Shore Conference team fighting for their postseason life on Oct. 16, and they came away with a win over the Vikings to clinch a spot With the win, Marlboro will more than likely land a in the Shore Conference Tournament for the first spot in the NJSIAA Group IV Tournament, which is Wall's James Walsh time in three years. Jason Smith headed in a now seeded based on the corner kick by Kyle Shankel in the power-point formula similar 64th minute and the Jaguars defense shut to the one used to seed the down the Vikings in front of goalkeeper football playoffs, but only with 37 seconds remaining.

Mike Folk, who earned his sixth shutout through a team's first 12 of the season. games. Marlboro, South Each team had a quality strike at the goal, with Brunswick and North Monroe's Luigi Buffolino missing a one-on-one with Although it did not dominate on the Brunswick are all 4-8-0 Wall keeper Zach Zoller from the right side of the net scoreboard, Jackson Memorial dominated through 12 games and during the second overtime period. Maliff had a clean the game with a 14-6 edge in shots.

Marlboro would now land look in the first overtime period from the top of the Senior forward Connor Saker chipped a ahead of them because its 18, but Monroe keeper Taylor Klaskin was there to shot off the left post early in the second win over previously 12-0, save it. half and senior midfielder Ryan Totin hit Group IV East Brunswick the crossbar in the first half, both with Zoller showed why he has been regarded by many will net them 20 power the score still tied at zero. Saker also Shore coaches as one of the best goalkeepers in the points. chipped a ball just wide of the far left conference by allowing only one goal on a penalty post with the keeper drawn out, a shot North Brunswick (4-9) or kick despite playing behind only nine field players. that would have made the score 2-0 had it South Brunswick (4-10) Zoller's best save came in the final two minutes of the gone in. could only jump Marlboro if first half, when he made a diving save on a shot from either could reach a eight yards out by Carlos Bernal. Bernal took a pass The Jaguars stood at 7-7-1 heading Marlboro sophomore Amando Moreno .500 winning from Buffolino and poked a low shot toward the right into the SCT cutoff on Oct. 18. Jackson percentage, which side of the net, but Zoller dove to dig it out and keep was just 1-5 in its previous six games would require five- and sixthe game scoreless at the half. heading into the win over South game winning streaks during this week, respectively.

Brunswick, but the Jaguars are close to being back at Freehold Township 3, north Brunswick 0 East Brunswick took a 2-1 lead into the second half, full strength after some injuries and other factors slowed them down.

Matt Jeffery scored a goal and assisted on another, but the Mustangs pulled even on Nigro's first goal, all in the first eight minutes, and the Patriots rolled to which came off a throw-in by junior midfielder Jake Sophomore Tom DeNoville and junior Brandon their 10th win over the season. The Patriots played Katz, who missed two weeks with a knee injury earlier Russo, both defenders, missed time due to injury, without senior forward and leading scorer Ryan in the year. Katz's throw-in went to Nigro, who while junior Joe Ogren - who is a standout baseball Morris, who is battling an ailing groin, but Jeffery knocked it off a defender, recovered it, and buried a player - missed a Saturday game against Toms River picked up the slack and with his goal and assist, he is shot inside the near post on the left side in the 47th North because of a showcase in Florida, according to now tied for the team lead in total points with Morris, minute.

Bado. Totin also missed two games after drawing a red a West Virginia University recruit. card against Toms River North.

Fewer than eight minutes later, Nigro struck again, Jeffery - who will play at Monmouth University this time off a pass from fellow sophomore forward Meanwhile, freshman forward Garrett Muzikowski is next year - assisted Ross Caruso's goal in the second Amando Moreno. Moreno dribbled through the middle still battling a hip flexor injury, which caused him to minute to give the Patriots an early 1-0 lead and made of the Bears' defense and slid a pass through to Nigro miss the South Brunswick game as well. Musikowski it 2-0 when he buried a direct kick from 45 yards out. on the left side. Nigro ran onto the ball and struck a has scored four goals to go with an assist during his low left-footed shot from 12 yards out inside the near rookie campaign. Smith has pushed up from outside Joe Ramm post for the winning goal at 54:24. back to forward in his absence and has scored two scored his first goals while filling in. goal of the Moreno also assisted on Marlboro's first goal, season off a scored by junior forward Chris Battaglia to tie the Wall 1, Monroe 1 Kingley game in the 30th minute. East Brunswick's Joe Innocent assist Carrieri-Russo scored to give the Bears the lead in the James Walsh scored with 37 seconds left in in the 29th 35th minute. regulation and the Crimson Knights fought back to tie minute to cap the host Falcons despite playing a man down for Junior Wojciech Kochan played a strong game in nearly 38 minutes of the second half. Senior midfielder the scoring. goal, saving eight shots - many of which came down Phil Horan John Connolly was disqualified from the game for an the stretch with his team clinging to a one-goal lead saved five intentional hand ball in the box, a foul that requires to help preserve the win. Marlboro has experimented shots in goal him to leave the game without a substitute, but does with different defensive combinations in front of to earn his not require him to serve the two-game suspension that Kochan for various reasons, but Saturday's formation Shore comes with a typical red card. with senior Greg Kaye sweeping was able to limit a Conferencedangerous East Brunswick attack in the second half.

Monroe sophomore Sean Doyle buried the ensuing leading ninth penalty kick 2:10 into the second half and Monroe had shutout.

