Boro and the Beach Both Going for the Championship

For 36 of the 43 football-playing schools in the Shore Conference the high school football season is over. In some cases it ended more than three weeks ago.

However as we begin December there are a “Magnificent Seven” that hope their seasons end this weekend with them hoisting one of the 23 NJSIAA sectional championship trophies that will be awarded.

Heading that group are two teams from two towns who share one zip code.  For the first time ever Point Boro and Point Beach (known simply as the Boro and the Beach) will have a chance to win state titles in the same season.  Second-year Panthers coach Matt Cilento is looking to lead his team to perfection as they take an 11-0 record into their Central Jersey Group II final against Hillside Saturday at 10am at Rutgers.

The offense is led by a trio of seniors in quarterback James Fara and running backs Tanner Gordon and Brandon Cipriano while Gabe Fatizzi leads an outstanding offensive line.  The defense allows less than 12 points a game with standouts like Garrett Romer, Trent Livolsi and Tyler Sanchez.  Boro is seeking their fourth state title in school history and first since 2005 when they also went 12-0.

Only a few Point Beach diehards envisioned a trip to the Central Jersey Group 1 title game in mid-October when the Garnett Gulls had lost their third straight game to fall to 3-3.  However Hall-of-Fame coach John Wagner put the pieces in place for “The Beach” to make a playoff run that has them facing Middlesex Saturday at Kean University (4pm).  These teams actually played in late September with the visiting Blue Jays winning 28-12 as part of a 10-1 season.

However the Gulls are flying high thanks to an outstanding group of seniors led by Luke Fraunheim, John Nista, Josh Yates and Chris Webber as they seek their second state crown with the other come in 2013 under Wagner.

For detailed previews of these games and the others involving shore teams visit shoresportsnetwork.com