All Shore Media 11-7-11 Volume III Issue-20 by Shore Sports Network Journal

November 7, 2011 Volume-III - Issue-20 N at io na l G u ard T e a m of th e Week Pa g e 3 Rumson Wins Battle of Unbeatens Pa g e 4 -5 Brick Memorial's Zach Santos Pa g e 6 Football State Playoff Preview Pa g e 8 -9 CBA Soccer Wins SCT Title Pa g e 1 1 L ac r os s e Trai n i n g T i ps Pa g e 1 2 Melvin's Review Pa g e 1 5

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November 7, 2011 I Volume-III I Issue-20

that provides exciting and innovative coverage to high school athletics in the Shore Conference in order to highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and fans who support Shore Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore Media is your main source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference.

All Shore Media Web Site Features Log on to www.allshoremedia.com regularly to get video highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. Catch up on the action you might have missed and watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. If you can’t make it to the game, we’ll bring the game to you, and if you were at the game and want to relive the excitement, www.allshoremedia.com is all you need to get inside the action.

All Shore Media Expanding into North Jersey All Shore Media is proud to announce that it has partnered with a North Jersey group to expand its type of coverage into Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, this fall. The All Sports Media Northern Review, a newspaper in the mold of the All Shore Media bi-weekly paper, will make its debut in September. The free,

Steven Meyer director/CEo/ Marketing smeyer@allshoremedia.com 732-233-4460

advertiser-supported paper will cover scholastic sports at all of the schools in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, which consists of schools from Morris County and a handful of teams in Sussex and Warren counties. “We're hoping it will be as big a success as the All Shore Media Shore Conference program, and the early returns are promising,’’ said Paul Mencher, who will be the lead writer and editor of the new paper. “People seem excited about it, and advertisers are excited about it. It’s something different than what exists up here.

“There’s a lot of interest in high school sports in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, and I think that people will be interested in having a new resource.’’

Scott Stump director/ Managing Editor stump@allshoremedia.com

Senior Content Providers Matt Manley // M m a n l e y 2 1 @ g m a i l . c o m

A l l S h o r e M e d i a is published by: Fin ish Line Media, LLC 26 Oxford Drive Wayside NJ, 07712 Copyright 2011 All Shore Media All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of All Shore Media is prohibited

The partnership also broadens the scope of All Shore Media’s coverage to include a presence in North Jersey.

“We're excited about expanding our niche in the market and the way we cover sports,’’ said All Shore Media Director/CEO Steve Meyer. “We're excited to start here with the objective that we want to expand to other parts of the state as well. This is the first step in our expansion.’’

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New For This Season

In conjunction with All Shore Media, The National Guard will honor one team a week that showed the character, perseverance and hard work emblematic of The National Guard during its performance that weekend. A plaque will be presented to that team during practice that week in honor of a great showing.

WEEk-1

WEEk-2

WEEk-3

WEEk-4

WEEk-5

WEEk-6

Ocean Township

Red Bank Catholic

Jackson Memorial Southern Regional

Central Regional

Pt Pleasant Beach

WEEk-7 Barnegat

WEEk-8 The National Guard Team of the Week for Week Eight is Manalapan, which picked up a thrilling 23-21 comeback victory over Brick Memorial in a nondivisional game with important Central Jersey Group IV implications.

After Brick Memorial scored with 1:46 left in the game to take a one-point lead, Manalapan (6-1) drove down and won the game on a 37-yard field goal by freshman kicker Mike Caggiano with two seconds remaining. It was Manalapan's sixth straight victory and helped keep the Braves in the hunt for the No. 2 seed and potentially two home games in the state playoffs. Junior quarterback Mike Isabella was 19-for-22 for 177 yards and a touchdown passing, and junior wide receiver Anthony Firkser had 12 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in the win. Senior tailback John Sieczkowski added 112 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Defensively, Vito Gadaleta had an interception that helped set up a scoring drive.

WEEk-9 The National Guard Team of the Week for Week Nine is RumsonFair Haven, which won a match-up of undefeated teams when it knocked off Asbury Park, 28-6, in a Shore Conference nondivisional game.

The Bulldogs (8-0) earned the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II bracket, where they are the defending champions, thanks to the win over the Blue Bishops. The Rumson defense, led by senior defensive tackle Jack Eisenstadt’s four tackles for a loss, held the an Asbury Park offense averaging 35 points per game to 76 total yards and two first downs in the win. In the second half, the Bulldogs limited the Blue Bishops to 7 total yards and zero first downs, and they held Asbury Park to minus-five yards rushing in the game. Offensively, junior quarterback Danny Roberto led the way with 202 yards passing and two touchdowns. His main target was wide receiver Blake Potter, who had 157 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight catches. Roberto also threw a touchdown pass to senior Nico Giaimo, and Potter’s touchdown catch came on a double pass in which Roberto threw it to Kevin O’Connor behind the line of scrimmage, who then tossed a 22-yard scoring pass to Potter. Senior tight end Jake Clapp added a 15-yard touchdown catch from Roberto, and senior fullback Jack Miles had a 3-yard touchdown run in the win. It marked Rumson’s fourth win over Asbury Park in their last five meetings.

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dawg day Afternoon:

Rumson Football Wins Battle of Undefeated Teams By Scott Stump â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Managing Editor

Th e p la yo ff s ma y off icially s tar t f or d ef en d in g Cen tr al Jer s ey G r ou p I I ch amp io n Ru ms on - Fair Haven th is week , b u t th e Bu lld ogs ' path to wh at th ey h o p e en ds in a s econ d s tr aig h t s ta te title b eg a n o n S atu r day ag ain s t f ello w u n bea ten As b u r y Par k . "For two weeks, the coaches and the seniors have been saying that this is a playoff game for us,'' said senior defensive tackle Jack Eisenstadt. "We were out to prove something. We want to be the best team to ever come through our program.'' The Bulldogs, ranked No. 3 in the All Shore Media Top 10, certainly added their argument by dismantling No. 9 Asbury Park, 28-6, at Asbury Park Stadium in a

nondivisional game. The defense held an offense averaging 35 points per game to 76 total yards and two first downs, including 7 total yards and zero first downs in the second half for the Class B Central champions. "Asbury Park is a great team with a lot of good players, so it's a great accomplishment to hold a team like that to six points,'' said Eisenstadt, who had three sacks in the win. The victory put Rumson-Fair Haven (8-0) in position to grab the No. 1 seed in CJ II, which unofficially looks like it will come down to a coin flip at NJSIAA headquarters in Robbinsville on Monday with fellow unbeaten Manasquan since the two teams are tied in power points and on criteria (strength of schedule, winning percentage). Asbury Park (7-1) still looks to be the No. 1 seed in Central Jersey Group I despite the loss, as it seeks its fourth