Injuries have been a problem for Marlboro this a man advantage with which to work to protect the season, most notably Katz and senior midfielder Dan one-goal lead. Wall, however, created a fair amount of Freehold Township's Matt Jeffery Weisberger, who has battled a foot injury that has chances and pushed up while playing with only three forced coach Dave Santos to move him around in the defenders for the final minutes of the second half. formation to minimize stress on the injury. After Continued on next page

FOR ADVERTISIng InFORMATIOn Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 smeyer@allshoremedia.com

A l l S hore Media Sports Review www.allshoremedia.com Old Bridge 3, Manalapan 2 The Braves could not make it an unbeaten day for the Shore Conference as they fell to the Knights.

Senior midfielder Bryan Rice scored the equalizer in the 66th minute and assisted the first goal of the game

by Nick Fleres, but Old Bridge found its rhythm late in the first half and never gave it up.

Manalapan dominated the first 30 minutes of play and took a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute when Rice dribbled the ball to the end-line of the left side and slid the ball to Fleres. Although he was caught at a difficult angle on the left side of the net, Fleres drilled a shot to the far corner of the net from eight yards out to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. During that 30-minute stretch of dominance, however, Manalapan hit the crossbar, the right post and missed a breakaway against Old Bridge keeper Bryan Vientos.

The missed opportunities came back to bite the Braves late in the first half when Old Bridge scored two goals a little more than six minutes apart to take a 2-1 lead into halftime. Sophomore Logan Stevenson scored in the 32nd minute from the right side off a pretty feed from Aron Hart, who has made a name for himself with his quick strikes. Hart scored 11 seconds into a match earlier in the week, according to the Home News Tribune, and scored seven seconds into the Knights' win over previously unbeaten St. JosephMetuchen two days earlier.

Dave Krzewinksi scored off another Hart pass in the 38th minute to give the Knights the lead. Rice tied the game in the 66th minute when he redirected a free kick

by Edwin Morales into the net. The score did not remain tied for long, however, as Old Bridge scored 42 seconds later with Hart sending the ball to the left corner while senior forward Shoni Downes ran it down and walked it in.

Photos & Video Highlights by:

Matt Manley

Mama’s

Continued from page 3 Zumba, which fuses Latin dance music with exercise.

Working with Vircillo and the Lacey athletic department, they secured use of the Lions' football field on Oct. 9, one night after the Lions dispatched of Barnegat 28-7 to all but lock up the Class B South title.

From 2-5 p.m. on that Saturday, they held a mass Zumba class and other activities, raising a good sum to go towards Ruth’s treatment. She will begin an 18-week, six-cycle round of chemotherapy on Oct. 19.

Before that day, Ruth will try to soak up as much as she can from her son's senior season, as the Lions are off to a 6-0 start and ranked No. 2 in the All Shore Media Top 10. There may not be a cure for her illness, but three hours under the lights on a Friday night is pretty damn close.

"That's almost like a refuge,'' she said. "There's no sickness, just kids and the camaraderie. There's nothing wrong there. I'm just cheering on the game and everything's OK. For that two or three hours, you get that time where there's nothing wrong. It's just football and fun.''

"It definitely takes her mind off it a lot,'' Matt said.

"She loves going to games and watching us play. We just try to put on a show for her and make her happy.''

For Ruth, perhaps her biggest fear right now isn't her illness. It's figuring out a way to repay the kindness that has been shown to her from the Lacey football community.

"I could never thank them for the support,'' Ruth said, her voice clogging with tears. "They have all really pulled together for me. I don't know what I'm going to

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 7 say on Saturday. These people are all just wonderful, and I don't know how to thank them.''

"It makes me really happy that everybody cares that much to put in this much time and effort to help her out and make things easier for us,'' Matt said.

She will go in guns blazing with her two fiercest weapons - laughter and the support of her family and friends.

"I think with the support of my family, my husband, my sons and my friends, I think I can get through anything,'' she said.

"It's a blessing in a way. Everybody is going to go sometime, so if it's coming sooner than I anticipated, if want to build a bridge somewhere, I can. I don't hesitate to tell somebody I love them. I'm not going to leave without saying it.''

The Lacey football community didn't want its affection for Mama U to be unsaid, either, and the belief is that their generosity will start to chase that storm cloud away.

"We're hoping this string of bad luck is over,'' Darla Dabal said.

If Ruth wants to repay everyone for their kindness, she merely has to be herself. Just make sure that the next time cell phones start rattling and text messages start vibrating among the Lions' supporters with news about the Uveges family, the message is a familiar one.

Mama U has the food all ready. Come on over and forget about your problems for awhile.

Photos Courtesy of:

Donna Breden

All Shore Media Sports Review www.allshoremedia.com

Volume-2 Issue-19 10/18/10 Page 8

S HORE C ONFERENCE F OOTBALL M ID - S EASON R EPORT

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

W

i t h We e k S i x i n t h e b o o k s a n d several teams closing in on division titles an d g e t t i n g c l o s e t o l o c k i n g d o w n p l a y o ff berths, w e a r e a t t h e h a l f w a y p o i n t o n t h e l o n g journey t o t h a t f i r s t w e e k e n d i n D e c e m b e r w h e n New Je r s e y w i l l c r o w n i t s N J S I A A s e c t i o n a l football c h a m p i o n s .

It’s t i m e t o t a k e a l o o k a t e v e r y t h i n g t h a t h a s happene d a n d t a k e a f e w g u e s s e s a s t o w h a t m a y transpir e i n t h e n e x t s i x w e e k s b e f o r e w e w r a p up the 2 0 1 0 S h o r e C o n f e r e n c e f o o t b a l l s e a s o n .

