Toms River’s Gridiron Civil War

The third full week of the high school football season features the annual matchup of Toms River South and Toms River North which has been billed as the area’s version of the “Civil War.”  It’s the 44^th meeting between the two rivals going back to 1972 and it’s produced some memorable moments and great upsets. 

Two of the most colorful personalities to take part in the game were former South head coach Ron Signorino Sr. and ex-North coach Bob Fiocco and tonight’s meeting will bring them together once again. The game is part of the “Great American Rivalry Series” presented by the United States Marine Corps and Signorino & Fiocco will not only serve as honorary captains during the coin toss but during halftime will be inducted into the 12^th class of the series Hall of Fame.

Old-timers fondly recall some of the games from the late 70s in which the two coaches participated in some outrageous pre-game ceremonies including one in which Signorino and the Indians rode in on horseback while the Mariners entered wearing black robes and Fiocco rose from a coffin.  Needless to say those days are long gone.

South under head coach Ron Signorino Jr. comes in with a 2-0 record while the 1-1 Mariners of Coach Dave Oizerowitz will look to bounce back following last week’s drubbing at the hands of Brick Memorial.

The Shore Sports Network’s Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week takes us to Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field where Central hosts St. John Vianney in a non-divisional matchup that features two of the shore’s top players.  The Lancers, coming off a school-best 10 win season are led by quarterback and Boston College recruit Anthony Brown while the Golden Eagles feature junior running back Mike Bickford, a 2000 yard rusher last year who is off to another good start.  Vianney won last year’s meeting 41-12 so Central will look to turn things around in a game that will be broadcast on 1160 & 1310AM as well as streamed live at shoresportsnetwork.com.

Check out what our so-called experts think about all the weekend games as the Gold Coast Cadillac Football Picks appear on shoresportsnetwork.com.

Monmouth University will share its practice field today with the Philadelphia Eagles who will hold walk-through sessions at the school today and tomorrow as they escape Philly and all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the Pope’s visit to the city.  The Eagles will make trips to Monmouth today and Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.  Of course Monmouth is the alma mater of Eagles receiver Miles Austin.  The practice sessions are closed to the public and media.