Woodbridge Football - 2017, The 94th Season!

By: WoodbridgeFootball.com - Tuesday, September 6, 2016, 1145am

Red Bank over Kennedy
St Jospeh over North Brunswick
South Plainfield over Perth Amboy
Carteret over JP Stevens
Woodbridge over Colonia

Season Record: 0 - 0     .000

ANALYSIS: Its way too early to pick the overall White Division Champion, but here are my top and bottom start positions, lined up in no particular order.  Top 5 - St Joseph, South Plainfield, Woodbridge, Colonia, North Brunswick. Bottom 4 - Kennedy, Perth Amboy, JP Stevens, Carteret. As the season progresses, adjustments will be made.

Marcus Borden, @bordenfb4ever 9:20 p.m. EDT August 31, 2016

The month of August is over, signaling the end of the 2016 edition of the Greater Middlesex Conference Football Camp Caravan. Since Aug.10, I have traveled more than 600 miles through Middlesex County and I have seen all 24 teams either in practice or in a scrimmage.

There have been practices in helmets, in uppers (helmet and shoulder pads) and full gear. The amount of full contact may have been limited due to a variety of reasons; a scrimmage the day before, a scrimmage the next day, the team is banged up or by NJSIAA design to reduce the amount of live contact during the preseason.

MORE: GMC CAMP CARAVAN ROLLING AT SOUTH BRUNSWICK

I can honestly say that our GMC coaches are in the know when it comes to hydration and the emphasis placed on teaching and demonstrating proper tackling technique in an effort to reduce the number of head injuries.

The Carteret at Sayreville scrimmage certainly turned some heads at War Memorial stadium. I gathered from the warm up and the pre-scrimmage interviews that I did with the top Carteret players that they were on a business trip. Their early five-play, offensive goal-line sequence was the catalyst the Ramblers needed to remind everyone that their smash-mouth, in your face style of play is back! They set the tone early and proved that they are force to be reckoned with in the crowded White Division.

RELATED: GMC CAMP CARAVAN ROLLING AT DUNELLEN

While at J.F. Kennedy’s early morning practice, I liked the emphasis on special teams at any given moment during the practice. When the whistle blew a special team was called out to line up while 30 seconds was being counted down. They even attempted a 50-yard field goal with lefty kicker Gianfranco Tiseo. He had the distance but the kick was a little wide right.

Colonia used multiple tackling circuits that showed creativity and effectiveness. You can see many of the sequences by looking at the videos on Twitter, search @bordenfb4ever #CaravanCOL.

Dunellen’s LSU drill was another excellent drill, teaching kids to get off the block of multiple players while attempting to make the tackle on a garbage can 15-yards away. The player had about 20 seconds to make the tackle.

READ: GMC CAMP CARAVAN ROLLING AT PISCATAWAY

Piscataway’s offensive/defensive line is impressive! I particularly liked their warm up drill that included a takeoff from a three-point stance as the ball stick simulated the snap, running through the ropes and into a blaster with low pad level while exiting and then pushing away a Gillman shiver ball being rolled towards them.

Central Group I Highland Park scrimmaged North 2 Group V J.P. Stevens at Jay Dakelman Stadium on Aug. 29. The Owls looked impressive in the battle of the birds as they blanked the Hawks in game conditions.

The final stop of the GMC Camp Caravan was in Monmouth Junction where South Brunswick scrimmaged Brick. Both head coaches agreed to substitute freely after the first quarter of game conditions. Neither team looked sharp as the heat and the long preseason grind apparently took its toll as several players for both teams were sidelined and in street clothes.

MORE: GMC CAMP CARAVAN ROLLING WITH CARTERET, SAYREVILLE

There are many great players out there but these guys caught my eye:

Deonte Freeman RB/LB, Erick Negron TE/DE (Perth Amboy)

Angelo Golino QB, Justin Taylor LB/TE (Carteret)

Hakim Hamer OL/DL (J.F. Kennedy)

Tristan Weathers DB/WR, Tyler Zawacki OL/DL (Colonia)

Bryce Priester TE/DE (North Brunswick)

Abdel Mohamed OL/DL, Terrell Hagans OL/DL (Piscataway)

Dylan Boynton LB/RB, Ryan O’Shea QB, Nasir Boykins RB/DE (Highland Park)

Dante Negron G/MLB (J.P. Stevens)

Jibril Hagood-Henry QB/FS, Alain Ruiz OL/DL (Dunellen)

Josh Liao QB, Justin Shorter WR/FS (South Brunswick)

I am looking forward to the upcoming season that kicks off on Friday, Sept. 9. I want to thank all the coaches for allowing me access to your practices, scrimmages and top players.

MyCentralJersey.com appreciates your help in promoting your team on a weekly basis throughout the season and we look forward to celebrating your players’ achievements. Don’t forget to get your 2016 Football Preview on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Lastly, I always liked to remind my players that it is not where you start the season, it is where you finish it. Best wishes for a safe and successful 2016!

By Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on August 31, 2016 8:00 AM

By Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on August 25, 2016 10:00 AM

The 2016 Greater Middlesex Conference football season doesn't kick off until September, but NJ Advance Media has a breakdown of the new divisional alignment for the league this campaign, as well as a lock at what the moves mean. Check out the divisions and analysis below.

