Dayton Football Players Distinguish Themselves in Snapple Bowl

This was an all-star game Dayton players really felt good about and proud to be a part of.

Defensive back John Hoehn, running back-receiver Kevin O'Connor and defensive tackle Dan DuBeau were all instrumental in leading the Bulldogs to an impressive 8-2 record last year that included a berth in the North 2, Group 1 playoffs.

It was Dayton's first winning season since 1999 and its first eight-win and playoff season since 1988.

Although Union County was defeated by Middlesex County 28-14 in Thursday night's MyCentral Jersey.com Snapple Bowl XVII at East Brunswick, all three Dayton players made an impact, making their school and the town of Springfield proud for how they performed.

DuBeau, who started on defense, was in on several tackles in the first half. Also in the first half, Hoehn came up with an interception and O'Connor had one reception.

"All three of them played well in the first half," said Dayton head coach Joe Goerge at halftime. Goerge was a spectator after coaching in the game last year.

While Goerge will miss the services of Hoehn, O'Connor and DuBeau, he is very much looking forward to his fifth season at the helm of the Dayton varsity.

On a pass thrown over the middle, Hoehn got two hands on the ball and came down with his interception with the score 0-0 and 10:05 left in the first quarter.

Hoehn also excelled at quarterback for the Bulldogs last fall, helping lead the team to big victories at New Providence and over Brearley at Union as the team went on to capture a division title for the first time since 1988.

Union County scored its second touchdown to take a 14-7 lead in the third quarter, but after that Middlesex County managed to score the game's final 21 points on three touchdowns and a safety.

Middlesex County has now won five straight games and leads the series 10-7. Union County was the first team to win three games in a row and led the series 7-5 after winning its last game in 2005.

The real winners, however, were the local charities which the game is played for. Since the first Snapple Bowl in 1994, more than $300,000 has been raised for the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and the Lakeview School for Cerebral Palsy in Edison.

Thursday night's attendance was close to 10,000, with East Brunswick serving once again as a fine venue for the event and with the amount of money raised for the local charities sure to go up.

Middlesex County took a 7-0 lead with 8:43 left in the first quarter after running back Mauro Tucci scored on a six-yard run to end his team's third possession.

Union County got on the scoreboard in the second quarter with 10:55 left when lefty-throwing quarterback Trell Myers threw a beautiful pass to wide receiver Shawn Hillas at the right side of the field right before the end zone.

Hillas, against 1-on-1 coverage, caught the perfectly placed pass in stride over his shoulder and with two hands and then stepped into the end zone for six points. Pat Gray's extra point kick was blocked, with Middlesex County holding on for a 7-6 lead that it would eventually take into the lockerroom at halftime.

Union County took its only lead of the game with 12:36 remaining in the third quarter. Again, Myers threw a pretty pass, this time to wide receiver Matt Padlo at the left side of the end zone. Padlo came down with the ball against a Middlesex County defender to give his team a 12-7 advantage. Giovanni Smith then took the snap from center on his team's two-point conversion, looked to pass first and then found the left side open and scampered into the end zone for two points to increase Union County's lead to 14-7.

The biggest play on the drive prior to Myers' second touchdown pass of the game was a pass he completed to receiver Matt Rea. On the first play of the drive, which was first-and-10 from the Union County 14, Myers dropped back and had to scramble away from Middlesex County defenders.

He then managed to throw a low pass that Rea was able to grab with both hands right before the ball was going to hit the ground. Rea then raced down the left side of the field and reached the Union County 48 for a huge first down.

Two plays later Myers and Padlo hooked up for their touchdown.

Middlesex County came back to tie the game at 14-14 with 7:03 left in the third quarter. Starting quarterback Mike Muha reached the end zone on a one-yard run on third down and inches.

After a short Union County possession, Middlesex County struck again on the very last play of the third quarter. Quarterback Robbie Meade broke contain by eluding two Union County tacklers and then found wide receiver Billy Merz open at the right sideline.

