All Shore Media High School Sports 8-5-13 Issue -14 Volume V

August 5, 2013 Volume-V

Issue-14

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5 Gridiron Classic Sam Mills Award Gridiron Classic Review

2013 SFCF Hall of Fame inductees

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Gridiron Classic Cougar Connection

Football 12 Burning Questions 8-9 Preseason 15 10 2013 NJSIAA Football Realignment

Finishing Strong Brick's Dan Watson Stumpy’s Corner

The first thing fans, players, coaches and parents want to know after the big game is always,

�Is this going to be on

�

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practice, worked hard and deserves all of this.

It was never about him, but more about the team and how to get better."

Sam was certainly smiling as he looked down at this year's two recipients of the award.

The award winners were announced before the fourth quarter of this year's 36th annual U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic played at Toms River North's Gernerd Field.

Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson and Monsignor Donovan linebacker Tom Farrell were the respective recipients, and players and coaches from both sides spoke about how well-deserving the accolade was for the two standouts.

Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson (#6) next to Colts Neck coach Greg LaCava and Monsignor Donovan linebacker Tommy Farrell (#40) next to Point Beach coach John Wagner were this year's recipients of the Sam Mills Award for their respective counties.

Patterson will be attending University of New Haven next year and felt very fortunate to be representing Neptune and Monmouth County this year. It capped a brilliant senior season in which he helped the Scarlet Fliers win their first division title since 1998 and reach their second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final.

"It's an honor to be chosen for this game, and an even bigger honor to be chosen for this award,'' Patterson said.

"There were a lot of great players who had a chance to win this award, so just to be considered is an honor and to win it is a blessing."

"It was a real pleasure coaching Ajee,'' Monmouth County head coach Greg LaCava of Colts Neck said. "He came in and worked hard, led by example and was welldeserving of the award"

"Ajee epitomizes what the award is all about,'' said Monmouth County quarterbacks coach Matt Walsh, an assistant at Matawan. "He came in and led from the first

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Patterson also starred in Monmouth County's 19-7 victory, going 6-for-9 for 65

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The Sam Mills Award is annually given to the Monmouth and Ocean County players who show the dedication, perseverance, character, leadership and inspiration personified by the late Long Branch legend and former New Orleans Saints All-Pro linebacker.

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By Art Gordon - All Shore Media contributor

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Seizing the Opportunity: Patterson, Farrell Named Sam Mills Award Recipients

yards and two touchdowns passing and also running for 45 yards.

Despite Ocean County's loss, Farrell said this week was a "true blessing" to him. His father, also named Tom, was part of the Ocean County coaching staff. The younger Farrell, who was also named one of Ocean County's four captains for the game, will continue his career at Stonehill College.

"I was surprised he was even selected to the team, let alone starting, and then to be named a captain is a true blessing and honor,'' the elder Farrell said.

"The scoreboard did not show it at the end, but my teammates and myself were winners tonight,'' the younger Farrell said. "We were able to represent our schools and family, and for that we are thankful."

"Tom is a great player on and off the field,'' said Ocean County defensive coordinator Jeff Bower, a Point Beach

assistant. "He fit the mold of a leader from the first second he showed up, every day in practice and on game day."

Lou Peccarelli, Lakewood High School assistant coach and Ocean County linebackers coach, told a typical Tom Farrell story.

"On Monmouth's last drive, I wanted to put Tom into the game but he said, 'Coach leave (Jackson Liberty's) Chris (Cruz) in, he is playing in his last game.' (Cruz will be joining the U.S. Marine Corps). That sums up who and what he is. He cares more about others than he does himself."

When asked after the game about it, Farrell's reply was, "I felt Sam Mills would have done the same thing."

Be assured that the Sam Mills Award rests in good hands this year.

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Gridiron Classic - Touchdown Tim: Monmouth 19, Ocean 7

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By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

n the week leading up to the US Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic, all Colts Neck receiver Tim Vangelas had to do was look under center for a reminder of the opportunities he was likely to get to make an impact.

"It really doesn't get much better than having those two guys (Colts Neck's Mike Campbell and Neptune's Ajee Patterson) throwing it around," Vangelas said. "They made it easy for me."

Vangelas, a Lafayette College commit, caught six passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns to be selected as Monmouth County's offensive MVP and lead Monmouth to a 19-7 victory over Ocean County under the lights at Toms River North. Vangelas caught a seven-yard pass from Patterson in the first quarter and a 10-yard toss from Campbell in the third to end his career in style after piling up over 1,000 receiving yards in the fall.

"It's a great honor just to be in the game, and to go on and win MVP with all the great players here is another great honor," Vangelas said.

Campbell finished 8-of-15 for a game-high 120 yards to

go along with his second-half touchdown pass.

"Once our season ended and we found out about the All-Shore game and that (Colts Neck) coach (Greg) LaCava was coaching, we've been looking forward to this," Campbell said. "We talked about how we wanted to get one last win, and I think we did a good job of coming together in a week."

Patterson got most of his touches in the first half and finished 6-of-8 for 65 yards and two touchdowns. In addition to his touchdown pass to Vangelas, the New Haven commit found Holmdel's Robbie Cantelli for a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

"I left off on a good note but at the same time it's emotional knowing it's the last high school game you'll ever play," said Patterson, who was the All Shore Media Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. "Coming out here and getting a 'W' is what I wanted to do and winning awards too is just a blessing."

