Holmdel Hornets to Act as Super Bowl Stand Ins

The Holmdel High School football team’s season may have ended in the fall, but on Friday the squad expects to take to the field again, this time at MetLife stadium

The team was selected by Fox Sports to act as stand-ins for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, and on Friday the varsity players will pretend to be the pros while Fox television crews set their cameras in anticipation of the Super Bowl.

 “Every time there’s a Super Bowl, whatever stadium it is, the TV station doing the game has to do a rehearsal to make sure the cameras are in the right position,” said Principal  William Loughran. “Fox sports contacted me about 10 months to see if we’d be interested, if we want to be that team to run certain things, do certain plays, so they can run their camera.”

The players will be on the field for about an hour, taking turns running offensive and defensive plays the Broncos and Ravens may run. Passing plays, running plays, goal line stands and more will be covered, said Principal Loughran.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to be on that field,” he said.

Making the experience more memorable is that members of the Denver Broncos have New Jersey roots, including Knowson Moreno, who grew up in the Belford section of Middletown and played for Middletown High South as part of the Shore Conference. Moreno led his team to three Group III championships, scoring 28 touchdowns as a senior. He was also a track star and still holds the school record for the 100 meter dash.

Other New Jersey players include defensive end Shaun Phillips of Willingboro, safety Mike Adams of Paterson, and Robert Ayers, who went to high school in South Carolina but was born in Jersey City.

The opportunity to be a part of the Super Bowl came about after a parent who works for Fox Sports approached the district about the opportunity.

“We met with them (Thursday) to go over everything We’re  extremely excited. It’s a great opportunity, a once in a lifetime opportunity for a high school in New Jersey. It’s pretty special.”