All Shore Media 10-25-11 Volume III Issue-19

October 25, 2011 Volume-III - Issue-19 N at io na l G u ard T e a m of th e Week Pa g e 3 Football Midseason Awards Pa g e 4 -5 Barnegat Makes School History Pa g e 6 Shore Conf. Football Midseason Report Pa g e 8 -9 Feature on Southern's Alec Morris Pa g e 1 1 I n - Sea so n Fo ot b a ll Trai n i n g Cr i t ic a l t o Su cc ess Pa g e 1 2 Manalapan's Sieczkowski Sets Record Pa g e 1 4 Stumpy's Corner Pa g e 1 5

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October 25, 2011 I Volume-III I Issue-19

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.

All Shore Media Expanding into North Jersey All Shore Media is proud to announce that it has partnered with a North Jersey group to expand its type of coverage into Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, this fall.

The All Sports Media Northern Review, a newspaper in the mold of the All Shore Media bi-weekly paper, will make its debut in September. The free,

Steven Meyer director/CEO/ Marketing smeyer@allshoremedia.com 732-233-4460

advertiser-supported paper will cover scholastic sports at all of the schools in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, which consists of schools from Morris County and a handful of teams in Sussex and Warren counties.

“We're hoping it will be as big a success as the All Shore Media Shore Conference program, and the early returns are promising,’’ said Paul Mencher, who will be the lead writer and editor of the new paper. “People seem excited about it, and advertisers are excited about it. It’s something different than what exists up here.

“There’s a lot of interest in high school sports in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, and I think that people will be interested in having a new resource.’’

Scott Stump director/ Managing Editor stump@allshoremedia.com

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A l l S h o r e M e d i a is published by: Fin ish Line Media, LLC 26 Oxford Drive Wayside NJ, 07712 Copyright 2011 All Shore Media All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of All Shore Media is prohibited

The partnership also broadens the scope of All Shore Media’s coverage to include a presence in North Jersey.

“We're excited about expanding our niche in the market and the way we cover sports,’’ said All Shore Media Director/CEO Steve Meyer. “We're excited to start here with the objective that we want to expand to other parts of the state as well. This is the first step in our expansion.’’

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Volume-III

Issue-19

10/25/11

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New For This Season In conjunction with All Shore Media, The National Guard will honor one team a week that showed the character, perseverance and hard work emblematic of The National Guard during its performance that weekend. A plaque will be presented to that team during practice that week in honor of a great showing.

WEEk-1

WEEk-2

Ocean Township

Red Bank Catholic

WEEk-3

WEEk-4

Jackson Memorial

Central Regional

WEEk-5

WEEk-6

Southern Regional

Pt. Pleasant Beach

Sgt. John Naame of the New Jersey National Guard presents the team of the Week Football to Southern Regional’s Head Coach Chuck Donohue & team

WEEk-7 The National Guard Team of the Week for Week Seven is Barnegat, which beat Brick, 27-21, in an overtime thriller on Friday night to clinch no worse than a tie for its first division title in its six-

Sgt. John Naame of the New Jersey National Guard presents the team of the Week Football to Pt. Beach Head Coach John Wagner & team

year program history. The Bengals only have to defeat winless Pinelands on Thanksgiving to capture the outright Class B South crown.

Senior quarterback Mark McCoy threw two touchdown passes to junior wideout Pat Moran, and also ran for a pair of scores.

His two-yard touchdown run in overtime sealed the victory after Barnegat had stopped Brick on downs to start the extra period. McCoy finished with 228 total yards between rushing and passing to power the victory, and Moran had six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Volume-III

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Issue-19

10/25/11

Shore Conference Football Midseason Awards

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

I n a d d ition to ou r S h or e Co n f er en ce M id s ea s on Rep or t f ou n d in th is is s u e, h er e a r e s ome oth er awar ds f r om th e f ir s t h a lf o f th e s ea s on .

Most exciting player – Jaheem Woods, Sr., QB, Neptune. Central’s Kalyph Hardy is right there with Woods as far as making jaws drop, but Woods can do it with his legs and his arm. It feels like no matter where Neptune is on the field, it’s one play away from a touchdown with Woods Neptune’s Jaheem Woods running the show.

I would say Woods is right at the top of the list for the best all-around player in the Shore because he is also a standout defensive back.

Sleeper: Ishmael Hyman, Jr., WR, St. John Vianney: Hyman has explosive speed and multiple touchdowns of more than 80 yards this season. If he gets in the open Neptunsalso a dangerous kickoff returner.

Most underrated – Dwight Clark, Jr., RB, Long Branch: If he switched places with some of the other productive backs in the Shore, he would be drawing raves. Any running back who can roll up more than 200 yards on the ground against Red Bank Catholic’s defense when the Caseys know it’s coming has great ability.

Best game – Central’s 21-20 comeback win over Manchester. I know the main choice of a lot of people would probably be Red Bank Catholic’s 20-14, doubleovertime victory over Neptune, but that was a sloppy game for long stretches filled with fumbles, missed kicks and turnovers.

Central rallied from a 20-0 deficit thanks to the breathtaking running of senior Kalyph Hardy, who finished with 219 yards and three touchdowns. He outdueled Manchester’s Joe Johnson, who ran for 214 yards, and Hardy scored with 32 seconds left in the game to tie it before

Austin DeRose booted the winning extra point. Both players also had interceptions on defense, including a diving interception by Hardy on a pass intended for Johnson in the final seconds that sealed the win before a delirious home crowd at Central.

Barnegat’s 27-21 overtime win over Brick for the B South title also deserves mention.

Best highlight – Chris Donald’s game-winning, barrel roll touchdown run in double overtime for Red Bank Catholic against Neptune. Everyone else is a distant second right now. The clip has been played 61,700 times on www.allshoremedia.com, so the people have spoken loudly.

