By Rich Chrampanis
SHORE REGIONAL BLUE DEVILS
Head Coach: Donald Klein (first season)
2023 Record: 6-4, lost to Schalick in Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals
Offense: 19.5 points scored per game
Defense: 14.0 points allowed per game
WEST LONG BRANCH – Don Klein is Ocean Township’s all-time winningest coach.
The only thing that could make him leave was to come back home to Shore Regional. The Blue Devils alum is the perfect replacement for legendary coach Mark Costantino, who stepped down after 32 years at Shore. The man who coached Philadelphia Eagles QB Kenny Pickett and Syracuse’s Trevor Pena, among others, inherits one of the top Group 1 football programs in New Jersey.
“I had a great, great run at Ocean Township,” Klein said. “I feel really strong about that community and those kids involved in that program, but the opportunity at Shore Regional was just too great for me. My dad played here in the ’60s. Obviously, I played here as well, grew up with Shore Regional football. The chance to come back and give back to this community and lead the football program is really exciting.”
Xavier Moro, a 6-foot-2-inch, 285-pound senior with a 3.9 GPA, is moving from left tackle to the interior offensive line. He’ll be a disruptive force in traffic and will wreak havoc on the defensive line. Brendan O’Brien found the end zone six times while rushing for over 500 yards.
He’s also a key factor on defense at linebacker, where he had 51 tackles. And Josh Moeller is back leading the Shore offense after throwing for 795 yards and seven touchdowns last year. Look for those numbers to make a jump in his senior year.
“We’re really picking up on the plays and I think we’re coming together pretty well,” said Moeller.
“We’ll be good by game day.”
One thing you’ll notice on Friday nights is the Blue Devils picking up the pace. Look for a quick-fire offense that will continue to be great on the ground, but add an aerial element.
“Last year, we used to get in the huddle before every offensive play,” O’Brien said. “But this year, we’re just staying out in the field. They’re doing hand signals and we can just see what they are and get right into it.”
The Blue Devils will have a great test in the opener against a Pineland squad primed for a breakthrough season. Klein returns to his former home Oct. 18 when Shore takes on Ocean Township. Playing bigger schools in the regular season makes Shore very dangerous when the Group 1 playoffs roll around. With seven section titles, the Blue Devils are chasing a state championship every single year.
“We’re excited about the opportunities that come at the end of the season,” Klein said. “We’ve talked about it a lot with the players. The regular season is going to be a grind. We do have some good teams on that schedule, some bigger teams, but when the playoffs come around, that’s going to be the opportunity for us to really showcase who we are.”
Shore Regional 2024 Football Schedule
Friday, Sept. 6 vs. Pinelands
Friday, Sept. 13 at Point Pleasant Beach
Friday, Sept. 20 vs. Keyport
Saturday, Sept. 28 at Keansburg
Friday, Oct. 4 vs. New Egypt
Thursday, Oct. 10 at Neptune
Friday, Oct. 18 at Ocean Township
Friday, Oct. 25 vs. Asbury Park
The article originally appeared in the August 22 – 28, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