Patterson's teammate David Calderon led

the Monmouth County defense with four sacks at defensive end and was selected as the team's defensive MVP. He took advantage of his time along the line with constant pressure against Ocean County quarterbacks Ryan Cieplenski (Brick Memorial) and Dan Higgins (Southern) while also leading the charge in bottling up Ocean's ground attack.

"It was important to play well," Calderon said. "This is the type of thing you wait all your high school career to play in. I looked at film of last year's game and couldn't wait until my time so I made sure I was going to

come out here and not waste an opportunity. You only get one chance to do this."

Cieplenski threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Point Beach's Andre Cochran in the second quarter to account for Ocean County's only scoring and was selected as the team's offensive MVP. Brick defensive end Dan Watson recorded two sacks, two quarterback hits and several pressures to win defensive MVP.

Monmouth received to begin the game and immediately drove 78 yards in 13 plays to take a 6-0 lead. Patterson and Long Branch running back Joscil Jackson led the charge down the field that culminated with Patterson hitting Vangelas on a quick slant on third-and-goal from the seven. Toms River North's Garrett Kroeger blocked the extra point by Middletown South's Connor Ryan to keep it 6-0.

After a short series by Ocean County, there was a 30minute delay because of lightning in the distance but play was able to resume without any further delays.

The teams traded punts before Monmouth took over at its own 34 with 12:42 left in the second quarter. With the ball at midfield three plays into the drive, Patterson ran around left end for 29 yards for a first down at the Ocean 21. Two plays later Patterson and Cantelli got together for a phenomenal touchdown to extend Monmouth County's lead to two scores. Patterson dropped back and shuffled to his left to avoid pressure. As he was rolling left his threw back across his body, lofting the ball over the defensive back and allowing Cantelli to make a sensational leaping catch for a 12-0 lead. The two-point conversion pass failed to keep it 12-0 with 8:15 left in the half.

"All week we talked about putting 50 on the board," Patterson said. "We came out attacking."

Ocean County got points back on its next drive, however, to make it a one-score game heading to halftime.

Starting from its own 29, Ocean marched to Monmouth's 29 on nine straight running plays. Cieplenski converted a third-and-2 with a six-yard run and later ran for seven yards on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. One play after his fourth-down conversion, Cieplenski threw a

perfect fade to Cochran down the home sideline and the Point Beach receiver hauled it in for a 29-yard touchdown that capped a 10-play, 71-yard drive with 1:29 left in the half. Point Boro's Brett Blank converted the extra point to trim Monmouth's lead to 12-7.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Ocean County drove from its own 22 to midfield before being faced with a fourth-and-2 from the Monmouth 44.

Running Cieplenski up the middle had been working like a charm for Ocean County, but this time Cieplenski was stopped for no gain to allow Monmouth to take over on downs. With Campbell under center, Monmouth marched

On the second play of the drive Campbell had Vangelas for what looked like a touchdown, and at the worst a long gain. But the sure-handed Vangelas uncharacteristically dropped the pass.

"My first touchdown pass was to Tim and now my last touchdown goes to Tim," Campbell continued. "He works hard and he deserved to win MVP. He's always open.

People ask a lot about our chemistry, and we have a feel where we know what each other is going to do. We came out here after a few months and it was the same thing."

Ocean County had its final two drives halted and Monmouth would hold on to win for the 20th time in the series. Neptune defensive back Myles Martin intercepted Higgins to end a drive at Ocean's own 34 and then Calderon sacked Cieplenski twice to end the game.

At halftime, current Southern Regional head coach Chuck Donohue Sr. and former Matawan head coach Joe Martucci were among those inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame. This year's Sam Mills Award winners were Patterson and Monsignor Donovan's Tom Farrell.

"I missed that one so I owed Mike," Vangelas said. "I Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson don't know what

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

2013 Inductees into Hall of Fame

A

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor n Ocean County coaching legend and a Monmouth County coaching luminary highlighted the 2013 class of the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame at this summer’s 36th annual U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic.

At halftime of Monmouth’s 19-7 win over Ocean on July 18 at Toms River North, current Southern coach Chuck Donohue Sr. and former Matawan coach Joe Martucci headlined the SFCF Hall of Fame inductions, which also included the group of Shore Conference coaches/contributors Ron Emmert, Bob Strangia, George Jeck and Ken Turp.

“Shore Conference football is some of the best and most competitive football in the state, and it’s always an honor to be recognized like this in an area known for producing quality competition every year,’’ Donohue Sr. said.

“It’s especially gratifying to be inducted by your peers being a former Shore Conference player myself and knowing the proud tradition of football in this area,’’ Martucci said.

Donohue has a career record of 226-151-4 in 39 years at four different programs and is the first coach in state history to lead four different teams to NJSIAA sectional finals. During his stint at Southern from 1998 to the present, he has a career record of 87-68 and led the Rams to their only NJSIAA sectional final appearance in 2008 and 2012. In 2011, he led Southern to its first division title since 1972 and just the second in program history. Under Donohue, the Rams have made seven of their nine state playoff appearances in school history.

In 2008, he led Southern to a school-record 10 wins with a team led by current Penn State linebacker Glenn Carson. The Rams are coming off a 9-3 season in 2012 in which they reached the inaugural South Jersey Group V championship game before falling to undefeated Williamstown.

