In a seesaw affair featuring competitive spirit from talented student-athletes, the varsity gridiron seniors rallied in the closing seconds for a dramatic 36-30 comeback victory over a team of other varsity sports stars for the Marisa Tufaro Cup at the Brenner Family Field.

The real winners of Friday’s flag football game, which served as the centerpiece of Saint Joseph of Metuchen High School’s latest fundraising efforts for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, will be the pediatric patients and underserved children throughout the greater Middlesex County area who are the focus of the nonprofit’s mission.

WATCH VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS, VIEW PHOTO GALLERY, WATCH FULL GAME REPLAY.

Through the high school student council’s sale of commemorative T-shirts and other collections on campus, Saint Joseph raised more than $1,000 for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation while simultaneously heightening awareness about the nonprofit.

“The student-athletes that participated in today’s charity flag football game are a true example of the fun, caring nature of the Saint Joseph student body,” Saint Joseph President John Nolan said. “Their spirited passion for supporting a worthy cause such as The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is rooted in the service that is taught on a daily basis at Saint Joseph High School. We are very proud of our Falcons for their successful fundraiser.”

The entire Saint Joseph school-community has been among The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s biggest supporters, playing an enormous role in the nonprofit’s efforts (details below).

Since its inception five years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating more than a quarter of a million dollars to assist children in need.

The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.

In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 Middlesex County high school seniors including recent Saint Joseph graduates Thomas Freda and Michael Weikum.

A star-studded lineup showcasing some of the finest student-athletes from Middlesex County and New Jersey participated in the game including Mark Gialluisi, a first-team All-State catcher who is headed to the University of Virginia on scholarship, as well as six other varsity baseball, football, and lacrosse letterwinners who have committed to a college or hold college offers (complete rosters below).

Members of the student body attended the contest, which featured student coaches with headsets and playbooks, a couple of elaborate endzone touchdown celebrations, superior athleticism, background music broadcast over the public address system during game action, and a livestream with student sportscasters Ben Chadwick and Saketh Koduri providing play-by-play and color commentary.

Quarterback Alex Grantham connected with Omari Jones on a 45-yard scoring strike with 70 seconds remaining to erase a 30-28 deficit. Following a successful two-point conversion, the varsity gridiron seniors made a defensive stand to preserve the final margin. Will Almasi sealed the deal with a sack on the game’s final play. The winning team hoisted the Marisa Rose Cup while celebrating its victory at midfield.

State Senator Patrick Diegnan, who represents New Jersey’s 18th Legislative District, which includes Metuchen and six other Middlesex County municipalities, met with the players before the game and thanked them for their efforts.

“We are all ordinary people, but we have the opportunity to do extraordinary things” Diegnan told the group, referencing the quintessence of a speech he recently heard a pastor make at a Veterans Day ceremony. “When he’s saying extraordinary things, we’re not talking about changing the world. We’re talking about helping your neighbor, holding the door for somebody, being tolerant with people. What you guys are doing here is extraordinary. Don’t take that for granted. You are celebrating Marisa’s memory and carrying on what we all should be doing. All I can say is thank you and keep up the good work.”

Diegnan serves on the board of trustees for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which Greg (Saint Joseph Class of ’85) and Cyndi Tufaro started in loving memory of their daughter as a way of giving back to the community and paying forward the kindness of others.

“The young men at Saint Joseph High School are always willing to answer the call to service,” Nolan said. “Our students are rooted in service and love supporting one of their own.  We are extremely proud of their efforts raising money for a foundation that means so much to our school – The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.”

Marisa Rose Tufaro, who would have graduated last year from Edison High School, survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder) in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

Saint Joseph Partners in Mission Jess Carbone and Chris Harring collaborated with the high school’s student council, athletics department, and administration to organize the game and accompanying fundraiser. Joe DaRold (Saint Joseph Class of ’71) volunteered his time and expertise to provide video highlights.

Earlier this year, the high school hosted the Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s Tournament of Roses Parade. The charity walk and food drive was held three days before the inaugural Bellamy and Sons Paving Marisa Rose Bowl. The charity all-star football game featured recently graduated high school seniors including former Falcons Anthony Roige and Christian Solino, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.

“This really validates what everyone already knows about the tremendous reputation Saint Joe’s has and what the faculty and staff encourage their boys to do,” Diegnan said of the school’s commitment to host the Tournament of Roses Parade. “Saint Joe’s is exemplary in rallying around causes and helping others.”

Sports programs from the high school, including its basketball, bowling, ice hockey, swimming, football, golf, and baseball teams, have joined the Saint Joseph Campus Ministry and student council to make significant contributions to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

  • Baseball players from Saint Joseph joined their peers across the conference in wearing commemorative purple wristbands bearing Marisa’s initials in the months after her passing.
  • Basketball and baseball players from the school have competed in charity all-star games benefiting the foundation.
  • The bowling team twice participated in the Marisa Tufaro Classic and the swimming team took part in an annual swim-a-thon, with money raised from both events benefiting the nonprofit.
  • The football program honored the memory of Marisa and conducted a fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation during home games in consecutive seasons. In addition to donating the gate from those contests, Saint Joseph also donated all proceeds from the sale of specially designed commemorative T-shirts.
  • Student-athletes from the school participated in a 2019 intramural flag football championship game that raised money for the foundation.
  • The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was the beneficiary of the ice hockey team’s latest annual fundraising game, which generated donations for the nonprofit.
  • Members of the golf team participated as sponsored guests of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, donating their time and skill in the Tee Off Against Hunger, an event that served as a fundraiser for a local food pantry.
  • About two dozen Saint Joseph students, through the high school’s campus ministry, sacrificed their activity time during a Community Day to fill more than a hundred weekend snack bags for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to distribute to families of pediatric patients at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick.
  • Members of the football program participated in a similar community service project.

Frank Noppenberger, executive director of the Greater Middlesex Conference, of which the Falcons are a member, commended the Saint Joseph administration and entire school-community for its continued support of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

“It’s rewarding to see schools paying it forward,” said Noppenberger, who also serves on the foundation’s board of trustees.

“The unique thing about athletics and schools is they always take care of their own, and Saint Joseph in this case is once again helping out Greg and The Marisa Tufaro Foundation in yet another unforgettable way.”

Andre Gordon, Rodney Fanning, Jojo Huntley, Gio Alejandro, Jayden Hunter and Chris Gentile joined Grantham, Jones and Almasi on the senior gridiron team.

Christian Cuccia, Vin Genna, Jimmy Mulvaney, Rob Carvelli, Dan Bachenski, and Robby Kenyon joined Gialluisi on the varsity sports stars team.

Tim Sullivan, Caden Miller and Tyler DelVecchio officiated the contest.