QB Danny Roberto Continued on next page

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A SM / 5 behind the line of scrimmage to wideout Kevin O'Connor, a

CJ I title in the last five years. Offensively, junior quarterback Danny Roberto threw for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and wideout Blake Potter had 157 yards receiving and a touchdown on eight catches against a defense that had given up a Shore Conferencelow 35 points total entering the game. After four straight incompletions to start the game, Roberto settled into a groove as he acclimated to Asbury Park's speed, which he said was a little bit in his head at first. Roberto's passing was crucial considering Rumson was held to 32 yards rushing in the game. "They put like 10 guys in the box, and they were jamming us and coming hard off the end, so we knew we had to execute on our passes because that was going to be the only way we were going to win the game,'' Roberto said. "I realized it's a high school football game, and I just need to do my thing and relax. I got (worries about Asbury Park's speed) out of my head, and I found my rhythm with Blake. He bails me out. I wouldn't be anything without that guy.''

converted quarterback, and O'Connor lofted a 22-yard touchdown pass to Potter for a 14-0 lead. That marked the second time Rumson has done that

conversion attempt with 4:22 left in the half. Rumson nearly had a chance to make it 21-6 right before halftime when Roberto hit Potter for a 31-yard gain to the 2-yard line on 3rd-and-23 with six seconds left in the second quarter. However, his pass attempt on the last play of the half was deflected and landed in the hands of offensive lineman Andrew Brunetto, who was tackled at the one-yard line as time expired. All that did was temporarily halt Rumson's domination, as the Bulldogs owned the second half. The defense forced two three-and-outs to start the third quarter before the offense put together a seven-play, 38yard drive that ended on a 3-yard touchdown run by senior fullback Jack Miles for a 21-6 lead with 3:02 left in the period. It was set up by a 20-yard catch by Potter on third-and-12 in which Potter wrestled the ball away from a defender. "I knew we needed a big play,'' Potter said.

Senior defensive back Mike Morralle then recovered an onside kick following Miles's touchdown, keeping the ball out of Asbury Park's WR Blake Potter hands and putting Rumson in business at the Blue Bishops' 47-yard line. The Bulldogs scored seven plays later when Roberto found a wide-open Nico Giaimo for a 22-yard touchdown pass on third-and-14 for a 28-6 lead on the first play of the first quarter to all but ice the game. RB Connor Riley

"Danny and I always feel like we can do something against anyone, pass-wise,'' Potter said. "It really opened up for us when they started stopping the run and playing us man, and we took advantage of that.'' Defensively, Eisenstadt set the tone from the outset when he stuffed senior Amir Conover for no gain on Asbury Park's first play from scrimmage, which was indicative of a day in which the Blue Bishops finished with minus-five yards rushing for the game. After each team went three-and-out to start, Rumson finally broke through when it took over on Asbury Park's 16-yard line following a short punt out of the end zone by the Blue Bishops. Two plays later, Roberto found tight end Jake Clapp for a 15-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead with 4:24 left in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the Bulldogs drove 80 yards in 11 plays, scoring on a double pass when Roberto threw

against Asbury Park in the last three years, as wideout Ian Moore threw one to fellow wide receiver Jack Wise in a 26-18 win in 2009. "I think we've always had it in the back of our playbook, and we decided to break it out this week,'' Potter said. Asbury Park answered with its only drive of the game when senior Armond Conover took a swing pass out of the backfield and ran for a 54-yard gain, followed three plays later by a 20-yard catch by senior wideout Tajh Hammary on third down that set up firstand-goal. Armond Conover then took a direct snap and ran in a 5-yard touchdown that cut the lead to 14-6 after Conover was stuffed on the two-point

Rumson can now focus on making a run at its second straight state title after winning the school's first sectional championship in history last year. The Bulldogs are trying to become the first 12-0 team in Rumson history. "We don't think about it too much,'' Potter said. "We don't really think about the long run. We just want to take every game one at a time and win.''

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Scott Stump

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One-Year Wonder: Brick Memorial’s Zach Santos By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie acknowledges that senior cornerback Zach Santos is an excellent athlete with good instincts in the secondary. Still, would Currie have thought that Santos would be second in the Shore Conference after Week Nine with six interceptions, including three that he has returned for touchdowns? “No, if you had told me in the spring time that Zach would have six interceptions at this point of the season, I hate to say I would have laughed at you,’’ Currie said. “But I would have laughed at you.’’ That’s not a knock on Santos, that’s just a reaction to the eye-opening impact that Santos has made in his one and only season with the playoff-bound Mustangs. Up until this year, Santos had never played organized football, instead focusing on playing baseball year round. The Mustangs’ centerfielder now snatches up opposing passes like flyballs and has made some of the biggest plays of Brick Memorial’s season on defense. He is second only behind Manchester senior safety Joe Johnson, who has seven interceptions, for the most in the Shore Conference. “I would have never thought that it would be like this,’’ Santos said. “I just wanted a break from playing baseball all year, so I tried football. Now I love it as much as baseball.’’ During the offseason, Santos got the hard sell from his three good friends, senior wide receiver/defensive back Jack Phair, senior lineman Dan Cuccinello, and senior running back/cornerback Justin Mueller. They told him about the long walk to the Brick Memorial field as the butterflies build in pregame, the roaring of the crowd, and the adrenaline of the game. “My friends have been nagging me since sophomore year to play,’’ Santos said. “I figured it was my senior year, so why not give it a shot?’’ Before he could officially throw the pads on, he had to convince an important skeptic. “My dad didn’t want me playing at all,’’ Santos said. “I had to convince him. My dad’s a big baseball guy, but he loves football now. He’s always at every game, and he supports it 100 percent.’’ Currie and his staff immediately pegged Santos for a defensive back because of his athleticism and because learning Brick Memorial’s flexbone option offense can take more time than Santos really had to get it down. Santos also already had a good hip turn for a cornerback because of his experience as a centerfielder. In addition, it helped that the Mustangs graduated four of five starters in their secondary, which employs two