Donohue began his head coaching career at St. Joseph’sHammonton, where his teams went 44-20-1 from 1974-80, winning the South Jersey Parochial B title in 1977 and reaching the championship game in 1980. They made four total playoff appearances under Donohue and also won two Cape-Atlantic League division titles.

From 1981-85, Donohue was the head coach at Haddon Heights, finishing 26-20-1 in that stint and leading the Garnets to the South Jersey Group II final in 1985. He then became the head coach at

Regional for six years after having served as the head coach at Dickinson and an assistant at Snyder in Jersey City for a total of six seasons. Strangia led the Bucs to three undefeated seasons, including their only NJSIAA sectional title since the creation of the state playoffs in 1974.

In 1975, Red Bank beat Hightstown 46-44 in one of the greatest championship games in 2013 SFCF Hall of Fame inductees New Jersey history to win the Central Jersey Group II championship. Red Bank also won Buena from 1986-97, where his teams went 69-43-2, finishing 11-0 the Rutgers Cup in 1971 as a Central Jersey champion, and Strangia and winning the South Jersey Group II title in 1988. The Chiefs earned Coach of the Year honors three times from local media. also won two Cape-Atlantic League Division titles during Strangia also served as a broadcaster for Channel 8 for 11 editions Donohue’s tenure and reached the state playoffs five times. of the All-Shore Classic and worked five state finals for television as well.

The greatest coach in Matawan’s illustrious history, Martucci racked up a career record of 197-91-1 in 27 seasons with the Jeck was the head coach at Toms River East for eight seasons Huskies. His teams won five NJSIAA sectional titles, tied for the after having been an assistant under the legendary Warren Wolf for third-most of any head coach in Shore Conference history.

14 years at Brick. He led the Raiders to a share of the Class A South title in 1982 and also led them to their only NJSIAA sectional final Matawan also captured 10 Shore Conference division titles appearance in school history when they lost 17-0 to Brick in the during Martucci’s tenure. The Huskies finished undefeated in 1988 South Jersey Group IV championship game in 1981. He also for the first of Martucci’s five titles, which also included 1991, coached in five All-Shore Classics for Ocean County and served as 1992, 2009 and in his final season in 2011. His 1988 and 2009 a broadcaster doing Shore Conference football for Channel 8 for 18 teams tied the school record with 11 wins. Also Matawan’s athletic years, which included broadcasting five All-Shore Classics. director, Martucci retired from his administrative position in 2012 and is now the running backs coach at Kean University, where he Turp promoted Shore Conference football on three radio stations earned a master’s degree in supervision and administration in 1980. and two local cable stations in Ocean County over the course of 29 years. He was the play-by-play broadcaster for 19 straight AllEmmert was the head coach at Southern from 1972-1986 after Shore Classics and did color commentary on the “Game of the having previously been an assistant for the Rams for eight years Week’’ broadcasts in Ocean County. Turp also had a regular phoneand at Lacey for three seasons. He led Southern to the Shore in show on WOBM radio, and served as the play-by-play Conference Class C title in 1972 for the program’s first division announcer on the radio for the inaugural North-South All-Star title and its only division crown until 2011. He was named the Press Classic in 1979. He also broadcasted 10 NJSIAA championship of Atlantic City Coach of the Year in 1981. A member of the games, including two at the former Giants Stadium.

Southern Regional Athletic Hall of Fame, he also served as a broadcaster for coverage of Shore Conference football on Channel Photos by 8 in Ocean County for five years and coached in five Gridiron Classics when it was then known as the All-Shore Classic.

Strangia had a tremendous run as the head coach at Red Bank

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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"I couldn't really get on him because he's bailed me out more than a few times," Campbell said. "I was almost on the sidelines because I thought he had it, and it was over.

I'll give hime one a year and that was his one."

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Asked if he got on Vangelas at all for the drop, Campbell just shrugged.

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happened there, but I got it back at the end and got Mike his touchdown pass."

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Tim Vangelas is presented the Monmouth offensive MVP by US ARMY LTC Davis

to the end zone in nine plays to push its lead back to two scores. On thirdand-7 from the 47, Campbell connected with Colts Neck teammate Connor Canonico for 13 yards and went back to the tight end again on the next play for 13 more yards to move the ball to the Ocean County 27.

Campbell converted another third-and-7 later in the drive, this time with his legs, as he scrambled 17 yards to give Monmouth first-and-goal from the seven. After a three-yard loss on first down, Campbell hit Vangelas for a 10-yard score. Ryan's extra point was good to put Monmouth up 197.

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Messler is on his way to carving out a career as an all-time great at one of the state's top programs after two outstanding seasons. As a junior, he hit .500 with 37 hits, a Shore Conference-high 39 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 20 RBI, 7 home runs, 7 doubles, 2 triples, a .606 onbase percentage and a .932 slugging percentage.

Messler's robust junior campaign followed a sophomore season in

Messler is part of a Shore Conference recruiting class that includes Central pitcher Andrew DiPiazza (Alabama); Jackson Liberty second baseman/pitcher James Sofield (NJIT); St. John Vianney outfielder Evan Pietronico (NJIT) and his teammates, catcher Anthony Santoro (Rutgers) and pitcher Justin Chin (NJIT); Rumson-Fair Haven pitcher Shane McCarthy (Seton Hall); Manchester pitcher/infielder/outfielder Devin Tomei (Campbell); Christian Brothers Academy outfielder Ryan Ramiz (Seton Hall); Red Bank Catholic catcher Mike Alescio (Seton Hall); Jackson Liberty pitcher Dan Serreino (Seton Hall); Wall pitcher Tyler Swiggart (George Washington); Shore Regional pitcher/outfielder Matt Cosentino (George Washington); and RBC pitcher/shortstop Al Molina (Coastal Carolina).

