Thanks to strong performances by several local players, Middlesex County won the 22nd annual Snapple Bowl, 33-13, July 16 at Kean University.
The game, which pits all-star squads of seniors from Middlesex and Union counties against each other, raises funds for the Lakeview School for Cerebral Palsy in Edison and the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside. The annual matchup, founded by former East Brunswick High School coach Marcus Borden, has raised nearly $500,000 for the two charities since its inception.
Middlesex has won nine of the last 10 games and leads the series, 14-8.
After kicking off and stopping Union’s first drive, the Middlesex offense drove the ball downfield and quickly took the lead when Spotswood High School’s Chase Fee scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 5- yard run. He scored again on a 14-yard run in the second quarter and went on to be named the game’s MVP. The 5-foot-8 Fee, who ended the evening with 71 yards on nine attempts, praised the Middlesex offensive line.
“They were great. They kept opening up these big holes,” he said.
South Brunswick High School’s Aidan Rogers was one of those linemen opening the holes that helped the Middlesex’s nohuddle offense to just shy of 300 rushing yards on the game.
“Coming into the game we really didn’t expect to move the ball that well because Union has some very big guys,” Rogers said. “But our line just seemed to click as a whole. Everyone worked well together, and we had some great runners. I think that punching it in on our first drive set the tone for the entire game. We just built on that.” Before the half ended, Old Bridge High School quarterback Mike Gargano turned a broken play into a touchdown by scrambling until St. Joseph High School of Metuchen’s Javon Hicks was open for a 31- yard scoring pass. Gargano, who said prior to the game that he wanted to be involved in a touchdown play, got his wish.
“You always want to do something to help the team,” said Gargano, who will attend Johnson & Wales University in the fall. “[Hicks] got open and called for the ball. I just threw it.”
Following that touchdown toss, the Old Bridge signal-caller, who also ran for 25 yards, hooked up with North Brunswick Township High School tight end Joe Castellanos for the two-point conversion to put Middlesex up, 21-7, heading into the intermission.
Old Bridge’s Ed Mish had a solid evening as well. The Knights’ place-kicker, who will play for Lehigh University in the fall, connected on a 26-yard field goal and three PATs. Linebacker Dan Rodriguez of Sayreville War Memorial High School was a key member of the Middlesex defense. Rodriguez will attend Penn State University. He turned down several opportunities to play NCAA Division III football to focus on his studies.
Rogers, who will play baseball at Ursinus University next year, echoed many of the players’ thoughts when he noted that while he was pleased with the win, he was happier about being able to help others.
“When we visited the Lakeview School, it was a real eye-opener for me,” he said. “After the visit, we had practice and it really hit home. It really made me appreciate all of the things I do every day and take for granted. I’m glad we were able to help them out.”