Blue Devils Shut Out Garnet Gulls 34-0

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.

Making a perfect over-the-shoulder catch for a touchdown is Shore Regional junior Enzo Cagliostro (33).

Don Klein, the new head coach at Shore Regional High School, is 2-0 on the season after his Blue Devils beat Point Beach 34-0 on September 13. They opened the season with a 28-7 win over Pinelands.

Friday the 13th is usually associated with bad luck and unfortunate situations. However, for the varsity football team of Shore Regional High School, it was a night to make an impact on the Shore Conference D North division.

Shore traveled to Point Pleasant Beach to face the Garnet Gulls who opened their 2024 season with a 28-0 win at South River. The Blue Devils had hosted and beat Pinelands 28-7 to start their season last week, so it was a battle of unbeaten teams on Friday night, with Shore dominating the game from the opening minutes.

Shore is coached by Don Klein, who is in his 18th season as a head coach (all at Ocean Township HS) and his first at Shore, where he played quarterback during his high school career. For the first time in three decades, the Blue Devils have a new look. Klein has also changed the offensive scheme, running a multiple pro-style instead of the Wing-T, which their former head coach ran for 32 years. The backbone of the Blue Devils offense has always been its running back and ground attack. Well, 2024 has the Devils airing it out, and making big statements.

Klein took over a squad that finished 6-4 last year and graduated 17 seniors, and has only three starters returning this year. Klein and his staff of RJ Read, Erik Mammano, Rich Read, Jon Remedios, Phil Green, Paul Christopher, Joe Rankin, Anthony Tedesco, John Vacarelli, Marcque Ellington, Pete Vincelli and Blaine Netterman, spent the entire off season recruiting and running camps and informative sessions for parents and athletes.  “I think everyone has been excited about the change, direction and vision that we have for Shore football,” said Klein.

On their very first offensive series in Point Beach, Shore Regional scored. Five minutes later with a fourth and seven at the Point Beach 30-yard line, the Blue Devils connected on a touchdown pass. The first quarter ended with Shore up 14-0.

In the second quarter, sophomore Cole Torres, running back, blasted right down the middle of the field for a 76-yard touchdown run. With four minutes left in the first half, John Mazzacco, junior, kicked a 24-yard field goal and the Devils were up 24-0.

On their next possession, Point Beach had a second and six at their own 25-yard line and were intercepted by the Blue Devils, who took over on the Gulls 33-yard line with 53 seconds left in the first half. With a third and seven at the seven-yard line with seven seconds remaining, Shore scored and was now taking a 27-0 lead into the halftime break.

Shore just dominated the entire game on all sides of the ball. They made a few mistakes, jumping off sides a few times, but Klein and his staff will work those things out as the season develops. “I’m very happy with the start to the season. Came out with a big Group 3 school (Pinelands) that returned a bunch of starters and then got our first divisional win on the road in Point Beach,” said Klein. He added that the team still has a lot of work ahead. “We still have a long way to go in regard to our development, but our program is filled with hard working kids that have the ability to be a really good football team.”

Shore will host Keyport, who are 0-3 this season, on September 20, at 7:00 p.m. However, the game that will draw a lot of attention will take place on October 18, at 7:00 p.m. when Klein and his Blue Devils will travel to Ocean Township High School to face the Spartans. It is homecoming that night for the Spartans, and Klein as he coached OTHS for 18 years.

For the Blue Devils, Josh Moeller, senior quarterback, was 6-for-8 with 121 throwing yards and one passing touchdown. In the first two games, he has 282 passing yards. On the ground, Brendan O’Brien senior, had 13 carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns, Cole Torres had 84 yards and one touchdown, Atticus Taboada, senior, had 55 yards.

Receiving, Braeden Framer, senior, had two catches for 59 yards, Enzo Cagliastro, junior, one catch for 30 yards, Mike Marotta, junior, one reception for 16 yards, and Jack Madalone, junior, one catch for 14 yards.

Defensively the Blue Devils had senior Tommy Schroeder making nine tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Brendan O’Brien had seven tackles and one interception, Mike Marotta made six tackles, Rory Burkhardt had three tackles and one sack, Cagliastro had two tackles and one interception, Vinny Sasso, junior, had one tackle for a sack as did Riley Smaltini, junior.

Shore Regional 2024 Schedule

09-20-24               7:00pm                 Host Keyport

09-28-24               12:00 noon         At Keansburg

10-04-24               7:00pm                 Host New Egypt

10-10-24               6:00 pm               At Neptune

10-18-24               7:00pm                 At Ocean

10-25-24               7:00pm                 Host Asbury Park

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