Central's Andrew DiPiazza Commits to Alabama

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

Central senior right-hander Andrew DiPiazza, the 2013 All Shore Media Pitcher of the Year, verbally committed to the University of Alabama earlier this week to join a growing list of Division I-bound standouts from the Shore Conference Class of 2014.

DiPiazza had verbally committed to Boston College following an injury-plagued sophomore season before deciding to de-commit and reopen his recruiting as a junior. He followed that decision with a brilliant junior season in which he went 9-0 to lead the Shore Conference in wins and struck out 106 in 66 innings with an ERA of 0.85 and a WHIP of 0.80. He also had a 16-strikeout nohitter in the season opener against Point Boro.

He allowed two runs and struck out eight in Central's 32 win over Class B South champion and Shore Conference Tournament finalist Jackson Liberty and

allowed one run with 12 strikeouts in a 5-1 upset of Toms River East in the Shore Conference Tournament opening round. He also delivered two stellar NJSIAA Tournament outings to help the Golden Eagles make run to the South Jersey Group III semifinals as a No. 10 seed. He won nine of his 10 starts without taking a loss and of those 10 starts, six ended with DiPiazza striking out 10 or more, tied with Monmouth's Tom Broyles for the most double-digit strikeout starts of any pitcher in the Shore Conference.

DiPiazza is part of a 2014 Shore Conference recruiting class that includes Toms River South outfielder Russell Messler (Rutgers); Jackson Liberty second baseman/pitcher James Sofield (NJIT); St. John Vianney outfielder Evan Pietronico (NJIT) and his teammates, catcher Anthony Santoro (Rutgers) and pitcher Justin Chin (NJIT); Rumson-Fair Haven pitcher Shane McCarthy

(Seton Hall); Manchester pitcher/infielder/outfielder Devin Tomei (Campbell); Christian Brothers Academy outfielder Ryan Ramiz (Seton Hall); Red Bank Catholic catcher Mike Alescio (Seton Hall); Jackson Liberty pitcher Dan Serreino (Seton Hall); Wall pitcher Tyler Swiggart (George Washington); Shore Regional pitcher/outfielder Matt Cosentino (George Washington); and RBC pitcher/shortstop Al Molina (Coastal Carolina).

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Messler continues a long tradition of Indians' stars continuing their careers at Rutgers, including current Scarlet Knights' sophomore pitcher Kyle Driscoll as well as former pitcher Tyler Gebler, who completed his senior season this past spring. He also becomes the second member of the Shore Conference Class of 2014 to commit to the Scarlet Knights, joining St. John Vianney catcher Anthony Santoro.

which he hit .505 with a Shore Conference-high 46 hits, 25 runs scored, 24 RBI, 12 stolen bases, 9 doubles, a .545 on-base percentage and an .835 slugging percentage.

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Toms River South senior outfielder Russell Messler, a two-time, ASM first-team All-Shore selection, has verbally committed to Rutgers.

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

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Baseball - TR South's Russell Messler Commits to Rutgers

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

ith preseason training camps getting underway in mid-August, the long wait is finally over.

It’s time for Shore Conference football again.

With a new season comes a whole new set of questions. Graduation and offseason improvement always threaten to shake up the Shore hierarchy, and this season should be no different. While the teams right at the top look to remain the same, there are plenty of unknowns out there behind them.

Who will be this year’s Ajee Patterson, the Neptune star who began the preseason having never started a varsity game at quarterback and ended it as the All Shore Media Offensive Player of the Year. Who will be this year’s Colts Neck, which seemingly had a lot of holes to fill before the season began yet roared to a school-record nine wins and its first state playoff victory in 12 years.

That’s the fun of the preseason, when every player believes this is his year and every team thinks it is being slept on and is ready to make some noise. With so much uncertainty out there, let’s take a look at some preseason burning questions for Shore Conference football

Which team(s) will make sure the Shore Conference gets back on top in the state playoffs?

won’t be an easy road for the Braves.

Central Jersey Group IV becomes more wide open now that Sayreville’s gone, which may give Middletown South the chance to finish the job after losing in the sectional finals in four of the past five years. Neptune, which has made two straight CJ Group III finals, is now up in Group IV, which also includes a tough Colts Neck team on the rise. Also, CJ Group III champion Nottingham is now in this bracket. Still, there is no 800-pound gorilla like Sayreville here, so the Shore should have a good shot.

Long Branch and an Ocean team with the tandem of Tyler Thompson and Royal Moore look like legitimate threats to make a run at the CJ Group III title in a bracket the Shore has had great success in over the years. Matawan also has to be respected as a contender given its track record. Rumson-Fair Haven, a rejuvenated Lakewood and Point Boro should be a threat in CJ Group II along with Shore Regional, which moves up after reaching last year’s CJ Group I final.

One of the best chances may be among the small schools, where Point Beach will try to overcome the graduation of a stellar class and finish the job after falling to Florence in the semifinals last year. Plus there is always Asbury Park, which has won four of the last six CJ Group I titles and looks to rejoin the hunt this year.