Merz then escaped two defenders trying to bring him down and was then able to race the rest of the way down the right sideline for the go-ahead touchdown. Moore's extra point kick failed wide right, so the Middlesex County lead stood at 20-14 going into the game's final 15 minutes.

Union County got back into Middlesex County territory at the 46 when defensive end Evan Mickel came up with a big interception of a short Myers pass over the middle.

After Middlesex County was stopped and then Union County halted, Middlesex County took over at the Union County 35. On fourth-and-goal from the Union County six-yard line, Middlesex County completed a pass that was only able to reach the one-yard line. There to make the touchdown-saving tackle was Union County cornerback Dan Barletta.

Later in the fourth quarter Barletta made another big play that ultimately did not count.

With 4:30 and counting, Union County faked a punt on fourth-and-four on its own 33, with Binkiewicz taking the snap instead of punter Gray and moving forward. Unfortunately for Union County, Binkiewicz was only able to get one yard as the Middlesex County defense penetrated enough to keep Binkiewicz three yards shy of a big first down.

Middlesex County took over on the Union 34 with 4:22 to go. Then with 1:58 left, running back Anthony Tillman sought to reach the end zone or at least gain a first down.

The ball somehow got away from Tillman, with Barletta picking it up. With the instruction of his coaches, Barletta continued to run with the ball all the way into the end zone.

The Union County coaching staff argued that Barletta came up with the loose ball before a whistle was blown. The refs decided that a whistle was blown before Barletta ran away with it and that Tillman did not fumble the ball away.

Had Barletta's touchdown counted, the score would have been tied 20-20 and who knows what would have happened.

Instead, it meant a first-and-goal on the Union County four-yard line for Middlesex County. Two plays later Meade ran in from six yards away with 1:43 to play to give his team a 26-14 lead. Once again, Moore's extra point kick was not good, this time wide left.

Myers managed one more completion, his first to Gray, but it was too little too late for the Union County offense. Middlesex County ended the game with a safety on the last play for the final score of 28-14.

NOTES: The game's MVP was Muha of South Brunswick. After the first 16 Snapple Bowl MVPs came from 16 different schools, Muha is the second South Brunswick player to be named MVP. Kenny Rogers in 1996 was the first.

At halftime, the 2009 Coaches of the Year were honored. John Liberato of Summit, who guided the Hilltoppers to a 12-0 record and the North 2, Group 2 championship, was the Union County selection.

Summit captured N2, G2 for the first time since 1994 and finished as the No. 1 team in Union County.

Chris Beagan of Monroe was the Middlesex County choice. He guided the Falcons to an 11-1 record that included a season-ending 10-game winning streak and the Central Jersey, Group 3 crown. Ironically, Beagan's only loss was at Group 4 East Brunswick 23-21 in Monroe's second game of the season.

Liberato and Home News Tribune sports writer Greg Tufaro were also honored at halftime with plaques for their dedicated service to the Snapple Bowl and the children that it helps.

East Brunswick has now hosted Snapple Bowls in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2010. Union County has won four of the seven played there.

SNAPPLE BOWL XVII AT EAST BRUNSWICK

UNION COUNTY (7-10)                       0     6     8     0 - 14

MIDDLESEX COUNTY (10-7)            7     0    13    8 - 28

FIRST QUARTER:

MIDDLESEX – Mauro Tucci 6 run, Steven Moore kick, (M 7-0)

SECOND QUARTER:

UNION – Shawn Hillas 32 pass from Trell Myers, kick failed (M 7-6)

THIRD QUARTER:

UNION – Matt Padlo 40 pass Trell Myers, Giovanni Smith run (U 14-7)

MIDDLESEX – Mike Muha 1 run, Steven Moore kick (14-14)

MIDDLESEX – Billy Merz 48 pass Robbie Meade, kick failed (M 20-14)

FOURTH QUARTER:

MIDDLESEX – Meade 6 run, kick failed (M 26-14)

MIDDLESEX – Safety on last play of game (M 28-14)