All-Shore Gridiron Classic 7-on-7 Tournament Recap (PHOTOS)
MANALAPAN -- Dozens of teams from around the Shore Conference and beyond assembled at Manalapan High School on Tuesday, July 11 for the All-Shore Gridiron Classic 7-on-7 Football Tournament, presented by Vinny Curry's Rush2Victory Foundation.
A team from outside the Shore Conference emerged victorious as Paterson Eastside snatched a last-second victory from Red Bank Catholic in the championship game, and while it might seem odd to some that non-conference teams were in the tournament, the end result was actually quite fitting considering the circumstances.
Curry has a unique connection to Paterson Eastside as his brother, Dr. Gerald Glisson, was Paterson Eastside's principal until his passing from COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic. The Ghosts were invited to participate, took the hour-plus drive to Manalapan, and earned the championship on a leaping touchdown catch by rising senior Nyreek Clyburn on the game's final play to defeat RBC, 20-18.
"They were definitely great competition and they have one of the best athletes in New Jersey (Stanford wide receiver commit Emanuel Ross), so it was a pleasure," Clyburn said. "We drove a couple hours down here so it was great to come out with the win."
RBC led 18-14 after a tremendous catch and run by Ross on the prior possession, jumping to catch an intermediate route before spinning past a defender and racing to the end zone. With time winding down, Eastside had to move quickly and connected on a pair of passes to move within scoring range.
"I had been killing them all day on the inside so I just wanted them to bite on that," Clyburn said.
The semifinals pitted Red Bank Catholic vs. Union City and St. John Vianney vs. Eastside.