2010 News Articles
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BRAVES 2010 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
THE YEAR OF REDEMPTION!
WEEK ONE: JACKSON
WEEK TWO: MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
WEEK THREE: MIDDLETOWN NORTH
WEEK FOUR: FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP (homecoming)
BYE
WEEK FIVE: OLD BRIDGE
WEEK SIX: HOWELL (Senior night)
WEEK SEVEN: BRICK MEMORIAL
WEEK EIGHT: TOMS RIVER NORTH
WEEK NINE: 1ST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS
WEEK TEN: 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS
WEEK ELEVEN: MARLBORO
WEEK TWELVE: STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
THE YEAR OF REDEMPTION!
WEEK ONE: JACKSON
WEEK TWO: MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
WEEK THREE: MIDDLETOWN NORTH
WEEK FOUR: FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP (homecoming)
BYE
WEEK FIVE: OLD BRIDGE
WEEK SIX: HOWELL (Senior night)
WEEK SEVEN: BRICK MEMORIAL
WEEK EIGHT: TOMS RIVER NORTH
WEEK NINE: 1ST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS
WEEK TEN: 2ND ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS
WEEK ELEVEN: MARLBORO
WEEK TWELVE: STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Front left:
Kevin Coyle, Defensive Coordinator/Cincinnati Bengals (Farrell HS)
Al Paturzo, Head Football Coach Susan Wagner HS
Bill Smith, Manalapan HS (New Dorp)
Standing Left to Right
Steve Vella, Manalapan HS (Susan Wagner HS)
Ed Gurrieri, Manalapan HS (Susan Wagner HS)
Tom Gallahue, Manalapan HS (Tottenville High School)
Jerry Azzinaro, University of Oregon (Tottenville High School)
Seated Back to Front:
Tom Masella, Head Coach/Fordham Univ. (Tottenville High School)
Dom Lepore, Manalapan High School (Tottenville High School)
Joe Tetley, Manalapan High School (New Dorp)
Lou Anarumo, Purdue University (Susan Wagner HS)
Click on the photo to read an article by The Staten Island Advance
Middletown South loses at home for first time since 2007!
CLICK ON PICTURE OF CAPT BRIAN BRENNAN FOR APP STORY ON THE GAME!
click on the team logo to read a preview of the 2010 season
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ALL SHORE MEDIA'S TOP TEN RANKING BY SCOTT STUMP
7. Manalapan
This team has the talent to be No. 1 in these rankings, but after several slow starts in previous seasons, the Braves have to show me something first. This is the most hyped Manalapan team since the days of Cory Brooks and Co. at the turn of the millennium, and that team struggled mightily under the weight of expectations. This is a veteran group with a Division I quarterback in Rutgers recruit Mike Bimonte, a 1,000-yard rusher in Josh Firkser and almost everyone back up front on both sides of the ball. I honestly think this team is much better than No. 7, but given its track record, Manalapan will have to earn a higher ranking. The Braves open with an improved Jackson Memorial team that dominated them defensively last year in a 13-8 win, so we will find out right away if all the hype is justified. If this team has a great season, I guess we'll have to give the Invisible Man the Coach of the Year award, as the Braves technically won't have a head coach until after the season starts.
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ALL SHORE MEDIA: SCOTT STUMP
Manalapan's James DeBlase
Early on Saturday, Sept. 11, well before Manalapan's 7 p.m. game at home against Jackson Memorial to kick off the season, senior captain and starting defensive lineman James DeBlase will be at Ground Zero with his family, remembering the man who shaped his life and instilled his love of football as a former Pop Warner coach in Manalapan.
This is the second straight year that Manalapan has opened the season on the anniversary of the death of Jimmy DeBlase and everyone else who perished on that nightmarish day in 2001. Last season, James decided to play against South Brunswick in the season opener, marking the first time he did not visit Ground Zero with his family since his father died while working for Cantor Fitzgerald on the 105th floor of the North Tower that morning.
"Last year was tough,'' DeBlase said. "It was my first time doing this, and I didn't spend as much time with my family as I thought I would. Everyone came to the game, but this year is different. We're going to be home.''
His father was on his mind in the pre-game last year, but once the action commenced, it was all football. The Braves lost to South Brunswick, 20-7, which started a spiral to an 0-4 start. DeBlase is hoping that maybe the Braves can get a little lift from above in this year's opener from a man who was on the phone with his wife, Marion, before a commotion erupted that fateful morning and he informed her of the incomprehensible news that a plane had flown into the building and he had to hang up.
"Right now I know that up in the sky, he's watching down,'' DeBlase said. "Even though he didn't get one for us last year in the first game, hopefully he was just saving it for this year.''
Manalapan now enters the season with just about its entire team returning and dreams of a division title and then the school's first state sectional championship. The expectations are through the roof...
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JOHNNY DOKOUSLIS
MIKE ORLANDO
CAPT. KEVIN CRUZ
FOR LEADING THE MONMOUTH ALL SHORE TEAM OVER THE OCEAN TEAM 12-10!
