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Manning Brothers to Serve as Honorary Coaches for Gatorade REPLAY

"For these two teams to have the chance to settle the score after 15 years to see who wins the test of time and who will have bragging rights from here on out -- that's pretty unique," said Peyton Manning. "Few things compare to the passion of a heated high school football rivalry and Gatorade REPLAY is an amazing chance for these guys to taste that glory one more time."

Gathering for a final pep talk at the end of a three-day training session this past weekend, the Easton and Phillipsburg players learned the Manning brothers will serve as honorary coaches on game day.

The Gatorade Company also announced the tentative rosters of the 1993 Easton and Phillipsburg football teams who will compete in the national spotlight as part of the new online program, which will air on missionG.com beginning in late February.

The call for players from the 1993 game began at the launch of REPLAY Jan. 24, at the Easton-Phillipsburg high school wrestling match. Interested players completed a brief phone interview followed by a formal interview with the 1993 Easton Area and Phillipsburg coaches and REPLAY casting directors. All selected players were required to pass a physical examination and must participate in a training program coordinated by Gatorade in partnership with Velocity Sports Performance Centers. Cheerleaders and band members from the 1993 season will also participate in REPLAY, but have yet to be selected.

"You sit around and talk with your friends about how you wish you could play again," said former Easton Area Red Rover Darren Smith. "You're dreaming, and now it's a reality. You can't beat that."

Former Stateliners are also eager to settle the score in a re-match.

"If you're not really from here you don't understand what this rivalry's about," said Tim Flynn, the former Phillipsburg Stateliners football player who blocked the final kick in the 1993 game that resulted in the 7-7 tie. "To play football again is great, but to play Easton-Phillipsburg again, that's something else."

    The tentative team rosters are:

    Easton Area Red Rovers
    '93 No. Last        First   '93       '93 No.  Last      First    '93
            Name        Name  Position(s)          Name      Name  Position(s)
    70      Bass        Ryan      T-DL     18      Holmes    Lee      RB-DB
    7       Berry       Toyae     QB       20      Lockhart  Justin   RB-DB
    16      Bolmer      Michael   WR-FS    25      McCoy     Jeff     FL-DB
    55      Brignola    Ben       C-DL     83      Milburn   Brett    TE-ILB
    28      Brooks      Bryan     FL-DB    48      Moore     Devin    RB-MG
    34      Clymer      Blaze     RB-DB    99      Otranto   Kris     TE-OLB
    88      Corona      Matt      TE-OLB   66      Pound     Larry    G-DE
    84      Curto       Jabbar    WR-FS    78      Rouse     Justin   T-DL
    24      Degrammont  Loodvick  RB-DB    42      Sandt     Blane    TE-OLB
    54      Detweiler   Eric      C-DL     69      Seas      Jason    G-OLB
    53      Gadwell     Tim       G-DL     65      Shannon   Chris    G-DL
    52      Gaumer      Brian     C-DL     89      Smith     Darren   G-ILB
    4       Geiger      Kyle      QB-S     64      Snyder    Doug     G-ILB
    3       Grays       Dwayne    HB-CB    12      Wright    Jesse    QB-DB
    15      Hochman     Kendall   K
            Pokrivsak,  Jim       Athletic         Shiffert  Steve    Head
            Jr.                   Director                            Coach
            Ryder       Bill      Offensive        Schriver  Bob    Defensive
                                  Coordinator                      Coordinator


    Phillipsburg Stateliners
    '93 No. Last        First   '93       '93 No.  Last      First    '93
            Name        Name  Position(s)          Name      Name  Position(s)
    83      Cleaver     Steve    DE        64      Huff      Dan     C-TG
    80      Dalpe       Brian    SE-FS     72      James     John    DE
    33      Eisley      Paul     FB-NG     12      Kullman   Keith   QB
    15      Flynn       Tim      FL-CB     56      Lebitz    Bruce   LB-G
    44      Garcia      Jason    FB-LB     28      Lelko     Mike    FL-CB
    63      Gardner     Jim      G-DE      22      Luke      Joe     HB-FS
    76      Grassia     Mike     T-T       20      Merrick   Craig   SS-HB
    84      Grimm       Jeff     TE-DE     10      Penyak    Erik    K
    77      Gurski      Steve    OL-DL     29      Phillips  John    TE-DE
    66      Harper      Rich     C-T       18      Randolph  Tyrone  HB-DE
    86      Hinkle      David    E-E       21      Samra     Justin  CB
    24      Homa        Dan      DE        81      Slack     Tim     LB-TE
    70      Horvath     Jeremy   OT-DT     82      Snyder    Brian   E-SS
    50      Horvath     Shawn    NG        71      Wargo     Robert  G-T
    55      Hosbach     Jarrett  C-T       52      Zimmerman William LB
            Fisher      Tom      Athletic          Smith     Bruce   Head
                                 Director                            Coach
            Quinn       Jeff     Offensive         Stem      Bob     Defensive
                                 Coordinator                       Coordinator

     *Note: rosters are subject to change without notice

To physically prepare for the big game, the returning players reunited in a bonding weekend at their respective schools this past weekend. During this three-day session, athletes practiced with Easton and Phillipsburg coaches and athletic trainers, met with sports science experts representing The Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) to discuss hydration and nutrition needs, and received a supply of G2, the low-calorie sports drink from Gatorade. Moving forward, players will individually train in an eight-week regimen, followed by a pre-game practice the Friday and Saturday before the game scheduled for April 26.

"Along with the right training program, proper nutrition and hydration strategies will be key to getting all of these players both physically and mentally ready to hit the field," said Craig Horswill, senior research fellow, Gatorade Sports Science Institute. "Just like the elite athletes we work with at GSSI, the Easton and Phillipsburg players will need to train their bodies to be as prepared as possible to perform at their highest level and avoid injury."

The bonding weekend, training process, and game will appear in several episodes of Gatorade REPLAY which can only be viewed at missionG.com.

About Gatorade

The Gatorade Company is a division of PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). The Gatorade hydration portfolio includes the nation's leading sports drink, Gatorade(R) Thirst Quencher, as well as Gatorade Tiger(TM) Focus, G2(R) and propel(R). Gatorade is designed to meet the needs of all athletes, no matter where they're active. Gatorade is backed by more than 40 years of research and is scientifically formulated and athletically proven to quench thirst, replace fluids and electrolytes, and provide carbohydrate energy to enhance athletic performance. G2 is a low-calorie sports drink containing electrolytes, B vitamins and antioxidant vitamins C and E to support a healthy lifestyle. Gatorade Tiger Focus has theanine, which when combined with advanced hydration and carbohydrate, helps promote mental focus. PepsiCo's overall hydration portfolio includes leadership brands Gatorade, propel, Aquafina(R) and SoBe Life Water(R). For more information, please visit http://www.gatorade.com and http://www.pepsico.com.

SOURCE Gatorade