RBC’s Chris Donald

Wildest Game: Toms River South’s 48-47 victory over St. John Vianney in Week Six. All you need to know is that St. John Vianney had 665 total yards, senior quarterback Anthony Carlucci threw for a Shore Conferencerecord 477 yards, senior receiver Co ntinu ed o n nex t p ag e

www.allshoremedia.com Anthony Pante had a school-record 252 yards receiving, and the Lancers lost.

A SM / 5 tough against the run.

Best sophomore (tie): Mike Gesicki,

Best single-game performance: Manalapan’s John Sieczkowski. He set the Shore Conference single-game rushing record with 425 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries in a 41-20 win over Howell. Any time you are passing an NFL running back, in this case former Middletown South great and current Denver Broncos tailback Knowshon Moreno, you know you’ve done something special.

Most improved (Individual) – Tyler Saito, Sr., QB, Manasquan.

Greatness was predicted early on for Saito, but he struggled last season, resulting the offense totally revolving around running back Tariq Turner. From the outset of his year, he has looked like a different player, making accurate throws, showing a great deep arm, and giving the Warriors as much offensive balance and playmaking ability as any team in the Shore.

Sleeper: Justin Billups, Sr., RB, Jackson Liberty. His offseason speedwork has made him into much more of an explosive back. He has turned what were 8-yard runs last year into 40-yard runs this year.

Manasquan QB Tyler Saito

Most improved (Team) – Central. The Golden Eagles were 1-9 last season and are now 4-2 and in the hunt for their first state playoff berth since 2001.

Biggest Upset : Middletown North’s 21-13 win over Howell. One year earlier, the Lions were detonated for a state-record eight touchdown passes by Howell quarterback Ryan Davies but roared back to upend the Rebels a season later.

Best Offensive Line: (tie) Red Bank Catholic and Wall. This is neck-and-neck right now. RBC just plugs in new running backs every year and turns them into 1,000yard rushers, and senior John DiStefano, a first-year starter, is well on his way this year. Wall’s senior-laden offensive line, “The Matt Pack,’’ has senior tailback Jim Guiliano well on his way to a 1,000-yard season in his first and only season as the starter.

Sleeper: Southern . No big names on this offensive line, just consistent production from senior running back T.J. Bellissimo and quarterback Dan Higgins.

Best Defensive Line: Red Bank Catholic. Rumson is right there with the Caseys’ unit, led by Joe Coscarelli and Josh Klecko. It won’t get settled until Thanksgiving.

Sleeper: Asbury Park. While the linebackers and defensive backs get all the glory on this defense, the big boys up front like Nick Famularo, Corey Goodson, Domingo Perez and Ra’zahn Howard have held the point of attack to allow them to get all those tackles and be so

Southern WR Mike Gesicki

WR/DB, Southern; Ken Bradley, RB/LB, Jackson Memorial. The 6-foot-5 Gesicki has long arms and a vertical leap that makes it almost impossible for most defensive backs to stop him on fade passes in the red zone. He already has made numerous big catches for the Rams, including the gamewinning touchdown in a victory over Jackson Memorial. He also is a Division I basketball

prospect. Bradley leads Jackson in tackles and also has been a great short-yardage back near the goal line.

Best freshman : Frank Condito, RB/LB, Holmdel.

While the Hornets may only have one win, Condito has drawn praise from opposing coaches as a linebacker and recently scored a touchdown in a 17-12 loss to RumsonFair Haven. He starts on both sides of the ball already.

Biggest Heartbreaker: The loss of Asbury Park assistant John Key to a fatal car accident on Oct. 16. He will be greatly missed.

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Volume-III

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Issue-19

10/25/11

Barnegat Clinches First division Title in Program History

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Amidst the euphoria of a historic win on Oct. 21, senior quarterback Mark McCoy remembered back to when he was a seventh-grader, watching from the corner of the stands as the Barnegat football team began to fill in the blank slate in its first year as a varsity program in 2006.

"I remember seven or eight of us sitting in that corner where the blackout (of fans in black T-shirts) was tonight as little kids and thinking, 'We want to do something special here one day in Barnegat,''' McCoy said. "We finally did.''

McCoy threw two touchdown passes to junior wideout Pat Moran and ran for two more, including the game-winning two-yard run in overtime, as the Bengals clinched no worse than a tie for their first division title in program history with a 27-21 homecoming victory over Brick (4-3, 3-2) in Class B South.

Barnegat (3-3, 3-1), which was 0-5 in overtime games in its history before the win over the Green Dragons, can clinch the outright title with a victory over winless Pinelands on Thanksgiving.

The victory also helped Barnegat take an important step toward its goal of reaching the state playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history, one year after the Bengals won their first state playoff game ever.

"We have that championship mentality,'' Moran said. "Mistakes are going to happen, and you're going to face adversity. We just kept going right over it tonight and kept our composure.''

"It's a fight, and you've got to keep clawing every single play,'' McCoy said.

Barnegat stopped Brick on downs to start the overtime period, and then only took three plays to punch in the most important regular-season touchdown in program history. McCoy found Moran for a 16-yard gain on first down, and then senior fullback Matt Schofield plowed seven yards to the 2-yard line to set up McCoy's gamewinning score.

"This team plays for each other,'' said McCoy, who was 14-for-20 for 190 yards passing. "We've been playing together since we were in sixth grade, and we wanted to win this for each other.''

The game was tied at seven at halftime, as both quarterbacks tossed touchdown passes. McCoy found Moran, who finished "We've got to still beat Pinelands, but that with six catches for 116 win (over Brick) was for the past players who yards and also booted three played here and who all came back tonight,'' extra points, for a 31-yard said Rob Davis, the only head coach in touchdown strike for a 7-0 program history. "I think we deserve to be lead with 10:17 remaining champs. Not taking away from anyone else, in the second quarter. but this was our year.''

