Shore Sports Network Journal 2015 Football Preview

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Cover Designed by Steve Meyer & Steve Zmijewski

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2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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Perfect Together

Jersey Mike’s & Shore Sports Network

Shore Sports Network and Jersey Mike’s Subs will continue thier

partnership for the upcoming 2015 Shore Conference high school football season. The nationally acclaimed sub chain will be the presenting sponsor of weekly football broadcasts on the Shore Sports Network’s 1160 & 1310AM and will also sponsor the “Team of the Week” program on www.shoresportsnetwork.com. In addition the Shore Sports Network Journal will be distributed at all 26 Jersey Mike’s locations in Ocean and Monmouth counties beginning with the popular football preview issue.

Jersey Mike’s was founded in 1956 in Point Pleasant has under the direction of Peter Cancro and has grown to over 800 franchises around the country.

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

Despite their growth and success they maintain many of the ideals from the days of being a one-store business and still make the most authentic submarine sandwich available.

In addition Jersey Mike’s has been saluted for their philanthropic endeavors such as their annual Month of Giving campaign.

Sports Sports Network Director Kevin Williams said “partnering with such a prestigious company like Jersey Mike’s again for another season will enable us to expand our coverage of high school football in the Shore area.” Williams added that “all of us at Townsquare Media are excited to work with an organization who constantly seeks to make things better for those in their community.”

As part of Jersey Mike’s sponsorship they will bring subs to each of the “Team of the Week” recipients during the 2015 football season.

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The first thing fans, players, coaches & parents want to know after the big game is always,

”Is this going to be on

?”

?”

Shore Sports Network has established itself as a leader in scholastic sports coverage in Monmouth and Ocean counties, providing more video highlight clips, in-depth reporting, feature stories and regular updates than ANY OTHER OUTLET in the area.

Shore Sports Network Web Site Features

n Get Video Highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. n Catch up on the action you might have missed n Watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. n www.shoresportsnetwork.com is the most visited sports site in the Shore Conference during the scholastic year n Follow us on Twitter (over 16,000 followers) & Facebook, we keep fans posted on the latest scores and news n Established leading portal for local high school coverage.

Thursday, 7-8:30 on 1160 & 1310AM and www.shoresportsnetwork.com.

The only weekly radio and online show that covers Monmouth and Ocean County High School Football .

SteveMEYER

Shore Sports Network Director High School Division s t ev e. m e y er @ t ow n s qu a re m ed i a. c om 7 3 2 - 2 3 3 - 4 4 6 0

KevinWILLIAMS

S h o r e S p o r t s N e t w o r k Director k ev i n . w i l l i a m s @ t ow n s q u ar em ed i a. c om

Senior Content Providers MattManley // Mmanley21@gmail.com BobBadders // badders@allshoremedia.com

Shore Sports Network Journal

is published by: T o w n s q u a r e M e d i a 8 Robbins Street Toms River, NJ 08753

Copyright 2015 Townsquare Media All rights reserved Reproduction in whole or in part without the permission of Shore Sports Network is prohibited

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2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Award-winning broadcasters Kevin Williams, Matt Harmon and Ed Sarluca cover the entire Shore Conference from Matawan to Pinelands. Broadcast live from Baker’s Water Street Bar & Grille in Toms River, the weekly show features players, coaches and a preview of upcoming games.

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5 Jackson Memorial .

he Jaguars have perhaps the best running back duo in the Shore in junior Mike Gawlik (1,165 yds and 21 TDs) and senior Vinny Lee, another 1,000-yard rusher. Those two make the Jaguars a big-time team. Dan Barker takes over the QB spot, and much will rest on his shoulders and arm, as teams bunch the middle to try and stop the run.

Dylan Smith and Austin Ostrander will anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Head coach Walt Krystopik helped the Jaguars come on strong last year after a 30-24 OT loss to Brick in Week Four. Jackson finished 11-1 and avenged that loss with a 44-0 victory over Brick in the sectional semifinals before beating Middletown South to win the Central Jersey Group IV title, their fourth in program history. They finished No. 1 in the Shore and No. 2 in the state.

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Table of Contents

1 Middletown South .

Top Returning Recruits

ed by one of the best coaches in the Shore, Steve Antonucci, the Eagles have a team that could go wire to wire this year at No. 1. While no coach or team likes the dreaded top spot in preseason, the Eagles come off a 9-3 record in 2014 that included a tough 21-18 loss in the final seconds to Jackson Memorial in the Central Jersey Group IV final. They have many key players returning off that team. RB/DB Cole Rogers is as good as they get. His twin brother, Dylan (122 tackles), is perhaps the best linebacker in the Shore. QB Matt Mosquera is a very capable leader and probably the best returning kicker in the state. He hit 14 of 15 field goals and was 44for-44 on extra points last year. With nine state titles and 20 trips to the finals in its history, you can see why this program is as good as it gets.

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New Faces in New Places Page 10

Class A North

2 Red Bank Catholic

Pages 11 thru 20

.

Class A Central Pages 21 thru 28

Class A South Pages 30 thru 44

Feature Story

Fantastic Shore Pages 46-48

Class B North Pages 49 thru 64

Class B Central Pages 65 thru 73

Class B South Pages 74 thru 85

Week-by-week Shore Conf. Schedule Page 87

Monmouth County Field Directions Pages 88

Ocean County Field Directions Pages 89

t was 38 years between state championships, but 2014 saw RBC beat Delbarton 45-20 at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 7 to win the second championship in school history and first since 1976. They return QB Eddie Hahn (1,500 yds. passing and 530 yds. running, accounting for 32 TDs). Hahn, who committed to UConn over the summer, was dealt an early-season blow as he sustained a knee injury in RBC's first scrimmage on the turf of Montclair High School. Surgery was successful and he is expected to miss all of preseason and one or two regularseason games. The Caseys must replace their running game, and that will be the key to 2015. They have two big-time linemen to run behind, Liam Smith (Duke commit) and Ryan Oneidas. Dylan Murphy returns at LB to lead the defense, and may see time at RB this year. Last year, RBC's 40-game winning streak against Shore competition was snapped at Jackson Memorial, 33-27 in overtime, and the two will meet again this year with revenge on the minds of the Caseys.

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3 Toms River North .

he first somewhat controversial member of the Top 10 is the Mariners.

Not that they don't deserve to be in the top 10, but because they are ranked ahead of Jackson Memorial, last year's No. 1 team. The Mariners are loaded. Quarterback Mike Husni, as tough as they come running the football, with an arm that has improved from last year, RB/S Asante Moorer, a hard-nosed runner capable of running over you or around you, WR/DB Darrion Carrington and WR/DB Bryce Watts, and up-and-coming super sophomore RB Daryn Blackwell lead an offense that has multiple weapons. Blackwell is the nephew of former Toms River North and Monmouth University great Alex Blackwell of basketball fame.

Defensively, Da'Shon Copes (12 sacks and 91 tackles) leads a group that must step up if the Mariners want to beat Jackson. The Mariners were 65 in 2014 and that should improve this year. Circle Oct. 9 at Gernerd Field, when Jackson pays a visit in a huge Class A South contest.

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4 St. John Vianney .

he Lancers were 10-1 last year with their lone loss coming in the Non-Public Group III semifinals against Delbarton. They were primed to win it all this year under head coach Mark Ciccotelli, when Ciccotelli was suddenly released by the school. No reason was given and the Lancers quickly hired Derek Sininsky as their new head coach. Sininsky has head coaching experience at a number of schools, and he inherited a loaded team. If they are to get to the next level, QB Anthony Brown (2,200+ yds passing and 25 TDs to go with 800+ yds rushing and 9 TDs) must play at that same level. Already committed to Boston College, Brown has many weapons to go to this year. Khalil Haskins, a two-way star, touches the ball in a variety of ways and is very talented. RB/LB Calvin Beaty will get carries from the backfield. They also have a pair of transfers, 6foot-6 Marcque Ellington (Neptune), a big target for Brown, and RB Chris Chukwuneke (J.P. Stevens), who was one of the top returning backs in Middlesex County, to help the offense. Beaty, LB Tyler Tedeschi and junior DL Micah Clark lead a defense that will be aggressive. Clark has already received offers from Alabama and Ohio State, among others. Sininsky must have his team ready as it travels to face defending Central Jersey Group III champion Matawan in the season opener.

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6 Rumson-Fair Haven .

he Bulldogs finished 9-3 last year, with a second consecutive Central Jersey Group II title, a 21-0 win over Delaware Valley, for their fourth state title overall. They look for their third in a row this year with returning players like junior QB Mike O'Connor (900 yds rushing and 11 TDs and 485 yds passing with 7 TDs), and junior RB Matt Vecchiarelli. Vecchiarelli has the task of replacing All-Shore RB Charlie Volker (3,450 yds rushing as a junior and senior), who is now at Princeton University. Also getting some carries will be Lachlan Hull. The passing game will become a bigger part of O'Connor's game this year because of the talent of 6-foot-6 sophomore receiver Elijah McAllister, who already has an offer from Temple. Up front, the 'Dawgs have James Oncea, Tim Leonard and AJ Kelly. Linebackers Mike Ruane and Max Pfrang lead a very aggressive defense. If Rumson wins a third championship in a row, it will have to be in Central Group III, as they have been moved up from Group II.

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Matawan

.

he Huskies came out of nowhere to win a state championship last year with a very impressive 27-7 win over Carteret in the driving rain at Kean University for the Central Jersey Group III title. Sophomore QB George Pearson's talent is unlimited after he led them as a freshman, throwing four TD passes in the state final. Big, strong-armed and experienced, he will again help them challenge for another state championship. The true leader of the Huskies is senior Aliem Shaw.

He is a feared LB in the Shore, and leads a very good Matawan defense. Matawan gets No. 4 St. John Vianney on opening night. Last year it was a 31-10 win for the Lancers that propelled them to a 10-win season. That loss by Matawan stuck in the minds of the Huskies, and they circled Sept. 12 on this year's schedule.

Fireworks at Matawan on opening night.

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8 Manalapan .

nother defending state champion is in the top 10. The Braves finally won that coveted first state championship with a 21-7 victory over previously unbeaten South Brunswick in Central Jersey Group V. Gone are most of the players who led the Braves to that championship, but they still deserve the respect to be in this year's top 10 because of the program that head coach Ed Gurrieri has built. Joe Sellmeyer was the driving force up front for an offensive line that paved the way for 2,500 yards rushing and 41 TDs. He returns with a new crop of running backs behind him this year. At 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, he's a nice base to build around

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9 Brick Memorial .

he Mustangs and their option attack are always tough to defend, and this year is no different. They return senior QB Tim Santiago, who runs the option well. He is fast and strong and makes good decisions, which are the attributes you want your QB to have. Santiago has worked on his throwing, which makes him a bigger threat this year. Matt Cuppari returns at wideout and will also do the kicking. Up front, the Mustangs have brothers Mike and Anthony Nobile, who are both big, strong and tough to block. How far the Mustangs go depends on that option attack, which at times is mistake-prone.

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10. Ocean he "Big Red" get the final spot because they may have the best RB Tending around - senior Tyler Thompson. Thompson, coming off a seasonbroken leg in 2014, looks to be fully recovered. He is a big and strong runner who has speed and FBS talent. After the loss of Thompson last year, Ocean went 5-6, upset the No. 1 seed in the first round in Central Jersey Group III and lost on a last-second field goal to eventual champion Matawan in the semifinals. Junior QB Kenny Pickett got valuable playing time as a sophomore, which will help him lead Ocean this year. T.J. Saldutti and Tyler Rossback are the guys up front.

Other teams to watch: Central, Long Branch, Middletown North and Shore.

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The 2015 recruiting class from the Shore Conference was as impressive as many of the classes of the previous years with standout players such as Barnegat linebacker Manny Bowen (PSU), Sam Madden (Georgia), Cinjun Erskine (Bucknell), RBC's Jamie Gordinier (Miami) and Nick Lubischer (New Hampshire), Rumson's Charlie Volker (Princeton), Lakewood's Chapelle Cook (Temple) and Datrell Reed (Villanova), Manalapan's

Mike Caggiano (UMass), Monmouth Regional's Darryl Gamble (Wagner) and Isaiah Searight (Fordham), Toms River South's Tymere Berry (Monmouth), Jackson Memorial's Brody Graham (U Penn) and Matt Castronuova (Monmouth), and Brick Township's Simon Bingelis (Villanova) to name a few.

The 2015 Class had a balanced structure of players not just attending highly-recognized FBS programs, but

QUARTERBACKS

A 6-3, 180-pound receiver at Red Bank Regional with great athleticism, the ability to sky for the ball, the speed to run away from defenders and the hands to make any difficult catch seem easy. Last fall Palmer caught 36 passes for 758 yards with 7 scores and picked off three passes as a safety for the Bucs. The senior was offered a full scholarship from Syracuse this past April and verbally committed immediately.

ANTHONY BROWN, Sr., St. John Vianney The Boston College-bound senior made a name for himself afterfinally getting a chance to shine as a junior for the Lancers. Once the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder got rolling in the spread offen seand heated up, it was a wrap!

As a junior Brown, threw for a Shore Conference-leading 2,198yards and was second with 25 touchdown passes. A true dual threat, he also had 851 rushing yards with another 9 scores. Liberty, New Hampshire, Monmouth, Charleston Southern, Old Dominion, Syracuse, Northwestern, Wake Forest, Temple, AirForce, Army, Navy, UConn, Boston College, and Virginia Tech have all offered him. n MAX MULLANEY 6-2.5/225, Sr., Colts Neck - Columbia offer n KENNY PICKETT 6-2/185, Jr., Ocean - Temple offer n GEORGE PEARSON 6-1/210, So., Matawan – Temple offer n ANEESH AGRAWAL 6-1/175, Jr., Holmdel

RUNNING BACKS Tyler Thompson, Jr. Ocean One of the top running backs in New Jersey for the Class of 2016,Thompson already boasts offers from Penn State, Virginia, BostonCollege, Syracuse, UConn, Old Dominion and Temple as well as interestfrom Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Maryland and Florida State.At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, he has great feet and agility and hascontinued to work on his speed. Look for Thompson, who is a four-yearstarter, to show his receiving skills out of the backfield more this season. n ASANTE MOORER 5-11/200, Sr., Toms River North n MIKE BICKFORD 5-10/190, Jr., Central n CHAD FRESHNOCK 5-11/210, Sr., Midd., North - Committed to Bucknell n MAKIYA CAESAR 5-11/210, Sr., Matawan n MIKE GAWLIK 5-8/160, Jr., Jackson Memorial n PARKER DAY 5-9/185, Jr., Manasquan n ISAIAH MOONEY 5-11/170, So., Neptune n DYLAN MURPHY 5-11/205, Sr., Red Bank Catholic n TYQUERE DAVIS 5-9/170, Sr., Asbury Park

WIDE RECEIVERS Sadiq Palmer, Sr., Red Bank Regional

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n n n n n n n n n n n n

EDDIE LEWIS 6-1/175, Jr., Mater Dei Prep DARRION CARRINGTON 6-2/160, Jr., Toms River North HAYDEN Frey, 6-1/190, Jr., Point Boro R.J. JANECZEK 6-0/175, Jr., Wall MARCQUE ELLINGTON 6-5/185, Sr., St. John Vianney L'JERON HOLDER 6-3/205, Jr., Manalapan ISAIAH CALHOUN 6-6/195, Sr., Neptune JAMEL SMITH-RUSH 6-3/190, Sr., Freehold Boro JA'SIR TAYLOR 6-0/170, Jr., Brick JAVION HARRIS 6-1/175, Sr., Brick TIM FOSQUE 6-3/185, So., Long Branch RYAN MAZIK 6-2/165, So., Howell

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN LIAM SMITH, Sr., Red Bank Catholic Smith has been an imposing two-way force for the Caseys the past two seasons, and you can expect the same from the agile Duke-bound 2016 recruit this season. Ranked as one of the region’s top Class of 2016 offensive linemen, Smith chose the Blue Devils over Miami, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, and Syracuse among others.

n n n n n n n n n n n n

MICAH CLARK, 6-5/275, Jr., St. John Vianney JOE MACAVOY, 6-3/300, Sr., Lacey JOE SELLMEYER, 6-2/275, Sr., Manalapan REILY RADOSEVICH, 6-3/260, Sr., Manalapan DYLAN SMITH, 6-3/295, Sr., Jackson Memorial THOMAS LOPEZ, 6-4/275, Sr., Middletown South ELIJAH GILL, Sr., 6-3/275, Lakewood TRAVIS ALVAREZ, 6-6/270, Sr., Keyport BO BENTLEY, 6-3/285, Sr., Raritan DARIUS MARROW 6-2/320 Central BHANU CHADALAWADA 6-1/285 Marlboro JAMAL BEATY 6-5/265 (OL/DL) St. John Vianney Jr.

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

many electing to attend high academic and athletically successful FCS programs as well.

With that being said, expect the same from out come from the Class of 2016, which is quite comparable to the previous class. Also keep a lookout for the Class of 2017 recruits, who feature some of the top talent not only in New Jersey, but the entire country. n LUKE BUTERA 6-2/280 Toms River North

CENTER

n DILLON PAPROTA 5-11/230 (Long Snapper) Donovan Cath. n ALEX TRAPASSO 6-2/260 (Center) Brick Twp.

KICKERS/PUNTERS PAT DAVIS, Sr., K/P, Lacey

n MATT MOSQUERA 5-10/175, Sr., QB/K/P, Middl., South n MATT CUPPARI 6-2/175, Sr., K/P, Brick Memorial n COLLIN ANSBACH 6-2/185, K/P, Point Boro

ATHLETES AMIR TYLER, Sr., Lakewood For the third consecutive year, coach LJ Clark will have one of the state’s best student-athletes representing his Lakewood football program. Tyrice Beverette (Stony Brook), Mo Diawara (Wagner), and 2015 graduates Chapelle Cook (Temple) and Datrell Reed (Villanova) are all representing Lakewood at collegiate programs, and now you can add Tyler, who may be the best yet. Blessed with great balance, speed, vision, cutting ability, soft hands and explosiveness, it’s obvious why the likes of Syracuse, Wagner and Pittsburgh like him as a running back. Put Tyler on the defensive side of the ball and he becomes a ballhawk and a hard-hitting tackling machine with great leadership skills, which is why the likes of Temple, Rutgers, Monmouth, Old Dominion, and Stony Brook love him as a safety.

Tyler could easily be the area’s top defensive back and running back.

n n n n n n n n n n n n

EDDIE HAHN 6-2/185, Sr., QB/DB, RBC – Committed to UConn.

VINCENT LEE 5-9/160, Sr., RB/CB, Jackson Memorial JAEDON STEPHENS 6-0/185, Sr., WR/DB, Asbury Park CHRISTIAN BOUJAOUDE 5-8/150, Sr., WR/CB, Monmouth JEFF SHEARD 5-9/155, Sr., WR/DB, St. John Vianney KHALIL HASKINS 5-8/150, Sr., WR/DB, St. John Vianney BRYCE WATTS 6-0/170, Jr., WR/CB, Toms River North ISAIAH PARKER 5-11/165, Sr., RB/DB, Toms River South TIM SANTIAGO 5-10/190, Sr., QB/DB, Brick Memorial MIKE O’CONNOR 6-1/185, Jr., QB/WR/Ret., Rumson-FH MIKE HUSNI 5-9/165, Jr., QB, Toms River North IAN TERRY 6-0/220, Sr., QB/LB, Keansburg

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n DESMOND UNDERWOOD 5-8/165, Sr., WR/RB/DB, Keyport n MIKE MISERENDINO 5-10/185, Sr., QB/FS/SS, Central

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN ANTHONY NOBILE., Sr., Brick Memorial 2015 Elite Day 2015 defensive lineman MVP

n MIKE NOBILE 5-11/265, Sr., Brick Memorial n TARIQUE SMITH 6-1/255, Sr., Lacey

n DA’SHON COPES 6-1/285, Toms River North- Has offers from Army and Liberty University n ELIJAH MCALLISTER 6-6/215, So., Rumson-FH Has Temple offer n TANNER SMITH 6-2/220, Sr., Point Beach

n SEAN NAIMAN 6-3/220, Sr., Red Bank Regional

n NASIR DARNELL 6-4/225, So., Red Bank Catholic n RYSON BARNES 6-4/230, Sr., Lakewood

n NNAMDI UNACHUKWU 6-5/210, Jr., Marlboro

n RYAN ONEIDAS 6-3/260, Sr., Red Bank Catholic

just a few reasons why New Hampshire has offered Beaty as a linebacker. Put the rock in his hands, and Beaty transforms into one of the region’s best fullbacks.

n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

ALIEM SHAW 6-1/205, Sr., Matawan ADI PALMER 6'3/215, Jr., Lakewood JOSH BOWEN 6-1/230, Sr., Barnegat MIKE RUANE 5-11/215, Jr., Rumson-FH BRANDON LANE 6-0/205, Sr., Long Branch CHRIS HAYES 6-1/230, Sr., Brick Memorial AVERY DELVALLE 6-0/210, Sr., Toms River East NOAH POWELL 6-3/200, Sr., Howell CALVIN JACKSON 6-0/220, Sr., Toms River North TYLER TOWNS 6-2/200, Sr., Jackson Memorial JOSH LEZIN 6'1 245, So., Lakewood JUWAN MITCHELL 6-0/220, Jr., Mater Dei Prep DARYN BLACKWELL 6-3/240, So., Toms River North JEROME HANSON 6-2/220, Jr., Keyport RYAN DICKENS 6-2/210, Jr., Raritan

DAVID CALDERON JR., 5-8/160

n KAYMAR MIMES 6 -4/205, So., Long Branch

n JOHN TOMLINSON 6-1/290, Sr., Long Branch n HENRY BADER 6-4/240, Sr., Freehold Twp. n DAN FINELLI 6-2/260, Sr., Brick

n CALVIN SIMMONS-PARKER 5-10/260, Jr., Asbury Park

LINEBACKERS CALVIN BEATY, Sr., St. John Vianney Has all the skills to be a great collegiate linebacker. Good size, tenaciousness, reads, speed and the knack for make key stops are

MATT TOMASCHEK 5-10/175, Sr., Toms River North MICHAEL GRASSO 5-8/170 (Slot), Sr., Toms River East COLE ROGERS 5-10/180, Sr., Middletown South MIKE CARUSO 5-10/180, Sr., Rumson Fair Haven NIC ROSSI 6-0/175, Sr., Howell DWIGHT WILKERSON 5-9/170, Jr., Middletown North ELIJAH WALKER 6-2/180, Jr., Monmouth

FASTEST RECRUITS n n n n

PAUL WICKWIRE 5-8/155, Sr., Barnegat KEITH COOPER 5-8/150, Jr., Long Branch MARVIN MORGAN 5-8/155, Jr., Neptune DEZMUND HUNTER 5-10/160, Sr., Donovan Catholic

PLAYERS ON THE RISE WHO GOT AWAY The following is a list of ELITE players from the area who have taken their talents and skills to schools outside the Shore Conference. n DEJOHN ROGERS 5-10/170, WR/CB, Paramus Catholic:

DEFENSIVE BACKS

n BRANDON BURDGE 6-0/260, Sr., Toms River E

n n n n n n n

At a hair over 5-foot-8 and tipping the scale at just 160 pounds, Calderon has still managed to be one of the state’s cornerbacks and slot receivers.

The 2015 Defensive Back MVP of my Elite Day and the Shore’s Best Football Camp’s overall 2015 MVP were just a few of the honors Calderon garnered this past spring and summer, including an offer from West Virginia Wesleyan. Wagner, Old Dominion, Central Connecticut State, East Stroudsburg, and Liberty University are among the programs seeking Calderon’s slot receiver and cornerback skills.

n SHAWN RAMCHERAN 5-9/180, Sr., Matawan n ALEX ROSARIO 5-8/170, Sr., Donovan Catholic

My Elite Day 2015 MVP has transferred from Matawan to state power Paramus Catholic prior to the start of the 2015 season and has picked up where he departed the Huskies. Rogers has shined as corner, receiver, and returner for the Paladins, whose top player happens to be the nation’s top defensive player, defensive lineman Rashan Gary.

n JOSH MCKENZIE 5-9/175 Athlete at Bergen Catholic from Wall

n ANTHONY SUMMEY 6-0/180 RB/LB/S at St. Joseph’s-Montvale from Ocean

n JUSTIN ADEMILOLA 6-2.5/240 & JAYSON ADEMILOLA 6-2.5/265, Class of 2018 twin linebackers at St. Peter’s Prep who are from Jackson.

The duo has already received scholarship offers from Virginia, Rutgers, Michigan, Boston College, Miami, and Connecticut.

n CJ WILLIAMS 6-3/295 OL at The Hun School from Toms River

Fri Sept. 11 Donovan Catholic

at T.R. South

(7pm)

Fri Oct. 16

T.R. North

at T.R. East

Fri Sept. 18 T.R. North

at Brick Memorial (7pm)

Fri Oct. 23

Middletown South

at Brick Memorial (7pm)

Fri Sept. 25 St. John Vianney

at Central

(7pm)

Fri Oct. 30

Shore

at Point Beach

Fri Oct. 2

Jackson Memorial

at Brick

(7pm)

Fri Nov. 6

Jackson Memorial

at Red Bank Cath. (7pm)

Fri Oct. 9

Jackson Memorial

at T.R. North

(7pm)

Thr Nov. 26

Manasquan

at Wall

NJSIAA Playoffs Schedule is subject to change

(7pm)

(7pm)

(11a) TBD

All games to be broadcast on News Talk Radio & streamed live at

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he Shore Conference welcomes in eight new head coaches this fall, although three have occupied that spot before and a fourth got to spend part of last season as an interim head coach.

Cory Davies

Tim Fosque

Was the head coach at Howell for 21 seasons (19912011) and was at the helm during the best three-year stretch in school history when the Rebels went 26-9 and won the Central Jersey Group IV title in 2007.

After spending the last three seasons as Lacey’s offensive coordinator, where he coached his son, Davies takes over a Freehold Township program that has not had a winning season since 2004 and has made one state playoff appearance in its history.

Is the Blue Bishops; fourth head coach in four seasons, but is familiar with the program as he’s a former player and longtime assistant coach. Asbury Park is coming off its first losing season since 2006 but it’s hoped that Fosque can bring stability to a program that means so much to him.

Freehold Township

Asbury Park

Len Zdanowicz

Derek Sininsky

Brick

St. John Vianney

Got the job in late July following the sudden resignation of Mark Ciccotelli and takes over a program that has made great strides in recent years.

Sininsky has previously been the head coach at Raritan, Monmouth and Marlboro and was planning to be an assistant at Holmdel this season before the unexpected call came from St. John Vianney.

Is another first-time head coach at his alma mater.

Zdanowicz played for and then coached with Hall of Famer Warren Wolf and also spent two years with Rob Dahl, who resigned following last season to spend more time with his family. Zdanowicz has also served as an assistant at Jackson Liberty and Lakewood and takes over a Green Dragons program that has gone 18-5 over the last two seasons.

Greg LaCava

Shannon Hoadley

Is the Hornets' third head coach in as many seasons and hopes to do there what he did at Colts Neck. In 2013, LaCava coached the Cougars to a schoolrecord 10 wins and a trip to a state sectional final before stepping down after five seasons.

LaCava was also the head coach at Allentown and takes over a program that last had a winning season in 2007.

Is another alumnus making his head coaching debut as his alma mater. Hoadley had been a Seraphs assistant since 2008, and for the past two seasons he was associate head coach and defensive coordinator under Steve Sciarappa, whose five-year tenure saw the Seraphs improve dramatically and go 8-3 with a state playoff win in 2014. Hoadley previously served as an assistant at Keyport and now takes over a program and school that nearly closed last spring

Holmdel

Mater Dei Prep

Darian Barnes Colts Neck

John Bird

Was named interim coach for the final two games of last season after Peter Shaw resigned following an 08 start. Barnes coached the Cougars to a win in their season finale and then during the winter was named head coach. The 34-year-old former Toms River North standout running back played seven seasons in the NFL and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.

Moved from assistant to head coach this summer after Chris Damian left to take a teaching and coaching position at Raritan. Bird, who played at Raritan under Hall of Famer Bob Generelli, had been an assistant at Holmdel, Raritan and St. John Vianney before spending the last two seasons with the Titans.

Keansburg has won only one game in each of the last two seasons.

Keansburg

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09-11-15

@ Colts Neck

09-18-15

Freehold Boro

10-09-15

@ Middletown South

10-31-15

@ Marlboro

09-25-15

10-02-15

10-16-15

10-23-15

Freehold Twp Southern

Middletown North

11-06-15

@ Monroe

Manalapan

Head Coach: Luke Sinkhorn, 2nd season (7th overall) Career Record: 28-33

Assistant Coaches: Bob Mussari (OL/LB); Ryan Klusewicz (special teams/WR/LB); Joe Migliore (RB/DB); Joe Santopietro (off. coord./QB/DB); Zac Cooper (RB/DL); Chris Provow, Shane Baldwin, Matt Wingo (freshmen); Amy Ghione (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 3-7 (1-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Mekai Gandy, Jr., RB Gandy is now the starting running back after the graduation of Jarvis Leaks, who led the Rebels with over 1,000 total yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

X-FACTOR: The offensive line The Rebels will have five new starters along the offensive line. How they turn out will have a major impact on how efficient Howell’s offense will be GLUE GUY: Noah Powell, Sr., OL/DL A two-way starter, Powell gives the Rebels good size at 6-foot-3. He is the lone returning starter along the defensive line and will be counted on to lead that unit.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Eric Keosseian, Jr., OL/DL A standout wrestler for the Rebels, Keosseian brings his athleticism and strength to both the offensive and defensive lines.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 vs. Colts Neck Getting a win under their belts to open the season wold be big for the Rebels’ confidence. Colts Neck is in a similar situation coming off a tough season and with a firstyear head coach.

Making Progress

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

A

fter experiencing some growing pains during the first year under head coach Luke Sinkhorn, Howell is looking to take strides forward this season with a handful of starters returning on both sides of the ball.

When Sinkhorn took over last season, his main focus was switching the mindset of a finesse team to a physical, hard-nosed squad.

The Rebels finished 2014 with a 3-7 record, but closed strong with wins in two of their final three games.

“As a whole they have a year of knowing where we’re coming from, but it still takes time to change,” Sinkhorn said. “There are less Xs and Os to teach this year but more culture and philosophy. We want to grind it out more and be more hard-nosed.”

“The biggest thing is working on our physicality,” said senior Noah Powell. “In previous years we didn’t play tough enough.

What we want to be known for this season is playing hard in the fourth quarter and being hard-hitting.”

linebacker and Reilly and junior Bobby Cavallero are the outside linebackers.

“The defense has to bring the mentality and set the tone,” Reilly said.

“We need defensive consistency,” Cacciatore added. “We have to play with a hard mentality.”

Rossi is the lone returning starter in the secondary from his free safety position.

Gandy is the strong safety and Chianca and senior Dave Galarza are the cornerbacks. On special teams, Ioannides will be the punter and sophomore Patrick Handy will be the kicker.

The challenge for Howell will be to continue to forge its identity while breaking in new players along the offensive and defensive lines. Playing in Class A North with the likes of state championship contenders Manalapan and Middletown South, a constantly improving Middletown North program and an upstart Freehold Township team won’t make it easy.

The Rebels’ multiple spread offense aims for balance, and will be led by senior Mark Iacobino, who threw for 605 yards and four touchdowns last season. He is being pushed by sophomore Eddie Morales. The fullback is also a returning starter in senior Mike Reilly and the tailback is junior Mekai Gandy.

Senior Nic Rossi is a returning starter at wide receiver after catching 14 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns last season.

He is joined by senior Nick Chianca.

The offensive line will have five new starters. Senior Conor Devine is the left tackle, junior Michael Ioannides is the left guard, senior Carson Mitchell is the center, junior Eric Keosseian, a standout wrestler, is the right guard and Powell is the right tackle.

“We lost our entire line so the skill positions on both sides of the ball are going to have to be good for us,” Sinkhorn said.

“We’re going to rely on them.”

Defensively, Howell will use a 4-3 base alignment and try to improve upon allowing 29.2 points per game last season. Keosseian and Ioannides are the defensive tackles and Devine and Powell, a returning starter, are the defensive ends.

The strength of the defense is in the middle as all three linebackers are returning starters.

Junior Dan Cacciatore is the middle

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09-11-15

09-18-15

09-25-15 10-02-15

10-09-15

Marlboro

Freehold Twp. @ Sayreville

@ Middletown North Lacey

10-16-15

@ Middletown South

11-06-15

@ Howell

10-23-15

10-30-15

Red Bank Cath.

Freehold Boro

Head Coach:

Career Record: 70-20

Ed Gurrieri, 9 th season

Assistant Coaches: Justin Fumando (def. coord.); Dan D’Avanzo (off. coord./QB); Joe Tetley (OL); Dom Lepore (DB/spec. teams); Bill Smith Sr. (LB); Jimmy Papcun (WR): Andy Sliwoski (football operations); Reggie Grant (asst.); Billy Smith Jr., Jon Harrison, Corey DeCastro,(freshmen); Shannon Tomasula (athletic trainer) 2014 Record: 11-1 (6-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Marcus Salinas, Sr., RB Imamu Mayfield was one of the best backs in the Shore Conference last season with over 1,800 yards and 31 touchdowns. Running back has been the glamour skill position in the Braves’ offense, and Salinas will get his chance to shine behind a veteran offensive line.

X-FACTOR: Skill Position Development The Braves have a talented and experienced offensive line, so if the new skill players can develop quickly, they will be right back where they were last season.

GLUE GUY: Joe Sellmeyer, Sr., OL A three-year starter on the Braves’ standout offensive line, Sellmeyer is one of the Shore Conference’s best linemen and a leader on and off the field.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Luke Corcione, So., QB He has to sit out four games because of the NJSIAA transfer rules and is competing with two other players, but Corcione has great talent and is the Braves’ future at quarterback. He could see the field this year and have great success.

Ready to Repeat

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

F

or the first time in program history, Manalapan entered the preseason coming off a state championship. While that’s a nice title for the returners to come in with, they know it means nothing regarding their prospects for 2015.

“It was great, but we’d actually like to forget about it,” said senior lineman Reily Radosevich. “It just gets in the way of hard work. We want to keep working hard and go out there and get another (championship).”

“You can’t think about it because it’s over and done with,” said senior wide receiver/defensive back Anthony Bassani. “We have to reload and get ready for the future.”

The Braves are back and ready to contend for another state title after winning the program’s first last season with a 21-7 victory over South Brunswick in the Central Jersey Group V final.

Getting the monkey off their backs after three straight state finals losses was monumental, and now the challenge shifts to doing it again.

“It validated the program and the fact that what we do, we do it the right way,” said Manalapan head coach Ed Gurrieri. “The program is in great shape and there’s a great foundation, so there’s been no slack or lack of effort getting ready for this season.

They’ve worked just as hard as prior teams.”

The foundation of Manalapan’s success last season was its line play on both sides of the ball, and on the offensive side all five return for their senior season to lead the Braves’ multiple pro offense that averaged 37.3 points per game in 2014.

At left tackle is 6-foot-4, 270-pound Jake Levine and at left guard is 6-foot-2, 220-pound Mitchell Trabb, who played half the games last season.

Anthony Tardogno (6-foot-1, 275 pounds) is the center with Radosevich as the right tackle and Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore selection Joe Sellmeyer at right guard.

“We have the whole offensive line returning and we’re going to lead the way,” Sellmeyer said.

“We’ll go only as far as the line will take us.”

“It’s big because we have a new quarterback and some skill players, so the leadership and skill of the offensive line will help us grow,” Gurrieri said.

“The offensive linemen are usually the best kids on the team because they’re usually not the most talented. They’re not just the best players on the field, they’re the best students. Three of them have a legit chance to go Ivy League. They’re just great kids and they lead by example. They know what it takes.”

It has been a competition at quarterback to see who will take over for Dan Anerella, who threw for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. Senior

Anthony Sciarappa, junior Cody Wiener and sophomore Luke Corcione have been battling it out for the starting job. Corcione has great talent and star potential and is back at Manalapan after playing at Red Bank Catholic last season. He played the entire year on the freshman team except for a few plays at the end of a postseason game, but will still have to sit out four games per the NJSIAA transfer rules.

The fullback position also has a competition between juniors Sal Joe Sellmeyer (53) and Anthon y Tardogno (71) are part Casazza, Antonio Scala of an all-senior offensive line and Christian Isabella.

Replacing the production of last year’s Holder and 6-foot-3, 205-pound junior Jonathan starting tailback, Imamu Mayfield, will be crucial.

Pimentel.

Mayfield ran for 1,837 yards and a conference-best In the secondary, senior David Blumenberg steps 31 touchdowns. Manalapan has always done a great into a starting role at cornerback after seeing a lot job of reloading in the backfield, and will look to of action last season. Senior T.J. Orrico will be the do that with senior Marcus Salinas. Senior Dan Park other starting corner. Bassani is one of the safeties and sophomore Naim Mayfield, Imamu’s younger with either Wiener or senior Chris Carnesi as the brother, will also get time at tailback. other safety.