strong safety/linebacker hybrid positions, from last year’s Central Jersey Group IV finalists. Spots were available, and Santos was part of the group auditioning for them. “We didn't have to simplify anything, specifically at corner, because his job is to just make sure nobody beats him deep,’’ Currie said. “All the skills and techniques are a lot to learn, but the reads are fairly straightforward, which is perfect for a kid like Zach. He has a nose for the football, and he understands where to be instinctively. You add a little technique, a little preparation and weight training, and that really can go far.’’ Secondary coach Ed Sarluca helped Santos get down the basics, and he was one of nine players competing for three spots in the offseason. He won the job as one of the starting cornerbacks along with senior Anthony Fontana and has flourished. It also helped that the position was up for grabs considering the potential bitterness that might have bloomed if a player who had been in the program for four years had his position taken by a kid who decided to play as a senior. “There was nothing like that,’’ Currie said. “Zach just performed the best at his position and won the job. He’s made the most of his opportunity.’’ “I was working my butt off,’’ Santos said. “I just wanted to get on the field. I had no clue I was going to have this kind of year. I just wanted to start and excel at my position.’’ That still doesn’t mean his heart wasn’t beating out of his chest in the season opener against cross-town rival Brick when he realized he had gone from watching the game in the stands a year earlier to right in the middle of a pressurized town rivalry. “I was really nervous,’’ he said. “I didn't know what to think. We’re playing for a town championship, it’s a big rivalry, all the fans are chanting, and all I could think was that I didn’t want to get beat. I didn’t want to be the person they pick on to lose the game for my team.’’ Santos was part of a defensive effort that kept the Green Dragons under wraps in a 17-10 victory for the Mustangs. A week later, Brick Memorial suffered what Santos considers its most gut-wrenching loss when Jackson Memorial beat the Mustangs 19-14 on a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jimmy Celidonio to senior Johntel Thomas with just 50.9 seconds left in the game. “That’s when the secondary realized that we had to pick it up because we hated losing that last-second game because of a touchdown pass,’’ Santos said. A week later, the Mustangs held Toms River East to a field goal in a 7-3 win, and then suffered another

heartbreaking loss with a 21-20 defeat at the hands of eventual Class A South champion Southern. Santos helped ease the sting of that defeat with two interception returns for touchdowns in a 42-0 wipeout of Toms River South, and then made a huge play in what turned out to be another narrow defeat. Santos had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown that led to a game-tying, two-point conversion in the fourth quarter of what ended as a 1714 overtime loss to Middletown South. His crucial pick showed how much of the game he has absorbed in a short time. Eagles receiver Matt LaMattina had been beating him with 3- and 5-yard hitch routes all game, and when LaMattina lined up in a trips formation, he correctly figured that LaMattina was going to now try to break inside for a slant pattern. He jumped the route, took it to the house and helped at least get Brick Memorial to overtime. “He's made some huge plays in huge spots, and to be honest, he didn't even realize how big of a spot it was most of the time,’’ Currie said. “When given the opportunity to make a big play, he makes it.’’ In Week Seven, his sixth interception of the season finally was paired with a big win. He snagged a pass from Toms River North’s Scott Buxbaum inside the final five minutes to help preserve a crucial, 27-21 victory that ultimately was huge in Brick Memorial qualifying for the playoffs in Central Jersey Group IV, where it has reached three straight finals. The seventhseeded Mustangs will now have a rematch with secondseeded Manalapan, which beat them 23-21 on a last-second field goal during the regular season. Santos has had experience covering some dangerous wideouts this season like LaMattina, Southern’s Alec Morris and Mike Gesicki, Toms River North’s Kyle Carrington, Manalapan’s Anthony Firkser and Howell’s Brandon Yaegel. “I don’t let the names faze me,’’ Santos said. “It’s the whole defense as a unit that is the reason I have been able to get interceptions, so I just do my role. I can’t strategize for players like Firkser. He’s 6-4 and over 200 pounds, and I’m just a 5-8, 170-pounder, but this team has the heart and desire to get to the playoffs, which is all that matters. We don’t care who we face, as long as we get in.’’ For the first time in years, Santos has not even picked up a bat and a ball since August, and now he says he would welcome to the opportunity to play either baseball or football in college. His loose approach to just having fun and working hard at football is emblematic of a team that always seems to back itself into a corner before fighting its way out to wind up at Rutgers Stadium in the Central Jersey Group IV final. When

Zach Santos everyone around them proclaims the sky is falling as their state playoff hopes are in jeopardy, the Mustangs just go play because they love being out there, and it usually results in their best football. “Zach is all about just getting out there, giving it all he’s got and whatever happens, happens,’’ Currie said. “That’s the way a lot of our guys play football. Our guys play loose, and Zack is the epitome of that. He’s been an amazing pickup for us.’’ He also is apparently only two interceptions away from tying the single-season school record. A player who is in the program for only one year might find his name at the top of the record book for a while if he continues at this pace. “Everybody’s been nagging me, saying ,’Are you going to get the record?’’’ he said. “I just play the game.’’ Of course, Santos’s success makes you wonder what kind of career he might have had if he had come out for the team earlier in high school. “Honestly, I think this was perfect timing,’’ Currie said. “Maybe if he played four years, he would be burned out right now. Instead, he’s having a blast, and we’re more than happy to have him here.’’

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www.allshoremedia.com and Shore are all threats to win the whole thing, with Asbury getting the nod because it already beat those two other teams. Point Beach should have a pretty solid challenge with New Egypt on the road but is more than capable of winning that game to set up a rematch with Asbury Park, which beat the Garnet Gulls 24-8, in the semifinals. Point Beach has only won one playoff game in its program history, and that was in 1982, so the Garnet Gulls hope to add a chapter to their history this season.

By Scott Stump â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Managing Editor

Central Jersey Group IV (8) Hillsborough at (1) South Brunswick (5) Sayreville at (4) Jackson Memorial (6) North Brunswick at (3) West Windsor South (7) Brick Memorial at (2) Manalapan My Take: The winner of the Brick Memorial-Manalapan game is in a good spot. It either gets an underdog North Brunswick team or a Mercer County squad, West Windsor South, that is 615 all time in the playoffs and has never won a state title. The first meeting between the Mustangs and the Braves was a classic two weeks ago, with Manalapan freshman kicker Mike Caggiano booting a 37yard field goal in the final seconds for a 23-21 win. That's a tough draw for Manalapan in the sense that it's not easy to beat the same team Jackson Memorial's Jimmy Celidonio twice in the span of three weeks, and anyone following recent Shore Conference history knows Brick Memorial has been scary as a low seed playing on the road in the playoffs. The Mustangs have made three straight CJ IV finals, and in 2009 they did it as a No. 6 seed, and they won it all in 2008 as a No. 5 seed. Meanwhile, Jackson Memorial got the bracket of death on the other side. The Jaguars have to deal with defending CJ IV champion Sayreville and Rutgersbound dynamo Delon Stephenson in the first round, and if they survive that, it means a date with undefeated South Brunswick, which is a top 10 team in the state. South Brunswick has already beaten Piscataway and Sayreville, so that is a major hurdle if Jackson can get by Sayreville first. One thing going for Jackson is that South Brunswick has never been in this spot before. It has only won one playoff game in its program history and has only played in four postseason games, never even reaching a sectional final. That means this is all uncharted territory for the Vikings, who have never had the pressure of being the Rumson's Connor Riley

heavy favorite or playing in a championship game, for whatever that's worth. I also think Jackson's defense is tough enough to let it hang around in any game, so you can't count the Jaguars out.