Moran found a hole in Senior QB Mark McCoy "There are no words that could possibly Brick's Cover 3 defense explain this feeling,'' Moran said. and the left-handed McCoy, who is headed to Wake Forest as a pitcher on a baseball Brick tied the game late in the fourth quarter when it drove 50 yards on five plays, helped by a pair of personal foul penalties for scholarship, zipped a pass to him in the corner of the end zone. late hits. The Green Dragons, who were seeking their 26th division title in program history and first since 2008, scored on a 1-yard run by junior tailback Doug Cuccinello with 1:19 left in regulation to knot the score at 21 and send the game to overtime.

However, the Bengals were able to shake off their miscues and dominate the overtime period.

Brick answered with a seven-play, 83-yard scoring drive that was aided by a pair of 15-yard penalties by Barnegat. On secondand-22, senior quarterback Brandon Kieslor found wideout John Fuino for a 25-yard touchdown pass that helped send the game into halftime all tied up.

Barnegat jumped back out in front when it drove 69 yards in six plays to start the third quarter, scoring when McCoy found Moran again for a 26-yard touchdown off a broken play with 9:28 left in the third quarter. McCoy scrambled to his left long enough to buy time to find Moran in the corner of the end zone again.

"I've been playing with (Moran) for a long time,'' McCoy said.

"He knows where I'm rolling, he knows what I'm going to do, and he knows that I'm always looking downfield for him.''

Two possessions later, Brick came back with a 13-play, 71-yard drive to tie it at 14. The drive was kept alive when Barnegat was flagged for roughing the passer after Kieslor had thrown an incompletion on fourth down, and three plays later, Cuccinello crashed in from a yard out to tie the game with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter.

Barnegat absorbed that counterpunch and tried to land another haymaker with a 15-play, 77-yard drive that was highlighted by a clutch, 26-yard catch on third-and-10 by Purdue-bound senior tight end Ryan Morris, who was gutting out the game on a sprained knee. McCoy capped the drive by diving into the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown run and a 21-14 advantage with 5:54 left in the game.

After Brick tied it late in the game, Barnegat recovered in the extra period, stuffing Cuccinello short of a first down on fourthand-5 from the 20-yard line to put itself in position to win.

"It was our game at that point,'' McCoy said. "Pat Moran is a great field goal kicker so we already knew he had it because he kicks that with ease, but we didn't want to kick a field goal. We didn't want to have the chance of a messed-up snap. We wanted to get it in the end zone.''

That's exactly what happened, and the idle daydream of a group of middle-schoolers all those years ago suddenly became a reality.

"It felt really good,'' McCoy said. "It's an honor to be the first team (to win a title).''

"There was a lot of emotion that went into this,'' Davis said.

"Brick is a playoff team, and having a championship game come down to the end like this, that's B South for you.''

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Volume-III

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Issue-19

10/25/11

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

W

ith every team in the Shore Conference having played at least six games, we are just past the midway point in the 2011 football season.

It’s time to take a look at who have been the headliners, biggest surprises and more from the first half of the season. I’ll also take a look at the Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year candidates as well as Coach of the Year candidates before trying to handicap the state playoff races with half a season to go.

already doubled their win total from last season.

Jackson Memorial: This team essentially entered the season as an unknown under new head coach Walt Krystopik, but has returned to the Shore Conference’s elite after some underwhelming years by the Jaguars’ standards. They finished second in A South and will be a major contender for the Central Jersey Group IV title.

They also boast a win over possible A North champion Manalapan, a team they could see again in the state playoffs.

Central: While everyone knew senior running back Kalyph Hardy was a beast, he also rushed for 1,600plus yards last year and it only

Let’s get right to it.

Biggest Surprises (Team) Southern: The Rams hadn’t won a division title in nearly 40 years, so no one was talking this team up as a potential A South champion. Their only loss is to No. 1 Red Bank Catholic, and they seem to get better every week. If you told anyone in the preseason who isn’t from Manahawkin that Southern would win the division outright and possibly be the No. 1 seed in the always-tough South Jersey Group IV bracket, they would have said there was no way. With a cohesive group of upperclassmen and some talented sophomores, this team came together ahead of the schedule that most had predicted for it.

Point Beach: At 5-1, the Garnet Gulls are off to their best start since they won their last division title in 1997. They boast a victory over previously unbeaten Middlesex and appear headed to their first state playoff appearance in 10 years.

Under new coach John Wagner, who coached multiple state champions at another Group I program, Roselle Park, Point Beach has been a hard-nosed defensive team that runs the ball well. They have Central RB Kalyph Hardy

resulted in a 1-9 record.

Now the Golden Eagles have the victories to go along with Hardy’s eyeopening statistics. The state’s second-leading rusher, Hardy has helped Central reach the brink of its first state playoff berth since 2001.

Monsignor Donovan: The Griffins appear to have already clinched their first state playoff berth since 2004 and have won three straight after a 1-2 start to move to 42. Their 14-13 victory over traditional playoff team Point Boro certainly opened some eyes, and head coach Dan Duddy has this small-school program on the rise. They also boast the program’s first Division I-A recruit in forever in junior offensive lineman Brad Henson, who already has offers from Boston College, Rutgers, Central Florida and West Virginia.

Offensive Player of the Year Candidates Kalyph Hardy, Sr., RB, Central: The state’s secondleading rusher at 1,283 yards and 16 touchdowns, Hardy is right at the front of the line for this accolade.

The main reason is because his team is also winning, unlike last season, when he put up big numbers on a one-win squad. He already has two signature games, a 417-yard explosion against Brick that was the secondhighest rushing total in Shore Conference history, and a 219-yard, three-touchdown game in a 21-20 win over Manchester. However, his candidacy took a hit when Lacey held him to 94 yards and a touchdown in a 21-6 win by the Lions.

Jaheem Woods, Sr., QB, Neptune: An electrifying player who is a dual threat, Woods is good for 200 yards of total offense in pretty much every game. His passing ability has made Neptune a different team than in recent seasons because he can stretch the field and take advantage of wideouts like Geoff Fairbanks and Casey Beauford.

He also is one of the most elusive open-field runners in the Shore Conference, and one of the top defensive backs.