The tight ends are 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior The kicker and punter will be either highly-touted Sonny Hossain and senior Anthony Schimbeno with sophomore Dave Gelb or Weiner, who have to sophomore Chris Maksimik also in the mix. At wide replace record-setting All-Shore talent Mike receiver the Braves have senior Patrick Swaney as Caggiano. a returning starter and Bassani, who did not start There is plenty of work to do if Manalapan is but played a lot on offense and defense. Junior going to repeat as Central Jersey Group V L’Jeron Holder (6-foot-4, 200 pounds), sophomore champions, and they also will have an uphill battle speedster Scott Scherzer and sophomore Symir in Class A North with a loaded Middletown South Blacknall, the younger brother of Penn State wide team looking for revenge. The fact that the Braves receiver and former Manalapan star Saeed have gone 43-5 over the last four seasons says Blacknall, will also be in the mix for reps. everything about the program’s consistency and “It’s great to have our whole line back because ability to reload, however. it’s such a big part of our team,” Bassani said. “And “This group is just as hungry,” Gurrieri said. we have competition at a lot of positions and that “I’ve been here almost 20 years. Kids come and go. makes the whole team better.”

I stay here. When last year’s group graduated they Manalapan will continue to run a 3-4 defense that left. That was their team and this is this group’s was a fantastic complement to its high-scoring team. They haven’t won anything yet, and they want offense, allowing just 12.5 points per game. to go out there and get a championship for Radosevich is one of the defensive ends with Trabb themselves.” or Hossain at the other spot. Juniors Michael Cardinale and Antonio Deleso are competing to be the starting noseguard.

Senior Lee Maksimik returns as a starting inside linebacker after making 60 tackles last season, and will be joined by Park. The outside linebackers are

Photo by: Bill Normile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 15 at Middletown South This game has decided the Class A North division title every season since 2010 and Manalapan has won each time. The Eagles are loaded with talent this season and will be a huge test. It will be one of the marquee games of the Shore Conference season.

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09-11-15

@ South Brunswick

10-02-15

@ Freehold Twp

10-23-15

@ Brick Memorial

09-18-15 09-25-14

10-09-15 10-16-15 11-07-15

11-26-15

Neptune

Marlboro

Howell

Manalapan

@ Freehold Boro

Middletown North

Head Coach: Steve Antonucci, 18th Season Career Record: 158-37

Assistant Coaches: Al Bigos (asst. head coach/def. coord.); Joe O’Connor (off. coord.); Steve Roberts (LB/WR/spec. teams); Joe Passo (QB); Nick Trezza (OL); Rich Read (off. coord./OL); Howard Barbieri (OL); R.J. Read (WR); Joe Mirault (DL); Tom Grier (off. asst.); Rod Murchie, Rick Taylor (freshman); Stacy White (athletic trainer) 2014 Record: 9-3 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Robert Burke, Jr., TE/DT Burke got valuable reps last season a sophomore playing alongside graduated standouts Dan Servidio and Brian Joyce on the defensive line. He will be needed to help replace the production of Servidio, who recorded 80 tackles and 11 sacks last year.

X-FACTOR: Matt Mosquera, Sr., QB/K Returning as one of the top kickers in New Jersey, Mosquera also returns for his second season as starting quarterback. If he can give the Eagles good balance with the passing game to complement a stellar running game, the offense could be even more potent than last year’s standout unit.

GLUE GUY: Dylan Rogers, Sr., LB Rogers is coming off the best statistical season of any linebacker in history at Middletown South, which has produced numerous All-Shore linebackers over the years.

If he can duplicate that production again this year, the Eagles will once again be looking at a title shot.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jake Krellin, So., RB/DE Krellin will get his shot to replace graduated standout Pat Crowe at defensive end and looks to be a key component in the Eagles’ pass rush.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 16 vs. Manalapan If the Eagles want that elusive Class A North title, they have to find a way to solve the five-time defending champions and end a five-game losing streak against Manalapan. The Braves will be coming to “The Swamp” this year, where the Eagles look to finally turn the tide.

14

Eagles Looking To Soar B y E r i c B r a u n - Shore Sports Network Contributor

W

inning never comes easy, but for the football program at Middletown South it is almost bred into their DNA. The Eagles year-in and year-out continue to play at a high level and give themselves a shot at division and state titles.

This is a program built on hard work, pride, hustle and determination. This year’s group is no different. The senior class started their high school careers with an undefeated freshman team and so did the junior class. To say these two groups know what it takes to win is an understatement.

Coming off a season in which the Eagles reached an NJSIAA championship game for the 11th time in 14 years, they look to finish the job after losing to Jackson Memorial in the Central Jersey Group IV final for their fifth straight loss in a state championship game. This season the Eagles are reloaded with a strong senior class that has the added depth and confidence in their junior and sophomore counterparts.

“We are more mature and confident as a whole this season,’’ veteran head coach Steve Antonucci said. “There is no looking back. We have learned from each step we took last season and hope to build on that this season.”

The Eagles were one of the Shore Conference’s best offenses last season, finishing among the elite at 30.7 ppg. They return senior quarterback Matt Mosquera, who also was selected first-team AllShore by SSN as a placekicker last season. He threw for 1,240 yards and five touchdowns last season and also served as a running threat. On special teams, he was sensational in goint 14-for15 on field goal attempts, tying the single-season Shore record of 14 field goals. Mosquera also was 44-for-44 on extra points and is now a perfect 84for-84 on PATs for his career, one of the best streaks in state history, in addition to being 20-for21 on field goals for his career. “(Mosquera) is a gifted athlete who never seems to miss a beat,’’ Antonucci said. “He is cool under pressure both at quarterback and on field goals.”

In the backfield, senior Cole Rogers is coming off a huge season in which he finished third in the Shore Conference in rushing with 1,859 yards and 27 touchdowns to earn SSN second-team AllShore honors. His counter-part, junior James McCarthy, also returns after seeing action at tailback last season. Junior Kevin Higgins, along with Jake Krellin, will solidify the fullback position.

Mosquera has two tremendous targets at wideout in senior Spencer Pereless, who had 18 catches for 185 yards last season, and Jeremy Joyce. Add in the additional packages for Brian Higgins, Robert Hulse, Danny Diodato and Matt Ferrigno, and the Eagles look to have solid depth at wideout this season.

Where much of the season may hinge is the development of the offensive line, the unit with the most turnover from a year ago. Senior center Joey Rutkowski, senior FBS prospect Tom Lopez and sophomore Adam Markmann have all cemented themselves as starters leaving Chris Patterson, Jeremy Desteno and Frankie Settembrino working for the other open line positions.

“Our offensive line is young this year, but they are working hard and will compete with anyone in front of them,’’ Antonucci said.

Defensively, the Eagles will once again employ a 4-2-5 scheme after a successful switch last year that produced six shutouts, which tied the school record, and only allowed 9.6 ppg. Senior captain Dylan Rogers, Cole’s twin brother, returns to lead the way at linebacker.

Dylan Rogers recorded a schoolrecord 122 tackles last season as a junior to earn SSN first-team All-Shore honors and looks even more explosive this season. Along with Rogers, look for junior Maxx Imsho to continue his growth at the hybrid linebacker/safety position

after a promising sophomore season.

The secondary is once again anchored

by Cole Rogers and Hulse.

“Defensively we are very strong again this year, and the Rogers brothers have stepped up their leadership and have both units flying around the field,’’ Antonucci said. “We are looking forward to watching this unit perform this season.”

Before the Eagles can worry about finishing the job in the state playoffs to win their 10th overall NJSIAA title, they have to find a way to solve Manalapan in Class A North. The Braves have beaten them five straight times in winning five straight division titles. The Eagles also will have a new group of teams to worry about in the postseason, as they have been realigned from Central Jersey Group IV to North II, Group IV this season under the latest NJSIAA realignment.

Senior QB/K Matt Mosquera Photo by: Bill Normile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

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09-12-15 09-18-15

Freehold Twp

@ Howell

09-26-15

Middletown North

10-17-15

Wall

10-02-15

10-10-15

10-24-15

10-30-15 11-07-15

@ Raritan

@ Marlboro

Toms River East

@ Manalapan

Middletown South

Head Coach: Dave Ellis, 5th season

Career Record: 14-26

Assistant Coaches: Jason Blum (OL/DL), John Kinzel (DL/OL), Matt Whalen (RB/DB), Mike D’Antonio (WR/LB), Greg Elias (Freshmen), Dan Cooper (Freshmen), Mike Stehle (Athletic Trainer) 2014 Record: 7-3 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ashanti Worthy, So., RB/LB Josh Dixon was a 1,400-yard back, and while that won’t be easy to replace, Worthy flashed special ability as a freshman and has a chance to be in the same class as his older cousin.

X-FACTOR: Jake Curry, Sr., QB As a senior quarterback, Curry will have a better grasp of the offense, and the coaching staff will have more reason to call his number with the Colonials looking to replace Dixon’s output from a year ago.

GLUE GUY: Jahmel Smith-Rush, Sr., WR/DB An unsung presence on last year’s team, SmithRush is a versatile 6-3 athlete who could end up as Freehold’s most valuable contributor on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Alec Mahon, Sr., OL/DL A transfer from Manalapan, Mahon will slide into both the offensive and defensive lines, which each return two starters from a year ago PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 26 vs. Midd., North With division front-runners Manalapan and Middletown South reserved for the last two regular-season games of the schedule, Freehold could have a chance to get to those last two divisional games unbeaten for the second straight year. Middletown North presents the toughest division match-up during the early part of the season, while Wall and Raritan will be tough non-division games.

16

Back in the Battle

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

I

t took three rocky years of paying dues and taking lumps, but head coach Dave Ellis finally saw the hard work within his program begin to pay off last year with a 7-3 season in his fourth year at the helm for the Colonials.

Four years removed from winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship under coach Mark Ciccotelli – who later left for Neptune following the season – the Colonials looked like a winning team again. Now the challenge will be building upon that success in the long term, as well as finishing stronger after losing the final three games of the season following a 7-0 start.

“Last year it was about making this program a winner again and we were able to do that,” senior quarterback Jake Curry said. “Now we’re trying to take the next step.”

The first challenge Freehold will have to answer as the Colonials try to get back to a sectional championship is replacing 1,400-yard running back Josh Dixon, who finished eighth in the Shore Conference in rushing yards. Ellis expects that to be a collective effort, but the one player who will actually take over the starting tailback spot this season is Dixon’s cousin, sophomore Ashanti Worthy.

“Josh was an outstanding player for us, and it’s going to be a situation where everybody has to step up,” Ellis said. “The good thing is we have a lot of leadership on this team that has created an atmosphere of hard work and just helping one another get better. The other thing is Ashanti is going to be stepping into Josh’s role full time and is a very talented back in his own right.”

Worthy played where needed as a freshman on the offensive side of the ball last year but will be the primary option out of the backfield alongside Curry – now a three-year starter. While the coaching staff is hopeful that Worthy’s ceiling as a running back will approach that of Dixon, the plan is for Worthy and Curry to combine to form a formidable one-two punch on the ground.

“I learned how much work it takes to be successful,” Worthy said of playing in the same backfield as his older cousin. “He was always pushing himself to get better and that’s the big difference for me this year. I’ve been working a lot harder.”

“Nobody does it alone, and it’s not just going to be Ashanti or me or anybody else,” Curry said. “Josh was a huge part of our offense last year, but I think we learned along the way that everyone has to do their part, and there’s a feeling this year that everyone wants to compete and is trying to help this team win.”

As a junior, Curry ran for 649 yards on 119 attempts and attempted only 64 passes. The pass attempts will likely be much higher this season, but the Colonials still expect to be able to operate a runheavy attack out of the spread with Worthy and Curry leading the way.

“Things have been much easier for me this year because I know the offense a lot better than I did last year,” Curry said. “I came in feeling pretty good about it last year and I think I improved, but looking back, I didn’t understand it like I do right now. The offense will be different, but I think we’ll be able to do a few more things.”

(From left) Jahmel Smith-Rush, Ashanti Worthy and Jake Curry “ J a k e ’ s understanding of players, led by Curry and Smith-Rush in the the offense and his role as a leader is one of the secondary, Worthy and Eccleston at linebacker and strengths for us, so even though we lost a lot of Mahon, Burger and Perez on the line. Returner Xavier production and a lot of yards on the ground, we still Madera will be the other outside linebacker in feel like we have a chance to move the ball and put Freehold’s 3-3-5 stack scheme, while senior returner some points on the board.”

Victor Saldivar, junior Isaiah Howard, Mendelle and Senior wide receiver Jamel Smith-Rush will be a Martelle Tims and Markee Gill all figure into the mix primary target for Curry in the passing game and in the secondary. should be in for a career season if Freehold indeed “The thing I like about the stack is I think it works opens up its offense and throws the ball more. At 6with a lot of different types of personnel, especially foot-3 and 180 pounds, Smith-Rush is a physical with so many teams running the spread,” Ellis said. player who can overpower defensive backs in the “For us, we don’t have a lot of pure linebackers, but running game and passing game alike. we have some guys in the secondary, so we can take “We’ve all been playing together for a long time, so those guys and move them around based on the we have really good chemistry as a group on both offense we’re seeing.” sides of the ball,” Smith-Rush said.

Freehold will once again have a chance to storm The Colonials have shown some depth at receiver out of the gate, with both Manalapan and Middletown over the course of the preseason that will complement South scheduled to close out the season. Last year, Smith-Rush. Mendelle Tims and Martelle Tims return Freehold had to play Manalapan and Middletown with more prominent roles as seniors, while junior South five days apart and lost by a combined score of Markee Gill could see playing time as well, according 84-3. The Colonials’ season then ended with a firstto Ellis. Freshman Matt Krauss has also stood out round loss to Neptune in the Central Jersey Group IV early on and could factor in despite entering his first playoffs. high school season.

This time, Freehold will have a full week to prepare “On offense, I think last year it was Josh’s ball to between the two A North powerhouse teams, and if run with,” Smith-Rush said. “This year, it’s going to the Colonials can survive the first part of the division be more of a balance, and I think the passing game schedule and a pair of improved nondivisional will be a much bigger part of it.” opponents in Raritan and Wall, this season could end Seniors Todd Burger and Joel Perez return to the up being a worthy sequel to the 2014 breakout offensive line at either tackle position and junior Nick campaign.

Eccleston will play center. Junior Marki Gill will “We have expectations, but we still have plenty of occupy one guard spot, while Manalapan transfer work to do,” Curry said. “We’re taking things day by Alec Mahon will be a key addition to the interior line day, one game at a time. I definitely think we can get at 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. back to the playoffs, but we have to take it one game “With Burger, Perez and Eccleston, we have a nice, at a time. We saw that approach work last year and experienced core, and adding Alec Mahon to that is it’s important we keep the same focus again this going to be significant for us,” Ellis said. year.”

Most of the defense will consist of two-way

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09-11-15 09-19-15 09-25-15 10-03-15 10-10-15 10-16-15 10-23-15 10-31-15 11-07-15

@ Manalapan Middletown North @ Middletown South @ Toms River North Freehold Boro @Freehold Twp @East Brunswick Howell J.P. Stevens

Head Coach: Jason Dagato, 3 rd season

Career Record: 2-18

Assistant Coaches: Steve Vella (Off. Coor.), Justin Bloss (OL), Bobby Weitecha (WR), Alex Vasilenko (DL), Ken Wernick (LB), Chris Van Curen (DB), Cory Varrial (Freshmen), Tyler Palagonia (Freshmen), Mark Bramble (Athletic Trainer) 2014 Record: 0-10 (0-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Johnny Helff, RB Helff was a breakout player during an otherwise forgettable season at Marlboro last year and will have to shoulder more of the carries out of the backfield this season with the graduation of Mo Omar.

X-FACTOR: The lines The Mustangs will have to improve at the point of attack in order to begin their climb as a program and that has been a focus during the last two preseasons. With an injury at quarterback already ailing the offense, line play will be even more paramount.

GLUE GUY: Jake Weiner, TE/LB Weiner played on the line as a sophomore and junior but will get a chance to play tight end as a senior thanks to Marlboro’s improvement in its offensive line depth.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Cameron Caorsi, Safety Marlboro should boast a capable secondary, with senior Tyler Tannen back at cornerback and Caorsi impressing during camp as a junior at safety.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 31 vs. Howell The early-season schedule does not present any favors for the Mustangs, and getting on a winning course by the end of the season is huge for the program. If A North plays out like it did last season, both Marlboro and Howell could be playing for an A North win in the season’s final division games.

Surviving the Storm

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

E

very team in every high school sport hopes to compete and qualify for the state tournament and if that dream falls by the wayside, it can sometime be hard to muster the motivation to compete for the remainder of the season.

En route to a 0-10 season in 2014, Marlboro opened its season with five consecutive games against teams that finished with winning records – two of which (Middletown South and Manalapan) were top five teams in the Shore Conference, and another (Freehold Borough) that began the season 7-0. Before the young, rebuilding Mustangs could even face an opponent on similar footing to their own, their chances at making the playoffs were essentially squashed.

With an identical schedule to open the 2015 season, coach Jason Dagato and his staff are preaching persistence, resilience and the importance of competing in every single game – both against the early-season gauntlet, as well as the tail-end of the schedule when the Mustangs could only be playing for pride.

“It’s really important for us to be competitive this year,” Dagato said. “With the way our schedule is, if you let yourself get down because you get beat up by a team like Manalapan or Middletown South, it’s going to be a long year. By the time we started to figure things out, we were already 0-5 and wondering where the season went. You have to keep trying to get better and I think this year, our guys understand that it’s a 10-game season and it’s important to bring your best effort for every single one of them.”

That focus has permeated through practice during the preseason and improved overall size and strength have Dagato and his players optimistic that this year will be significantly better than last.

“The intensity is so much better this year,” sophomore Johnny Helff said. “It’s pretty much night and day. We are a lot stronger, the practices have been a lot more physical and our attitude is positive. We know we have to get a lot better in order to be a playoff team and that’s where we want to get to.”

While the mood is still positive around the Mustangs, that attitude was tested last week when projected starting quarterback Mike Wolff injured his knee in a combined practice with Colts Neck. The junior signal-caller, who took over last year, is out indefinitely according to the last report by Dagato and the Mustangs will turn to senior Jared Wright. Although he was slated to the backup, Wright has game experience at quarterback and will not be

overwhelmed.

Marlboro will try to compensate for the loss of Wolff behind a solid collection of skill players, led by seniors Tyler Tanen and Jake Weiner, as well Helff. Tanen is back at wide receiver, while Helff returns at running back after working in around then-senior Mo Omar last year. Weiner played on the offensive line last year and will slide over to tight end, giving the 6-1, 205-pound senior a chance to use his athleticism in the receiving game.

“I’m still going to be blocking a lot to help out the guys on the line, but we have enough size and depth up front to enable to me to get involved in the passing game,” Weiner said. “I like the switch and I think it fits the players we have.”

Junior Ed Spinello has performed well in camp, according to Dagato, and will also see time at wide receiver, particularly in the slot. Justin Marcus is a 6-4 sophomore who will also crack the lineup.

Senior Joe Leander and junior Riley Keating return to the offensive line, with Leander occupying one of the tackle spots and Keating playing center. Senior Bhanu Chadalawadu will start at guard and add a good deal of size to the line with his 6-2, 290-pound frame. Dagato said the last two offensive line spots are still up in the air and could go in several different directions.

“It’s good competition,” Dagato said. “It’s a situation where we’ll go with the guys who earn the spots and whoever ends up winning the job will be a guy we like.”

Chadalawadu and junior Nnamdi Unachukwu will anchor the defensive line, Chadalawadu on the interior and Unachukwu at defensive end.

Unachukwu is also an imposing figure on the line at 6-4, 220 pounds, so the Mustangs will have the physical ability to match a number of the defensive fronts they see.

Helff, Weiner and senior Chase Sandler lead the group of linebackers, with Helff returning to the middle linebacker spot after taking over the job as a freshman. Tanen is the lone projected senior starter in the secondary, with juniors Rob Semo, Cameron Caorsi and Gio Lisciandra joining the mix. Tanen and Semo

Senior WR Tyler Tanen will line up at cornerback, while Caorsi and Lisciandra man the safety positions.

With a handful of potential impact players who will be coming back next season, the Mustangs are set on getting in the win column this season and setting the program up to make a move toward the NJSIAA Tournament over the next several seasons. In the meantime, the seniors are eager to get back on the field against Manalapan and Middletown South to open the season and see how they stack up.

“I want to make a run at the playoffs in my senior year, but I also want to see this program turn things around,” Tanen said. “We really want to start to win and even if we end up where we were last year halfway through the season, we want to make sure we finish strong and make sure the young guys have something to build on.”

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com

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Ta k in g t o t h e A i r

09-12-15

@ Freehold Boro

10-02-15

Middletown South

W

10-23-15

@ New Brunswick

“When he was first announced as coach and we had that first meeting, so many kids came and signed up, and have stuck with it,” said senior Tyler Von Nesson. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

09-18-15 09-25-15

10-09-15

10-16-15

10-30-15 11-06-15

@ Manalapan

@ Howell

Toms River East

Marlboro Edison

@ Middletown North

Head Coach: Cory Davies, 1st season (22nd overall)

Career Record: 95-115 Assistant Coaches: Derek Reichenbecher (def. coord./LB/OL); Gene Blanco (RB/LB); Bill Dague (OL/DB); Dan Shine (OL/DL); Mark Migliori (WR/DB); Ed Von Nesson (OL/LB); Tom Mandese (WR/DL); Mark Burlew, Kevin Popek, Andrew Jones, Mike Kinsella (freshmen); Gene Blanco Jr. (def. asst.); Sean O’Reilly (off. analyst); Tom Martin (def. analyst); Cindy Carter (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 4-6 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Tyler Von Nesson, Sr.,. WR/LB The Patriots have basically all their impact players returning, but in stepping into a wide receiver role Von Nesson has to help replace the production left by the two starters that graduated last season.

X-FACTOR: Defense When Davies’ offenses have had a defense to complement them, they have had great success. The offense still has to come around and put points up, however, and that is no guarantee, especially early in the season.

GLUE GUY: Jack O’Brien, Sr., QB O’Brien will be a three-year starter at quarterback and has a chance to be a star. His teammates rave about his leadership and smarts.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Adam Fadiga, Sr., OL/DL At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Fadiga is a massive individual who can be a space-eater inside to help in run defense while also potentially seeing some time along the offensive line.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Freehold Boro It’s a rivalry game against another team in the district, but more importantly it is the first look we will get at the revamped Patriots. They have Manalapan the following week, so this is a chance to start a new era on the right foot.

18

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

hen Cory Davies was hired to be Freehold Township’s football coach, his impact was immediately felt before the Patriots even stepped onto the field.

The excitement surrounding the Patriots thanks to Davies and the potential of his offense is evident in the massive numbers Freehold Township now has in its program. There are 95 players on varsity and another 50 or so at the subvarsity level.

“Everyone is very excited, the school is excited, and they did a real good job of picking a coach quickly and getting a real darn good one,” said senior quarterback Jack O’Brien. “Everyone knows he’s had success in the past. Everyone wants to be a part of it, and we’re all looking forward to a great year.”

Davies, who was most recently the offensive coordinator at Lacey, was the longtime coach at Howell. It was there he installed his “Air Raid” passing offense that eventually led to the Rebels winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title in 2007 for the only state title in program history.

The Patriots have used several offenses over the last 10 years, most recently an option offense and then one with spread concepts last season. What has Davies excited first and foremost is the quarterback he will get to work with this year.

O’Brien threw for 1,247 yards and nine touchdowns last season and will be a three-year starter this season. He knows this is his chance for a huge senior season.

“Coach Davies is a great coach, and he’s going to change things in this program for a long time,” O’Brien said. “We’re excited about the offense, it’s been proven to work. We have a talented group, and we’re excited to work with him.”

“It’s very encouraging when you have a guy with that much experienced, and he just has to learn the mental part,” Davies said.

The Patriots also appear to be loaded with potential starters at the wide receiver position, which is obviously good for a team that will throw the ball a ton with four- and five-receiver sets.

The inside receivers will be 6-foot-2, 225-pound Nick Galanti and the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Von Nesson. Senior Austin Edelman and juniors Adrian Rybaltowski, D’Andre Sanders and Mike Ferdinandi will also see time there. Seniors Chris Gandy and Paras Bawa, and juniors Anthony Lotti, Tyrique Hall and Javier Rodriguez will be the outside receivers.

Galanti and Von Nesson clearly bring excellent size to the position and appear to be O’Brien’s main targets. Galanti has been impressive throughout the preseason.

“Me and Galanti are really close friends and

have played since freshman year,” O’Brien said.

“He’s always been one of my favorite targets. He’s big and athletic, and we’re looking for him to do real big things this year.”

Senior Rychard Hanshaw and junior Max Nowak will get the bulk of the carries at running back with Sanders also seeing some time there and sophomore Mike Cenname serving as a backup.

The Patriots offensive line has plenty of size to it, including 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior center Gianni Mazzone. Seniors Henry Bader (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) and Alex Schlumpf (6-foot-2, 280 pounds) will be the tackles. The guard positions are still being contested and has senior Anthony Papiomitis and juniors Matt Cruz, James Latona and John Lucas battling it out. Senior Adam Fadiga adds some depth to the tackle position and junior Matt Simpson and sophomore Jake White are the backups at center.

“This offense is so much fun, and it’s almost like playing backyard football,” Von Nesson said.

“The no-huddle also puts teams on their heels.

We’re in great shape now and will be in even better shape when the season comes. With a deep receiving corps we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

“It’s very exciting,” Galanti said. “There are a lot of option routes so you can never really be covered. It’s up to you to get open.”

The Patriots will use a 4-2-5 defensive front with Derek Reichenbecher, who played and coached under Davies at Howell before taking the head job after Davies left, serving as the defensive coordinator.

Bader and Galanti will be the defensive ends with Cruz, Lucas and fellow juniors Riley Crowley and Anthony Iacovino as the backups.

Mazzone, Papiomitis and the 6-foot-7, 315-pound roadblock that is Fadiga will be the defensive tackles. Schlumpf, Simpson and Latona are also in the mix at defensive tackle.

Senior Quin Cleary, a returning starter, is back as the middle linebacker after making 93 tackles

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

last season. Senior Anthony Rivera will play alongside him and senior Cameron Height and junior Javier Castro will serve as the backups.

Nowak and Cenname could also see time there.

The strong safeties/outside linebackers are Von Nesson, a returning starter, along with Edelman and Ferdinandi. Sanders, Adrian Rybaltowski and Nowak will see time at the other spot.

Sophomores Eric Quarterly and Damian Rybaltowski could also see some time.

Gandy, Hanshaw, Bawa and seniors Sheldon Rose and Jake Dudics, along with Hall, are battling it out for the starting cornerback jobs.

Lotti shifts from corner, where he started the last two seasons, to free safety. Adrian Rybaltowski will play both strong and free safety and senior Neil Avani and Rodriguez may also see time in the secondary.

“We are considered an offensive team but we know without a defense we can’t accomplish what we want,” Von Nesson said. “We’ve been focused a lot on defense. We need it to be the backbone.”

On special teams, Galanti will be the punter and now also the kicker. Last season he was a Shore Sports Network third-team All-Shore selection at punter and was a major weapon for Freehold Township in the field position game. Hanshaw, Lotti, Hall and Adrian Rybaltowski will be the punt and kick returners. Junior Jon O’Brien is the long snapper.

The pieces seem to be in place for the Patriots to experience a turnaround. Plenty of challenges lie ahead, however. Freehold Township hasn’t had a winning season since 2004 (6-4) and has had several one- and two-win seasons since. The Patriots have qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs just once. There is plenty of optimism, however, and the entire program is ready to see it all play out on the field.

“Obviously it would be really good to win in our final year as seniors,” Galanti said. “We’re not going to surprise ourselves because we know how good we can be, but others will be surprised at what kind of team we have become.”

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09-19-15

Perth Amboy

@ Marlboro

09-25-15

@ Freehold Boro

10-16-15

@ Howell

10-02-15

10-09-15

10-30-15

11-06-15

11-26-15

Manalapan Ocean

New Brunswick

Freehold Twp

@ Middletown South

Head Coach: Steve Bush, 2nd season (15th overall) Career Record: 3-7

Assistant Coaches: John Denuto (def. coord./LB/WR); George Kostas (OL/DL); Geoff Massimini (TE/DB); Jason Pino (RB/OLB); Larry McKnight (OL/DL); Randy Kalman (WR/LB); Dana Webster, Lyndon Johnson, Matt Rosner (freshman); Danielle Kanski (athletic trainer).

2013 Record: 3-7 (3-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jordan Pitts, Sr., WR Jake Betkowski set a school record with 54 catches to go with 686 yards and 6 touchdowns last season as the Lions’ top wideout to earn second-team AllShore honors. Pitts now moves into that No. 1 slot and needs to keep the production high.

X-FACTOR: The Defense If the defense can take a jump forward after giving up 30 points per game last season and ensure that teams can’t bleed the clock and keep the offense off the field, the Lions can make that leap to the six- or seven-win mark.

GLUE GUY: Troy Thompson, Sr., TE/LB A two-way starter at tight end and outside linebacker, Thompson plays crucial roles on both sides of the ball and also has emerged as a team leader.

Lions Looking to Make Noise

B y E r i c B r a u n – Shore Sports Network Contributor

C

ioming off their second consecutive trip the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, Middletown North is looking to take the next step and make a run at a state title in a new bracket this fall.

The Lions have been realigned into North II Group IV, where they hope to challenge for their first state championship since 1996 under third-year coach Steve Bush.

They will be led by senior captain Chad Freshnock, a two-way standout who is headed to Bucknell.

A two-time, 1,000-yard rusher, he enters the season with 2,340 yards rushing and 30 touchdowns in his career. Also a standout linebacker, he is coming off a season in which he made 43 tackles and three sacks.

“Freshnock has gotten stronger and smarter over his high school career, and his leadership with the underclassmen adds to his importance to this team,’’ Bush said.

Along with Freshnock, junior quarterback Donald Glenn also returns for his third varsity season to give the Lions great offensive balance.

Last season Glenn finished with a 58 percent completion rate, throwing for 1,326 yards, 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Bush is looking for him to be more efficient and cut down on turnovers in his third season running the spread offense.

“Don works as hard, if not harder, than anyone on and off the field, and from Day One as a freshman, he has gotten better and smarter at his reads with every snap,’’ Bush said.

Looking to replace the production of graduated standout Jordan Pitts,

receivers Brendan Kube and Nick Kish look to be two of Glenn’s primary targets on an offense that ranked in the top 10 in the Shore Conference last season at 27 points per game.

Defensively, the Lions will have the biggest holes to fill after graduating standouts Vincent Pianoforte and Troy Thompson, who combined for 160 tackles last season on a unit that allowed 17.5 points per game. Bush is stressing for the defense to create more turnovers, as no one besides Pitts had more than one interception last season, and getting after the quarterback after no one registered more than three sacks last year.

Another key to making noise this season will be finding a way to stop opposing run games. Last season they were shredded by Middletown South, Manalapan and Freehold Boro, all of which are back on Middletown North’s schedule this season.

The coaching staff has high hopes that Josh Gomez, Matt Dombrowski, Dwight Wilkerson, Nick Kish and Dan Benoit can take their year of experience as starters and translate that into success on the front line. They will also have the additional talents at defensive tackle of Cory Baliatico, who Bush feels can get the extra pressure needed to free some gaps for Wilkerson and Gomez to pressure the quarterback and penetrate the running lanes.

“We have high expectations this season, but we need to create turnovers and take care of the ball on offense. We do this, and we will win the games we should win and set ourselves up for a chance in the big games.”

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Aaron Borrero, Sr., RB/DB. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound senior has just come out for the team this year and looks to give the Lions another weapon in the backfield to complement Freshnock while also being a factor in the secondary.

Junior QB Donald Glenn

Photos by: Bill Normile (top) billnormile.zenfolio.com

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 2 at Manalapan.

If they have any designs on competing for the Class A North title, the road goes through four-time defending champion Manalapan, which beat them 42-14 last year. A win over the Braves would be the type of stunner that shows this team has arrived as a serious contender, and it also would be a huge boost to their playoff hopes.

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2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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@ Manasquan @ Matawan Freehold Boro Red Bank Regional @ St. John Vianney @ Point Boro Rumson-Fair Haven Monmouth Regional @ Holmdel

Head Coach: Anthony Petruzzi, 6 th season Career Record: 13-27

Assistant Coaches: John Principe (def. coord.); Jeff Struble (off. coord./QB); Billy Kvalheim (DB); Matt Dempsey (OL); George Gibson (DL); Chris Raitano (DL); Matt Walsh (WR); Mike Nunes, Mike Thaner, Nick Sparacello (freshman);

2014 Record: 3-7 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Bo Bentley, Jr., OL Bentley will have to help fill the leadership and production void left by three starters on the offensive line, including a pair of All-Division linemen.

X-FACTOR: The wide receivers The wide receiver rotation of seniors Jordan Smith, Jahciere Jones, Brian Pasquin and Mason Sheehan must be able to give the offense a new dimension and not allow teams to load the box to stop Ernst and the running game.

Building on Success

By Art Gordon – Shore Sports Network Contributor

A

fter its steady improvement resulted in its first state playoff berth in five years last season, Raritan is hoping that with one of the more versatile and athletic teams it has had in years, everything could be in place for the Rockets to make a deeper postseason run this year.

The mentality of being on the same page and having one another’s back is one they hope carries over on the field in practice every day as they put forth a maximum effort with each player pushing the other.

“We must prove to ourselves we can win and be able to take the next step and compete with the better team,’’ sixth-year head coach Anthony Petruzzi said. “We must prove we can play with reigning (Central Jersey) Group II and III state champions, Rumson and Matawan, in addition to (defending division champion) St. John Vianney, and then take the next steps forward.”

The Rockets have shown steady improvement from 3-7 in 2013 to 5-5 last season. This year, the seniors are looking for more. They still have a difficult Class A Central schedule and a nondivisional schedule that features Freehold Boro, Red Bank Regional and Point Boro, but feel that with their strong returning players they will be able to return to their glory days of being a perennial playoff threat.

“We have had great competitiveness in practice, so this will help us maybe in two, three, four weeks into the season,’’ Petruzzi said. “We are very versatile and hope we can get strong enough that we can play a lot of people and that our two-way players can get off the field.”

The offense will be led by senior running back Derek Ernst, a second-team All-Shore selection by Shore Sports Network as a junior, who rushed for 1,505 yards and 24 touchdowns on 209 carries. Those statistics were even more impressive given that Ernst wasn’t even the starter at the beginning of the season and the fact that teams loaded the box against the Rockets after starting quarterback Riley Sullivan went down with an injury in the second game of the season.

This season, the Rockets are looking to have more balance offensively with a passing game that will prevent teams from ganging up to stop Ernst.

“We are working hard every day and trying to be

balanced because we have a lot of weapons,” Ernst said.

Senior Sean Ennis, a three-year starter on defense at linebacker, will move over to the other side of the ball to help the running game in addition to junior Vito Aleo.

Senior wide receiver Jordan Smith, Jahciere Jones, and Nick Pasquin plus do-everything threat Mason Sheehan are the other weapons Ernst speaks about.

They have generated a great deal of excitement in camp so far and this is one of the reasons they feel they can make a jump in the win column. Junior Rory Sullivan will fill in at all four spots and should see significant minutes.

The competition at quarterback is being highly contested between junior Marc Carnival and senior Jonathan Rodriquez, the latter of whom started multiple games when Sullivan was injured last year.

The offensive line must find a way to replace AllDivision tackles Chris Vurchio and Nick Buzzo in addition to graduated starter Malcom Daniels. Senior left tackle Bo Bentley is the returning leader of the offensive line and feels that they can be even better as a unit than last year.

“We are a very athletic group with a lot of versatility,’’ Bentley said. “We are trying to be more balanced on offense this year.”

Returning right guard senior Will Hutchins will move to right tackle as soon as he recovers from a stress fracture injury. Sophomore Sean Greaves will fill in at right tackle until that time and will then move to one of the guard spots. Junior Matt Thompson is a three-year starter on defense and will slide over to the center position. He will be flanked on both sides by converted fullback Paul Bavaro and fellow junior Alex Dalmau at the guard positions.

Defensively, the Rockets will change up a little and move to a 4-3 from a 4-2-5. Petruzzi feels confident that with their versatility at the linebacker positions they will be a better team. Depending on down and distance and game situation it will be easy to play the 4-3 or easily switch into a nickel defense given the strengths and abilities of the line backing crew.

“We can go back and forth just by moving a linebacker back or a safety up with our versatility,’’ Petruzzi said.

Senior RB Derek Ernst Ennis will move from middle linebacker to an outside position, with junior Ryan Dickens moving to the mike. Junior Phil Meehan or sophomores Brian Pasquin and Pat Cooney will hold down the other outside linebacker spot.

The defensive line returns three starters in Thompson, senior captain Mike Gillen, and junior Sean Agar. Gillen and Agar will line up at the ends with Thompson playing the tackle spot. Senior Aaron Daniels and Bavaro, Dalmau and junior Alex Garcia are all in the rotation.