Central Jersey Group III (8) Midd. South at (1) Northern Burlington (5) Neptune at (4) Allentown (6) Woodbridge at (3) Burlington Township (7) Steinert at (2) Wall My Take: A correction in the math gave Middletown South the No. 8 seed instead of 7, so the Eagles will travel to top-seeded Northern Burlington. The Eagles may be the first No. 8 seed to be unanimously picked to win across the board, and then it could be a showdown with Neptune, whom Middletown South has not lost to in 13 years, in the semifinals. Middletown South has made a sectional final in nine of the last 10 Midd. South's Tim McArdle seasons. The road got a little easier for Wall, which avoids seeing Middletown South or Neptune until the championship game. The Crimson Knights should roll past Steinert in the first round and then deal with a tough Woodbridge team. Woodbridge is the sleeper in this bracket, which has been ruled by Shore Conference teams, which have won 15 of the 21 CJ III titles since 1990. It's almost a shame that the Middletown South-Neptune game would have to be a semifinal, but that's the way it goes. Neptune should roll past Allentown, which is playing its first state playoff game in school history, in the first round. The last time Neptune won a state title was in 1998, when it routed Middletown South 58-13 to win this bracket. That also happens to be the last time that Neptune beat the Eagles.

Central Jersey Group II (8) Rahway at (1) Rumson-FH (5) Delaware Valley at (4) A.L. Johnson (6) Matawan at (3) Carteret (7) Red Bank at (2) Manasquan My (updated) Take: Rumson won a coin flip on Monday morning at NJSIAA

headquarters in Robbinsville to determine the No. 1 seed between Manasquan and Rumson because the teams tied in power points and on criteria (strength of schedule, winning percentage, etc.). That's huge for Rumson because it helps the Bulldogs avoid a second-round match-up with rival Matawan or undefeated Carteret and instead gives them a more winnable game against the A.L. Johnson-Delaware Valley winner. However, Rahway could be a handful in the first round because it has great team speed and explosive offensive players. Matawan, which has reached the last two CJ II finals, lurks as a threat at No. 6. Undefeated Carteret will have its hands full with the Huskies, and I would not be surprised at all to see Matawan win that game. Red Bank is in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Rumson already thrashed the Bucs, 30-0, in the regular season, so I think it worked out somewhat for them that they drew Manasquan thanks to the coin flip. Manasquan is at least a more winnable game, although the Warriors have been unbeatable at home in the last three years. Rumson is the favorite to repeat as champion, plain and simple. The Bulldogs' undefeated record was compiled against tougher competition than Manasquan's undefeated slate. However, Manasquan has won 11 sectional titles, more than any program in Shore Conference history, so even though the Warriors have looked shaky against inferior competition, counting them out would be foolish. The sleeper is Matawan, which has had a chaotic season but has a defense that can allow it to pull upsets. The Huskies would love nothing more than to return the favor to Rumson after being stunned in the finals by the Bulldogs last year after beating them during the regular season.

Central Jersey Group I (8) Middlesex at (1) Asbury Park (5) Point Beach at (4) New Egypt (6) Shore at (3) Florence (7) Metuchen at (2) Dunellen My Take: Asbury Park may not have looked its best against Rumson on Saturday, but it is still the favorite in this bracket. This essentially looks like a B Central minitournament with maybe Dunellen thrown in. Asbury Park, Point Beach Asbury Park's Armond Conover

The dangerous team is Shore. The defending CJ I champion Blue Devils have won four straight and their offense is starting to come alive. They only lost 14-13 to Asbury Park and had the Blue Bishops dead to rights until allowing a 70-yard touchdown pass with four minutes left in the game, so they know they can play with the Blue Bishops. Dunellen, the team that Shore beat in last year's final, is an explosive offensive team but is beatable. Shore could certainly knock off the unbeaten Destroyers and possibly have a rematch with Asbury Park. The craziest scenario would be a Shore-Point Beach final because the two teams would play each other two weeks in a row because they also play one another on Thanksgiving. I still think this is Asbury Park's title to lose, and it would be their fourth CJ I crown in the last five years. As Rumson showed, Asbury Park's Achilles' heel is its pass defense, but I don't think there are any teams that have passing attacks close to Rumson's in this bracket. Most of them are Wing-T, run-oriented teams, which plays right into Asbury Park's hands because its run defense is one of the best in the Shore Conference.

South Jersey Group IV (8) Atlantic City at (1) Pennsauken (5) Triton at (4) Southern (6) Washington Township at (3) Williamstown (7) Rancocas Valley at (2) Millville My Take: I think Southern is in a decent spot. Triton is tough, but all the teams in this bracket are always tough. That is a winnable game for the Rams, and the atmosphere should be exciting because it's Southern's first home playoff game in program history. Triton is a high-scoring team, so Southern's defense will have to rise to the occasion in this one. Talking to South Jersey Southern's T.J. Bellissimo football followers and reporters, they feel that Southern has a real legitimate shot to win its first state sectional title in school history. The Rams made their first and only final in 2008 when they lost to undefeated Mainland in the championship game. With a balanced team that has multiple playmakers on offense and a solid line on both sides of the ball, Southern

ASM / 9 has the goods to pull this off.

by senior quarterback Mark McCoy.

There is no juggernaut team in this bracket like the Cherokee squads of recent years, so even though Southern may have to go to No. 1 Pennsauken, it can win that game. This may be a historic year for the Rams.

The winner of that game should savor it because a trip to West Deptford probably means the end of either team's playoff hopes. Haddonfield is the favorite to win this section and will probably meet West Deptford in the final.

