North Bergen standout Vin Ascolese has only one thing in mind right now, which is playing this weekend in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group IV state championship game against Montclair in MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands.
“I’m focused on this weekend,” said the Bruins’ fine linebacker/running back. “I can’t get my mind off that. It’s the most important moment of my life. It’s the biggest game I’ve ever played in my life.”
However, last week, Ascolese received another honor, when he was named to the U.S. Marines Semper Fidelis All-American team. He received his jersey from the game organizers and Marine representatives last Monday and will head to play in the game in Phoenix on Jan. 3.
“It’s awesome to be a high school All-American,” Ascolese said. “It’s a great honor, especially coming from Tom Lemming, who knows talent.”
Lemming has earned a reputation as being perhaps the nation’s premier high school football talent evaluator and a lot of major colleges go by his service when it comes to recruiting the top high school players.
“It’s pretty exciting that I’m getting this chance,” Ascolese said. “I always dreamed of becoming an All-American. It’s a pretty big deal.”
Ascolese is not the only Hudson County product to get selected to play in the inaugural Semper Fidelis Bowl.
St. Peter’s Prep standout linebacker D.J. Singleton and quarterback Brandon Napoleon have also been selected. Singleton, headed to the University of Wisconsin in the fall, and Napoleon, bound for his father Eugene’s alma mater, West Virginia, also received their jerseys in a presentation last Monday as well.
“It’s very exciting,” said Napoleon, who is also this week’s Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week. “I’m getting a chance to go to the game with D.J., who I played against in Pop Warner football and played with in AAU basketball. It’s a great blessing to be an All-American.”
St. Peter’s Prep head coach Rich Hansen said that he was proud to have two representatives in the All-American game.
“It’s great for the kids and good for the school and our program,” Hansen said. “They represent who we are. I’m sure they’ll have a ball there.”
There is one oddity to the game. The rosters have not been set, so the three Hudson County players may be on the same team and may not. Apparently, there will be a draft of the pool of 100 players that has not been determined.
“I know Brandon and D.J. well,” said Ascolese, who has not yet declared his collegiate intentions. “It should be fun not knowing who is playing with whom. I can’t wait.”
But there are bigger fish to fry, namely a state title game.
“I’m going to leave everything I have out there,” Ascolese said. “I’m going to ride it all the way to the end.”…
Basketball practices officially began on Monday and the Friars of St. Anthony will begin the year as the top-ranked team in the country once again. The defending national champs welcome back a host of top players from last year, including do-everything guard Kyle Anderson, bound for UCLA in the fall. We’ll have more about the upcoming basketball season in next week’s editions…
The Great Hagueini was 2-0 in his last bunch of state playoff predictions, including an almost dead-on pick in the North Bergen-Union City showdown, pushing the wide one’s record this season to 6-1. Hagueini picked North Bergen to win 14-7 and the Bruins won 10-7. The crystal ball is really working this season.
With that in mind, here’s the final selection of the grid season and local fans won’t like it much.
North Bergen vs. Montclair, North 1, Group IV state sectional championship, MetLife Stadium: It’s been a great run for the Bruins in the state playoffs, winning two straight games in overtime in coach Vince Ascolese’s final go-round leading the Bruins. It’s almost been like a Hollywood movie. “Remember the Titans” didn’t have this much drama.
But the Bruins are facing a Montclair team with incredible firepower. They have about 10 players who are NCAA Division I caliber and a quarterback in Khalif Herbin who is the most electrifying offensive weapon in the state.
For the Bruins to win, they’ll need to force the high-powered Mounties into several turnovers. They’ll also need to control the ball for most of the game and hope that the Bruins’ tenacious defensive unit can somehow shut down that attack. It’s a lot to ask for.
The Bruins certainly have fate on their side and maybe that magic will rub off in the Meadowlands. Magic in the Meadowlands? Has a nice ring to it already.
Will it happen? Doesn’t appear that way. Montclair 35, North Bergen 14.
For once, we have to hope that the Great Hagueini isn’t so great with that selection. Because nothing in the world would be better than a North Bergen victory and a chance for Ascolese to go off into the sunset with an eighth state championship. Here’s to hoping… — Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.