Devils beat Hornets in overtime

sportshotswlb.com Connor Rogers (3) a senior outside linebacker, and Michael Moore (33) a sophomore defensive back, make a tackle on a Holmdel player on Friday night.

By Walter J. O’Neill Jr.
For the second time in five weeks the Blue Devils of Shore Regional were forced into overtime. The first overtime game occurred when Shore opened the 2012 football season on the road in Rumson, where they lost 13-10 to the Bulldogs on a hot, humid night.
The fifth game of the season had the Blue Devils on the road in Holmdel where they were facing the 3-1 Hornets in a nondivisional Shore Conference game. “I’m very proud of the way these kids played on Friday night,” said Mark Costantino, head coach at Shore. “Holmdel is a bigger school with very good athletes. We needed the win and the power points.”
Power Points are a system that is used in New Jersey to rank schools on a competitive level. Shore Regional, which plays in the smallest group because it is a small school, earned big power points by beating Holmdel 14-13 on Friday night. “Right now we are tied with Point Pleasant Beach in Central Jersey Group I with 63 power points,” said Costantino. The next closest team is Florence and Keansburg with 49 points.
Thanksgiving Day, well the night before, Shore Regional will travel to Point Beach for their annual turkey day game, and possibly battling for the Class B Central divisional title. “We have a bye this week, then play Mater Dei, Keansburg, Keyport and close the regular season at Point Beach,” said Costantino.  “It is very possible that we will even play Point Beach in the playoffs before the Thanksgiving Day game, it all depends on the final seeding and power points.”
As far as the Holmdel game went, Costantino knew that it was going to be close, but his team would get the victory. In the second quarter Jack Kelly, a senior who plays running back on offense and linebacker on defense, hit a Holmdel player causing a fumble that was recovered by Dennis Vaccaro, a junior at Shore. “A few plays later Jack Kelly had a big 16 yard touchdown run. Jake Monteiro, a sophomore and one of the best kickers in the Shore Conference, made the extra point giving us a 7-0 lead,” said Costantino.
Holmdel intercepted a Shore Regional pass just before the first half ended. “They scored a touchdown with only two seconds left in the half,” said Costantino. “We had some breakdowns on both sides of the ball to close out the half.”
The second half was scoreless a defensive battle. Costantino gave credit to his line and linebackers for playing a physical game. When regulation timer ended the game was dead even at seven setting up an overtime period.
“We scored on our second play of overtime,” said Costantino. Shore Regional junior quarterback Matthew Muh, connected on a 23 yard pass play to Brian Miller, also a junior. Monteiro made what turned out to be the winning extra point kick.
Holmdel then had its opportunity to score, and they did on a three yard run. However, they missed the extra point giving Shore Regional the 14-13 victory and improving to 4-1 on the season. Shore had 162 rushing yards and completed 4 of 11 passes for 41 yards. The Hornets, 3-2, had 177 rushing yards and also connected on 41 passing yards.
Kelly finished with 114 rushing yards. “He had a very good game for us. Matthew Muh has also completed a pass for a touchdown in every single game so far this season. Rob Gilligan, a senior lineman, and Dan Baillie, senior middle linebacker, also played a great game for us,” said Costantino.
The coach gives credit to his players for having an exceptional season, but also the men behind the scenes. “I have a great coaching staff of veterans, who have been either head coaches for other schools or should be head coaches,” said Costantino.
The former head coaches helping the Blue Devils are Bob Biasi and Jack Levy. “Mike Whitacre has been with me for 20 years and could easily be a head coach at any school,” said Costantino. He also had the same feelings for Jon Remedios and Pete Vincelli. Also assisting are Martin Mullarney, Joe Rankin and John Vaccarelli. “This is the most underrated coaching staff in the state, but because of these guys we are competitive week in and week out.”