Let ’s get r ight t o it Divisional Races Class A North A hu g e g a m e i n We e k Seven b e t w e e n M a n a l a p a n and How e l l w i l l d e c i d e this div i s i o n o n e w a y or anot h e r. I f Manala p a n w i n s , the Bra v e s w o u l d only ha v e t o b e a t a one-w i n Marlbo r o t e a m on Than k s g i v i n g to wrap u p t h e i r f i r s t outrigh t d i v i s i o n Matawan’s Jared Allison title sin c e 1 9 9 6 a n d their fir s t o f a n y kind sin c e s h a r i n g C l a s s A N o r t h in 1999 . I f H o w e l l w i n s , t h a t almost c e r t a i n l y m e a n s t h e r e w i l l be a thr e e - w a y t i e f o r t h e t i t l e between M a n a l a p a n , H o w e l l and Mid d l e t o w n S o u t h .

Class A Central No. 1 M a t a w a n h a s t h i s o n e p r e t t y m u c h a l l locked u p , b u t i t ’s n o t o ff i c i a l y e t . T h e H u s k i e s are hea v i l y f a v o r e d a g a i n s t H o l m d e l i n We e k Six and t h e n w i l l b e t h e h e a v y f a v o r i t e a g a i n s t St. John Vi a n n e y o n T h a n k s g i v i n g , s o y o u c a n pretty m u c h m a r k t h e m d o w n f o r a s e c o n d straight d i v i s i o n t i t l e a f t e r t a k i n g t h e L i b e r t y Divisio n c r o w n l a s t s e a s o n .

If Brick Memorial wins, the Mustangs clinch the title outright by finishing unbeaten in Class A South for the season. If Toms River North wins, it would still have to beat Toms River East on Thanksgiving to grab the title all for itself. A loss there, and Brick Memorial would tie the Mariners for the championship.

Class B North Freehold looks like a sure bet to at least grab a piece of the title in the Shore Conference’s most competitive division. The Colonials just have to beat a one-win Colts Neck team to clinch no worse than a tie for the title. A big Week Seven game between Monmouth and Red Bank Catholic will determine whether one of those teams will share the title with Freehold. A win by RBC, and it would only have to beat an Ocean team that is in last place in the division to tie Freehold. A win by Monmouth, and the Falcons would still have to beat Long Branch and Ocean to tie Freehold. Still a lot of intrigue left in this division.

Class B Central Shore Regional has pretty much put this one away, as the Blue Devils have already beaten primary challengers Keyport and Asbury Park.

Shore just has to beat winless Mater Dei and then Point Beach on Thanksgiving to make it official.

It will be Shore’s first division title since sharing the Class C North title with Keyport in 1998 and its first outright title since 1996.

Class B South Lacey has all but officially wrapped this one up, only having to beat winless Central to win the crown outright. No surprise here, as the Lions were the heavy favorite to win this division in the preseason.

Cla ss C Central

This one is still wide open, as division leader Manasquan has an important game against Class A South Jackson Liberty in Week Seven, and if it can get by the A big We e k S e v e n Lions, it would have to beat showdo w n b e t w e e n Br i c k winless Lakewood and then Memori a l a n d To m s R i v e r rival Wall on Thanksgiving North w i l l e i t h e r d e c i d e to win the title outright. If Manasquan's Tariq Turner the divi s i o n t i t l e i n f a v o r Wall can beat Monsignor of the M u s t a n g s o r c l i n c h a t l e a s t a t i e Donovan and then for the c h a m p i o n s h i p f o r To m s R i v e r N o r t h . knock off

M anasquan in the rivalry game, it can grab a piece of the title as well. Jackson Liberty, which has never won a division title, can clinch no worse than a tie for the title if it beats Manasquan in Week Seven.

Biggest Surpprise ( Team) I can’t say there is some meteoric rise of any certain team that was under the RBR’s Mike Reardon ra dar in the preseason, but th ere are some improved squads who have turned some heads.

Monmouth has hung around longer in the Class B North race than many thought, and re cently pushed Neptune to the end in a 21-19 lo ss. The Falcons have shown they can hold their own against the more established programs.

Red Bank Regional is 2-3 through the first six weeks, already tying its win total from last season. The Bucs also took Raritan to double overtime before losing 35-34 and appear to have a bright future with some very talented sophomores and juniors returning next year. Holmdel is 3-2 through five games after going 317 combined in the last two seasons, so the Hornets have also shown improvement, although they have lost two straight Pinelands' Matt McLain since their 3-0 start.

Jackson Liberty is 33 after winning a school-record five games last season, and the Lions have a chance to have their first winning season in their four-year history

A l l S hore Media Sports Review www.allshoremedia.com basketball player who was talked into coming out for football by his teammates. Senior Raul Pola has become Wall’s leading rusher in his only year with the Crimson Knights, as he is a transfer from Freehold Township.

and win a share of their first division title.

Keyp o r t a l s o i s r i g h t i n t h e h u n t i n Central J e r s e y G r o u p I d e s p i t e graduati n g n e a r l y i t s e n t i r e s t a r t i n g lineup, i n c l u d i n g a n outstand i n g g r o u p o f linemen .

Biggest Surpprise (Player)

Bigg es t Debate

Pinel a n d s s e n i o r r u n n i n g b a c k M a t t McLain w a s a 1 , 0 0 0 - y a r d r u s h e r a s a junior, b u t I d o n ’t t h i n k a n y o n e b u t d i e h a r d Wildcat s f a n s w o u l d h a v e t h o u g h t h e w o u l d be leadi n g t h e S h o r e C o n f e r e n c e w i t h j u s t over 1,3 0 0 y a r d s r u s h i n g t h r o u g h f i v e g a m e s .

His incr e d i b l e s t a r t h a s i n c l u d i n g t w o 3 0 0 - y a r d rushing g a m e s a n d t wo o t h e r g a m e s Lacey's Jarrod Molzon of 270 o r m o r e y a r d s r u s h i n g .