If Neptune makes a deep state playoff run, expect his name to be right up there in the conversation.

Neptune QB Jaheem Woods

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T.J. Bellissimo, Sr., RB, Southern: Definitely not as flashy as Woods or Hardy, Bellissimo is a workmanlike back who methodically pumps out 100yard rushing games. He also has a signature game after his school-record six-touchdown performance in a 41-20 win over Toms River North. He may need to have some strong state playoff games to really give himself a good shot.

Brandon Winston, Sr., RB, Jackson Memorial: Another one of the Shore’s top backs, Winston has been explosive and effective even though every opposing defense knows he’s getting the ball because Jackson does not put it in the air frequently. He had 210 yards rushing and two touchdowns against Southern in a loss, and should be right in the mix if Jackson can make a deep run in Central Jersey Group IV. John Sieczkowski, Sr., RB, Manalapan: The Braves have already won Class A North and he has a signature performance with his record-setting, 425yard game against Howell. If the Braves go deep in the playoffs, he could be the second straight Manalapan running back to win Offensive Player of the Year, following in the footsteps of current Wagner freshman Josh Firkser.

John DiStefano, Sr., RB, Red Bank Catholic: DiStefano has had an excellent season thus far and recently had a 185-yard, four-touchdown showing against Colts Neck. The main hindrances to his candidacy are the fact that people may feel like he is more of a system back because every RBC running back has had success for a decade because of the system and the offensive line. Also, if the Caseys get knocked out of the playoffs in the first round again, his name won’t be as fresh in the mind compared to top players on other playoff teams that are still garnering headlines into December.

Scott Buxbaum, Sr., QB, Toms River North: Buxbaum has great numbers but is starting to become a fringe candidate because his team has suffered a couple tough losses. The Mariners still have Brick Memorial and Manalapan on their schedule before the state playoffs hit. If he can have some strong games against those two and get some spotlight in the state playoffs, that would move him back up the list a little.

Steve Cluley, Sr., QB, Wall: His numbers are not awe-inspiring, but if his team keeps winning and can find a way to go 12-0 or 11-1, he will get a strong push. He may only have two or three

Wall QB Steve Cluley

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chances to really prove his case because of Wall’s schedule. His performance in the state playoffs and against Manasquan on Thanksgiving will go a long way toward determining whether he is in the running in the end.

Neptune can put together an impressive state playoff run with the defense leading the way, Clax will receive a big boost. It never hurts to have a big finish up at Rutgers Stadium to bring your candidacy to a peak on the last day of the season.

Tyler Saito, Sr., QB, Manasquan: One of the most improved players in the Shore Conference, Saito’s passing has made Manasquan a balanced and dynamic offense. Like Cluley, he hasn’t had many chances for big spotlight games because of Manasquan’s schedule, so Thanksgiving against Wall and possible state playoff games against the likes of Matawan and Rumson will be his time to make his case.

John Sieczkowski, Sr., LB, Manalapan: A three-year starter at linebacker, Sieczkowski is the leader of a defense that has not given up more than 17 points in any game this season. A hard hitter with sideline-tosideline speed, his candidacy will heat up if Manalapan can lock down its second straight Class A North title and then make a deep run in Central Jersey Group IV. Given his rushing exploits, however, he is probably more of a candidate on offense than defense.

Defensive Player of the Year Candidates Joe Coscarelli, Sr., DT, Red Bank Catholic: A first-team All-Shore selection as a junior, Coscarelli is the front-runner for this award this season. The leader of the defense on the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team, he is part of a unit that has not allowed more than 14 points in a game all season. A disruptive force up front who makes a large amount of tackles for a defensive lineman despite facing double teams regularly, Coscarelli has received Division I-AA interest from numerous schools.

Junior defensive tackle Josh Klecko also RBC DT Joe Coscarelli

deserves a mention because he is right there with his teammate in forming the top defensive line tandem in the Shore.

Jack Eisenstadt, Sr., DT, Rumson-FH: The top defensive lineman on one of the Shore’s top units, Eisenstadt was recently offered by Wagner and has Division I-AA interest from numerous schools. Adept at playing the run and getting to the quarterback, he is one of four seniors up front for the undefeated Bulldogs. Rumson’s Thanksgiving game against Red Bank Catholic could go a long way toward splitting hairs between Eisenstadt and Coscarelli when it comes to this award.

Jazzmar Clax, Sr., LB, Neptune: A Division I-A prospect with multiple scholarship offers, the Freehold transfer is a top player on an outstanding unit that has already posted two shutouts this season.

The RBC tandem has the edge after beating Neptune in double overtime earlier in the season, but if

James Cowen, Sr., DE; Ken Bradley, So., LB, Jackson Memorial: The top two players on one of the Shore’s top defenses, Cowen is one of the best pass rushers in the Shore Conference, while Bradley leads the team in tackles already as a sophomore. If the Jaguars make a deep run in Central Jersey Group IV and one of these two stands out along the way, they have a shot.

Someone from Asbury Park: I guess the fact that I’m not settling on one person shows that it won’t be easy for a single player’s candidacy. There are numerous playmakers on one of the Shore’s fastest and best units, which has not allowed more than 13 points in a game all season. The main question is which one, whether it’s the Conover twins, Hammary cousins, senior linebacker Islam Joshua or lineman Ra’zahn Howard, who will emerge. Asbury Park will have to beat Rumson or Neptune to really boost the chances of one of its defensive leaders for this accolade.

Garrett Sickels, Jr., DE, Red Bank Regional: The most highly-recruited defensive player in the state for the Class of 2013, Sickels and the Bucs would have to make a surprise run in Central Jersey Group II for him to move ahead of the RBC and Rumson candidates. He is the early front-runner for next year’s award.

Zach Santos, Sr., DB, Brick Memorial: A baseball player who came out for the football team as a senior, Santos has three interception returns for touchdowns this season and six overall on a solid unit.

However, Brick Memorial is going to have work its usual magic and come from the shadows for its fourth straight Central Jersey Group IV final appearance for him to break into the top group.