The starting wide receiver trio will also fill the secondary positions. Smith will be at safety and Jones and Pasquin are the corners, with Aleo at either corner or safety. Sullivan and juniors Eugene Kolibas and Ken Larsen are competing for playing time in the secondary.

Rodriquez and Sheehan will handle the kicking and punting, respectively.

“Football is a very simple game,’’ Petruzzi said. “We are looking to get seven (points) and take away seven (points) to improve. We feel we can do that and be better on offense, defense and special teams. When we do this we are ready for the next step, and the wins and losses will take care of themselves on game day.”

Photo by: M a r k B r o w n w w w. b 5 1 p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m

GLUE GUY: Mason Sheehan, Sr., WR/TE; Mike Gillen, Sr., DL The senior duo will be expected to lead the team on and off the field.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jordan Smith, Sr., WR Smith, who transferred to Raritan as a sophomore, brings a big-play explosiveness to the passing game.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 vs. Manasquan.

The Rockets have never won a game at Vic Kubu Warrior Field in their history, and Manasquan will be hungry to avenge a wild 41-34 loss to Raritan from last season’s opener. Making a piece of school history would catapult the Rockets into a big match-up with defending Central Jersey Group III champion Matawan, which beat Raritan twice last year, including the state playoffs. Both games are also crucial in the race for the Class A Central title.

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Raritan @ Monmouth Regional Holmdel @ Ocean Barnegat @ Rumson-Fair Haven Matawan @ St. John Vianney @ Wall

Head Coach: Jay Price, 5th season Career Record: 25-17 Assistant Coaches: Don Klein (off. coord./OL); Lou Certo (WR); Andy Manser (QB); Dave Hallion (RB); Billy Bertscha (DL); Darrell Falkinberg (OL); Sean Cunningham (off. asst.); Larry Kellyl (LB); Eric Howland (LB); Brian Lee (DB); Jay Price Sr. (DB); Rich Griffith, Matt Voskian, Andy Cefalo (freshman); Kevin Hyland (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 3-7 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The linebackers There are five players competing for three spots, and they will have to help replace the production of Tanner Cowley, who had 100-plus tackles last year and is now at the University of Virginia.

X-FACTOR: Experience The Warriors had six players who saw significant time as sophomores last year and two others, Tommy Antonucci and Connor Morgan, who played key roles as freshmen. The Warriors need that experience to translate into making a bigger impact this fall.

GLUE GUY: Matt McGrady, Sr., OL/DL McGrady and fellow senior Paul Krueger are being counted on to set the tone on and off the field.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Parker Day, Jr., RB/LB Day ran for 381 yards and three touchdowns on an average of 5.4 yards per carry as a sophomore at Toms River North last season before transferring to Manasquan. He gives them another big-play weapon in the backfield and also should be in the mix at linebacker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at home vs. Raritan The Warriors lost 41-34 in the opener to the Rockets last season and ended up struggling to a three-win campaign. They have never lost on their home field to Raritan in history, so they look to uphold that streak and build some momentum right off the bat.

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New Season, New Attitude

By Art Gordon - Shore Sports Network Contributor

A

fter starting last season 3-1 only to lose their next six games on their way to their lowest win total in 26 years, Manasquan knew a change was necessary.

Granted, four of their losses were to two-time defending Central Jersey Group II champion Rumson-Fair Haven, Central Jersey Group III champion Matawan, Class A Central champion and 10-win St. John Vianney and state finalist Bridgeton, which finished a combined 45-21, but the coaching staff felt a change had to come. A record of 3-7 is not acceptable at Manasquan, which registered its lowest win total since going 3-6 in 1988.

After the Warriors’ tough loss to rival Wall on Thanksgiving, the changes started immediately.

“Losing our last six games changed our outlook, and it showed the next day when our weight room was packed with returning players ready to implement the changes,” fifth-year head coach Jay Price said.

The changes occurred from top to bottom, with many coaches being moved to different positions.

New conditioning tests were instituted that all players had to complete in order to try out. The coaches stressed that practices were going to be more up tempo and everyone had to be in better shape and ready to play multiple positions.

“We entered numerous 7-on-7s during the off season and changed some of our strength and conditioning programs,’’ Price said. “We wanted to compete in everything.”

One of the changes was naming former Manasquan and Temple University star Don Klein as offensive coordinator. Klein has served as offensive line coach for the last four years, but will now take over the play calling.

One of the first things he has done is to force all his skill position players to be able to play multiple positions.

“I want the players being comfortable being uncomfortable,’’ Klein said. “It will keep them on their toes and not be able to take plays off.

The offense will continue to be multiple, using two wide receivers, a tight end and two backs at times to continue to run power, iso and counter. In other sets, Klein will employ six or seven playmakers at one time hoping to spread the defense out and move his skill people around to find space to make plays.

“I want to keep the pressure on them to always know what’s going on,’’ Klein said. “We have six or seven playmakers who we want to touch the ball as much as possible.”

Their multiple offense will feature a three-headed monster at tailback in Toms River North junior

transfer Parker Day, senior Paul Krueger, who is returning from a torn ACL he suffered five days before last year’s opener, and sophomore Connor Morgan, who filled in for Krueger last year and showed flashes of brilliance in sharing the rushing load with the graduated James McAlary.

The secondary spots are all up for grabs with Jamie and Flanagan working at the corners, and Antonucci

“We are looking to spread the carries out to keep us all fresh,’’ Krueger said.

The quarterback battle is being waged between returning starter Liam Grieb, a senior, sophomore Tommy Antonucci, who saw significant time as a freshman, and junior Jerry Maher. Grieb will take most of the snaps after throwing for 1,104 yards and eight touchdowns last year, while Antonucci, the oldest son of Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci, is more of an option runner and sideline-tosideline passer, and Maher is a classic pocket passer.

Senior Shane Flanagan and juniors Kyle LeBlanc and Damaso Jamie, in addition to the three tailbacks, will shift around in their spread formations.

Junior Adam Schreck will hold down the tight end spot, and when not playing fullback, senior Peter Mayer will also line up there.

Sophomore RB Connor Morgan

The offensive line returns three starters even though they will be playing different positions.

Seniors Matt McGrady, Dan Mopsick and Rob Hart all return with Mopsick at center, McGrady at guard and Hart at tackle. Sophomores Sean Anderson and Evan Hilla will fill in at the other guard spot and junior Dylan Pacetti will be at tackle.

The Warriors will line up in a 4-3 defense with McGrady and Hart at the tackles.

“We are interchangeable with either one of us playing a three- or one-technique,’’ McGrady said.

Junior Nick Pierro will also see plenty of action.

The defensive end spots are being contested between Pacetti, Schreck, senior Dustin Piatti and junior Daniel Fiske.

The competition for playing time is even more evident at the linebacking positions with Mayer, Day, Krueger, Hilla and junior Jack Mallet all getting reps.

and LeBlanc holding down the safety spots. Seniors Conor Kinneally and Kyle Coyne and junior Devan Carrol are pushing the starters for playing time.

There is an open competition in the kicking game with Flanagan and Schreck leading the pack and Day as the punter.

“Hopefully the staff will find the right rotation to keep the players fresh,’’ Price said. “This is why we are teaching everyone two positions due to our lack of depth. We are already better than last year. We are in better shape, stronger and faster.’’

Hopefully this will lead the Warriors, who have more NJSIAA titles than any team in Shore Conference history (11), back to where they belong.

“Playing a 12-game season,’’ Price said.

Photo by: M a r k B r o w n w w w. b 5 1 p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m

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St. John Vianney @ Rumson-Fair Haven Raritan Monmouth Regional @ Colonia Holmdel @ Long Branch @ Manasquan @ Barnegat

Head Coach: John Kaye, 4th season (10th overall) Career Record: (51-26-1 overall) Assistant Coaches:

Nick Citro (DL), Jay Bellamy (Def. Coord./Spec.

Teams/QB), Ken Mandeville (RB), Scott Davis (WR), Charlie Marsh (LB), Sam Turner (OL), Dave Monro, Nick Vasilinko; Matt Goetz (athletic trainer)

2014 Record: 8-4 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Shawn Ramcheran, Sr., WR/DB With the transfer of Rogers, the team’s leading returner in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, the Huskies will lean on the veteran Ramcheran to help fill the void.

Staying Hungry

By Eric Braun - Shore Sports Network Contributor

C

oming off their sixth NJSIAA title in history with a 27-7 win over Carteret to capture the Central Jersey Group III crown, Matawan is out to make sure there is no letdown coming into this season despite graduation losses and the transfer of one of its top returners.

Once again, the Huskies will start with the difficult 1-2 punch of defending Class A Central champion St. John Vianney and two-time defending Central Jersey Group II champion Rumson-Fair Haven in their first two games.

“Last season people counted us out when we lost to SJV and RFH and went 0-2 to start the season,’’ head coach John Kaye said. “We made adjustments and finished state champs, so let’s just take this season week to week and build off last season.”

Led by sophomore quarterback Georg “LC” Pearson, the Huskies return a host of Division I prospects ready to help them repeat as sectional champions. Pearson, along with seniors Aliem Shaw and Shawn Ramcheran, looks to head one of the more explosive offenses in the Shore. Pearson threw for a Shore Conference freshman-record 1,956 yards and 16 touchdowns to earn SSN third-team All-Shore honors and already has an offer from Temple.

The backfield will consist of seniors Isaiah Phillip

at fullback and Makiya Ceasar at tailback, who will take over the starting role after the graduation of leading rusher Devon Spann. Shaw, a two-time, SSN first-team All-Shore selection at linebacker, and junior Derrick Wiley will also see some time at running back.

The offensive line will be led by returning senior starters Mike Kawka and Dave Sherman, along with juniors Mike Mchugh and Donald Small, with junior Jesse Haber filling in at the open spot. Senior Dylan Messiah will also see some time on the offensive line.

Junior newcomer Jacob Signorile steps in at tight end, with Alex Pierce and Ramcheran at wide receiver.

Ramcheran returns after making 31 catches for 391 yards and six touchdowns, including a pair of touchdown catches in the state final. Juniors Joe Beukers and Jake Burlew will also see some time at wideout as the Huskies try to replace the production of DeJohn Rogers, who had 36 catches for 616 yards and 5 touchdowns last year but has transferred to Paramus Catholic.

The defensive line will consist of Mchugh at one defensive end spot and Signorile and senior Austin Santana-Simmons rotating at the other defensive end position. Kawka and junior Andrew Conzo will look to fill the production of graduated standout Jake Weber as the defensive tackles.

Shaw, who had with 122 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks as a junior, leads a linebacking corps that looks to be one of the most dominant ones in the Shore Conference. He is joined by Phillip, a threeyear starter who had 74 tackles last season, and Ceasar. Ramcheran returns at cornerback and junior Ray Belony will step in for Rogers, who also was one of the Shore’s top cover corners. Pierce and sophomore Devonte Spann will be the safeties, with Pierce making the transition after playing linebacker last year.

On the special teams, the Huskies return senior starting place kicker Adam Elliott, who was one of the top kickers in the Shore Conference a year ago and also booted a game-winning field goal in the final seconds to beat Ocean in the sectional semifinals.

Junior long-snapper Patrick Hennessy also returns as a starter, and junior Lucca Caetano-DeAlmeida will take over the punting role after the graduation of Jimmy Pierce. Ramcheran returns as a playmaker in the return game.

In addition to Pearson and Ramcheran, the Huskies have several other players generating FBS or FCS interest, including Shaw, Phillip, Kawka, Elliott, Small and Mchugh. They now look to translate that talent into the program’s first back-to-back state titles since 1991-92 and their first division title since 2010.

X-FACTOR: Offense The explosive offense behind sophomore quarterback, George Pearson will look to make another leap forward after averaging 25.1 points per game last season.

GLUE GUY: George Pearson, So., QB. Despite only being a sophomore, Pearson has already led a team to a state championship, throwing a career-high four touchdown passes in the final against Carteret. The offense will go as far as the maturity and leadership of Pearson can carry it.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 vs. St. John Vianney There is no love lost between these two rivals, as St. John Vianney features two prominent Matawan transfers and other standouts with Matawan ties. This also is a big game in the Class A Central race right off the bat, and the Huskies will look to avenge a loss from last season.

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Monmouth Regional @ St. John Vianney

@ Manasquan

@ Spotswood @ Matawan

Pinelands Regional

@ Red Bank Regional Rumson-Fair Haven Raritan

Head Coach: Greg LaCava, 1st season (11th overall) Career Record: 44-60 Assistant Coaches: Tom Letson (def. coord.); Jack Nascimento (RB/LB); Matt Walsh (WR/DB/spec. teams); John Power (OL); John Andl (QB); Joe Murphy (OL/spec. teams); Abby Letson (kickers); Colin Hart, Brendan Quinn (freshman); Shannon Davis (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 2-6 (0-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Matt Nuzzi, Sr., LB Nuzzi will take over as the leader of the linebacking corps for graduated star Frank Condito, who was a four-year starter and the team’s top defensive player.

X-FACTOR: Adjustment to the new coaches This is the third head coach in three years for Holmdel and a whole new staff with new offensive and defensive schemes, so how quickly they adjust to all the change will determine how much they canimprove.

GLUE GUY: Chris Tascione, Sr., OL/DL Tascione is Holmdel’s proverbial “coach on the field” and has helped set the up-tempo tone in practice on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Johnny O’Beirne, So., QB/WR/DB O’Beirne will see time as a sophomore, most likely at multiple positions, and should be an immediate factor.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 at Monmouth.

The new-look Hornets make their debut against a team they had on the ropes last year before a late comeback by the Falcons. A season-opening win here would be a huge confidence-booster.

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S t a r t in g F r e s h

By Art Gordon - Shore Sports Network Contributor

alongside Tascione will be “We want to be remembered senior Ryan as the class that started the Zheng or change,” senior Will Van Name sophomore said. “The coaches are taking us Ryan Mackey, down a different path, and we In Holmdel the new theme could not fit any and junior are looking to change the better. Over the years, the Hornets’ program has Seamus Wood program.” continually lost talented players to other schools. or Mackey will While they have had some success on the youth LaCava feels that Holmdel is be at center. The level in town, it has often not added up to wins at not much different from the Colts right side will the varsity high school level at a program that has Neck program he took over six years feature juniors James won two division titles in the last 26 years and Junior QB Aneesh Agra wal ago. His team struggled at first with a Hyde or Matt Brady at has never won a state title.

2-8 record, but five years later, the guard and senior Dan Cougars won a school-record 10 games and Enter Greg LaCava, Holmdel’s third head Graw and Slotwinski at the tackle played in their program’s only state final. coach in three years. spot.

He is installing his multiple pro After recharging his batteries The Hornets’ multiple base defense under Tom offense and has a solid building with a year off from coaching Letson, who was also LaCava’s defensive block in junior quarterback football after a successful coordinator at Colts Neck, will highlight Nuzzi Aneesh Agrawal, whose stint at Colts Neck, he is at middle linebacker, who LaCava believes is 1,611 yards passing last back, and he did not poised for a strong season. He will be joined by year is the third-highest come alone. He has Bergamotto, Bashir and Wong. Working hard in total of any returning brought most of his front of them in the middle of the defensive line signal-caller in the Shore highly-qualified staff will be Brady, Wood and senior Steve Nelson.

Conference. Agrawal is with him.

Tascione and Graw will hold down the defensive ready to accept all end spots.

“I enjoyed the time challenges the new staff off but I missed the The secondary has five players to fill four spots will throw at him. competition and the – Walier, Van Name, “We are trying to build relationships that I was O’Beirne, Noor and a program not just a able to forge over the sophomore Mike team,’’ he said. years with my coaches and Devino, with players,’’ LaCava said.

Wailer looking Pushing Agrawal Senior WR Will Van Name “Some of my relationships to play either for snaps at go back to me playing high school for safety or quarterback is talented some of these same coaches.” cornerback sophomore Johnny O’Beirne, who a f t e r is pushing to get on the field at During his research on the Holmdel job, he moving over several positions. Senior fullback continually was told of a great deal of splintering f r o m Matt Nuzzi also returns to the going on when it came to retaining the talent in linebacker.

Hornet backfield and will share town. He knows that in today’s day and age when The kicking some carries with senior Adnan programs are not successful people are not going game will be Bashir. The tailback position is to be happy and will be very fast to jump ship handled by being contested between senior Dante and go somewhere else. He knew if he accepted Jack Cook and Bergamotto and junior Tristan Wong. the job in order for him to succeed he would have Van Name. to keep Holmdel players home.

Senior LB Matt Nuzzi The spread offense will give two For a team that has returning seniors a chance to shine with LaCava wants to instill in them the desire to not had a winning season Walier and Van Name leading the wide receivers. play at the youth levels in Holmdel and then since 2007, this senior class is hoping to be the move to the high school to continue the Hornets’ Also hoping to get on the field are O’Beirne and junior David Noor. The competition at the ‘Y’ ones that turns things around and finally creates tradition. the foundation of a consistently competitive receiver position is between juniors Nick Harris, “I know this won’t happen overnight, but I program.

Matt Brady and Giacomo Currieri. want the kids to want to be part of the change and Senior Christian Tascione will lead the not against the change,’’ he said. “We have to revamped offensive line from his left tackle treat the kids right and do things the right way, position and has Division I potential, according and hopefully this will show up down the road in to LaCava. Junior John Slotwinski is hoping to wins and losses.”

Photo by: spell Tascione at the tackle spot. Playing The players are excited and are anxious to be Art Gordon

E

very year when September rolls around, football coaches try to come up with themes that can have some meaning to their players as they get ready for the season.

part of it.

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@ Holmdel Manasquan Rumson-Fair Haven @ Matawan @ Pinelands Regional Kennedy Memorial St. John Vianney @ Raritan Ocean

Head Coach: Career Record: 66-89

Rich Mosca, 3rd season (19th overall) Assistant Coaches: Dan Wendel (Off. Coor./QB/DL), Jason McQuay (RB/LB/JV), Tom D’Ambrisi (WR/DB), Justin McGhee (OL/DL), Zach Baltz (Special Teams/WR/DB), Joe Nappi, Joe Yglesias (Freshman), Kevin Egan (Volunteer) 2014 Record: 3-7 (1-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Justin Trapp, Sr., WR/CB Monmouth must replace an All-Shore receiver in Isaiah Searight, who was also a top defender at safety and a team leader, and Trapp will assume a lot of that responsibility, if not all of the gaudy numbers put up by the Fordham freshman.

X-FACTOR: Casey Pachucki, Jr., QB/DB Pachucki is a much different kind of quarterback than Jimmy Green was for the Monmouth in each of the last two years, but brings a hard-nosed, physical approach to the position that also serves him well at linebacker.

GLUE GUY: Malik Wiggins, Sr., WR/CB At 5-foot-8 and about 150 pounds, Wiggins is hardly the biggest guy on the field, but he was chosen as a senior captain thanks to a tireless motor and his upbeat attitude at practice. Wiggins will start at cornerback and move between the slot and out wide as a receiver.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Quintin Sledge, Sr., OL Sledge did not play as a sophomore or a junior but came back out this season and has impressed the coaching staff despite some understandable rust. He is in line to start on a more experienced offensive line.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 19 vs. Manasquan Monmouth missed out on an opportunity to improve to 20 when it lost at Manasquan in Week Two of last season.

If the Falcons can again get by Holmdel on opening night, they would have another shot at a 2-0 start with Manasquan standing in the way. For a team with a backloaded schedule looking to establish itself, a fast start is basically a must.

Ready for Flight

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

E

ven with arguably the top wide receiver in the Shore Conference last year, the Monmouth Regional football team was not able to push to the .500 mark during the 2014 season. So why are the Falcons optimistic that 2015 has a chance to be a breakout season for the program despite the loss of starting quarterback Jimmy Green and firstteam All-Shore wide receiver Isaiah Searight?

“This is the first year we really have the kind of team that I want to have,” head coach Rich Mosca said. “We had some good players in my first two years back, but this is the first year where we have some talent, and we have the numbers we need.

There’s a good balance that wasn’t really fully developed last year.”

Now in his third season of his second stint as the Falcons head coach, Mosca likes the makeup of this year’s team even as the offense enters a new frontier without the dominant receiver. Although August is a time for optimism for high school teams throughout the country, there is reason to trust Mosca’s eye when it comes to rebuilding teams.

“My history has been to take over teams that haven’t won, get them back to a respectable level, then leave,” said Mosca, who also coached at Middletown South and took over a Monmouth program that had lost 18 straight games in the early 1990s and led them to a .500 record.

“Whether it’s been college or high school, I really like going through that process of building a program back up, and the reality is, there was a lot of work that needed to be done here. A few years ago, we barely had 30 kids come out and now, we are up around 70, so it’s definitely moving in the right direction.”

The Falcons are moving forward with a different look on offense without Searight and Green, now relying on a more experienced offensive line and a run-heavy approach. After trying to go over the top and around defenses last year and hoping its defense could hold down the fort, Monmouth will now look to challenge teams at the point of attack and keep its defense off the field a little longer.

“Last year, our experience was at receiver and quarterback and those guys had to carry the offense, but this year, the offensive line is going to be a strength of the team,” Gallagher said.

“We’re bigger and stronger across the board, we have more depth and everyone is a year better.”

Junior Casey Pachucki moves from a part-time running back to quarterback this season and will be as much of a running threat as any of Monmouth’s many options in the backfield. Senior tailback Ely Velez was the feature back a year ago and figures to shoulder the bulk of the running duties this year, but will have a capable changeof-pace option in senior Frank Ashe as a complement.

“It’s definitely noticeable,” Velez said of the difference in the offensive line. “There is a lot of competition, practices are physical and guys are hungry. It’s kind of the last piece of the puzzle for us, and it’s definitely making life easier for the guys carrying the ball.”

Although Monmouth will be more equipped to pound the ball this season, the Falcons still have a number of options in the passing game should offensive coordinator Dan Wendel want to turn Pachucki loose. Senior captains Justin Trapp and Malik Wiggins are back at wide receiver and juniors Elijah Walker and Omar Steward will both have a chance to contribute at receiver as well, along with senior Ethan Hoffman-Francis. Senior Matt Mooney will slide in at tight end to round out the receiving corps.

Even with some new personnel on board, Monmouth is looking to take a step forward offensively.

Despite some d y n a m i c playmakers, the Falcons did not top 30 points after beating Holmdel 3937 in the season opener and ended the season averaging 16.1 points per game, which was in the bottom half of the Shore Conference.

The Falcons defense, meanwhile, held its own two years ago and let a pair of games against St. John Vianney and John F. KennedyIselin get out of hand last year while attaining mixed results. Mills will anchor the middle of the defensive line as a defensive tackle, while Mooney and Ashe play on either end of the line.

Senior tackle Tyler Gallagher

Senior captain and left tackle Tyler Gallagher returns as the leader on the offensive line and seniors Cross Canella, Jodel Bonhometre and Naazim Mills all return with experience as well. Seniors Quintin Sledge and Ciaran Hoffman-Francis have also impressed the coaching staff after coming back out for the team this season. Sledge has not played since going out for the team as a freshman and Hoffman-Francis did not play last year, according to Mosca.

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

“We’re going to be more balanced,” Trapp said. “We’re going to have a better run game, and we’re not going to have to go right to the passing game right off the bat.”

The group of linebackers is also a deep one, led

by Pachucki, Velez, senior Trenton Sartor and senior Alonzo Finch. With Pachucki and Velez

Senior TB Ely Velez playing key roles on the offense, that depth will come in handy to help spell the pair of two-way talents.

Wiggins and Trapp return after getting plenty of reps last year for a secondary that will have to replace standout Daryl Gamble. Steward and Walker form an athletic safety tandem that will have to make up for the loss of Searight on the defensive side of the ball.

“I learned a lot from guys like Isaiah and Daryl Gamble and I feel like everybody has been putting those lessons to work so far during the preseason,” Wiggins said. “There has been a really good vibe in practice, especially on defense. I definitely think we’re going to be a much better team on defense.”

Mosca and company have little doubt that the team is improved, but navigating through the Shore Conference Class A Central division will test every team in the division, particularly one trying to make that leap that Monmouth is. The schedule includes two defending NJSIAA sectional champions (Matawan and Rumson-Fair Haven), a 10-1 St. John Vianney team with a returning Division I quarterback in Anthony Brown and an improving Raritan team that reached the NJSIAA playoffs last year as well.

Throw in a tradition-rich Manasquan program hungry to bounce back from a 3-7 season and a Holmdel team under the direction of accomplished new coach Greg LaCava and there will not be any breaks for the Falcons as they try to climb the A Central ladder and push into the state playoffs.

“Every game is tough, but I like that and I’m trying to send the message to our guys that we should welcome the challenge, and I really see them responding,” Mosca said. “You’ve got to be on top of your game every Friday night or Saturday afternoon, and even though we haven’t won as many games as we’d like, the kids are learning how to compete every week. The level of enthusiasm is great, and with the right attitude and with the numbers we now have, the results are going to come.”

Photo by: Bill Normile billnormile.zenfolio.com

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T h e M o r e T h in g s C h a n g e...

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

A

fter a record-setting season that included a single-season school-record 10 wins, a Shore Conference Class A Central division championship and a trip to the NJSIAA NonPublic Group III semifinals, the last person a team in the St. John Vianney football team’s position would expect be replacing is a coach.

Head Coach: Derek Sininsky, 1st season Career Record: 30-60

Assistant Coaches: Jim Reid (Offensive Coordinator/WR/DB), Mike Tedeschi (Defensive Coordinator/Slot WR/Outside LB), Eddie Hernandez (Special Teams/RB/LB), Tm O’Keefe (QB/DB), Jason Wombough (OL/DL), Keith Rescorl (OL/DL), Rich Lamberson (WR/LB), Tom Dinetta

2014 Record: 10-1 (6-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Derek Sininsky With so much talent returning to a 10-win team, the only real question marks surrounding the Lancers stem from the summer coaching change that replaced Ciccotelli with Sininsky.

X-FACTOR: The Offensive Line If there is one part of the team with something to prove, it is likely the offensive line. Micah Clark and Jamaal Beaty are reliable returnees to the unit, but Sininsky said the other three spots are up for grabs among “six or seven good players.”

GLUE GUY: Calvin Beaty, RB/LB The Lancers lit up the scoreboard with a high-powered offense led by the arm and legs of Anthony Brown, but Beaty is the muscle on both sides of the ball that gives the Lancers a physical edge to go with the speed factor.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Chris Chukwuneke, RB/DB A transfer from J.P. Stevens, Chukwuneke will make an immediate impact on both sides of the ball and will add even more speed and toughness to a defense that looks like it may be catching up to the high-scoring offense. Neptune transfer and 6-6 receiver Marcque Ellington will also be an impact addition to the lineup.

Head coach Derek Sininsky With a wealth of talent returning all over the field from its best team since the early 1980s, the Lancers go into the 2015 season with a new voice leading the program. Former Marlboro, Raritan and Monmouth Regional head coach Derek Sininsky took over the program in July after the school stunningly parted ways with Mark Ciccotelli, who coached the Lancers

for just that one record-setting season.

player in starting quarterback and Boston College recruit Anthony Brown. They also bring back second-team senior linebacker Calvin Beaty, All-Division junior two-way lineman Micah Clark, and AllDivision junior linebacker Tyler Tedeschi. Clark is one of the top players in the country for the Class of 2017, boasting offers from the likes of defending national champion Ohio State and Alabama.

A season that was supposed to come with a seamless transition from last year’s breakout campaign is all of a sudden a new kind of adjustment for St. John Vianney’s many returning players.

If anything has made the transition easier, according to both Sininsky and the players, it has been a coaching staff that includes a number of holdovers from the group that coached under Ciccotelli last year.

Offensive coordinator Jim Reid, defensive coordinator Mike Tedeschi and special teams coach Eddie Hernandez are all holdovers from last year’s staff, and their established relationships with the players has eased the acclimation process for both Sininsky and his new players.

“The coaches came in the right way,” said senior wide receiver and cornerback Khalil Haskins, a Matawan native who – along with several of his teammates – admittedly pondered transferring when news of Ciccotelli’s departure broke. “They said they didn’t want to change much and they were going to try to keep things the same way they were last year when we won 10 games. Now we’re just focusing on getting better and going after that state championship.”

The other factor that makes success likely in Sininsky’s first year with the Lancers is the talent that returns to the team. In addition to Haskins, the Lancers return another All-Shore first-team

and that’s what I see.”

“Being very talented doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be a great high school football player. It’s all those other things, like t h e i r leadership,” Sininsky said.

“They hang out together, they have each other’s backs, they respect one another, we trust one another and that’s what we always talk about before practice.

Honor your teammate and respect your teammate,

Brown is coming off an All-Shore season in which he racked up more than 3,000 total yards and 34 touchdowns while

Sernior QB Anthon y Brown

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Matawan The two rivals from down the road square off in the season opener, just as they did last year, when St. John Vianney stormed out of the gate with an impressive win. Matawan, however, finished the season by winning the Central Jersey Group II title, so while this will be a critical Class A Central rivalry game, it is still only the first game.

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Haskins, a Matawan native who – along with several of his teammates – admittedly pondered transferring when news of Ciccotelli’s departure broke. “They said they didn’t want to change much and they were going to try to keep things the same way they were last year when we won 10 games. Now we’re just focusing on getting better and going after that state championship.”

The other factor that makes success likely in Sininsky’s first year with the Lancers is the talent that returns to the team. In addition to Haskins, the Lancers return another All-Shore first-team player in starting quarterback and Boston College recruit Anthony Brown. They also bring back second-team senior linebacker Calvin Beaty, All-Division junior two-way lineman Micah Clark, and All-Division junior linebacker Tyler Tedeschi. Clark is one of the top players in the country for the Class of 2017, boasting offers from the likes of defending national champion Ohio State and Alabama.

“Being very talented doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be a great high school football player. It’s all those other things, like their leadership,” Sininsky said. “They hang out together, they have each other’s backs, they respect one another, we trust one another and that’s what we always talk about before practice. Honor your teammate and respect your teammate, and that’s what I see.”

Brown is coming off an All-Shore season in which he racked up more than 3,000 total yards and 34 touchdowns while leading one of the Shore Conference’s most explosive offenses (42.8 points per game). He threw for a Shore-Conference-leading 2,198 yards to go with 25 touchdown passes – good for second in the conference. Brown also ran for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.

“We’re more mature this year as a group,” Brown said. “We have a lot more leadership. We had leaders last year, but this year, everybody is taking that leadership mentality. We’re all focused on winning, and we’re not going to let other things distract us from what we want to accomplish.”

Haskins returns as the offense’s top receiving threat in the passing game, as well as one of its top defensive backs after an All-Shore season at cornerback. As a junior, Haskins ran for 566 yards and six touchdowns while catching 25 passes for 398 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also chipped in two return touchdowns and picked off six passes on defense – the third-highest interception total in the Shore.

Brown will have a number of targets in the passing game outside of Haskins, including a pair of 6-foot6 options on the outside. Seniors Mike Stapert and Marcque Ellington – a Neptune transfer – will play on either end of the formation, and Jeff Sheard gives the Lancers a second slot option along with Haskins.

“I have a lot of weapons to throw to so I’m expecting big things (from the offense) again,” Brown said.

In addition to pairing with Tedeschi as a formidable linebacker duo, Beaty returns as a rushing threat out of the backfield. Along with the linebackers, St. John Vianney returns a wealth of secondary talent led by Haskins at cornerback and also adds J.P. Stevens transfer and junior Chris Chukwuneke at safety. Chukweneke was also a 1,000-yard rusher for J.P. Stevens last fall. Sheard will also play outside linebacker on defense.

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Matawan @ Monmouth Regional @ St. John Vianney Long Branch Manasquan @ Lakewood @ Raritan @ Holmdel Shore Regional

Head Coach: Bryan Batchler, 3rd season Career Record: 20–4

Assistant Coaches: Jerry Schulte (DC); Charlie Pirrello (OC/RB); John Corneilusen (QB); Joe Murphy (OL); Jeremy Schulte (DL); Bill Lagrotteria (DL); Rob Orrok (DB); Chris Quinn (WR); Frank Papalia (TE); Sam Shaud (WR/DB); Jerry Gagliano (Frosh HC); John Bellavance (Frosh); Jason Lippart (Frosh); Alex Stein (Athletic Trainer); Kyle Loughran (Manager); Jack Velcamp (Manager); Ana Shaud (Manager); Elizabeth Mahon (Manager); Shana Schwartz (Manager) 2014 Record: xx-xx

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Matt Vecchiarelli, Jr., RB Vecchiarelli has one of the more daunting tasks of any player in the Shore in replacing Rumson’s alltime leading rusher, Princeton recruit Charlie Volker, who ran for more than 3,000 yards combined the last two seasons. Vecchiarelli is a player who is hungry and ready for the challenge to prove he is a standout running back.

X-FACTOR: Running Backs Vecchiarelli, Bryan Hess, and Lachlan Hull will be getting most of the carries at running back and if they play up to their potential, it could make Rumson a formidable offense with Mike O’Connor also a running threat and an improved passer.

GLUE GUY: Max Pfrang, Sr., LB A team captain and important part of the linebacking corps, Pfrang is a 3-year starter who has played a key role on two state championship teams.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Elijah McAllister, So., WR/DE McAllister is 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds and could make big things happen by going after the quarterback on defense and as a big target for Mike O’Connor downfield. He was the center as a freshman on the Bulldogs’ basketball team that won the Shore Conference Tournament last season and has impressed the football coaches with his leadership, skill, and ability.

He already boasts a scholarship offer from Temple for football.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 2 at St. John Vianney After losing 35-28 to the Lancers in Week Three last season in a game that ultimately decided the Class A Central titles, the Bulldogs avenge that loss against another loaded St. John Vianney squad to make a run at the division crown.

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Staying On Top

B y V i n E b e n a u – Shore Sports Network Contributor

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umson-Fair Haven made history by winning back-to-back state titles for the first time when it beat Delaware Valley 21-0 to capture its second straight Central Jersey Group II championship last fall.

Third-year head coach Bryan Batchler knows how to deal with the expectations of following up a championship season considering he already went through it last year and made sure there was no letdown. No Bulldogs team has ever gone 12-0, so there is still plenty of history for this year’s group to chase in addition to defending their crown.

“We’re always trying to get better,” Batchler said.

“We have two goals right now, to go 1-0 and beat Matawan, and to go 1-0 in December.”

Replacing the school’s all-time leading rusher, Princeton recruit Charlie Volker, will be no easy task after Volker rushed for 1,441 yards and 18 touchdowns on 191 attempts last year on the heels of a 2,000yard season as a junior. However, the new running back tandem has the chance to keep the production at a peak level.

“People think I’m crazy to say we could be better than last year, but I think we could be as good as we were in 2013,” Batchler said. “Matt Vecchiarelli ran last year in Charlie’s absence (due to injury) vs. St. John Vianney. Bryan Hess is a lacrosse commit to Lafayette and a really good athlete.

Lachlan Hull, who started last year at receiver for us, is going to get carries, so by committee we think we can be really good.”

The Bulldogs have the talent to once again compete with a tough schedule, which Batchler acknowledges is the reason to focus on getting better.

“There’s a great mix of juniors that are going to play,” said Batchler. “When they were freshmen I sent them to (state power) Paramus Catholic to play a game and they beat them 21-8. They scrimmaged DePaul Catholic and won by 30 and beat RBC’s freshmen 43-0. These juniors are very, very talented. I’d put them up against anybody in the state, they’re that good.”

One of those juniors is quarterback Mike O’Connor, who rushed for 912 yards and 11 touchdowns on 138 attempts and went 28-57 (49 percent) passing with 485 yards and 7 touchdowns last season. O’Connor looks to improve on those numbers after helping the Bulldogs win a championship in his first year as the starter. He also has a potentially game-breaking target in 6-foot-6 sophomore receiver Elijah McAllister, who already has an offer from Temple.

“Were just trying to get back to another state championship,” said O’Connor. “We are really strong this year and have a nice balance through the pass game and the run game.”

The Bulldogs averaged 27.9 points per game last season, while allowing an average of 13.6 points per game. They have five starters returning on offense and eight on the defensive side this season.

One big piece of the defensive unit is senior captain Max

Pfrang, a linebacker whom Batchler says is the glue that keeps the team together.

“When he was healthy at the end of last year he was just killer, “ Batchler said. “He had 75 tackles as a sophomore, another 75 as a junior, and he’s a leader for us.”

The Bulldogs showed resilience during their second-place finish in Class A Central last season, fighting back from consecutive losses to division champion St. John Vianney and state semifinalist Long Branch without Volker in the lineup to repeat as state champs.

“We go on the attack, and we’re pretty aggressive as a team,” Pfrang said. “We don’t wait for stuff to happen, we attack at everything we do.”

The defense is a weapon the Bulldogs aim to use to their advantage despite the graduation of standouts Tucker Briggs and Sam Eisenstadt.

Leading the way this year is Pfrang and junior linebacker Mike Ruane, who had 100 tackles last year as a sophomore, along with James Melia as the other linebacker to form the backbone of the defense in Rumson’s 43 scheme.