YOU ALL REPRESENTED THE MANALAPAN BRAVES FOOTBALL FAMILY VERY WELL!
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It truly was an honor to be graced by the presence of Captain Brian Brennan of the 101st Airborne today at Manalapan HS. When Captain Brennan was asked by a student-athlete why he was still serving in the Army after surviving an IED explosion and losing both his legs, Capt Brennan replied, "Because I haven't given enough yet; I still have more to give my country." Truly one of the greatest young men and Americans you will ever meet. Currahee!
Please support the Brennan Stand Alone Foundation.Click on the image of Capt. Brennan above to be directed to the website
For the second week in a row, the Manalapan Braves traveled to play in Middletown. After last week's convincing win against Middletown South 35-28, the Braves dominated Middletown North 35-0.
Click on the #14 picture above for the Asbury Park Press story.
Click on the photo above of Manalapan Mayor Andrew Lucas, who participated in the traditional coin flip to begin the Homecoming game, to read the APP story
Click on the logo above to read the rankings by All Shore Media
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A SPECIAL THANKS...
I would like to take a moment and thank everyone for their incredible support through some difficult times for my family and me. There is no way I could ever thank you all individually or repay what your support has meant to me. I would like to thank you for your time, effort, and sense of righteousness that you all displayed, whether it was through the dozens of emails, the pat on the back, or attending the Board of Education meeting. You, along with the coaches and young men in this program, make it one of the premier programs in the Shore conference. I will be forever grateful for your words and actions of encouragement. We truly do stand alone-- together.
CURRAHEE!
Coach T. Gallahue
Click on the photo above of Coach Fleming to read the entire rankings
Click on the PRESS FOR A CURE logo for the story of the game.
BRAVES SOAR INTO THE TOP 20 IN THE STATE!
See MSG Varsity for the entire list.
See MSG Varsity for the entire list.
BRAVES GIVE GAME BALL TO THE DESANTIS FAMILY!
Click on picture of Josh Firkser for the APP story
Click on skull and crossbones above for the APP story
CLICK ON PHOTO OF JOSH FIRKSER FOR GAME STORY.
Click on the picture above to read the game story by All Shore Media
Click on the photo below for the APP story on the Braves 49-14 resounding win over Howell in the first round of the State playoffs!
Click on the photo above of the Firkser brothers for the game story from the News Transcript.
Photo by Lori Peterson (Thank you!)
Click on the Sayreville logo above for the All Shore Media story.
SHORE CONFERENCE A NORTH ALL-DIVISION TEAM
Josh Firkser (also earned the POY in the Division)
Mike Bimonte
TJ Barber
Andrew Morgenbesser
Steven Carr
Charles Addessi
James DeBlase
Reggie Hodge-Grant
John Siezcowski
A-NORTH COACH OF THE YEAR:
Ed Gurrieri/Tom Gallahue
Josh Firkser (also earned the POY in the Division)
Mike Bimonte
TJ Barber
Andrew Morgenbesser
Steven Carr
Charles Addessi
James DeBlase
Reggie Hodge-Grant
John Siezcowski
A-NORTH COACH OF THE YEAR:
Ed Gurrieri/Tom Gallahue
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JOSH FIRKSER
FIRST TEAM: STEVEN CARR
THIRD TEAM: MIKE BIMONTE, CHARLIE ADDESSI, JAMES DEBLASE
Click on the All Shore Media logo for complete story
The Manalapan Braves brought excitement and outstanding football back to the school and the community. Led by running back Josh Firkser, the Braves were 8-3 and won the Shore Conference A North Division title and advanced to the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group IV state sectional playoffs
First team members:
Josh Firkser, Mike Bimonte, Charlie Addessi, Josh Grey, TJ Barber, Andrew Morgenbesser, Steve Carr, Mike Bravoco, Reggie Hodge-Grant, Dom Caggiano, Dan Masterov, John Sieczkowski, James DeBlase, Jesse McEnery,
>All-FRHSD honorable mention recognition based on their performance in 2010 are Brandon Pearce (offensive line), James Danella (offensive line), Anthony Firkser (wide receiver), Jon Appice (defensive line), Alex MacPherson (linebacker), Vinny Harris (defensive back) and Vito Gadaleta (defensive back)
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE BRAVES!
Click on logo above for entire story
First team: Steven Carr & Josh Firkser
Third team: Charlie Addessi & James DeBlase
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: JOSH FIRKSER
Click on football above for complete story
Click on Josh's picture for complete story.
JOSH FIRKSER: SECOND TEAM ALL-STATE
STAR LEDGER ALL MONMOUTH TEAM
Play of the year: Bimonte to Firkser with seconds left to defeat TR North!
Player of the year: Josh Firkser
First team: Josh Firsker, Steven Carr
Third team: Andrew Morgenbesser, James DeBlase
Click the STAR LEDGER logo above for complete story
click on #14 logo above for full Shore rankings.
