North Brunswick Township High School’s tri-captains (l-r) Ross Kurtz (3), Karim Sawyer (2) and Connor Pastrick (70), shown here leading the Raiders onto the gridiron prior to a game last fall, will team up once again at the July 21 Snapple Bowl at Kean University. They will be teammates on the Middlesex County all-star team that will go up against the Union County stars. DIANE PASTRICK The North Brunswick Township High School football team will be well represented in the Snapple Bowl on July 21 at Kean College with Ross Kurtz, Connor Pastrick and Karim Sawyer all participating as part of the Middlesex County all-stars.
The annual game pits all-star teams from Middlesex and Union counties against each other, with proceeds from the event going to the Lakeview School for Cerebral Palsy in Edison and the Children’s Specialized Hospital. Nowin its 18th year, the Snapple Bowl has raised more than $300,000.
North Brunswick coach Mark Zielinski said the three Raiders all served as captains as North Brunswick rang up an 8-3 record, including a nail-biting 36-33 win over Pennsauken in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs. The Raiders also won the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division championship.
“The three of them complement each other very well, and they were all good leaders,” Zielinski said. “Karim [Sawyer] is an electrifying player; he can change the momentum of a game with one play. Ross [Kurtz] was our workhorse; we just gave the ball to him and he moved it downfield. And Connor [Pastrick] played on both sides of the line; he did all the dirty work, so to speak, often going up against much bigger players. Because of that, when Connor said something, his teammates listened.”
Pastrick, whose brother Brad played in the 2010 Snapple Bowl, was originally named as an alternate. A few weeks ago, Zielinski notified the 6-2, 225-pounder that he would be playing in the game.
One of the Raiders’ unsung heroes, Pastrick played both defensive end and guard — and rarely left the field. His fiery demeanor and work ethic served to both lead and inspire his team, the coach said. Pastnick said he didn’t mind not getting a lot of ink as a Raider, because the main goal for the team was winning.
“Football is my game and I love playing it,” he said. “It’s a team game and everyone has to do their job. I knew I was doing mine. “I’m excited to be playing with and against some of the best players in the state.”
Pastrick has been working out regularly this summer as he prepares to continue his career at Rowan University, where he hopes to earn playing time on special teams as a freshman.
Sawyer, who will play for Montclair State, was North Brunswick’s big-play specialist. Four times he ran back a kick or a punt for a touchdown last fall, including a 77-yarder in the playoff win over Pennsauken, giving him six career touchdown returns. Sawyer also threw for a TD in that game. As a split end, he hauled in 23 passes for 631 yards, an average of nearly 28 yards per catch, and nine more TDs.
“It’s an honor to be chosen for the Snapple Bowl, but the most important thing is it’s raising money for a great cause,” Sawyer said. “I’m looking forward to meeting some of the children who we’re helping. That’s what it’s all about.”
Kurtz, a 6-0, 190-pound tailback, joined Aaron Jackson this fall to become only the second runner in North Brunswick history to have consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Kurtz racked up 1,461 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.
Consistency is Kurtz’s forte. Perhaps his biggest game came in the Raider triumph over Bishop Ahr High School as Kurtz ran for more than 200 yards and scored on runs of 73 and 71 yards. He also lined up on defense as a safety, intercepting five passes last fall. Kurtz is planning to try out at Rutgers this fall as a walk-on.