Marcus A. Borden @bordenfb4ever

Won't be long until our Football Preview is available @MyCentralJersey.
Be sure to get your copy Thursday September 8

By WoodbridgeFootball.com  August 21, 2016  7:50pm



Fancy weight rooms are cool, a new field house is nice, flashy uni's are cute, but I'd rather have you lift boulders in the yard, dress in a trailer, and wear old school gear while you overpower every team you play on the way to an undefeated season! Winning is an internal thing. It is built on an individual working for the good of the group. TEAM - Together, Everyone Achieves More!

By WoodbridgeFootball.com, August 19, 2016, 1035am



NEXT GAME:  The 50th Game  -  (G1) Woodbridge Barrons at Colonia Patriots -  September 9, 2016, 7pm

In the early 60's, Woodbridge Township, New Jersey realized the need for additional space for the growing population of the students in the Township.  As a result, they built John F. Kennedy HS in 1964 and Colonia HS in 1967. 

MARCUS BORDEN @BORDENFB4EVER

August 12, 2016

In today’s sports world, the headlines are more often reserved for the ills and wrongs of athletes from high school to the NFL rather than extolling their good deeds. A journalist’s insatiable desire to get the scoop before anyone else drives the reporter to post sports sensationalism online, on social media platforms and finally in print.

This feel-good story is about two of the most unlikely Guardians of the Galaxy that you will ever meet. One dons a top hat while the other wears a hard hat. Neither has a cape, although their uniform is uniquely tailored to fit their pastime.

Jonathan O’Halloran, aka “The Barron,” the Woodbridge High School mascot, and David McDevitt, an offensive lineman from the Barron football team, are June graduates who participated in last month’s MyCentralJersey.com

Snapple Bowl in their own backyard of Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium.

They were part of the Middlesex County team that played Union County in Snapple Bowl XXIII, a charity allstar football game composed of rosters of graduating seniors. All proceeds from the game benefit Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

Together, these master fundraisers soared above the rest of the competition by raising $10,150 to help establish a single-game donation record of $55,000. The previous record of $50,000 was set last year at Kean University. Since the first contest in 1994, the Snapple Bowl has raised $590,000.

McDevitt used a GoFundMe account, sold 130 game tickets at $10 each, secured four $200 full-color ads for the 184-page full-color program book and sold $440 worth of $1 TV raffle tickets to establish the second-highest individual fundraising record of $4,570.

O’Halloran, the two-time winner of the Debbie Ganz Spirit of the Game Award recognizing the top mascot in Union and Middlesex counties, shattered his own record of $2,525 set last year with a new benchmark of $5,580. Jon raised the majority of his money through a GoFundMe account and a highly successful Spirit Night at Chickfil- A of St. Georges Crossing in Woodbridge.

These two young men have set a gold medal standard that reflects the values and teachings of their school district and its emphasis on making a difference in the community. They are true reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. They embody the Snapple Bowl’s mission to be Champions for Children. Marcus A. Borden is the founder/ game director of the MyCentral Jersey.com Snapple Bowl

By Braulio Perez | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on July 20, 2016 8:00 AM, updated July 20, 2016 12:09 PM

Joe Martino, @JMartinoMyCJ 11:52 p.m. EDT July 21, 2016

WOODBRIDGE - Kyle Boyd leaped into the air Thursday night and hauled in a victory for Union County in Snapple Bowl XXIII.

Boyd, of Union High School, intercepted Middlesex quarterback Tracy Fudge (Woodbridge) with less than a minute to play to cement a 13-7 Union triumph at Woodbridge High School's Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium.

Middlesex, which had trouble moving the ball on offense all night, found itself driving inside Union's 40-yard line before Boyd dashed any hopes for a comeback victory.

READ: Crosstown rivals take field as teammates in Snapple Bowl

READ: Union County showcases diverse talent in Snapple Bowl

READ: Rivalries refocused in Snapple Bowl

"I was reading my man and I saw the running back sneak out of the backfield so I knew to hop on (the route) real quick," Boyd said.

Union's defense was stout all night, led by down lineman Osaheni Omokaro (Hillside), who recorded three solo sacks on his way to being named the game's MVP.

"I had to spark (the defense) up. I told the team we had to be explosive," Omokaro said. "I was trying to get off the ball as fast as possible. As soon as the ball moved, I moved."

Union tailback Guirvenson Guillaume (Linden) rushed in from three yards out with 3:23 left in the fourth quarter to give Union a 13-0 lead.

Fudge connected with his high school teammate James Modica for a 41-yard scoring strike with 2:55 left in the game. Josh Wood (Monroe) nailed the extra point to trim Middlesex's deficit to 13-7.

On the ensuing possession, Union's Andy Urness (New Providence) leaped into he air and hauled in the onside kick attempt, but Middlesex forced a punt to receive the ball with 1:40 to play.

An errant snap on a Middlesex punt attempt set up Union at its opponents' 31-yard line with less than a minute to play in the third quarter. After a 12-yard completion from quarterback Ja'quill Burch (Hillside) to receiver Kyron Paige (Elizabeth) and back-to-back carries for 10 yards from tailback Guilaume, Burch scampered in from 14 yards out, giving Union a 7-0 lead.