Brick Mem. DB Zach Santos

See

M idsea son R eport page 13

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Volume-III

Issue-19

10/25/11

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Back on His Feet: Southern's Alec Morris

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Flying all over the field in his first varsity football game, Alec Morris was turning in the type of debut that most sophomores only dream about.

It was Southern Regional’s season opener against Toms River East in 2009, and Morris already had six catches for more than 100 yards.

Despite the fact that the Rams were on their way to a 30-6 loss, Morris was showing he could be a force in Southern’s new spread offense under senior quarterback Mike Balak.

“Everything was going perfectly,’’ he said.

Late in the fourth quarter, he lined up in the slot in a four-wide receiver package. He ran a quick stop route, turned and leaped for a pass from Balak. The safety hit him from behind, upending him in mid-air. At the same time, the Raiders’ defensive end was trailing the play, and on Morris’s way down, his right foot became lodged in the defensive end’s facemask. As soon as Morris hit the ground, he didn’t even have to look at the twisted wreck of his right foot to know the severity.

After having the surgery in mid-February, Morris was on crutches until the second week of April. His recovery seemed to be progressing according to schedule as the 2010 football season approached, but then came another setback.

He started feeling pain in the middle of the summer, but a day after a workout with the team that required running and lifting at maximum effort, he felt intense pain in his foot.

“I went and got an MRI and it showed all these hot spots inside my leg from all the holes and screws,’’ he said.

Morris’s body was rejecting the screws and had developed an allergic reaction. The screws were now eating away at the bone. Just a few days before Southern’s season opener against Red Bank Catholic, he underwent another surgery to remove the screws and fill the vacated areas with bone fragments. For many players, that would have been the point where they might have thrown up their hands and wondered if it was all worth it just to get on the field again.

“It never was a point that crossed my mind,’’ Morris said. “I’m a pretty determined person.

Football is my everything when it comes to school and sports, so you have to take advantage of any chance you get. Sometimes I would have doubts because I want to play in college, and I was thinking, ‘(My foot) is getting ruined.’’’

“It was almost more emotional than physical pain,’’ Morris said. “My first thought was, ‘I know this is going to be put me out for a while.’’’

Little did he know that his journey back to full health would take nearly two years from that day when it all went wrong against Toms River East.

“I was angry for a little while, thinking, ‘Why me?’’’ he said. “My parents were a big help in reiterating that everything happens for a reason. If I could go back, honestly I don't think I would change anything. It caused me to be a stronger person.’’

Senior Alec Morris

Rare Injury Upon his trip to the hospital following the injury against Toms River East, Morris was diagnosed with osteochondritis, a rare and painful condition where the cartilage or bone in a joint is inflamed. In Morris’s case, he said the collision of two bones in his foot at high speed had formed a dead spot in the bone that creates a hole.

Morris actually played on the foot again before having surgery. He made his return in Southern’s Thanksgiving game against Barnegat in 2009, playing only on defense and only on one good foot. Eventually, he realized that postponing the surgery to repair his condition could be potentially catastrophic.

“I couldn’t feel it, but it could’ve collapsed at any time,’’ he said. “It was like a time bomb. Had I waited any more months, I could’ve been done with sports forever.’’

In February 2010, Morris went under the knife at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City under the direction of Dr. John G. Kennedy, who specializes in osteochondral injuries. The surgeons took stem cells from Morris’s hip and plugged them in the holes in his right ankle in a surgery that Morris said was part of a research experiment. Screws were also inserted into his foot to stabilize the region.

Just two weeks after his second surgery, Morris returned to action in a game against Brick Memorial despite not having done any physical therapy. He just had his foot taped up and played the rest of the season at nothing close to 100 percent. He also could only play mainly in the secondary on defense because the cuts involved at wide receiver put too much stress on his foot.

“I had a few catches here and there, but after the game, I couldn’t walk the next morning,’’ he said. “It was kind of a nightmare.’’

The Comeback Knowing he had only one chance left at a healthy season, Morris threw himself full time in rehabilitating his foot and getting into peak shape this summer. Ironically, it was at the site of his initial injury – the artificial turf at Toms River East – that he finally started to feel like his old self again. Toms River East was the site of this summer’s Ocean County 7-on-7 Championships leading up to the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic in mid-July. Morris was able to go full speed and make hard cuts while catching passes from junior quarterback Dan Higgins.

“I just knew that day,’’ Morris said. “I had a feeling that this was what I’ve been waiting for, and this is what I’ve been working for.’’

Seven games into his senior season, Morris is back to being a playmaker on both sides of the ball. He is a leader on a Rams team that is 6-1 and has captured its first division title since 1972 and its first outright division title in program history by going unbeaten in Class A South. The Rams are also on pace to host their first home state playoff game in school history as a high seed in South Jersey

Group IV. Morris showed that he is once again a force in a thrilling, 21-14 comeback victory over previously unbeaten Jackson Memorial earlier in the season when he had a 37-yard interception return that set up the gamewinning touchdown touchdown and a huge fumble recovery in the end zone with 1:14 left in the game. He also had 3 catches for 45 yards on offense.

Morris also had a touchdown catch and an interception in an earlier win over a Colts Neck team that is tied for second place in the loaded Class B North.

“It was awesome,’’ Morris said about the Jackson win. “I knew something good had to come out of it, especially after all the work that me and my teammates put in.’’

Fittingly, the Rams closed out their division championship by beating none other than Toms River East, turning a dark memory from Morris’s sophomore year into an unforgettable one from his senior season. The Rams were down 15-0 against the fired-up Raiders, who had not scored more than 13 points in a game all season and only have one win. Southern rallied for a 21-18 victory to put the finishing touches on the division title.

The effort by Toms River East showed how the Rams are no longer the underdogs after what they have already accomplished this season.

“I don’t think the spotlight has ever been an issue,’’ Morris said.

