Former Red Bank Regional players prep for their first alumni football game against their oldest rival Long Branch, scheduled for May 14 at Count Basie Field.
Press release from Red Bank Regional High School
It’s considered the oldest football rivalry in the New Jersey Shore Conference — and on Saturday, May 14, alumni from Red Bank Regional High School will face off against their counterparts from Long Branch High School, in their first-ever Alumni Game.
Scheduled for kickoff at 4 p.m., the game will take place at the Count Basie turf field, located at 11 Henry Street in Red Bank. It’s a fitting bookend to a year marked by great athletic success for the current RBR team, which went undefeated and made it to the state championship for the first time in decades.
Many RBR alumni players were present at this past season’s games, enthusiastically cheering their alma mater to victory after victory, and now the school’s current players have the honor and opportunity to return the favor. RBR coach and alumnus Jeff Mauro will be coaching offense (in addition to playing), while RBR alumni coach Nick Varanelli will coach defense.
“It should be a great community event as we have many players signed up,” comments Mauro. “The age range varies as well, from Jim Palumbo, who played prior to the regional high school formation, to as recent as someone like Jahmere Bunch, who graduated several years ago.
“Among others are Bobby Longo, who was on our last State Championship team in the 70s; Leroi Jones, who was a standout linebacker at RBR and at Rowan; Bakhu Thorpe, Jim Fox, Kris Parker, Milton and Joel Gray, Kareem Brown, Ashon Lovick, Eddie Turner, Shannon Rice, Darryl Jackson, Jerome Roundtree. Who can leave out Eric McCoo, a Penn State standout and former NFL player!”
The cost for attendance at the game is $10. The event is organized by OT Football and sponsored by Del Negro & Senft Eye Associates in Long Branch, and proceeds will benefit the football programs at both RBR and LBHS. For any questions regarding RBR, contact Jeff Mauro at [email protected] or call (908)461-2112.
