Moreno has a chance to be the Shore Conference’s first Super Bowl winner since Marlboro’s Dan Klecko and Freehold Borough’s Darrell Reid. A local player making this kind of impact on a global stage would be big in these parts regardless, as evidenced by the Welcome Home Knowshon and Good Luck in the Super Bowl flashing on the sign in front of the school. But with the game being played in New Jersey, where Moreno moved when he was 11 to live with his grandmother in the simple, one-story yellow house where she still resides, it adds more excitement for player, family, coach and community. “He started here in Jersey and is returning here to Jersey. It’s special,” his grandmother, Mildred McQueen, said. While he’s in New Jersey, Moreno said he might take a trip to where it all started before the game Sunday. As of Monday afternoon, he hadn’t had an opportunity to see any family or friends. That would likely come on Tuesday or Wednesday. “Of course, it would be awesome [to win in New Jersey],” he said. “My family will be here to enjoy the moment also. “I hope to get back to town, go to the house, hang out for a little bit. But it’s a busy week. There’s a lot going on. Hopefully, I’ll get to do that, but if not, I’ll still get to see (my high school) coach. He’ll come to the hotel, and my family will come here, so I’ll get to see them. It would be cool to get back.” They’ll likely talk about the memories Moreno created at Middletown South, like this one: In his first scrimmage, as a 15-year-old with chiseled biceps and tree trunks for calves, he took a screen pass 75 yards for a touchdown. Or when he scored on the crazy hook-and-ladder play to send the Eagles into the state final. The coaches looked at each other with hanging jaws. “You’re like, ‘OK?’ That’s not normal for a freshman to make kids look like a fools,” Antonucci said. “And then it just snowballed. From the time he was a freshman, he was the best player on the field in every game he played in.” When all was said and done – after three state championships – Moreno was arguably the greatest high school running back in state history. He excelled at Georgia and, after injuries slowed him early in his NFL career, he’s having his best and most complete pro season in his fifth year. And now, he returns, 40 miles north of where the football dominance began. “I have great family members,” he said. “(No one) has ever given up. My family is not a quitter. We know how to make do with anything we’re given. “Just having my family around, everyone always pushing for each other and keeping good people around me, at the end of the day, that’s what really got me to where I am.” Credit-NJ/sports
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 16:15:57 +0000
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