Butchy Clarke, Matt Waters, and Liam Adams will look to play significant roles on the defensive line, with Ian Clarke and Jack Woods in the rotation at defensive end.

Senior cornerbacks Mike Caruso and Griffin Schultz and junior safety Mike Murdock anchor the secondary, where juniors Pat Russo and Emmett Jennings are battling for the other safety spot.

“Our goal defensively is to shut everyone out, play smart defense, and play team defense,” Pfrang said.

“We have a really talented team,” said senior A.J. Kelly, who will get reps at center.

“I’m just looking forward to it all coming together.”

Vecchiarelli will see most of the carries out of the backfield in Rumson’s multiple pro offense after showing flashes of explosiveness in filling in for Volker last year.

“Matt Vecchiarelli is a kid I think could make an impact,” Batchler said. “All you need to know about Matt is he’s a confident kid that I would expect to do big things.”

Up front, senior Brian Lawless and sophomore Justin Johnson are competing for the left guard spot, and sophomore Nate Raphan will start at right tackle. Thomas Chapin will handle the punting duties but may also see time at kicker with Jack Talhami.

The Bulldogs would also like to get some revenge on new Thanksgiving rival Shore Regional after losing the inaugural “Devil-Dawg Bowl” to the Blue Devils last season.

“We did not like going there and losing last year,” Batchler said. “We will be geared up and ready to go for that game. “

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@ Lacey @ Brick Memorial Toms River South Marlboro Jackson Memorial @ Toms River East @ Southern @ Brick Township @ Neptune

Head Coach: Dave Oizerowitz, 3rd season (5th overall) Career Record: 18-23 Assistant Coaches: Mike Oizerowitz (off. coord./WR/DB); Rich Malek (def. coord/DB.); Bob Cassidy (DL), Bill Dowd (OL), Gabe Roonan (Special Teams/OLB), Paul Zambito (QB/ILB), Charlie Monanian (DL), Chris Gold, Bill Wilbert (Freshman)

2014 Record: 6-5 (4-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Christian Lynch, Sr., LB Lynch will need to take over as a leader on defense to help improve a unit that gave up an average of 28 points per game in Toms River North’s five losses last season.

X-FACTOR: The Defense The Mariners should have no trouble scoring but must find a way to consistently stop highcaliber teams in championship-level games.

GLUE GUY: Da’Shon Copes, Sr., DE At times last season he could not be blocked by one opposing player, which means this fall he will see plenty of double teams, which should open the way for others to clean up.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Daryn Blackwell, So., RB

Alex Blackwell’s nephew just might be very special. He is both quick and big (230 pounds), and when he turns the corner, defensive backs will have to think twice about what to do.

Mariners Set To Sail

B y K e v i n W i l l i a m – Director Shore Sports Network

O

ne year after a breakthrough campaign that included a big state playoff upset on the heels of a one-win season, Toms River North head coach Dave Oizerowitz is quick to answer when asked what his talented team must improve on this fall.

highly-regarded sophomore Daryn Blackwell (5-11, 230), who is the nephew of former Toms River North and Monmouth University basketball great Alex Blackwell. Sharing the load at fullback and providing blocking will be seniors Nick Tedeschi, a converted tight end, and Tommy Donovan.

than that and is not afraid to initiate contact when he has to.

He is

Husni also has a lot of options when he goes to the air in returning juniors Bryce Watts (24 receptions, 204 yards) and Darrion Carrington (16 receptions, 284 yards), who each caught two touchdown passes.

Newcomers include junior Kenney Cook and sophomore Andrew Daniluk. The tight ends are senior Calvin Jackson, who started most of last year, and senior Quintin Manning.

“Consistency was our biggest problem, and not just when it came to our play on the field, but in practice as well,’’ he said. “I really thought they started to get it late in the season, and it appears to be carrying over to the pre-season as well.”

Oizerowitz has a team loaded in returning talent as the Mariners bring back their leading passer, rusher, receiver and tackler.

In addition, there’s plenty of experience on both the offensive and defensive lines, which is why many will rate Toms River North the team to beat in Class A South, although their thirdyear coach is not among them.

The offensive line lost graduated standout Joe Fantozzi, but returns an outstanding group starting with junior center Will Sagarese. The guards are junior Esiah Santamaria (6-0, 253) and 6-foot-3, 265-pound senior Luke Butera, who should be among the best in the Shore. Senior Tim Petersen (6’1, 250) will start at one tackle spot with juniors Cole LaBatch and Matthew Melamed battling for the other starting position.

“We’re still the hunters and are still chasing Jackson Memorial – I think we all are and all have been,’’ Oizerowitz said.

“Plus the other programs like Brick and Brick Memorial are so traditionally solid.

We don’t worry about what people are saying about us, but I will say this, it beats where we were two years ago.”

The Mariners can put that one-win season in their rearview mirror. They were 6-5 last year, including a playoff upset over top-seeded Lenape, and appear ready to make a big jump this fall.

Back to run the spread offense attack is junior quarterback Mike Husni, who accounted for 2,676 yards of total offense (1,289 passing, 1,387 rushing) and 24 touchdowns (12 rushing, 12 passing) while earning second-team All-Shore honors from SSN. Husni is listed as 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, but he plays bigger

surrounded by a stable of w e a p o n s , beginning with 6foot, 210-pound tailback Asante Moorer, who ran over and around teams for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior and was a third-team SSN AllShore selection.

Moorer will share carries this fall with

The Marineres line up in a 3-4 defensive scheme, with junior Joe Nardoza (6-0, 257) at the nose guard spot, flanked by LaBatch and senior Da’shon Copes, a 6-foot-1, 275pound wrecking ball who earned first-team SSN All-Shore honors following a dominating junior campaign. Copes led the team with 91 tackles, 22 of them for a loss, and 12 sacks, and he goes into the season as a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in the Shore.

Also competing for playing time will be promising sophomore Shane Carney. There is some inexperience at linebacker, although senior Christian

Sophomore quarterback Mike Husni

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Brick Memorial If Toms River North wins this game, the Mariners have a good shot to be 4-0 going into a showdown with Jackson Memorial.

Brick Memorial handed them a tough 16-14 loss a year ago on a 40-yard field goal in the final seconds, so there will be some revenge at work here.

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tight end, and Tommy Donovan.

at the nose guard spot, flanked by LaBatch and senior Da’shon Copes, a 6foot-1, 275-pound wrecking ball who earned first-team SSN All-Shore honors following a dominating junior campaign. Copes led the team with 91 tackles, 22 of them for a loss, and 12 sacks, and he goes into the season as a top candidate for Defensive Player of the Year in the Shore.

Husni also has a lot of options when he goes to the air in returning juniors Bryce Watts (24 receptions, 204 yards) and Darrion Carrington (16 receptions, 284 yards), who each caught two touchdown passes.

Newcomers include junior Kenney Cook and sophomore Andrew Daniluk. The tight ends are senior Senior RB Asante Moorer Also competing Jackson, Calvin for playing time will who started most of be promising sophomore Shane Carney. last year, and senior Quintin Manning.

There is some inexperience at linebacker, The offensive line lost graduated standout although senior Christian Lynch (62 tackles, Joe Fantozzi, but returns an outstanding 12.5 for loss) and Jackson (37 tackles) are group starting with junior center Will back along with a group that includes seniors Sagarese. The guards are junior Esiah Michael Cangialosi and Anthony Storino Santamaria (6-0, 253) and 6-foot-3, 265along with Donovan. pound senior Luke Butera, who should be The defensive backfield should be strong among the best in the Shore. Senior Tim with Watts and Carrington starting at Petersen (6’1, 250) will start at one tackle cornerback while Moorer and senior Matt spot with juniors Cole LaBatch and Matthew Tomaschek are set to start at safety. Senior Melamed battling for the other starting Janaire Bradley and transfer Mickey position.

The Marineres line up in a 3-4 defensive scheme, with junior Joe Nardoza (6-0, 257)

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Central Regional Toms River East @ Brick Twp. Jackson Memorial @ Howell Toms River South @ Toms River North @ Lacey @ Brick Memorial

Head Coach: Chuck Donohue Sr., 18th season (42nd overall) Career Record: 236-161-4 Assistant Coaches: Matt Abbato (def. coord.); Andrew Beckett (DL); Eric Fierro (QB); C.J. Tomelden (RB/DB); Dylan Larson (OL); Dennis Pidgeon (OL/DL); Chuck Donohue Jr. (OL); Joe Fleck, Dan Roy, Rob Barret (freshman); Joe Caucino (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 5-5 (3-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Offensive Line Graduation took all five offensive linemen who started for the past two years. The new group has the task of creating running lanes and protecting the quarterback while developing chemistry. They will be tested by several top defenses in A South.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback Play It’s a chicken-or-the-egg situation with the quarterback and the offensive line, but if Donahower or Cammarata can take the reins and have success early, it will take some pressure off the line, and vice versa.

GLUE GUY: Pat Walker, Sr., RB/LB A two-year, two-way starter who is the Rams’ top returning offensive weapon, Walker will be leaned upon for both production and leadership.

Shifting Out of Neutral

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

W

ith six starters returning on defense, three starters back on offense and a group of young players prepared to make an impact, Southern is looking to put it all together and climb the ladder in Class A South after a pair of 5-5 seasons.

Southern has a reputation for being well-coached and playing tough no matter what its talent level is compared to the opposition. Last season the Rams slugged their way to a 5-5 record against a difficult schedule, and this season they aim to be a factor in the division race while chasing a playoff berth in South Jersey Group V. “We really have to take it one week at a time,” said senior running back/linebacker Pat Walker. “No game in A South will be easy and everyone knows that. We’ll be in every game. The defense just has to stay tight and the offense has to put up some more points.”

Southern’s identity is its hard-nosed defense under coordinator Matt Abbato, and the Rams will bring back six starters in their 5-2 unit that allowed 20.8 points per game.

The teeth of the defense is with the linebacking corps as three of the four are returning starters and the other saw significant action. Walker and 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior Jesse Amirr, both returning starters, are the outside linebackers with sophomore Vin Miele and junior Nick Roman also in the mix. The inside linebackers are sophomore Joe Miele and junior Dane Walker. Senior James Barnett will also see time there.

Joe Miele was a phenom last year when he started on defense as a freshman and led the Rams with 80 tackles and four sacks. Head coach Chuck Donohue Sr. doesn’t like to start sophomores, so for Miele to not just see the field but start as a freshman says a lot about his abilities and potential.

“I’m very, very lucky to have a year under my belt already,” Joe Miele said. “Last year I thought the defense played phenomenal, and I had a lot of the older guys help me out and prepare me for this year.”

Senior Doug Vande Velde returns as a starting defensive tackle along with his brother Devin, a sophomore. Senior Joe Dolphin is the nose guard with junior Joe Poling also at the position.

Senior Nick Simonetti played plenty of snaps in the secondary last season and returns to start at cornerback.

Sophomore John Dolphin, sophomore Matt Barnett and senior Brandon Barnetti will also rotate at cornerback based on the package. Senior Anthony Gagliardi is a

returning starter at safety and will be joined by junior Matt Bleichner. Senior Kyle Brown is also in the mix at safety.

“Our defense has a lot of depth at linebacker and corners that have experience, so that will help us,” Pat Walker said. “The line is young but (coaches Dylan) Larson and (Andrew) Beckett are tough coaches, so I feel good about it.”

“Coach Abbato always says bend but don’t break, so our defense always tries to follow that,” Miele said.

On the other side, Southern will return just three starters and has to replace its entire offensive line. The defense knows the onus will be on them early in the season.

“The defense is aware of that and we know we have to step up,” Miele said. “We’re reminded of that every day. We want to take as much pressure off the offense as we can.”

Southern’s multiple offense will feature more I-formation looks than in seasons past to take advantage of a deep and versatile group of running backs. It has traditionally been a position Southern has had to piece together. Some years they have had breakout backs, but it usually seems to be a secondary position. There is excitement surrounding the position with the Walker brothers, Pat and Dane, and the Miele brothers, Joe and Vin, rotating at fullback and tailback. Barnetti is also in the rotation and brings speed to the position. Pat Walker led Southern with 643 yards and 11 total touchdowns last season.

“We’ve always struggled at running back in that we had guys that could only do a little bit of stuff,” Donohue said.

“Now we have guys that can all block and are playing some phase of defense and are competing against each other.

We’ve never really had that. Every rep they’re fighting for playing time, and that’s a good thing. It will also let us substitute a lot.”

“We have plenty of running backs and with different styles,” Pat Walker said. “Brandon is fast, my brother is a great blocker, Vinnie is pretty fast and Joe is a downhill runner.”

Amirr played some at tight end last season and will start there as a junior. Toms River North transfer Rich Schwarting will back him up. Gagliardi will start at wide receiver after seeing some time there last season, and will be joined by senior Kyle McDonnell. In threeand four-wide receiver sets Brown and junior Chris

Senior RB Pat Walker Citerella will play.

Stepping in at quarterback will be either junior Jackson Donahower or junior Sam Cammarata. Donahower is 6foot-3 with a big arm and Cammarata also throws a good deep ball.

“Both quarterbacks bring different things to the table,” Pat Walker said. “Sam is very smart and has a great deep ball, and Jackson is tall to see over the line of scrimmage and can air it out.”

The challenge on offense will be replacing all five starters on the offensive line. Senior Quinn Smith is the left tackle, 6-foot-3, 240-pound senior Zack Weidenhof is the right tackle and Joe Dolphin is the center. Doug and Devin Vande Velde and senior Brian Weeks will rotate at the guard positions.

“The offensive line just needs to get some more experience,” Donohue said. “Those guys last year were good, and now we have the backs but developing a line will be the struggle. Working in the ‘I’ allows us to have two double teams and have a back in to block.”

Cammarata will be the punter and either Barnetti or McDonnell will be the kicker.

The Rams begin their season with a Week Zero game at home against Central. The Golden Eagles, who had been Southern’s Thanksgiving rival, feature 2,000-yard rusher Mike Bickford and defeated the Rams 16-6 in the final game for both teams last season. Getting off to a good start with a win before getting into their division schedule will be crucial.

Photo by: Bill Normile billnormile.zenfolio.com

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Rich Schwarting, Sr., TE/DL A transfer from Toms River North, Schwarting gives the Rams another big body up front with his 240-pound frame.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Brick Township There’s a good chance the Rams could be 2-0 heading into this game, which begins a very tough stretch of A South opponents. This game will give be a good indicator of which team is going to be a factor late in the season.

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Donovan Catholic @ Toms River East @ Toms River North Lacey @ Southern @ Jackson Memorial Brick Memorial Brick Township @ Lakewood

Head Coach: Ron Signorino Jr., 5th season Career Record: 20-21 Assistant Coaches: Matt Martin (Offensive Coordinator/RB), Bill Rankin (QB), Brett Hardie (WR/Spec teams), Kyle Austin (DL), Joe Kelly (RB), Ray Guzzi (DB), Jimmy Drackowitz (DL), Bill McDonnell (LB), Bill Malast (OL), Dan Cicala (DB), Bill Rankin Sr., Dave Fanslau, Trevor Signornino, Scott Komf (Freshman).

2014 Record: 5-5 (2-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jaden Kosh, Sr., QB; T.J. Scuderi, So., QB One of these two is the most likely candidate to have to replace one of the Shore’s most electrifying players, current Monmouth University freshman Tymere Berry, at quarterback for the Indians.

X-FACTOR: The Passing Game The Indians did not throw with a lot of success last year, but then again it had Berry running all over the place. Defenses will stack the box and make Kosh or Scuderi prove they can hurt them throwing the ball.

GLUE GUY: Tyler Sosa, Sr., RB/S/K/P Sosa is very athletic, with the ability to run around or through opposing defenses. He also will need to help lead the defense from his safety spot, where he will provide plenty of run support.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: T.J. Scuderi, So., QB If Scuderi can take over the starting job and allow Kosh to go back to his natural running back spot, the Indians will be much better off as the season progresses.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Toms River East Both teams will need to scratch and claw for victories, so the winner of this Week Two crosstown matchup has the better chance of being close to .500 this season.

34

Plenty of Question Marks B y K e v i n W i l l i a m s – Shore Sports Network Director

ebuilding is a dirty word for most coaches, but sometimes it’s a reality they have to accept reluctantly.

Toms River South has lost a large number of talented players to graduation over the last two years, and the impact is likely to be felt this fall. Despite all those holes to fill, fourth-year head coach Ron Signorino Jr. sees some very positive signs and feels a foundation has been built and the program is on solid ground.

“We’re going to battle,’’ Signorino said.

“Our senior group has learned from last year when we stubbed our toe a bit. Hopefully we won’t make some of the same mistakes.”

The Indians were a disappointing 5-5 in 2014 despite considerable preseason hype and high expectations.

Gone are stars Tymere Berry, Khaleel Greene, Quentin DeCarlo and Joe Odebode, a quartet of outstanding seniors who gave Toms River South fans plenty to cheer about over the last two seasons. Berry is the hardest to replace as the three-year starter at quarterback zigzagged through opposing defenses for 1,257 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns while throwing for another seven scores before moving on to play at Senior RB/S M o n m o u t h University.

His replacement was expected to be junior Matt Shiffer, but back and shoulder problems have sidelined him for this season and forced Signorino and offensive coordinator Matt Martin to experiment during the preseason.

The best pure quarterback on the roster is sophomore T.J. Scuderi, but running the pistol flexbone offense is a lot to ask of someone who a year ago was on the freshman team. The hope is that as he becomes familiar with the offense Scuderi can take over, but for right now , the likely starter is senior Jaden Kosh, who clearly will be a running back playing quarterback.

The 6-foot, 210-pounder would normally be the ‘A’ back, but now will do most of his running after taking the snap from center. If that’s the case, then expect senior Dashaun

R

Alexander to take Kosh’s spot in the backfield along with another senior, Marquise Alexander. Signorino said the move of Kosh makes sense because the Indians want one of their best players at that position.

“In a perfect world, T.J. would grab the offense and we can move Jay back to where he’s best at,’’ Signorino said.

“I’m pretty comfortable playing quarterback, as I’ve had a lot of snaps and reps there during the summer, and I think I have it down pretty well,’’ Kosh said.

Heading up a group of talented slotbacks is rugged senior Tyler Sosa, a 175-pound dynamo who has drawn rave reviews from the coaches for his leadership on the field and in the classroom. Fellow senior Mike Cutillo and junior Cooper Guzzi will also get their share of touches along with juniors Drew Laing, Timmy Velazquez and David Hibbert.

The wide receiver spot is led by seniors Isaiah Parker, R.J. Laing and Malcolm Gillespie, along with juniors Mike Faone and Jason Porter.

The offensive line has to replace graduated seniors Jimmy Allen and Mike Rutter, but returns 6-foot-3, 295-pound senior center Kyle Hebrew Tyler Sosa to anchor the group up front.

Senior Devin Murray, junior John Debudo and sophomore Nick Florio are in the mix at guard, with the starting tackles to come from a trio of juniors in Todd Stueber, Nick Page and Jake Iadevaia.

The defense allowed over 21 points per game last season, but gave up 38.3 points per game against Class A South’s top three teams. The Indians will once again line up in a 4-2-5 formation. It’s the aspect of the team Signorino is most excited about.

“We’re making a concerted effort to get after it on defense, and we should be much improved on that side of the ball,’’ he said.

Murray, Stueber and Faone will hold down the defensive end spots while the middle will be occupied by Hebrew, senior DJ Rodriguez, Marquise Alexander, Iadevaia

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Senior QB Jaden Kosh

and sophomore Matt Piccoli. Kosh made 101 tackles alongside DeCarlo at linebacker last fall, and expect those numbers to rise this season. He’s all over the field and will lead a corps that includes seniors Jacob Newton and Christian Camarazza along with Page.

Joining Kosh as a high-energy defensive leader will be Sosa, who will play free safety. The strong safety will be Alexander or Velazquez with Drew Laing in the mix.

Other safety candidates include Cutillo, and juniors TJ Rockhill, Dominic O’Brien, and David Hibbert. Parker, Gillespie, Guzzi and Porter will all see action at the cornerback spot, and Sosa will handle all the punting and kicking.

After being a contender in Class A South the last couple of years, there are some who feel the Indians may take a step back with so many new faces in new places. Kosh is not one of them.

“I believe we are going to be a lot better than people think we are because I’ve been playing together with most of these kids since flag football days, and I know what we can do and so do they,’’ Kosh said. “It’s all about playing a role, and I think we can do big things this year.”

Among the changes at Toms River South this fall will be new bleachers and bathrooms on the home side of venerable Detwiler Stadium along with a spacious new press box for the “Voice of the Indians,” who helps create an atmosphere second to none in the Shore Conference.

The Indians will open their season at home against Donovan Catholic before playing both Toms River East and North on the road.

By that time they’ll know more about the quarterback spot and the prospects for what will certainly be a challenging season.

“We’re a better team because these guys really care for one another,’’ Signorino said.

Only time will tell if that togetherness will result in a challenging and frustrating season, or one in which the victory bell will be rung often at the home of the Indians.

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@ Southern Toms River South Brick Township Brick Memorial @ Freehold Township Toms River North @ Freehold Boro @ Jackson Memorial Lacey

Head Coach: Charlie Diskin, 10th season (11th overall) Career Record: 49-53 Assistant Coaches:

Kyle Sandberg (Defensive Coordinator/DB), TJ Tkac (LB/Special Teams), Tim Gilmartin (DL), Sam Iacobone (TE/OL), Matt Madeo (RB/Special Teams), Charlie Diskin Jr.(QB), Vinnie Arminio (WR), Mike Nemeth, Joey Arminio, Kevin Kanarkowski, Chris Byrnes, William Byrne (Freshman).

2014 Record: 07

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Nick Grande, Sr., RB/S Grande is the most explosive player on the Raiders roster and their top offensive weapon. With Jeff Wood having graduated he will need to fuel the running game while also shining at safety on the defensive side.

X-FACTOR: The Defense The Raiders have allowed more than 30 points per game in each of the last three seasons and that trend has to stop. There will be many new faces on the field up front, but the defensive backs are an experienced group and very athletic.

GLUE GUY: Tommy Ferrante, Soph., FB/MLB The 6’1, 226-pound bruiser contributed as a freshman but is expected to shine as a sophomore. Ferrante will provide the inside running attack and on defense will be responsible for helping to stop opposing running games.

One Day At A Time

By Kevin Williams – Shore Sports Network Director

E

ven experienced head coaches will tell you that sometimes you have to change your approach, and when you’ve suffered four straight losing seasons, change can be a welcome sight.

In his 10th season as head coach at Toms River East, Charlie Diskin has made some changes during the preseason that he hopes will make a difference come September.

“We used to practice hard Monday to Friday and we’d lift and we’d run, but now we make Fridays a beach workout and the kids seem to like it,’’ Diskin said. “They still condition but are having fun at the same time.”

Diskin said the motto this season will be to finish, which is something the Raiders did not not do last year. He wants the Raiders them to focus on trying to make each day a bit better than the one before as they try to return to their status as a perennial playoff team.

The only good day during a 1-9 season last year came in their NJSIAA consolation game, which the Raiders won 21-19 on the final play in overtime against winless Donovan Catholic.

“We’ll take a win any way we can, and at least it set a positive tone for the off season,’’ Diskin said.

While the win was welcomed by the players, senior co-captain Brandon Burdge knows it was not enough.

“We’re hungry, and we want to win,’’ Burdge said.

“We all have the same mindset and that’s the key because it’s what gets us going. We want it this season.”

A total of six starters return on offense and nine on a defense that gave up more than 40 points four times, so that experience should help during the brutal Class A South schedule. Heading up that group is senior defensive back Nick Grande, the only Raider to earn All-Division honors last season.

Grande is also the leading returning running back, and the 5-foot-8, 160-pounder should get plenty of opportunities to carry the ball in the Raiders’ multiple wing attack. Diskin calls him the quickest player he has ever coached, and Grande will be joined in the backfield by 226-pound fullback Tommy Ferrante and a pair of newcomers in junior Dylan Rainieri and sophomore Louie Gallo. Avery Delvalle returns at wingback and versatile Michael Grasso will line up at the flanker spot.

Senior Dylan Savulich was the starting quarterback for much of last season and the 5foot-9, 160-pounder is back and being challenged by a pair of underclassmen, 6foot-2 sophomore Bradley Brush and junior Branden Laird. The Raiders have struggled in the passing game in recent years, but a welcome sight is senior wide receiver Bailey Engelhard, who has never played on the high school level before.

Brendan Brush, Kelly Conklin, Brandon Burdge The 6-foot-6, 205pound Engelhard is an impressive target shot put and discus in the mid-1980s. for Savulich and company, and he leads the receiving The defensive backfield should be one of the corps along with senior Taylor Machnik and a pair of team’s strengths with three-year starter Pat Saunders junior tight ends in Jake Gilligan and Jake Campbell. leading an experienced and talented group. Also back The offensive line should be solid this season, is Grande, who will start at safety, Grasso and senior bolstered by the return of three seniors who will be Norion Davis, while Machnik will also be in the mix. among the team leaders. Burdge (6-foot-1, 250) will Gibbons will likely handle all the kicking chores and start at one guard spot along with Kelly Conklin (5sophomore Bradley Brush is the leading contender 10, 220), while Brendan Brush (6-2, 225) is the left for the punting job. tackle. Junior Landon Zagacki (6-2, 200) will handle The Raiders have quite a few players who go both the other tackle spot, and the starting center will be ways, so staying healthy should be a key to improved either senior Thomas Navarra or junior Nick success, which is one of the reasons why Diskin has Fairfield. Conklin knows the group has to step up lightened up the practice schedule and cut down on because “the line is the base of the offense, and if we contact. He felt last year the team was ready for the don’t do our jobs, the backs can’t do theirs.” season in June but not in September and wants to Second-year defensive coordinator Kyle Sandberg make sure his 70-man roster is fresh for their opener can only hope his group improves rapidly this fall, as at Southern Regional on September 11. Brendan last season they allowed 32.4 points per game, putting Brush didn’t pull any punches when he said the them in the bottom six teams in the Shore in points opener “sets the tone for the entire season and will allowed. tell us what we can and cannot do.”

The defensive ends in the 4-3 alignment will be What the Raiders hope to do is win their opener for Burdge and Lagacki, with the inside spots held down the first time since 2011. It would match their victory

by Conklin, Brush and senior Hunter Gibbons. total from last season and could be an indication that Ferrante, who played as a freshman last season, will Toms River East is on the way back and the losing be the starting middle linebacker and should be an seasons will come to a halt. impact player. Flanking him will be Delvalle and Gilligan, whose father Jim set school records in the

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Bailey Engelhard, Sr., WR He’s worn baseball and basketball uniforms as a Raider and now as a senior is playing football for the first time since Pop Warner days. At 6-6 he gives East quarterbacks a target they can’t miss and the coaches have been impressed with his pass-catching abilities.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 at Southern After going win less in Class A South last season, a victory over the Rams in the season opener would be a huge confidence boost for the Raiders.

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Toms River North @ Jackson Memorial Brick Memorial @ Toms River South @ Manalapan Brick Township @ Jackson Liberty Southern Regional @ Toms River East

Head Coach: Lou Vircillo, 35th season

Career Record: 266-125-3 Assistant Coaches:

Cory Davies (off. coord.); John Tierney (OL); Shane Allen (DL); Warren Smith (QB/LB); Joe Tobin (DB); Mike Stuppiello (DL); Watson Heleila, Chris D’Amico, Shawn McAndrew (freshmen); Jack Bush, Nick Scerbo (video); Lee Emery (athletic trainer)

2014 Record: 3-7 (1-6)

Finding Their Way

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

A

At this point last season Lacey was already down several starters for the season before it even began. Injuries decimated the Lions’ starting lineup, and the result was a rare losing season at 3-7.

Lacey is hoping just being healthy will help spark a turnaround in 2015. The Lions will be breaking in several new starters and will lean on a core of three linemen to guide them through the rigorous Class A South schedule.

During the last three seasons Lacey had former Howell and current Freehold Township head coach Cory Davies as its offensive coordinator. Davies’ pass-heavy offensive scheme left some imprints on what the Lions will still do in running their multiple offense, but the previous heart and soul of Lacey’s program, its power running game, will be featured more this season.

“I think the passing philosophy is a fine philosophy,” said Lacey head coach Lou Vircillo.

“It’s not really me, but I can coach or be involved in any offense. I’m primarily an ‘I’ or pro concept guy even though we’ve evolved to use more spread formations. The run game will try to stay within that

philosophy, and we’re hoping the mentality of practicing physically with the run game carries over.”

The strength offensively will be the line. Three starters return, including hulking right tackle Joe MacAvoy, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 315 pounds. He and left tackle Tarique Smith (6-foot1, 235 pounds) have been starters since their freshman seasons. Along with senior Jacob Post at left guard, they will be the focal point of the Lions’ attack.

“Those three guys are the anchors of the team and everyone else is fitting in around them and developing,” Vircillo said.

“I think this season can be a whole turnaround,” Smith said. “We’re getting back to the Lacey tradition, and we have returning linemen to help out the skill players that are brand new.”

Junior Zach Larney will be the right guard and junior Anthony Ceglie is the center.

Taking over as the staring quarterback is junior Chase Stephensen. His main targets at receiver will be senior Aaron Boos, a returning starter, along with senior Scott Tutela and junior John Grosjean.

The tight end is sophomore Jason Giresi.

In situations where a fullback is used it will be junior Liam Muzyka as the starter. The starting tailback will be junior Connor Wilson, a lacrosse standout, who started a few games at running back last season.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Chase Stephensen, Jr., QB Stephensen takes over at quarterback, where Conor Davies was the Shore’s fifth-best passer in throwing for 1,636 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

X-FACTOR: Developing skill players The Lions have a solid offensive line and will need their skill players to flourish in order to keep up with some of the top offenses in Class A South.

GLUE GUY: Jacob Post, Sr., OL/LB An excellent tackler at linebacker and a stabilizing player along the offensive line, Post gives the Lions some much-needed talent and experience on both sides of the ball.

Seniors Joe McAvoy (left) and Tarique Smith

Lacey will try to get back to its roots defensively with a multiple 3-4 front.

Senior Troy Dittenhoffer is a returning starter at nose guard while Smith returns as a starter at

Senior linebacker Jacob Post defensive end. MacAvoy will also play defensive end this season. He will certainly be a load for opposing linemen to handle, but playing both ways has presented its challenges.

“It’s definitely nice being on the other side and we’re looking really good there,” MacAvoy said. “It gets tiring though, don’t get me wrong.”

Post returns as a starter at outside linebacker where he is a sound tackler and a good pass rusher off the edge. He made 57 tackles and seven tackles for a loss last season. Senior Alex Peschock is the other outside linebacker while junior Bryan Scalia and senior Nick Caputo, who played some as a junior, will be the inside linebackers.

In the secondary, Grosjean and senior Vincent Cortese, a returning starter, are the cornerbacks with senior Corey Spatz also in the mix. Boos, who led the Lions in tackles last season with 75, starts as the strong safety while Stephensen, who had 71 tackles, is the free safety.

“On defense we’re pitbulls this year,” Smith said.

“We may not be the biggest, but we’re real scrappy and we like to hit.”

“We start with an odd front and we try to develop our concepts off that, even if we have to shift to become more of an even front,” Vircillo said. “We’re not a 4-3 up-the-field type of defense, we’re more of a leverage team, and we try to get the kids to play that way no matter what alignment we’re in.”

Senior Pat Davis returns for his third year as Lacey’s kicker. He was 16-for-19 on extra points last season and kicked three field goals, including a long of 39. He will also be the punter.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Connor Wilson, Jr., RB

Wilson saw some time late last season and will assume the starting running back job for the Lions, who are planning on using more power running this season

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 26 vs. Brick Memorial Lacey has two very tough games right out of the gate with a loaded Toms River North team as its opener and then Jackson Memorial in Week Two. The Lions could be staring at an 0-2 hole when they welcome the Mustangs to town.

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Freehold Township @ Brick Township Toms River North @ Lacey @ Toms River East Old Bridge @ Jackson Memorial Middletown South @ Toms River South Southern Regional

Head Coach: Walt Currie, 9th season Career Record: 50-36 Assistant Coaches: Pete Brennan (def. coord/LB); Mike Cintron (special teams coord./WR/DB); James Bright (WR); Bill Brunner (OL); Russ Clayton (DL); Phil Faccone (LB/special teams); Mike McArthur (OL); Brian Staub (RB/QB); Mike Bonventre, Rob Merola (freshmen); Sue Penrod (athletic trainer) 2014 Record: 6-4 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Matt Cuppari, Sr., WR Cuppari is also the team’s kicker but will now step in as a starting wide receiver where he will try to help replace the production left by Karl Kumm, who was the team’s top downfield threat last season.

X-FACTOR: Defense With Santiago and an experienced offensive line returning the Mustangs have the ingredients for a potent offense. If the defense can also play at a high level Brick Memorial will be in contention for championships.

GLUE GUY: Mike Nobile, Sr., OL/DL A disrupting force along the defensive line and a tenacious blocker at center, Nobile will be an integral part up front on both sides of the ball. He finished with 64.5 tackles last season.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Tony Thorpe, So., RB/LB Thorpe has good size for a sophomore at 5-foot10 and 190 pounds and has a chance to see significant time at fullback.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Brick Township An intense rivalry, Brick took last season’s game 42-0 and has won each of the past two meetings.

The winner gains an instant surge of momentum as each team figures to be among the best in Class A South and both are in the Central Jersey Group IV playoff bracket.

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Ready to Stampede

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

W

ith multiple returning starters including its quarterback and a physical and experienced group of two-way lineman, Brick Memorial is banking on continuing to be one of the Shore Conference’s most consistent teams and making a run at the program’s third state championship.

As a junior Tim Santiago wasn’t sure if he would see the field on offense, but just six quarters into the season he was thrust under center to guide the Mustangs’ flexbone attack.

He helped Brick Memorial pull out a 16-14 win over Toms River North that day, cementing his role as the starter at the most important position in head coach Walt Currie’s offense.

Brick Memorial would win its next three games to move to 4-1 before finishing 6-4.

Santiago concluded his season with 791 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while also throwing for 496 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. Now with him back for another season the Mustangs figure to have a dangerous offense with its biggest threat handling the ball on every play.

Senior Mike Kraft, a returning starter, and senior Matt Cuppari will be the starting receivers. Junior Kishaun Carter and sophomore Grant McKelvey will also see time at wide receiver. Currie’s offense always aims to have big-play ability in the passing game and they believe they have that this season.

One of Santiago’s biggest objectives during the offseason was to become a better passer.

“Anytime you run the option you’re pretty much guaranteeing yourself one-on-one coverage down the field because everyone is in run support,” Currie said. “So when you have a kid like Kraft who can run and get vertical, and a kid like Cuppari who is a terrific athlete, you get those kids in space with T i m , who i s

“At the beginning of the last year I was iffy about (playing quarterback) but toward the end I felt like I was getting better each game,” Santiago said. “Now, I’m ready to go.”

“I don’t have any distractions,” Santiago said.

“I just focused on lifting and working on my passing; just getting better at football all year.”

Around Santiago in the backfield will be senior Billy Walsh at ‘A’ back along with promising sophomore Tony Thorpe. Senior Elie Lavarin returns as one of the starting slot backs with either junior Tay’von Ford or senior Nick Louhier as the other slot back.

be the heart and soul of Brick Memorial’s offense – it’s big and experienced offensive line. Four of the five are returning starters and the newcomer, junior right guard Justing Szuba, is 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds and moves like an athlete much smaller. Senior Mike Nobile is the center with senior Jimmy Tango as the left guard. The tackles are senior Chris Hayes on the left side and senior Anthony Nobile on the right side.

“We talk about winning ugly inside and that’s where it starts,” Currie said. “And with some of the athleticism we have on the outside we feel we have the ability to pop some big plays.”

The Mustangs will employ a 3-4 base defense under coordinator Pete Brennan. Like the offense, it will revolve around a physical and versatile front where all three starters return. Anthony Nobile is the defensive tackle, Hayes is the end and Mike Nobile is the nose guard.

“Those guys are so experienced and have such a knowledge of defensive football that they can play all three techniques,” Currie said. “They can line head-up and slant, line head-up and play two-gap or shade and play gap control. That makes it tough on an offensive lineman when he has to practice against all those looks. They are where our defense starts, the fact that those three can really get after it.”

“When you have a guy that’s a returning starter at quarterback, especially in an offense that’s geared as much around the quarterback as any offense is, it’s huge,” Currie said.

Santiago also wrestled for the Mustangs as a sophomore but decided to fully concentrate on football heading into his season year.

Senior OLB/DE Chris Hayes

“Our defensive line is sick and our offensive line is powerful,” Mike Nobile said. “We have a lot of strong guys and we’re built around being blue collar. With those big guys up the middle we’re going to try to manhandle teams. We want to be among the best lines in the Shore Conference on both sides.”

Walsh started along the defensive line last season and will move to middle linebacker. The strong-side linebacker will be either sophomore Justin Hans or junior Tyler Beck. The weakside linebacker will be Louhier, who was a starter last season, and the rover is senior Justin Bates, who saw some time last season.

throwing the ball a lot better than he did last year, that can be difficult for teams to defend.”