In South Jersey, Southern remains a threat in SJ Group V, but defending champion Williamstown is a tough obstacle in a loaded bracket. Lacey has a shot in SJ Group IV, but Kingsway is still there and a loaded Timber Creek team that has become an FBS recruit factory isn’t going anywhere either. In SJ Group III, defending champion Delsea returns and will be in the way of teams like Barnegat and Manasquan.

Last season marked the first year since 1985 that the Shore did not produce one sectional champion, as it went a combined 0-5 in state championship games. It’s not going to get a whole lot easier to end that drought in 2013, but there are some worthy contenders.

Finally, the Shore Manalapan has been to two straight sectional Conference’s best finals but has not been able to bring home its team, Red Bank elusive first state title. The Braves are loaded Catholic, is still a once again, but have to deal with a rugged huge underdog in Central Jersey Group V bracket that includes Non-Public defending champion South Brunswick, which Group III beat the Braves 33-22 last season. The bracket also includes three-time defending CJ Group IV champion Sayreville, which beat Manalapan in the section CJ IV final in 2011 and is now up in Group V headlined under the latest NJSIAA realignment. Add in by perennial perennial contenders like Hunterdon Central juggernaut and and Brick Memorial, and it defending Manalapan's Saeed Blacknall champion St.

Joseph-Montvale, which beat the Caseys 42-7 in last year’s semifinals. No Shore parochial team has won a state title since 1980, so this is the longest shot of them all.

Can anyone stop the reign of Red Bank Catholic ?

The Caseys have won 24 straight games against Shore competition and have finished No. 1 in each of the last two seasons. They will star this season at No. 1 again, and the scary part is they could be better than last year’s 10-1 team. They return Notre Dame recruit Quenton Nelson to anchor a huge line on both sides of the ball and bring back leading rusher Larry Redaelli and fellow running threat Mike Cordova in the backfield. Super sophomore Eddie Hahn will challenge Pat Toomey for the starting quarterback spot, and the defense returns plenty of experience and talent. It’s going to be another tough year for anyone to get in their way locally.

How will transfers affect the landscape ?

There almost needed to be a weekly transactions update during this offseason with players hopping schools right and left. Unfortunately, that’s the way the world works at this point because the NJSIAA rarely gives even a slap on the wrist and many schools don’t bother to challenge outgoing transfers, so players are going to play wherever they and their parents want them to play.

Defending Class B South champion Monsignor Donovan has seemingly added about half of Toms River North’s team from last season, including leading receivers Joey Fields and Kyle Carrington. Their addition puts the Griffins right in the mix to repeat as champions in what should be an improved division.

Brick has added junior quarterback Carmen Sclafani, who ran and passed for more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore for Toms River North and joins a strong Class of 2015 for the Green Dragons that should make them a factor in Class A South after a 3-7 season.

An already loaded Manalapan team has added even more impact players, as St. John Vianney running back Mo Omar and linebacker Carlos Teixeira, Freehold

Red Bank Catholic's Quenton Nelson

Lakewood

Can Toms River South and Ocean make the leap back into the spotlight ?

These are two of the storied programs in the Shore Conference but have been under the radar in the past three seasons or so. Both have made strides back to becoming contenders, as both reached the state playoffs last season.

However, this is now an era when everyone and their grandmother qualifies for the state playoffs, so truly being a contender means at least making the sectional semifinals.

Both teams have that potential this year because of outstanding running attacks led by rising talents.

Toms River South junior quarterback Tymere Berry and senior fullback Otis Kearney were a formidable tandem last season for a team that should continue to rise from the ashes under coach Ron Signorino Jr.

Meanwhile, this could be the year that Ocean sophomore running back Tyler Thompson fully explodes onto the Shore Conference scene. He became the first freshman to rush for 1,000 yards since some kid named Knowshon Moreno at Middletown South last year and has only gotten bigger, stronger and faster.

Pair him with allpurpose threat Royal Moore, and you have a handful for opposing

d's Chapelle Cook

defense.

St. John Vianney went 6-4 for its first winning campaign since 2006 last season, but it will have to replace some key losses. Star wide receiver Ishmael Hyman is now at Kansas, and do-it-all talent Steve Callari also was part of the graduating class. Meanwhile, starting linebacker Carlos Teixeira and running back Mo Omar transferred to Can Jackson Liberty, Manalapan. The good news is that , Colts Neck Lakewood and 2,000-yard passer Billy DeMato is back St. John Vianney sustain to engineer the spread offense, and FBS talent Justin Gille and junior their momentum ?

Clay Kemp return to anchor a Jackson Lib's Matt Castronuova strong defensive front for the All three programs took a big Lancers. Making the leap from a step forward last year thanks to six-win squad to one that can reach stellar senior classes, so now it remains to be eight or nine is often one of the seen as to whether the wins can keep on most difficult jumps to achieve, coming despite graduation losses. and the Lancers will look to take Jackson Liberty finally turned the corner with that step. its first winning season and first state playoff appearance in program history last fall, but then What are some other suffered the tragic death of Tim Osborn, the only things to keep an eye head coach in program history. The team will play ? on in his memory and try to honor him by keeping the wins coming under new coach Jim Sharples, the Can Southern weather heavy graduation former defensive coordinator. With junior quarterback losses and build enough offense around Matt Castronuova back in the fold, the Lions should superstar wide receiver Mike Gesicki to be right in the hunt in the Class B South race but do have a lot of question marks thanks to graduation. make another deep playoff run?...Have graduation losses finally caught up A team Jackson Liberty will have to deal with in with Neptune after two straight trips the division is Lakewood, which loses two-time, firstto the Central Jersey Group III finals?...Can Point team All-Shore talent Tyrice Beverette at Beach lose the entirety of a stellar backfield and quarterback/safety as well as some other talented seniors, keep the wins coming in the program’s rebirth but the cupboard is far from bare. This squad is teeming under coach John Wagner?...Will Rumson-Fair with FBS talent from running back Chapelle Cook to Haven be able to smoothly transition to new lineman Ben Watson to linebacker/defensive end Datrell Reed and plenty more. The participation numbers are way coach Bryan Batchler to keep the best run in up, and this team seems poised to program history going? continue its incredible ascent from one of the worst Will Keyport get over the hump teams in the Shore to a against quality opponents with threeTop 10 team after year starter Alex Thomson back as having its best one of the Shore’s top season in 12 years quarterbacks?...How will Toms last fall.