The H o w e l l t a n d e m o f j u n i o r q u a r t e r b a c k Ryan Da v i e s a n d s e n i o r w i d e o u t M i c h a e l C l a r k has bee n p l u g g e d i n t o t h e R e b e l s ’ h i g h - f l y i n g , no-hudd l e a t t a c k a n d p r o d u c e d e v e n m o r e prodigio u s n u m b e r s t h r o u g h s i x g a m e s t h a n a n y tandem i n H o w e l l h i s t o r y. D a v i e s a l r e a d y h a s a state-re c o r d e i g h t - t o u c h d o w n p a s s g a m e t o h i s credit, w h i l e C l a r k h a d a s c h o o l - r e c o r d f i v e touchdo w n c a t c h e s i n t h a t g a m e .

Manc h e s t e r j u n i o r q u a r t e r b a c k Ti m R o g e r s h a s also bee n o n e o f t h e m o s t p r o l i f i c s i g n a l - c a l l e r s in the S h o r e i n h i s f i rs t s e a s o n a s a s t a r t e r, w h i c h is more o f a s u r p r i s e t h a n D a v i e s g i v e n t h e f a c t that Ho w e l l ’s s y s t e m h a s p u m p e d o u t quarterb a c k s w i t h g r e a t n u m b e r s .

Rogers w a s a J V p l a y e r w h o w a s hurt mo s t o f l a s t s e a s o n , b u t h a s stepped i n a n d t h r o w n a n average o f t w o t o u c h d o w n passes p e r g a m e f o r t h e Hawks, w h o a r e 4 - 2 at t h e midway p o i n t . H i s Manche s t e r t e a m m a t e , junior r u n n i n g b a c k J o e Johnson , h a s a l s o m a d e t h e leap fro m a p l a y e r w h o showed f l a s h e s o f brillian c e l a s t y e a r t o o n e who can t a k e o v e r a game w i t h h i s r u n n i n g ability.

Wall a l s o h a s t w o newcom e r s w h o w e r e underra t e d o r u n k n o w n in the p r e s e a s o n RBC’s Andrew Casten but hav e contribu t e d greatly t o t h e C r i m s o n Knights ’ s u c c e s s . S e ni o r wideout K y l e J a n e c z e k h a s become t h e t e a m ’s l e a d i n g receiver i n h i s f i r s t a n d only ye a r o f f o o t b a l l , a s he is pr i m a r i l y a

The argument of whether Matawan or Lacey is the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team has raged on since the preseason.

Both teams are 6-0 at the halfway point, and both have been dazzling for a majority of the season.

Lacey still has two major tests remaining in Neptune and Middletown South, while Matawan looks to be just about a lock to finish 12-0 because it is so

much better than its Group II competition. If both teams finish undefeated and win state championships, the argument will run on for months and maybe years between supporters of each program.

Offensive Player of the Year Race It’s still so wide open right now that performances in the state playoffs and in the pressure-packed games down the stretch will be the biggest factors in deciding this award.

The Matawan tandem of senior quarterback Jared Allison and senior running back McArthur Underwood could be in the running for a Co-Player of the Year situation. Manalapan senior running back Josh Firkser has been consistently spectacular, and he already has a signature game with three touchdowns and more than 200 yards rushing against Middletown South.

Lacey senior quarterback Craig Cicardo has piled up touchdowns between rushing and passing. Howell quarterback Ryan Davies has the big numbers, but he will need to have some big performances down the stretch and in the playoffs against high-level competition to validate them.

To m s R i v e r N o r t h s e n i o r q u a r t e r b a c k Demetri Davis, like Cicardo, has piled up the touchdowns. If he can have a big performance against a stingy Brick Memorial defense and

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 9 then make an impact in the playoffs, his name will be right in the discussion. Red Bank Catholic senior running back Andrew Casten has been consistently good and if he continues to excel against a tough schedule and in the s t a t e ’s h a r d e s t p l a y o f f b r a c k e t , h e w i l l g i v e himself a shot.

Three darkhorses are Pinelands senior running back Matt McLain, who could potentially have a 2,000-yard rushing season, Wa l l j u n i o r q u a r t e r b a c k S t e v e C l u l e y, w h o h a s come on strong in the last three weeks and will get his shot on the big stage in the playoffs, a n d M a n a s q u a n s e n i o r r u n n i n g b a c k Ta r i q Tu r n e r. Tu r n e r h a d b e e n g o i n g o v e r t h e 1 0 0 yard mark every week before being injured in a win over Shore, but if he returns to form and t h e Wa r r i o r s m a k e a d e e p p l a y o f f r u n , h i s n a m e will be up there.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR RACE This one is also still very much up for debate, with maybe Brick Memorial senior defensive lineman Will Wowkanyn getting a slight edge.

Red Bank Catholic junior defensive tackle Joe Coscarelli, Lacey senior defensive lineman D a v e Vi e i r a , a n d F r e e h o l d j u n i o r l i n e b a c k e r Jazzmar Clax are some other names who jump out on some of the Shore C o n f e r e n c e ’s t o p d e f e n s i v e u n i t s .

Middletown South always seems to have an entry in this category as well, as the Eagles produced last year ’s recipient, linebacker Sean Campbell. This year has been more of a team effort, but players like defensive linemen Rick Lovato, Tom Masi and Christian Spaulding have all emerged as forces.

A darkhorse candidate is Rumson senior linebacker Mike Huttner, who has been a consistent playmaker for the Bulldogs. Toms River North has also been solid defensively after being routed by Howell in the opener, and senior linebacker Cody Groves is a big reason. A strong game against Brick Memorial’s triple option running attack could be a big resume-booster.