The secondary will be comprised of Santiago and Lavarin at cornerback along with senior Victor Gomez at

In front of Santiago will

Senior QB/SSTim Santiago

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senior Jimmy Tango as the left guard. The tackles are senior Chris Hayes on the left side and senior Anthony Nobile on the right side.

“We talk about winning ugly inside and that’s where it starts,” Currie said. “And with some of the athleticism we have on the outside we feel we have the ability to pop some big plays.”

The Mustangs will employ a 3-4 base defense under coordinator Pete Brennan. Like the offense, it will revolve around a physical and versatile front where all three starters return. Anthony Nobile is the defensive tackle, Hayes is the end and Mike Nobile is the nose guard.

Senior DT/C Michael Nobile

“Those guys are so experienced and have such a knowledge of defensive football that they can play all three techniques,” Currie said. “They can line head-up and slant,

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line head-up and play two-gap or shade and play gap control. That makes it tough on an offensive lineman when he has to practice against all those looks. They are where our defense starts, the fact that those three can really get after it.”

“Our defensive line is sick and our offensive line is powerful,” Mike Nobile said. “We have a lot of strong guys and we’re built around being blue collar. With those big guys up the middle we’re going to try to manhandle teams.

We want to be among the best lines in the Shore Conference on both sides.”

Walsh started along the defensive line last season and will move to middle linebacker. The strong-side linebacker Photo by: Eric braun www.facebook.com/pages/Eric-Braun Photography/164903526930166

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Brick Memorial Southern Regional @ Toms River East Jackson Memorial @ Wall @ Lacey Colts Neck Toms River North @ Toms River South

Head Coach:

Len Zdanowicz, 1 season Career Record: 0-0 st

Assistant Coaches:

Brian McNamara (def. coord.), Fred Sprengel (off. coord.), Chris James (RB), Dave Christopher (TE), Kevin Stockhoff (WR), Jared Kight (OL), Kurt Weiboldt (special teams), Chris Blackburn (DL), Donovan Brown (LB), Rob Brown (DB), Scott Lloyd (strength and conditioning), Don Marino (freshman head coach); Jason Groschel, Scott Karos, Dan Dornacke, Karl Rex (freshman asst.); Al Saner (offensive assistant); Jim Barber (athletic trainer)

2014 Record: 9-2 (7-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Tom Zbranak, Sr., QB No one is expecting Zbranak to step in and do what Carmen Sclafani did for two years at Brick, but there aren’t too many players more difficult to follow than Sclafani. Big shoes to fill is an understatement.

X-FACTOR: Offensive Consistency Brick’s defense looks like it will be a solid unit, so it will be up to the offense to find its identity and give the team the balance necessary to navigate Class A South.

GLUE GUY: Alex Trapasso, Sr., OL The 6-foot-2, 255-pound senior is a three-way starter on the offensive line and anchors a unit that has plenty of size and experience.

MPACT NEWCOMER: Javion Harris, Sr., WR/DB Harris gives Zbranak another weapon on the outside opposite Ja’Sir Taylor. His presence should relax coverage on Taylor and stretch the defense to create even more running room.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 vs. Brick Memorial Brick has won the last two meetings in this intense rivalry, which still had fans lined up to get in at halftime last year. The winner starts 10 in the division and gets a boost of momentum that could carry them through the season.

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Reloading Mode

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

O

n the surface it may seem like Brick has an uphill battle to climb with the graduation of several standout seniors, including all-time quarterback Carmen Sclafani. The reality, however, is the Green Dragons have plenty left in the cupboard to make a run at repeating as Class A South champs and making noise in the postseason.

“We’re actually really confident right now,” said senior Jordan Keefe. “Everyone expects we are going to be rebuilding. Carmen, Ray (Fattaruso), Ja’Quez (Johnson) were all great players, but I think people are going to be shocked this year when they see how much we reloaded.”

“The kids that were here during the state championship year have a chip on their shoulders, and the kids that weren’t want to prove themselves,” said new head coach Len Zdanowicz. “It’s a good thing.”

Among the changes are Zdanowicz taking over as head coach for Rob Dahl, who resigned after four seasons. Zdanowicz is a Brick graduate who played under legendary head coach Warren Wolf.

“It’s humbling, sitting in this spot where coach Wolf sat for 51 years,” Zdanowicz said. “It’s an honor, and it weighs on you too, because you want to uphold the tradition. To have this spot and this staff here is a great situation for me to be in right now.”

Former Long Branch and Brick Memorial head coach Fred Sprengel is now the offensive coordinator, and has installed a multiple pro offense. Senior Tom Zbranak takes over as the starting quarterback. It’s a tough spot to be in for Zbranak, who hasn’t played in two years and follows Sclafani, who led Brick to the 2013 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title and is one of the area’s best quarterbacks in the last 15 years.

“There’s no way he’s going to be able

to do what Carmen did but we’re not asking him to,” Zdanowicz said. “He’s got a nice touch on the ball, and he has some competition behind him with junior John Prato pushing him. I’ve known Tommy since middle school, and he’s a kid that can come off sometimes like he doesn’t care, but inside he’s a true competitor.”

The Dragons have plenty of depth in the backfield, where juniors Dean Helstowski and Joe Woods and seniors Joe Sclafani and Corey Wilson will all see time at fullback. The starting tailback will be junior Jay Obenauer, who started a handful of games last season. Senior Octavian Battle and j u n i o r Rashon McCall will also see carries.

The tight end is senior Dan Finelli, a returning starter, with senior Nik Tartaglione backing him up. Junior Ja’Sir Taylor, a three-year varsity player, enters the season as one of the Shore Conference’s top receivers after earning SSN second-team All-Shore honors last year with 41 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for four touchdowns.

Senior QB Tom Zbranak Colonno. Junior Liam Poland and junior Jack Finelli have also been working at center and guard.

“Our front five is all coming back as seniors and you look at Jackson Memorial last year with a senior line and what they did, and we think the sky is the limit,” Keefe said.

“You definitely need size and we have that,” Dan Finelli said. “We can match up with every team this year.”

Many of the same names will start on the other side of the ball in Brick’s 4-3 defense that allowed 14.6 points per game last season, which was eighth-best in the conference. Keefe is a returning starter at defensive end with Rusignuolo, who saw some time,

Opposite him will be senior Javion Harris, who played at Toms River South last season before transferring to Brick during the school year.

Senior Mike Begovich, senior Matt Schleifer, junior Brandon Williams and senior Shaun Smith will rotate in depending on the formation.

The engine that will drive the offense is a large and experienced offensive line. Keefe returns at left tackle, and since he also starts on defense, will be spelled at times by senior John Kozak, who also started some games last season. The left guard is senior Anthony Rusignuolo and the center is threeyear starter Alex Trapasso. The right guard is senior Pasquale Altilio and the right tackle is senior Tyler

Senior Jordan Keefe

Senior FB/MLB Cor y Wilson

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Jay Obenauer, who started a handful of games last season. Senior Octavian Battle and junior Rashon McCall will also see carries.

The tight end is senior Dan Finelli, a returning starter, with senior Nik Tartaglione backing him up. Junior Ja’Sir Taylor, a three-year varsity player, enters the season as one of the Shore Conference’s top receivers after earning SSN second-team All-Shore honors last year with 41 receptions for 569 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for four touchdowns.

Opposite him will be senior Javion Harris, who played at Toms River South last season before transferring to Brick during the school year. Senior Mike Begovich, senior Matt Schleifer, junior Brandon Williams and senior Shaun Smith will rotate in depending on the formation.

and what they did, and we think the sky is the limit,” Keefe said.

“You definitely need size and we have that,” Dan Finelli said. “We can match up with every team this year.”

Many of the same names will start on the other side of the ball in Brick’s 4-3 defense that allowed 14.6 points per game last season, which was eighth-best in the conference. Keefe is a returning starter at defensive end with Rusignuolo, who saw some time, and Tartaglione to rotate at the other spot. Dan Finelli is a returning starter at defensive tackle after a huge junior season in which he earned SSN second-team All-Shore honors with 88 tackles, including 22 for a loss, to go along with eight sacks.

The engine that will drive the offense is a large and experienced offensive line. Keefe returns at left tackle, and since he also starts on defense, will be spelled at times by senior John Kozak, who also started some games last season. The left guard is senior Anthony Rusignuolo and the center is three-year starter Alex Trapasso. The right guard is senior Pasquale Altilio and the right tackle is senior Tyler Colonno. Junior Liam Poland and junior Jack Finelli have also been working at center and guard.

“Our front five is all coming back as seniors and you look at Jackson Memorial last year with a senior line

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09-11-15 09-18-15 09-25-15 10-02-15 10-09-15 10-16-15 10-23-15 10-30-15 11-06-15

Jackson Liberty Lacey @ Southern Regional @ Brick Township @ Toms River North Brick Memorial Toms River South Toms River East @ Red Bank Catholic

Head Coach:

Walt Krystopik, 5 th season

Career Record: 30-13

Assistant Coaches:

Jeff Brown (OL); Tony Compitello (WR); Keith Anderson (RB); Corey Lavin (off. coord./QB); Tom Bradley (DL); Chris Rash (OLB); Mike Smith (ILB); Vincent Mistretta (DB); Nicole Figaro (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 11-1 (6-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The New Offensive Line Starters Jackson’s offensive line was incredibly dominant last season, so with only Dylan Smith returning it will be up to the other four to step in and insure the Jaguars’ power offense doesn’t miss a beat.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback Play Junior Dan Barker won’t have to do it all with plenty of weapons around him, but he’ll need to manage the offense and take advantage in the passing game when his number is called.

GLUE GUY: Mike Gawlik, Jr., RB/DB Gawlik came out of nowhere as a sophomore to run for over 1,100 yards and 21 touchdowns while making 106 tackles on defense. He’s a typical Jackson player in that he plays much bigger than his 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Dan Barker, Jr., QB Barker has a lot to live up to in following Joe DeMaio, but showed he is the man for the job by leading the Jaguars to the Shore Conference 7-on-7 championship and impressing during preseason scrimmages.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 9 at Toms River North The Mariners enter the season loaded with returning starters and are being picked by some to win the Class A South title. The Jaguars will surely have something to say about that when they meet in early October.

Jags Swag

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

W

hen last season began, most people had an idea Jackson Memorial was going to be a pretty good football team. Few could have envisioned the monster the Jaguars transformed into on their way to claiming the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV title and finishing No. 2 in New Jersey.

One year later, despite the graduation of some key cogs, the Jaguars’ goals haven’t changed. They want to dominate everyone in their path during the 2015 season.

“The kids know that the division we play in there’s no let up week-to-week, and even in the scrimmage schedule we try to get some of the best teams around the state,” said head coach Walt Krystopik. “They know what the goals are, and they get used to having to compete every week.”

The Jaguars offense averaged 35.3 points per game last season behind its beastly offensive line and produced a pair of 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in program history. Only one starter returns from the offensive line, but it is senior right tackle Dylan Smith. A 6-foot-3, 295pound mauler, Smith has been dominant during training camp and scrimmages and will anchor the unit.

“A lot of people I can tell already look up to me,” Smith said. “Hearing other teams say we have only one lineman back motivates us as a group and gets us fired up.

Everything I do, all the hard work I learned from B r o d y (Graham), B r a d (Greenway), Tyler Rauch, I just want to follow in their footsteps and continue to win.”

“During spring track season Brody Graham (firstteam SSN AllS h o r e selection and now at the University o f

Pennsylvania) led him along,” Krystopik said. “His goal was if Brody cleaned or squatted a certain amount of weight, he wanted to match it. Now the roles have changed and the guys are out there following him. He’s not the most vocal guy or a rah-rah player, but he leads by putting guys on their backs.

Alongside Smith will be senior Austin Ostrander (275 pounds) at right guard and senior Chris Mondello (255 pounds) at center. Working at left guard has been junior Sean Martin (220 pounds), who has also worked at center, and junior Larry Richardson (225 pounds). Junior Mitch Mills (6foot-3, 255 pounds) is at left tackle. Sophomores Joe Hurle and Devin Martinez are in the mix at guard and tackle, respectively.

“Me and Vinny both know we’re going to get the touches, and running behind the big guys is great,” said junior running back Mike Gawlik.

Gawlik and Vinny Lee are the centerpieces of the Jaguars’ multiple offense after each ran for over 1,000 yards last season. Lee, a senior, ran for 1,025 yards and 15 touchdowns while Gawlik, a junior, ran for 1,165 yards and 21 touchdowns. Each had 159 carries. They enter the season as the Shore Conference’s most dynamic backfield tandem and among the best one-two combinations in the state.

“We’re going to keep the same mentality we had last year,” Gawlik said. “We’ll just come to work hard and come out successful every time.”

“It’s such a relief having players like Vinny Lee and Mike Gawlik in the backfield,” Smith said.

“We know they are capable of breaking an 80-yard touchdown run on any play.

We’re confident they are two of the best backs in the state.”

“We’ll always have fresh legs and won’t have to worry about wearing one guy down,” Krystopik said. “Both will have to play defense but will also have expanded roles. There will probably be times when they’re both on the field at the same time where last year it was one or the other.”

The tight ends are 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior Tyler Towns and senior Nick Papandrea. Senior Adante Davis is the fullback. At wide receiver the Jaguars bring back big-play threat Kyle Johnson, a senior, who caught 16 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns last season. Seniors Kyle Lona and

Senior WR Kyle Johnson Jared Calhoun join Johnson in the receiving corps.

The task of distributing the ball will fall on the shoulders of junior quarterback Dan Barker, who takes over for two-year starter Joe DeMaio. Barker has good size at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds and showed flashes of his potential by leading the Jaguars to the Shore Conference 7-on-7 championship over the summer.

“We just have to get Dan to eliminate his mistakes and trust his reads,” Krystopik said. “We can’t hurt ourself, and he has guys around him in Vinny Lee, Mike Gawlik and Kyle Johnson.”

“He has great size and a very accurate arm so we’re excited,” Smith said.

The Jaguars were equally as stout defensively in allowing 14.5 points per game, which was seventh best in the Shore Conference last season. Their 4-3 alignment starts up front with Towns as a returning starter at defensive end and Ostrander as a returning starter at defensive tackle. Senior Nick D’Amore will start at the other defensive end position while Richardson, Smith and Martin will each rotate in at defensive tackle.

Davis returns as a starter and will be at middle linebacker with Papandrea and senior Connor Testa working as strongside linebackers. Junior Zack Lubertazzi, who played as a sophomore and started one game in the state playoffs, will be the weakside linebacker.

Lee will play on defense this year as a starting cornerback and will be joined by Calhoun. Both safeties are returning starters in Gawlik and Johnson. Gawlik was excellent in the secondary last season with 106 tackles and three interceptions.

Lona will serve as a utility player in the secondary.

Calhoun is a three-year starter as the team’s kicker and punter. Johnson and Lee will be the punt returners and Gawlik will handle the kickoff returns.

After an incredible run to a state title last season the Jaguars are primed to do it again with a loaded backfield and size along the offensive line. They have some new pieces to break in, but that was also the case last season. They don’t see any reason why they can’t have a similar year.

“Everyone is out here to work hard and nobody wants to get away from the legacy we had last year,” Lee said. “Everyone still wants to make a name for themselves, and it’s time to prove it.”

Photos by: Bill Normile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

Junior RB Mike Gawlik

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By Matt Manley - Senior Staff W

S HE ENTERS HIS SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, RED BANK CATHOLIC’S EDDIE HAHN HAS ALREADY LED HIS CASEYS TO THE PROGRAM’S FIRST NJSIAA SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1976 AS THE TEAM’S Q UA RT E RB AC K – a run that

Are more quarterbacks having to play both ways because of the nature of offense, or are more great athletes who were previously predisposed to defense now being used at quarterback?

As offenses have trended toward the spread, teams have found it beneficial to play a top athlete at quarterback, which has played out of the last several years with quarterbacks like – but not limited to – Freehold’s Jake Curry, Wall’s Matt Cluley, Freehold Township’s Jack O’Brien, Rumson’s Mike O’Connor, Ocean’s Kenny Pickett, Central’s Mike Miserendino and Colts Neck’s Max Mullaney emerging as starting dual-threat quarterbacks. That group, coupled with high-profile successes like Hahn, Anthony Brown of St. John Vianney, sophomore George Pearson of Matawan and junior Mike Husni of Toms River North, suggests the trend is very much here, but the next question is, “What are defensive coordinators doing about it?”

included a virtuoso performance in the Non-Public Group III final in which Hahn complete 9-of-10 passes for 234 yards while also running for 47 as RBC topped Delbarton, 45-20.

One answer has been to use those same athletes to stop the opposing team’s athlete. Hahn, Cluley, Miserendino and Curry have all been two-way players throughout their varsity stints, while Brown played safety initially before getting his turn at quarterback as a junior in 2014. Brown still has the capacity to play in the secondary and thrive, but St. John Vianney is one of the few teams opting to keep its athletic quarterback away from the secondary, which has a lot to do with the fact that Boston College – where Brown will play next year – sees him as a pure quarterback.

Not only is Hahn arguably a top returning Shore Conference offensive threat that opponents will be keying on, but he is also tasked with stopping the other team’s top weapons as a safety. When he begins his college career at the University of Connecticut next fall, it could very well be as a defensive player.

The one quarterback who is just now becoming a defender is Mullaney, who has drawn interest from Columbia University as a

It is not unusual for exceptional athletes like Hahn to play on both sides of the ball, but as more and more offenses are requiring an athletic, dual threat quarterback to run the show, more and more quarterbacks are ending up playing both ways.

“I’VE BEEN DOING IT LONG ENOUGH WHERE I’M USED TO IT NOW,” HAHN SAID. “It’s not something I consider too much. I don’t worry about getting tired or what plays we’re going to call next time we’re on offense. They are two different positions, and I want to be as good as I can at both.”

On the one hand, it is a case of fighting fire with fire – in order to stop a top athlete who touches the ball on every play, top-level athletes must be on the other side as much as possible. On the other hand, there is a chicken-and-egg dynamic:

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backs, a tight end and two receivers. Now, you have four guys spread out and you basically still have two backs in the backfield because the quarterback can run.”

ff Writer

he sly

d it out o–

linebacker despite the fact that he has not played the position at the varsity level. Colts Neck finished 1-9 last year and is hoping that playing its best overall player on both sides will have an impact.

“He met with me and the coaches, told us colleges were looking at him as a linebacker and that he wanted to play defense, which I was all for, obviously,” Colts Neck head coach and former NFL fullback Darian Barnes said.

“Max is a football player first and foremost, and he’s got all the tools to play the position and make us a lot better. He might be the best all-around football player in the Shore Conference. I really believe that.”

STACKING THE DECK Of course, not every coach has a player like Eddie Hahn to both play quarterback and safety, which means those coaches have had to find a different method by which to slow the spread and multipleset offenses that helped produce 16 1,000-rushers in 2014, five of whom were quarterbacks.

With the proliferation of the spread offense and similar machinations has come the reactionary adjustment from head coaches and defensive coordinators to run stack defenses – typically out of 3-3-5 and 4-2-5 formations.

The advantage of the stack defense is that it replaces a linebacker with a third safety, who serves as an extra defender against more receiver-heavy packages while also maintaining the ability to contain the running game.

The approach is already taking hold in college football, and even the most tradition-rich high school programs are moving away from old defensive approaches and changing with the times.

“The game has become fast-break football and some of the old-school defenses just can’t keep up with the speed these offenses come at you with,” said Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci, now in his 18th season. “We used to line up in a 4-4 and come after you, but that was against more pro-style offenses that had two

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For Middletown South, the transition to a 4-2-5 has been both natural and necessary. After losing 52-45 to Burlington Township during the 2013 Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, Antonucci and defensive coordinator Al Bigos decided to begin installing the 42-5 defense in favor of the base 4-4 set that helped carry Middletown South to five state titles under Antonucci.

“We were probably a little stubborn about making the change because what we had been doing had worked for so long,” Antoncucci said. “We thought we could make some adjustments and account for the change in offense, but it got to the point where we knew that we just couldn’t keep playing the defense we were playing anymore and give our kids the best chance to win.”

One of the reasons Antonucci and his staff were able to make the transition was because the Eagles had a talented junior class that was not overwhelmed by the principles. The result was possibly the best defensive season in school history, one that included a schoolrecord-tying six shutouts and an average of 9.6 points allowed per game.

Senior Dylan Rogers was an SSN first-team All-Shore linebacker as a junior after setting a school record with 122 tackles during the season, while senior Cole Rogers and junior Maxx Imsho led the secondary. As a sophomore, Imsho handled the hybrid safety-linebacker role and has grown into an all-around defensive weapon heading into his junior season.

“WITH DYLAN AND COLE, YOU HAVE TWO ATHLETIC GUYS WHO ARE PRETTY MUCH INTERCHANGEABLE IN WHAT THEY CAN DO AND THEN MAXX IS SO ATHLETIC THAT WE CAN PLAY HIM IN PLACES WE COULDN’T PLAY OTHER PEOPLE,” ANTONUCCI SAID.

“He brings that flexibility where you can play him in coverage, and he can still come up and fill a gap. The defense works for the players, but they are the ones who bring the talent to the defense.”

Former St. John Vianney coach and current Cranford assistant Mark Ciccotelli was one of the first Shore Conference coaches to take the stack to its current level when he instituted his 3-3-5 defense at Freehold Boro in the mid2000s. After Ciccotelli left Freehold for Neptune following the 2010 season, his defensive coordinator and now Freehold’s head coach, Dave Ellis, continued with it when he took over the Colonials program. After three losing seasons to start his tenure, the defense began to pay dividends as Freehold went 7-3 in 2014, including a seven-game winning streak to open the season. The Colonials’ only losses were to top-five Shore Conference powers Manalapan and Middletown South and to Neptune in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.

“The thing I like about the stack is I think it works with a lot of different types of personnel, especially with so many teams running the spread,” Ellis said. “For us, we don’t have a lot of pure linebackers, but we have some guys in the secondary, so we can take those guys and move them around based on the offense we’re seeing.”

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where he fits best.

“He has a chip on his shoulder this year. He feels like he’s as good as anybody in the state, and he wants to make sure people take notice of Lakewood.”

THE EQUALIZER It also does not hurt to have players who are tailor-made for the new spread-stopping defenses because of their athleticism. The foremost hybrid defensive player in Shore Conference football is Lakewood’s Amir Tyler, who has drawn offers from Syracuse, Temple and Pittsburgh, among other schools. Not only has Tyler generated widespread interest, but coach L.J. Clark said that he has been offered by schools to play running back, outside linebacker, safety and cornerback.

“AMIR LIKES TO BE WHERE THE BALL IS GOING TO BE AND OBVIOUSLY, WE WANT TO PUT HIM IN A POSITION TO GET TO THE BALL,” CLARK SAID.

“Since he’s been here, he has played cornerback, strong safety, free safety, middle linebacker, outside linebacker and he’s even rushed off the edge.”

Clark tells the story last year when an injury left Lakewood weak at middle linebacker, and after he assigned Tyler to move there and fill the hole, Tyler hit Rumson-Fair Haven’s Charlie Volker – now playing at Princeton – and forced a fumble.

On a team that typically has to make the most of its roster numbers, a versatile, high-motor athlete like Tyler is a great equalizer, particularly when the Piners have to match up with another standout athlete on the other side of the line of scrimmage.

“Numbers are a problem for us, so a lot of times, there are positions to fill that we’re just not really capable of covering the way we want to,” Clark said. “So with Amir, it’s almost like wherever there is a weakness, that’s where he is going to play because he’s just that good. And he is a violent player, too. He is out to make sure you feel him when he hits you.”

GOOD OLD-FASHIONED PLAYMAKERS In the end, football is more than just schemes, and there are plenty of players to watch beyond just the principal cogs in the never-ending “game of adjustments.” Jackson Memorial finished No. 1 in the Shore last year behind a powerful running game and a physical defense, and junior running back/safety Mike Gawlik is a standout two-way player in his own right, even if it is not as a quarterback.

Central Regional is coming off its best season in two decades thanks to junior tailback Mike Bickford, who not only rushed single-season school-record 2,052 yards (second in the Shore Conference) but also played a standout linebacker with 65 tackles.

Red Bank is hoping for a breakout year for the program behind Syracuse recruit and traditional two-way talent Sadiq Palmer, who was an All-Shore wide receiver last year and will also lead the Bucs defense at safety.

Matawan has not had to rely too much on the two-way hybrid player because it has two standout specialists on either side of the ball, with Pearson excelling at quarterback and senior All-Shore first-teamer Aliem Shaw at linebacker.

Whether it on offense or defense, the Shore’s best are back in action this fall and whatever trends are taking over meeting rooms and practice fields are in the name of one universal goal.

“So far, my team has needed me to go both ways and if the team needs me to do something, I’m going to do it,” Hahn said. “I want to win more than anything, so if that means just playing quarterback, that’s what I’ll do. If I have to play every snap, I’m ready.”

While Lakewood has always been able to move Tyler around to suit the defense, this year, the Piners will join the ranks of teams switching to the 4-2-5, all for the good of the personnel on hand, including Tyler.

“I think he is going to be an excellent college safety,” Clark said of Tyler. “I feel an obligation to him to try to get him as much work at that position because that’s where I really feel his future is. We fortunately have some guys on the roster who are natural linebackers, which allows us to play Amir

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09-18-15

@ Wall

Colts Neck

09-25-15

@ Ocean Township

10-16-15

Red Bank Catholic

10-02-15

10-09-15

10-30-15 11-06-15

11-26-15

Neptune

@ Raritan

Holmdel

@ Manchester

Long Branch

Head Coach: Nick Giglio, 7th season (14th overall) Career Record: 47-93 Assistant Coaches: Steve Turner (Assistant Head Coach), Cory Giddings (Off. Coor.), Phil Greene RB/LB/Special Teams, Shane Bigelow (OL/DL), Matt Norman (TE/DB), Terrence Scanlon (QB), Jeff Mauro, Dan Mendoza (Freshman), Christina Emrich (Athletic Trainer), Brian Chamberlin (Manager/Quality Control)

2014 Record: 5-5 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Matt Reardon, WR/TE/S Reardon is already an established player for the Bucs, but if there is one role they need to fill, it’s the “jack of all trades” role that Jimmy Ferrogine brought as a senior last year. Giglio called Reardon his most versatile player, which presumably means that if his coaches find a soft spot, Reardon will be the armor.

X-FACTOR: Alim Godsey, Sr., RB The Bucs have an experienced quarterback, a dynamic receiver and a more physical offensive line, which suggests they could have all the ingredients to take the running game to the next level. Godsey and junior Tyrese Morris will both get a shot, but as the senior with speed, Godsey has some upside given the conditions.

GLUE GUY: Ricky Wild, Sr., OL/DL A two-way lineman who stood out last year, Wild is a leader for the line and one of the leaders of the team overall. The message in camp has been to raise the physicality of the team overall, and Wild has been looking to set that tone for the line.

The Bucs Start Here

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

E

junior, caught 36 passes for 748 yards while scoring 13 total touchdowns – seven of which were receiving touchdowns.

“I’m trying to become more of a leader and show my teammates that they’re more important than I am because I need them more than they need me,” Palmer said. “I need them to get a championship ring. They don’t need me to do it.”

Over their varsity careers, Palmer and Navitsky have developed a deep-rooted chemistry on the field that stems not only from their work together as high school football players, but in youth leagues prior to high school as well as on the basketball court, where both star for the Bucs basketball program. Last year, Navitsky threw for 1,114 yards and 11 touchdowns, and more than half of his 59 completions on 106 attempts went to Palmer.

“Those guys know each other as well as two players can,” Giglio said. “That has been growing in a positive way from the beginning. The more they learn about the game of football, the better they are. Two years ago, they would connect on plays that would be broken plays.

They’d both scramble around and still know where each other would be. Now, they know where they’re supposed to be within the scheme, and it’s just so much better.”

Wild, meanwhile, leads an experienced group that returns to the offensive line.

Senior center Colin Young, senior guard Tyriik Murad and junior tackle Connor McCarthy all started last season, with Young moving from guard to center. Senior Phil Banano slides in at guard with some experience under his belt from last year as well.

“This is going to be my third year starting varsity and these are the best workouts Senior quarterback Jack Navitsky

ntering the eighth game of their 2014 season, Red Bank’s players took the field against Manchester optimistic that a win would be enough to clinch them a spot in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III playoffs.

The Bucs got their win and reached the .500 mark, but missed the playoffs by four power points, finishing behind three teams – Ocean, Hamilton West and Lawrence – with 3-5 records.

The heartbreak of 2014 has fed the drive for the postseason for 2015 and this year’s version of the Bucs – which returns the vast majority of its offense and defense from a year ago – is equipped to finish the job against a challenging schedule. After failing to pass the power-points test last year, the message going into the new season is to not let it come down to a handful of points.

“We don’t care about the points,” senior captain and two-way lineman Ricky Wild said.

“We want to throw points on the board, but in order to do that, we have to keep putting wins on the board. That’s all it comes down to is winning. That’s the whole game. Winning or losing.”

Wild and fellow senior Sadiq Palmer lead a wealth of returning seniors, which has coach Nick Giglio and his team optimistic that the results will be different this season. A large portion of this senior class started as a sophomores and endured the growing pains that come with a 1-9 season.

“It allows us to think outside the box a little more,” Giglio said of the experience.

“We don’t have to think about their behavior and what it’s going to be. We can think ahead and plan things in advance more and know that these guys are going to do what’s expected of them.

It’s nice to know that if we had to turn our backs for a second because of an injury or something like that, those guys are going to make sure everything’s good. There’s a trust factor. We trust them and they trust us.”

“We had a very young team,” Palmer said. “We had mostly underclassmen starting, and we only had about three or four seniors who played. So the whole team was young and we barely knew what we were doing so know it’s more senior- and junior-based, so we all know what to do on the field this year.”

Palmer is one of the top returning players in the Shore Conference after committing last spring to play at Syracuse University next season. The 6-2 receiver will be the No. 1 target of senior quarterback Jack Navitsky and will also be the captain of the secondary from one of the strong safety positions.

Palmer, who earned SSN first-team All-Shore honors as a

Senior WR Sadiq Palmer we’ve had, and it’s the most hitting we’ve done,” Wild said.

“We hit all day and we’re going to have an aggressive team.

Even though we play more of a speed game, it’s going to be more physical this year.”

With an older line that Wild expects to be considerably more physical, the Bucs will look to better establish their running game, featuring the backfield tandem of senior Alim Godsey and junior Tyrese Morris. Godsey has been getting most of the first-team reps, but Giglio’s vision is for both to be featured.

“Both split time last year so we’re really happy with those two,” Giglio said. “When they’re focused, they can be as good as anyone.”

A better running game will serve to broaden Navitsky’s options at quarterback, as the Bucs also return senior receiver Matt Reardon to the passing game while adding 6-foot-4 senior receiver Ben Sprauer and 6-3 senior tight end Sean Naiman.

Junior Chris Outterbridge is also back at fullback and can help move the ball when he’s not clearing the way for Godsey or Morris.

Wild, Outterbridge and Reardon will all be leaders on the defense along with Palmer, as the Bucs look to build on a solid finish to the season as a defensive unit. After a 53-0 drubbing at the hands of Red Bank Catholic, the Bucs surrendered an average of 17 points per game over their final five games, which followed an average of 26.4 over the first five.

Naiman, junior Jack Haytain and senior Righteon Johnson will join Wild on the defensive line, with Outterbridge and senior Brian Fagan anchoring the linebacker corps. Senior Teddy Mitchell returns at one cornerback spot to go with Reardon and Palmer as fellow returnees in the secondary. Junior Jalen Willis has the inside track at the other starting cornerback spot, according to Giglio.

With so much senior experience, the youth coming through the program can serve as depth instead of being thrown into the fire like in 2013. After some ups and downs and ultimately heartbreak last year, the Bucs expect the rebuilding phase to be over and for the results to begin to show this year.

“I really believe we have the talent to beat some of the better teams in the conference,” Wild said. “I think we can beat Red Bank Catholic this year. It’s a big statement, but we have as many good players as they do. Part of our line is a little smaller, but we have toughness to make up for size.”

“There is more of a chip on our shoulder,” Palmer said.

“We’ve got something to prove to everybody – ourselves, our coaches, our school. So this year, we’re coming. No more talking.”

Photo by: M a r k B r o w n w w w. b 5 1 p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Ben Sprauer, Sr., WR There are not many players at a No. 1 spot on the depth chart whho don’t have some experience, so any breakout performances from a first-time varsity player would be a little surprising. At 6-4, Sprauer has a chance to make an impact in the passing game as a senior.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 2 vs. Neptune The Bucs want to compete with the best of the best in B North and that opportunity will come later in October against crosstown rival Red Bank Catholic. Before that though, Red Bank faces Ocean and Neptune in back-toback weeks, and if this year is going to be a big one for the Bucs, it stands to reason that they will have to win at least one of those two games.

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@ Neptune Wall Red Bank Manasquan @ Middletown North Long Branch @ Red Bank Catholic @ Colts Neck @ Monmouth Regional

Head Coach: Don Klein, 9th season Career Record: 48-35-1

Assistant Coaches: Fred Stengel (off. coord./DL); Marc Tomo (def. coord.); Pat O’Neill (QB/DB); Mike Salum (WR/DL); Brian Kmak (DL/RB); Jim Simonelli (LB); Mike Lambusta (OL); Cip Apicelli (quality control); John Bosmans, Hankarlos Limardo (freshmen); John Desimini (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 5-6 (3-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Greyson Stoothoff, Sr., WR/DB Stoothoff will step in at safety, where Frank Henry was a monster for the Spartans last season, making 134 tackles with 12.5 sacks. He likely won’t be used in the same manner as Henry, but the position itself needs someone to fill the void.

X-FACTOR: Tyler Thompson, Sr., RB Thompson’s return from a broken leg will be closely monitored by fans and opponents. If he is back to his old self or even better, the Spartans will be in good shape. If he struggles, so will they.

GLUE GUY: T.J. Saldutti, Sr., OL/LB An undersized lineman who plays with tenacity and is also a ferocious hitter at linebacker, Saldutti will be crucial on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Billy Levy, Fr., DB Levy has a chance to see time at safety as a freshman. Any time a freshman has a chance to see varsity action it says something about his potential.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 vs. Neptune The Spartans open their season on the road against the Scarlet Fliers, who defeated them 30-27 last season.

This will be the first look at Tyler Thompson coming off his injury and a chance for Ocean to show what it feels can be a prolific offense against a tough defense.

The Band is Back Together

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writerr

O

cean faced its share of adversity during the 2014 season but was able to rally and reach the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III playoffs as the No. 8 seed.

First it was quarterback Royal Moore transferring to Neptune before the season started. Then, in a Week 7 loss to Red Bank Catholic, star running back Tyler Thompson broke his leg. The Spartans found out what they were made of, and the silver lining to having players thrust into the lineup is that those same players are now prepared to make a major impact in 2015.

“One of the things we talk about is perseverance through adversity, and we did a good job getting through those things,” said Ocean head coach Don Klein. “When you have a group of talented athletes getting experience in big games there’s usually a positive carryover the next year.”

The return of Thompson in the Spartans’ spread offense is huge. He was a 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman and a sophomore, and boasts multiple FBS offers. He was on his way to a third consecutive 1,000-yard season before being injured and still finished with 808 yards and four touchdowns. He should be among the best backs in the Shore Conference this season.

“Tyler is a great kid, and when you doubt him he becomes a competitive animal,” Klein said. “He had so much success so early, and for people to question whether he would be the same coming back from the injury has really fueled his fire. He was a full participant in our offseason conditioning program and he’s bigger, stronger and faster than he’s ever been. His mindset is to attack this thing.”

“He has worked his (butt) off and I give him a lot of credit,” said senior offensive lineman and linebacker T.J. Saldutti. “He’s going to do big things. His goal is to get 2,000 yards.”

Just having Thompson back would be reason

enough for excitement, but what has the Spartans believing their offense could be balanced and dangerous was the emergence of quarterback Kenny Pickett. With Moore transferring, Pickett was forced into the starting role. He flourished, completing 58 percent of his passes for 1,438 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore. At 6foot-2 and 190 pounds and still growing, Pickett has already received an FBS offer f r o m

Te m p l e and has generated interest from the likes of North Carolina, V i r g i n i a , Pittsburgh and Old Dominion.

“Getting the experience last year was huge,” Pickett said. “There’s nothing like it. You can’t duplicate it in practice or scrimmages. You need to get out there under the lights to be ready to go.”

“There’s no doubt having two (FBS)

prospects in the backfield will help the team,” said senior linebacker Tyler Rossback. “Nobody works harder than Kenny and having him back there with Tyler is big.”

Pickett will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. The tight end will be senior Quadratullah Qadiri, a returning starter, with 6foot-2 junior Joey Aldarelli and senior Greyson Stoothoff each back as returning starters at wide receiver. Aldarelli had 35 receptions for 294 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore, and the Spartans are expecting a big year from him. Senior Erik Rant will also play receiver along with senior Ruquan Dean, who will also see time at running back.

