BTHS's Goble looking forward to All-Star classic and college
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI Staff Writer
Joe Goble thought he was playing his final game of competitive football last Thanksgiving before heading to the University of Maryland this fall to pursue a career as a pharmacist.

It was a great finale for Goble's career at Brick Township High School. He scored three touchdowns to lead the team to a stunning 34-28 victory over Brick Memorial, which went on to win the NJSIAA Group IV Central Jersey state championship. It sealed Brick Township's first winning record in three years at 6-4. A few days after that game, coach Warren Wolf said he was retiring after 51 seasons as the Green Dragons' coach.

Goble gets another opportunity to don a helmet and pads when he plays for Ocean County against the best of Monmouth County in the annual Shore All- Star Football Classic on July 17. The game will be played on Goble's home field.

"It'll be easier for me to sell tickets," Goble said with a laugh. Players are given a packet of tickets to sell for the game.

Goble is one of five Brick Township players selected for the game. The lineup also includes offensive tackle Andrew Leustek, defensive end Bill Pateno, outside linebacker Brennan Candito and center Kevin Watson.

At some point, Goble may get the chance to run the ball behind blocks by Watson and Leustek.

"That might be, because I know there were not a lot of linemen selected for the game," said the 6-foot-5-inch, 280- pound Leustek, who is headed to Wesley College in Dover, Del. Wesley has been ranked near the top of the NCAA Division

III rankings.

Goble also made a big impression ending his high school

career in the academic as well as athletic context. He was the salutatorian of his graduating class.

"I talked about what Brick is all about," Goble said of his graduation speech. "There's a hometown feel here and you feel connected, like a family. And there's tradition. It's sad (to graduate) but you have to move on."

But Goble takes memories with him, including the Thanksgiving game victory that he said was his "best game, although there are a lot of memorable ones."

And there is his cherished experience of playing for Warren Wolf.

"He never followed a strict time (schedule) at practices but had us practice until we did what we had to do," Goble said. "He said that if you hang out with a bum, you'll be a bum, but if you hang out with a winner, you'll be a winner. I'm glad I played for him. Nothing against the new coaches, but it was an honor to play for him.

"I thought that the Thanksgiving win was a great way for me to finish off my career on my field at the time, but now I'm preparing for another game," he added.

For Goble, this will be his first summer of not preparing for the next football season since he was 7 years old.

"I'll definitely miss it, but I guess I'll play some intramural football in college," he said.

Goble doesn't have a conditioning program from a college like many players do. But he spends five days a week running and lifting weights when he's not working as a lifeguard.

"I want to be in good shape for the game," he said. "And then that's it. In the past, August is a tough month when you're getting ready for the next season. People don't realize how much hard work you have to do. For this game, I'm just going out there to do my best. Hopefully, I can give a game-changing performance."

Goble watched the Shore All-Star football game from last year, which also was played at Brick. He saw former teammate Kurt Loftus get a long-punt return that helped the Ocean team to victory.

A

fter this game, Goble said he will

concentrate on taking all core courses at the University of Delaware as a chemistry major.

"I always liked math and science so they go together well for what I'm doing next," he said.

As for Leustek, he said he "expected" to be picked for the game, coming off a solid season at right tackle before heading to Wesley. The small class sizes drew his interest as a criminal justice major. He had also considered Kean University, William Paterson and NCAA Division II St. Anselm. He said he feels he is solid at pass protection but prefers run blocking.

"I had experience from playing the year before and worked hard and got bigger," Leustek said.

"Playing on my home field makes me a lot happier, one more time before college."