WASHINGTON TWP. – Greg Gruzdis has coached his son, Greg Jr., in football for more than a decade, and they’ll share a sideline one last time.
Gruzdis is an assistant coach for the North team and his son is among the three dozen seniors competing against the South in the 23rd Bergen County Football All-Star Game at 6 p.m. Saturday here at Westwood High School.
“It’s definitely really cool,” Greg Jr., who starred at Waldwick/Midland Park, said prior to Tuesday’s 7 p.m. practice. “And we’ll try to get a win, for sure.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” said the elder Gruzdis, whose son will continue at Susquehanna. “I’ve coached him since second grade. Coaching him in high school, it was awesome, it was a gift, and it’s one last hurrah. We’re going to strap it up one last time.”
More than 80 players and coaches are participating in the game, which is sponsored by Sinners Steakhouse in Point Pleasant Beach and will be broadcast live on NorthJersey.com. Each person has a reason for participating and here are a few of their stories, along with the rosters.
A Hard curtain call
Dennis Hard will serve as the North coach, one season after leading Westwood to a sectional title and retiring after 43 seasons spread across several schools. He began as an assistant at Wallington in 1980.
“Just the way things broke was perfect,” said Hard, who will coach several of his former players. “And for practice to be up here, and the game to be up here, and we have enough Westwood kids on the team, it worked out well.”
Final time in a helmet
Chris Picinic was the right tackle on Westwood’s North 1, Group 2 title team, and he is among the players who will be putting on a helmet for the last time.
“I’m very excited for one last ride,” Picinic said. “I’m excited to have some fun with players from other towns.”
Learning a new position
Dan Sabio of Pascack Hills looks forward Saturday to playing tight end, a position he’ll play at Susquehanna, after playing fullback, wingback and defensive end for the Panthers. Maybe he’ll catch a pass Saturday.
“It’s different, but it’s going to be fun,” Sabio said. “I’m a pretty good blocker, and I played a lot of wingback, which is the same thing as a tight end.”
ROSTERS: Check out the rosters for the Bergen County Football All-Star Game
Back in the swing
Dumont’s Jackson Lockhart was among North Jersey’s leaders in tackles and sacks last season and is happy to get some repetitions before heading to Monmouth’s preseason camp in August.
“It’s a great tuneup,” Lockhart said. “I’ve got camp in early August, and I haven’t played an actual football game since Thanksgiving. So I think it’s a great opportunity to come out, get on the field, and get the feel going before I get to camp.”
Big future ahead?
The South began Tuesday practice at 5 p.m. at Wood-Ridge and Cliffside Park’s Tony Cruz was head and shoulders above. The lineman is 6-foot-7, 380 pounds and said prior to practice that he’ll start his college career at Sussex County Community College.
“It means everything to me,” Cruz said of being selected for Saturday’s game. “It’s another shot for me to get better, and to play the sport I love.”
Still teammates
Expect North Arlington quarterback Devin Rivas to throw the ball Saturday to Vikings receiver Kyle Villani. Rivas threw for 1,690 yards and 17 TDs last season, and Villani had 598 yards receiving and 7 TD catches.
“Our chemistry is good,” said Villani, and he and Rivas will be teammates at Southern Connecticut. “It feels great to be picked. It shows that all these coaches see my capability of playing the game, and I’m excited for it.”
“I’m just really blessed to be in this game,” said Rivas, whose South coach is former Rutherford coach Andy Howell. “I see a lot of guys I’ve seen during the years of my high school career, and I think we’ve got a lot of good players here, and I think these guys are ready to compete, and so am I.”
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Bergen County Football All-Star Game: ‘Last hurrah’ for players
