Brick’s Anthony Starego writes the perfect script to end his high school career with a game winning field goal in an All-Star game on his home field.
BRICK – He’s already been a national sensation with a game winning field goal and the first autistic athlete to compete in a high school football state championship game. Brick’s Anthony Starego added one more chapter to his Hollywood story by kicking a 20 yard game winning field goal in the 4th quarter of Ocean’s 17-14 win over Monmouth in the US Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic. Starego was named the Ocean County Offensive MVP in the game that featured top graduated seniors from two Jersey Shore counties. His father realizes that this is a story that goes well beyond football. “When he came to me and said I want to play football – for a kid with autism, who’s tackle sensitive who doesn’t want to be touched, but we thought, let him go,” Raymond Starego, told Shore Sports Zone. “I’m glad that he’s an inspiration, but he’s going to the first of many kids who are going to do this as the years go by.” What shouldn’t be lost is the way the entire Brick Township football team embraced Anthony in its family. Many of the Dragons were on the sideline to celebrate Anthony’s last game and the Ocean County All-Stars erupted in cheer when he was named offensive MVP. Starego is no stranger to the spotlight. His game winning field goal in 2012 garnered national attention from the likes of ESPN and the Huffington Post among others and the Starego family had to battle the NJSIAA to win a fifth year of eligibility in 2013. After the Hollywood ending on his home field in his final game, it’s only fitting that Anthony and his parents are on their way to Hollywood to accept an award this weekend from the HollyRod Foundation.