PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Phil Simms’ first victory as a head football coach came in dramatic fashion on the last play of the 12th Annual New Jersey-Northeast All-Star Classic.
The game featured many of the top high school seniors from New Jersey against their counterparts from seven other states. Players committed to six of the Big East’s eight football programs participated, including seven headed to compete for Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.
With the game tied at 7-7 and the Northeast driving for a potential game-winning score in the final seconds, Notre Dame-bound linebacker Carlo Calabrese picked off a pass intended for Rhode Island commit Ali Muhammad. Muhammad tipped the ball and Calabrese grabbed it out of the air, before alertly tossing it to teammate Josh Evans, an exciting 6-foot-2, 185-pound free safety headed to Florida.
CERVINO, JOHNSON, MCQUEEN TRANSFERRING
Former Wayne (NJ) DePaul Catholic standout Chaz Cervino is transferring from Syracuse to Hofstra.
“He’s going to transfer,” said Bobby Cervino, Chaz’s dad. “He doesn’t have to sit out because Hofstra is Division I-AA.”
The elder Cervino said new Syracuse coach Doug Marrone told Chaz his role would be limited next season.
“He said the difference between Chaz and Wayne Chrebet or Wes Welker is that you have to catch 70 balls a year in college. You’re not going to be able to catch 70 balls a year here. You can either catch five or six balls or you can go somewhere where you can have a better opportunity,” Bobby said.
Cervino is a 5-10, 183-pound WR who was named first-team All-State in New Jersey in 2007. He passed for 5,617 yards and 61 touchdowns and rushed for 2,162 yards and 30 touchdowns during his career
Also, Cincinnati athlete Tahree McQueen and Boston College QB Chris Johnson both transferred to Delaware State. McQueen played at Paterson Eastside and Johnson at Paterson Kennedy. Delaware State is the alma mater of Kennedy coach Ron Jackson and now has four Paterson kids on its roster (Marquis Spann and Keith Hunt of Kennedy are the others.)
