Howell football teammates play one last game together

Three Howell High School football teammates played together one last time before they go their separate ways.

Edwin Morales, Naseim Brantley and Matt Mazauskas, who each just graduated from Howell,  played in the 40th annual Phil Simms North-South All-Star Classic that was held on June 25 at Kean University in Union.

The all-star game attracts the top scholastic players who were just graduated from both North Jersey and South Jersey.

The three Howell players helped the South roll past the North, 38-16.

Morales, a receiver, recorded a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter when the South increased its lead to 31-3.

“Tonight, our offense has a lot of weapons, we have a lot of fast guys and we expect to pass the ball around and get the ball to everyone, and we are able to make big plays when it matters, and we are just trying to get a bunch of points on the board,” Morales said.

Morales will continue his football career next fall when he enrolls at Monmouth University.

“It means everything,” he said. “Football is my life, and to be able to continue, especially at a division one university like Monmouth, it means everything.”

Mazauskas originally was selected as a long-snapper for the game, but due to a lack of defensive ends, he earned a starting spot on the line.

“It’s an honor, honestly,” said Mazauskas. “I honestly did not expect to be in this game at all. I originally came here as a long snapper, but we don’t really punt. So, when I got here we only had one defensive end, so I went in there and worked for the spot and was able to start today.”

Mazauskas will ship out in August when he joins the Coast Guard just as his father did did after high school.

This decision was one that the young Mazauskas has been waiting for.

“My dad was in the Coast Guard when he was my age, too,” he said. “I have been dreaming of it since I’ve been little. I have pictures of me at four years old, wearing a Coast Guard uniform, I’ve been waiting for it my whole life and it’s awesome that it’s finally coming up.”

Brantley, who played defensive back in the game, also felt that participating in the all-star game was a special experience.

“It’s an honor to be here with all of these great all-stars, and to be nominated as one of the best players in the state,” Brantley said. “I’m proud and it’s a blessing to be here.”

Brantley plans to continue his playing career next season at Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

“It’s great to continue to play in my football career,” he said. “It has always been a dream of mine to play college football, division one level, and I am just truly blessed.”

Morales, Mazauskas and Brantley were instrumental players during Howell’s 9-2 season in 2017.

The Rebels advanced to the South Jersey, Group 5 state sectional playoffs when they fell to Lenape High School, 63-28. Lenape went on to win the state playoff title.

The three players not only shared a high school and a football field for the last four years, but the same home street as well.

“These are my brothers, they both live down the road from me,” Mazauskas said. “I grew up with Eddy, and Naseim moved in a couple of years ago. But Eddy and I have known each other since we have been little. It’s nice to play with them one more time.”

Phil Simms, the former New York Giants quarterback and longtime NFL analyst for CBS, has sponsored the North-South all-star game since 2014.

“It’s great,” Simms said. “This is probably the greatest two teams we have assembled during the last five years that I’ve been doing this. I think this continues to get better every year, I wish that it would get better at a faster rate, but it is growing, and it shows. We’re marching forward and getting better and better players here in New Jersey.”

Here are the players from the region who participated in that first all-star game 40 years ago that was played at Rutgers Stadium in Piscataway.

Steve Bethune, Matawan Regional High School; Glenn Edwards, Jackson Memorial High School;  Joseph Fischer, East Brunswick High School; Leif Hartkopf, Middletown High School South;  Mike Ibrahim, North Brunswick Township High School; Jim Jeffcoat, Matwan Regional High School; Nick Lubischer, Shore Regional High School; Pat Miller, John P. Stevens High School; Nick Sottiriou, John P. Stevens High School; Jeff Susan, South River High School.