2024 NY vs NJ All Star Football Championship

By Clark Thompson, MetroSports Magazine, November 24, 2024

2024 Semipro Football Hall of Fame Photographer Inductee

On a cold and windswept Bronx waterfront afternoon, alongside NYC’s East River on the football field at SUNY’s New York Maritime College, two semipro football all-star teams met to determine which state, New York or New Jersey would claim this year’s title.

Above: Players wearing their respective New York and New Jersey All Star Uniforms. Photo credit Clark Thompson

The 2024 Windale Bates, Jr. New York vs New Jersey All Star Game followed the fall season of play between semipro football teams from each state with their respective league championship games held earlier in the month. With the New York Bears having defeated the New Jersey Silverbacks to claim the 2024 ‘League of All Leagues’ Championship and the New York Bandits having defeated New Jersey’s Patterson Gravediggers in the ‘Elite Football Alliance’ Championship it seemed as if New York might have an edge in this multi-league championship.

Organized an promoted by Karim McFarlane., and the Charter Public School Athletic League (CPSAL), both teams came to play hard, and the men from New Jersey came with the hope of redeeming the pride of those from the west side of the Hudson River.

Many thanks to Karim McFarlane (above) for putting the All Star game together. Photo credit, Clark Thompson

But, it was not to be. The game opened with NY winning the coin toss and electing to receive the ball.  NY scored first with a touchdown pass to Kadim Wilson by NY QB Rodriguez on the opening drive of the game followed by a successful extra point kick.  NY then scored again in the first quarter bringing the score to 13-0. NY scored again in the second quarter bringing the score to 19-0 to complete the first half.

The halftime ceremony featured the release of balloons representing individuals living with and fighting cancer and those who have passed from the disease as pictured below. The event was the centerpiece of a fundraiser to help with the medical expenses for Windale Bates, Jr., son of Windale Bates a running back for the semipro Brooklyn Seminoles.

New Jersey got on the board first in the third quarter cutting NY’s lead to 19-6. With the NJ defense holding NY scoreless through the third quarter and opening the fourth with another scoring drive, NJ brought the game to a more competitive score of 19-12 in the fourth quarter. Later however, on a fumble recovery of a NJ running play, NY took the ball all the way on the next set of downs for a 70 yard scoring drive with two minutes left in the game bringing the final game score to 25-12.