MIDDLETOWN – With most of the players not having played in years, the first Middletown South-Middletown North alumni football game Saturday at “The Swamp” at Middletown South was not a well-played contest, but was still a game enjoyed by players from both sides and the estimated 1,500 spectators, almost all of them alumni for both schools.
Middletown North – which hasn’t defeated South in a regular game since 1990 – won the game, 6-3, in a defensive battle in which all of the scoring came on field goals.
“This is fantastic,” said Matt Malleo, one of the organizers of the game. “It was a very competitive, close game and the players poured their hearts out. North won the game and congratulations to them.
“Everyone seemed to have had a great time and we’re hoping to have this game next year,” he said. “Another good thing is that there were no serious injuries.”
“It was an honor to coach these players,” said North coach Mike Galos, who had previously coached at North and Wall and received a Gatorade bath after the game.
“I coached a lot of these guys before at Middletown North,” he said, “and it was great to be able to coach some of the younger guys.
“We had great practices and players came from all over,” he said. “One of them (John Stapleton) came up from Virginia.”
Middletown North did all of its scoring in the first half on field goals by Dylan Maresca and Mike Marz.
Maresca (’09) was half of North’s father-son duo along with his dad, Al, who played football at North in 1978.
“It was a great experience to be able to play football together with my son,” said Al. “I never thought that this could happen.”
Middletown South did its scoring in the third quarter on a 30-yard field goal by Connor Ryan (’12), who is currently at Franklin and Marshall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and is the current record-holder of most of the field goal and extra points at South.
“I started at Franklin and Marshall my first two years there,” said Ryan. “I’m enjoying myself, but college football can’t compare to the great times I had on this field.
“I never expected to be back playing here,” he said. “I got chills just walking out on this field and I’m happy that I had the opportunity to play with some of the older players. It was like a dream come true.”
South came close to tying the game in the final seconds with a Ryan field goal when it had the ball on the North 25, but a bad snap from center
foiled the attempt.
“I think that the big difference in the game was that we had about 50 players suited up for the game,” said Galos. “South had only about 30 players.
“It was an honor to put on the orange and black uniform again,” said Stapleton. “Middletown North’s football team is like a family and it is great to be back with these guys.”
The game featured five brother combinations for North including Pat (‘85) and Rich (’89) Toland.
“The last time I played on this field was in 1982,” said Pat Toland. “It was a great feeling to be back with all of these guys and get to know the younger players. Walking out on this field, I had tears in my eyes. It is something you dream about.”
“It was the greatest thing to be playing with my brother out there,” said Rich Toland. We were four years apart in high school. We were both in the backfield, and I got a chance to block for Pat. It was the most fun I ever had.”
“To be back here playing again was like a dream come true,’ said South quarterback Matt LaMattina, who won the Most Valuable Player Award for South. Quarter – back Justin Fumando was the MVP for North.
“It was a great experience coaching this team,” said South coach Mike D’Alessio, who was an assistant coach at both schools a few years ago. It was fun to be reconnected with some of the guys I played with. It was also a pleasure watching some of these players when I was young.
“After the game, about 15 former players who didn’t play in this game, came up to me and said they would like to play in this game next year,” he said.
Proceeds for the game will benefit the football programs of both teams.
By Jim Hintelmann
