Shore Trio, Baillie Selected to Play in All-Star Football Game

In 1979, Shore Regional offensive lineman/middle linebacker John Carroll played in just the second All-Shore Classic ever held.

 In 2011, his son, Shore senior Shane Carroll, will carry on the family tradition when he suits up for the Monmouth County all-stars in what is now known as the  U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at 7 p.m. on July 14 at Toms River North.

Carroll and Shore teammates Matt Conte and Evan Ruane, along with Long Branch’s Billy Baillie, are the local players who will join the tradition of the oldest high school all-star football game in New Jersey. Long Branch star Miles Shuler, a Rutgers recruit, is unable to participate because he will already be up at Rutgers by early July.

That group gathered along with the rest of their former rivals and future all-star teammates on Thursday night at Wall High School for an introductory press conference in which the coaches and players were introduced. Rumson’s Shane Fallon will be the head coach of the Monmouth County squad, and Lacey’s Lou Vircillo will coach the Ocean County team.

The annual game pitting the top seniors from Monmouth County against their rivals from Ocean County began in 1978 with Ocean’s 21-7 win over Monmouth in front of a record 8,112 fans at Wall Stadium. Carroll’s father played in the second edition of the game, a 7-6 win by Monmouth County in Wall.

“I’m happy to be able to follow in his footsteps,’’ Carroll said. “He’s got pictures at home from the team in his senior year. It’s an honor for me to play.’’

Carroll was a jack-of-all-trades for a Shore Regional team that finished 11-1 and won its first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title since 1997. He played wide receiver, defensive back, kicker, punter, and punt returner. He averaged 36 yards per punt on 14 punts, and as a kicker, he went 48-for-56 on extra points, and kicked two field goals. As a wide receiver, he had 12 catches for 324 yards (27 ypc) and 7 touchdowns, and as a defensive back, he had 4 interceptions, including one for a touchdown. He also averaged 18 yards on 10 punt returns, taking two of them back for touchdowns.

Conte was a standout offensive lineman on a team that produced two 1,000-yard rushers. Ruane, who is headed to Monmouth University, was a star quarterback and defensive/end linebacker. He finished with 4 sacks, 3 pass blocks, 2 blocked kicks and also had an interception that helped clinch the win over Dunellen in the state final. As a quarterback, Ruane was 37-for-78 for 721 yards and 13 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions, while also rushing for 6 touchdowns.

“You couldn’t ask for a better way to finish after the year we had,’’ Ruane said.

Conte recalled going to last year’s game at Matawan to watch teammates Rich Vivian and Keith White and is looking forward to knocking helmets with Ocean County’s top linemen.

“I’m definitely excited to be able to get a chance to compete against the best,’’ he said.

The game often takes on a bigger meaning to small-school players like those from Group I Shore Regional because it gives them a chance to prove they can compete at the same level as the stars from Group IV and Group III programs.

“Everybody says we play scrub schools, but I think we can play with any of these guys,’’ Carroll said. “It will be like a preview of college, where everyone is good.’’

“We will play with a chip on our shoulder as always,’’ Ruane said.

As for Baillie, he is the lone representative from Long Branch in this year’s game, joining a proud lineage of Green Wave stars who have participated in the game. There is even an award named after a Long Branch legend, the late Sam Mills, that is given to one player on each team for showing high character.

“I hope I’m up to par with all them and can perform as well as they did,’’ Baillie said.  "I will try my best."

Baillie was a defensive end/tight end for a team that finished 4-6, and he hopes to end his career on a high note.

“This means a lot since I’m not playing college football,’’ he said. “This will be my last game, so it’s very important to me. I’m hoping to at least have Monmouth win.’’