Local Resident to Play in Capital One Bowl Game

Borough resident Matt O'Brien will be playing in the Capital One Bowl game this Monday in Orlando, Florida. O'Brien, a graduate of Bergen Catholic, plays for the University of South Carolina as a red shirt sophomore spur, a position that calls for the football player to act as a combination safety, linebacker and defensive end.

O'Brien graduated from Bergen Catholic in 2009 where he was the starting free safety, played wide receiver and was coached by the legendary Fred Stengel. O'Brien was selected as a defensive captain, but missed most of his senior season due to a broken foot.

O'Brien was the recipient of the 2008 Bergen County Coaches Association football scholarship for his efforts in helping to lead his team to the state finals where they lost to Don Bosco, the top-ranked team in the nation.

The South Carolina Gamecocks will be playing the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. in the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando. The game will be televised on ESPN.

South Carolina makes its first trip to the Capital One Bowl by way of a 10-2 record (6-2 in the SEC). They are coached by former Heisman Trophy winner Steve Spurrier.