Shore 44 game turns rivals into teammates
Monmouth-Ocean grid stars play to 7-7 tied
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Freehold Township's Jesse Shenker runs down Southern's Josh Midili during Friday's All-Shore Football Classic in Middletown.

All-star games have a way of turning arch rivals into teammates.That was the case with Freehold Township safety Jesse Shenker, who never had a warm feeling toward Wall Township.

"We had a rivalry with them [Wall]," he said. "They beat us in close games, and I always held a grudge against Wall. Now, I'm in the secondary with [Chad] Tirpak and [Adam] Mancino. It's funny how things change."

The high school rivals became Monmouth County teammates for Friday's Shore 44 Football Classic at Middletown South High School, pitting the best graduating seniors from Monmouth County against Ocean County's best. This was the 29th edition of the game.

Friday's tilt was no exhibition game, which for most players was their last high school game before embarking on their college careers.

"Everyone's here to lay the wood," said Shenker, who will be playing for Montclair State University in the fall. "Everyone is on the same page. We came together as one. We want to beat Ocean and continue the tradition."

That tradition was put on hold Friday as the two sides battled to a 7-7 draw.

Manalapan's Anthony Mujica tallied the only touchdown for Monmouth on a 1-yard plunge at the start of the third quarter.

Friday's game was important for Shenker on several fronts.

"It's real exciting to play my final high school football game in this game," he noted. "I'm going to play at Montclair State and this game gives me such an advantage. It's a head start for college."

Then, there is the thrill of being on the gridiron again. It was the first game for most since their Thanksgiving Day games back in November.

"When you put on those pads and walk down the hallway to the field, that's when the adrenaline gets going," he said. "It's a feeling you can only get playing football."

"I missed football," he added. "It's the best feeling coming back and putting on the cleats and hitting someone."

Then, there was Shenker's own pride in being the lone representative for the Patriots, who suffered through a 1-9 season.

"I want to show people out there that Freehold Township is not a bad football program, that good players come from here," he said. "I'm holding up Patriot pride."

Shenker was one of several Freehold Regional District players who were named to the Monmouth County squad, including Mujica. The others were: Nick Bibbo, Colts Neck; Danny Matthews and Mike Priolo, Freehold Borough; Ryan McGuinness, Kyle Bukowiec, Gus Borden and Joe Rattacasa, Howell; and Joe Levine, Marlboro.