“We read the papers and we read All Shore Media and see who gets picked and who doesn’t get picked, but we really don’t let it affect us.

We just go hard every week in practice.’’

That goes double for Morris, who could have quit in frustration when he felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel following his second foot surgery. Instead, he spent this week basking in the glow of the program’s biggest win in three years and joining his teammates in the excitement of the possibility of the program’s first division title in 39 years.

Just days after the win over Jackson Memorial, he was walking in the hallway at school with good friend T.J. Bellissimo, Southern’s starting tailback, when head coach Chuck Donohue Sr. stopped the two of them. He wanted to remind them to enjoy a moment that seemed a long way off when Morris lay in a tangled heap on the turf at Toms River East two years ago.

“He said, ‘How does it feel to be on top of the world?’’’ Morris said.

“Nothing gets better than this right now.’’

Photos by:

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

1 2 / AS M

Volume-III

Issue-19

10/25/11

I n - S eaSon F ootball t RaInIng C RItICal to S uCCeSS B y C o r n e l l K e y – C o r n e l l K e y K e y 2 S p o r t s Tr a i n i n g cognizant of the amount of understands the fact that a blows a player is taking, football player’s body takes a and plan his training pounding. So in an attempt to accordingly. reduce the trauma from going Football players participate in such a unique sport in toe-to-toe, down after down, you One of the Shore's best that there is generally only one competition per week after must train regularly! The tempo players, Monsignor many hours of practice, skill work, film study and other of your workouts must be Cornell Key works out with Donovan junior offensive forms of mental and physical conditioning. Football moderate to high. By this I mean NFL RB Donnie Brown of the Colts lineman Brad Henson, has requires great power, strength, aerobic endurance, mental no slow, body building-type been a part of our system focus, athletic skill and attrition. The nature of the game is workouts. You want to train for here at Key 2 Sports for two years now. Brad has done an explosively aggressive and takes a simple, yet well 40 to 60 minutes at a good enough tempo to get your CNS excellent job at understanding the importance of off/indesigned, in-season plan if athletes are to continue (central nervous system) kicking. This means a healthy, season training and dedication to being the best. Brad meeting the various demands required to play at high up-tempo warm-up full of ballistic/dynamic movements drives over an hour both ways to train with us twice a levels. and using both ground-based and week and still excels in class and in his community. There standing movements.

Now that we're about two is no wonder he has offers from five major Division I-A months into the season, athletes schools with 10 or more schools planning to bring him in I believe that athletes need to are starting to feel the effects of for visits. Brad is a specimen of an individual, standing at maximize their time in the weight the rigorous life of a football over 6'5 and weighing almost 270 pounds, and the best room by utilizing exercises that give player. Strength levels have part is he's only a junior! you the most bang for your buck so probably dipped a bit and most of that you don't overtrain and cause Before you rush off to begin training I want to remind the players are dealing with little more damage. Squats, pull-ups, you of a few things. nagging aches and pains that bench press, deadlifts and other they've got to deal with and play multi-joint compound movements 1. Your workouts should coincide with your workload. If through. This is the portion of the will give you the greatest return on you aren't playing much, you should still be training season, unlike the offseason, investment. I generally like to have just as hard as you did in the offseason. No reason to where training (practice) is 100 my athletes work in the 60-85 re-train if you aren't playing. percent specific. So in order to percent range with these lifts with keep performance levels high and fairly high intensity and at low 2. If you are taking an innumerable amount of snaps, reduce the amount of damage volumes. Three to four sets of 3-5 adjust your training to fit what you can handle. Your done on a daily basis, athletes "quality" reps. This means no halfmain objective is recovery, so don't go crazy in the must focus on their strength, stepping! weight room. Remember, performance is number One. mobility and regeneration.

We generally keep assistance work 3. If you are injured, you should train hard at what you My recommendations for to a minimum during the season. can and rehab like a madman. Get back on the field and staying fresh, strong and This basically means we don’t load then go back to training as a regular participant. Focus performing at high levels have a up kids with a ton of sets or reps in on your re-hab/exercises and be smart with heavy lot more to do with how you their secondary exercises. This will weights and range of motion. There are a ton of ways to handle your body as a whole create a nice "pump" feeling, but can stay strong, so don't just jump into something because during the season. Just doing any really be overkill if not performed Offensive lineman Brad Henson you saw it somewhere. Get the recommendation of your one or two things will not correctly. Instead we do more "pre(photo by Hallmarc photography) trainer first. produce the results you desire. As hab" type work at high reps. This the war of attrition commences, means we do pre-habilitation work Stay tuned for part 2 on the importance of regeneration athletes need to understand the global effects of all the like "band-pull aparts" or band TKE's (terminal knee and rest. Until next time: different demands on their bodies and their time. Today extensions) to help stabilize joints in the hips, knees, we lay the ground work for how to be at your absolute ankles, and shoulders mainly. This also keeps the major best for the stretch run. muscles from taking the brunt of the blow down after down. What many people fail to realize is that muscles We will start with talking about strength training: take 1-3 days to recover from trauma, but connective For more information on Key 2 Sports Training and tissue like ligaments, tendons, and certain forms of Cornell Key, please visit www.Key2sportstraining.com or Strength training is absolutely critical. Everyone cartilage can take much longer. This means we have to be email him @ key2sportsperformance@gmail.com In-season training for football arguably plays as big a role in performance as any other aspect of the in-season schedule.

get StRong be eXPloSIVe!

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A SM / 1 3

Midseason Report Continued from page 9

C o ac h of t he Ye ar C a nd i dat e s Chuck Donohue Sr., Southern: Right now, he is the front-runner for this award given the fact that Southern has already clinched its first division title since 1972 and has a shot to win its first state title in program history.

Vinnie Casale, Central: The Golden Eagles were denied a piece of their first division title since 1994, but to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and grab a postseason win or two only one year after a 1-9 season, that’s an outstanding resume.

Ed Gurrieri, Manalapan: The Braves were supposed to have lost too much to graduation, yet are on pace for their second straight outright Class A North title and a high seed in the state playoffs.