South Jersey Group III

Non-Public Group III

(8) Lacey at (1) Timber Creek

(8) Bishop Ahr at (1) St. Joseph-Montvale

(5) Central at (4) Woodrow Wilson

(5) Immaculata at (4) DePaul

(6) Oakcrest at (3) Moorestown (7) Kingsway at (2) Hammonton My Take: Central's loss to St. John Vianney nudged Lacey down to that eighth seed, and it looks like it will be one-anddone for the Lions because Timber Creek is an athletic, explosive team that is the favorite to win this bracket. Central, meanwhile, is in the playoffs for the first time since 2001. The Golden Eagles are the underdogs against Woodrow Wilson and are coming off a disappointing loss, but they are never out of it with senior tailback Kalyph Hardy on the field. Woodrow Wilson is an Centralâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kalyph Hardy explosive offensive team that plays high-scoring games, so I wouldn't be surprised to see a crazy game in which Hardy is going back and forth with the Woodrow Wilson offense as they replace the bulbs on the scoreboard. I would say that if either Shore team wins a game in this bracket, that's a big accomplishment. Lacey is the defending champion, and I think the Lions will be a force in this bracket next year because they have a young team with some good up-and-coming talent. As for this year, I would say it will go chalk and be a Timber Creek-Hammonton final, with Timber Creek getting the edge.

South Jersey Group II (8) Willingboro at (1) Haddonfield (5) Woodstown at (4) Cinnaminson (6) Pt. Boro at (3) Barnegat (7) Pemberton at (2) West Deptford My Take: That's a real fun first-round matchup between Barnegat and Point Boro, and it's Barnegat's first home playoff game in program history. Point Boro has come alive with three straight wins and just annihilated a Manchester team that beat Barnegat. The Bengals, meanwhile, have won five of six and are playing some of their best football. It's Point Boro's grind-it-out option attack and senior quarterback John Dunbar against Barnegat's big-play, passing attack led

(6) Pope John XXIII at (3) Red Bank Catholic (7) Msgr. Donovan at (2) Delbarton My Take: Well, is this finally going to be the year? Red Bank Catholic has not won a state playoff game since 1998, and this chance is as good as any. The Caseys will be home at Count Basie Field, and they face a Pope John team that is 5-4. Pope John is one of the most storied programs in state history as far as the playoffs are concerned, but this is not one of its vintage teams. RBC is also carrying the torch for the Shore Conference as its No. 1 team, so a loss would look bad in general. Plus, the chorus will grow louder that RBC can beat all the public schools in the Shore but when the RBC's Chris Donald playing field is leveled in the playoffs against other schools that can draw talent from multiple towns, the Caseys can't get it done. Granted, playing the likes of Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco Prep in the Bracket of Death (Non-Public Group IV) in the last few years, no team in the Shore would have gotten that done. Certainly, they have the talent and coaching to end the drought this season, and a defense that can keep them in any game. If RBC beats Pope John and then can find a way to beat Delbarton and give a tough game to St. Joseph-Montvale, a top-seven team in the state and perennial state playoff juggernaut, that would be a tremendous run. I will tell you who is rooting hard for RBC to win - Rumson. That way both teams will most likely only have a week to prepare for their hugely-anticipated Thanksgiving showdown because they are coming off playoff games, rather than RBC having its customary two weeks to prepare for the Rumson game like it's the Super Bowl. As for Monsignor Donovan, the main accomplishment is just making it. If the Griffins win that game against Delbarton, Dan Duddy should be the state Coach of the Year. Duddy has done a great job building up the small parochial program, and the Griffins' players should be commended for their first state playoff appearance since 2004. Monsignor Donovan also happens to be the only one of four Toms River high schools to reach the state playoffs this year. Who saw that coming? Point Boro's Kevin O'Connor

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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By Scott Stump â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Managing Editor

heavy favorite or playing in a championship game, for whatever that's worth. I also think Jackson's defense is tough enough to let it hang around in any game, so you can't count the Jaguars out.

ASM / 9 has the goods to pull this off.

by senior quarterback Mark McCoy.

South Jersey Group III

Non-Public Group III

(8) Lacey at (1) Timber Creek

(8) Bishop Ahr at (1) St. Joseph-Montvale

(5) Central at (4) Woodrow Wilson

(5) Immaculata at (4) DePaul

Photos by

Cliff Lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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A Class of Their Own: CBA Soccer Wins SCT Title By Matt Manley â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Senior Staff Writer It's hard to imagine anything less than a perfect game being good enough to beat the Christian Brothers Academy soccer team, and fewer than two minutes into the top-seeded Colts' Shore Conference Tournament game against No. 6 seed Holmdel, it broke up the Hornets' perfect game and got more than enough help. Holmdel put two goals in the back of its own net in the first 12 minutes and the Colts added two more on their own to roll to a 4-0 win and capture their second straight SCT championship and eighth overall. With the victory, CBA extended its unbeaten streak to 36 games and became the first team to repeat as champion since Brick Memorial won in 1996 and 1997. With four more wins in the NJSIAA Non-Public A Tournament, they can become the first CBA team ever to go unbeaten and untied in a season. The 2000 team finished 20-0-2 and won the Non-Public A championship. "Our goal at the beginning of the season was a state championship," senior forward Bob Cartas said. "We never talked much about being undefeated or anything like that, but once we got to this game, the focus moved to winning today. Now that we've won, we're thinking about the state tournament and if we do what we want to do, the undefeated record will take care of itself." CBA pushed forward from the opening whistle and its pressure forced Holmdel into the first of two critical mistakes that took the Hornets out of the game. Cartas dribbled around a defender to his right and sent the ball in the general direction of the goal. Holmdel goalkeeper Mitch Walier tracked the shot and had the save lined, but Holmdel defender Tyler Shields attempted to clear it away first and inadvertently poked the ball into the near right corner 1:41 into the game. "You could definitely see they were discouraged by that," CBA senior midfielder Chris Thorsheim said. "We tried to put pressure on them right from the start and when they made that mistake, I think they put their heads down a little. I'm sure they weren't banking on being down a goal that early and they played tough after that, but once it happened again, I think it took a lot out of them." Holmdel began to settle into the game over the next 10 minutes, but disaster struck again, this time thanks to pressure from CBA senior midfielder Matt Jelinsky. Jelinsky took on a host of defenders and after one

knocked the ball away from Jelinsky, it struck Casey O'Gorman trailing the play and the senior accidentally hit it past Walier and into the goal just 11:55 into the game. Again, Holmdel responded by keeping CBA from creating anything inside the 18-yard box for the next 10-plus-minute stretch, but the Colts found a soft spot in the 25th minute when Alex Bialko slid a well-placed through-ball between two defenders. Jelinsky ran onto the pass and one-timed a shot over Walier and to the upper right part of the net to stretch the CBA lead to 3-0. The shot was only the third of the half for CBA, but the Colts tallied three goals on those three shots. "It was a good feeling out there today," said Jelinsky, who was one of four starters Sunday who did not start last year's final. "Last year was a good feeling too, but it's always better when you're out there, especially if you can score a goal. Alex has stepped up big for us too, and he gave me a great through-ball, and I just had to knock it in."

attempted to roll a pass out to his right, but Cartas pounced on it, dribbled at Walier, and chipped a shot into the net to make it 4-0 in the 56th minute. It was Cartas' team-leading 15th goal of the season. Senior Chris Thorsheim CBA looks to round into complete health for a state tournament run that could end with the Colts finishing with a perfect record for the first time in school history, the top ranking in the state and a top 10 ranking in the country by at least one national media outlet.

