Sports
Senior Athletes Honor Basilone With Inaugural Bowl
Leathernecks top Devil Dogs, 23-20, at first-ever game honoring heroic Marine.
The inaugural Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone Bowl was played Friday evening at the stadium named in his honor at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Basilone, who grew up in Raritan, was a Marine who's bravery was honored with the Medal of Honor.
Approximately 85 athletes from 14 local high schools comprised the Leathernecks and the Devil Dogs to play a regulation high school football game with NJSIAA officials.
The game was an exciting contest with the Leathernecks leading by 16 points at the end of the 3rd quarter, 23-7. But the Devil Dogs dug deep and scored two touchdowns, the last with just 53 seconds to go, bringing the score to 23-20 in favor of the Leathernecks. That would be how the game would end.
"I thought it was a lot of fun," said Donny Stires, of Bridgewater-Raritan and quarterback of the Devil Dogs. "I don't think any of us realized how big this was until today. It was an honor playing for someone that died for us. I think it was really cool how the Marines were involved in the event. I really liked coming out here and supporting everything."
"It was a lot of fun playing football one last time," Ridge center Ezra Keough said.
"It was awesome, it was awesome playing with a bunch of really good kids," said Watchung Hills Tommy Giaimo. "I loved to do that. It is a lot different than playing on your regular high school team, you have a lot of talent around you and you can work with it. "
"It was a great to honor John Basilone," said offensive MVP Tommy Goodberlet of Bridgewater-Raritan. "To put on the pads one more time before you go off to college was fun. We played with a bunch of great guys. Playing with guys you read about in the papers is fun. I am happy how it turned out."