The offensive line has two returning starters with junior Chris Vivian at left tackle and Saldutti at right tackle. Junior Anthony Tedesco is the left guard, sophomore Andrew Worthington is the center and senior Brian Olesen is the right guard. Olesen is the Spartans’ starting heavyweight wrestler and brings the most size at 6-foot-1 and 265 pounds.

“Ruquan has really stepped up, Aldarelli hit the weight room hard and Greyson is back as a starter, and of course we have Tyler,” Pickett said. “There are a lot of elements to worry about when you scout us.”

Juniors Anthony Mazza and Lance

Senior tailback Tyler Thompson

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Co nt a c t : S t ev e n Me ye r 7 3 2 - 2 33 - 4 460

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Zaragoza are also competing for spots along the offensive line. Sophomore Jasher Pena will also see time at wide receiver and senior Jeff Andre will serve as an offensive utility player.

The Spartans are hoping all the pieces will allow them to vastly improve on their 19.8 points-per-game average from last season.

“Since Tyler stepped foot in our program as a 14-year old kid, teams start their gameplan with how to stop him,” Klein said. “Now you add Kenny as an extremely talented kid, and he changes the way teams have to prepare for us. If you try to take away Tyler you’re going to be hurting because we have the kids on the perimeter to make plays through the air. It’s probably the first time in my nine years we have that element to this degree.”

Defensively, Ocean will run a multiple fourman front that features a strong group of linebackers. All three are returning starters with Saldutti as the middle linebacker and Rossback and Rant as the outside linebackers.

“Everyone thinks we’re small but we work together very well,” Saldutti said. “I’m the hitter, Rossback is the smart one and Erik has the speed. We all have different talents, and it works out in the end.”

“For our defense to have those three building blocks in the middle is fantastic,” Klein said. “I agree with what T.J. said. He is the hammer, Tyler is the cerebral one of the group and Erik is a great athlete who runs around very well. All three are very bright so they get us checked and aligned in the right spots. I’m very excited to build our defense with those guys.”

Tedesco is a returning starter at defensive end with Vivian as the other end. The defensive tackles are Olesen, Mazza, Worthington and Zaragoza in a rotation.

Dean is a returning starter at cornerback and will have Aldarelli opposite him. The safeties are Stoothoff and Thompson with Picket and freshman Billy Levy also available.

Senior Matt Fisher is a three-year starter at kicker and will also handle the punting duties with Pickett also a possibility at punter.

The Spartans came within a field goal of reaching the state championship last season after most people had probably written them off. Now with their star tailback returning and talented players a year bigger, stronger and smarter, the Spartans feel they are in place to make a championship run.

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09-11-15 09-18-15 09-25-15 10-02-15 10-09-15 10-16-15 10-23-15 10-31-15 11-26-15

Red Bank Catholic @ Carteret @ Wall Colts Neck @ Rumson-Fair Haven @ Ocean Twp. Matawan Neptune @ Red Bank

Dan George, 17th season (19th overall) Head Coach:

Career Record: 129-64

Assistant Coaches: John Jasio, Nick Tranchina, Chad King, Terry King, Kris Parker, Greg Penta, Ben Woolley.

2014 Record: 8-3 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Keith Cooper, Jr., RB Dahmiere Willis posted one of the greatest rushing seasons of all-time among Shore Conference running backs, so anyone trying to follow that act has his work cut out for him.

The Long Branch coaching staff is adamant that Cooper is just as explosive as Willis – if not more so – with respect to his straight-up speed, but turning that speed into yardage will be a process.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback There is a three-way competition for the quarterback spot, and which direction Long Branch goes will dictate what the offense will look like. Brandon Williams is the senior of the group and likely the best athlete, while sophomores Mitch Demytrk and Juwan Williams will be more projects whose best days will likely be in years to come.

GLUE GUY: Brandon Lane, Sr., LB After a breakout year at linebacker, Lane returns to captain the defense and will also play a role on offense as a tight end who can both be a threat in the passing game and contribute to the running game as a blocker.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kaymar Mimes, So., TE/DE With John Mimes graduating, Long Branch welcomes in his younger brother to fill both the tight end and defensive end roles. Kaymar Mimes is already drawing FBS interest and according to coach Dan George, Rutgers has already offered the 6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound sophomore based on what Mimes showed over the summer.

Feeding the Chip

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

E

ven longtime Long Branch head coach Dan George admits there is no player on this year’s Green Wave roster capable of fully replacing running back Dahmiere Willis, who was last year’s Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year and set the Shore Conference single-season rushing record with 2,589 yards during his senior campaign.

While the Green Wave can’t replace Willis’ production with any single running back, they have replaced it with something else: a chip on their shoulder.

“We like when people doubt us,” senior middle linebacker Brandon Lane said.

“It’s just fuel for the fire.”

Under George, the Long Branch program has routinely competed for division titles and chased NJSIAA sectional championships, with or without a 2,500yard back. A team that was identifiable by one player last year hopes to get back to being defined by its attitude.

“Dahmiere was the kind of player that comes around once every 10 or 20 years, and when you have a kid who is that special, you cater your offense to make sure he is getting the ball a certain number of times,” George said. “I don’t want to make it sound like it hurt us, but we didn’t do as many things as we usually like to do on offense because we didn’t have to. I think with this group, we’ll have more of a traditional, balanced offense, and we like the talent we’ve seen out here.”

Lane’s breakout junior season flew under the radar to a degree thanks to the huge season from Willis as well as senior All-Shore second-team linebacker Hunter Baillie playing alongside him. Now the senior linebacker will be a team leader and will also contribute to the offense as a tight end.

“Guys have been getting after each other, and it’s just been a really positive feel at practice,” Lane said. “We’re a physical group of guys, and we’ve been

competing from Day One.”

The Long Branch offense will have a new look to it without Willis, but the Green Wave still expect to use speed to its advantage. Junior tailback Keith Cooper has opened eyes in camp with his straight-line speed. He also is running behind an offensive line that returns three senior starters – tackle Nick Stoia and guards Cameron Hills and Joe Jasio.

“He’s faster than Dahmiere, and Dahmiere was pretty fast,” George said. “Obviously (Cooper) is still learning the position, and our job as a coaching staff is to figure out how to create space so he can use that straight-up speed.”

Senior John Tomlinson and sophomore Peter Wersinger will join the returning trio on the line, which George and his staff believe to be the strength of the offense.

“We had guys step up on the line last year and this year, we’ve been playing well as a unit,” Stoia said. “Even though we lose a great running back to graduation, we still have that mentality that we’re going to run it right at you.”

In addition to losing a star running back, Long Branch will also have to replace quarterback Jordan Rodriguez while also piecing together a mostly new group of receivers and tight ends. George and offensive coordinator John Jasio are currently evaluating three players to potentially take over at quarterback: senior Brandon Williams and sophomores Mitchell Demytrk and Juwan Wilkins. Williams has an edge in experience and athleticism (he is also a starting defensive back), while Demytrk brings more size (5-11, 188 pounds) than the mobile Williams (57, 146 pounds).

While the receiving corps i s inexperienced, it also has a chance to be explosive. Senior Jamar Foster missed last season with a knee injury and has emerged as a starting receiver opposite 6-foot-4-inch sophomore T.J. Fosque.

Senior Brandon Williams

Long Branch Continued page 54

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 16 vs. Ocean Every game in Class B North game is critical, and throw in nondivisional games against Rumson and Matawan, and Long Branch has as tough of a schedule as anyone.

Ocean is expected to be a Class B North public title contender, and a mid-season match-up against the Spartans could have major ramifications in the division and for state tournament positioning.

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Long Branch

Continued from page 52 In addition to using Lane as a pass-catcher, Long Branch will also turn to sophomore Kaymar Mimes at tight end. The younger brother of John Mimes – the tight end on last year’s team – Mimes stands at 6-4, 200 pounds and has already drawn heavy interest from Division I schools, most notably Rutgers, according to George.

quarterback position, new-look backfield and young receiving corps, the biggest challenge facing the Green Wave might be replacing an entire secondary. Williams leads a group that also includes Foster, Fosque and senior Ptah Reynoso. At this stage, George and his staff have not decided where each will play within the scheme, and they expect those four to move around in the secondary.

Despite

54

the

unsettled

“Expectations don’t change here,” Lane said. “This is Long Branch. We expect to keep winning games.”

“Our preference is for the guys in our secondary to be able to play all over,” George said.

“So even as we get settled there, you’ll still probably see us move guys around.”

“We lack experience, but we have some real talent and a lot of size and strength at the receiver spots,” George said. “Mimes and Fosque don’t really look like sophomores out there, and Foster is a physical kid who is starting to get his explosiveness back.”

Just like the offense, the Long Branch defense will be strong up front, with depth on the defensive line and Lane and Stoia returning at linebacker. Mimes and senior A’Dahndray Jones will both play defensive end, with Jasio, Tomlinson and senior Sean Madison rotating between the defensive tackle spots. Senior Ryan Daniels will play the other outside linebacker spot.

players are welcoming the challenge of a schedule that, in addition to its loaded Class B North slate, includes defending NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III champion Matawan and defending CJ Group II champion RumsonFair Haven.

For a team with playoff aspirations year-in and year-out, Long Branch’s schedule is unforgiving, particularly considering how many new players are working into the starting lineup. Despite some new faces, the Long Branch

Senior DE/G Joe Jasio

Photos by:

Senior WR/SS Jamar Foster

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09-11-15 @ Long Branch 09-19-15 @ St. Joseph's Metuchen 09-25-15 @ Neptune 10-02-15 Wall 10-10-15 @ Colts Neck 10-18-15 @ Red Bank Regional 10-23-15 @ Manalapan Ocean Township 10-30-15 11-06-15 Jackson Memorial

Head Coach: Jim Portela, 7th season Career Record: 55-10 Assistant Coaches: Matt Ahearn (off. coord.); Mike Rosenfeld (QB/DB), Keith Hugger (Special Teams), Dom Poliferone (OL/DL), Matt Bijas (TE/DB), Jeff Papcun (RB/LB), Tony Flego (Freshman), Joe Gallagher (Assistant Freshman), Joe Lanza (Assistant Freshman), Mike Ientile (Assistant Freshman), Joe McAuliffe (Strength & Conditioning), Amanda Ballarini (Athletic Trainer)

2014 Record: 11-1 (6-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Mike Wilen, RB/LB On top of taking carries in a backfield that graduated top rusher Tommy Spernal, Wilen will be a full-time linebacker alongside All-Shore teammate Dylan Murphy, who was a complement to Shore Sports Network Defensive Player of the Year Jamie Gordinier.

X-FACTOR: The Defensive Line Red Bank Catholic’s defense was dominant last year and the Caseys should be strong in the secondary and linebacker again this year. The defensive line is relatively inexperienced, but has enough upside to keep alive the possibility of another exceptional Caseys defense.

GLUE GUY: Dylan Murphy, Sr., RB/LB In addition to playing at an All-Shore level in his first season as a varsity linebacker, Murphy gave up his usual tailback position to serve as fullback. He will resume his tailback duties this year and return to the middle of the defense as one of the Shore’s top linebacker.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Nasir Darnell, Jr., DE/TE A junior varsity player last year, Darnell has opened eyes in camp as a player who can potentially ruin an offense coming off the edge. At an athletic 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds, Darnell has the physical side of the defensive end position taken care of.

Nothing Short of Perfect

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

S

eldom does a defending state champion return the following season with a chip on its collective shoulder, but where one chip once rested, another one now nests for the Red Bank Catholic football team.

The Caseys ended a 38-year drought without a state championship by beating Delbarton in last year’s NJSIAA Non-Public Group III championship game, two weeks after vanquishing St. Joseph’s of Montvale – the team that had owned the section in recent years and dominated RBC in the process – in the sectional semifinals.

Despite beating one of the state’s top program’s en route to a championship in one the unforgiving non-public sections, Red Bank Catholic finished No. 2 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10, which was the first time the Caseys failed to finish No. 1 since 2010. That is because Jackson Memorial took down RBC in Jackson on an overtime touchdown to snap the Caseys’ 40-game winning streak against the Shore Conference before going on to win a sectional title of its own in Central Jersey Group IV.

Senior RB/LB Dylan Murphy

playmakers Tommy Spernal, Trevor Cowley and Nick Lubischer, a first-team AllShore offensive lineman in Ryan Kroeger, as well as AllShore defensive standouts Doug Zockoll, Mike DeMonte, Mike Cordova and University of Miami freshman Jamie Gordinier.

“Every single day, we remember that game,” said senior tackle Liam Smith, whose Caseys will host Jackson Memorial in the last regular-season game before the NJSIAA playoffs this season. “If you look right now, we’re not the No. 1 team in the Shore, and that’s not normal around here. We’re still really pissed off about that, not for any other reason than we let it happen to ourselves and we’re determined to not let it happen this year.”

While replacing a senior class that led the program to its first state title since 1976 would be problematic for most teams, Red Bank Catholic is used to replacing elite talent.

Portela and company expect that the lower levels of the program will continue to bear fruit while the core of returning players will be as good as any returning group that Portela has had in his seven seasons at the helm.

Heading into 2015, the returning members of last year’s state championship team and a host of varsity newcomers are locked in on not only repeating as NJSIAA Non-Public Group III champions, but doing so as an unbeaten team. No RBC team in history has ever gone 12-0.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” Portela said.

“We’re used to being deep and we’re not changing that.

With the schedule we play,

“Going 12-0 is definitely the goal,” senior quarterback Eddie Hahn said. “It’s always been the goal: 12-0 and a state championship. It’s been that way since I was a freshman and even since before I got here.”

To downplay the difficulty of that task is to underestimate the talent that coach Jim Portela will have to replace. The Caseys lose offensive

Junior QB Eddie Hahn

RBC

Continued page 56

PIVOTAL GAME: Nov. 6 vs. Jackson Memorial The Caseys will take a dangerous trip to Manalapan two weeks earlier, but this is the revenge game they will be looking forward to the most. Jackson Memorial spoiled a potential perfect season for RBC last year and the Caseys will hope to be capping their regular season by paying the Jaguars back on their home field at Count Basie Field & marching into the postseason unbeaten.

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pounds per lineman across the board.

RBC

Continued from page 54 we’re going to need it.”

Hahn returns for his second season as the full-time starter under center after he began to master the spread offense by season’s end in 2014. He finished his junior campaign completing 64 percent of his pass attempts (81-for-127) for 1,485 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air, while amassing 531 yards on the ground with 12 touchdowns. He is committed to the University of Connecticut as an athlete and his standout play at safety last season gives him a chance to compete for playing time on either side of the ball with the Huskies next year.

“I think we have a bunch of nasty guys up front,” Smith said.

“Me and Ryan Oneidas got to fight together on the left side last year and developed a great chemistry. We’ve got some young guys coming in on the right side, but that’s pretty normal for us to have first-time starters as juniors and seniors. Nothing out of the ordinary.

“I know what it’s like to be a young guy trying to contribute to a championship team because that used to be me,” Hahn said.

“We’re all out here to get better individually, and as a team and as seniors, we’re looking to be there as leaders for the new guys, whether they are sophomores or seniors. The nice thing about our program is you have a lot of seniors come in as first-time starters and perform and you are seeing that from a lot of those guys here.”

Junior Tommy Clark has seized the starting center job with a strong summer. There is still competition on the right side of the line, with sophomore Brandon Dente and junior Alex Sargiss competing for the starting job at right guard and three players looking for time at right tackle, according to Portela. Senior Charlie Gargiulo has the inside track, according to Portela, while junior Connor Moore nurses an arm injury and sophomore Michael Griggs tries to build on a good first impression. Despite three new starters up front, the Caseys expect the offensive line to again be a strength, with Portela expecting an average of 260

58

“Replacing a Trevor Cowley and Nick Lubischer is not going to be easy, but this is a really talented group,” Hahn said of his receivers. “Those guys are going to step up for us this year just like those guys did last year. You don’t do it with one guy. You try to do it with everybody.”

“Defensively, we’re being a little simpler right now just because we have so many new starters and so many kids are getting their reps,” Portela said. “But they’re coming up to speed and really, it’s no different than any other year. Somewhere down the road, we’ll have everything (installed), but in game one, we might not have everything in.”

“Eddie would have played varsity (as a freshman) at a lot of places, but we resisted the temptation to bring him up and let him play safety or somewhere he could have helped us,” Portela said.

“We wanted him build a rapport with those guys (in his grade), and we wanted him to become a leader and build a camaraderie among the freshmen.

Smith – a Duke University commit – returns as the anchor of the offensive line along with fellow senior Ryan Oneidas, both of whom will play on the left side, Smith at tackle and Oneidas at guard. They also will be part of what Portela envisions as a deep rotation on the defensive line.

The group of receivers around Hahn will be different this season with the loss of Cowley and Lubischer. Seniors Colin Shaughnessy and Liam McArdle, as well as junior Max Hazard, have been working as potential targets on the outside for Hahn.

Six-foot-4 sophomore Conor Smith has also worked with the offense as a tight end and has caught the eye of Hahn in the early part of camp.

Hahn, senior safety Mike Balzofiore, senior Dan Lukawski and Shaughnessy all have experience in the secondary and that group will be a strength of the defense, according to Portela. The line also has promise with Smith and Oneidas in the middle and junior Nasir Darnell taking over at defensive end. Gargiulo will man the other end of the line, with White and Christian Foley also mixing in at defensive ends. Sturgiss, Clark, Dente and Briggs will all figure into the defensive tackle rotation.

Hahn developed as a leader on last year’s team and capped his season by going 9-for-10 for 234 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 47 yards and a touchdown in the win over Delbarton.

“They are used to him being a leader, and guys like Eddie, Liam Smith, Dylan Murphy, Ryan Oneidas – the guys that we’re really expecting to step ahead and lead – have really done that.

They’re patient with the young guys, they’re encouraging, (and) they’re not walking around like they’re better than everybody else.”

sees contributing.

Some inexperience at the skill positions and on the defensive line will be early-season question marks, but the Caseys are a team that has annually proven its program depth by rolling out new standouts all over the field. This year will Senior linemen Ryan Oneidas #66 & Liam Smith #78 have to be no exception for RBC to reach its ultimate goal, one that has eluded the Caseys “It takes a while to get to the level we want to be because we even as they ended a near-40-year state-championship drought set such high expectations for our offensive line every year, but last year.

I definitely think we’re capable of getting there this year, and I “You never know how good you can really be unless you do the like the guys we have a lot.” work,” Smith said. “We’re just focused on doing the work right Senior Dylan Murphy returns as after being named third-team All-Shore at linebacker by SSN last year and will move from fullback to tailback on the offensive side. Senior Mike Wilen is also in line for carries and will join Murphy in the linebacking corps as a well. Senior Anthony Purdge and sophomore Zach Bair – a transfer from Holmdel – are also vying for touches in the backfield, with Bair serving as a scout team back during his 30 days away from game action per NJSIAA transfer rules. Senior Joey Hagan and junior Justin Noah are both fullbacks that Portela

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

now in camp like we did in the weight room and like we’ve done building ourselves up leading up to the start of practice. The work we’ve already put in is what’s really important and now we’re just trying to continue to improve on it.”

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09-11-15

09-18-15

09-25-15

Red Bank Regional

@ Ocean Twp. Long Branch

10-02-15

@ Red Bank Catholic

10-23-15

Neptune

10-09-15 10-17-15

10-31-15

Brick Township

@ Freehold Boro

11-26-15

@Colts Neck

Manasquan

Head Coach: Dan Curcione, 2nd season Career Record: 3-7 Assistant Coaches:

Chip LaBarca Jr., Mike Cerminaro, Alex Iachetta, Bob Grace, Fred Sprengel, Time Heaney, Joe Trezza, Bill Carasia, James Cadigan, Joe LaFerlita, Jim Rochford, Bill Pietsch, Cody Smith; Mike Eberhardt (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 3-7

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Darryl Valme, Jr., OL/DL. Valme will look to fill the production void left by the graduation of top two-way lineman Jim Onulak

X-FACTOR: Darryin Valme, Jr., OL/DL. The offensive guard/defensive tackle, who is Darryl’s twin brother, had a strong offseason, and his improvement looks to be crucial this season.

GLUE GUY: R.J. Janeczek, Jr., WR/DB The explosive Janeczek hinted at his potential last season and should be more of a dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball this season. He will be counted on to make plays all over the field..

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Sean Larkin, Jr., RB Larkin isn’t technically a newcomer after starting at the end of last season, but this will be his first year as the featured tailback, where he will be counted on to lead the rushing attack.

Taking the Next Step

By Art Gordon – Shore Sports Network contributor

A

talented group of juniors that got its first taste of significant varsity action last season as sophomores is now ready to combine with a strong group of seniors to jumpstart Wall’s program under second-year coach Dan Curcione.

“We had a great off season,’’ Curcione said. “The kids worked extremely hard and we are hoping to use the old football adage ‘bigger, stronger and faster.’’’

The Crimson Knights are hoping to build on the momentum from season-ending wins over Colts Neck and Thanksgiving rival Manasquan to regain their status as a state playoff and division title contender despite another tough schedule. They also hinted at their potential last season when they shocked Class A South champion Brick in overtime in the biggest regular-season upset in the Shore Conference in years.

Curcione has also added Chip LaBarca Jr. to his staff as the offensive coordinator after LaBarca directed one of the Shore’s most explosive offenses at Brick the past two years. Curcione served as the defensive coordinator under LaBarca when the two were at Toms River North previously. Wall will continue to run a multiple offense with some spread sets, four-wide sets and two-back sets with or without a tight end, as well as a few new wrinkles that LaBarca will install.

The offense will be led by returning All-Division quarterback Matt Cluley. The senior rushed for 621 yards and 9 touchdowns and also threw for 1,080 yards and 7 touchdowns in his first season as the starter last year, and he will have almost his entire wide receiver corps to throw to again.

Junior RJ Janeczek is back after catching 20 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown as a sophomore last year and looks to be a home run threat who commands double teams this year.

Senior Bobby Fletcher and junior Shane Richey are two other play-making targets. Sophomore Chevesse Covin could also see some snaps at receiver.

“Richey knows all of the wide receiver positions in addition to being able to play some ‘A’ back if needed,’’ Curcione said. “We will also move him around in the secondary”

The tight end position is being contested between senior Jack Malone and junior Gene Scott, a pair of 6-foot-2 targets who also should help the running game.

Junior Sean Larkin returns at tailback after

to be major factor in their rushing attack.

missing time last year with a broken collarbone. He will be spelled by senior Billy Schneider and sophomore B r a d y M c N a l l y.

T h e fullback position w i l l feature senior P a t Eknoian, a n d Schneider will also take some snaps there.

Junior Darryl Va l m e returns to lead the offensive line and he will play alongside his twin brother, Darryin, at right tackle with junior Colton Murdza pushing both of them for some playing time.

The center is senior Keegan Nesbitt. Mike Andrejco will play left guard and returning at left tackle will be senior Mike Yard.

The offensive line averages approximately 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds across, which they are hoping

Defensively Wall will employ the 3-4 scheme that Curcione implemented three years ago as defensive coordinator, but with some new wrinkles.

“We are teaching 3-4 fundamentals, but we will move around and give teams a lot of different looks,’’ Curcione said.

“We will sometimes go with an eight-man box and then other times use 5-6 defensive backs depending on the down, distance and tendencies.”

The defensive end spots will f e a t u r e Andrejco, Darryin Valme and Yard.

S e n i o r De’Shawn Sanders, Darryl Valmay and junior Matt Biegert will be all rotate at defensive tackle.

There will be some new faces at outside linebacker with juniors Matt McKenzie, Chad McClelland, Jack Byrne and Sean Ferguson fighting senior Jake Malone for the two spots. Inside linebacker also has a competition going on between sophomore Gene Scott, Tim McKernan and junior Kyle Dallicardillo battling junior Andrew Chapman and Schneider.

Most of the wide receivers will also comprise the secondary, with Janeczek, Richey and junior Mike Capra working in at cornerback, and Richey, Larkin and senior Dallas Colatrella at strong safety. Cluley and senior James Marabeti will rotate at free safety. Senior Nick Maciejewski is a returning starter at placekicker, and Cluley will handle the punting.

Senior QB Matt Cluley

Photo by: M a r k B r o w n w w w. b 5 1 p h o t o g r a p h y. c o m

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 at home vs. Red Bank The Bucs knocked off the Crimson Knights last season, which snowballed into an 0-4 start. Wall will look to show that it has improved and generate some momentum for a tough Class B North schedule by avenging that loss.

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Howell @ Red Bank Regional @ Woodbridge @ Long Branch Red Bank Catholic @ Neptune @ Brick Township Wall Ocean Twp.

Head Coach: Darian Barnes, 1st season Career Record: 1-1 Assistant Coaches: Info was not provided

2014 Record: 1-9 (0-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Carmen Catena, Jr., RB/LBB The Cougars would not so much like to fill the shoes of last year’s team as much as they would like to buy new ones. One bright spot was the effort of running back Abdul Quddus, who ran for 667 yards after contributing as a change-of-pace back during Colts Neck’s 10-2 season in 2013. Catena will take over as the starting running back and will look to help reignite the running game behind a new-look offensive line.

X-FACTOR: The offensive line With three seniors gone to graduation and senior Nick Gargiulo expected to play fullback, the Colts Neck line will look different this year, which might not be such a bad thing. If the influx of talent turns out to be an upgrade, this Colts Neck offense could get running in the right direction again.

GLUE GUY: Nick Gargiulo, Sr., FB/LB As a junior in 2014, Gargiulo led the team with 114 tackles, which was also good for 11th in the Shore Conference. He also helped out on the offensive line and will be used in the backfield as a fullback this year, which is significant considering his head coach played the position in the NFL.

The Long Climb Back

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

F

ootball has taken Darian Barnes many places, and not only has the former Toms River North standout and NFL fullback experienced the sport at the highest level, but he has also been a part of the league’s highest high and the lowest low.

He won a Super Bowl with the 2002 Tampa Buccaneers and later played for a 2008 Lions team that is the only NFL team to ever go 0-16 in a single season.

As the new head coach of the Colts Neck football team, Barnes is a credible source of football knowledge for the Cougars players, not just because of the greatness he was a part of, but also for the failure he witnessed firsthand.

“I’ve been part of a team that won the Super Bowl and I’ve been part of the Lions team that went 0-16 and a Rutgers team that went 0-11,” said Barnes, who began his college career at Rutgers in 1997 before transferring to Hampton after two seasons. “Obviously, there is a difference in the talent that was on those rosters, but for the most part, it’s really all about the fundamentals and being disciplined. Winning teams do the little things right, and losing teams tend to mess them up.”

Colts Neck went from a 10-2 team that reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship game in 2013 to a 1-9 team that lost its first nine games of the season. Barnes joined the coaching staff as an assistant at the beginning of 2014 and took over as the interim head coach after eight games before being named the permanent head coach in January. Since then, he has tried to convey to his team that while a lot needed to change, they are not that far away from where they want to be.

“We didn’t have any discipline as a team last year,” senior quarterback Max Mullaney said. “This year, the number one thing for us has been focusing on the task at hand and staying disciplined in our principles, and having Coach Barnes here for the full year and teaching things his way has really helped.”

Plenty of teams go into a season confident that they will bounce back from a losing season, but what makes Colts Neck somewhat unique is that many of its players had not experienced the level of losing that comes with a 1-9 season.

“No one expected to go through a season like that. I certainly didn’t,” Mullaney said. “It was a learning experience and something no one here wants to go through again.”

Mullaney enters his second year as the starting quarterback for the Cougars, and he will also double as a starting outside linebacker this year after only playing quarterback last year. According to both Barnes, Columbia University has offered Mullaney as a linebacker, which has prompted the 6-foot-4, dual-threat quarterback to get an

early start on his transition to defense.

“He met with me and the coaches, told us colleges were looking at him as a linebacker and that he wanted to play defense, which I was all for, obviously,” Barnes said. “Max is a football player first and foremost, and he’s got all the tools to play the position and make us a lot better. He might be the best all-around football player in the Shore Conference.

I really believe that.”

With leading rusher Abdul Quddus gone to graduation, Mullaney could end up leading the Cougars in rushing, although Barnes and company are hoping to have a balanced attack led by junior Carmen Catena, who is the front-runner for the starting running back spot.

Colts Neck will also look to use junior Steve Barsky and senior Nick Gargiulo in the running game, with Gargiulo mostly as a lead blocker. The senior played on the offensive line last year and also led the team in tackles as a junior, but Barnes sees him as a natural fullback – a subject on which the seven-year NFL veteran would certainly be an expert.

“(Barnes) had a big impact on me last year, and I think everybody is feeling that this year,” Nick Gargiulo said.

“He’s had so much experience in football that when he says something, you’d be crazy not to listen to every word.”

Barnes expects the offensive line to be young but with some promise, which could still leave the door open for Gargiulo to work in on the line. Junior Liam Abujawdeh and senior George Kokinakas are also getting looks at running back, and if one or both continue to prove useful, there may be more of a need on the offensive line.

“I’m prepared to play wherever the team needs me,” Gargiulo said. “I like playing fullback, but I’ve played on the line at the varsity level so if that’s where I need to play, coach knows I can.”

Junior Vinny Gargiulo returns to the offensive line as the lone returnee who was a starter for all of 2014. Seniors Troy Bass and Joe Ferrandino also saw time on the line last year and sophomore Evan Imbesi is among the newcomers to the offensive front.

Senior Jordan deGroot and junior Matt Volk lead the receiving corps on a Colts Neck offense that will offer more of a pro-style look this season with remaining elements of the spread, according to Barnes. Kokinakas can also work in at receiver, and 6-foot-2 junior Bryce Campbell will add some depth to the group. Senior Mike Post will also look to contribute at tight end.

“Having a full year to work with Max in the offense and

Senior quarterback Max Mullaney now being a more experienced group, I think we’re going to be able to make more plays in the passing game,” Volk said. “I know for me, I wasn’t really sure what to expect last year as a sophomore, and I think that experience motivated me and a lot of other guys to work harder.”

Nick Gargiulo leads the returning defensive unit after finishing 11th in the Shore Conference with 114 tackles last year while playing outside linebacker. He and Mullaney will play on the outside with Barsky and Vinny Gargiulo slated to play on the inside.

“It’s been fun having Max on that side of the ball,” Gargiulo said. “We’re going to make some plays with him over there.”

Most of Colts Neck’s interior defensive line rotation will consist of players from the offensive line, while Post and senior Khaled Mostafa line up at defensive end. At 6-foot6, Mostafa has moved around the field on both sides of the ball and is now settling in at defensive end, where Barnes expects him to make an impact now that he is a year stronger and more experienced.

Volk and deGroot will anchor the secondary, with Catena and Campbell also figuring in prominently, while Abujawdeh and seniors Travis Kirk and Nick Sallecito are also part of the defensive back mix. Abujawdeh is also the leading candidate to kick for the Cougars.

The Cougars faced plenty of uncertainty with a late hire of coach Pete Shaw last season, and the stability of having Barnes around over the offseason could make a significant difference in their play this year. The B North schedule could still make it challenging for Colts Neck to climb the standings, but with talk of winning a state title being thrown around camp, going through a tough slate of games is par for the course for a team thinking big.

“I played on the team that was one win away from winning a state championship, so I never expected what happened last year,” Gargiulo said. “My goal is to win a state championship my senior year and so far, this camp has felt a lot more like my sophomore year than last year.”

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Khaled Mostafa, DE After playing sparingly last season, Mostafa returns having seemingly found his niche as an athletic, 6foot-6 edge rusher and could be a nice weapon for the defense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Red Bank After opening with a non-divisional game against a Howell team that went 3-7 last year and beat Colts Neck 20-16, the Cougars open their B North season at Red Bank against a team expecting to have its best season in a while. If Colts Neck is going to meet its expectations of returning to the postseason, knocking off Red Bank to improve to 2-0 would be a good start.

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Ocean Township @ Middletown South Red Bank Catholic @ Red Bank Regional Colts Neck @ Wall @ Long Branch Toms River North @ Asbury Park

Head Coach: Rodney Taylor, 2nd season Career Record: 8-3 Assistant Coaches: Jeremy Balina (def. coord./LB); Vincent Iachetta (co-def. coord./DL); Frank Iachetta (OL/DL); Brian Duffy (Off. Coord./OL); Daivon Mora (DB); Mike Seber (Off. Coord./QB); Rocco Manfre, Netanis Bean (Freshman); Sean Hicks (Video Coord.); Anais Mixson (Athletic Trainer).

2014 Record: 8-3 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Rasheed Martin, Sr., QB Martin picks up an offense depleted by graduation and looks to use his strong arm and mobility to carry the Fliers’ offense this season.

X-FACTOR: Secondary With a young linebacking corps this season, the Neptune secondary will need to step up and continue their aggressive play to help shoulder the load in the early going.

GLUE GUY: Isaiah Calhoun, Sr., WR/DB A three-year starter at wide receiver and cornerback, Calhoun is one of three returning starters who will need to become team leaders on and off the field. On the field, Calhoun is one of the top two-way players in the Shore.

Young Fliers Have Something To Prove

By Eric Braun – Shore Sports Network Contributor

N

ot many teams enter a season with high expectations after returning just three starters, but the feeling at Neptune is that the next wave of talent is ready to keep the wins coming.

A successful debut under head coach Rodney Taylor ended with an eight-win season and a trip to the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals last year before bowing to nemesis Middletown South..

Taylor made no bones about the fact that his team is young and inexperienced this season, but feels the ingredients are there for success this fall.

“We may be young, but there is not better group of young men that are hungry to get at it and win,’’ Taylor said.

After a 1-2 start last season, the Scarlet Fliers outscored their opponents 151-28 during a six-game winning streak to reach the semifinals before their second loss of the season to Middletown South. This year, Neptune’s biggest weakness this season will be the lack of experience on both sides of the ball. Returning starter Isaiah Calhoun will lead the way as a standout two-way player at wide receiver and cornerback.

Taking over at quarterback in Neptune’s spread option for the graduated tandem of Ralph McLean and Royal Moore will be senior Rasheed Martin. The backfield is also all new with junior running backs Isaiah Mooney and Marvin Morgan getting the bulk of the carries. Sophomore Council Karon and seniors Banir Worthy and David Mclean should also get some touches to give depth to the backfield.

Senior tight ends King Pugh and Shane Nolan also should be weapons on offense.

The offensive line took the biggest hit from graduation and will be looking to replace all five starters.

Seniors Dayvon Lawrence and James Roberts are the lone players who saw any time last season.

However, Taylor feels the experience that players like the junior trio of Kendrick Knowles, Ben Morales and Gary Hoover got in last season’s playoff run will carry over as the new group steps in up front.

Taylor expects the offense to be productive despite the heavy graduation losses.

“Last season we had a lot of senior leadership, and this season we are young, but we expect the same results or better,’’ Taylor said. “The guys competing in practice are making each other work to get better, and that’s a positive start.”

Defensively, Neptune will once again be running the 3-3-5 stack, which proved to be one of the better run defenses in the Shore Conference last season.

The defensive line is solid up front with experience in Pugh, Roberts, Lawrence and junior Naji Jordan. The linebackers have been a work in progress, as Nolan and Worthy are the only returners with any experience. Morales, Mooney and sophomore Elijah Owens look to step up

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Elijah Owens, So., RB/LB With Neptune losing its lineback group to graduation, it will be counting on Owens to pick up and run with the position quickly this season.

Senior WR Isaiah Calhoun

and provide the physicality and athleticism needed to make plays for the Scarlet Fliers. Calhoun returns to anchor the secondary after finishing tied for fourth in the Shore Conference with four interceptions last season.

“Our secondary and defensive line our very fast and strong and will need to come up big early on until our linebackers get up to speed,’’ Taylor said.

Neptune faces another deep schedule playing in Class B North, as well as a nondivisional schedule that includes Middletown South and a strong Toms River North team. Just like last season, they will once face three perennial powers in the first three weeks in Ocean, Middletown South and Red Bank Catholic, which looks to be a stern challenge for a team breaking in so many new starters.

“We are a young team that is going to experience some ups and downs early on, but we are going to have to stick together if we want to get to our goals at the end of the season,’’ Taylor said.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Middletown South Middletown South has beaten Neptune 11 straight times, including nine straight in the regular season. A win over another loaded Eagles squad would give them a huge win toward state playoff positioning. This will be their only meeting of the season, as the Eagles have been realigned into the North Jersey II, Group IV bracket from Central Jersey Group IV this fall.

Photos by: Bill Normile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

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@ Pt. Beach @ Metuchen Mater Dei Prep Middlesex Keyport @ Dunellen Keansburg @ Shore Neptune

Head Coach: Tim Fosque, 1st season Career Record: 0-0 Assistant Coaches: Rob Ward, Matt Ardizzone, Nick Ciambrone, Keith Killea, Lamar Davenport, Syron Davis, Paul Zarella, Nancy Saphow (Athletic Trainer)

2014 Record: 2-8 (2-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jason Deltus,Sr., OL/DL The Blue Bishops expect to be better on the offensive line, but that comes with some inexperience. Deltus will be a senior leader among the group along with returning starter Calvin Simmons-Carter.

