Marlboro's Cameron Caorsi Sets Gridiron Classic Rushing Record In Monmouth County's 17-8 Win Over Ocean County

Photos above: Cameron Caorsi and the four MVP award winners: Frick, Caorsi, Stephensen and Palmer

WEST LONG BRANCH – Marlboro’s Cameron Caorsi shattered Freehold’s Joe “The Jet” Henderson’s 31-year All-Shore Gridiron Classic rushing record eclipsing his 161-yard rushing performance set in the 1986 game.

Caorsi took a handoff form Raritan quarterback Marc Carnivale with 2:23 left in the game and bulled his way through the right side of the line for two yards to break the record. He then added six more yards on his next carry setting the new record of 168 yards on 25 carries before exiting the game to a standing ovation.

With Monmouth County holding a 10-0 lead early in the fourth quarter, Caorsi put the game away with a three-yard touchdown plunge up the gut of the Ocean County defense. His touchdown gave Monmouth County a 17-0 lead with 10:44 to play in the 40th annual All-Shore Gridiron Classic Thursday night at Shore Regional’s Robert E. Feeney Field.

Caorsi’s 92 yards on 14 carries at halftime and 76 yards on 11 carries in the second half helped Monmouth County end a three-year title drought in the game dating back to 2013 and push its all-time series lead to 21-18-1.

“I don’t even know - it’s an amazing feeling,” Caorsi said when asked how it feels to break the record. “I’ve got to give the credit to the O-line. They did it all. They made it happen, that’s the reason I have this record right now. They told me towards the end of the game. ‘You need one more yard.’ And I was like ‘Alright, I’ll get it. I’ll get more than one yard.’”

Caorsi’s Marlboro teammate, center Riley Keating, anchored an offensive line - including Keansburg’s Richie Squeo, Neptune’s Gary Hoover, Raritan’s Alex Dalmau, Shore’s Mike Devine and Keyport’s Erik Nellis - that paved the way for Coarsi’s record-breaking performance.

“We were very limited on the offensive line with only six kids overall,” said Saint John Vianney coach Derek Sininsky, who served as Monmouth County head coach. “So we were a little nervous if our kids could hold up especially in no huddle when we were getting on the ball quickly. But you know what, they sucked it up and they really did a great job.”

Caorsi seemed genuinely more pleased putting Marlboro on the map then he was about breaking the record.

“It feels good, we proved what we could do, we had three guys from Marlboro here today,” said Caorsi, who rushed for 1,382 and 15 touchdowns in only eight games last season due to an injury. It shows how our program is changing and we’re taking steps forward, so it feels great.”

“It’s him and the whole senior class; they’re program changers,” said Marlboro head coach Jason Dagato, who served as Monmouth County’s defensive coordinator. “Whether it’s Caorsi, Keating or LB/FB Ryan Cassidy (Marlboro’s third participant in the game) they were there every day, fought through some hard times, lifted hard, got some results and came here and got more results. Cam came out and did a phenomenal job. I saw it all week (in practice), he was killing us.”

Red Bank Catholic defensive back Max Hazard picked off Ocean County starting quarterback Anthony Costanza on Ocean County’s first possession of the game giving Monmouth County a first down at their own 40-yard line.

Monmouth County then went 60 yards in 12 plays to take the lead when Saint John Vianney quarterback Matt DeGennaro found Asbury Park’s Paul Reed on a six-yard swing pass in the left flat for the score and Tyler Schulman’s (Freehold Township) extra point kick made it 7-0 with 1:49 left in the first quarter.

Ocean County was forced to punt on its ensuing possession after a three-and-out and Monmouth County took over at their own 46 following a Sam Cammatata (Southern) punt.

Taking over at the 4-yard line, Monmouth County drove to the Ocean County 10-yard line, but on third-and-5 DeGennaro was sacked by Central defensive end Jared Giaimo for a three-yard loss that set up a fourth-and-8 at the 13-yard line. Monmouth County then elected to kick the field goal and Schulman easily split the uprights for a 10-0 lead with 9:05 left in the half.

Ocean County returned the ensuing kickoff to the 32-yard line before driving to the Monmouth County 17-yard line. But on second-and-2 Ocean’s Anthony Tedesco stopped Brick’s Rah’son McCall for no gain and on third down Keyport’s Zack Frick recovered a fumbled snap at the 24-yard line.

Monmouth County then drove to the 25-yard line before a 23 yard Carnivale to Freehold wideout Ahlonte Hair pass completion set up a first-and-goal at the two-yard line. However, with Monmouth County about to take what looked like an insurmountable 17-0 halftime lead, the Ocean County defense stiffened.

Ocean County held Monmouth County to one yard on two rushing attempts then on third-and-goal from the one, Shore Regional quarterback Matt Pennell fumbled a low snap from center. Lacey’s Chase Stephehsen recovered the ball for Ocean County at the two-yard line with 31.4 seconds left in the half. So, after being thoroughly outplayed most of the first half, Ocean County trailed by only 10 at halftime and was still very much in the game.

Following the second half kickoff, Ocean County drove from their own 32-yard line to the Monmouth County 20-yard line before facing a fourth-and-3 from the 20. With the score still only 10-0 they elected to go for it but Hazzard stepped in front of a Costanza pass intended for Honore Richardson (Lakewood) for his second pick of the day before stepping out of bounds at the 12-yard line.

Frick put heavy pressure on Costanza on the play forcing an ill-advised pass and also accounted for a 10-yard sack and two-yard tackle for a loss on the possession.

The two teams exchanged punts before Caorsi finished off a 59-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run and a 17-0 lead.

Ocean County followed with a 63-yard scoring drive with Constanza finding Hayden Frey (Pt. Boro) on a 12-yard crossing pattern in the end zone with 4:12 remaining in the game but for Ocean County is was a case of “Too little too late.”

Caorsi was the obvious choice for Monmouth County MVP while Frick beat out Hazzard for the defensive MVP honor with a sack, TFL and FF. Lakewood’s Adi Palmer was selected Ocean County offensive MVP with six receptions for 68 yards while Stephensen was Ocean County MVP with a fumble recovery.

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