Both quarterbacks can drop back and throw the ball.
One looks more like the classic drop back because of his size.
One looks more like the classic scrambler, also because of his size.
One way or another it doesn’t matter. Cranford’s John Oblachinski and Rahway’s Jeffery Bost are pretty good at finding manners in which to beat you.
They will be under center next Thursday for the Union County All-Stars when the 21st annual Snapple Bowl is contested for only the second time at Middlesex County site Sayreville High School. Kickoff is 7 p.m.
Oblachinski (6-2, 195) just completed a season at third base for a Cranford baseball team that came within a run of reaching Toms River for the third straight year and for the fourth time in the last five. Now he is back in football form and after the Snapple Bowl he will continue playing football in college at Georgetown.
Bost (5-10, 160) led Rahway to a 4-0 start last season and it looked like 5-0 was a strong possibility until Summit came back to win a game at Rahway by the score of 26-20.
Oblachinski and Bost, who will be coached by offensive coordinator Lou Grasso Jr. – the head coach at Union – both led their teams to 7-4 records last season that included playoff victories.
Cranford made it to the North 2, Group 3 semifinals only to fall at defending champion and eventual repeat-winner Summit 35-14.
Rahway reached the Central Jersey, Group 2 semifinals only to fall at eventual champion Rumson-Fair Haven 28-21.
Oblachinski took over at quarterback after Pittsburgh-bound Reggie Green guided Cranford to its first playoff title in 2011 and playoff wins in back-to-back seasons.
Last year Cranford won a playoff game for the third year in a row, which was for the first time in program history.
“He’s arguably the best athlete on the team,” Cranford head coach Erik Rosenmeier said of Oblachinski as the 2013 season was about to begin. “He throws it, runs well and he reads the option well. He can keep defenses off balance.”
Bost was a returning starter at quarterback a year ago for head coach Gary Mobley after leading the 2012 Indians to a 5-5 playoff campaign.
“He’s more comfortable and has a good understanding of the offense,” Mobley said of Bost as the 2013 season dawned. “His reads are cleaner.
“He’s worked on his ability to recovnize coverage in the passing game. He’s a leader by example and wants to be that guy.”
The Middlesex County All-Stars held on for a 30-28 win in last year’s Snapple Bowl, which was played at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium.
Middlesex County leads Union County 12-8 in the series and has won seven of the last eight games after Union County held a 7-5 advantage after winning the 2005 game.
Practice for the Union County All-Stars will commence Saturday at Westfield’s Gary Kehler Stadium and continue there on Sunday.
The Union All-Stars will then visit the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside on Monday, with proceeds from the game annually going to the facility.
The only other Snapple Bowl that was played at Sayreville was the second one in 1995, which Union County won 17-15 on a field goal by New Providence’s Rich Dwyer.