Long Branch High School’s Deon Williams (48), a wide receiver and linebacker, is one of the area football players who will be representing Monmouth County at the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at Brick Township High School on July 17. The Monmouth stars will be up against Ocean County’s best in this annual game. Williams also played in the Phil Simms North-South All-Star Football Classic at Piscataway Township High School on June 23. Williams was on the victorious South squad. Ocean Township High School head coach Don Klein has the honor of coaching Monmouth County’s best football players on July 17 when they go up against Ocean County’s top graduated seniors in the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic.
This year’s 37th edition of the all-star game will be played at Brick Township High School. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
County pride and bragging rights are at stake in this game, which features the best graduated senior players from their respective counties.
Klein led the Spartans to a 10-1 season and the Shore Conference B North Division title in 2013. He will have the privilege of coaching the Spartans’ Mike Halawani (defensive end), Dan Loizos (linebacker), Cole Mehr (wide receiver/defensive back) and John Walsh (offensive line), who all helped make 2013 possible, one last time.
The area will be well represented at the all-star game.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, which won its second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II title last fall, will be represented by Kevin Clayton (tight end/defensive end), Tom Martello (linebacker/defensive back) and Peter Righi (offensive line). The Bulldogs were 11-1 and beat Weequahic High School, 14-6, in the sectional finals.
From Shore Regional High School’s Central Jersey Group I runner-up team are offensive/ defensive lineman Matt Proto and running back/linebacker Brian Miller. The Blue Devils were 10-2 and lost to Point Pleasant Beach in the sectional title game, 12-7.
Representing A Central Division champion Red Bank Catholic High School are Shawn McCord (defensive end), Ryan Schoer (linebacker) and Pat Toomey (quarterback/place kicker). The Caseys went 10-1 in 2013.
Deon Williams (running back/linebacker), Shabazz Shuler (quarterback/defensive back) and Myson Pennington (defensive back) are representing Long Branch High School. The Green Wave made the state playoffs and went 7-3.
Also named to the Monmouth County team are Red Bank Regional High School’s Dylan DaVita (tight end/defensive end), St. John Vianney High School’s Julanee Prince (wide receiver) and Mater Dei Prep’s Sam Miles (linebacker),
The Monmouth stars also feature Colts Neck High School running back Anthony Gargiulo, who ran for more than 1,600 yards and 27 touchdowns, and Howell High School wide receiver Joey Schultz, who scored touchdowns on kickoffs, punt returns and pass receptions in 2013.
Manalapan High School linebacker Chris Noesges, who was the Defensive Player of the Year last year, is one of Monmouth’s marquee defensive players.
Rob Dahl, who coached Brick Township High School to the Central Jersey Group IV title, is the head coach of the Ocean County all-stars. Brick Township beat Colts Neck, 26-15, in the sectional finals and finished up with a 9-3 record.
He’ll have a number of his Green Dragons to coach one last time. The Brick Township representatives are Steve Ferlisi (punter), Mike Muratore (wide receiver) Drew Scott (tight end/linebacker) Anthony Starego (place kicker) and Matt Ulufanua (offensive/defensive line).
Also helping the Ocean cause are Jackson Memorial High School’s Marcus Ademilola (tight end), Ken Bradley (linebacker), Vinny Celidonio (linebacker), Khani Glover (running back/defensive back) and Sam Mistretta (offensive line). The Jaguars won the A South crown and were 8-3 overall.
Monmouth’s all-stars won last year’s Gridiron Classic, 19-7, and hold a 20-15-1 edge in the series.
Prior to the Gridiron Classic, there will be a 7-on-7 game between winners of the Monmouth and Ocean county tournaments.