Walt Krystopik, Jackson Memorial: In his first season at the helm, the former defensive coordinator has the Jaguars back in the spotlight. A Central Jersey Group IV championship, and Krystopik will be a strong candidate.

Southern Head Coach Chuck Donohue Sr.

Shane Fallon, Rumson-Fair Haven: Last year’s Coach of the Year has the Bulldogs unbeaten. If they turn in their first 12-0 season ever and repeat as Central Jersey Group II champions, he certainly would have to deserve consideration.

Jim Portela, Red Bank Catholic: The machine is humming along, and if RBC can do something in the state playoffs for the first time since 1998 and go wire-to-wire as the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team, he has to be heavily considered.

Nick Giglio, Red Bank Regional: If the Bucs qualify for the state playoffs for the first time since 2004 and make some noise, his name will be right up there.

Mark Ciccotelli, Neptune: The Scarlet Fliers are on pace for their best season in years. If they can win their first Central Jersey Group III title since 1998, Ciccotelli will get a strong push.

Matt Ardizzone, Asbury Park: If the Blue Bishops can finish 11-1, he will be right there. If they go 12-0 and beat Neptune and Rumson on the way to winning Central Jersey Group I, he would be a prime candidate.

John Wagner, Point Beach: In his first season with the Garnet Gulls, Wagner has already helped them more than double their win total from last year and make a serious run at their first state playoff berth in 10 years. That’s certainly Coach of the Year material.

Rob Davis, Barnegat: He deserves consideration for leading the Bengals to their first division title in program history, but a strong playoff run couldn’t hurt, either.

Chris Barnes, Wall: If the Crimson Knights go 12-0 and win their first Central Jersey Group III title since 2002 while also beating Manasquan, Barnes will be a major candidate.

Jay Price, Manasquan: See the scenario for Chris Barnes. Just change Central Jersey Group III to Central Jersey Group II and have the Warriors beating Wall on Thanksgiving.

Midseason Report Photos by

Cliff Lavelle w w w . b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m Bi ll No rm il e w w w . d a v e t h o r n e . s m u g m u g . c o m David Thorne www.sportshotswlb.com www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

2011 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE (Games to be broadcast on 105.7FM and 1160/1310AM)

Fri

10/28

Middletown North

at

Toms River East

(7pm)

Fri

11/4

Howell

at

Brick Memorial

(7pm)

ADDITIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE (Games to be broadcast on WOBM 1160/1310AM)

Thr

11/24

Manaquan

at

Wall

NJSIAA Playoff Games = TBD BROADCAST CREW Matt Harmon, Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca Visit www.shoresportsnetwork for details

(11am)

Volume-III

1 4 / ASM

Issue-19

10/25/11

Manalapan’s John Sieczkowski Sets Rushing Record

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Manalapan senior tailback John Sieczkowski figured head coach Eddie Gurrieri was just making a harmless request as the Braves put the finishing touches on a title-clinching, 41-20 win over Howell in Class A North on Oct. 21.

Sieczkowski credited his offensive line of senior center Jimmy Danella, senior left guard Mitch Moy, senior right tackle Brandon Pierce, junior right guard Derek Brooks, junior left tackle Jon Appice, sophomore tight end RJ Krause and senior fullback Jesse McEnery for clearing the way for his record-breaking night.

He had touchdown runs of 1, 50, and 48 yards, and junior quarterback Mike Isabella added a touchdown pass to junior wideout Anthony Firkser before junior defensive back Sam Mahon capped the victory with an interception return for a touchdown.

"Coach said, 'Just do one thing for me - get me five more yards,'' Sieczkowski said. "I was like, 'That's all you want?' I think I got about 7 or 8, and then he took me out.''

Gurrieri knew that Sieczkowski only needed five yards to supplant a New Jersey high school legend and set the Shore Conference single-game rushing record. With his final carry of six yards, Sieczkowski finished with 425 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 44 carries, besting the mark of 420 yards set by current Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno in 2004 for Middletown South against Neptune.

It was a perfect storm for Sieczkowski to get the record Senior TB John Sieczkowski because Howell is a potent offensive team, which meant he was going to have to stay in the game the whole way to counter Howell senior quarterback Ryan Davies, "When coach (Gurrieri) took me out, he told me on the sideline that I who threw three touchdown passes in the loss. In addition, Howell's run broke the record,'' Sieczkowski said. "I was in complete shock. Honestly, defense has been shredded by opponents this season, and Manalapan is a I didn't know I was that high up there. I had no idea I would ever be able downhill running team committed to establishing the ground game. to do something like this.''

In the process, Sieczkowski also went over the 1,000-yard mark for the season (1,066), continuing the streak of Manalapan having a 1,000-yard rusher every year since 2003. Manalapan, ranked No. 8 in the All Shore Media Top 10, also clinched no worse than a tie for its second straight Class A North title. The Braves (5-1, 4-0) only have to defeat winless Marlboro on Thanksgiving to win consecutive outright division titles for the first time in school history.

Last season against Howell, current Wagner College freshman Josh Firsker set the previous Manalapan record with 318 yards rushing in a 5427 win in the regular season before Sieczkowski obliterated that mark by more than 100 yards on Friday night. Firkser also set the single-season school record with 2,053 yards rushing, which is potentially in reach for Sieczkowski if Manalapan makes a playoff run. Sieczkowski does not have any scholarship offers yet, but said he has gotten steady interest from Towson University and Monmouth University.

Sieczkowski is also a three-year starter at linebacker, but said he only played about half the snaps on defense because of his monster workload on offense. At the conclusion of the game he was congratulated by teammates, coaches and fans, although he said he did not get the game ball.

"I just got interviewed,'' he said before laughing.

