Inaugural football game is Friday
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
When Nick Dameo found out he would be playing in the inaugural Basilone Bowl, the Montgomery High School senior couldn’t help but get excited.
”It’s a really great experience,” said Dameo, who will play safety in the all-star football game. “I never got to play in all-star game. I’m really stoked to play another football game before college. Playing with some of the other players I haven’t played with before is cool too.”
The all-star football game kicks off 6 p.m. tonight at Bridgewater-Raritan. It brings together the top players in Somerset County. Dameo is one of nine Cougar players to be selected for the game. The others are (with commitments if playing in college next year): Kyle Merz (Rowan), Chris Lee (Jersey Coast Academy), Jake Colangelo, Ross Baginsky (Muhlenberg), Mike Boyer (William Paterson), Ryan Boyle (Rhode Island), Josh Reinson (Maryland – lacrosse) and Erik Witten (Montclair State). They will play on the Leather Necks all-star team that lines up tonight against the Devil Dogs.
”I expect it to be a real challenge,” Dameo said. “It’s going to be cool. It’s going to be hard. That’s what I expect in college. It’ll be nice to get a feel for it.”
Somerset County players had previously competed in the Sunshine Classic at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, but this year the recently formed Somerset County Coaches Association joined with the Marine Corps to start a new game to spotlight the county’s top talent.
”It’s closer. I like this better,” said MHS head coach Zoran Milich, who is the administrator for the Leather Necks team. “We’re going to play against the kids we play against. The Sunshine was great. It seemed to move more south and west to us. We’ll see everyone in the county and Del Val, and maybe expand it next year to a couple more teams.”
The game is named for Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, a former Raritan resident who was the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross. Basilone’s bravery is the stuff of movies. In Guadalcanal, he held off 3,000 Japanese troops after his unit was reduced to him and two other men. He would go on to destroy a strongpoint at Iwo Jima before he was killed in action. Basilone, for whom Bridgewater-Raritan’s field is named, is well remembered for his bravery.
Proceeds from the game will benefit wounded veterans and Toys for Tots programs. Having the chance to play in the first Basilone Bowl is something that the Cougars are looking forward to. Practices began Monday and ran through the week leading up to the game. The Marines involvement is a huge bonus for the Basilone Bowl.
”There’s going to be a pre-game fly-by,” Milich said. “When you come watch this, you’ll see organizational things from an outside level that you don’t normally. There’s a lot of time and money that has been put into this. Wounded warriors will receive checks. It’s probably the most organized game from the outside that I’ve been involved with.”
It’s the last football game for Dameo before he heads to a top-flight program at Widener University, which is coming off a 12-1 season. If getting ready for the all-star game wasn’t enough, knowing how good of a team he will join this fall has kept him plenty motivated.
”We’re already on college workouts,” Dameo said. “We’ve been in shape for a while.”
Dameo never gets too far from the game. He and his MHS teammates regularly still get together for pick-up games and to train together. It’s helped him develop into an all-star player.
”He was a two-year starter for us,” Milich said. “He’s playing at Widener. They needed safeties. I think this really complements what they want to do.”
Milich watched as Dameo became a more reliable part of the defense this year. It’s part of the process that has him ready to contribute in college.
”He was much more physical as a senior,” Milich said. “As a junior, he was out there, but not as sure. You saw the growth level this year. He was stronger and faster. He was more of a leader. Senior year, he took more authority, especially when Josh Reinson missed a game and a half and Nick became the vocal guy in the secondary. He did punting for us too, and he did that well for us too.”
Dameo enjoyed his final year with the Cougars, who reached the Central Jersey Group IV state playoffs.
”I think I did a pretty good job,” Dameo said. “Me and Jake Colangelo and Josh, we had a lot of fun trying to lead everyone. I’m sad we couldn’t go all the way with it.”
But he’s thrilled that they will have one more chance together to represent Montgomery. It’s a unique chance with the first-year all-star game.
”Right when (Milich) told us, we were stoked,” Dameo said. “We want to make a nice impact on it and see how many people we can see to get there.”
Dameo is looking at the all-star game as a test of where he is as he prepares for the next level. Dameo is working to get himself stronger in anticipation of the challenges ahead.
”I’m going to have to step it up,” he said. “They have a lot of great players.”
Dameo started playing football in eighth grade after playing flag football as he grew up. He became a staple in the secondary.
”I love the defense,” he said. “I tried to play the offense, but it wasn’t for me.”
He continued to develop as a player and earned a starting spot for the entire junior and senior years. He tried to absorb as many pointers as he could while still in high school.
”Especially when we got Coach (Tarig) Holman, he definitely knew a lot,” Dameo said. “He taught us a lot having NFL experience and playing at Iowa. He had a lot to teach us and we tried to listen as much as we can and soak up as much as we can.”
It paid off to produce some all-star players from the secondary for the Cougars. Dameo is looking forward to showcasing his talents.
”We’re going to have a lot of fun with this,” he said. “For some kids, it’s their last game. They’re going to take it seriously and want to win. We’re going to go out there and try not to let any points up on defense.”
It can be tough in an all-star environment that craves big point outputs. But if Nick Dameo does his job, it will help the Leather Necks and his Cougar teammates celebrate one more victory together and enjoy quite a finish to their high school careers.
”Right when we found out we were all playing, we got psyched up,” Dameo said. “We told our friends. Playing together is like old times. It’ll be fun playing together again.”