Shore Regional Football Squad Wins 'Team of the Year'

Three Monmouth County teams won NJSIAA sectional football championships in the fall, but only one can say it earned “Team of the Year’’ honors at the 39th annual Lombardi Awards banquet at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel on Thursday night.  

That accolade went to Shore Regional High School, which finished 11-1 in the fall and won its first NJSIAA  Central Jersey Group I title since 1997 to join Freehold and Rumson-Fair Haven among the Monmouth County teams that won NJSIAA titles in 2010. It helped make Thursday a special night for the Blue Devils at the annual dinner sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Monmouth County and coordinated by the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation.  

“It was a nice surprise,’’ Shore Regional head coach Mark Costantino said. “We had a great year, and now all this stuff starts piling up with all these awards. This was a special group of seniors. We only had 11 of them on the team, and all 11 contributed. We didn’t know we could be this good, but it all came together.’’  

Whenever the Blue Devils and Costantino are at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, it usually means good things. The Sheraton is where they also held their team banquet recently, and it’s where they will return in a few weeks to receive championship rings and jackets as part of a special ceremony from the mayors of the towns in the Shore Regional sending district.  

“It doesn’t end, but it’s for a good reason,’’ Costantino said. 

 In addition to naming Shore Regional as Monmouth County Team of the Year, Coach of the Year (Rumson’s Shane Fallon) and the Tuggle Award winner for overcoming adversity (Raritan quarterback Jared Gurczeski), the Lombardi Awards also recognized one senior lineman from each Monmouth County team who was selected by his coaches for reflecting the ideals, beliefs and traditions of legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi.  

Shore Regional’s recipient was Matt Conte, a second-team All-Shore selection and All-Class B Central pick by the coaches. He was a leader on the senior-laden offensive line that paved the way for two 1,000-yard rushers, Mark Coleman and Pat Maggio, in Shore Regional’s run to the title. He also saw some time on the defensive line. 

 “He just dominated this year,’’ Costantino said. “O-line-wise, he graded out at 90 percent every week.’’ 

“I was very excited when I got the award,’’ Conte said. “I also just found out recently about us getting the Team of the Year. I told my friends in school and they had no idea, so they were all happy. There were a lot of other great teams, so it’s a great accomplishment.’’ Conte, who lives across the street from Costantino in West Long Branch, will not be playing in college. He is currently deciding between William Paterson University and West Virginia University as a student.  

He was not the only lineman from the area to be honored on Thursday night, as Long Branch’s James Parnell was his team’s recipient of the Lombardi Award. Parnell was the leader of the Green Wave offensive line and also was the District 22 runner-up in the 215-pound weight class as a wrestler.  Parnell was excited to be part of an event that also included guest speakers like Monmouth University head coach Kevin Callahan and Rutgers offensive line coach Kyle Flood.

Like all the other recipients, Parnell received his “Block of Granite’’ trophy that symbolizes that famous 1936 Fordham University “Seven Blocks of Granite’’ offensive line on which Lombardi was the right guard.

 “This was a personal goal of mine,’’ Parnell said about winning the award. “My cousin, Nick Safiotti, won it in 2005, and I always had heard about the dinner. (Head) coach (Dan) George, (line coach Nick) Tranchina, I can’t thank them enough. All of my hard work, and this is what comes out of it. I’m very proud, and my parents are proud to be here.’’ 

 Thursday night was also exciting for the recipients because linemen are usually the unsung members of the team, who operate outside of the media and fan spotlight. Parnell certainly knows how that goes, as Long Branch featured star quarterback/defensive back Miles Shuler, a Rutgers University recruit who is one of the top five prospects in New Jersey. 

 “You never get interviewed,’’ Parnell said. “It was always Miles. Step aside Miles, it’s my turn.’’  

Like Conte, Thursday night was basically the final chapter of Parnell’s football career, as he will be attending Rutgers University but not playing football, so it was one last chance to savor the sport that he has loved for so long.