Middletown South's Taylor Rogers

See

Mid-Season

page 13

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 10

Determining What Makes a good Coach

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor It’s a question that is asked at levels from Pop Warner to the NFL, from high school to college, and finding the answer to it is something that can be the difference between hoisting a championship trophy and being labeled as underachievers.

What makes a good coach?

For Dr. Benjamin A. Leibowitz, who has worked with the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs during his distinguished career, it comes down to a coach knowing his coaching style and using that knowledge to improve team performance. That’s why Dr. Leibowitz, who is based in Oakhurst and is the president of Sports Psychology and Counseling Associates, Inc., created the S.T.A.R. Coaching Style Inventory test. The S.T.A.R. Inventory is a written test that will help a coach determine what type of coaching style he has and how it can be used to create a successful team.

“The critical variable is knowledge of self, understanding strengths and weaknesses, and then flexing your style to understand the learning styles of athletes,’’ Dr. Leibowitz said.

Famous current and former head coaches like Nebraska’s Tom Osborne, Penn State’s Joe Paterno, the New York Giants’ Tom Coughlin, and Denver Nuggets coach George Karl have all taken the S.T.A.R. Coaching Style Inventory test to determine their style. The test, which Dr. Leibowitz offers for a cost of $25 that includes a booklet and an interpretation of the results, is broken into 15 parts.

Preferences in areas like problem solving, attitude toward change and coaching behavior are ranked to help determine where a coach’s strengths lie.

S.T.A.R. stands for “Searcher, Technician, Analyzer and Relator,’’ which are the four distinct coaching styles that Dr. Leibowitz has identified. The “Searcher’’ style means a coach’s strengths are innovation and imagination, and he identifies this style with former San Francisco 49ers great Bill Walsh, an offensive innovator who created the wellknown West Coast offense. The “Technician’’ style means a coach is more pragmatic and results-oriented, more about execution, and Vince Lombardi represents this style.

The “Analyzer’’ style involves someone who is about goals and standards, who is objective and works with complex systems and technology, and this type is represented by Dr. Benjamin A. Leibowitz former Cowboys coach Tom Landry.

Finally, the “Relator’’ style is represented by former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, the father of current Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips. Coaches with that style are about personal motivation, loyalty and teamwork.

Coaching styles can also change over time, so a coach taking the test early in his career might produce a different profile than if he took it 30 years into his career.

“A coach can change or grow over time,’’ said Dr. Leibowitz, who was working with professional teams as far back as the early 1980s. “A coach may worry more about being liked early in his career and be more of the Relator style, and then become more of an Analyzer later on.’’

The test helps coaches figure out how their style can boost the performance of different types of athletes, from a quiet hard-worker like a Marvin Harrison to an attention-craving Terrell Owens.

“There is a difference in athletes, but if you know your style and flex it, you can deal with the learning style of any athlete,’’ Dr. Leibowitz said.

Dr. Leibowitz is hoping to run some local clinics for Shore Conference head coaches and coaches of all levels. Now that he has helped the pros, he would like to help the coaches of the Shore and beyond realize what style best describes them and how to apply that to their respective teams to create success.

For more information on Dr. Leibowitz and the S.T.A.R. Coaching Style Inventory, you can go to coachpsych.net.

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 11

Defensive Linemen: Training for Success B y C o r n e l l K e y P r o f e s s i o n a l Tr a i n e r, K e y 2 S p o r t s Tr a i n i n g When training, preparing and coaching defensive linemen, it is important to remember that the American football defensive lineman is one of the more unique athletes on the face of the earth.

It’s been long said that the average football lineman engages in the equivalent of approximately 50-65 car crashes every game.

OUCH! Let’s take this even one step further.

The defensive lineman INITIATES these collision-type crashes from 1-2 yards away! All while having the responsibilities of disengaging and pursuing the ballcarrier. These dudes definitely earn their pay at the highest level.

1. Heavy Trap Bar Dead Lift - The reason is because of the initial burst of raw power needed to move the bar. This precoiled position teaches good bend and helps develop explosive hips as the athlete moves the bar vertically. * No trap bar? No problem! Use a medicine ball, and hold it in front of your chest (like doing a chest pass). Assume the pre-coiled squat position, and on command, explode vertically, pressing the ball as high as humanly possible while jumping as high as possible. Land with good posture and repeat.

2. Kneeling Medicine Ball Coil Press + Push-up - This exercise is great for using hips and upper body power. It teaches mechanics similar to the ones defensive linemen use in horizontal pressing, and best of all, teaches how to absorb impact in the chest and shoulders. The emphasis to falling to the floor and exploding back to an upright kneeling position is key!

Because of this unique responsibility/requirement, strength and conditioning coaches must consider programming that will equip the athlete for all of this. Here I have list of exercises we do to prepare our linemen for their season. But first, let’s look at the list of requirements placed on the defensive lineman for an average play.

1. Initiate collision and absorb impact.

2. Drive against one or sometimes even 2 offensive linemen at one time.

3. Disengage the blocker and pursue the ball.

4. Tackle the ball and whoever has it.

All of these items require power, raw strength, speed, agility, superb conditioning, and overall mental toughness!

With this in mind, here are my (I hate the term ‘best’) favorite five exercises for building a dominant defensive lineman:

3. Uphill Truck Push - The uphill feature adds the element of the "fight back.’’ All too often, D-linemen practice pushing something that doesn't push back. Well, in every game I ever played in, the offensive lineman pushed back. If you use a slight (and I mean very slight) hill or slope, the truck will still budge but will most certainly push back if you don't use proper leverage. Pushing on a flat surface is no good, as momentum takes over and the vehicle begins to roll on its own. So a 5-10 degree slope is best.

Disclaimer*: This exercise should be done with a certified coach or instructor.