Photos & Game Video Highlights by:

From that point on, CBA dominated possession and completely shut down Holmdel's attack by limiting junior forward Zach Bond's touches. Bond has 16 goals and 13 assists this season, but did not make a dangerous run in the game. At one point, CBA owned a 16-0 advantage in shots before Holmdel's Fergal CluskeyGallagher ripped a long shot on frame that CBA keeper Steve Donato saved. Just as Jelinsky scored an actual goal after creating an own goal, so too did Cartas. Walier

Matt Manley

www.allshoremedia.com

2011 FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Thr

(Games to be broadcast on WOBM 1160/1310AM)

11/24

Manaquan at

Wall

NJSIAA Playoff Games = TBD

Zach Hicks

BROADCAST CREW Matt Harmon, Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca Visit www.shoresportsnetwork for details

(11am)

Volume-III

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F o o t b a l l : There is No Offseason By Joseph McAuliffe M.A. C.S.C.S. Sport Performance Director TEST Sports Club/Strength Coach RBC During my 24 years as a strength and conditioning coach, I have learned many great lessons that have helped my methodology evolve. Joining the National Strength and Conditioning Association in 1987 really helped me clarify my direction in my career while studying kinesiology at CSU. That year I volunteered for the local high school to train the football team. Since then I have been a part of 22 winning teams and only 2 losing years. I learned about excellence in coaching from Hall of Fame legend George Allen during my time at Long Beach State when he taught us how to build a winning team. Over the years, I remember helping seven young men fulfill their dream of the NFL, and two were picked in the first round in 2008. While standing on the sidelines watching my No. 1 Red Bank Catholic Caseys finish undefeated in our division recently, it was time for reflection. I think back to when I met Frank Edgerly to talk about the revival of the RBC program back in 1997 when was hired as the strength coach. Today some of that "old school" program still lives in our current team. I remember evaluating Donnie Brown and seeing how complete dedication to a training , nutrition and recovery program could completely transform a player’s body. He gained 50 pounds of muscle in high school while improving his 40-yard dash time from 4.8 to 4.27. Also, watching Middletown South’s Knowshon Moreno develop a perfect the bench press was amazing. Even though my heart will always be with the Cayeys (RBC Class of 1983), I have had had the opportunity to work with some of the Shore Conference’s best players in my private practice. I have worked with AllShore studs from Manasquan, Middletown South, Wall, Ocean, Raritan, Colts Neck, Holmdel, Long Branch, and yes, our rival, Rumson-Fair Haven, since 1997.

WHAT IS FAST FOOTBALL?

STRENGTH

The art of evaluating a player is the key to designing an individual program that complements what they do at their school. The factors to look at are game film, power, agility, strength, speed, balance, flexibility, injury history, lean body mass-to-body-fat ratio, nutritional habits and goals.

Strength training programs that I have seen work well are full body, three days per week, or splitting upper body with lower body four to six days per week. Make sure that 70 percent of your program is done on your feet (just like football). If you want big arms, focus on dips and chinups first, then tricep extensions and curls to follow. I know some big-time college strength coaches that don't let their players do curls at all. Chinup to pump up! Use barbells(squats, bench press) dumbbells, kettlebells, rubberbands, chains, tires and sledgehammers to name a few.

Typical school-based programs are three days per week. Motivated players should address their off season program five to six days per week especially if they are not playing winter or spring sports. Kids that are involved in other sports usually will train three days per week. Speed development science is still misunderstood by the public. Current research tells us that the body’s ability to produce muscle force against the ground while propelling your body is the most important factor when developing speed. You must be strong to be fast. Other factors affecting speed are technique, flexibility and body composition (too much body fat will slow you down).

To pack on size (hypertrophy), you must understand that the lifting program should be designed to maximize your natural testosterone. Research shows that multi-joint exercises should be done in the 6-12 rep zone, with three or four sets and no more than 2 minutes’ rest between sets. Supersetting is a great way to achieve results. Defensive end James Cowen (Jackson Memorial) gained 30 pounds of muscle doing these workouts this past offseason and has had a great season thus far, making him a candidate to play college football.

POWER

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

Power is best developed with a combination of Olympic lifts (cleanand-jerk snatches, hang cleans, power cleans) and plyometrics done with medicine balls and body weight. Senior running back John DiStefano really developed his explosiveness in the offseason and is now the latest member of the long line of 1,000-yard rushers at RBC.

A great way to build your balance is to do your standing dumbbell exercises while standing on one foot. Try to incorporate physioballs, boards, air discs, foam pads and BOSU balls each session to address this often forgotten component of football fitness.

NUTRITION

There is no doubt that my experience running team training programs at RBC and other schools has made me a better personal trainer to the individual. Since football is a team sport, it is crucial to understand how important the school-based programs are.

Even when the program on the board is good, these programs often fall short in a few critical areas that a trained professional can help with. The technique on the Olympic and power lifts is hard to teach. Most players and coaches get caught up in the weight on the bar for max outs while forgetting perfect form. Most kids will skip warm-ups unless you ride them. They also don't like to stretch or do corrective exercise to prevent injuries. My Fast Football program is designed to complement your high school program and fill in the gaps to improve performance and reduce injury risk.

Dynamic (moving) stretching before workouts works best, and static (sitting or standing) stretching works best after workouts. Hold these stretches for 30 seconds or more. Championship athletes stretch every day. This is a habit. (Read more about the habits of champions at jmpoweru.com newsletter #1).

BALANCE

A COACH’s VIEWPOINT

The weight room is a great place to build team chemistry. It also helped me understand the limitations in school-based programs. As a strength coach, you must develop a program with the help of the head coach . I think too many personal trainers who have never coached don't understand this teamwork approach. Many schools do not have a CSCS (to find out what a CSCS is, log onto jmpoweru.com) and the football staff does the best they can.

SIZE

You can’t outrun a bad diet. If you skip meals, don't drink enough water and eat lots of junk food, then maybe you should re-evaluate your commitment to being the best player you can be. Please refer to my “EAT TO WIN” newsletter at www.jmpoweru.com to learn what other successful players have done. Eating right helps recovery as well as sleep.

