After suffering through a 0-10 season with the Marlboro High School football team, Mo Omar could be forgiven for thinking he was but forgotten.
His talent did not go unnoticed, though.
When he received the call to play for the Monmouth County all-stars in the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic July 16 at Long Branch High School, he was genuinely moved and pleasantly surprised.
“It’s an honor to play with the best of the best in the Shore,” he said. “It’s going to be fun.
“It’s going to be a good proving ground for me to prove I can play with the best of the best.”
The running back noted that his appearance in the game, which features the top graduated seniors from Monmouth and Ocean counties, is an opportunity to shine a light on a Marlboro program that doesn’t get a great deal of respect.
“I’m representing my town and my school,” he said. “I’m going to give it 110 percent to prove I can play football with the best.”
Omar is thrilled about being on the gridiron.
“I’m excited to play again,” he said. “I’m going to have a lot of adrenalin. I’ll be all energy and pumped up.”
Howell High School’s Jarvis Leaks and Colts Neck High School’s Abdul Quddus will be part of the Monmouth backfield with Omar.
The contest will be the last high school game for the participants and, for those headed to college, a head start on their first college training camp.
Leaks had some monster games for Howell in 2014, including a 281-yard rushing game that is second best in school history.
Quddus went though a winless season last year with the Cougars and looks to put that behind him and show what he can do. Despite the Cougars’ 0-10 season, the coaches put him on the All-Freehold Regional High School District Football Team.
Last go-around for Manalapan trio
The last time that Manalapan High School’s Ben Sieczkowski, Joe Mendez and Pete Williams were on the gridiron, they were helping the Braves win the program’s first state sectional championship — NJSIAA Central Jersey Group V — beating South Brunswick High School, 21-7, at Rutgers University’s High Point Solutions Stadium. The win still resonates with them.
“We still talk about it, and we all smile,” said Sieczkowski.
“Honestly, it was the greatest day of my life winning the first state title for Manalapan, coach [Ed] Gurrieri and ourselves,” Mendez said. “We came together as a family.”
The three players have been friends for years and are happy to be teammates again.
“I’ll take every game I can get with them,” said Williams, an offensive lineman who could play guard or center for the Monmouth squad. “It means the world to me to be on [the Monmouth team].
Sieczkowski, who will play linebacker for Monmouth, echoed Williams’ sentiments.
“This is our last game together,” he said. “It’s going to be fun getting back on the field again with them.”
Mendez, a linebacker, said he is excited to play with Sieczkowski and Williams one more time.
“It’s a great honor to be playing in this game,” Mendez said.
All three have been training for the Classic, hitting the weights and running in anticipation of the game.
Sieczkowski noted that he has put on 35 pounds since the football season and can’t wait to see what difference it’s going to make on the field.
Freehold Township High School’s Jim Purcell is one of the offensive linemen along with Williams.
Rosters filled with talent
The Monmouth squad has a load of talent at running back, including Long Branch’s record-setting Dahmiere Willis, who ran for more than 2,500 yards last fall.
The Monmouth quarterbacks are Mater Dei Prep’s Christian Palmer and Monmouth Regional High School’s Jimmy Green.
Shore Regional High School’s Mark Costantino, who led the Blue Devils to the Central Jersey Group I championship, is Monmouth’s head coach.
Jackson Memorial High School’s Walt Krystopik is the head coach of the Ocean County all-stars. His Jaguars won the Central Jersey Group IV championship last fall.
Nine Jaguars from that championship team will play for Ocean.
The Jaguars’ Joe DeMaio, Lacey Township High School’s Conor Davies and Toms River High School South’s Tymere Berry are Ocean’s quarterbacks.
The 2014 season was a remarkable one for the Shore Conference, as team swept the Central Jersey championships with Shore Regional (Group I), Rumson-Fair Haven-Regional High School (Group II), Matawan Regional High School (Group III), Jackson Memorial (Group IV) and Manalapan (Group V) claiming titles. Red Bank Catholic High School won the Non- Public Group III championship.
While all the Freehold Regional High School District players expressed joy to put the pads on again and hit someone, the game means a lot to them. County pride is on the line, and they want to make a statement for Monmouth County football.
Monmouth County leads the series 20- 16-1, but Ocean is looking for back-to-back wins. Ocean won last year’s game at Brick Township High School, 17-14.
Kickoff at Long Branch’s Bresett Stadium is 7 p.m.