Back to Basics

By M a t t M a n l e y - S e n i o r S t a f f W r i t e r

N

ow on its fourth head coach in the last four seasons, the Asbury Park football team has has no choice but to endure change. The latest coach to take his turn running the show on Sunset Avenue is Tim Fosque.

As a former assistant for the Blue Bishops, his goal is to help Asbury get back to being Asbury.

“The talent is definitely here,” Fosque said. “Most of the skill guys here in camp were major contributors last year and even though we’re young on the line, we’ve got more guys at the position than we’ve had in a while.

“Most of these guys have come up through the ranks and have had some success, so our goal as a coaching staff is to get them back to playing the way they know how and give them the best chance to be successful and, ultimately, win games.”

Last year, Asbury Park suffered through its first losing season since 2006, which is bad news on the surface but recent history suggests there is reason for hope. After going 1-9 in 2006, Asbury Park went 11-1 in 2007 and won the first of three straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championships.

For history to repeat itself, the Blue Bishops will have to incorporate a handful of newcomers into a team that returns some of last year’s top contributors. The core of the team is a trio of senior skill players and an established junior two-way lineman who will lead an inexperienced-but-promising offensive line.

Senior wide receiver Jaedon Stephens returns after an alldivision campaign in which he finished sixth in the Shore Conference with 690 receiving yards on 35 catches – good for 19.7 yards per reception. Even with a handful of playmakers back on offense, Stephens will be the focal point.

“We’re really happy to bring Jaedon back for another year, not just because of the player he is but also because of the example he sets for everyone else in the program,” Fosque said.

“He is a leader on the field, he does the right things in practice and in the classroom, and he has a very good work ethic and attitude when he’s out there.”

“I’ve been playing varsity for four years and I understand I’m a leader on this team,” Stephens said. “Last year, we didn’t always have the kind of leadership we needed and now that I’m a senior and we have other seniors who are back, guys have been more focused and doing the things

they’re supposed to do.”

Senior quarterback Davon Thompson returns after taking over midway through his junior season and will go back to running Asbury Park’s traditional zone-read, option-style offense after trying more of a spread offense last year under former coach Bill Hill. Thompson has the ability to make plays on the ground but has also shown he can get the ball to Stephens.

“The new offense has been really good,” Thompson said.

“I still don’t know why we changed it last year, but it’s looking good again this year. It keeps things simple for the guys on our O-line, and they’re doing a good job of just blocking down and giving us a chance to make plays. That’s what I like.”

“It’s a much simpler offense, and I think it helps to know that teams in the past have won championships here playing a similar style,” junior lineman Calvin Simmons-Carter said.

“We have some talented young guys on the line and I think it’s going to help us being in an offense where they don’t have to think too much, and they can just go right after people.”

Senior Charles Sanders returns at fullback and is the most established player in Asbury Park’s backfield. The return to the zone read with more crowded backfields will give Sanders an opportunity to make plays in the running game or clear the way as a blocker. An intriguing addition to the backfield is senior Tyquere Davis, who lost his junior season to a broken femur bone after entering camp with a chance to be one of the Blue Bishops’ playmakers.

The offensive line will be young, but it is also deeper and carries with it a higher ceiling than any other group since Asbury Park’s last championship team in 2011, according to Fosque. Simmons-Carter leads the group up front at guard, along with tackle Jason Deltus – the only senior on the starting offensive line and one of only two seniors listed as offensive linemen on the roster. Among the host of sophomores and freshmen linemen, sophomore Jaylen Paige has stood out as a potential impact starter on the line at 6-1, 270 pounds.

Almost all of Asbury Park’s starters are slated to play both ways, with Simmons-Carter and Deltus on the interior defensive line, Paige at defensive end, Sanders at middle linebacker and Stephens and Thompson in the secondary.

Senior Trevor Saunders has also emerged on both sides of the ball at receiver and cornerback, while sophomore Donte

Senior RB Charles Sanders Abrams has worked in at wing back and outside linebacker.

Junior Cishium Simmons will play tight end and at the other defensive end spot opposite Paige.

“I really like our defense,” Stephens said. “We’ve been playing really physical so far, and I think with the guys we have back, we’re just going to be a faster, more physical group.”

With some key position players back, numbers on the offensive and defensive lines and more stability in the coaching staff, most coaches around Class B Central expect Asbury Park will once again be in the mix in the division race. Shore Regional is the two-time defending division championship and Point Beach is always in the hunt, but with Mater Dei Prep returning only two seniors, there is an opening to move into the top two spots in the division. By getting back to its roots, Asbury Park hopes to fill that void.

“That’s all we think about is the ring,” Thompson said.

“We’ve done it before here. We’re together, we’ve got the players and we’re focused.”

X-FACTOR: Tyquere Davis, Sr., RB/DB After suffering a season-ending leg injury during his junior year, Davis is back on the field this year and Fosque is hoping he can be a big part of the running game as he works his way back to form.

GLUE GUY: Jaedon Stephens, Sr., WR/DB In addition to being Asbury Park’s best player, Stephens is a leader by example, which Fosque expects will be crucial with a fair amount of underclassmen on the roster.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jaylen Paige, So., OL/DL Paige will join a new-look offensive line as a sophomore and even without a lot of experience, he can make a big difference at 6-1, 270 pounds.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 at Pt. Beach We will find out right away if Asbury Park is ready to jump back into the Class B Central race, as the Blue Bishops travel to Point Pleasant to take on a Garnet Gulls team that has been in the division mix for the last few years.

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Head Coach: Shannon Hoadley, 1st season Career Record: 0-0 Assistant Coaches:

Larry Szabo (Off. Coor./LB), Jeff Rainess (RB/LB), Jesse Ascolese (WR/DB), Dwight Sheehan (OL/DL), John Washington (Staff), Mark Billotta (Staff)

2014 Record: 8-3 (4-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Kyle Devaney, QB Christian Palmer had a record-setting career while leading Mater Dei back to the postseason, and not only will Devaney have to follow that act, but he will have to do it on a team that has both high expectations and very few seniors.

X-FACTOR: Devaney/Quarterbacks The good news out of camp for Mater Dei is that so far, Devaney has both been impressive and has won over the team with his work ethic and ability.

He does not have to put up the numbers that Palmer did, but if the sophomore makes a smooth transition and is effective right away, the Seraphs might not miss a beat.

GLUE GUY: Jonathan Lubintus, RB/DB Eddie Lewis is the big name on the roster, but Lubintus is just as vital because of his contributions as a middle linebacker and the physical approach he brings to the running game.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Ryan Mandelbaum, WR/DB A sophomore who will play on both sides of the ball, Mandelbaum has looked comfortable with his classmate Devaney in the offense and could have a nice debut varsity season with defenses keying on Lewis.

Brand New Day

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

O

n a Friday morning in mid-August, for the first time since the start of preseason camp, a rain storm threatened a scheduled morning practice for the Mater Dei Prep football team, as it had for any number of high school teams in New Jersey scheduled for an outdoor morning workout.

Outside of a practice field that was slicker than usual thanks to some early morning showers, the Seraphs had their usual practice.

“There was a dark cloud hanging over our heads, but we stayed together through storm and now, there is nothing but blue skies,” first-year Mater Dei coach Shannon Hoadley said that Friday morning.

Although the sky above him at that moment was indeed blue and his team uninhibited by the rain, Hoadley’s statement was not a weather report, but rather a metaphor for the last six-plus months of Mater Dei football and Mater Dei Prep High School as a whole.

A little more than six months after the Diocese of Trenton announced the school would be closing its doors and approximately three months after the school announced it would remain open after raising the necessary $1 million, Mater Dei football is back to work trying to continue an unexpected football renaissance at a once downtrodden program at a school that is unexpectedly still open.

“There was a lot of indecision, there was a lot of ‘what if?’” said Hoadley, who was hired as head coach on June 4 after serving as the defensive coordinator for former coach Steve Sciarappa. “We called a team meeting and we said that we need to stay together and stand together as a family, and we’re going to be okay.

“The students, especially the football team, saw that there was a lot of support for Mater Dei in the community, and we just started helping out anywhere we could. We were going out to any fundraiser that we could, showing that Mater Dei football is alive and strong to the people who showed us support and made the financial donations that helped keep us open. It really rallied us and brought us closer together as a family and a community, which was great to see.”

The first question that popped in the heads of any Mater Dei student – particularly its athletes – was, “Where will I go next year?” Junior wide receiver Eddie Lewis was the litmus test for how much the threat of the school closing would force an immediate exodus. While Lewis – one of the top returning wide receivers in the Shore Conference – certainly

entertained the idea, his response set a tone for the rest of his team.

“I really didn’t know what was going on or what to think, but I just told my guys I had their back, no matter w h a t happens,” Lewis said. “I thought about what I wanted to do, but more than anything, I wanted to stay here if I could. This has been my home and I wanted to finish what we started when I came here, and I was going to stick it out until the very end.”

According to Hoadley, the program lost only one player from a year ago who could have returned, which could have happened in any given year in which there was not an impending shutdown looming. While the Seraphs must replace a number of key seniors, its strong junior class gets to return to play with one another, which is a victory in and of itself.

Mater Dei’s new life makes replacing some of its graduated talent seem like a small obstacle to overcome, but it remains an obstacle nonetheless.

First-team All-Shore quarterback Christian Palmer led the Shore Conference with a Mater Dei-record 3,258 total yards – 1,993 yards passing and 1,265 rushing – and accounted for a Shore Conferencerecord 44 combined touchdowns between passing (27) and rushing (17). Mater Dei must also replace second-leading receiver and All-Division performer Tysaun White, who scored 21 total touchdowns last season between offense and in the return game.

“We can do a lot of the same things we did last year,” Hoadley said. “Obviously, we can’t replace a Christian Palmer at quarterback, but the offensive system that we’ve run over the last two years is the same.”

While no one at Mater Dei is expecting anyone to break records in the manner that Palmer did, the hope among the coaching staff is that the job that Palmer did in helping resurrect the program has created the infrastructure necessary for the next quarterback in line to develop into a similarlyproductive player. This year, that player is set to be sophomore Kyle Devaney, and he is already drawing praise from the coaching staff and his older teammates for his work on and off the field.

“He’s been impressive,” Lewis said of Devaney. “He knows the offense, he has great composure and he throws a good ball. It’s going to be an adjustment for him, and we definitely want the older guys to step up and take some of the pressure off of him, but from what he’s been showing, he’s ready to handle it.”

“He got a chance to be the understudy to Palmer last year, and I think Christian spending that time with him really

made a big difference,” Hoadley said. “It shows you the kind of kid and leader that Christian Palmer is, but it’s a credit to Kyle for putting in the work and having the wherewithal to understand what someone

is

Junior WR Eddie Lewis

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 16 at Shore Last year might have been Mater Dei’s best chance to knock off Shore and win a Class B Central title, but the division title is still on the Seraphs’ to-do list, and winning Class B Central will almost certainly require beating the Blue Devils. Mater Dei’s defense showed it could handle the challenge in a 14-8 loss to Shore last year.

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showing him.”

In addition to learning from Palmer last year, Devaney will have the benefit of Lewis, who led the team in receiving last year to go with 10 touchdown receptions. His 47 catches were third in the Shore Conference and his 873 receiving yards were second. He enters his junior year with offers from Iowa and Monmouth University as the undisputed focal point of what was a high-powered offense last year.

“I’m not the kind of guy who is going to complain about not getting the ball, so if I’m getting doubled and tripled and we’re still making plays, I’m fine with that,” Lewis said. “I like the challenge, so if teams want to give me that kind of attention, I’m ready.”

it came back again following Hardy’s AllDivision season in baseball. He is now back to practicing without restriction, according to Hoadley.

Mater Dei’s offensive and defensive lines will feature more experience than any other group on the roster thanks to the return of what was a young offensive line last year. Junior Shane Mastro and senior Nick Massaro lead the group on both sides of the ball, with juniors Alex Mercardo, Mario Rodriguez and Kevin Olausen all back as well.

Olausen was the only one of the group who was not a full-time starter last year, but he did gain starting experience.

“We were really young last year, but we still held our own,” Mastro said. “Now, we’re a lot stronger after the offseason and the most important thing is we’re playing as a unit right now. We’re a much more cohesive group.”

The Seraphs figure to be more reliant Lubintus leads a defense that returns six starters on the running game this season as from last year’s team and found itself after Devaney acclimates himself to life as a surrendering 50 points to Dunellen in the second varsity quarterback, and there are a game of the season. After beating Asbury Park 30number of options in the backfield for 20 the following week, Mater Dei did not him. Junior John Lubintus was a surrender more than 14 points in any game until fullback last season and is in line for the the Seraphs lost to NJSIAA Non-Public Group I Junior LB John Lubintus most carries out of the backfield, while power St. Joseph Hammonton, 41-18, in the senior David Taylor and freshmen Andre sectional semifinal.

Spann and Syncere Richardson are prepared for carries as well.

Lubintus will play middle linebacker again, while returning junior “Teams might look at us without Christian and Tysaun and think we’re Juwan Mitchell and sophomore newcomer Jabril Davidson man the a one-man offense with Eddie, and that’s fine,” Lubintus said. “If they outside linebacker positions. Lewis and junior Justice George will play want to focus everything on stopping one guy, we have a whole bunch of on the corners and Hoadley is leaning toward starting the young tandem guys who are going to make plays.” of Mandelbaum and Spann at the two safety spots.

With defenses likely to key on Lewis, Devaney will rely on other targets in the passing game, namely fellow sophomore Ryan Mandelbaum and senior Cole Hardy. After missing last season due to illness, Hardy has been working back in at tight end and in the slot as he looks to make up for lost time. According to Hoadley, Hardy was diagnosed with the intestinal disease diverticulitis before last season and

“We have some key guys back on the defensive side and I really like the way the younger guys are playing,” Lubintus said. “I think our defense is much better than it was last year, and I think it’s going to surprise some people.”

Teams with as little senior influence on the roster as Mater Dei has don’t typically enter the season with high expectations, but this is no

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

Junior G Mario Rodriguez normal set of circumstances. The Seraphs have a wealth of juniors who played as sophomores, some capable incoming underclass talent, and the peace of mind knowing they get to play a season after a tumultuous couple of months earlier this year.

“It’s a whole new outlook for us,” Lewis said. “We know we have a whole community behind us.”

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09-11-15

Keyport

09-19-15

@ Spotswood

09-26-15

@ Keansburg Dunellen

10-02-15

10-16-15

10-24-15

10-30-15 11-06-15

11-26-15

Mater Dei Prep @ South River

@ Pt. Pleasant Beach Asbury Park

@ Rumson-Fair Haven

Head Coach: Mark Costantino, 24th season Career Record: 153-85-1

Assistant Coaches: Mike Whitacre (OL/DL); John Remedios (OL/DL); Pete Vincelli (RB/DB); Bob Biasi (WR/LB); Jack Levy (QB/DB); Martin Mullarney, Joe Rankin, John Vaccarelli (freshman); Nora McCormick (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 11-1 (5-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Devin McLaughlin, Sr., RB/LB McLaughlin played last season but will have an increased role in stepping into the linebacker position vacated by James Bedell, who was second in the Shore Conference with 146 tackles last season.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback play The Blue Devils offense should be very good regardless of how much production they get from the quarterback, but if Pennell has a big year on the ground and in the air it could make the offense unstoppable.

GLUE GUY: Doug Goldsmith, Sr.,. RB/LB A three-year starter, Goldsmith has been an impact player ever since he stepped into the varsity lineup as a sophomore. Fully healthy, he will be among the conference’s best players on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jack Britton, Sr., RB/WR/LB

Back to Work

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

W

ith a host of returning starters off a team that captured the program’s sixth sectional title last season, Shore has its sights set on another dominating season that ends in a haul of championship trophies.

“We talked about finishing the deal and all that kind of stuff,” Costantino said.

“We were this close, so it’s time to get back and finish it off. We expect to win every time we step on the field and we really mean that.”

The Blue Devils captured the Shore Conference Class B Central championship last season before crushing South Hunterdon 42-12 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title game at Kean University. With eight returning starters on offense and defense, they will enter the season as the favorite to do it all again.

“Every time we step on the field there’s an expectation,” said senior Connor Rempel. “The day after we won we knew we would be back in the weight room as soon as our banquet was over. We’ve been working toward (repeating) ever since.”

“We got back to work pretty quickly, and the kids know what the expectations are every year,” said Shore head coach Mark Costantino. “The kids work hard, and we have no problem with that. Our staff is outstanding. We’re just trying to stay healthy and gear up for the season.”

The Blue Devils had the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore Conference last season, allowing a paltry 5.1 points per game while recording six shutouts.

Several starters return from that unit as they look to once again suffocate their competition. Senior Steve Fiumefreddo,

a 285-pound wedge in the middle of the defensive line, is back as a starter at defensive tackle in the 4-4 multiple set. Junior Mike Devine and senior Kyle Grogan will rotate with Fiumefreddo. Seniors Erik Graham (6-foot2, 240 pounds), Jeremy Redaelli and Nick Boice all started at some point last season and will rotate at defensive end.

Standout senior Doug Goldsmith will start at middle linebacker for the third straight season and will be joined by senior D e v i n McLaughlin, who started at times l a s t season.

preseason) so I’ll be good to go f o r Keyport.”

Goldsmith missed six games last season because of a knee injury and then suffered a broken foot toward the end of lacrosse season, but is all healed up and ready to go for the start of the season.

“Last year the first few weeks after I came back

I was taking it easy and just doing what I could,” Goldsmith said. “This year we haven’t let anyone get a look at me ( i n

Juniors Josh Campi and Tim O’Brien will also see time at m i d d l e linebacker.

Rempel and senior Alex Johnson are both returning starters at outside linebacker with junior Mark Russo also slated to see some time.

The cornerbacks are seniors Jack Britton, Tyreek McCain and Duke Russo. McCain was a starter last season and Britton was a starter as a sophomore. He is back in the lineup after missing all of last season with an injury. Junior Matt Pennell is the starting safety with Mark Russo also at the position. Senior John Teufel will see time in the secondary as well.

Senior RB Doug Goldsmith

Britton started on both sides of the ball as a sophomore but missed all of his junior season with an injury. Having him back in the lineup gives Shore another offensive weapon and a playmaker on defense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 30 at Point Beach Shore and Point Beach look to be the top two teams in Class B Central, meaning this game will likely be for the division title while also being a potential state championship preview.

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“The sky is the limit at this point,” Goldsmith said.

“We lost some good guys and I’ll have to step up to replace (SSN first team All-Shore linebacker James) Bedell, and other guys will have to step up, but once we get that midseason chemistry we’ll be fine.”

Duke Russo leads the group of wide receivers as a returning starter. Britton will also see time at receiver along with Teufel. Rempel is a returning starter at tight end.

The offensive line has three returning starters with Fiumefreddo at left tackle, senior Casey Rogers at center and Graham, who can play any position along the line, at right tackle. Boice played a lot last season and will now start at left guard. Redaelli and O’Brien will rotate at right guard.

“I think we can be just as good,” Graham said. “Our secondary is probably more complete than last year and we have Devin McLaughlin stepping in at linebacker.”

Shore’s Delaware Wing-T rushing attack did its job perfectly last season in averaging 26.3 points per game.

The Blue Devils spread the ball around nicely with three players putting up over 550 yards rushing. Despite missing six games Goldsmith still ran for 806 yards and eight touchdowns. He is back for his third year as the team’s starting fullback. McCain, who ran for 573 yards and seven touchdowns, is back as a starter at halfback, and Britton is also back after starting as a sophomore.

Mark Russo and Johnson will also be in the backfield rotation.

On special teams, senior George Notte will be the starting kicker and punter. He filled in early last year when now-graduated standout Jake Monteiro was injured.

With a loaded defense and an offense that has a few new weapons, Shore has a great chance to add to its illustrious history with state championship No. 7 in 2015.

“It starts with defense, and we’re going to make teams earn everything, and on offense we have so many weapons,” Costantino said. “It takes a lot of work in the offseason, and they buy into it. I want to make sure while I”m here we keep it going and we leave our mark on the program. I always tell the kids to put a new one up, get their rings and make their own mark. Leave a legacy.”

Pennell will step into the starting quarterback role, and the Blue Devils are excited to see what his dualthreat abilities can bring to the offense.

“He can run and throw and he has receivers who can catch,” Costantino said. “I’m excited to see what he can do.”

“He’s the finishing piece to the puzzle,” Rempel said.

“He can drop back and pass and roll out and run, and he’s also an awesome defensive player.”

Junior QB Matt Pennell

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Asbury Park Middlesex @ Keyport @ Spotswood Dunellen @ Keansburg @ Highland Park Shore Mater Dei Prep

Head Coach:

John Wagner, 5th season (30th overall)

Career Record: 33-11 (183-103-2 overall) Assistant Coaches:

Jeff Bower (RB/DB); Rich DelDuca (OL/DL); Bill Evans (WR/DB); Brandon Neary (OL/DL/freshman); Paul Struncius (QB); Mike McGee (LB/freshman); Josh Seip (team manager); Cali Whedon (athletic trainer); Dr. Joseph Mannion (team physician).

2014 Record: 5-5 (3-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Luke Frauenheim, So., QB & John Nista, So., QB Whether it’s one or both in a platoon playing quarterback for the Garnet Gulls they will be replacing three-year starter Jake Fioretti, who knew the playbook inside and out and was a member of Point Beach’s only NJSIAA sectional championship team.

X-FACTOR: Staying Healthy While Point Beach’s numbers are very good for a Group I team, injuries to crucial players could derail its season very quickly.

GLUE GUY: Tanner Smith, Sr., TE/DE Smith’s six sacks last season don’t seem overwhelming until you factor in the amount of chances he likely had against a schedule that heavily features teams that almost exclusively run the ball. He will be a big, athletic body on both sides of the ball that other teams have to account for.

H un g r y A s E v e r

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

T

here was a time when losing was commonplace at Point Beach, but those days are now long behind the Garnet Gulls. Now losing is unacceptable, and even a 5-5 season is viewed as a down year.

Things are much different these days under head coach John Wagner, as the Garnet Gulls are only two years removed from a state championship. Youth and injuries were major factors in Point Beach falling to 5-5 in 2014, which included losing its last three games. Now with several starters returning, including a heavy rotation of experienced linemen, the Gulls are looking to get back to their winning ways.

“Last year we ended up 5-5 and now by Beach standards that’s not what we’re looking for, and that’s a great thing,” Wagner said. “The best thing about playing mostly sophomores and juniors is next season they’re juniors and seniors, and that’s where we are right now.”

The Gulls will have several news starters at the skill positions in their Delaware Wing-T offense, but, in a reversal from last season, will be loaded with experience and depth along the offensive line. Five players who either started or saw time return as the core of what will be an eight- or nine-man rotation.

the same thing my sophomore year when we won the state championship,” Smith said.

“Now we have everyone coming back on both sides of the ball. We’re big and experienced.”

Filling the void left by t h e graduation of three-year starting quarterback Jake Fioretti will be the combination o f sophomores L u k e

As per Wagner’s philosophy, there are no set positions.

Instead, each player knows each position along the line, making them interchangeable. The returners are senior John Wagner (no relation to the coach), senior Kevin Barry, junior Matt Zuhowski, senior Forrest Gardner and junior Cade Watkins. Add in senior James Liotta and junior Cody Liguori along with reserves Joe Longo, a senior, and junior Jon Ricciardi, and it’s easy to see why Point Beach is excited about what it has up front.

“We’re excited about what we have coming back because it makes what we want to do on offense a heck of a lot easier,” Wagner said.

“Last year Kevin Barry and I were the only returning starters on the line, and now with everyone coming back a year smarter and stronger it gives us confidence,” Gardner said. “We’ll give better opportunities to our young running backs to make plays.”

The tight end will be senior Tanner Smith, with junior Connor Kells also seeing time there.

“My freshman year we had a huge offensive line, and

Frauenheim and John Nista.

Both will also see time at halfback along with junior Declan Conway and sophomores Chris Webber and Sean Gould. The fullback will be junior Miles

Shea, who saw some time last season.

The 6-foot-2 Kells is a returning starter at wide receiver along with 6-foot-2 senior Ryan Sheehan. Sophomore Josh Yates, junior Colby Boylan and junior Ryan Sloan will also be in the mix.

“Even though we had (Joe) Wegrzyniak and (Mike) Frauenheim at running back, we had a younger line and couldn’t open the holes for them,” Gardner said. “This year with everybody back it’s going to make a big difference.”

As usual in Group I football, the Gulls will use a oneplatoon system with each player going both ways. On defense, Point Beach will use a four-man front with a h e a v y rotation along the defensive line that mirrors what it does on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive ends are Zuhowski and Smith, the latter of whom recorded 67 tackles and six sacks last season. The interior linemen are all interchangeable with Gardner, Watkins, Liguori and Wagner in a rotation.

Webber and Frauenheim are both Senior OL Forrest Gardner

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Sean Gould, So., RB/LB Point Beach will play many sophomores and even some freshmen, so anyone could end up playing a surprisingly big role. For now Gould is penciled in to contribute both in the backfield and at linebacker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 30 vs. Shore As has been the case recently, Shore and Point Beach figure to be the top two teams in Class B Central, meaning this game has a great chance to be for the division title.

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sophomore year when we won the state championship,” Smith said. “Now we have everyone coming back on both sides of the ball.

We’re big and experienced.”

Boylan and junior Ryan Sloan will also be in the mix.

“Even though we had (Joe) Wegrzyniak and (Mike) Frauenheim at running back, we had a younger line and couldn’t open the holes for them,” Gardner said. “This year with everybody back it’s going to make a big difference.”

Filling the void left by the graduation of three-year starting quarterback Jake Fioretti will be the combination of sophomores Luke Frauenheim and John Nista. Both will also see time at halfback along with junior Declan Conway and sophomores Chris Webber and Sean Gould. The fullback will be junior Miles Shea, who saw some time last season.

The 6-foot-2 Kells is a returning starter at wide receiver along with 6-foot-2 senior Ryan Sheehan. Sophomore Josh Yates, junior Colby

Senior DE Tanner Smith

As usual in Group I football, the Gulls will use a one-platoon system with each player going both ways.

On defense, Point Beach will use a four-man front with a heavy rotation along the defensive line that mirrors what it does on the offensive side of the ball. The defensive ends are Zuhowski and Smith, the latter of whom recorded 67 tackles and six sacks last season.

The interior linemen are all interchangeable with Gardner, Watkins, Liguori and Wagner in a rotation.

SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM

Webber and Frauenheim are both returning starters at linebacker with Barry, who started last season at defensive end, moving to linebacker. The other linebacker spot will be filled by Nista, Gould or Ricciardi.

The secondary will have multiple players at both cornerback and safety with Kells and Sheehan as returning starters. Yates, Sloan, Boylan and Conway will also be in the rotation.

“Our philosophy is simple,” Wagner said. “We tell the kids the toughest position to play is defensive back. We don’t want kids having to cover people in space so we go after teams with different things up front, that’s our game.

We’re a gap control defense, and when you stay in your lanes good things happen.”

Photo by: Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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Mater Dei Prep @Highland Park Shore Regional @ South River Metuchen Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Middlesex @ Asbury Park @ Keyport

Head Coach: John Bird, 1st season Career Record: 0-0 Assistant Coaches: Mike Morgan (Defensive Coordinator), Scott Cannon (OL/DL), Joe DeLiso (DB/RB/Special Teams), Brian Schwarz (LB/RB), Uriel Morfin (DL/WR/Special Teams), Nick Lorusso (WR/DB), Jesse Herbert (Dir. Football Operations), Kelli Hudson (Athletic Trainer)

2014 Record: 1-9 (0-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Justin Alessi & Julian Castell The Titans don’t have to replace too many seniors from a young 2014 roster, but they could use a lift in replacing Joe Rodriguez in the backfield and Dylan Alt and Pat Sullivan on defense. After some shifting on positions, wing back and cornerback are the two open spots that will most likely be young, and Alessi and Castell have looked the part in filling them, according to Bird.

X-FACTOR: Offensive Line Health Injuries can ruin any team’s season, but they can be especially devastating for a Group I school. Junior linemen Richie Squeo and Dylan Ryan are already battling injuries, so getting healthy and contributing to a cohesive offensive line will be imperative if Keansburg is to make significant strides this season.

GLUE GUY: Danny Vital, FB/LB Bird does not know for sure where he will use Vital on offense, but he made it clear he needs to find a way to get him involved. On top of the offensive versatility, Vital will be a key piece to the defense as a safety alongside Brown.

More Ark, More Bite

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

O

n Nov. 15, 2014, the Keansburg football team marked its eighth straight loss to end a 1-9 season, but in reaching a low point to end the campaign, the Titans may have stumbled upon a solution to their problems heading into 2015.

In that final game of the season – a 41-32 loss to Manville in an NJSIAA consolation game – Arkeyel Brown carried the ball three times for 101 yards and three touchdowns, including a 75-yard burst. The senior is in line for his third positional change in as many years and this latest one is founded in past results.

After playing quarterback as a sophomore and moving out wide for most of his junior year, Brown is getting the nod as the team’s primary running back as it moves back to a flexbone offense after trying the Wing-T last year, with Brown in the backfield and returning senior quarterback Ian Terry back under center running the triple option.

“Any time we’re handing Arkeyel the ball, it’s an opportunity for a big play,” said first-year coach John Bird, who was the defensive coordinator under previous head coach Chris Damian. “We had moved him to running back for the last game of last season, and he had three big runs in our consolation game.

If he sees a crease, he’s just going to outrun people.”

down and try to run people over, and I think this offense puts an emphasis on being physical and running downhill.”

In addition to moving its 6-4, 215-pound playmaker to the backfield, Keansburg also hopes to get a lift from an experienced offensive line that Bird expects to be both better and deeper than it was a year ago. That depth is being tested early on with junior lineman Richie Squeo in a walking boot due to a broken bone in his foot that leaves his status for week one questionable. Bird is hopeful that Squeo will only miss one week, if he misses a game at all.

With or without Squeo in week one, Keansburg will have a good dose of experience on the offensive line, with all five starters also factoring into the picture on the defensive line as well. Dan Bauman is the lone senior in the group and will also play one of the two defensive end spots in Keansburg’s new 43 look on defense. Juniors Isaac Monteiro, Dylan Ryan and Jarred Bell round out the rest of the line, with Ryan and Bell moving into fulltime action this season after getting a varsity taste last year.

“I like it because it keeps me in the game mentally as well,” Brown said. “When you know you are getting the ball more, you have to be aware of what’s going on at all times, whereas at receiver, your mind can wander a little bit if you haven’t gotten the ball for a while.”

Beyond Brown, Terry and its line, Keansburg will be s o m e w h a t inexperienced on the offensive side of the ball.

Sophomores Justin Alessi and Julian Castell will both see time at wingback in the triple option and returning senior safety Danny Vital will also see time in the backfield.

Now that the Titans are committing to the Terry took over at flexbone, they are quarterback at the end putting less emphasis of his sophomore year on wide receivers and in 2013 and returns tight ends as passafter playing his first catchers and playfull season under makers and more as center, now working part of the blocking in a new offense with scheme. According to Brown lined up Bird, there is an open Senior RB Arkeyel Brown behind him. competition for the receiver spots and he “I think the offense will lean toward the best blockers when the time comes to is going to play to my strengths as a player and our call a name and number. strengths as a team,” Terry said. “I like to play a physical style of football as a quarterback. I like to put my head “The quarterback and the running back are the two guys

Senior QB Ian Terr y who are going to get the ball the majority of the time,” Bird said. “Our receivers are going to be blockers the majority of the time, so this will put the ball in Arkeyel’s hands almost half the snaps in a given game.”

One potential secret weapon on offense is sophomore Joey Osterbye, who took over as a starting inside linebacker last year as a freshman. Osterbye will again anchor the middle of Keansburg’s defense and is also taking reps in the backfield on offense as Bird hopes his toughness and feel for the game will translate wherever Osterbye plays.

“Osterbye was one of our core guys as a freshman, and we’re expecting him to be one of our leaders on defense,” Bird said. “He can do a lot of different things for us, and he’s another guy we’re going to find a spot for on offense and figure out how he can help us.”

“Last year, I was just happy to be playing on varsity and I had a lot to learn,” Osterbye said. “This year I had a full offseason to work out and get stronger so I feel like I’m more prepared now that I know what to expect.”

With the experienced line going both ways, Osterbye back at middle linebacker and Brown and Vital returning at safety, Keansburg has a strong defense down the middle of the field. Sophomore and Keyport transfer Miguel Crespo will play one of the outside linebacker spots and Terry will spend time on the other side. Castell and junior Kevin Rogers have the inside track at cornerback, which is where Keansburg will be its least experienced on defense.

Although the Titans will not be significantly deeper with respect to their overall varsity numbers, they will be an older team this year. Bird hopes that factor, plus a more line-oriented roster, will make the difference as his team tries to keep games close through the fourth quarter.

“We lost a lot of close games last year,” Bird said. “Even some of those games, we were close until the third quarter and then just ran out of gas. Depth is part of that and it’s going to be part of the equation again, unfortunately, but with guys having experience, I’m hopeful we can shut the door on some of these games or at least compete until the very end and that will translate into a better record.”

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Dylan Ryan, OL/DL Now slated for a full-time starting job on either side of the ball, Ryan will play guard and defensive tackle for a Titans squad that expects to be much better in the trenches now that they won’t be so young.

PIVOTAL GAME: Nov. 7 at Keyport Even if the rebuilding process stalls out over the first two months of the season, there is always redemption in the KeyportKeansburg rivalry game – and that holds true for both teams.

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@ Shore Regional South River Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Metuchen Highland Park@ Asbury Park Spotswood @ Mater Dei Prep Keansburg

Head Coach: John Paczkowski, 2nd season Career Record: 3-7 Assistant Coaches:

Dominic Amoroso (Offensive Coordinator/RB/DL), Scott Messler (OL/DL), Steve Bower (QB/CB), Sean Athans (WR/S), Pete Miller (QB/LB)

2014 Record: 3-7 (1-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Desmond Underwood, RB/WR/DB Underwood was tasked with replacing dual-threat quarterback Alex Thomson last season and this year will play a role closer to the one that Chase Bright played during an AllDivision campaign in 2014, which was as combination slotback and receiver on offense and safety on defense. That the coaching staff is turning to Underwood again to help fill a void shows their trust in him.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback Most teams would probably prefer not to have the quarterback position be such a variable at this point in the summer, but the Red Raiders have potential in the backfield, out wide and on the line, so they just need a steady hand running the offense. Who that hand will be is still up in the air, according to Paczkowski.

GLUE GUY: Devon Keegan, OL/DL With so many players transitioning from their junior to senior seasons, Keyport has the look of a bigger, stronger team. The heart of that physical edge the Red Raiders hope to bring is Keegan, the strongest player on the team, according to Paczkowski, and the anchor of both the offensive and defensive lines.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Zach Ochs, WR There are few real “newcomers” to a Red Raiders team that graduated only two senior starters, but Ochs has gone from a role player to one of the team’s potential top players in just his second full year playing football.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 16 at Asbury Park Both the Red Raiders and Blue Bishops are hoping to make the leap into the top half of the division, which means that head-to-head matchup will be crucial for both. Asbury Park won last year’s meeting, 31-16, but both teams still finished with losing records.

Senior Vibe

By Matt Manley - Senior Staff Writer

I

n his first year as a high school football head coach, not only did John Paczowski take over for a Shore Conference legend, he also took over a team with only two seniors on its roster.

Because of that, there was little expectation for overnight success, but a slew of returnees who are stronger, faster and a year wiser have Paczkowski and the rest of the Red Raiders expecting a step forward in year two since the retirement of longtime coach Mike Ciccotelli.

Keyport went 3-7 with its team full of juniors and sophomores and returns a senior core that hopes to close out its varsity career with a resurgent season for Keyport football. The Red Raiders won their final two games of 2014 and will look to carry that winning streak into 2015 with a starting lineup that remains mostly intact on either side of the ball.

“The kids worked hard last year and coming back this year, our work ethic is the same as it always was,” Paczkowski said. “It just seems like our reaction time is better, our technique is better, and it’s a group that’s more physically mature. Add in a full year of experience and it’s fair to say the expectations are higher this year.”

Senior running back Ky’Sun Pryor led Keyport in rushing last season with 614 yards and seven touchdowns and returns to the backfield behind an offensive line that will be bigger and better than a year ago. Seniors Devon Keegan and Travis Alvarez will anchor the line, with Keegan – who Paczkowski said is the strongest player on the team at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds – lining up at guard, and Alvarez moving from tight end to left tackle. Junior Zach Frick played tackle as a sophomore last year and will switch with Alvarez, playing tight end this year.

out wide and playing the best candidate to get those players the ball.

“Desmond Underwood is about five-nine, 150 pounds, so there is a lot of speed there,” Paczkowski said. “We think he can create some mismatches for us on the outside, and on the other side, we have a 6-3 kid in Zach Ochs who we can throw the ball up to.”

“Whether it’s quarterback, receiver, running back, I feel like I can help the team in a lot of ways, and we have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things,” Underwood said.

At this point in the preseason, the second-year head coach was noncommittal about who his quarterback will be.

Senior Ky’Sun Pr yor

“Your guess is as good as mine right now,” Paczkowski said.