Union, which had lost nine of the past 10 meetings entering, including a 33-13 win in 2015, improved to 9-14 in the series.

Neither offense found its rhythm in the first half as the teams combined for six punts and just one trip to the red zone.

Union quarterback Sebastian Montesdeoca connected with Westfield receiver Jelani Pierre for 40 yards, sparking a modest six-play drive midway through the second quarter. The drive stalled three plays later, and Joe Norton (Cranford) sailed a 33-yard field goal attempt wide left.

Down lineman Christian Cardosa (J.F. Kennedy) had a sack for Middlesex.

Since its inception in 1994, the game has raised a total of $545,000 to the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

Coaches of the Year

As is an annual Snapple Bowl tradition, Marcus Borden, the game’s founder and director, recognized a Coach of the Year from Middlesex and Union counties.

Don Sofilkanich, who guided New Brunswick to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the NJSIAA Central Group V final, was named the Snapple Bowl’s Middlesex County Coach of the Year.

JimDeSarno, who guided Westfield to a 12-0 record en route to its first sectional title in 38 years with a 10-7 victory over Bridgewater-Raritan in the North 2 Group IV final, was named the Snapple Bowl’s Union County Coach of the Year.

Each was presented with a plaque during a halftime ceremony.

Angel D. Ospina, @AngelDOspina 11:50 p.m. EDT July 21, 2016

WOODBRIDGE- Usually when a John F. Kennedy or Colonia football player steps foot onto the historic Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium they walk into a hostile crowd drowning them in boos.

The two schools have built a rivalry spanning over four decades with the crosstown rival Woodbridge football program, but on Thursday foes stepped onto the field as teammates and left the contest as friends.

READ: Snapple Bowl XXIII Game Story

READ:Snapple Bowl: Union County Notebook

The Woodbridge Township student athletes played alongside one another as they represented Middlesex County in Snapple Bowl XXIII.

Andrew Roberts (JFK), James Modica (Woodbridge), Tyler Santos (Colonia), Tracy Fudge (Woodbridge), Bashir Lauderdale (Colonia), Lee Tmburello (Colonia), Nate Lanier (Woodbridge), David McDevitt (Woodbridge) and Christian Cardosa (JFK) all capped off their high school playing careers in their home township in one final game.

“It’s cool playing with the people you played against for so many years and finally being on one team,” said Fudge who started the game behind center for Middlesex. “We’re like a family,” “We came together and we just meshed immediately, we all respect each other’s talents so that’s what makes us able to play with one another.”

The all-star game consisted of the best graduated seniors from Middlesex and Union County as they squared off to raise money for Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

While the game was for a good cause, emotions ran high in a gritty defensive matchup that didn’t see its first score until the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Middlesex’s four game winning streak ended on Wednesday as it fell to the Union County team 13-7. Although the Middlesex team lost, the hometown players still were able to make some remarkable plays.

JFK’s Roberts awed the crowd with a 36-yard run in the first possession of the second half. Roberts scrolled to the left making a few Union defenders miss in the backfield and then used his long 6-foot-2 stride to cap off his run down the sideline.

Although the drive didn’t end in a score for Middlesex, Roberts was just glad he was able to build some relationships with players from other schools.

“It’s a great experience,” said Roberts. “We came together in seven days, all these guys are like my brothers, it’s like having a second team.”

While relationships were built from players from different teams, it was the camaraderie and familiarity between the Woodbridge teammates that saw the teams only score of the game.

Fudge connected with wide receiver Modica for a 41-yard touchdown, as Fudge rolled out to his right and found his teammate wide open in the middle of the field.

“I’m thankful he threw it to me and I’m thankful I got the score,” said Modica. “(The Woodbridge Football Program) has taught me a lot about offense and defense, but on and off the field they taught me about everything.”

McDevitt also credited the program for molding him into the man he is today. The  tough offensive lineman  grew up watching the Woodbridge football program since he was a young kid as both his brothers previously played for the Barrons while his dad stood on the sidelines as an assistant coach.

Ending his high school career with a win in front of his entire family would have been the perfect way to go out but McDevitt is just thankful he got the opportunity to play on his home field one final time.

“It’s real special, I love this field, I spent four years on it, it’s just great playing on it one more time,” said McDevitt. “I’ve been looking to playing on this field since I was four or five years old ever since I could remember I always wanted to play Woodbridge football.”

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. Thursday, 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 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.

Alyssa Davis, Staff Writer 10:29 p.m. EDT July 21, 2016

WOODBRIDGE - The all-stars were picked. The playbooks were set. Visits to the Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School had taken place. It was time for the Middlesex and Union athletes to faceoff on the gridiron for Snapple Bowl XXIII which was contested at Woodbridge High School on Thursday.

?READ: Union defense preserves 13-7 victory in Snapple Bowl 

?READ: Crosstown rivals take field as teammates in Snapple Bowl XXIII

After a four-year drought, Union was itching for a victory – and they did it. The Union squad managed to win a 13-7 thriller.

With the win, Union closed the gap to 14-9 on Middlesex’s winning record. It wasn’t until there were 13 minutes and nine seconds left in the fourth quarter that points were put on the board. Ja’quill Burch of Elizabeth ran 14 yards on a quarterback keeper to give Union the game.

