Hometown Hero - Dennis Leads Team to Gridiron Classic Victory

Photo's by Tom Smith: www.tspsportsimages.com

LONG BRANCH – Playing in his final game of his high school career on his home turf in front of a throng of adoring fans, Long Branch’s Marc Dennis did what he does best – lead his team to victory.

Dennis – voted the Monmouth County offensive Most Valuable Player – turned in one of the finest first-half performances in the Gridiron Classic’s 42-year history.

The Kings College-bound Dennis, who was also a 1000-point scorer in basketball and plans on playing both sports in college, was 7-for-11 for 159 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as Monmouth County took a commanding 21-0 lead then cruised to a 21-6 victory Friday night at Bresett Field in Long Branch.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better ending,” said Dennis. “I have been so blessed. My family and friends have always stood by me and supported me and I was just grateful I could come out here and perform.”

In his senior year at Long Branch, Dennis quarterbacked his team to a 12-1 record and its second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship along with a dramatic come from behind win in the inaugural South, Group IV Bowl game.

It didn’t take Dennis long to get Monmouth County on the scoreboard finding his favorite target from last season, Matt Clarke, for a nine-yard touchdown reception on Monmouth’s first offensive play from scrimmage.

Ocean County received the opening kickoff and were forced to punt after Middletown South’s Matt Tardy dropped Pinelands running back Eric Burton, who started at quarterback, for a three-yard loss on third-and-4 from their own 28-yard line.

On the ensuing punt, Toms River North’s Aaron Craig recovered his own fumble on the snap but Manalapan defensive end Da’Shon Taylor, who was voted the Monmouth County defensive MVP, hauled Craig down at the 19-yard line before he got the punt off. Ocean was also penalized on the play setting up a first-and-goal at the nine-yard line for Monmouth.

On the next play, Dennis found Clarke with a quick hitter at the five-yard line and Clarke rumbled in for the first score of the game. Freehold Townships Colin Taptich’s extra-point kick made it 7-0 with 11:25 left in the first quarter.

Monmouth County, which held Ocean County to just 53 first-half yards and three first downs, forced an Ocean three-and-out on their next possession and following another Craig punt, Monmouth took over at their own 44-yard line and Dennis went back to work.

On second-and-9 from the 45-yard line, Dennis spotted Clarke alone over the middle downfield and hit him for a 46-yard pickup giving Monmouth a first-and-goal at the nine-yard line.

“I told Matt if he had one-on-one coverage in the seam to just keep running and I’ll throw it to him,” said Dennis. “Of course he said, ‘Why couldn’t you have done that all year long?’ We have a connection and I told the coaches whenever we see an opening we’re going to take it.”

The William Paterson-bound Clarke finished with three receptions for 65 yards – all in the first half.

On first down following Clarke’s big gainer, Dennis flipped the ball forward to Ocean Township’s Alex Bryant on an end around and Bryant took it around right end untouched into the end zone for the score and a quick 14-0 lead after Taptich’s extra-point kick with 8:39 left in the first quarter.

Monmouth, with big stops by Raritan’s Justin Acevedo, Manasquan’s Dylan D’Anton and Ocean’s Ryan Moran, forced another Ocean three-and-out and following the punt took over at the 49-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and 11 at the Ocean 26-yard line, Monmouth decided to go for it but Dennis was hauled down for a 14-yard sack by Lacy’s Quint Hearns after escaping numerous would be tacklers.

Ocean took over at the 40-yard line and progressed to the 49 setting up a fourth-and-1 before deciding to go for it. However, Brick’s Cole Groschel was stopped inches short of the 50-yard line by a gang of tacklers including Rumson’s Christian Lanzalotto, Taylor and Tardy and Monmouth took over just shy of the 50.

Three plays later on third-and-9, Dennis tossed a short pass in the right flats to Bryant who turned on the after burners and bolted 50 yards for the score on a spectacular catch-and-run down the right sidelines.

“I had a great block from my boy Matt Krauss (Freehold),” said the Marist-bound Bryant. “I saw green and just kept going. It feels great to end my high school career like this and I have a lot to look forward to in the future.”

Bryant was the games leading receiver with four catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

“During the week in practice, me and Marc Dennis got a good connection going,” Bryant said. “I played with him in AYF (American Youth Football) and I feel like we got it back.”

Monmouth pinned Ocean back at the twelve-yard line right before the half and Manasquan’s Alex Forman ended the half with a ten-yard sack of Brown to finish off a dominate first half for Monmouth County, which led 21-0.

With Monmouth County turning to the run in the second half, the two teams traded punts to open the half. On Ocean's second possession of the half, Asbury Park safety Kharod Young picked off a Brown pass intended for Manchester’s Eric Cowan, who was voted the Ocean County defensive player of the game, returning it to the Ocean 33-yard line.

Monmouth County then looked to put the game away driving to the 15-yard line where they were facing a fourth-and-2. Dennis, however, was stopped inches short of the first after he lunged forward with a gang of tacklers on his back.

The turnover on downs seemed to give Ocean County a spark and a sign of life for the first time in the game. After taking over at their own 13-yard line they put together an 87-yard scoring drive to pull within 21-6 on a 19 yard Groschel to Craig touchdown pass.

A Gridiron Classic rule allows a team that scores and is still down by 13 points or more in the second half to receive the kickoff following the score, so Ocean got the ball right back following its touchdown. Also, after receiving the opening kickoff of the game, Ocean was presented the ball on the opening kickoff of second half because they were trailing.

Now down by just two scores with 10:32 left in the game, Ocean tried to make a game out of it by driving to the Monmouth 30-yard line, however, Monmouth’s defense came up big when it needed too.

On second-and-7, D’Anton stopped Groschel for a three-yard loss then on third down Freehold’s Alex Verardi hauled down Groschel for a two-yard loss setting up a crucial fourth-and-12 at the 35-yard line.

Brown was rushed out of the pocket on fourth down desperatly looking for a big play downfield but was sacked for a nine-yard loss by Middletown North’s Steven Holler essentially ending Ocean’s chance at a comeback with 4:10 left on the clock.

“I did a quick read, made a swing and I was out clean for the sack,” said Holler. “It was huge. It energized us and rallied us back together – it put the nail in the coffin.”

Ocean got the ball back after a Monmouth turnover with 2:18 remaining in the game but on first down Red Bank Catholic’s Steve Cmielewski batted down a pass into his own hands for a dazzling interception that clinched the 21-6 win for Monmouth.

“It was surreal. I was just excited to get out here and represent my school and my family in the game,” said Cmielewki, who will continue his academic and football career at Stonehill College. “It felt good to finish off the game and my high school career like that. It was great to get to play with Jayden (Key), John (Columbia) and Anthony (Romano) one last time – it was just great. The game meant a lot and everyone gave it their all.”

University of Pennsylvania-bound Jayden Key was the Monmouth County recipient of the Sam Mills award while Central Regional’s Troy Warren took home the award for Ocean County.

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