INJURY RISK REDUCTION

Joe McAuliffe stretches out RBC’s John DiStefano

AGILITY There are two types of agility for football players. Offensive agility is where your actions will cause a reaction from your opponent. Defensive agility is when you react to your opponent’s movement. One of the hardest things to do on the field is stop your body. It requires a tremendous amount of leg and core strength. Here you can see the importance of good habits in the weight room. Research shows that lifting significantly helps agility.

Injuries are a part of the sport. Looking at my Fast Football alumni it makes me feel good that my players are more durable than the ones who do the minimum training. Most athletes have some type of movement issue or medical history that they must work on to prevent future problems. Being involved with lots of good doctors and therapists over the years has helped me help my kids with these exercises. Do not ignore this area. You have to be in it to win it.

G o d Bles s a n d Play Fa s t Fo otb a ll. Co a ch M cAu liff e I can be r ea ch ed a t 9 08 - 4 33 - 9 5 84 o r joemca u liff ets @ ao l.com f o r Q u es tio n s .

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A SM / 13

NJ South Lacrosse Chapter’s 2 nd Coaches Clinic & Fund Raiser for Team USA to be held at GoodSports By Mark Kitchin

Tim Flynn has never been afraid to share information. The Mountain Lakes High School boys lacrosse coach has found that in most instances, he has always received more than he has given. On Saturday, November 12, Flynn, the current Under-19 U.S. National Team men’s lacrosse coach, will be sharing some of his knowledge once again for a cause he believes in. Flynn, Summit coach Jim Davidson and many of their friends are giving a clinic for youth and high school coaches at GoodSports in Wall, N.J. as a fundraiser for the National Team. The money will help the Under-19 squad travel and compete in the ILF World Championships being held in Turku, Finland next July. “Every little bit helps,’’ Flynn said. “I think the money goes into a pool and we meter it out as we go. It goes for food, transportation, getting around. It’s pretty important.’’ The Under-19s have tough standards to keep on the field. They have captured the gold medal in all six of the past ILF World Championships (1988, 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2008). Flynn wants to keep that winning streak intact. The contending team was chosen last year after a grueling tryout period. Flynn is thrilled about the players that he and his assistant coaches have chosen. He believes they possess distinct qualities that will get them through even the most difficult opponents. “I am very, very excited,’’ Flynn said. “We

have a tremendous group of kids. They were very tough on ground balls, really good hustling players. There was a lot of toughness. The kids rose up and they were able to distinguish themselves over the grueling five days in the heat of Baltimore. It takes a certain level of player to accomplish that.’’ The 23 players are from all across the nation and reflect the growth of the sport outside the traditional east coast hotbeds of Baltimore and Long Island.“We picked the 23 kids we thought were the best,’’ Flynn said. “We didn’t even see where some of the kids were from. Then we were like – wow! This kid is from Colorado and this kid is from California. It became geographical.’’ It is hoped that at least one if not all three players from New Jersey that were selected for the team will be able to attend next month’s clinic. Immaculata’s Ralph D’Agostino, Bridgewater-Raritan’s Tyler Barbarich and St. Augustine Prep’s Steven Pontrillo all distinguished themselves during the tryouts. “Tyler was great at faceoffs and going onto the attack,’’ Flynn said. “Ralph was relentless on guys and really fought for ground balls. Pontrillo had a great surge. He was in the middle of the pack and when others wore down he stepped up. It’s a game a day and you go from day, to day, to day.’’ Flynn believes they all have that element of toughness that ultimately wins the day. “You play to win from the start,’’ Flynn said. “You look for the 23 guys that will battle hard.’’

At the coaches clinic Flynn, who has the most varsity victories of any New Jersey high school boys lacrosse coach, will answer questions about the national team. He will also lecture about a subject he likes the best – the transition game for both offense and defense. His drills will be exhibited with help from the members of the Brookdale Community College men’s lacrosse team, which is coached by Steve Heller.

They will also be raffling lacrosse equipment during the six-hour event from chapter sponsors Warrior, BoatHouse Apparel, Power-Tek and Universal Lacrosse. B&B Trophy, Massive Playbook and the New Jersey Sports Center for Concussion are also sponsoring the event. The clinic, which is being held in South Jersey for the second consecutive year, is expected to build on last year’s success and it is all for a good cause. “In our inaugural attempt 130 coaches came,’’ South Jersey Chapter President Dale Oehler said. “It’s a great time of year to do it. People learned a lot. Tim and Jim presented it and they enjoyed it.’’

“I’m always looking for new drills that will put the kids in tight situations,’’ Flynn said. There will be some half-field and fullfield drills. There will also be talks and demonstrations on faceoffs and goalie play.

Oehler is hoping for an even greater turnout this year to help the U.S. team meet its financial needs for next summer’s tournament.

Coach Tim Flynn instructing a player during one of last years clincs

Four-time All-American and current ESPN analyst Matt Danowski and Reid Jackson, a former Rutgers player and U.S. National team captain, will talk about the honor of playing for your country and of playing lacrosse on an international level. In the clinic portion of the program, Davidson, whose Summit team just had the state’s longest winning streak for lacrosse come to an end, will give tips on running an efficient practice. New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Famer and veteran official Tom Carr will go into rules interpretations for the coaches.

“It’s a great cause and it’s a lot of fun,’’ Oehler said. “It’s a good chance to pick up some things. Coaches can rub elbows with other coaches. There’s a lot of networking going on.’’ There is a $40 fee to attend the clinic and additional donations for the U.S. team are appreciated. Although walk ups are allowed, coaches attending the event are encouraged to register online at www.njsouthlacrosse.org. Live registration for the event starts at 8 a.m. at GoodSports. Directions for the event can be found at www.goodsportsusa.com

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Steve Heller was named the first head coach in Brookdale men’s lacrosse history in 2008. In the program’s inaugural year, Heller guided the team to an 8-14 record. Prior to coming to Brookdale, Steve was the assistant coach at West Point Prep School from 1996-2007. He was also a three-time men’s lacrosse all-American at Army, and is a graduate of West Point. In a 4-part series Steve will highlight key elements that will help with a successful preseason training program for any level of lacrosse.

P ar t 1 o f 4

Pre-Season Training: C o n d i t i o n i n g By S teve Heller – Br ookdale Co mmu n ity Colleg e lacr os s e h ea d coach , Regio n 19 ch amp ion s 2010 an d 2011 Co - dir ector of Lax Team S ix with Reid Ja ck s on , in dividu al a n d s mall gr ou p lacr os s e tr ain in g. ( www. laxteams ix.com) . the workouts, the more you get out. Rest and drink water between reps. You do this in a game, so do it with your workouts.