Defensive battle

Through the first three quarters of Snapple Bowl XXIII the game remained scoreless, and the defenses worked tirelessly. The Union defensive ranks especially put on a show. Osaheni Omokaro of Hillside managed three sacks which earned him earned him the Snapple Bowl XXIII MVP title.

Pernell Williams of Elizabeth added a sack of his own for a 10-yard loss in the third quarter.

Local all-star

Guirvenson Guillaume of Linden High School, who was one of the top running backs in the Mid-State 38 last season, was targeted 10 times in the first half alone. In the opening half he ran for 18 yards and was also a popular weapon in the second half.

With 3:23 left in the game, Guillaume, who finished his senior season with 917 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, ran the ball for three-yards to give Union the victory.

Guillaume said that his demeanor during practices helped him to earn his role on the field.

“I’ve done what I had to do in practice as far as leadership and being on time and doing the right things – I just wanted to help the team out as much as I could,” Guillaume said. “It means a lot to me to be here, I’ve been watching this game since I was in eighth grade so to be a part of it is very special for me.”

“The hospital visit was very touching,” Guillaume added. “To see kids that don’t have the abilities that I have and can’t do what I do every day made me really focus and see that what I have is real special.”

Last summer the Snapple Bowl set a single-game record as it raised more than $50,000 for Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program for the New Jersey Institute of Disabilities. Since its inception the game has raised more than $535,000 for the organizations.

Coach of the Year

After the Union County all-star cheerleading squad lit up the field with their lively halftime performance clad in their respective schools’ uniforms, Coach of the Year honors were announced, and Westfield got to add one more notch in its 2015-season cap.

Jim DeSarno walked away with the title, which is no surprise after the history-making season he navigated his Blue Devils through. For the first time in 38 years, Westfield earned the NJSIAA North 2 Group V championship when it just squeaked by Bridgewater-Raritan in a 10-7 battle. The Blue Devils finished the season undefeated to make 2015.

In Snapple Bowl XXIII Westfield once again showed its talents. Midway through the second quarter Westfield alumnus Jelani Pierre caught a 40 yard pass to put the Union squad in scoring position, although Norton’s field goal attempt proved fruitless as it sailed wide of the uprights. Brett Robertshaw also represented the Blue Devils as he made a clutch third quarter tackle for a two-yard loss.

Andy Mendlowitz, @andy_mendlowitz 8:32 p.m. EDT July 21, 2016

WOODBRIDGE - On Thanksgiving, they’re more likely to tackle each other than share cranberry sauce. But on Thursday, autumn foes came together as teammates in Snapple Bowl XXIII at Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium.

The annual summertime game for charity draws allegiances down Middlesex and Union county lines — one of the charms of the event. Perhaps strange at first, players soon find out it isn't so bad playing alongside school rivals.

“Definitely, playing with Metuchen and South River, it was cool not hating them,” Highland Park receiver Noah Pointer said with a laugh. “They’re cool dudes. It was pretty cool playing with them.”

Highland Park and Metuchen, smaller schools 15 minutes apart along Route 27, have tussled since 1937. In another longtime Middlesex County series, Carteret has played Perth Amboy 89 times. In Union County, Plainfield and Westfield first met in 1900 and have played every year since, except for a dozen times before 1944. Other longtime Union County rivalries include Roselle vs. Roselle Park and Linden against Union.

Beyond natural rivalries that span generations, the game features opponents who faced off during the scholastic season.

“It’s interesting over the years to see the kids that compete against each other during the regular season,” said Scott Miller, Union coordinator and head coach at Brearley. “They’re big rivals, but once we get here, it seems like there’s that mutual respect that they have for each other regardless of what school they’re from. … I think the kids really enjoy it because we haven’t had any issues since I’ve been doing this, and I’ve been doing this for about 12 years now. It just seems that the kids seem to jell.”

Family ties

Bill Nyers, Middlesex's offensive coordinator, can mark all the years through the Snapple Bowl's history. Nyers’ son Anthony was born around Snapple Bowl I. Nyers first coached in Snapple Bowl II. Father and son have a picture taken together at Snapple Bowl V. Now, in the 23rd game, 22-year-old Anthony coached alongside his father.

“Being able to work together in the all-star game is pretty cool,” said Bill Nyers, who stepped down as Woodbridge’s head coach this past winter. “It’s pretty neat.”

Anthony Nyers is Woodbridge's all-time leading receiver (2008-11). He went on to play at East Stroudsburg and Kean universities. After a knee injury ended his career, he joined the Woodbridge coaching staff in the middle of last season. He’s now the team’s offensive coordinator while finishing his degree at Kean. Although he's been around football his entire life, Anthony said he didn’t think about coaching until he finished playing.

Nyers’ brother Rich is also a longtime coach who is formerly the head skipper at J.F. Kennedy.

“It’s pretty much the topic of conversation every time we sit down,” Bill Nyers said.  “Now it’s even more so that he’s doing the X’s and O’s. I’m very proud of Anthony. Just what he did in high school and in college and the fact that he’s continuing on the family tree and coaching. It means a lot.”