Using a very steep hill, unsafe footing and/or an over-sized vehicle can and probably will cause injury. Please be wise in doing this drill. It’s intended to help, not hurt.

hill, as a prowler will not roll, but it also will not push back. They are great tools for developing overall strength and power in the full body! We use them every week here. Either way you go, be wise!

4. Push-up Sprints with Pursuit This is simply having the athlete start on the ground in the push-up position. Then they push-up directly to their feet and begin a 5-to-10-yard sprint. After that, have them stop, re-direct, and sprint to an area of choice (sort of like a pursuit drill seen at football practices all across the country).

You can add ball drops or partner chasing for increased intensity. Another great tool is a drive portion where the athlete pushes off the floor, drives the prowler for 5 yards, and then re-directs into a full-scale pursuit sprint.

Come up with your own variation and have fun with it!

5. One-Arm Dumbbell Row (4-6 second eccentric/1second concentric action) - This exercise may be the simplest, but hardest to perform. We are basically using an old school bodybuilding technique to help build mass and strength to the back and shoulders. Because of the high impact collisions that take place, our backs and shoulders MUST be able to withstand the test, time after time. We perform this for 2-4 sets with heavy weights and low reps (usually 4-7 reps). This exercise may not seem to fit, but performed over time with attention to detail, it can add tons of muscle to your back, helping you sustain those highimpact collisions every game. *Don't have heavy dumbbells?

Try slow eccentric pull-ups using a neutral grip. You can use the same rep and set scheme to help build a very strong back!

There you have it! Try these exercises in preparing your defensive linemen, along with any other favorites you may have and watch them DOMINATE!!!!

If you feel this is too risky, use a Prowler! No need for a

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Football: Alumni Update

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

Here is the latest news on some former Shore Conference football standouts who have been having strong seasons for their respective colleges: Former St. John Vianney safety Chris Mayo was recently named the Freshman of the Week for the Big South Conference when he had six tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles for Liberty in a win over Charleston Southern. He has 28 tackles on the season.

Former Colts Neck kicker Eric Spillane has made an immediate impact as a freshman at Monmouth University. He leads the Hawks in scoring with 37 points, having gone 13for-14 on extra points and 8-for-9 on field goal attempts, with a long of 45 yards. He was named the Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week on Oct. 4 after finishing with 14 points in a win over Duquesne.

Former Jackson Liberty standout Mike Patterson (pictured right) has excelled right away as a freshman at Castleton State College, recently being named Eastern Collegiate Football Conference Rookie of the Week after an 8-catch, 123-yard performance.

Former Manasquan standout Ed Kirschenbaum, who is now a senior linebacker at Montclair State, was recently named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after a 15tackle performance in a win over The College of New Jersey. He leads the team with 48 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and 3.5 sacks.

Former Raritan star Bennett Jackson has made an immediate impact on special teams as a true freshman for Notre Dame, returning kicks and also playing on the kickoff team Former Neptune standout Vinny Curry, a defensive end, was leading FBS (Division I-A) in sacks with 8 heading into Marshall's 35-14 loss to Central Florida on ESPN in which he had 9 tackles but no sacks.

Former Jackson Memorial quarterback Corey Lavin is second in the Middle Atlantic Conference with 1,002 yards passing and fourth with 7 touchdown passes for King's College.

Former Keansburg wideout Scott Pillar leads Albright College with 14 catches for 235 yards and 2 touchdowns in five games.

Former Middletown North linebacker Steve Hoverson leads FDU-Florham with 46 tackles, including 8 1/2 for a loss and 2 sacks, in five games.

Former Toms River North star Arin West, a senior defensive back, leads Stony Brook with 46 tackles and also has an interception.

Former Monmouth Regional standout Louis Haynes leads Kean University with 21 catches for 307 yards and 3 touchdowns, and another former Monmouth star, quarterback Tom D'Ambrisi, leads Kean with 685 yards passing and 5 touchdowns in 4 games.

Former Freehold standout Nick Tyson, a sophomore quarterback, leads The College of New Jersey with 198 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns in 5 games and also has 162 yards passing and 2 touchdowns. Former Ocean star Joe Falco leads the team with 3 touchdowns, and former Long Branch standout Shawn Brown is second on the team with 37 tackles.

Former Rumson star wideout Ryan Kirchner leads the University of Albany with 24 catches for 242 yards in 5 games.

Former Freehold Township wideout Ryan Spadola leads Lehigh with 20 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown in five games.

Former Middletown North running back Uly Gibson is

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 12 second on the team with 365 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns for Assumption College. His old Lions teammate, quarterback Joe Dickey, has 746 total yards and 13 touchdowns between rushing and passing for SUNYMaritime, which is off to a 6-0 start.

Former Howell star Ryan McGuinness, a senior defensive back, is second on the team with 2 interceptions for New Hampshire.

Former Manasquan star linebacker Mike Mele is second on the team at UMass with 38 tackles in 5 games.

Former Lacey quarterback Warren Smith is third in the Colonial Athletic Association with 1,036 yards passing along with 5 touchdowns on 66.9 percent passing in 6 games for the University of Maine.

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Mid-Season

Continued from page 9

Coach of the Year Race This i s a l w a y s d e c i d e d b y t h e state pla y o ff s , a n d m a n y o f t i m e s it’s in t h e e y e o f t h e b e h o l d e r. F o r instance , i f L a c e y ’s L o u Vi r c i l l o a n d Matawa n ’s J o e M a r t u c c i d e l i v e r 1 2 0 seaso n s a s e x p e c t e d , i s t h a t s t i l l Coach o f t h e Ye a r w o r k b e c a u s e expecta t i o n s w e r e s o h i g h , o r w i l l people j u s t s a y t h e y h a d l o a d e d teams? S o m e t i m e s j u s t d o i n g w h a t you wer e e x p e c t e d t o d o i s h a r d e r than anything.

