Bucks/MontCo Lions All-Star Classic dedicated to former Neshaminy Coach
WARMINSTER – The 1st annual Bucks/MontCo Lions Football All-Star Classic is dedicated to the memory of Roger Grove, who passed away on May 13. Coach Grove’s legendary career spanned 43 years and impacted both Bucks and Montgomery counties.
Coach Grove began his career as a Health and Physical Education teacher and assistant football coach at Norristown Area High School in 1968. Eight years later, he took over as head coach, a position he would hold for the next 27 seasons.
At Norristown, Coach Grove amassed a record of 203-98-6 during a time when the Suburban One League (SOL) was widely regarded as the best league in Pennsylvania. Norristown’s Eagles advanced to the District 1 playoffs three times under Grove, including an appearance in the D-1 title game in 1998.
Coach Grove sent dozens of players on to college on football scholarships including four who went on to play in the National Football League (NFL). The most notable of those was quarterback Steve Bono (UCLA), a 1980 graduate who played for seven pro teams from 1985 to 1999.
For his efforts and accomplishments at Norristown, Coach Grove was inducted into the Pennsylvania Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010.
Following his retirement from Norristown in 2003: Coach Grove joined his longtime friend and former assistant Mark Schmidt on his staff at Neshaminy. During Coach Grove’s eight-year tenure in Langhorne, the Redskins qualified for the District 1 playoffs six times, made three district title game appearances and advanced to the AAAA state title game in 2004.
At Neshaminy, Coach Grove presided over the quarterbacks and offensive backfield. His influence helped produce four of the top six scoring offenses in program history and multiple all-state players.
As impressive as they may be, Roger Grove’s coaching records were the least of his achievements. He was a loving husband to his amazing wife Peggy – his biggest fan and the reason for much of his success. He was a dedicated and proud father of David and Michael, former standout football players at Phoenixville High School. He was a loyal friend and mentor for every man who was lucky enough to stand with him on a sideline. Most importantly, Roger Grove was a role model, confidant and inspiration for thousands of young people at both Norristown and Neshaminy.
Friday night of June 3: 2016 is going to be what Roger Grove was all about – high school football on a Friday night. Players and coaches alike vow that they will do their very best to put on a show Grove would have enjoyed.
As the coach would say, “It’s time to press the button!”
The Bucks/Montco Lions Football All-Star Classic is set for June 3 at William Tennent High School. The Bucks County team is guided by CB East head coach John Donnelly while the MontCo team is led by former Abington skipper Tim Sorber.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The gridiron battle will be broadcast live on WNPV 1440 AM radio and also via livestream on the Internet at www.wbcb1490.com.
COURTESY NESHAMINY FOOTBALL
2016 BUCKS/MONTCO LIONS FOOTBALL ALL-STAR CLASSIC
BUCKS COUNTY ROSTER
(Head Coach: John Donnelly, CB East)
#: Name, School, Position, Future Plans
3: Rob Burns, Quakertown, RB, Valley Forge Ma
7: Rob Daly, Pennsbury, WR/DB, Ithaca
8: Kyle Hickey, Council Rock South, WR/DB, Penn State
