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FREEHOLD - Jake Clayton could have easily decided he was not going to play football this season after he made a commitment last spring to wrestle for Rutgers University beginning with the 2027-28 season.
But, to Clayton, a senior three-sport athlete at Point Pleasant Borough High School, it was a no-brainer to play football this season.
"I look around and all my best friends from when I was a lot younger are playing football,'' Clayton said Tuesday at Shore Conference Football Media Day at Dick's House of Sport. "It would be a heart-break if I left them hanging. We're here for one goal - get that ring (the NJSIAA Group 2 championship ring) and have fun doing it.
There is always the risk, Clayton, who is a quarterback in Point Borough's triple option flexbone offense, could sustain an injury that would hinder him during wrestling season.
Clayton, who is one of two three-time state wrestling medal winners in Point Borough's history, admitted he had several injuries during the 2025 season. He did miss two games because of an ankle injury, Point Borough head coach Brian Staub said.
"Injuries could happen doing anything. I might as well just do it,'' Clayton, who is also a shortstop for Point Borough's baseball team, said.
[IMG alt="Point Pleasant's Jake Clayton is tackled by RFH's Benjamin Roberts. Point Pleasant Boro at Rumson-Fair Haven football..
Friday, October 31, 2025
Rumson, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/8e40e869ea6e800a93bb4808c756c786.jpg[/IMG]
Making Clayton's decision to still play both football and baseball easier was the support of Rutgers University head wrestling coach Scott Goodale. Goodale was himself a standout three-sport athlete at Jackson Memorial from 1986-1990.
"I asked him (Goodale) and he was cool with it (to play football) He was completely fine with it,'' Clayton said. "He likes three-sport athletes. He told me I could play football.''
Goodale was a quarterback, a two-time state top four finisher in wrestling and the No. 1 man for the golf team during his scholastic career.
Clayton admitted when he was younger, he thought baseball would be the sport he would play in college. He said he played football and wrestled "just to have fun''
"The coaches (wrestling coaches) at Point Borough really took me in. They changed my mind (toward wrestling),'' Clayton, whose father Rob was a baseball player and a two-time district wrestling champion during his scholastic career at Point Borough in the late 1980's, said. "They made me really love it. I love the grind. That's what ultimately led me into it.''
Clayton said wrestling is the right path both "academically and athletically'' for him in college.
"It's (Rutgers) close to my parents,'' Clayton said. "Rutgers has a great staff. They made me feel at home. It's everything I need. Great wrestling team, great coaches, great college area. It felt like home.''
Garrison, a senior who is a jack of all trades for Toms River North, will likely begin the season as the Mariners' starting quarterback, Mariners' head coach Dave Oizerowitz said.
"We're leaning toward Cole being the quarterback,'' Oizerowitz said. "He's put a lot of work in trying to be a dual threat. He's much improved.''
Garrison, who is in his third season as a starting varsity player, is a standout defensive back. He has also been a game-breaking wide receiver and a wildcat quarterback. As last season wore on, Garrison was used more and more as the wildcat.
Toms River North, which won the first three NJSIAA Group 5 championships from 2022-2024, has had great success with running quarterbacks out of its power spread formation through the years. The most notable are Micah Ford from 2021-23, Mike Husni from 2013-16 and T.J. Valerio in 2024.
"We're going to expand it a little bit to highlight the things Cole can do,'' Oizerowitz said. "We're not going to give him more than he can chew. We're going to have him do what he can do well and then add each week.''
Senior Logan Brill, who began last season as the starting quarterback, will also still see time at quarterback and Garrison will also still see time at wide receiver, Oizerowitz said.
Toms River North was 5-6 last season with a junior-dominated team.
Fletcher, a sophomore, will be the successor to the mercurial Jack Cannon.
Cannon was a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey First Team All-State selection and the Asbury Park Press' Player of the Year last season when he led Holmdel to its first sectional championship. Cannon is now at Dartmouth.
"I'm going to ask Tommy to be himself,'' Holmdel coach Noel Kavanagh said. "He's got to execute the game plan, faciltate the ball the way we need to and not try to do too much. He just has to do what he can do. I don't think there's a lot of kids where you can say, 'Try to be Jack Cannon'. Tommy's a good player and he's going to be recognized.''
Fletcher missed a lot of the junior varsity season in 2025 because of a broken collarbone, Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh also said the returning players are eager to show they were a reason for the Hornets' success last season.
"Obviously, Jack was a great player, but he didn't do it alone,'' Kavanagh said. "There are a lot of great players on our team. I think a lot of people are going to think Holmdel's going to be down this year because Jack's not here. I don't think that's the case. We have something to prove.''
Pierce, the son of former Brick Memorial standout quarterback Jeff Pierce, will be the successor to record-setting quarterback Jason Lajara. \
Lajara was a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey First Team All-State selection last year when he led Brick Memorial to its first sectional championship since 2008. He was also the Asbury Park Press' Offensive Player of the Year. He is now at Lycoming.
