Host of Shore Football Players Selected to North-South All-Star Game

A group of 17 Shore Conference seniors, including seven Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore selections, have been announced as part of the South squad for this summer's Phil Simms North-South All-Star Football Classic.

The game will be at 7 p.m. on June 23 at Kean University. It is the oldest statewide all-star game in New Jersey and the second-oldest all-star game overall after the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic.

Some of the Shore Conference's top talent is expected to be on display in the annual game. The game organizers have released the rosters, which are often subject to change leading up to the game. A pair of Penn State recruits, Manalapan wide receiver Saeed Blacknall and Southern wide receiver Mike Gesicki, lead the way along with Colts Neck running back/linebacker Anthony Gargiulo (Navy) and Point Beach safety Noah Yates (Yale), who led the Shore with nine interceptions.

Matawan kicker Mike Creamer, who had the best statistical single-season performance of any kicker in Shore Conference history, also will be part of the South along with fellow SSN first-team Khani Glover, a 1,000-yard rusher and standout defensive back for Jackson Memorial. A first-team All-Shore lineman, Barnegat's Zach Andrews, also is part of the South squad.

Both quarterbacks listed for the South squad are from the Shore Conference, led by Alex Thomson, a Wagner recruit who set numerous school passing records at Keyport. Freehold's Brad Jones is also on the South.

For the first time in recent memory, Mater Dei Prep has three players in the game - running back Sam Miles and defensive backs Jalanie Mitchell and Derrick Lopez. Lakewood two-way lineman Ben Watson and Shore Regional two-way lineman Matt Proto also are on the South squad along with Long Branch running back/linebacker Deon Williams and Wall defensive end Geoff Horwitz.