Now he can say that he bested the mark of one of the greatest high school running backs in New Jersey history and an NFL first-round draft pick. Sieczkowski also became the second Shore Conference running back to go over 400 yards in a game this season. The Shore's leading rusher, Central senior Kalyph Hardy, ran for 417 yards in a 35-20 win over Brick, coming up just three shy of Moreno's record. Little did Hardy know that even if he had gotten to 421 yards, the record only would have stood for less than a month.

"It's unbelievable,'' Sieczkowski said. "I still can't believe what I did tonight.''

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A SM / 15 Central title with a 40-7 win over Keyport.

Here are some remembrances of Key from those in various parts of his life and coaching career:

I

n th e da ys s in ce th e tr a g ic d eath o f As b u r y Par k f oo tb a ll a s s is tan t an d Lon g Br a n ch r es iden t J o h n Key on O ct. 1 6, it's been clea r h ow ma n y d iff er en t p eo ple h e aff ected in a ll a r eas o f h is lif e.

He is remembered as a former football star at Ocean Township, a beloved assistant coach at Ocean, Monmouth Regional and Asbury Park, a loving father of two, a well-liked middle school teacher in Asbury Park and a quality individual in all walks of his life. Key, 37, was struck by a car at 2:08 a.m. on Sunday as he attempted to cross over four lanes of the Garden State Parkway in Wall after checking on the occupants of another car that he was involved in a minor accident with.

Key played under legendary coach George Conti at Ocean, where his teams reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final for three straight years from 1989-91. He went on to play at the University of Delaware and then returned to coach at his alma mater. He was an assistant coach under Scott Larkin on the Ocean team that won the Central Jersey Group III championship in 2000, and an assistant under Sal Spampanato on the Spartans' squad that won the CJ III crown in 2005.

"This is just awful news, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We were all saying that he officially became a Bishop (in the win over Keyport). He gave a really emotional pre-game speech and was fired up for that game. I remember one of our first meetings, he told us he had to leave early. I questioned him on it, and he said that he had been at 54 straight youth football games for his son and didn't want to miss one, and I respected that. That's the kind of person he was.'' - Asbury Park head coach Matt Ardizzone.

"Johnny and I were together for the eight years when I was a head coach (at Ocean and Monmouth) and a couple of years together as assistants, so you're looking at 11 years. They don't come better than Johnny. Everybody knows what a great athlete he was, but he was a better person as a friend and a father. He was always positive, and he was as loyal as they come.

When I made the leap of faith to leave Ocean and come to Monmouth (in 2006), Johnny came without hesitation. This just doesn't make sense to me. I'm at a loss. I was hoping it was a mistake, but it would be just like Johnny to go over to the other car just to make sure the other people are OK.'' - Neptune assistant Sal Spampanato.

"I am in total shock to say the least. John was always a very talented, unselfish person and a very talented coach. He will be greatly missed.'' - Former Ocean teammate and coach Scott Baldwin.

"This guy made me aware in elementary school of my own limitations :). A real star. A good friend, and someone to look up to." - Vincent Gruosso.

"I have known John for most of my life and he has always been like a brother to me. We have spent time working on many projects over the past five years.

He was one of the coaches that worked at my speed camps in Holmdel every summer. Every kid in the camp loved him from Day One. It was like they knew him all their life. We worked with a lot of young kids in track and football, and he was always someone I could count on.

John Key, the Asbury asst. & former Ocean Twp. star

He then coached under Spampanato at Monmouth from 2006-2010, where the Falcons reached the state playoffs for just the second time in school history last season. Key was also a track and field coach at Monmouth.

This was his first year at Asbury Park, and his death came less than 24 hours after the undefeated Blue Bishops wrapped up the outright Shore Conference Class B

"He always had great ideas about making our programs

better. We would always talk about track, football, and our kids. We both just finished working on our master's degrees in administration last year, and I remember how excited he was when he passed the principal's exam. I wouldn't have finished my last class without him. I knew he was destined for bigger things even though he had already done so much. These are the things that I will remember most about him.

Not the horrible news of the day and the realization of a good person now gone. The Lord needed more than an angel today, and he surely will be missed here." - Maurice Bell.

"I am so deeply saddened with the horrific news about John Key. John and I were friends and teammates since the fourth grade. We played club soccer together, and he talked me into playing football.

We played Pop Warner, freshman football (undefeated) and varsity football. John, Brendan Richter and I captained "Big Red" our senior year. Week in and week out, we would get suited up and go into battle against other teams. I also felt confident knowing he was on my side. He even got me to do a fashion show at his uncle's store in Asbury Park, '"Mr. Fashion." This is a tragic event, and the world has lost a really good man. John was a great football player, a real friend and above all an amazing human being. My sincerest condolences go out to his family. - Dr. Manolis Manolakakis.

"I played at Ocean Township when John Key was our defensive backs coach. As a lineman, I didn't really have a lot of one-on-one coaching from John but when I did, it was always important to listen. He had a grasp of the game that not many people hold. He knew that it wasn't just about winning football games, but also about teaching student-athletes the right way to live their lives. I will always try to use the things John taught us in my coaching. He was an outstanding coach and an even better man off the field. Rest easy John.'' - Rumson-Fair Haven assistant Jeremy Schulte.

"Coach Key was also a member of the 2000 Ocean Twp. coaching staff that won the Central Jersey Group III championship. I was a junior RB/DB on that team and was lucky enough to be taught by Coach Key at both positions for two seasons. Being raised in Ocean Township, I've always bought into and believed in the Big Red pride and traditions. I loved every second of seeing Coach Key working alongside Coach Baldwin, Coach Larkin, Coach 'Spamp' and Coach Lambusta, all coaches who played key roles in building Big Red football.

Watching them coach together for a program which they came from was inspiring. Hearing them talk about former players, games, and stories of Big Red football in the late 80's and early 90's are memories that will stay with me forever.

John Key played a pivotal role in the development of my coaching and personal life, and I am so lucky and grateful for being able to have had the opportunity to be able to have known him. Coach Key was a great person who I truly will never forget.'' - Jon Molinelli.

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Volume-III

Issue-18

10/03/11

A SM / 16