"We're going to ask Tyler to be the best version of himself,'' first-year Brick Memorial head coach James Mahoney said. "We're asking Tyler to play point guard. "He's got to make good decisions, get the ball to where it's supposed to be. Tyler's a great kid. He's a hard worker.''
Mahoney, who was the offensive coordinator to former Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie the last several seasons, said Pierce has come from not being the starter on the freshman team to being the junior varsity quarterback the last two seasons.
Pierce did get some varsity time last season against Rumson-Fair Haven when Lajara was sidelined due to illness and backup QB Trey Tallmadge was injured. Pierce also played against Brick Township.
"He's an absolute workhorse in the weight room. He's been in the classroom studying film since the end of last season. He's everything you want in a kid,'' Mahoney said. "I'm really excited for him.''
Abbato, a 2000 Southern graduate and an assistant coach at his alma mater the last 22 seasons, takes over as Southern's head coach after uck Donohue Sr. retired last spring after 28 seasons as the Rams' head coach and 52 seasons as a scholastic head coach.
Donohue Sr. made his mark at four schools in South Jersey before he came to Southern in 1998. His teams won 290 games. Donohue Sr. is believed to be the only coach to coach four different teams to an NJSIAA sectional final.
"It's a mixed thing,'' Abbato said about becoming a head coach. "I feel confident in my ability to coach football because I've done it for a long time. But, Chuck was so good at knowing what to do and what to say in almost every situation. That part is such a learning curve for me.''
Abbato was the Rams' defensive coordinator the last 20 seasons. Southern usually played solid defense. But, now Abbato has to concern himself with running the whole team.
"There's some apprehension and anxiety to be the guy after the guy (a legendary figure), no question,'' Abbato said. "I'm excited and anxious at the same time.
Abbato will now be the head coach of a team his son - Carson - will be the quarterback of. Carson Abbato, a senior, had a very good season in 2025 when Southern went 9-2, won the outright Shore Conference Class B South championship and advanced to the NJSIAA South Group 5 semifinal.
"It's really special,'' Abbato said. "I'm grateful Chuck was the head coach last season when that decision (to start Carson Abbato) was made because it's obvious what people would have said. I'm so proud of how he (Carson Abbato) handled himself last year. I thought he proved that he belong and deserved to be where he was.''
"It's going to be fun,'' Carson Abbato said. "He's been coaching me since I was 5,'' Carson Abbato said.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: 5 takeaways from Shore Conference Football Media Day
Continue reading...
But, to Clayton, a senior three-sport athlete at Point Pleasant Borough High School, it was a no-brainer to play football this season.
"I look around and all my best friends from when I was a lot younger are playing football,'' Clayton said Tuesday at Shore Conference Football Media Day at Dick's House of Sport. "It would be a heart-break if I left them hanging. We're here for one goal - get that ring (the NJSIAA Group 2 championship ring) and have fun doing it.
There is always the risk, Clayton, who is a quarterback in Point Borough's triple option flexbone offense, could sustain an injury that would hinder him during wrestling season.
Clayton, who is one of two three-time state wrestling medal winners in Point Borough's history, admitted he had several injuries during the 2025 season. He did miss two games because of an ankle injury, Point Borough head coach Brian Staub said.
"Injuries could happen doing anything. I might as well just do it,'' Clayton, who is also a shortstop for Point Borough's baseball team, said.
[IMG alt="Point Pleasant's Jake Clayton is tackled by RFH's Benjamin Roberts. Point Pleasant Boro at Rumson-Fair Haven football..
Friday, October 31, 2025
Rumson, NJ"]https://media.zenfs.com/en/app-com-asbury-park-press/8e40e869ea6e800a93bb4808c756c786.jpg[/IMG]
Making Clayton's decision to still play both football and baseball easier was the support of Rutgers University head wrestling coach Scott Goodale. Goodale was himself a standout three-sport athlete at Jackson Memorial from 1986-1990.
"I asked him (Goodale) and he was cool with it (to play football) He was completely fine with it,'' Clayton said. "He likes three-sport athletes. He told me I could play football.''
Goodale was a quarterback, a two-time state top four finisher in wrestling and the No. 1 man for the golf team during his scholastic career.
Clayton admitted when he was younger, he thought baseball would be the sport he would play in college. He said he played football and wrestled "just to have fun''
"The coaches (wrestling coaches) at Point Borough really took me in. They changed my mind (toward wrestling),'' Clayton, whose father Rob was a baseball player and a two-time district wrestling champion during his scholastic career at Point Borough in the late 1980's, said. "They made me really love it. I love the grind. That's what ultimately led me into it.''
Clayton said wrestling is the right path both "academically and athletically'' for him in college.
"It's (Rutgers) close to my parents,'' Clayton said. "Rutgers has a great staff. They made me feel at home. It's everything I need. Great wrestling team, great coaches, great college area. It felt like home.''
Other takeaways from media day
Cole Garrison Toms River North's likely starting quarterback
Garrison, a senior who is a jack of all trades for Toms River North, will likely begin the season as the Mariners' starting quarterback, Mariners' head coach Dave Oizerowitz said.