If Manalapan can win a division title and then make a serious state p l a y o ff r u n , Eddie Gurrieri will

Matawans’s Head Coach Joe Martucci

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David Thorne

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 13

r e c e i v e h e avy consideration.

M i d d l e t o w n South’s Steve A n t o n u c c i is always a name to be c o n s i d e r e d , especially if the Eagles f i n i s h t h e job in Central Jersey G r o u p I I I after losing in the finals t h e l a s t t w o years.

F r e e h o l d’s Mark Ciccotelli is r i g h t t h e r e as well, as his team has r e b o u n d e d from an 0-2 start to win f o u r s t r a i g ht. If the Colonials ride it a l l t h e w a y to a state title, which m o s t l i k e l y would mean beating M i d d l e t o w n South in the process, he w i l l b e a s trong candidate. Red B a n k C a t h olic’s Jim Portela looks to l e a d t h e C aseys to a share of a d i v i s i o n t i t le, but it’s always hard f o r h i m t o stick in people’s minds at t h e e n d b e cause RBC plays in a s t a t e p l a y o ff bracket that is almost u n w i n n a b l e for them.

I f B r i c k Memorial’s Walt Currie c a n l e a d t h e Mustangs to a division t i t l e a n d a nother deep state playoff r u n , h e w i l l be considered. So will To m s R i v e r North’s Chip LaBarca J r. i f h e c a n do the same with the M a r i n e r s b y beating the Mustangs.

I f M o n m o uth can stay in the hunt in C l a s s B N orth and grab a share of t h e t i t l e w hile earning a state p l a y o ff b e rth, Sal Spampanato d e s e r v e s h eavy consideration.

I f M a r k Costantino can take S h o r e R e g ional to a division title a n d t h e n h elp the Blue Devils unseat t h r e e - t i m e defending Central Jersey G r o u p I c h ampion Asbury Park to w i n S h o r e ’s first state sectional title s i n c e 1 9 9 7 , he will be a strong c a n d i d a t e . Manasquan’s Pete Cahill c o u l d b e a darkhorse candidate if t h e Wa r r i o rs win Class C Central a n d n a v i g a te their way back to the C e n t r a l J e rsey Group II final.

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Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 14

JACK S ON LIBERTY’S ARINZE NWOBI:

Raw With A Promising Future

Christopher Melvin – HS Football Recruiting Analyst – ELITERECRUITS.COM Chris Melvin is the recruiting analyst for EliteRecruits.com and now has joined the team at All Shore Media. Chris has followed the Shore Conference football scene for many years, and this season he will provide his insight into some of the players you know and others you don't from the recruiting scene in order to bring you the best in Shore Conference football coverage.

University of Connecticut, the University of Pennsylvania and Albright," said Nwobi.

"My goal is to go to the Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivison) level.

That's where I want to play."

Don't look for his name on any Class of 2011 football recruiting list (other than Eliterecruits.com's or Chris Melvin's All Shore Media's Preseason list), because you won’t find him. But you best believe that college coaches from across the East have begun to stop by and check out Jackson Liberty's 6-foot5, 250-pound senior defensive end Arinze Nwobi.

Temple visited Jackson Liberty to evaluate Nwobi and became impressed with what they saw in his skills.

Only in his second year of football, Nwobi is starting to get the attention of college recruiters due to his impressive size, athleticism, potential and impressive academic background.

“They wanted to get film

“I've been there (to Nigeria) twice,’’ Nwobi said. “It was very different. All the people there dress and act totally different. I couldn't really adapt to the lifestyle there.”

Besides being a promising student at Jackson Liberty, Nwobi has been honing his athletic skills as well.

The senior defensive end has continued to mature as a football player this fall for the Lions and has become a target of a host of colleges.

"I've heard from Temple, Rutgers, Bucknell, the

When asked what he liked about the sport of football, Nwobi stated, “I like the aggressiveness in the sport. I'm a laid-back type of person off the field, but on the field it's different - I can be aggressive there. I've gotten a lot better ever game. Every week I learn something new.’’

Besides football, Nwobi spent his early years running track and playing basketball, but football is his love now.

"I did the hurdles, shot and disc in track,’’ he said. “I stopped running track. I'm just focused on football right now. I'm not sure if I'm playing basketball anymore either.’’

"I want our team to make it to the New Jersey state playoffs and to be our division champions - that's what I want to accomplish," said Nwobi, whose team is currently 3-3. "As far as myself, I am more focused on helping my team win."

Nwobi carries a 3.3 gradepoint average, has hit 1610 on the SAT and his favorite subject is anatomy.

"I would like to get a PHD in pharmacology. My father is a computer technician," added Nwobi, who parents are from Nigeria, but who was born at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.

“Ari is coming along. He is a very strong and knowledgeable player who is willing to learn. Every game he gets better."

Nwobi's goals for the season are a prime example of the unselfish demeanor he possesses.

To begin, the Ocean County senior is a determined high school student.

"Anatomy relates to the field that I plan on studying in college," said Nwobi, who has already decided on what he would like to major in college.

instead of a senior.

Nwobi enjoys lifting weights, being on the computer and playing “Call of Duty” and “Madden” on his Xbox 360 during his free time. on me and they were going to start recruiting me,” Nwobi said.

Nwobi is only going into his second year of playing football for the Lions and is considered a raw recruit at this time. Still, he has made an impact with several sacks and quarterback pressures this season.

"I decided to try football at the end of my sophomore year, so this is really my second year of playing football,’’ he said.