The future generation

The youngest Snapple Bowl team member is smaller than a football. Six-month-old Makayla Plancher was at Middlesex practices last week wearing her pink onesie that flashed her name and “Middlesex Snapple Bowl cheerleader” on it. The bowl’s founder and organizer, Marcus Borden, also got her one for next year, size 18 months. She posed for pictures with the cheerleaders, including a shot in which she tried to eat the football.

Like the Nyers, Makayla has a Snapple Bowl lineage. In 2000, her mother, Marissa Plancher, was a sophomore in Borden’s Spanish class at East Brunswick High School when he asked if anyone wanted to volunteer for the Snapple Bowl. Seventeen years later, Plancher is still going strong. She hasn’t missed a game in that span doing important behind-the-scenes work, as well as visiting the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities, with the players.

“This is the highlight of my summer,” Plancher said. “This is what I look forward to every year. And now that I have a child of my own, it makes you appreciate the little things, but it’s something that I can establish with her to show her to be grateful for everything and to show her how to help others. It’s nice to be able to give back and to show others your appreciation.”

One more snap

On July 12, Westfield’s Jelani Pierre was helping at a youth basketball camp when he looked up and saw Blue Devils football coach Jim DeSarno, who is also Union’s offensive coordinator. Turns out, the team needed another receiver. Before he knew it, Pierre was at practice that night.

Pierre used the word “surreal” to describe the turn of events and said, “I’m really glad that I got added.”

He just figured his football career was over after the Blue Devils won the NJSIAA North 2 Group V title with a 10-7 win over Bridgewater-Raritan at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 3.

“It was fun,” Pierre said of his season. “This is my first year starting, so I wanted to go out with a bang, and we won the championship, so it was a blast.”

For the record, it’s not like Pierre exactly got soft during the summer. He’s been working out in preparation for joining Iona College’s track and field team as a sprinter and long jumper. This spring, he helped Westfield win the Union County Relays, which snapped Union Catholic’s five-year championship run. In the North 2 Group IV sectional, Pierre won the long jump.

All-around athletes

In addition to Pierre, the Snapple Bowl featured several players who also earned star status in other sports. They included Sayreville offensive lineman Anthony Porcaro, who finished fourth this past winter in the NJSIAA Individual Wrestling Tournament at heavyweight, and New Providence’s Andy Urness, who took fifth in the javelin at the spring Meet of Champions with a throw of 186-06.

Familiar coin toss

Lakeview School alumnus George Prenderville, a familiar site on the sidelines, has attended every Snapple Bowl game and pregame banquet.

Prenderville was back on the field yet again Thursday night, this time participating in the opening coin toss.

Andy Mendlowitz, andy_mendlowitz 9:50 p.m. EDT July 20, 2016

EDISON - It was a like a pep rally showed up to the prom.

Football players wore fashionable ties and shiny earrings, slicked hair with blue-greenish dress shirts. Cheerleaders sported high heels and spiffy dresses and took pictures in the lobby. Wednesday, the annual banquet before the Snapple Bowl at the Pines Manor had an elegant feel, “Congratulations” balloons included.

By the end, the players were ready to shed their dress pants to throw elbows in the trenches and smash into one another over the middle. The Snapple Bowl has always been more than an all-star football game between recently graduated seniors from Middlesex County and Union County. From its inception in 1994, the game has raised a total of $545,000 to the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

The lead-up to Thursday's 7 p.m. game at Woodbridge High School included an opening press conference, practices, a spirit night after the final practice and visits from both teams to mingle with patients from both programs. Organizers hope this year the game will beat the record of $50,000 for one game.

“It’s an event,” said Marcus Borden, the former longtime football coach at East Brunswick and the game’s founder. “There are a lot of events that involve around it. ... The reality is, we have pride in both counties who want to win the game. But when you walk off the field, you also know that the real winners are the kids”

Wednesday at the banquet, Venus Majeski, who is the institute’s director of development and community relations, addressed the audience, which included many of the team members’ mothers and fathers. She said the parents should be proud of their children for visiting the patients of both care facilities on Monday.

“They brought the gifts of themselves,” she said. “And they truly are our heroes. They brought goodness; they brought funny stories; they brought a little bit of mischief. But most of all, they brought their friendship. … I think you should all be very, very proud of them. You made a difference in a big way. This is just not about a game, it’s about a community. It’s not just about Middlesex and Union, it’s about the future. It really is that big. And now you know what this is all about.”

Her voice soon cracked.

“On behalf of those children who cannot speak and mothers who love them, I thank you,” she went on. “I thank each and every one of you for your beauty and for your grace, and for the gifts that you have shared with us. Go out, yes, have a wonderful game, and Middlesex County, what do you know, you’re bringing home that victory tomorrow night.”

Cheers, whistles and “whoo-whoos” erupted from the Middlesex side. The other side responded with chants of, “Union! Union! Union!”

The next speaker, Sara MacDuff from Children’s Specialized Hospital, also thanked everyone and said: “I just want to say to you guys, you’re truly an inspiration to them because your determination, your drive, your willingness to put in the hard work—it shows them that anything that they dream of really, truly is possible if they put their mind to it. Whether it’s learning to say their first word, learning to take that first step, whatever it might be for them, and you guys really do inspire them.”

