Matawan, Brick Will Face Off in Gridiron Classic 7-on-7 Championship

There will be a new Shore Conference 7-on-7 champion crowned this year as Monmouth County winner Matawan will take on Ocean County winner Brick in the championship game at 5:45 p.m. in advance of the 7 p.m. kickoff at Thursday's U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic at Brick's Keller Memorial Field.

Matawan upended Manalapan on the turf at Middletown North in the final to win the Monmouth County title, and Brick beat Jackson Memorial on the turf at Toms River East to take home the Ocean County crown. Jackson Memorial knocked off defending Gridiron Classic 7-on-7 champion Barnegat on its way to the county final behind senior quarterback Joe DeMaio.

Standouts for Matawan included quarterback Jimmy Pierce along with Justin Ferrara, Dejohn Rogers and Shawn Ramcheran. Brick, which is the defending NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV champion, was led by senior quarterback Carmen Sclafani, a first-team All-Shore selection by Shore Sports Network as a junior, as well as running back Ray Fattaruso, tight end Simon Bingelis, and wideouts Joe Phillips and Ja'Quez Johnson. Brick beat Jackson Liberty in the semifinals, while Jackson Memorial topped Lacey.

The previous four champions, Barnegat (2013), Lacey (2012), Howell (2011) and Lacey (2010) all went on to be state playoff teams in the fall, including an undefeated season by Lacey in 2010 and an appearance in a state final by Barnegat in 2013.