“He has a lot of potential and a huge upside,” said Jackson Liberty head coach Tim Osborn. “When you see him, you tend to forget that he hasn’t played the sport that long. He is really a sophomore on the field

As far as now, Nwobi is willing to consider any college willing to take him.

"I don't really have a preference right now,’’ he said.

“Anywhere I can get an education and play football, I am willing to go.’’

Nwobi has good quickness and long arms - attributes colleges seek in an offensive and defensive lineman.

"I prefer defensive end,’’ said Nwobi, who also has played some defensive tackle for the Lions. “I enjoy playing it in high school, and I feel I can do it in college as well. But I am willing to play wherever colleges put me. Whatever they want, I will do it."

Photos by:

Cliff Lavelle

www.clea red ge.zenfolio.com

Chris Melvin

www.eliterecruits.com

A l l S hore Media Sports Review www.allshoremedia.com They know Uveges is talking about over at Brick, where senior offensive lineman Sean Martyn was recently found to have a tumor behind one of his eyes. It effectively ended his season, and he will have to have surgery to remove it. The biopsy results are not known yet as to whether it’s a benign or malignant tumor, but Martyn’s struggles motivated the Green Dragons in a 29-22 overtime win against Pinelands with Martyn standing on the sidelines.

F

ootball coaches preach to their teams all the time about overcoming adversity during games and continuing to fight and to stick together.

That tenet has never seemed more appropriate than this season, when seemingly everywhere you turn, a team is dealing with some sort of adversity that often goes well beyond football.

Detailed in this issue of The All Shore Media Sports Review are the struggles endured by the family of Lacey senior fullback/linebacker Matt Uveges. His mother and father were both laid off from their jobs and were priced out of health benefits, and his mother, Ruth, a fervent Lacey football supporter, has been diagnosed with incurable lymphoma. One of Matt’s older brothers was also hit by a drunk driver, and his aunt, Ruth’s sister, died at 51 years old from cancer in January.

While Martyn was in the hospital after the tumor was discovered, his grandmother died in the same hospital on his mother’s birthday, so it has been an awfully rough stretch for such a young person.

"I told the kids that when they think they can't give any more, remember No. 75,'' Brick head coach Patrick Dowling said. "Our thoughts and our prayers are with him and his family.''

I have already detailed the heartbreak at Howell in an earlier column in this newspaper, so the Rebels also know what it’s like to have to battle more than the opponent on the other side. They have had two former players, including 2010 graduate John Bukowiec, pass away within the last five months. The father of senior linebacker Ryan Dambach also died at 47 years old earlier this season.

There have been some scary moments on the field as well, including one in The Lacey football Week Six when Barnegat community has senior Chris Nueva rallied together suffered a booming hit on around the family, a first-quarter kickoff in a holding a fundraiser loss to Matawan and was on Oct. 9 to raise down on the field for 15 money for Ruth’s minutes. A defibrillator cancer treatment and was brought out by the working to make sure athletic trainer and medical the family is taken staff but fortunately did care of during a not need to be used. Nueva troubled time. was taken by ambulance to Meanwhile, the Riverview Medical Center football team tries to in Red Bank and continue its thankfully was home Lac e y & s e n i o r M a t t U v e g e s ( # 40 ) march to an recuperating by the next undefeated day. Those 15 minutes, season and a South however, reminded Jersey Group III title. everyone that these are still high school kids playing a “It's always in the back of your mind, no matter how game that can have severe consequences, so sometimes the much you try to put it off,'' Matt said about his mother's final score isn’t life or death. illness. "It's always bothering you. But in another sense, Earlier this season, Middletown South senior linebacker it's always a form of motivation. You have to make Matt Saulnier suffered a gruesome dislocated knee in every day the best.''

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 Page 15 practice that not only ended his season, but most likely his football career. He had reconstructive surgery on his knee, but has certainly not been forgotten. The three-year starter was in a wheelchair on the sidelines of Middletown South’s 133 win over previously unbeaten Brick Memorial on Oct. 15, and he was announced over the loudspeaker and received a loud ovation from the home crowd.

Moments like that at least show the good that can come out of these rough situations.

Middletown South Middletown South's Matt Saulnier and Brick have shown that just because a player isn’t able to be on the field helping to get a win, it doesn’t mean he is forgotten. The teammates of Saulnier and Martyn have rallied around them and reminded them that once you are part of the family, you stay part of the family, whether you are on the field or not.

That goes for parents as well, as Lacey has shown with the Uveges family. It’s the reason that the senior football players and parents didn’t care that they might look like goofballs doing Zumba aerobics on the home football field on a Saturday because they knew it was all for a good reason.

In an age when everyone is seemingly buried behind a computer screen, watching one of their 700 channels on television and living in neighborhoods where many of the neighbors are relative strangers, football is one of those last bastions of that community feeling. The games are a meeting place for a wide cross-section of people, and those people have shown that the bond created by their sons playing football together will motivate them to do whatever they can to protect and help one of their own in time of need.

In a strange way, it’s easier for people to get involved when it’s someone their son has gone through blood, sweat and tears with over the years rather than someone who might live down the block. Gathering around for Sunday dinners, turning off video games and shutting off the television for quality time are rapidly becoming things of the past, but everyone leaves the distractions behind when it’s time for the big football game.

The game is where the real lessons about overcoming adversity are taught, and any trip to Howell, Brick, Middletown South or Lacey this season is living proof of that.

FOR ADVERTISIng InFORMATIOn

Photos by:

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 smeyer@allshoremedia.com

A l l S hore Media Sports Review www.allshoremedia.com

Volume-2 Issue-19 1 0 / 1 8 / 1 0 age 16