Long Branch, Shore Regional Football Seniors Honored

A group of Long Branch and Shore Regional seniors were honored for more than just their prowess on a football field on Feb. 19 at Gibbs Hall in Fort Monmouth.

A combined eight players between the two teams were honored by the Shore Football Coaches Foundation as members of this year’s Academic All-Shore Scholar-Athlete Team. Players had to have at least a 3.0 grade-point average as well as having been contributors on the field. The players were nominated by their respective coaches.  

Not only that, but some of the biggest names from both teams showed that they were not just electrifying talents on the field, but in the classroom as well. Leading the way was Long Branch senior quarterback/defensive back Miles Shuler, a Rutgers recruit who was an award recipient along with Green Wave lineman James Parnell and defensive end Bill Baille.  

As for Shore Regional, star quarterback Evan Ruane, standout wide receiver/kicker Shane Carroll and running back/linebacker Pat Migliaccio were among the recipients along with wideout Eric Lower and lineman Anthony Lanzano. They were all members of a Blue Devils team that finished 11-1 and captured the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title in the fall.  

While big names like Ruane and Shuler, the latter of whom was considered a top-five recruit in New Jersey for the Class of 2011, get more notice for their ability on the field, these are the type of awards that coaches take particular pride in.  

“We display the plaque that you get in the locker room with the names on it so everybody sees it and knows what it is,’’ said Long Branch head coach Dan George. “What I really like is that usually the postseason awards go to one or two guys who were your star players, but if you academically satisfy the requirements, there is no limit to who can be Academic All-Shore from your team.’’  

Coaches look to hold up making the Academic All-Shore team as an accomplishment as important as receiving All-Shore honors for on-the-field performance.  

“You set physical goals and game goals, but if you don't set academic goals, you're falling short of why we're doing what we're doing,’’ George said.  

Also honored at the academic breakfast, which included Monmouth University head coach Kevin Callahan and Rutgers assistant Rob Smith as guest speakers, was Shore Regional head coach Mark Costantino. He was selected as the Shore Conference Class B Central Coach of the Year by his peers.  

This will not be the end for the accolades for Long Branch and Shore Regional, either, as each team will have a lineman honored at the upcoming Vince Lombardi Award Banquet on March 3 at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel. In addition, Shore Regional will be named the Monmouth County Team of the Year at the annual banquet, which is now in its 39^th year.  

The Lombardi Awards are presented by the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County and the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation. Each year, every team from Monmouth County has one senior lineman nominated by his coaches to receive the award for reflecting the tradition, beliefs and ideals of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.  

In addition to his All-Shore academic award for Long Branch, Parnell will be this year’s recipient of the Lombardi Award for the Green Wave. Parnell, a starting offensive lineman and team captain, also is a wrestler for George, who doubles as the school’s wrestling coach.  

“James Parnell was a great leader for us and the type of kid that coaches love to have,’’ George said. “He did everything we asked of him and also is a great student.’’  

Shore Regional’s Lombardi Award recipient will be Matt Conte, who was one of the top linemen in the Shore Conference during the fall and one of the leaders of a unit that paved the way for a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in the Blue Devils’ championship season.  

That championship season under Costantino will also be recognized at the Lombardi dinner with Shore receiving Team of the Year honors. The Blue Devils also won the Shore Conference Class B Central title in addition to capturing their first Central Jersey Group I championship since 1997.