She then brought a message from an outgoing patient that won the hearts of the football players and cheerleaders on Monday’s visit. MacDuff noted: “I’m sure you’ll all remember our little mayor on the long term care unit, Joffre. He had a special message for you guys. He said he’s ready for a Union win. So let’s go Union!”

Of course, both sides let out noise.

The cheerleaders from each team were announced and received roses by the front stage. Next up, the players got their game jerseys.

It was on.

From a football standpoint, the series was even until recently. Middlesex has won nine of the past 10 meetings, including a 33-13 win in 2015. Middlesex holds a 14-8 edge since the first meeting in 1994. When it comes to state champions from last fall, however, Union County had more with Cranford (North 2 Group III) and Westfield (North 2 Group V) both winning sectional crowns. Additionally, Brearley reached the North II Group I final before losing 34-12 to Hoboken. In Middlesex County, South Brunswick beat Old Bridge to win the Central Group V title.

There may not be a natural rivalry between Middlesex and Union football. There aren’t many nonconference regular-season games, as the Middlesex teams typically play against Shore Conference opponents. But through the years, the game has taken on meaning from a football standpoint.

“I think what it really comes down to is that there’s a lot of pride in Union County football,” said Cranford High School head coach Erik Rosenmeier, who is the Union team’s defensive coordinator. “I think every school wants to be the best in their county. But when that’s all over, it’s about showing that you play the best football around, because the opponents that we play against are here together on the field. So if we feel that we play good football, then we have to prove it as a group and measure ourselves up against another county. And I think that’s where the rivalry comes in. It’s pride in our own. Pride in Union. And I think that that’s what we want to prove.”

Andy Mendlowitz, @andy_mendlowitz 5:02 a.m. EDT July 17, 2016

Autograph seekers stop him at 7-Eleven. He’ll get noticed at the malls. Really, anywhere around Woodbridge, and there’s a chance for a handshake and a hello. Plus, no doubt, a photo op.

“He’s almost like an icon around town, actually,” said David McDevitt, a recently graduated Woodbridge High School football player. “So many people know him.”

That icon isn’t a star from the playing fields or a local singer who made it big. Rather, it’s someone famed for rallying others — the school’s mascot Johnathon O'Halloran, aka The Barron. Unlike many mascots decked in a costume such as a Tiger or a Bear, O'Halloran merely wears a tuxedo with a red bow tie and cumberbund. He’ll dangle a cane and flex a top hat. Everyone sees his face. Threads aside, it’s his enthusiasm that makes fans remember him.

READ: Father and son gridiron stars make Snapple Bowl history

READ: South River's Nigro ready to showcase talent at Snapple Bowl

READ and LOOK: Class of 2016 graduation at Woodbridge High School

“We’ve always had students who would dress up and try to rally the crowds at football and basketball games,” Woodbridge athletic director Joe Ward said. “Johnathon took it to another level without us even asking him to do that. Now, he will attend alumni functions and go to elementary schools when they have some kind of pep rally. So he’s made this a community-wide event. He’s just amazing.”

Repeating success

O'Halloran won the mascot challenge at last year’s Snapple Bowl, a charity all-star football game that pits graduated seniors from Middlesex County against Union County. Proceeds go to the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

As part of the challenge in 2015, O’Halloran raised $2,525. After visiting the Lakeview School with the Middlesex team and seeing the joy on the patients’ faces, he was inspired to raise even more this year. McDevitt, an offensive tackle selected for the game, has also embraced the fundraising aspect. Together, the duo has brought in $7,000 as of last weekend with the totals still coming in before the July 21st game at Woodbridge High School.

Additionally, O’Halloran, who recently graduated from Woodbridge High School, set up a Spirit Night at the Chick-fil-A restaurant on St. Georges Ave. in the township. On July 19, 20 percent of the proceeds from each order from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. will go to the Snapple Bowl charities.

“When you have great charities behind it,” Ward said, “that’s just an additional driving force for what these kids are all about. They’re about doing things all the way. And it’s such an easy thing to want to get behind and really push.”

O’Halloran didn’t set out to become a mini-celebrity. He simply approached Woodbridge High School principal Glenn Lottmann after noticing the school didn’t have a mascot at the football opener his junior year. As it was, he’d often attend sporting events and, as he put it, “I would say I was the loudest fan even before I put on the top hat.”

The rest is school spirit history. It became a three-season commitment, for home and away games. Woodbridge High School's Class of 1965 requested The Barron for their reunion weekend last year. Two days before the Snapple Bowl, he will be at a classic car contest on Woodbridge’s Main Street.

“I cannot go out any day of the week to a public place without somebody recognizing the face,” said Halloran, who added that his friends tease him when he gets stopped. “It’s a lot more of a public image than I could ever have imagined. At the beginning it was a little tricky, just sort of getting used to it. After a few weeks, though, it didn’t bother me anymore.”

During football games, he’ll run around and ride in a golf cart. It’s just not your typical plain white cart, mind you. He spruced it up with black and red paint with the Barron Mobile in gold letters. He also raised money for a t-shirt launcher.

“He’s a fundraising machine, that guy,” McDevitt said. “He’s pretty outgoing even without the top hat and cane. He’s always saying hello to people and making sure that people are doing the right thing.”