10: Denzel Hughes, Neshaminy, WR/DB, Bloomsburg
11: Tom Garlick, Quakertown, QB/DB, Ursinus
12: Mike Alley, Pennsbury, QB, West Chester
20: Greg Lichtenstein, Pennsbury, DB, Temple
21: Maurice Jackson, Harry S. Truman, RB/LB, Richmond
22: Kyle Smith, Neshaminy, RB/LB, Lock Haven
23: Justin Fant, Harry S. Truman, RB, Lackawanna
30: Daulton Hose, Pennsbury, LB, Bucks County Cc
31: Dan Mantell, Central Bucks East, LB, TCNJ
33: Franco Mannino, New Hope, RB/LB, TCNJ
35: Luke Snyder, Pennsbury, RB/LB, Kutztown
40: Thomas Hewitt, Council Rock North, DL, Holy Cross
41: Jeremiah Wells, Pennsbury, DL, Cheney
42: Jack Spingler, Neshaminy, DB, Ursinus
43: Russell Abernethy, New Hope, LB, TCNJ
50: Joe Maurer, Pennsbury, DL, Delaware Valley
51: Noah Hill, Central Bucks West, DL, Ithaca
52: Declan Mandeville, Central Bucks West, OL, Muhlenberg
53: Sal Tossona, Central Bucks West, DL, Lebanon Valley
60: John Anderson, Council Rock South, OL, Lackawanna
61: Parker Minotti, Neshaminy, OL, US Military Academy Prep
62: Dan Marks, Central Bucks South, OL, Temple
65: Jake Bovard, Quakertown, P, Air Force
71: Chris Curry, Quakertown, OL/DL, California Pa
72: Connor McAdams, Harry S. Truman, OL, Delaware Valley
74: Bailey Stone, Harry S. Truman, OL, Juniata
75: Lamine Nouck-A-Nwal, Central Bucks East, OL, Columbia
80: Billy Ritchey, Neshaminy, TE, Sacred Heart
81: Tim Kenny-Schwartz, Harry S. Truman, TE/LB/K, Ursinus
82: Stephen Iannuzzi, Central Bucks South, WR/DB/K, Penn State
83: Ethan Silverman, Central Bucks East, WR, Temple
84: Joe Vitelli, Central Bucks South, WR, Merchant Marine Academy
85: Harmon Yalartai, Neshaminy, DL, Bloomsburg
MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROSTER
(Head Coach: Tim Sorber, Abington)
#: NAME, SCHOOL, POSITION, FUTURE PLANS
3: Todd Spirt, Upper Dublin, K, Muhlenberg
7: Nafeese Nasir, Plymouth Whitemarsh, RB, Undecided
8: Nyfease West, North Penn, RB, Delaware State
10: Jermaine Webb, Abington, WR/CB, Valley Forge Military
11: Braden Mack, Cheltenham, DB /QB/WR, Temple
12: Casey Walsh, Hatboro Horsham, QB, Albright
20: Dan Boggs, Upper Dublin, WR, West Chester
21: David Bryant, Upper Dublin, DB, Saint Joseph
22: Nick Isabella, North Penn, LB, Kutztown
23: Dante Watson, North Penn, DB, East Stroudsburg
30: Justin Ostopowicz, North Penn, WR, Kutztown
31: Rodney Morgan, Upper Moreland, DB, Undecided
33: Kaleif Lee, Upper Dublin, RB, Stevens Tech
35: Dante Stewart, North Penn, LB, Kings
40: Brett Righter, Springfield, LB, of Arizona
41: Jordan Mason, Hatboro Horsham, LB, Gettysburg
43: Akeem Brown, Cheltenham, WR, California Pa.
50: Christian Leighton, Upper Moreland, OL, Muhlenberg
51: Luke Gehlhaus, Hatboro Horsham, OL, Ursinus
53: Isaiah Henrich, Upper Dublin, DL, East Stroudsburg
60: Quincy Williams, Plymouth Whitemarsh, DL, Bloomsburg
61: Ryan Norton, Upper Moreland, OL, Delaware Valley
62: Phil Pagliaro, Hatboro Horsham, OL, Montgomery County
65: Dan Lare, North Penn, OL, Kings
66: Ronnie Fry, Plymouth Whitemarsh, OL, Montgomery County
71: Dominic Procaccino, Plymouth Whitemarsh, OL, Pipe Fitters Union
72: Gary Fields, Upper Dublin, DL, Stevens Tech
76: Marco Leone, Upper Dublin, DL, Walnut Hill
80: Kingsley Nworo, Hatboro Horsham, DB, Ursinus
81: Mike Gilmore, Germantown Academy, WR, Muhlenberg
82: Korey Thompson, North Penn, DL, Delaware Valley
83: Luke Mascio, Plymouth Whitemarsh, TE, Franklin & Marshall
85: Nigel Fox, Springfield, DL, Washington State
