Scanning the Scene with Ed Sarluca: The Perfect Coach

Although the finals of sectional championships around the state were about to start last Friday night the buzz around most fields didn’t concern Xs and Os but of the news of the passing of the legendary Warren Wolf, which had occurred earlier in the afternoon. Coaches were getting their teams ready to play but their minds refocused when the news came down. You see, when you mention football coach in the Shore, most, that have been around, think of Warren Wolf. 52 years as a head coach, 364 wins in his career 6 State Championships and 25 Shore Conference Championships. All numbers that are very unimportant when you consider the man that he was. He basically built the town of Brick when he arrived at the school to began his teaching and coaching career. He and his wife Peggy became a fixture in the community. He even taught us how to be a husband (69 years married) and father (2 kids, Warren and Donna). Later he went to the administration side and worked his way to the top and also dipped into the political scene as mayor, councilman, freeholder and assemblyman where he was respected as much, if not more than on the field. Yes quite a life of 92 years, but even more it was the lives of so many ex-players and students that he touched along the way...and the respect they have for “the Coach”. So many of his players have gone on to have great careers both on the field and in the classroom. To try and mention all of them would be impossible, but I’ll try to take you back into his coaching tree with coaches, colleagues, and players. Dan Duddy, Vic Kubu, Dennis and Steve Fillippone, George Jeck, Tommy Gialanella, Jimmy Calabro, Rich Caldes, Donnie Reid, Sam Riello, Rob Dahl, Lenny Zdanowicz, Pete Panuska, Tim Osborn, Jay Groschel, Donovan Brown, Kevin Campbell, Dennis Toddings, Dave Vivino, Todd Durkin, Dan McCullough, Rick and Hank Handchin, John DeMarco, Ron Signorino Sr, and Al Saner...just to name a few. It’s a who’s who of coaching elite. Each with tons of respect and stories to tell of the great life Coach Wolf had. As Warren’s health became a bigger problem over the last years of his life, some of his close friends would visit and pep him up. A sign of the love they had for him. He looked forward to those visits and Brick football always was the topic.

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends, I would hope that each of us says a little prayer before dinner for the blessings you have and for the family of Warren Wolf.

In a fitting tribute to his life, Warren Wolf's viewing will be held in the High School he helped build-Brick HS auditorium on Friday, Nov. 29th from 2-8 pm.

On the field...
Wall HS continues its quest for a perfect 13-0 season. They won their 5th sectional championship against a game Rumson Bulldog team 14-13. It was a game of two halves. Wall jumped to a 14-0 halftime lead only to see Rumson (6-5) come back on the arm of QB Colin Coles. Coles was great in defeat but a missed extra point, which hit the right upright and would have tied the game was the difference in the Wall win. QB Logan Peters threw 2 TD passes to Casey Larkin as Rumson did a nice job of containing the run game of Wall. Wall now sets their sights on a tough traditional football game against next-door neighbor Manasquan on Thanksgiving morning. We at the Shore Sports Network will stream the game at 11 am. Matt Harmon and I will handle the broadcast. Wall will then play in a regional championship game against Woodrow Wilson, the South Group 3 champs on Sunday, December 8 (10 am) at Rutgers University.

Mater Dei Prep (8-3) got a revenge victory over RBC (5-4) in a semifinal match up and will play DePaul for the Non-Public Group 3 championship on Saturday, December 7 (7 pm) at Rutgers. Senior RB Malik Ingram has taken the Seraphs on his back and carried them on this championship hunt. Ingram is doing it on both sides of the ball but his running has led them all year as the Seraphs are on a 5 game winning streak. Ingram ran for 147 yards and the only TD in the 10-3 victory over the Caseys. Depaul (6-4) took down Donovan Catholic 35-21 on Friday night which ended the high school tenure of Griffins QB Ryan Clark.. Clark finished his career of 4 years and 41 total games with 7379 career yards and an unbelievable 80 total TDs. Truly remarkable! 26 of those TDs came this year as he led the Griffs to the state sectional semifinals. Can’t say enough of what HC Dan Curcione has done at Donovan in his 3 years.

Jackson Memorial (8-3) put up a big effort against top-seeded Hammonton (10-2) but fell 28-12. RB Will Towns finishes his junior year and will return as one of the top RB in the Shore. QB Lonnie Cebulski played well in defeat and Collin McCarthy concluded his Jag career as one of the top defensive players in their history. Congratulations to the Jags for the big run which saw them win 7 in a row before Friday’s loss.

Our Asylum Center Coaches Corner is at the Office Lounge in Toms River on Tuesday night from 7-8 pm. This week we will talk Warren Wolf with two of his great disciples, Dan Duddy and Dennis Filappone. We will also break down the 2019 season as we get ready for our awards show on Dec 4th. Listen on 105.7 The Hawk or watch the live stream on ShoreSportsNetwork.com.

Our final broadcast is Thanksgiving morning at 11 am from Wall HS as Manasquan pays a visit in the big rivalry game.