Younger sibling latest football ‘star’
By: Justin Feil
Mike Andrew started playing football because his brothers did, and like his brothers did before him, he will finish his scholastic career at the Sunshine Classic 7 p.m. Thursday at The College of New Jersey’s Lions Stadium.
"I went to Dave’s and cheered him on and I went to Ryan’s and cheered him on," said Mike, who graduated Thursday from Montgomery High School. "I think they’re going to mine."
It seems fitting that the two older Andrew brothers would. Dave was quarterback in the Sunshine Classic in 2003 when his team won in overtime. Dave was in the first class of MHS graduates to play in the all-star game. Two years later, Ryan played cornerback in the all-star game. They played a part in helping Mike get to this level.
"When I first started out freshman year, it was like a family tradition," Mike said. "So I went out for football. I really enjoyed it. Before I started, since Dave was a quarterback and Ryan was a cornerback, we would goof around together. It was kind of like brotherly bonding."
It certainly didn’t hurt to have one of Montgomery’s top quarterbacks to throw to him and one of the Cougars’ top cover men living under the same roof. That brotherly bonding helped Mike develop some of the most reliable hands in the game.
"Dave was known for having a really strong arm," Mike said. "Because of that, I had to cradle the ball more than most people do. That’s one thing that helped me."
Being Dave’s target while fending off the coverage of Ryan brought up Mike’s level of play rapidly. There’s no surprise then that Mike advanced all the way to play in the Sunshine Classic.
"I think they kind of expected it of me because they did it," Mike said. "I felt like I had a good year. I didn’t know until coach told me (that I made it). I was excited to be a part of what my brothers were."
The Sunshine Classic brings together schools from around Central Jersey to play together for a night. Andrew and Mike Jasper will represent the Cougars this year.
"We had a couple guys asked," said MHS head coach Zoran Milich. "Will Treichler was asked, but he’s playing lacrosse in college and his coach thought it was for the best if he didn’t play. And Steve Watson was asked to play in this game and the North-South game and he’s playing lacrosse at Rutgers.
"It’s always an honor when our kids get picked. It’s for a good cause. We’re proud of our kids when they get picked and how they show up and handle themselves. That’s what I’m most proud of how they handle themselves there."
Andrew also follows his brothers in being well-rounded. Dave just completed his baseball career and was an All-Academic performer. Ryan’s football career ended with injury, but he is pursuing a construction management degree at Drexel University. Nearby, Mike will walk on the University of Pennsylvania football team. He also played four years of baseball for the Cougars.
"My coach told me I’d be a slot receiver or motion tight end," said Mike, who played both split end and tight end for the Cougars. "I think (playing in the Sunshine game) helps. It’s a good stepping stone to college because of the caliber of players."Andrew will be in a familiar role as a popular target for the West quarterbacks that include Hun’s Shane Davis. Andrew is expected to line up both at wide receiver and tight end.
"For this year," Andrew said, "our coach is saying we’re going to try to win the game by passing the ball. So we’re passing a lot."
Added Milich: "What Mike brought to us was a knowledge of the offense. He was a very smart player. He could play tight end. He could play split end. He can learn more than one position. In a game like this, they’ll play a lot of spread. Jim Griffin (a Montgomery assistant and West coach) will run a lot of the same spreads.
"Mike brings a lot of versatility and he has excellent hands. He understands what he’s supposed to do. He’s almost 6-3, if not already. He has size and he knows how to play the position. He does not drop balls. When he gets his hands on a ball, he’s going to catch it as these quarterbacks have found this week at practice."
While Andrew has made his presence known on the offensive side of the ball, Jasper is representing the Cougars on the defensive side. A linebacker for the Cougars, he will move in to play noseguard in the Sunshine game.
"Senior year, we needed some linemen, and he played at defensive end at the end of the year," Milich said. "He’s extremely strong. He’s short, so he’ll play under the pad level. He’ll give the center problems. He’ll disrupt the offense internally. He’s an extremely strong kid. He could play fullback if you need him there."
For most of the Sunshine participants, the objective is the same. They want to help prepare themselves for the next level while enjoying their final high school game. Andrew knows all about the goals of the game after watching both his brothers go through it first. Both Dave and Ryan are in agreement in their advice to their younger brother as he prepares to play.
"They said to just to have fun with all these guys," Andrew said. "They just remember it being fun."