Making it work

The 5-foot-10, 150-pound O’Halloran doesn’t exactly transform from Mr. Shy Guy to The Barron when he throws on that top hat.

“In this instance, Clark Kent and Superman are the same person,” he said. “I like to think I’m not too different on the field than off.”

Along the way, he’s discovered tricks of the trade such as storing hand warmers on cold autumn nights under his belt behind the tails of his suit jacket. He’ll even perform with the cheerleaders, getting lifted in the air, sans the cane, during halftime shows.

“That is one thing I never thought that I would ever say that I had to do when I started high school,” he said. “’Can’t do this, got to go to the cheerleading practice.’”

He hopes to continue his mascot career when he attends Xavier University in Cincinnati in the fall. O’Halloran, who is majoring in communications with a specialization in sports journalism, intends to try out to become Xavier’s mascot, D'Artagnan the Musketeer.

Like O’Halloran, McDevitt is used to helping others. As Woodbridge’s left tackle, he’s protected quarterback Tracy Fudge in the team’s explosive offense the past two seasons. With the Snapple Bowl run up, forget football, he’s thrilled to be helping the children.

“The game is more secondary,” he said. “I’d rather just help the community out. I think it’s just such a good cause. I just feel like that my heart goes out to all these kids. I just want to do as much as I can to help them.”

He’s found that fundraising takes work, whether it’s through getting donations online or by selling ads.

“Most people put up their GoFundMe page and they don’t advertise it,” he said. “You got to really sell it to people. People will hear about it and say, ‘Oh, we should donate a couple bucks here or there.’ Then it will be right out of their minds. You got to keep selling it and bringing it to people.”

The 6-4, 240-pound McDevitt, whose two older brothers both played football for Woodbridge High School, is heading to Rowan University as a business major. He’s initially not playing football, but may try out for the team next spring. Now, would McDevitt ever want to be a mascot once he hits campus?

“Could be,” he said laughing. “Possibly. Anything’s possible.”

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. Thursday, 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 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/

Alyssa Davis, @AlyssaM_Davis 9:01 a.m. EDT July 15, 2016

WOODBRIDGE - Of the 40 Middlesex County cheerleaders that met on Monday at Woodbridge High School to begin manicuring their chants and routine before taking part in the mid-summer tradition of MyCentralJersey.com’s Snapple Bowl, three congregated to follow a family tradition, as well.

Samantha Jaurez, Devin Lissy and Olivia Anderson each have siblings that participated in previous Snapple Bowls.

READ: Father and son gridiron stars make Snapple Bowl history

CHECK OUT: Football: Snapple Bowl practices get underway

READ: Football: Union County preps for Snapple Bowl

Anderson, who will cheer in Snapple Bowl XXIII on her home turf at Barrons Stadium on July 21, is the younger sister of Kyle Anderson who split time as quarterback in Snapple Bowl XIX (2012) and went on to fill the back-up quarterback role at The College of New Jersey before he was moved to wide receiver.

“He’s really excited because it’s going to be on our home field,” Olivia Anderson said about her brother’s sentiments. “He was like ‘oh my gosh, it’s going to be so different watching you, it’s going to be so much fun.’”

“I have always wanted to do it because I knew the cause it was going out to and I knew how important that was - I’m really excited to meet the kids,” Anderson, who will cheer for the University of Delaware beginning this fall, said of the Middlesex County squad’s pending visit to the Lakeview School. “It’s good to see where all of this is going to.”

All proceeds of the Snapple Bowl benefit Children's Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

Last year, Bishop Ahr’s Juarez sat in the stands of Kean University’s Alumni Stadium and watched as her sister Jenna represented Middlesex. Middlesex High School’s Lissy did the same in 2012 from the East Brunswick High School bleachers as her sister Tomi Lee donned Middlesex County colors.

“I get to follow in her footsteps, but do my own thing while keeping the tradition,” Samantha Jaurez said. “It’s definitely a really nice feeling to be picked for this, especially because of the cause it’s going for. When my coaches told me that they were going to send me to (the Snapple Bowl) I was really excited and it’s a really nice feeling knowing that we’ll be helping out the Lakeview school, and those kids will get something better from this.”

Sporting navy blue T-shirts with the words “Middlesex All-Star Cheer” in orange across the front and the Snapple Bowl logo on the back, cheerleaders from 20 Greater Middlesex Conference schools practiced together for the first time. Despite the unfamiliarity of the coaches, teammates and routine, the girls looked incredibly poised.

Middlesex County squad coaches Colleen Meyers and Jackie Cassidy, who teach and coach at Spotswood High School, both agreed that the girls looked “fantastic.”

“Their tumbling skills are probably one of the most elite that we’ve had as a whole,” Cassidy, who cheered in the charity all-star classic in 2008, said.

“There is a lot of standing tucks and there is going to be a lot of action that we’re going to be able to do in this dance,” Meyers, who has coached the Middlesex County team for over two decades, added.

The two-minute, half-time routine - which is choreographed to a mashup of popular Top 40 hits including Adele’s Hello, Drake’s Hotline Bling, Fetty Wap’s 679 and many more - will start with tumbling passes before transitioning into a synchronized dance.

