Rain Wrecks Havoc on the High School Football Schedule

COVID-19 is not the only thing impacting the high school football schedule this weekend as weather in the form of a forecast that has already shifted some games from Friday night to Saturday afternoon.

In Ocean County the Toms River South at Donovan Catholic and Southern at Toms River North have both been moved.

As one who believes that football in most cases was meant to be played in the rain this season is a bit different because of a rule implemented by the NJSIAA as part of their coronavirus guidelines. Up until this week from the time they arrive at a school teams were not allowed to go inside any building but instead had to stay outside before, during and after a game.

However that has now been modified and the state is leaving that up to individual districts to decide if indoor use is allowed.

Regardless today does look like a mess and with a promising forecast for Saturday I would imagine there will be additional postponements as the day moves on.

If they do play the Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week on the Shore Sports Network will take us to Lacey as the Lions host Brick Memorial in a 6:30 p.m. contest.

Tommy D’Ambrisi is remembered fondly as the quarterback who led Monmouth Regional during a historic football season in 2006 and later he would set several records as part of an outstanding career at Kean University. However it’s what he’s now doing that has caused a buzz throughout the Jersey Shore.

D’Ambrisi turned what was a warehouse for a meat distribution company in Long Branch into The Butcher’s Block, which is a butcher shop by day and a restaurant at night at which getting a reservation is as difficult as deciding between a tomahawk, rib-eye or porterhouse steak.

He’s done it with the help of former high school classmates Pat Gaughran and Brandon Carter who serves as head chef.

The Block is sponsoring a weekly high school football coaches show we do on the Shore Sports Network and that connection landed me a reservation with my wife and daughter last night and to say we were blown away would be an understatement.

The food, atmosphere and service was extraordinary and Tommy and Pat are entertaining hosts to say the least. A very enjoyable evening!