South River's Nigro ready to showcase talent at Snapple Bowl
by WoodbridgeFootball.com / MyCentralJersey.com / NJ.com on 07/14/16
South River's Mario Nigro has been looking forward to playing in the Snapple Bowl since high school season ended in November, and the recently graduated senior can't wait to represent his town.
Nigro played quarterback for the Rams this past season and threw for 883 yards, rushed for 1,173 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. But at Snapple Bowl XXIII, Nigro will be on the other side of the ball as an outside linebacker.
MORE: SNAPPLE BOWL PRACTICES GET UNDERWAY
"He brings a lot of toughness on both sides of the ball, playing quarterback for us this year he accounted for almost 2,000 yards of offense on a 3-7 team, a very young team, so he really put the offense on his back and he’s done an incredible job for us," South River football coach Rich Marchesi said. "He’s a tough kid."
Nigro will line up with the other Middlesex All-Stars when Snapple Bowl XXIII kicks off at 7 p.m. July 21 at Woodbridge High School. The game, which stars recently graduated seniors, pits a Middlesex County team against a Union County team to raise money for the Children's Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. The game has raised more than $535,000 since its inception.
"Throughout the season I was always looking forward to it," Nigro said of participating in the Snapple Bowl. "I was excited because at the time I knew I would be the only one from my town and it’s an honor to represent my town. I just bring a love of the game, I go out every play and do what I can and help the team win."
RELATED: UNION COUNTY PREPS FOR SNAPPLE BOWL
Last season the Middlesex County All-Stars won their fourth-straight Snapple Bowl title with a 33-13 victory over Union County, and the Middlesex team is looking to keep the streak going.
Nigro will be joined by some of the top talent from Middlesex County, including Woodbridge quarterback Tracy Fudge, who threw for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns this past season, and New Brunswick running back Samad Davila, who rushed for 1,333 yards in 2015. Other linebackers include Sayreville's Corey Clark, New Brunswick's Josemar Contreras, Bishop Ahr's Robert Gee and Dane Lupton, Bashir Lauderdale from Colonia and Metuchen's Jarett Sims.
"(Practices) have been good, everything we do it based on position, so I’ve been working with the linebackers. It’s been a fun time for all of us, getting together from different towns and getting to know each other, having fun," Nigro said. "We’re all representing Middlesex County, so we all go out and play hard. We expect to win; we all want to win."
While players from both teams will be looking to do their part to help their teams win on July 21, they also realize that the Snapple Bowl isn't just a football game. Players and cheerleaders from both teams will be visiting the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Lakeview School prior to the game.
"Coach (Marcus) Borden talks about it every day, how much of an honor it is to raise money and go to the hospital," Nigro said. "It’s just an awesome experience, and he tells us how it’s going to change our lives."
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego
TAKE PART
What: MyCentralJersey.com Snapple Bowl XXIII, New Jersey's most successful charity all-star football game.
Where: Woodbridge High School.
When: 7 p.m. , July 21.
Participants: Recently graduated high school senior players and cheerleaders from Middlesex and Union Counties.
About the event
Beneficiaries: All proceeds from the game, which has raised more than $535,000 since its inception, benefit the Children's Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.
Practice venues: Woodbridge High School (Middlesex County All-Stars) and Union High School (Union County All-Stars).
Key dates: Middlesex County All-Stars visit the Lakeview School in Edison and Union County All-Stars visit Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside on July 18; Snapple Bowl banquet at Pines Manor restaurant in Edison July 20.
Tickets: Can be purchased at the gate for $10 or at each practice site during practices.
Previewing the game: Leading up to Snapple Bowl XXII, the Home News Tribune, Courier News and MyCentralJersey.com will feature at least one story daily, as well as videos.
Game coverage: Look for a game story, a notebook, a Middlesex County sidebar, a Union County sidebar, an A1 story, a photo gallery and video highlights from Snapple Bowl XXII in the Home News Tribune, Courier News and at MyCentralJersey.com.
Social media: Follow us via Twitter @MyCJ_Sports and @SnappleBowl for updates and to interact with reporters and Snapple Bowl XXII game director Marcus Borden.
MyCentralJersey.com Snapple Bowl XXII official web site: Can be found at https://worknotes.com/NJ/SouthRiver/SnappleBowl/
