47th Simms All-Star Classic Set
To Follow 2nd Girls Flag Game

The 47th Phil Simms New Jersey North-South All-Star Classic on Sunday, June 8, at Kean University’s Alumni Field will bring with it a rich history, including a very closely contested series between the two squads.

And, with an earlier 2:30 p.m. kickoff this year, the Simms all-star contest will closely follow the noontime, second annual girls Flag Football All-Star Game.

“We want to continue to build the interest in Flag football, and we hope that we have a large crowd around for both games this year,” said Simms Classic Game Director George DiGrande. “Interest is building to a high level throughout the state for the girls, who are in their first full season of varsity flag football, which is great to see!”

As far as the history-laden Simms Classic is concerned, the series is as tight as ever thanks to a surge by the North the past few years.

Following a stellar defensive unit paved the way making key plays all game long, especially at the end, the North held on for an exciting 20-18 triumph over the South in the 46th annual of the Simms Classic played last June at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium.

The victory marked the first-time four-game winning streak for the North which now leads the series for the initial time ever at 21-20-2.

It took the North 45 years, the first game was played in 1979, to take the lead. The North has won the last four games by one point, five, four and two points.

The South last won in 2018 by the score of 38-16 at Kean.

This year’s North squad, which includes standout Essex County seniors including West Orange quarterback Charlie LaMorte (Bucknell bound), Caldwell linebacker Mike Mignone, Newark Central safety Jahsyn Reid (Monmouth) and Weequahic standout kicker Ibrhaim Cisse, has a first-rate coaching staff headed by last fall’s Group 3 state champion coach Brian Dunn of Old Tappan and including such other fine coaches as Brian Gallagher of Morris Knolls, Rob Gogerty of Cedar Grove, Mark Ingram of Central, Wilbur Valdez of Union City and former New York Jet defensive back Anthony Cioffi of Dayton.

As far as the burgeoning girls Flag game, there are pioneers in that sport from a coaching perspective including from successful North Jersey programs including Wayne Valley, where head coach Andrew Imperatore, who headed the first North Flag all-star team coaching staff last June, appreciates the journey in coaching which he took from being a former Ramapo football player to now being part of the vanguard in promoting the growth of New Jersey high school girls Flag football.

He still thinks back from time to time on the energy he felt as a Ramapo Raider for the late, great coach Drew Gibbs followed by his college football days at Western New England College, and then as he started his coaching career at schools including his high school alma mater.

Now he keeps busy directing the Wayne Valley Indians girls flag football team and he’s enjoying watching the rapid growth in a game that will become an official NJSIAA sanctioned varsity sport in 2026.

The growth he has seen in flag football has been amazing to witness as the number of teams in the state have grown from 20 in 2022 to more than 100 again this spring, and still increasing as the months move on.

There are expected to be at least 150 girls flag football teams by the time the NJSIAA adds the sport in two years as the current sophomores will be the first senior class to carry the torch forward.

But, before all that ensues, there is the current 2025 season is underway with conference championships and further playoffs looming in May and early June even beyond the daily action in the Super Football, Shore, Big Central, New Jersey Interscholastic Conferences along with the West Jersey Football League.

And, there will be a great opportunity to take in some of the current standouts of Jersey’s flag football scene as there will be a North-South Girls Flag Football All-Star Game at noon on Sunday, June 8, preceding the boys Simms Classic on Kean’s Alumni Field.

“It’s very exciting,” said Imperatore. “It’s great to give the girls an opportunity to play in an all-star game for all to see on the same afternoon as the boys’ Simms Classic.

“I believe that anyone taking in the girls flag football all-star game will enjoy watching the skills, athleticism and teamwork that the girls display.

“I was fortunate to both play and coach with Coach Gibbs at Ramapo and he taught me a great deal about working with kids and adults and how to be a learner, how to set up a program and then run it.

“It’s been so much fun to coach girls flag football which has some different rules than the boys tackle game, but still includes the ideas of teamwork and executing an effective game plan.”