Area players look forward to playing in Gridiron Classic

By WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Correspondent

Many local players will participate in the 38th annual U.S. Army All- Shore Gridiron Classic July 16 at Long Branch High School’s Bresett Stadium at 7 p.m.

Billed as the oldest all-star football game in New Jersey, it pits all-stars from Monmouth County against their counterparts from neighboring Ocean County, which won last year’s contest at Brick Township High School, 17-14. Monmouth County, however, leads the all-time series, 20-16-1. Players from both sides are selected by the coaches in their respective counties.

Shore Regional High School coach Mark Costantino will lead the Monmouth County contingent. At halftime, Costantino will be inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame along with Walt Krystopik of Jackson Memorial High School, who will lead the Ocean County all-stars.

Costantino’s Blue Devils are a perennial contender in the Shore Conference’s Class B Central Division as well as the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I, having reached the final four the past five years and winning the crown in 2014 and 2010. Last season, Shore Regional won its division and went 11-1 overall downing South Hunterdon Regional High School, 42-12, in the Central Jersey Group I championship game.

Costantino will have the luxury of being able to call upon two of the best runners in the Shore in Long Branch’s Dahmiere Willis and Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Charlie Volker, who will line up in the Monmouth County backfield.

Willis said he is looking to have a strong performance in what will be his last game on the home turf of Bresett Stadium. The Green Wave star lit up many a game there and is coming off a season where he ran for 2,689 yards to set a Shore Conference single season record.

“I’m very excited to have one more game on my home field,” said Willis, who will continue his career at American International University in the fall. “I’m glad to be playing alongside so many talented players. We have a very strong team.”

Volker looked forward to running behind Bulldogs offensive lineman Cooper Cuje one last time. Both played key roles in the Bulldogs’ march to consecutive Central Jersey Group II championships in 2013 and 2014. “It’s really an honor to play in this game,” said Volker, who is Rumson-Fair Haven’s career rushing and touchdown leader with 3,821 yards and 45 touchdowns. “I’ve played with Cooper such a long time, and I know what he likes to do. He’s a great blocker and a great teammate.”

The Princeton University-bound Volker said the team is coming together nicely and learning the plays Costantino is implementing, while at the same getting back in game shape and adjusting to the summer heat.

For Cuje, it will be his last football game, as he will play lacrosse at the University of Maryland. Cuje helped Rumson- Fair Haven win the South Jersey Group I lacrosse title this spring.

“I couldn’t think of two better kids to represent our program,” Rumson-Fair Haven coach Bryan Batchler said. “Cooper is a tough, athletic kid who works hard. He’s just a great person. I can say the same about Charlie. As good as he is on the field, he’s an even better person off the field.”

Matawan Regional High School coach John Kaye, whose team won the Central Jersey Group III crown, was proud to have three of his players on the Monmouth squad. They include Kean Universitybound wide receiver Justin Ferrara, who snared 38 passes for 850 yards last fall; and running back Devon Spann and defensive lineman Jake Weber, both of whom will suit up for Montclair State University. Spann ran for more than 1,700 yards in two varsity seasons.

“I’m glad for them, and it reflects well on our program” said Kaye, who will serve as an assistant under Costantino for the game. “They’ve all worked hard over the years, and it’s nice to see them recognized.”

Like Cuje, Red Bank Regional High School linebacker Jimmy Ferrogine is also playing in his final football game. Ferrogine, who led the Buccaneers in tackles last fall despite missing two games with an injury, had several opportunities to play NCAA Division III football, but he opted to attend Penn State University and focus on his studies.

“It’s overwhelming to be out on the field with the best players in the Shore,” Ferrogine said. “It’s really an honor and it’s a great way to close out my career.”