Keyport community comes together in support of Logan Blanks
KEYPORT - How close knit the Keyport community has been in clear evidence in the last week after Keyport High School football player Logan Blanks suffered what the school said was a "severe neck and spinal injury" in a game.
"Everybody takes care of each other here,'' Keyport Superintendent of Schools Lisa Savoia said Saturday before Keyport's come-from-behind 13-6 win over rival Keansburg. "I think we are the best community on the Bayshore."
That spirit was everywhere at Keyport's Ciccotelli Field. T-shirts that said ''#4Logan'' (4 is Blanks' uniform number) were being sold at the entrance to the field. Saboia was helping to sell those shirts.
The Keyport coaching staff wore those shirts in Blanks' honor and the Keyport players carried a #4Logan banner on to the field.
"Whatever needs to be done for Logan and his family, we're going to do,'' Savoia said.
A GoFundMe campaign titled #4Logan has been launched to help the Blanks family with medical costs associated with Logan's recovery. That campaign has raised almost $26,000 as of Saturday afternoon.
Blanks, a senior linebacker, underwent "extensive multl-hour surgeries ''at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune and is currently on the path to a full recovery,'' Keyport athletics reported.
A teammate that is always there for his friends
Keyport senior running back Daijon Cross, who scored the team's first touchdown with 10:49 remaining in the fourth quarter -- which with Max Judson's extra point gave Keyport (5-2) a 7-6 lead -- said Blanks is the best teammate and friend anybody can have.
"Logan's the type of teammate who will do anything for anybody,'' Cross said. "He'll do anything to help the teammate win. He's not a selfish person. The same way he is on the field, he is outside the field. ''
Keyport coach Jason Glezman said Blanks is not one who makes anything about him.
"Logan is a quiet kid. He's a very unassuming kid,'' Glezman said. "When he is in a big group, he is very much taking everything in him. Although he is a quiet kid, when he puts that helmet on, he plays with a tenacity and ferociousness. When he puts that helmet on, he's got a competitiveness to him.
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"Then, when he's off the field, you have this smart, respectful, reserved young man. He is such a great representation of what we want in players here, and he does it all the right way.''
A family that is the heart of the community
Even with Logan Blanks not in attendance, the Blanks' family was still very much in evidence Saturday.
His younger brother - Roman - is the Red Raiders' starting quarterback and is a linebacker.
Blanks' father Don is a volunteer assistant coach to Glezman and was at the game Saturday.
"The Blanks family is like a pillar of the Keyport community,'' Glezman said. "Coach Donnie has his gym down by the waterfront, and he opens up his gym to the entire community. The family, themselves, they're a backbone of this community. They are such an important part of this community and what we're trying to do with these young men.''
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Glezman and Cross both were emotional about both Roman Blanks playing and coaching respectively Saturday.
"Roman was here every day (at practice during the week),'' Glezman said. "Coach Don came here today and delivered a message before the game. You can see the way kids connect to him and to the whole family. We didn't play our best football game today, but they didn't quit and they fought and fought with purpose.''
"Roman had a different type of fight to him this week playing for his brother. He came out here and did what he had to do and he helped us get the W (win),'' Cross said.
A message of love for Logan
Cross had a simple message for Blanks before he left the field.
"Logan, we've got your back and we're going to keep pushing for you every day,'' Cross said. "Everything is for you.''
"We said all week, everything we do, we do for Logan.'' Glezman said. "When we were down and things weren't going our way, they kept that mentality.
"He doesn't want the attention. He just wants his teammates to go out and win. But, we're wearing these T-shirts and we're going to be playing for him and we're going to keep him in our hearts and minds all season.''
Glezman said the Bayshore Bell Trophy, which goes annually to the winner of the Keyport-Keansburg game, was given to Don Blank and was going to be with Logan Blanks for a "couple of days''. The game ball was also given to Don Blanks and was going to be given to Logan Blanks.
Keyport 13, Keansburg 6
Keansburg 0 3 3 0 - 6
Keyport 0 0 0 13 - 13
Second Quarter
Keans: Joe Sautner 32 Field Goal.
Third Quarter
Keans: Sautber 20 Field Goal.
Fourth Quarter
Key: Daijon Cross 10 run (Max Judson kick).
Key: Mike Ford 50 interception return (kick failed).
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore Conference football: Keyport shows love for Logan Blanks