River North recover from losing all of its top skill position players to transfer and its head coach during the offseason?...Can contenders like Howell, Jackson Memorial, Raritan, Wall, Freehold, and Toms River East rebound from dismal seasons to once again become a factor in divisional races?...Can former Miami Colts Neck also Dolphins assistant Steve Bush looks to continue to rack help Middletown North turn up wins, although it has to the tide in a town that has replace the most productive been dominated by quarterback (Mike Campbell) Middletown South? and wide receiver (Tim Vangelas) in school history. The good news is that 1,000-yard rusher and top linebacker Anthony Gargiulo returns along with several key players on Photos by Ocean's Tyler Thompson defense to give the team a strong Cliff Lavelle backbone of punishing running and www.clearedge.zenfolio.com stingy

Toms River South's Otis Kearney

Bill Normile

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David Thorne

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Lacey has bolstered an already explosive offense with Marlboro running back Dewann McAllister, and Barnegat has added a skill position weapon in junior Manny Bowen, a Central transfer. Manchester has added two-year starting quarterback KaShaun Barnes of Matawan, who should be a skill position threat for the Hawks and also help them on defense.

defenses.

That is the type of firepower that could put Ocean right back in the conversation for division and state titles after being on the outside looking in for a few years.

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running back/linebacker Imamu Mayfield and Jackson Memorial quarterback Charles Lombana have all transferred in and should all be impact players. The Braves are a heavy favorite to win their fourth straight Class A North title and reach their third straight NJSIAA sectional final.

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Prominent Shore Teams Change Brackets in NJSIAA Realignment

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

he NJSIAA classifications for the 2013 football season have been released, with several prominent Shore Conference teams finding themselves in new state playoff brackets this season.

Neptune, which has been to two straight Central Jersey Group III finals, winning the title in 2011, is now in Central Jersey Group IV with old rival Middletown South, which reached last season's final, as well as on-therise Colts Neck and 2012 playoff qualifier Jackson Liberty. Middletown North, Brick, and Freehold are also in Central Jersey Group IV, where the good news for Shore contenders is that perennial power and three-time defending champion Sayreville is now in Central Jersey Group V. While the section loses Sayreville, however, it adds Nottingham, which beat Neptune to win last year's CJ Group III title.

After reaching the Central Jersey Group III finals the past two seasons, Neptune will now be in Central Jersey Group IV under the latest NJSIAA football classifications for the 2013 season.

Manalapan, which reached the inaugural Central Jersey Group V final last season before losing to South Brunswick, remains in that bracket, which adds Sayreville to make it a rugged section. The bracket also includes Shore Conference teams Brick Memorial, Marlboro, and Freehold Township, which were in that section last season, with Brick Memorial being the lone playoff qualifier of the group.

Two perennial Central Jersey teams find themselves in South Jersey, as Manasquan and Wall are now both in South Jersey Group III. Manasquan was in South Jersey Group II in 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007, winning the SJ Group II title during its undefeated 2006 season, while this is uncharted territory for Wall. They join Shore holdovers Barnegat, Central, Manchester and Pinelands in that section.

One of last season's Central Jersey Group I finalists, Shore Regional, is now up in Central Jersey Group II along with Keyport, another CJ I playoff qualifier from last season. Lakewood, which lost to Neptune in the CJ Group III quarterfinals last season, has dropped down to CJ Group II, which also includes Rumson-Fair Haven and Point Boro, the latter of which was in South Jersey last year. Defending champion Carteret has been realigned into Central Jersey Group III. Long Branch, Matawan, Red Bank Regional, Holmdel and Ocean all remain in Central Jersey Group III, which has added Raritan, which was aligned in the North II, Group III bracket last season, and Monmouth, which was in CJ Group II. The section has also added Carteret, which went 12-0 and won the CJ Group II title last fall.

Asbury Park, Keansburg and Point Beach, all playoff qualifiers last season, remain in Central Jersey Group I, which also returns defending champion Florence.

In South Jersey Group V, 2012 finalist Southern and playoff qualifier Toms River North remain in the bracket, which returns defending champion Williamstown. Lacey remains in the South Jersey Group IV bracket after reaching the semifinals last season, and playoff qualifier Toms River South along with rival Toms River East both have stayed put in that section. There are no Shore Conference teams aligned into the South Jersey Group II and Group I brackets.

On the non-public side, there have been no changes for the local teams.

Red Bank Catholic, St. John Vianney and Monsignor Donovan remain in the Non-Public Group III bracket with defending champion and perennial juggernaut St. Joseph-Montvale as well as Delbarton, Immaculata, Pope John XXIII, etc. Mater Dei Prep remains in Non-Public Group I.

