Toms River's "Civil War"

They started playing in the early 70’s and have done so each year since.
Who controls the series has gone back and forth and while the old school still leads the series the newer kids on the block have dominated in recent years. It’s this area’s version of Army versus Navy in which records don’t mean anything and bragging rights mean everything.

Toms River South visits Toms River North tonight in the 37th version of what has always been called “The Civil War” and the one thing you can count on is the game will be played before the biggest football crowd of the season not only in Toms River but maybe the entire shore. As usual the storyline centers on the fact that many of the opposing players know one another, some even played together on teams when they were younger. Parents are often friends, separated only by the fact that some will wear blue and gold tonight and others will be dressed in maroon and white.

Since schools are closed today pep rallies were held during the week and students and players will not doubt be ready to rock and roll tonight for a prime time matchup of teams who are as opposite as night and day. North has built a football power under coach Chip LaBarca, who is 24-5 since taking over the helm of the Mariners before the 2006 season. They are big, strong, physical and at times dominating and have already clinched their second straight division title and are working on a possible second straight state sectional crown.

The Indians have been no match the last couple of years against North but believe the time has come to win one of these games. Bill Hill is in his first season as a head coach and has seen just about every game go down to the final moments which is exciting and gut-wrenching at the same time. South cannot match up physically with the Mariners but has big-play weapons all over the field so this truly is a game of two very different styles.

Besides bragging rights there are a couple of other things on the line. A North win earns them a high seed in the South Jersey Group 4 playoffs which start next week and that could mean one or even two home games. An upset by the Indians opens the door for a possible spot in the state playoffs something that was hard to imagine a few weeks ago. Tonight’s game will be broadcast live on the Shore Sports Network, including 1160 WOBM AM.