The all-star cheerleaders will showcase their talents from the sidelines as well, where they will thrill Middlesex County fans with a variety of chants.

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. Thursday, 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 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/

Lauren Knego, @laurenknego 8:13 p.m. EDT July 13, 2016

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/

Andy Mendlowitz, @andy_mendlowitz 10:44 p.m. EDT July 11, 2016

WOODBRIDGE — Marcel Mason has heard all the taunts directed to him out on the football field.

“Of course, they try to get in your head,” said Mason, who recently graduated from Piscataway High School. “That’s what they do on the field. They’ll be like, ‘Oh little man this. Little man that.’ But I don’t do nothing. I go out there — I strap it up. I do what I got to do.”

MORE: JFK's ROBERTS EAGER TO PLAY QB AT SNAPPLE BOWL

And that’s usually giving his team a speedy lift. Yes, all body types have roles in football, and Mason, listed at 5-foot-7, 160 pounds, has been a valuable shifty, change-of-pace running back and punt returner for the Chiefs.

Monday, he was the smallest guy out there as practices started for Snapple Bowl XXIII, which takes place at Woodbridge High School on July 21 at 7 p.m. The annual all-star charity game pits graduating seniors from Middlesex County against Union County. All proceeds from the game benefit Children’s Specialized Hospital and the Lakeview School, a program of the Edison-based New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. The current cumulative total from the series is $535,000 and counting.

Monday, Union practiced at Union High School. Mason and the Middlesex team was out at Woodbridge High School. Mason understood his role for perennial power Piscataway. Elijah Barnwell was the lead and rushed for 1,743 yards on 248 carries. Mason gave his team a lift off the sidelines.

Among his highlights was setting a school record when he returned a punt 91 yards for a touchdown in a 42-7 win against East Brunswick last September. As far as being the little guy, Mason said it’s something he takes pride in.

“I don’t let that get to me,” Mason said. “I come out here to compete. The size never matters to me. I’ve been small my whole life so that never made a difference. I was always the smallest. I don’t let it affect me.”

He’ll be joined in the backfield by three power runner types who burst through the gaps with no worries. New Brunswick’s Samad Davila (6-1, 205) gained 1,333 yards on 189 carries during the season; South Plainfield’s Jason Lee (6-1, 215) rushed for 1,011 yards on 201 carries; and Middlesex’s Ryan Coke (6-0, 195) went for 1,069 yards on 134 carries.

Indeed, nobody called ever called Lee “little” between the lines.

“My coach called me a horse,” said Lee, as he described his style. “Just more a downhill runner. Doesn’t really cut too much, but he will lower his shoulder.”

But that doesn’t mean that Lee didn’t compile some highlight film-type of runs. He noted with a laugh, “Oh, I got a couple nice moves.”

One of the charms of an all-star game is that opponents in the fall now get to know one another and back each other up.

“It’s fun because now you go from talking trash to these guys and playing against them,” Lee said, “to now you’re on the same team and you got put a smile on your face, play for each other.”

The runners will get protection by a big wall. On pure size, East Brunswick’s offensive guard Yousef   Abohend (6-3, 310) and Spotswood tackle Lou Vacca (6-1, 300) lead the way. They’re joined by centers Christian Napolitano (6-1, 250) of South Brunswick and Danny Santiago (5-10, 250) of Perth Amboy. Rounding out the line are guards Mike Diakunczak of Edison (5-10, 265) and Esberth Pereyra of North Brunswick (5-10, 255), and tackles David McDevitt of Woodbridge (6-4, 240) and Anthony Porcaro of Sayreville (6-4, 260).

Of course, they’re more than just sheer girth—they’re excellent athletes who has the technique down. For example, Porcaro was the Home News Tribune’s Wrestler of the Year after finishing fourth at heavyweight in the NJSIAA Individual Championships at Atlantic City.

Guiding those runners will be Middlesex’s offensive coordinator Bill Nyers, who is a Snapple Bowl trivia answer. The question—Who’s the only coach to have served both teams?

Nyers was on the Union sideline as Plainfield’s head coach, and Middlesex when he was Woodbridge’s head coach. He stepped down as Woodbridge’s coach in December to deal with the lingering effects of kidney cancer. Nyers has devoted hours and hours to the Woodbridge football program and developing young men. He played offensive guard and linebacker for the Barrons in the early 1980s. He was Woodbridge’s head coach from 1994 to 2002 and returned in 2012 after a six-year stint as Kean University’s offensive coordinator.

His son Anthony (who played  from 2008-2011) is the school’s all-time leading receiver and is currently Woodbridge’s offensive coordinator. His daughter, Brittany, was a cheerleader and softball player and other son Nick is a junior football player for the Barrons.

Monday, his son joined his father as an assistant.

“It’s a great thing,” Nyers said.

As far as the offensive talent, Nyers liked what he saw.

“For a first day, I can’t complain,” Nyers said. “They did everything. They were attentive. And that’s the big thing, when you got real nice kids—you’ll be all right. They’re good kids. They worked hard tonight. I was really happy for them.”

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. Thursday, 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 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/

STAFF VIDEO BY GREG TUFARO
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/videos/sports/high-school/football/2016/07/11/86737526/