McKinnie Awarded Most Valuable Player in the Senior All-Star Football Classic

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High School Football:
McKinnie Awarded Most Valuable Player in the Senior All-Star Football Classic
Thursday, June 24, 2004

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

It was an opportunity for some of the graduating high school seniors to showcase their talents on the field for the last time as high school football players. Some will move onto a higher learning institution in hopes of extending their football talents at the college level, and some will fully concentrate on their education giving football a rest. For Woodbury's Marvin McKinnie who will be attending Mesabi Range Junior College, his performance alone provided excitement for all to enjoy with his dazzling display of now you see me, now you don't. This time at Eastern High School, the 14th Annual South Jersey Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame game saw team White defeat team Blue 42-12 in the Adam Taliaferro Foundation All-Star Football Classic played at Frank J. McAleer Stadium. McKinnie accepted the honor proudly when he was named the Most Valuable Player for team White.

“I enjoy attending these types of games. These kids play for the love of the sport, not for the money. At least not yet”, Steve McKnight mentioned before the game. “They’re here to demonstrate that they can (play) in a short-term situation in a system that had to be absorbed quickly.” Quarterback Anthony Lombardo (Audubon) and receiver Brandon Whittington (Collingswood) connected quickly on the game’s first touchdown of the day for team White. The two highlighted the two play 79 yard scoring drive that lasted just 45 seconds with the last play Whittington catching a slant pass over the middle and out running the defense and into the endzone. That score gave team White a 10-0 lead with 3:15 remaining in the first quarter. Place kicker Tom Beese’s (Deptford) 45 yard field goal during team White’s second possession of the game gave them the early lead.

McKinnie would score the last touchdown of the first half, but it was his first catch of the day that started his MVP performance. On a 1st and 10 play that set up Beese’s field goal attempt, McKinnie turned a short pass into a 14 yard “shake & bake” gain that gave all fans of the game a sense of amazement. He would continue to excite the crowd when his end around through a maze of defense was called back on a holding penalty. A second holding penalty during the start of the second quarter nullified a 10 yard gain. For the positive gains of his day, McKinnie worked his way through the Blue’s defense for 24 yards giving team White a 24-0 advantage. But it would be his fourth quarter 99-yard interception that finally displayed his athletic ability that all were waiting to see.

Team White’s scoring drive of the day occurred at the end of the first quarter and ended midway through the second. Already with a 10-0 lead, team White put together a 12 play, 79 yard scoring drive that ended with Schalick’s Kenny Bartee’s one yard run. For team Blue, quarterback Ryan Goodman (Absegami) scored from one yard out giving their first points of the game. Trailing 27-6, Blue would be rewarded the kickoff because of the rule of a team trailing by more than 14 points would get the ball back on the ensuring kickoff. Blue would turn the ball over on downs leave the door wide open for their opponent to score eventually two fourth quarter touchdowns. Whittington’s 79 yard touchdown reception from Haddonfield’s Kyle Turner and Mckinnie’s highlight reel interception return. Goodman would connect with Robert Rosip-Thoevdele (Willingboro) for the game’s final score. Goodman would be awarded the MVP honors for team Blue.

1

2

3

4

-

F

Blue
0

0

6

6

12

White
10

14

3

14

41

Blue Team
Head coach: George Maxwell, Buena

Ryan Goodman, QB, Absegami; Dan Brockman, OT/DT, Absegami; Ronald McLaural, WR/LB, Atlantic City; Travis Wright, TE/DL, Bridgeton; Paul Panchesine, OL/DL, Buena; Matt Marshall, QB, Burlington City; Bryan Barner, OT/DL, Burlington Twp.; Nate Missimer, OL/DL, N. Burlington; Chris Carofalo, FB/DE, N. Burlington; Alex Woolridge, WR/DB, Cherokee; Kesner Saintvil, RB/DB, Cinnaminson; Joe Cranfoed, WR/DB, Delran; Carlos Felciano, OL/DL, Egg Harbor Twp.; Dan Miller, WR/DB, Florence; Greg Silvesti, NT, Hammonton; Joe Hiltwine, DB/QB, Hammonton; Rick Costa, LB/S, Holy Cross; Mike Juliano, OL/DL, Holy Cross; Zachary Mosino, C/DL, Lenape; Carmen Norcross, DB/WR, Maple Shade; Eric Wolf, QB/DB, Middle Twp.; Rich Forman, RB/DB, Millville; Tyrik Mackall, DB/WR, Millville; Ryan VanWright, DB/WR, Moorestown; Ryan Staton, RB/LB, Oakcrest; Chugger Lacasse, TE/DE, Ocean City; Jim Dugan, OL/DL, Ocean City; Bill Landry, OL/DL, Pemberton; Jason Little, WR/DB, Pleasantville; Mike Temkin, FB/LB, Rancocas Valle y; Scott Bullock, OT/DE, St. Augustine; Kevin Peters, DE, St. Joseph; Chris Foran, FB/LB, Shawnee; Mark Thompson, G/DL, Vineland; Darren Ford, RB/DB, Vineland; Danny Bihlear, RB, Willingboro; Robert Rosip-Theovdele, WR/DB, Willingboro.

White Team
Head coach: Dan Spittal, Eastern.

Anthony Lombardo, QB, Audubon; Derek Gregory, FS, Bishop Eustace; Dashon Fooks, DB, Camden; Quran Barge, LB, Camden Catholic; Vince DiMedio, LB, Camden Catholic; Sean Satchell, DL, Cherry Hill East; Drew Gardner, WR, Cherry Hill West; Brian DePalma, OL, Clayton; Brandon Whittington, WR, Collingswood; Greg Wynne, DL, Delsea; Tom Beese, K, Deptford; Sean McAleer, OL, Eastern; A.J. Schneider, DL, Eastern; Eric Moan, DB, Gateway; Tom Ferry, OL, Gloucester; Mark Bottino, RB, Gloucester Catholic; Dennis Dahms, RB, Haddonfield; Kyle Turner, QB, Haddonfield; Kyle Murphy, WR, Haddon Heights; Tom Turkot, LB, Haddon Twp.; Mike Munciello, DL, Highland; Tom Gallo, TE, Kingsway; Frank Hales, LB, Overbrook; Dan MacDonald, TE, Overbrook; Jeff Sheehan, LB, Paul VI; Calvin Lewis, DB, Penns Grove; Andrew Jackson, FB, Pennsville; Dustin Darrow, WR, Pitman; Andrew Hecksher, LB, Salem; Kenny Bartee, RB, Schalick; Mark Scott, OL, Sterling; Dan Roman, DB, Timber Creek; Mike Heslin, OL, Triton; Sal Calaciura, DB, Washington Twp.; Justin Deal, DE, Washington Twp.; Paul DiPaolo, DL, Williamstown; Dominic Liberto, OL, West Deptford; Brian Sherrer, LB, Winslow Twp.; Brendon Muse, DL, Woodbury; Hussain Shakir, DB, Woodrow Wilson; Tyrone Miles, OL, Woodrow Wilson.

Photos by Mark Fletcher