Photos by: Cliff Lavelle www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Griridon Classic: Cougar Connection

8/5/13

By Art Gordon - All Shore Media contributor

Monmouth County and Colts Neck head coach Greg Lacava were no exception this year, but he was able to work through this with the help of his five assistant coaches on his staff and four offensive players in key positions. The Cougars were well-represented and made their presence felt in Monmouth County's 19-7 win at the 36th annual U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at Toms River North's Gernerd Field. It was a fitting way to stamp the year for the seniors after they led Colts Neck to a school-record nine wins in the fall and their first state playoff victory in 12 years.

"Having all of them with me makes its a lot easier,'' LaCava said. "The players can be teachers on the field and extend us as a staff."Quarterback Mike Campbell, wide receiver and Monmouth offensive MVP Tim Vangelas, fullback Gio Zefferino and tight end Connor Canonico all started for the Monmouth County all-stars. They were aided all week by a staff that included defensive coordinator Tom Letson, special teams and

Looking at the results of the game, he was certainly right with Vangelas being named MVP with six catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns, Campbell throwing Quarterback Mike Campbell and his Colts Neck teammates made their for a game-high 120 yards and a presence felt in the 19-7 victory for Monmouth County, which was coached by Cougars head man Greg LaCava and his staff. touchdown, and Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson throwing a pair of Patterson was thankful for the extra help he touchdown passes. Canonico also had a pair of received from Campbell and the staff. catches and Zefferino was a factor running the ball and as a receiver.

"The first two days I was rocky and shaky, but

"Kids come from all different schools, with different offensive systems with completely different terminology, so it is a credit to their hard work and determination to learn it and a credit to a great staff," LaCava said.

"It is a definite advantage to come in and know all the plays that we ran in practice all season, and it doesn't get much better having Mike under center,'' Vangelas said. "

then coach gave me a playbook and with Mike's help, I was able to pick up everything,'' Patterson said. "We worked together and constantly communicated with each other. There was no tension between us, and we supported each other. It was great playing with them."

"An example of what a great job they did was that we actually had a coin toss to see who would start at quarterback,'' LaCava said.

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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defensive backs coach Greg Hope, wide receivers coach K.C. Keenan, offensive line coach Sam Kinningham and special assistant John Andl.

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n e o f th e b igg es t pr o b lems wh en coach in g an all s tar g ame is g ettin g a ll of th e coach es a n d p la yer s to u n der s tan d th e n ew s ys tem th ey h a ve to lear n an d d o it in a s h o r t p er iod of time.

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Finishing Strong: Brick's Dan Watson

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

f ter th is year 's U . S . Ar my All- S h or e G r idir on Clas s ic, Br ick d ef en s ive en d D a n Wats on clu tch ed h is d ef en s ive M os t Valu a ble Pla yer a wa r d f o r O cean Cou n ty an d s o a k ed in a b itter s weet momen t.

O n a f ield f illed w ith all- s tar s , he had do ne w hat he alw ay s did bes t dur ing his car eer w ith the G r een D r agons - get af ter the quar ter back. H ow ever, Thur s day nigh t als o mar ked the f inal game of Wats on' s s tan dout f o otball car eer, as he s aid he w ill n ot be playing in co llege.

" I w is h I could play in college, but I d idn' t get w hat I r eally w anted,' ' he s aid. " I t at leas t f elt g ood to come out and play her e w ith thes e gr eat player s .' '

Wats on w as a br ight s pot in O cean Coun ty' s

19 - 7 los s to M o nmouth County at Toms River N o r th ' s G er ner d F ield , r egis ter ing tw o s acks and f o ur quar ter back pr es s uer s w ith his r elentles s play off the ed ge. I t capp ed a s en io r y ear in w hich h e led the S hor e Conf er ence w ith 18 s ack s to go alon g w ith 74 tackles . H e w as n amed the Clas s A S outh Co- D ef ens ive P lay er of the Year and als o ear ned f ir s t- team A ll- S hor e hono r s f r om A ll S ho r e M edia.

O n Thu r s day n ight, he s how ed thos e nu mber s w er e legitimate by gettin g af ter a pair of elu s ive quar ter backs in N eptune' s A jee P atter s on an d Colts N eck' s M ike Camp bell.

" They ar e a lot qu ick er than I ' m us ed to,' ' Wats on s aid. " M y teammates have mes s ed w ith me s aying ( Br ick) do es n' t r eally play anyon e that good , s o it w as g r eat to come out h er e and s how I can d o it agains t player s as g ood as thes e guys . "

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I f Thur s day night w as tr uly the end af ter a g r eat thr ee- year var s ity car eer w ith the G r een D r agons , Wats on can take s olace in the f act th at h e pr oved he mor e than belonged on a f ield f illed w ith co llege play er s and the S hor e Con f er ence' s top talent.

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Brick's Dan Watson ended his football career on a high note by earning defensive MVP honors for Ocean County. Presenting award is LTC Davis

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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A bit under s ized as a d ef ens ive end, Wats on s aid he w as not able to g ener ate the college o ff er s he w anted and may tr y to go th e ju nior college r oute.

" I t w as def initely f r us tr ating becau s e I didn' t g et any off er s at all, an d I don' t w ant to have my s kills go f or nothing,' ' he s aid. " I thought I w or ked h ar d enough to go s omew her e."

