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New York upends Jersey in 8th Annual Governors' Bowl
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by Scott Clayton, Gannett New Jersey
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| PISCATAWAY -- It had been 2 1/2 years since members of the Middletown South
coaching staff had lost a football game. At least Sunday's Eighth Annual Governor's Bowl at Rutgers Stadium --
a 14-10 New York win -- was not keeping down coach Steve Antonucci after it was finished. |
| "This is the utmost honor for any coach," said Antonucci, who was
selected to coach the team of Garden State senior All-Stars after back-to-back 12-0 seasons with the Eagles. |
| "It puts a lot of things in perspective. To see what we have back home
and then come here and see (South Carolina recruit) Dakota Walker (of Oakcrest) at 6-foot-6 running 4.4 or 4.5
(for a 40-yard dash)," Antonucci said. |
| Two of the Shore Conference's top players were on display: Manchester linebacker
Kevin Malast and Brick Memorial tight end Garrett Graham. Malast, who also played on special teams, recorded three
tackles, including one on future Rutgers teammate Ray Rice. Rice was named the New York MVP with 139 yards on 22
carries. |
| "It was a tremendous experience," said Malast, who will return
to Piscataway for camp June 26, just nine days after his graduation. "I feel very privileged to take part
in the experience. This was the first football game in my life playing just one side. It was nice to get a breather." |
| Deptford's DeJuane Collins started the scoring by ripping off an 87-yard
touchdown run at the 9:50 mark of the second quarter. Collins earned offensive MVP honors for the New Jersey team,
finishing with 125 yards on 10 carries. |
| New York knotted the game as time ran out in the first half. A bad snap led
to a broken play on a 28-yard field-goal attempt. New York quarterback Dan Pitcher, the holder on the play, improvised
and hit Doug Fulmer with an 11-yard touchdown pass. |
| New York broke the tie 5:10 into the second half when New Rochelle's Rice
scored on a run from 52 yards out. After adding a fourth-quarter field goal, New Jersey had the ball in New York
territory late in the game, but a fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete. |
