Worthy earns MVP honors in All-Shore Gridiron Classic

Ashante Worthy is the center of gravity whenever he steps on a football field.

The multi-talented quarterback from Freehold High School rolls right, then left, then back right, then back left, looking for his hole.

Hoards of big linemen roll with him as he goes, occasionally smashing into each other. Then Worthy finds his hole and bolts up field, usually for big yards or a touchdown. Or he fires the ball downfield to an open receiver.

Worthy performed his multiple in the 41st Annual All-Shore Gridiron Classic that was played on July 12 at Brick Memorial High School in Brick.

He ran for 94 yards, threw for 61 yards and accounted for two touchdowns, one rushing, one passing, to guide Monmouth County to a 28-14 victory over Ocean County.

The game featured football all-stars from Shore Conference schools in Monmouth and Ocean counties, all of whom just graduated  from high school.

Worthy’s sparking play led to him being named the game’s MVP award winner.

“The line did a great job. They showed out on the field here today,” Worthy said after the game. “It was so much fun. But at the end of the day it was business, and we just showed that Monmouth County has good players.”

Worthy capped a 65-yard opening drive with a whirling 16-yard touchdown run. He ran all the way to the left sideline, then rolled all the way back to the right sideline, before cutting upfield and sneaking inside the pylon.

“Coach called 17 stretch, so I stretched it to the outside,” Worthy said. “I was still up and I saw the whole right side of the field open, and I just took it that way.”

Later in the first half, with Monmouth up 14-0, Worthy scrambled again, gained some time and floated a 15-yard touchdown pass to Red Bank Catholic High School’s Brandon Lombana in the right corner of the end zone. Monmouth built a 21-0 lead at halftime.

This past fall season, Worthy not only set the New Jersey single-season rushing record with 2,860 yards, but he also established the record for most offensive yards with 4,966.

Worthy also amassed a total of 61 touchdowns produced, which was another single-season record in New Jersey. The 61 touchdowns were 41 he rushed for and 20 that he passed for.

He finished his scholastic career with a total of 6,400 yards rushing, second all-time in the Shore Conference.

Another Monmouth County back, Red Bank Catholic’s Zack Bair, also thrived behind the great blocking that Worthy mentioned.

Bair, a running back,  carried the ball nine times for 52 yards and a touchdown. His one-yard plunge in the third quarter helped move Monmouth County 28-0 lead.

“It’s a great feeling to be able to come out and play your last game with so many great players,” Bair said. “It’s definitely an honor to be selected. The Shore Conference is so competitive. I’m happy to be here.”

Worthy and Bair are both playing at the next level. Worthy will enroll at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., and Bair will head to at Dartmouth College.

Worthy was a Division 1 prospect in high school, and his goal is to get there after two years at Lackawanna.

“I’m in there for two years and then I’ll transfer to a Division 1 program,” he said. “If I just go up there, take care of business, and don’t let anybody distract me, 100 percent (I’ll get to DI).”

Bair got into Dartmouth not just by excelling in football, but by posting a 3.8 GPA and a 1370 SAT score.

“Football has opened so many doors for me. I’m so appreciative,” Bair said. “Football helps with your discipline in the classroom too. I started playing early, so I took a lot from football into the classroom.”

Marlboro High School wide receiver Justin Marcus also scored a touchdown for Monmouth County when he took in a five-yard reception in the first half.