"We're leaning toward Cole being the quarterback,'' Oizerowitz said. "He's put a lot of work in trying to be a dual threat. He's much improved.''
Garrison, who is in his third season as a starting varsity player, is a standout defensive back. He has also been a game-breaking wide receiver and a wildcat quarterback. As last season wore on, Garrison was used more and more as the wildcat.
Toms River North, which won the first three NJSIAA Group 5 championships from 2022-2024, has had great success with running quarterbacks out of its power spread formation through the years. The most notable are Micah Ford from 2021-23, Mike Husni from 2013-16 and T.J. Valerio in 2024.
You must be registered for see images attach
"We're going to expand it a little bit to highlight the things Cole can do,'' Oizerowitz said. "We're not going to give him more than he can chew. We're going to have him do what he can do well and then add each week.''
Senior Logan Brill, who began last season as the starting quarterback, will also still see time at quarterback and Garrison will also still see time at wide receiver, Oizerowitz said.
Toms River North was 5-6 last season with a junior-dominated team.
Tommy Fletcher will be Holmdel's starting quarterback.
Fletcher, a sophomore, will be the successor to the mercurial Jack Cannon.
Cannon was a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey First Team All-State selection and the Asbury Park Press' Player of the Year last season when he led Holmdel to its first sectional championship. Cannon is now at Dartmouth.
"I'm going to ask Tommy to be himself,'' Holmdel coach Noel Kavanagh said. "He's got to execute the game plan, faciltate the ball the way we need to and not try to do too much. He just has to do what he can do. I don't think there's a lot of kids where you can say, 'Try to be Jack Cannon'. Tommy's a good player and he's going to be recognized.''
You must be registered for see images attach
Fletcher missed a lot of the junior varsity season in 2025 because of a broken collarbone, Kavanagh said.
Kavanagh also said the returning players are eager to show they were a reason for the Hornets' success last season.
"Obviously, Jack was a great player, but he didn't do it alone,'' Kavanagh said. "There are a lot of great players on our team. I think a lot of people are going to think Holmdel's going to be down this year because Jack's not here. I don't think that's the case. We have something to prove.''
Tyler Pierce to be Brick Memorial's quarterback
Pierce, the son of former Brick Memorial standout quarterback Jeff Pierce, will be the successor to record-setting quarterback Jason Lajara. \
Lajara was a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey First Team All-State selection last year when he led Brick Memorial to its first sectional championship since 2008. He was also the Asbury Park Press' Offensive Player of the Year. He is now at Lycoming.
"We're going to ask Tyler to be the best version of himself,'' first-year Brick Memorial head coach James Mahoney said. "We're asking Tyler to play point guard. "He's got to make good decisions, get the ball to where it's supposed to be. Tyler's a great kid. He's a hard worker.''
You must be registered for see images attach
Mahoney, who was the offensive coordinator to former Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie the last several seasons, said Pierce has come from not being the starter on the freshman team to being the junior varsity quarterback the last two seasons.
Pierce did get some varsity time last season against Rumson-Fair Haven when Lajara was sidelined due to illness and backup QB Trey Tallmadge was injured. Pierce also played against Brick Township.
"He's an absolute workhorse in the weight room. He's been in the classroom studying film since the end of last season. He's everything you want in a kid,'' Mahoney said. "I'm really excited for him.''
Matt Abbato has big shoes to fill at Southern
Abbato, a 2000 Southern graduate and an assistant coach at his alma mater the last 22 seasons, takes over as Southern's head coach after uck Donohue Sr. retired last spring after 28 seasons as the Rams' head coach and 52 seasons as a scholastic head coach.
Donohue Sr. made his mark at four schools in South Jersey before he came to Southern in 1998. His teams won 290 games. Donohue Sr. is believed to be the only coach to coach four different teams to an NJSIAA sectional final.
"It's a mixed thing,'' Abbato said about becoming a head coach. "I feel confident in my ability to coach football because I've done it for a long time. But, Chuck was so good at knowing what to do and what to say in almost every situation. That part is such a learning curve for me.''
Abbato was the Rams' defensive coordinator the last 20 seasons. Southern usually played solid defense. But, now Abbato has to concern himself with running the whole team.
"There's some apprehension and anxiety to be the guy after the guy (a legendary figure), no question,'' Abbato said. "I'm excited and anxious at the same time.
Abbato will now be the head coach of a team his son - Carson - will be the quarterback of. Carson Abbato, a senior, had a very good season in 2025 when Southern went 9-2, won the outright Shore Conference Class B South championship and advanced to the NJSIAA South Group 5 semifinal.
"It's really special,'' Abbato said. "I'm grateful Chuck was the head coach last season when that decision (to start Carson Abbato) was made because it's obvious what people would have said. I'm so proud of how he (Carson Abbato) handled himself last year. I thought he proved that he belong and deserved to be where he was.''
"It's going to be fun,'' Carson Abbato said. "He's been coaching me since I was 5,'' Carson Abbato said.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: 5 takeaways from Shore Conference Football Media Day
Continue reading...
