Holmdel football coach Frank Papalia said he likes players to get different angles of football workouts as they prepare for the upcoming season.
One way he did that was with the U.S. Army All-Shore Shootout, a 7-on-7 tournament on July 18 that involved eight teams from the area. Howell beat Shore in the final of the one-day event, sponsored by the U.S. Army, which also was the driving force behind the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic held on July 14 at Toms River North High School. Papalia coached the Monmouth all-stars that lost to Ocean, 6-3, in a game where all of the scoring came off field goals.
That was not the case in the Shore Shootout at Holmdel, where there was plenty of scoring from the teams that included NJSIAA Group III Central finalist Matawan, Long Branch, Manalapan, St. John Vianney, Keansburg and the host school.
With no pads, it’s two-hand touch and includes on offense a center, quarterback and five receivers to run only pass plays. It is officiated by carded officials. Each team starts a series of downs at the opposing 45-yard line but needs to advance the ball 15 yards to get another first down. Touchdowns are worth six points and a conversion is worth one point if it is successful from the five-yard line and two points if it is successful from the 10. Interceptions are worth two points for the defensive team. Games had a running clock of 30 minutes.
“Everybody got work in and got the opportunity to get a good look to see where they are at,” said Papalia of the games. “Most of the teams were doing what they do during the season.”
That includes on the defensive side where teams got a good opportunity for players on the defensive side to work on their coverage schemes. Papalia said it was beneficial for his team, which is very young on defense with free safety Rob Cantelli and inside linebacker Brett Lambert as the only seasoned returnees.
Cantelli also is getting comfortable at running back for Holmdel on his way back from a separated shoulder he suffered while playing quarterback at the end of the season when Holmdel lost to Delaware Valley, 14-7, in the state playoffs. It went on to lose to Raritan in its Thanksgiving game to finish 4-6.
MattMuh stepped in when Cantelli was injured and, despite being only a freshman at the time, impressed Papalia enough that he is practicing at quarterback during summer workouts this year and in the Shore Shootout while Cantelli is running the ball at halfback.
“We’re running an offense that is suited to Muh who has a great arm and good vision,” said Papalia. “This is the best commitment I’ve had from freshmen to seniors since I’ve been here (three years as head coach after three years as assistant). We’ve had 50 to 60 guys come in four days a week, which definitely lifts their spirits.
It’s a solid first step, said Papalia, toward recapturing the form of the 2007 season when Holmdel was 10-1.