Monmouth Beats Ocean In All-Shore Gridiron Classic

By Scott Stump

Monmouth County won its second straight Gridiron Classic and extended its lead in the all-time series to 20-15-1 by knocking off Ocean County at Toms River High School North. 

Monmouth won behind a stifling defense and standout performances by Neptune quarterback Ajee Patterson, Colts Neck quarterback Mike Campbell and offensive Most Valuable Player Tim Vangelas, a Lafayette-bound wide receiver from Colts Neck who had six catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns.

Patterson, who was Monmouth County's recipient of the Sam Mills Award for dedication, character and perseverance, was 6-for-9 passing for 65 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 45 yards on four carries.

Campbell finished 8-for-15 for a game-high 120 yards passing and threw a touchdown pass to Vangelas. Neptune defensive end David Calderon earned defensive MVP honors for Monmouth with four sacks to lead an effort that limited Ocean County to 125 total yards.

Brick Memorial quarterback Ryan Cieplenski earned offensive MVP honors for Ocean by throwing for 44 yards and the team's only touchdown, a 29-yard strike to Point Beach's Andre Cochran with 1:29 left in the first half that cut the lead to 12-7 at the break. Brick defensive end Dan Watson was Ocean's defensive MVP with a pair of sacks and four quarterback pressures.

Monmouth took the opening kickoff and marched 78 yards to take a 6-0 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Patterson to Vangelas with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter. After a half-hour lightning delay, Monmouth made it 12-0 when Holmdel wide receiver Robbie Cantelli made a sensational leaping catch on a 14-yard pass from Patterson with 8:15 left in the second quarter.

The lone score of the second half came when Campbell hit Vangelas for a 10-yard touchdown pass and Middletown South kicker Connor Ryan added the extra point for a 19-7 advantage with 2:22 left in the third quarter.

Monsignor Donovan linebacker Tommy Farrell was Ocean County's Sam Mills Award recipient. Also, before the game, Barnegat beat Freehold Boro 22-7 to win the Gridiron Classic 7-on-7 title for its first title in the event's four-year history. 

For more coverage of sports in the Jersey Shore, see Scott Stump's All Shore Media site here.