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Wats on h as been p laying f ootball s ince h e w as f ive year s old, and r emember ed r oughand- tumble games at the youth level agains t teams f r om Car ter et an d N ew ar k th at helped mold him into th e har dn os ed player he b ecame.When as ked w h at h e w ill mis s mos t, he s aid, " H ittin g people and gettin g s acks ."

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omin g o Per ez h ad man y d iff er en t a d d r es s es du r in g h is h igh s ch oo l ca r eer at As b u r y Pa r k , bu t th er e wa s o n ly o n e pla ce h e ca lled h o me.

With his parents battling personal demons that caused them to lose custody of him, the Asbury Park two-way lineman has lived with foster families, in group homes, with relatives, and even with his own head coach in the past four years.

Through it all, Asbury Park Stadium right off Sunset Avenue was perhaps his most stable address.

“Football has kept my head clear, it's kept me focused, and it's kept me in shape,’’ Perez said. “It kept me off the streets of Asbury and being around the wrong people. It's just helped me a lot to realize the bigger picture.’’

His reward for sticking with the sport despite constant turbulence off the field is a spot on the roster at Division III power Wesley College in Dover, Del. He also had one final opportunity to shine at the high school level when he served as a captain for Monmouth County in its 19-7 win over Ocean County in the 36th annual U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic on July 18.

“I'm proud of myself, and I'm just going to keep pushing forward like I always have,’’ he said. “You have to have a lot of ambition and hunger to want to do better. I saw people going downhill and thought, ‘That’s not for me.’’’

However, it wasn’t always that way. The 280-pound lineman was on the varsity team as a freshman when the Blue Bishops won their third straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title in 2009, but nearly derailed his career before it even began.

“I got into trouble and stopped going to school for about three months at the end of my freshman year,’’ he said. “I was just out there with the wrong people. I played varsity, but that didn't really matter if I was doing the wrong thing. That was probably my lowest point, when I realized that this wasn't me and I could do way better.’’

Just as he began to pull his life together that summer, it was uprooted when he abruptly moved to Florida with his father in the preseason before his sophomore year. After the living situation down there became unstable, he was back in Asbury Park seven months later. He bounced around several homes, many of them in some of the roughest neighborhoods on the west side of a town plagued by gun violence.

“I've been in situations where my aunt's house has gotten shot up,’’ Perez said.

“It's not a great experience, but it just teaches you that life is short. You have to put yourself in a situation where you want the best for yourself.”

Perez’s living situation was so chaotic that in January of his junior year he moved in with Asbury Park coach Matt Ardizzone, who was granted temporary custody by Perez’s father. The two forged a tight bond through Perez’s circumstances.

“It's been like father-son,’’ Perez said. “It's phenomenal to know that he is my coach, my friend and a father figure.”

“He was able to keep an even keel through it all,’’ Ardizzone said. “If he wasn’t succeeding in football or wrestling, he would just get motivated to work harder.”

As a junior, Perez was a starting lineman on the Blue Bishops team that finished 10-2 and won its fourth Central Jersey Group I title in five years during the 2011 season. He also blossomed on the wrestling mat, helping to resurrect a once-

Monmouth University senior wide receiver Lamar Davenport, Texas Southern junior quarterback Jamar Small and 2011 Hamilton College graduate Paul Zarella, a former Blue Bishops lineman, are believed to be the only players from those teams who went on to college and stuck with a program. Perez now joins that short list.

“When you talk to people around here and they ask about some of your biggest disappointments, it’s not wins and losses on field, it's about kids getting to the next level and staying,’’ Ardizzone said. “Domingo had the grades and knew what his abilities were. He was realistic about everything, and he achieved his goal.”

Perez may not be going to a flashy FBS program, but he is a symbol of what Asbury Park hopes to add to its championship trophies – solid program kids who go on to play at the next level and give themselves a chance in life.

“It definitely was my dream to play college ball,’’ Perez said. “I want to set an example for the younger guys and even the guys who graduated with me. It's never too late to go to college, and hopefully they get the chance to play on a college team as well. I definitely want to create a legacy for myself and also represent Asbury.”

When Perez returns from his freshman year at Wesley, he said he will be living in a group home in Elizabeth. However, his heart will remain in Asbury Park.

“I can see Domingo one day giving back to us by coming back and coaching here,’’ Ardizzone said. “That’s the type of person he is, and he would be a great mentor to the other kids.”

“That is my goal,’’ Perez said. “I want to give back to all the people who helped me, and show the younger guys that no matter how bad it gets, you just need to stay focused and want something more for yourself.”

Photo by:

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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By staying focused, Perez was able to do what many of the players from Asbury Park’s recent run of championships could not – move on to college. While the Blue Bishops have won four state sectional titles since 2007, only a handful of players have moved on to the next level, with many failing to qualify academically or getting caught up in the streets.

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Following his senior football season this past fall, Perez was an All-Class B Central pick by the coaches after helping the Blue Bishops finish 6-4 with a playoff appearance despite heavy graduation losses. Since December of 2012, he has been living at Beacon House in Neptune, a transitional living program for men ages 17 to 21 that teaches life skills like money management, personal health and home maintenance.

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dormant Asbury Park program while starring as a heavyweight. In his junior season, he became the Blue Bishops’ first district champion since 1971. As a senior this past winter, he went 18-6 and repeated as District 23 champion before finishing fourth in Region VI.

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