At Brookdale, we place a strong emphasis on conditioning throughout fall and spring practices. The military has an expression that we use to try to set the tone for our conditioning sessions:

Mix up your sessions to keep it interesting and challenging. Some days run for a certain amount of rep (i.e. 4X20, 4x40, 4x60, etc.), and other days run for time over those same distances by repeatedly going “down and back” until your time is finished (i.e. 15 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, up to 45 seconds, and repeat several times).

“The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” This means the more time we prepare ourselves physically for the season, the better we are going to be come game time. We do not want our level of conditioning to determine the outcome of the game. When you’re tired, you tend to make more mistakes, which means more bad passes, bad shots, missed ground balls, etc. We want to eliminate conditioning as a factor at game time. In order for us to do this we need to work on our conditioning long before the spring season begins. With lacrosse season fast approaching the time to begin to prepare for the season is now, not in March when you meet for your first practice. Don’t make a common mistake that many players make by getting on the road and running long distances. Lacrosse is a game of constant starts and stops, and your preseason training routine should be the same. Typically attackmen and defensemen will run between 20 -40 yards (distance from GLE to the restraining line and GLE to the

midfield line), and midfielders will run between 40-60 yards (distance between the two restraining lines and dodging distance inside the box). Make sure your running program matches these distances. For attackmen and defensemen, begin by running a series of 20- and 40-yard sprints, and for midfielders, you’ll be running distances of 40-60 yards. For the first few sessions it is all right to run at 50 to 75 percent of max speed. Make sure you work yourself up to full speed to prevent injury (and always properly stretch before and after your workouts). Increase the number of reps each week and increase the intensity of the workouts. Remember the more you put into

The key to getting in shape for the season is to try and replicate the distances you run during the game. Preparing for the spring in this manner rather than doing distance running will make you better physically and put you at a mid-season level for conditioning. Eliminate conditioning as a factor before the season, and by doing that you can focus on your lacrosse skills and improving those before your first game. Good Luck, work hard, and have fun! Next Issue: WALL BALL and Stick Skill Improvement

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A SM / 1 5

The 2011 season has delivered an abundance of talent at the running back position throughout the Shore Conference, but not too many of those backs have the heart and desire that Red Bank Catholic’s Johnny DiStefano possesses. By Christopher Melvin – Eliterecruits.Com/All Shore Media

onnie Burgess, Richie Caldwell, Kevin Brown, Donald Brown II, and Andrew Casten are just a few names that come to mind when you look at the history of impressive running backs who have shined for the Red Bank Catholic program. Now, despite measuring within the 5-foot-8, 165-pound range, you can now add senior Johnny DiStefano to that list of Casey ballcarriers

only two quarters of football against the Raiders. “We never look past the

What Makes diStefano Such An Elite Player? Great vision, strength, speed, elusiveness, holeawareness, soft hands out of the backfield, power, lateral quickness and acceleration are all attributes to DiStefano being a complete back despite being a smaller back. “I realize I may not be the biggest or fastest back, but I play with a lot of heart,” said DiStefano, whose favorite professional athlete is the late Walter Payton.

Don’t look for DiStefano on any preseason “top player” lists or being tabbed as a key returner for the Caseys, because you won’t find him.

“Walter Payton was a great running back. He was so elusive and had great power and vision.”

But after the preseason and the first few games of the season, it clearly became evident that the sight of thirdyear head coach Jim Portela scratching his head to find a replacement for Casten, a two-time, 1,000-yard rusher now at Harvard, would be short-lived.

Although saying that no one expected such a productive season from DiStefano would merely be considered an understatement, the back still managed to scribble out some 2011 season goals.

out Goes Casten – in comes diStefano! “Being able to sit back and watch (Andrew) Casten last season was a blessing for me. He was such a great leader and person to look up to,” said DiStefano. “He taught me that you don’t always have to rush things and that you should wait patiently for holes to form and develop. He made me aware that it’s good to throw moves and go east and west, but the objective is to go north and south if you want to be a productive ballcarrier.” With key returning starters on both sides of the ball including strong-armed senior quarterback Ryan Spahr, relentless two-way senior lineman Joe Coscarelli, versatile tight-end/linebacker Doug Whitlock, ballhawking defensive back James Taylor, one of the state’s top senior linebackers in Chris Donald, and junior defensive lineman Josh Klecko, DiStefano has consistently found a way to shine week in and week out. Recently, DiStefano led the Caseys to a 49-0 victory over the Toms River East Raiders by carrying the ball times for 197 yards and 4 touchdowns. With the win the Caseys have compiled an 8-0 record heading into the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III playoffs, where they are the No. 3 seed. DiStefano also has given RBC a 1,000-yard rusher for the ninth straight season. “It was a great win for us and we have worked so hard to be in this position that we are in,” said DiStefano, who scored on runs covering 23, 4, 15 and 8 yards in

“My goals were to break 1,000 yards rushing, to stay undefeated and to win states,” said DiStefano. “Seems like they were all reachable goals.” opposition and face each opponent and prepare for each game the same way.” On the season DiStefano has amassed 1,227 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns on just 137 carries, a mindboggling average of nine yards per carry. “Stats are good and all, but it doesn’t mean anything if we’re not clicking as a team, and that’s what we are doing,” said DiStefano. “We are one unit.” Although there are various games of which DiStefano has delivered the unexpected, one game stands out a bit more than the others. “Our game against Colts Neck (on Oct. 4) – that game was tough and went back-and-forth the entire game,” said DiStefano, who carried the ball 25 times for 185 yards and four scores in a win over the the Cougars. “That was an intense game. They had some tough players, including their junior nose-tackle Giovanni Zefforino. He never gave up.”

With his impressive season, the back has caught the attention of various colleges. “I have Division I-AA, Division II and Division III schools showing interest in me now,” said DiStefano, who carries a grade-point average in the 2.6-2.7 range. With the 2011 regular season stored away, now DiStefano and his teammates can focus on the state playoffs and a state title. “That’s our goal (to win a state title),” said DiStefano, whose team has a slightly easier route to reaching their goal compared to years past when the Casey’ were guaranteed to face a Don Bosco Prep, St. Peters, or Bergen Catholic in the opening rounds of the Non-Public Group IV playoffs. With the realignment of the playoffs, the Caseys are now competing in Non-Public Group III with teams such as Holy Spirit, Pope John XXIII, Delbarton, and St. Joseph-Montvale. “We still have a tough schedule ahead of us, but we have a team that can win it all,” added DiStefano.

Photo by

Cliff Lavelle

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Volume-III

Issue-20

11/7/11

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