Facing a schedule comprised predominantly of much larger schools, Shore enjoyed a successful 2025 season, finishing 8-3 and advancing to the Central Jersey Group 1 sectional final, where the Blue Devils came up just short in a 28-20 loss to Burlington City.

The Blue Devils return several impact players from last year’s sectional finalist squad, but graduation took a heavy toll on the roster. Shore brings back just seven total starters and has only seven seniors, ushering in a youth movement as a young and inexperienced group steps into key roles on both sides of the ball.

Despite those losses, the Shore Conference has moved Shore, a small Group 1 program, up to Class B North, where the Blue Devils will contend with Group 5 Freehold Township, Group 4 Middletown North and Middletown South, Group 3 Matawan, and Group 2 Manasquan. Shore has routinely punched above its weight class with talent and execution, but staying healthy throughout the season will be paramount with roster numbers that are not on par with most of its opponents.

Offense

The Blue Devils return five starters from an offense that averaged 31.5 points per game last season.

Senior Logan Clark (5-11, 200) returns at quarterback after throwing for an efficient 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns on his way to Second Team All-Class C North honors. The Blue Devils have quality depth at the position as senior Davey Robbins (6-0, 165), a part-time starter at Colts Neck last year, has transferred in and will be eligible after the first three games.

Senior Cole Torres (5-11, 205) returns as Shore’s workhorse running back after a sensational junior season in which he rushed for 1,651 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Shore honors. A projected FCS recruit, Torres will once again be the focal point of the Blue Devils’ offense and one of the Shore Conference’s premier offensive weapons.

Junior Anthony Pernice (6-0, 170) will spell Torres in the backfield.

The Blue Devils have six players competing for starting roles in the receiving corps. Seniors Mikael Fleming (5-11, 165) and Anthony Lucque (5-10, 145), juniors Jackson Chewning, Jack Habeck (6-0, 165), and Blaise Sholander (5-10, 185), and sophomore Santino Martini (5-9, 165) are all in the mix for playing time at wide receiver.

Junior Carlo Sasso (5-7, 165) and sophomore Tyler Vincelli (6-2, 210) will compete for playing time at both tight end and H-back.

Three starters return along a Shore offensive line that helped pave the way for Torres’ 1,651-yard rushing season a year ago. Seniors Brady MacRae (6-1, 180) and Prem Patel (5-10, 215) were Second Team All-Class C North selections, while junior Jack Brenner (6-2, 220) is also a returning starter, give the Blue Devils an experienced foundation up front. The two remaining starters will come from a combination of juniors Kyle Nagy (6-0, 235), Finn Gallagher (6-1, 195), Oliver Matthews (5-8, 250), and Drew Kokolus (6-2, 180), along with sophomore Eyder Lopes (5-11, 235).

Habeck and sophomore Tristan Adams (5-8, 145) are competing for the starting kicking job. Torres returns to handle the punting duties, while Pernice is back as the Blue Devils’ long snapper.

Defense

The Blue Devils return two starters from a defense that allowed 14.4 points per game last season.

Junior Kyle Stehnacs (6-1, 190), a Second Team All-Class C North pick in 2025, is the lone returning starter along the defensive line. Nagy, Matthews, and Lopes are competing for starting roles at defensive tackle, while the competition at defensive end remains wide open. Juniors Teagen Miller (6-1, 215) and Mason Reinert (6-0, 215), along with MacRae, Kokolus, and Vincelli, are all in the mix for playing time on the edge.

Pernice, who earned Second Team All-Class C North honors last season, is the lone returning starter at linebacker. Cole Torres, who has played defensive line in the past, is in the mix to start at linebacker, along with Sasso, Chewning, sophomore Chase Welty (6-0, 180), and sophomore Mason Torres (5-10, 155).

An abundance of players are competing for playing time in the secondary including juniors Tyler Celeste (5-9, 150), Evan Marotta (5-7, 145), Habeck, Sholander, and Mason Van Brunt (5-8, 160), along with sophomores Adams, Rajon Hester (5-8, 150), and Martini.

 

Shore at a glance 

Head coach: Don Klein, 3rd season (20th overall)

Career record: 111-79-1 (18-4 at Shore)

2025 record: 8-3

Offense: Multiple

Defense: Multiple

 

Coaching Staff

Offensive Coordinator: R.J. Read

Defensive Coordinator: Anthony Tedesco

OL: Rich Read

OL: Frank D’Alession

OL: Andrew Worthington

RB: John Vacarelli

WR: Marcque Ellington

WR: Dan Rubinetti

DB: Erik Mammano

DB: Pete Vincelli

LB: Billy Walsh

DL: Phil Greene

DL/Analyst: John Della Pesca

Athletic Director: Alexa Tucci

Athletic Trainer: Joe Amicucci

Circle the Date: Sept. 25 vs. Freehold Township

If both teams remain in the same group classifications as last season, the matchup is believed to mark the first time in Shore Conference football history that a Group 1 school will face a Group 5 opponent since the NJSIAA introduced Group 5 in 2012. Shore Regional generally has an enrollment in the 500s, while Freehold Township has more than 1,800 students, creating a significant disparity in school size that the Blue Devils will be tasked with overcoming. If Shore can find a way to come out on top, it would rank as a major upset and one of the more remarkable wins in program history.

Newcomer to Watch: Davey Robbins, Sr., QB

The Colts Neck transfer will be forced to sit out the first three games due to the NJSIAA senior transfer rule, but he will provide the Blue Devils with an intriguing option once he becomes eligible. Even if he does not see significant time at quarterback, his athleticism and experience could allow him to contribute at another position while also giving Shore a second throwing option for gadget plays and other offensive wrinkles.

Schedule 

Date	Opponent
8/27	Red Bank
9/4	Point Beach
9/10	at Middletown North
9/18	at Middletown South
9/25	Freehold Township
10/9	at Matawan
10/17	at Keyport
10/23	Manasquan