Whomever takes over the job under center will have Ochs on the outside at wide receiver. At 6-foot3, Ochs has the build of a player who can make plays down the field for a team that has a number of weapons in the backfield. In addition to Pryor and Underwood, seniors Evan Smutz and Zach Hansen will also have roles in the offense – Smutz as a wingback and slot receiver and Hansen as a fullback.

“Because so many of us played last year, we saw what we had to do to compete, and everyone put the work in,” Keegan said. “Our offensive and defensive lines are both much better as far as our strength and technique, and now it’s just a matter of continuing to work and improve.”

Senior Desmond Underwood spent his junior season running Keyport’s multiple offense, but this year Paczkowski plans to use his speed and athleticism as a wide receiver. Paczkowski’s approach last year was to snap the ball directly to one of the team’s best playmakers, but this year he plans on lining up his best athletes in the backfield and

who has come back a new man, it’s Zach Ochs. It’s night and day,” Paczkowski said.

“He’s a guy who came out last year and was able to contribute some just with his size and athleticism. Now, he’s developed an understanding of the game, and he’s developed physically as well, and that improvement is reaching out to the other players.”

Senior lineman Devon Keegan

Like most Group I schools, Keyport will send its top players out to the field on offense and defense, the latter of which Paczkowski – a former defensive line coach under Ciccotelli – sees as a potential strength of the team. While his ability at wide receiver has progressed over the last calendar, Ochs has impressed the coaching staff most on the defensive side of the ball at safety.

“If you had to pick out one guy

“We’ve been bringing it on defense,” Ochs said. “Guys are flying around, flying to the ball, and I feel like we have a group that is going to make plays.”

Underwood will man the strong safety spot alongside Ochs, and the Red Raiders return a linebacker corps of Pryor, Hansen and Smutz, with Hansen playing in the middle. Keegan will anchor the defensive line at the defensive tackle position, while Alvarez and Frick will flank him at either defensive end. Like the quarterback position, Paczkowski expects to be young at cornerback and is still evaluating a number of options.

“There is a lot more confidence in practice this year,” Smutz said. “Guys are more sure about what they’re doing, where their assignments are, hand placement, all those things. Those kinds of things make a big difference.”

Pryor and Underwood will also be threats in the return game as Keyport looks to find a way to put more points on the board after averaging 13.3 per game last year. After a 1-7 start to the year, Keyport ended 2014 with consecutive wins over Keansburg and Wood-Ridge, scoring a combined 66 points in the two victories.

“We have a lot of guys who can make plays,” Pryor said. “Guys have worked hard, and it’s been showing in practice.”

The close to the 2014 campaign began to bear the results that Paczkowski and his staff were working toward. With a host of familiar faces and playmakers back this season, the hope is that the program continues to trend up in a Class B Central division that figures to be deeper with the improvements by the Red Raiders and Asbury Park to go with perennial contenders Shore, Point Pleasant Beach and, more recently, Mater Dei Prep.

“We’re just working hard, trying to getting better,” Pryor said. “We’re trying to do whatever it takes to win games.”

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@ Southern Regional Lakewood Barnegat St. John Vianney Pinelands Pt. Pleasant Boro Manchester Donovan Catholic Jackson Liberty

Head Coach:

Career Record: 13-8 Assistant Coaches: rd

Willie Jacobs, 3 season

Pat Ramsay (Offensive Coordinator/QB), Justin Colianni (OL), Tige Dillard (WR/DB), Rob Taylor (RB), Jarrett Pidgeon (LB), Dennis Pidgeon (DL), Matt Kiefer (Freshman), Angello Mazzuca (Freshman)

2014 Record: 8-3 (6-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Justin Colianni, OL Coach Much of the credit for the performance of the offensive line last season went to assistant coach Tom Gallahue, who is not coaching this season because of his position in the school administration. Colianni not only has to replace him but work with four new starters.

X-FACTOR: Sophomores Jacobs likes his sophomore class and quite a few of them will get to play early on. How quickly they mature might be a key to repeating as Class B South champions.

GLUE GUY: Michael Miserendino, Sr., QB/S/K/P He’d sell popcorn if they asked him. Miserendino will be a leader on and off the field, and with defenses stacked against Bickford he might have to take to the air a bit more this season.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Alex Maj/Jonathan Matuska A pair of junior offensive linemen who will team up with Darius Marrow to form the core of the offensive line.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept 11, Lakewood Central’s only division loss came at Lakewood (27-7) in last year’s season opener. Following a non-conference game at Southern the Golden Eagles will seek to avenge that loss and give themselves a real shot of winning back-to-back division titles for the first time since 1970-71.

74

Seeking A Repeat

B y K e v i n W i l l i a m s – Shore Sports Network Director

C

alling 2014 a breakout season for Central Regional would be an understatement, as the Golden Eagles had their best season in 20 years, going 8-3 and winning a share of a division title for the first time since 1994 while also winning their first state playoff game since that same season.

With players such as Mike Bickford, Michael Miserendino and Dennis Corbin all returning, it would be easy to assume the winning will continue for the defending Class B South co-champs, but thirdyear head coach Willie Jacobs knows there are obstacles along the way. After going two decades between eight-win seasons, the challenge is whether the Golden Eagles can put together back-to-back championship years for the first time since winning consecutive Class C division titles in 1970-71. They also look to finish the job in the state playoffs, where they have never won an NJSIAA title, making their only appearance in a state final that same 1994 season.

“After Thanksgiving last season was over, the coaches knew, while players tend to live in what happened the year before,’’ Jacobs said. “We have a bull’s eye on us and will not be a surprise anymore. People are preparing for us, and we’re not a joke anymore.”

11, 185-pound junior knows he can have another huge season if that unit continues to work hard and mesh together.

The new group is headed up by Alex Maj, a 5foot-9, 210-pound junior who will hold down one guard spot, with the other going to senior Blaine Pisano (5-9, 220). Junior Jonathan Matuska (6’1, 210) will join Marrow as the starting tackles, with the center spot a battle between sophomores Brandon Voss and Blake Hogan and junior Waylon Speer. Another key to the running game is battering ram fullback Dennis Corbin, who is a terrific blocker for Bickford and productive in short-yardage situations.

Miserendino returns at quarterback and he is a true dual threat, running for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns while passing for nearly 800 yards and 8 touchdowns as a first-year starter last season to e a r n All-

Central doesn’t just have to overcome its elevated status, but also the loss of four starters on an offensive line that was the

strength of the team and led by second-team SSN All-Shore selection Liam Christensen. The lone returner is 6-foot-2, 320-pound tackle Darius Marrow, who earned All-Division honors and will be counted on to lead the way for Bickford who had a record-setting sophomore season.

A first-team All-Shore pick by SSN and the Class B South Offensive Player of the Year, Bickford ran for a school-record 2,050 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first varsity season.

“I didn’t think I would do that well, being a sophomore and not knowing what it was like to be on the varsity,’’ Bickford said. “Last year I didn’t really talk a lot, I just ran the ball.

This year I have to step up, talk to the young kids and get them going.”

He cited his offensive line as the big reason for his standout season, and while there’s only one returner, the 5-foot-

Division honors. When he takes to the air, his top targets look to be seniors Isiah Turner and

Matthew Aires, and juniors Anthony Holloway and Brandon Mickens. Six-foot-2, 190-pound junior Andrew Kelly will be the tight end.

Many of the same names will be counted on to perform when the defense is on the field, as the Golden Eagles’ roster is not all that deep. Corbin and Matuska will line up as defensive ends in the fourman front, with the tackle spots taken by Pisano and Maj. As good as Bickford is running the ball, Jacobs thinks he’s an even better middle linebacker after making 65 Junior RB Mike Bickford

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Senior QB Michael Miserendino tackles last season and running an interception back for a touchdown. Sophomore Lino Delguidice and senior Brandon Vuono are projected to be the other starting linebackers.

The defensive backfield is led by Miserendino, who will occupy the strong safety spot and is not shy about making big hits. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder made 66 tackles in 2014, and joining him as the last line of defense will be Aires, Holloway, Mickens and sophomore Neil Harrington. Miserendino will also handle the punting and kicking chores, although converted sophomore soccer player Shane Black might get to kick as well.

As a senior leader and top two-way player for the Golden Eagles, Miserendino knows he has to step up his game even more on and off the field.

“Everybody looks up to me and I have to do the right things all the time while working harder than anyone else,’’ he said. “Having our best season in 20 years meant the world to us, and the taste of winning the B South championship was the best feeling ever, and we all want that again.”

Central will get an extra boost this season in that except for their Week Zero opener at Southern on Sept. 4, the Golden Eagles will play all their games at home. They played all but one game away from home last season while artificial turf was installed at Joseph J. Boyd Memorial Field.

Jacobs admits that playing before Labor Day is difficult because of the time crunch. As a former Central player himself, he’s also not sure he’s not sure he likes the idea of playing at home every week, although it will be nice for their fans. What he’s more concerned about is his players thinking that repeating last season will be easy.

“Some athletes think when we show up the other team will be scared of us,’’ he said. “It doesn’t work like that because while it’s hard to get there, it’s even tougher to stay on top.”

If the offensive line comes together and Bickford and Miserendino stay healthy, the thrills of 2014 may just be a preview of things to come.

Photo by: Bill Normile billnormile.zenfolio.com

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@ Pinelands @ Donovan Catholic Bishop Ahr Manchester @ Central Regional @ Barnegat Raritan @ Jackson Liberty Lakewood

Head Coach: Sean Henry, 6th season

Career Record: 20-25 Assistant Coaches:

Matt Cilento (def. coord./RB); Tom Orrok (Pass game coord./DB); Ryan Canary (OL/DL); Shane O’Connor (RB/DB); Dan Drzymkowski (RB/DL); Dave Drew, Pat Brady (freshmen); Brian Grainer (video); John Madden (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 5-5 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Noah Husak, Sr., QB Husak takes over at starting quarterback for the graduated Jack Fitzsimmons to lead the Panthers’ flexbone option rushing attack.

X-FACTOR: The offensive line The Panthers have the talent and experience at the skill positions, so a solid offensive line could put them over the top and produce a potent offense.

GLUE GUY: Gene Franceschini, Sr., RB/LB A three-year starter on both sides of the ball, Franceschini figures to be an impact playmaker as a slot back and on defense as a linebacker/strong safety.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kyler Rossi, Jr., CB

Back on the Prowl

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

P

rogress was made last season for Point Boro on the heels of a rare losing season, and now with most of their team returning, the Panthers are banking on turning hardship into hardware.

“We got banged up as 15-year-olds going up against 18-year-olds when we were sophomores, so now we’re going to come out banging and really give people a run for their money,” said senior Nate Husak.

The Panthers came back from a 1-9 season in 2013 to go 5-5 last season, making tangible steps toward re-emerging as a championship contender. They did so with a group of juniors that was forced to see the field as sophomores, and while they took their lumps during that one-win campaign they feel they’ve laid the ground work for a return to the top.

“The biggest thing two years ago was we were throwing little boys out to the fire, and they’re seniors now,” said head coach Sean Henry. “It was a learning experience so we were content being 5-5, but at the same time unhappy with the way it ended.”

Point Boro fell 28-7 to Monmouth Regional in an NJSIAA consolation game.

“We’re hoping all the sacrifices we made two years ago will pay off this year,” Henry added.

Statistically, the Panthers were a top-five defense in the Shore Conference last season, allowing 13.6 points per game in their 3-5-3 stack.

They will look to build off that success with eight returning starters under defensive coordinator Matt Cilento.

Six of the front eight are returning starters with junior Aidan Connolly at nose guard and seniors Gavin Hynes and Dom Infante at defensive end.

Nate Husak is the starter at middle linebacker, moving over from outside linebacker.

Cawley, also a returning starter, is their “dog” linebacker, and the “rover” will be either junior Justin Rafi or senior Brandon DeFeo. The “snakes,” which are outside linebacker/strong safety hybrids in Point Boro’s scheme, are both returning starters in seniors Gene Franceschini and Austin Drucquer.

In the secondary, senior Mike Waddleton, a returning starter, and

One of just four juniors who will start for Point Boro, Rossi takes over as a starter in the secondary and looks to help the Panthers remain a top defense.

Senior QB Nate Husak

junior Kyler Rossi are the cornerbacks and senior Devin Connelly is the safety.

“Having eight starters back on defense is huge,” Henry said. “Defensive coordinator Matt Cilento does a great job. We’re committed to this defense and the kids have now been in the system for a few years. We feel like we have a front that can give teams fits and a secondary we’re confident in. They were great all last year so having the kids back makes you excited.”

“We’ve been playing this defense for three years now,” Franceschini said. “Last year we were pretty good but were still thinking about what to do. This year I think we’ll just be reacting and recognizing a lot quicker.”

The Panthers’ trademark for many years has been their punishing flexbone option offense, and they will continue to bring that grinding style with seven returning starters.

The entire backfield returns with Nate Husak at “A” back and Connelly and Franceschini as

PIVOTAL GAME: October 9 at Central Central shared the Class B South division title last season with Barnegat and returns 2,000-yard rusher Mike Bickford and dynamic quarterback Mike Miserendino, so if the Panthers are going to claim the division crown this year they will likely have to take down the Golden Eagles on the road.

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the slot backs. Noah Husak takes over as the starting quarterback. He started on defense at safety last season and also started a few games at quarterback.

“It was good having (last season’s quarterback) Jack (Fitzsimmons) to help me,” Noah Husak said. “He was a great mentor. Our record didn’t reflect how good he was. He helped me out a lot and the offense is really coming to me easier. Moving forward I’m a lot more confident in myself.”

“He’s a first-year starter as a senior but he does have some games under his belt,” Henry said. “The biggest thing with Noah and his brother Nate is they’re both huge weight room kids. They did it the right way in the weight room and earned the respect of the kids. (Noah) is very athletic and he throws a little better than some of the kids we’ve had.

“Obviously we’re going to run the ball but we have the ability to take some long shots off play action. It’s his football team and he’s ran with that. He’s a great leader on and off the field.”

In addition to having an experienced backfield, Point Boro also has a pair of legitimate threats in the receiving game with junior Hayden Frey and Waddleton. Frey caught four touchdown passes and averaged 19 yards per reception as a sophomore.

“I’m not a huge 7-on-7 guy but watching (Frey) without the pads going up and being physical and seeing his improved ball skills is encouraging,” Henry said. “And Waddleton is a 6-foot-1 basketball kid, so having those two guys on the edge opens things up for us.”

“Everyone will look at us as a running team, but with Waddleton and Frey we can really throw the ball downfield,” Franceschini said.

“It opens up the playbook.”

The offensive line has two returning starters with senior Doug Meslar at left tackle and Infante at center. The left guard is senior Dan Daber, the right guard is Connolly and the right tackle is senior Sam Livolsi.

With a defense that looks to be even better than last season, Point Boro knows that if its offense can improve on its average of 17.1 points per game it will right where it wants to be.

Senior Kyle Ansbach returns as the starting kicker and punter. As a junior he was a perfect 18-for-18 on extra points and converted three field goals, including a long of 36.

Point Boro has already put its 1-9 season in the rearview mirror, and after climbing back to .500 last season the Panthers are ready to take a much bigger step.

“This is a group of high-character kids that do it the right way,” Henry said. “They’ve learned and they’re hungry. For this year, that 1-9 season is probably the best thing that could have happened to us.”

“We don’t want to be a 5-5 team – we don’t think we’re average,” Franceschini said. “We want to get back to the playoffs, and we think we can be a state championship contender.”

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Donovan Catholic Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Lakewood @ Central Regional Monmouth Regional Jackson Liberty @ Holmdel Manchester @ Barnegat

Head Coach:

Brian Wilkinson, 3rd season (9th overall) Career Record: 40-53 Assistant Coaches:

Matt Fuller (off. coord./RB); Anthony Allocca (OL); Scott Peterka (OL); Rob Sanzari (DL), Dave Dempsey (QB); Justin Loomis (LB); Albert Rowland (DB); Dan Abbato, Rob Micheliche, Richard Pear (freshmen); Stacey Ayles (athletic trainer)

2014 Record: 2-8 (2-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: The Running Backs It would be unfair to pin this on any one player considering the huge stable of running backs Pinelands will use, so the onus is really on the entire group to find someone to step up and replace the production void left by the graduation of Jaylin Roman, who ran for 756 yards and seven touchdowns on 6.2 yards per carry as a senior.

X-FACTOR: The Offensive Line Last year the Wildcats had four of five starters returning, whereas this year they have three new players along the line. For an offense that will run as much Pinelands, it will all starts with the big guys up front.

GLUE GUY: Max Schnepp, Sr., OL/DL A three-year starter on offense and a two-year starter on defense, Schnepp is among the veterans Pinelands will rely on for consistent play and leadership in the trenches.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Brennan Richardson, So., RB/DB Richardson will step into a starting role on defense as a safety and also see plenty of time in the backfield as a wing back.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 4 vs. Donovan Catholic The Wildcats open up in Week Zero against the Griffins for the second season in a row. Last season the Wildcats lost on late field goal before the result was reversed because Donovan Catholic was found to have used an ineligible player. Donovan Catholic is coming off an 0-10 season, so while this is a winnable game for Pinelands, it will be important for each team to come out of the gates with a win.

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Attitude Adjustment

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

A

one-win improvement may not seem like much, but a closer look at Pinelands’ 2014 season reveals a team that made huge strides in year No. 2 under head coach Brian Wilkinson.

The Wildcats went from routinely losing by 30 and 40 points in 2013 to significantly closing the gap last season. Among their eight losses, only two came by more than 10 points.

They were in basically every game, and that tangible progress has them excited for another Shore Conference football season.

“Last year we closed the gap as far as the scores go and this year we’re going to break right through and get those wins,” said senior two-way lineman Max Schnepp, an All-Class B South selection by the coaches last season.

The difference-maker for Pinelands has been the installation of its run-heavy double wing offense. By keeping the ball on the ground on nearly every play, the Wildcats shortened games and kept their defense fresh. The results began to show last season. Now they are ready to refine their offense and take the next step forward.

Four starters return, with Schnepp and fellow senior Cameron Winters anchoring the offensive line. Schnepp is the left guard and Winters is the left tackle. Junior Mike Frezza will be the center, junior Robbie Hart is the right guard and junior John McAndrew is the right tackle. The tight ends are juniors Gennaro Balletta and Robert Reeves. Those seven will form the wall in which the backs will operate behind.

“I absolutely don’t think we lost a step,” Winters said. “Losing (Joe) Puggi, (Dave) Staton and (Dave) DeFeo, they were great players but in losing them we gain some great players. It will be a great experience for the younger guys to see what they have. I think we’re going to be fine this year.”

Stepping in at quarterback is junior Nick Rex. The fullbacks are senior Dean Disanzo and junior Kyle Hehre. The wing backs have two returning starters among the group in senior Will Jenkins and junior David Fairl.

Sophomore Brennan Richardson and junior Justin Kirkpatrick round out the positional group.

Growth is expected just from being more familiar with the offense, and the Wildcats would also like to add a little more of a threat in the passing game to keep defenses honest.

They have showed some of that in p r e s e a s o n scrimmages as they look to improve on their 12.3 points-pergame average from last season.

“This offense has meant the world to us,” Winters said. “With past offenses we’ve used our team was three-and-out all the time and our defense was getting no rest and giving up 40 points a game. Now we’re taking time off the clock and our defense has a chance to rest, and that’s brought out its strength.”

Only a handful of teams in the state run the double wing, most notably Dunellen, and it is a difficult defense for opposing teams to prepare for.

“That’s one of the reasons we went to it,” Wilkinson said. “There’s a famous saying in coaching that you either have to do something better or you have to do it different. We want to do both of those things. We picked an offense that suits our kids and our attitude, and one that hopefully gives other coaches headaches trying to prepare for.”

The Wildcats made huge strides defensively last season in going from allowing 37 points per game in 2013 to yielding 18 points per game, putting them in the middle of the pack in the Shore Conference. Just being on the field a lot less made a difference along with another year of experience in their 3-5-3 alignment.

Winters is the nose guard with Schnepp, a returning starter, and Reeves as the defensive ends. The middle linebacker is sophomore Rob Eagle, the strongside linebacker is senior

2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Jordan Gomez and the weakside linebacker is Hehre. The outside linebackers are Fairl, a returning starter, and Jenkins.

The secondary features Rex and senior David Reid as the cornerbacks and Richardson as the safety.

“Our offense and defense complement each other, and it’s something we try to beat home to the kids,” Wilkinson said.

Sophomore A.J. Long will reprise his role as the kicker. He kicked a pair of field goals as a freshman, including a 38-yarder. Balletta will be the punter.

It continues to be noticeable how much the atmosphere has changed during Wilkinson’s tenure. The practices are upbeat, and after taking some major steps last season, the players are starting to see the fruits of their labor.

“I think the kids believe and the coaches believe,” Wilkinson said. “Our idea is to come out here and teach, so that’s what we do. We keep a businesslike approach and treat them with respect, and in return the kids give us everything they have. I have zero complaints with their effort.”

“The mentality has been really good and that helps everyone out,” Schnepp said. “It has everyone pumped up and hitting hard.”

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Barnegat @ Jackson Liberty Lakewood @ Pt. Pleasant Boro St. John Vianney @ Central @Pinelands Red Bank Regional @ Donovan Catholic

Head Coach: Bill Furlong, 2nd season (19th overall) Career Record: 71-72 Assistant Coaches: Paul Raucci (asst. head coach); Joe Serratelli (def. coord./DB/WR); Karl Schaeffer (OL); Aamir Dew (RB); L.B. Robinson (DL); Nick Bricker (LB); Zach Brebner (QB); Cathi Yayac (athletic trainer)

2014 Record: 1-9 (1-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Roy Dudley, Sr., WR/S Dudley will look to build on the production and leadership lost by graduated standout Rob Planter.

X-FACTOR: The Passing Game The Hawks will look to sophomore quarterback Jerry Blackburn and the passing game to jumpstart the offense this season. With depth at wide receivers and tight end, the vertical game should be able to prolong drives as well as open some running lanes.

GLUE GUY: Jerry Blackburn, So., QBB Only a sophomore, Blackburn already has plenty of varsity experience and will be counted on to lead the team in the huddle and continue his growth as a signal-caller while keeping turnovers to a minimum.

H a w k s L o o k To Ta k e F l i g h t B y E r i c B r a u n – Shore Sports Network Contributor

C

oming into his first season as head coach of the Manchester football program, Bill Furlong knew there would be some growing pains in 2014, but with a core group of players returning he wasn’t expecting a one-win season. With a year under his belt and the players understanding what he expects from them, the Hawks look to rebound quickly this season get back to being a contender in Class B South Last season, Furlong was a late hire and spent most of the season teaching and learning on the fly. Even with a talented returning group of players, the Hawks were not able to muster any semblance of consistency and dropped their first nine games of the season. It wasn’t until the last game against Thanksgiving rival Donovan Catholic where they played a complete game, and the result was a 21-17 win.

This season the Hawks return only seven seniors: wide receiver/safety Roy Dudley, defensive back Daniel Hourigan, running back/cornerback Mike Rosario, cornerback/long-snapper Mike Sullivan, two-way lineman Phillip Pender, tight end/defensive end Israel Almestica and newcomer Isaiah Redd. This core of veterans has plenty of varsity snaps under their belts, and with a full year under coach Furlong’s system should be ready for the workload

in front of them.

Hawks are looking to stretch the field more to create more lanes in the running game. Almestica, a 6-foot-4 tight end, and junior Chris Blaine, will also be two other top targets in the passing game.

Last season as a freshman, quarterback Jerry Blackburn was thrown into fire early on and each week showed signs of promise. By season’s end he became one of the bright spots for the Hawks and will look to continue that momentum.

“Jerry is a hard-working kid and showed lots of promise for us last season,’’ Furlong said.

Offensively the Hawks started to come into their own late in the season, putting together productive drives, but just weren’t able to convert into points.

This season behind the leadership of Dudley, who will be at wide receiver along with juniors Bobbie Hart, Alex Lunn and Tariq Ali, the Senior RB/DB Mike Rosario

Defensively Manchester will look to make a big improvement after being in the bottom five in the Shore Conference in allowing 32.4 points per game last season.

That will start with the veteran production of Pender and Almestica at defensive end, where junior Jsan Santos will also be in the rotation.

The Hawks will rely on the linebacker rotation of juniors Jahsir Cooper, Dylan Cervenak, Chris Blaine and sophomores Nick Nuccio, Kenny Burd and Khari Jenkins to create pressure in the opponent’s backfields and to shut down the running games that torched them a year ago. Hourigan and Ali will help anchor the secondary as the cornerbacks, with Dudley and Lunn as the safeties.

Junior Josh Mercado will handle the kicking and punting.

Photo by: Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Khari Jenkins, So., RB/LB Jenkins will look to fill the void of the graduated Kwaku Owusu at linebacker and provide some additional production at fullback on the other side of the ball.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 vs. Barnegat TManchester will open its season against the defending Class B South co-champs looking to turn the tables on last season’s 26-7 loss to the Bengals.

A win over the team that has won the division multiple times in the last five years would send a clear message that the Hawks have made a dramatic improvement from last season.

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@ Jackson Memorial Manchester Twp. @ Barnegat Lakewood Donovan Catholic @ Pinelands Lacey Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Central

Head Coach: Jim Sharples, 3rd season Career Record: 9-11 Assistant Coaches: Vin Spadavecchia (off. coord.); Ryan Hesnan (LB); Keith Farr (DB); Frank Giannetti (DL); Ron Brown (RB); Anthony Myers (WR); Brad Chesley (OL); Matt Spader, Mike McCarthy, Len Albline (freshman); Chris Grande (athletic trainer).

2014 Record: 5-5 (4-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ryan Downer, Jr., WR Downer started at cornerback last season and will now step into a starting role at wide receiver. The Lions are looking for a No. 1 receiver after graduating Brett Ribellino, who had 32 catches for 522 yards and eight total touchdowns last season.

X-FACTOR: Stopping the Run Getting better against the run has been arguably the biggest goal for the Lions during the offseason, and with Central’s 2,000-yard back Mike Bickford, Lakewood’s Amir Tyler, Point Boro and its flexbone offense and Barnegat speedster Paul Wickwire in the division, stopping the run with consistency will make or break Liberty’s season.

GLUE GUY: Jared Dizenzo, Sr., OL/DL A three-year starter on both sides of the ball and an anchor along the offensive line at center, Dizenzo is a key cog as the Lions look to score more points and play tighter defense.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Joe Low, Sr., WR/LB Low, a hockey player, decided to come out for football and finds himself in the mix to start at both receiver and linebacker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 25 at Barnegat The Bengals have been the class of the division in recent years and will come at the Lions with speed out of the backfield. It will be a big test to see how much the Lions’ run defense has improved. A win here would be a huge step in the right direction for Liberty.

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By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

just needed the offseason, but he is much b e t t e r coming into this year.”

H

aving a handful of starters returning from a 5-5 team may not seem like the recipe for improvement, but Jackson Liberty enters the 2015 season with the expectations of making a big jump after five consecutive seasons hovering around .500.

“Last year

There are many reasons: a big and experienced offensive line, a two-year starter at quarterback, an exciting new starter at running back and some younger players with great upside.

The Lions are hoping it all adds up to a playoff berth and being in the thick of the Class B South race.

“I don’t know what it is, but it just feels different around here than in years past,” said senior two-way lineman Jared Dizenzo, a three-year starter. “People are hungry. The sophomores coming up really want to play, and it’s making us raise our level in practice. We definitely made strides last year but at the same time we were disappointed because we thought we were better than a 5-5 team.”

The Lions will be running a new offense under coordinator Vin Spadavecchia, who was previously an assistant at Brick. Liberty’s multiple pro gun set is the offense Brick ran the last two seasons and Toms River North ran when Chip LaBarca Jr. was the head coach. Returning at quarterback for his second year as the starter is senior Ryan Van Wickle, who threw for 981 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Van Wickle was never 100 percent healthy last season, but comes into his senior year without anything holding him back.

“Through no fault of his own he had a serious problem with stiffness in his back and legs, and he was just never loose,” said Jackson Liberty head coach Jim Sharples. “He was working with a specialist and nothing really worked, but he toughed it through. He would wince every time he moved. He’s a different kid this year.

He’s running the ball a lot more smooth, and he just looks better. Maybe he

good line they’re not going to be able to go anywhere. Having that base is definitely the rock to our offense.”

“As a former lineman I know how important the position is,” Sharples said. “We have a great anchor in Jared Dizenzo. He’s a leader. And we have some other guys coming up. We finally have some size, too. The young guys may be raw but they’re big and athletic.”

“The line is everything in high school and really at all levels,” said senior running back Ken Pommerencke. “If you don’t have a good line you don’t have a good team. I feel confident with them, especially Dizenzo. I feel great running behind them.”

Pommerencke started at safety last season and will also play offense this year as the team’s starting tailback. Sharples has been more than pleased with his work so far, so much so that the coaches have wondered what took them so long to insert him in the backfield.

I w a s never fully healthy and this year I am, so confidence I think is at an alltime high for me,” Van Wickle said.

In front of Van Wickle will be an offensive line that has both size and experience.

Dizenzo (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) anchors the line at center, where he has started since his sophomore year. Fellow senior Jerold Goodman (5-foot-11, 225 pounds) returns as the starter at left guard. The newcomers are 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior Javier Duran at right tackle, junior Xavier Roman at right guard and promising sophomore Nick Johnson (6foot-2, 200 pounds) at left tackle.

“Having a good O-line is the key to any good offense,” Van Wickle said. “You can have the best skill players in the world but without a Senior QB/LB Ryan Van Wickle

“We wish last year he would have come up to us and said he could run the ball, because you watch him and he has the things that natural running backs have,” Sharples said.

“He has great vision, he runs with a purpose, he finishes, he knows how to switch hands. You ask him the last time he touched the ball and it’s in eighth grade. That’s on us. We should have found out sooner, but hopefully he can give us something and be another pleasant surprise.”

The fullback will be junior Jake Stevens or junior Steve Shuster. The tight end is senior Braden Yorke, who started at receiver last year.

Starting at slot receiver is junior Ryan Downer with seniors Emmanuel Flores, Jared Pommerencke and Joe Low as the other wideouts. Low is a member of Jackson Liberty’s hockey team who decided to come out for the team.

“The offensive line is definitely a strength with five big kids, and Ryan Downer has good speed and lots of potential,” Van Wickle said. “I think we’re going to be able to put up some points this year.”

On the defensive side of the ball the top priority has been tightening up a run defense that was torched on a few occasions last season.

The lack of run defense was a major reason the Lions allowed an average of 25 points per game.

The good news is that some of the experienced players on the offensive line will also be a part of the front in the Lions’ 3-3 stack.

Junior Jacob Stillwell is the nose guard with Dizenzo as a returning starter at defensive end and 6-foot-3 senior Bobby Miller, who saw some time last season, as the other defensive end. Duran is also in the mix to get reps along

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running backs have,” Sharples said. “He has great vision, he runs with a purpose, he finishes, he knows how to switch hands.

You ask him the last time he touched the ball and it’s in eighth grade. That’s on us.

We should have found out sooner, but hopefully he can give us something and be another pleasant surprise.”

The fullback will be junior Jake Stevens or junior Steve Shuster. The tight end is senior Braden Yorke, who started at receiver last year. Starting at slot receiver is junior Ryan Downer with seniors Emmanuel Flores, Jared Pommerencke and Joe Low as the other wideouts. Low is a member of Jackson Liberty’s hockey team who decided to come out for the team.

“The offensive line is definitely a strength with five big kids, and Ryan Downer has good speed and lots of potential,” Van Wickle said. “I think we’re going to be able to put up some points this year.”

Senior two-way lineman Jared Dizenzo good line you don’t have a good team. I feel confident with them, especially Dizenzo. I feel great running behind them.”

Pommerencke started at safety last season and will also play offense this year as the team’s starting tailback. Sharples has been more than pleased with his work so far, so much so that the coaches have wondered what took them so long to insert him in the backfield.

“We wish last year he would have come up to us and said he could run the ball, because you watch him and he has the things that natural

On the defensive side of the ball the top priority has been tightening up a run defense that was torched on a few occasions last season. The lack of run defense was a major reason the Lions allowed an average of 25 points per game.

The good news is that some of the experienced players on the offensive line will also be a part of the front in the Lions’ 3-3 stack.

Junior Jacob Stillwell is the nose guard with Dizenzo as a returning starter at defensive end and 6-foot-3 senior Bobby Miller, who saw some time last season, as the other defensive end. Duran is also in the mix to get reps along

Photo by: Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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@ Pinelands @ Toms River South Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Barnegat @ Jackson Liberty Lakewood St. John Vianney @ Central Manchester Twp.

Head Coach: Dan Duddy, 9th season Career Record: 34-46 Assistant Coaches:

Vito Steriti (off. pass game); Chad Dougherty (OL/run game); Jim Papalia (def. coord.); Adam Sacco (DL); Gerard O’Donnell (DB); Greg Hyslop (spec. teams); Mark Deppen (strength & conditioning); Chris Winn, Angelo DiSalvo (freshman); Devin Solvik & Bob DeStefano (athletic trainers)

2014 Record: 0-10 (0-7)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Dillon Paprota, SR. OL Dillon returns to a line, where he will take the impactful void of Ny’eem Calhoun who graduated last year being named to the All-Division Team in 2014. If Dillon plays up to potential, he could be a big part of the offensive line’s pass protection.

X-FACTOR: Offensive Line The Griffins have a group of skilled receivers and slot backs so the passing game will need protection to help score points. The offensive line needs to give quarterback Teddy Golubowski enough time in the pocket to spread the field.

GLUE GUY: David Calderon, SR. RB/DB Calderon is a quiet leader who leads by example the hungriness for a winning season. He is a key and impactful returner from last season with a lot of potential for a great season.

A Day At A Time B y V i n E b e n a u – Shore Sports Network Contributor

G

rowing pains are how we learn and get better in what we do in life.

Donovan Catholic endured its share during a winless season in 2014, but the Griffins have continued to get better one day at a time, according to head coach Dan Duddy, who is entering his 10th season at the helm.

“The first thing we need to do is leave that behind us and pull down the curtain,” Duddy said. “Then come out believing that we can compete and have a right to be on the field and a right to have success, but none of that happens without hard work.”

With his players bearing a chip on their shoulders, they hit the weight room this winter with an attitude to do what it takes to not only win games but also reach their full potential.

The Griffins’ offense averaged 12.5 points per game last year while the defense allowed 32.4 points per game, two numbers that have to improve this season to help get them back in the win column.

“We have a lot of experience coming back and that’s going to help us a lot this season,” said senior running back David Calderon.

“We’re just trying to gel and work together as a team so that when we go out for our first game everything will be good.”

“We just have to pick it up this year,” said senior wide receiver Dezmund Hunter. “I feel like we’re getting along together as a team more.”

The Griffins will count on the experience gained last season to boost the younger players who are now the leaders with seven players returning on offense and eight on defense.

“We were in a lot of games last year more than the score indicates,” Duddy said. “We were at the cusp of flipping the momentum a number of times, and we shot ourselves in the foot either over a turnover or a 15-yard penalty, a block in the back, or a clip when the ball was crossing the goal line, and the kids knew that the season really was in the palm of their hands last year.”

Duddy is hoping with the right players setting the tone during the preseason, the Griffins can take a step forward.

“I think Teddy (Golubowski) has really stepped up as one of our leaders, David Calderon is a great leader, and they lead by example,” Duddy said. “They understand that the most respected leader is the one that serves the group. So they’re gaining their respect by service.”

“We had a younger team last year,” said Golubowski, a senior quarterback. “We should be a pretty good team this year, and there’s a lot of chemistry putting it all together.”

When putting together his depth chart for the season ahead, Duddy loves the idea of having multiple versatile players with speed.

“David is a game changer, Alex Rosario is a fast kid playing slot and wide receiver, and Dezmund is a kid playing a lot of positions,” Duddy said. “Kyle Schremmer is the first tight end we’ve had in a long time, Dillon Paprota is the only senior that’s starting on

the offensive line and is a great longsnapper. Our kick game has been very good the last couple years with Giancarlo Stigliano.”

The 5-foot-9 Calderon has proven to be a playmaker for the Griffins, and now he looks to become more of a leader.

“I want to win some games this year,” said Calderon. “I just want to make sure I’m finding the holes on offense and making big plays on defense. Whatever helps the team is what I’m going to do.”

The chip on the team’s shoulder from last season has motivated them to compete at a higher level, as they are only three seasons removed from winning the Class B South title.

“Take care of now and don’t look past the moment,” Duddy said. “I take it one day at a time. As of today we’re where we need to be.

If that’s not good enough, then so be it, but I feel we’re in a pretty good place right now.”

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kyle Schremmer SR. TE Schremmer will be a vital weapon for an offense that averaged only 12.5 points per game last season as the teams first tight end in years. He will also play an important role in pass protection and the receiving game.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sep. 11 at Toms River South After finishing winless, the first game of the season is always a big one as far as setting the tone and building some momentum for a turnaround. The Griffins will travel right down Hooper Avenue to Toms River South, which was hit hard by graduation and will be looking to establish some confidence of its own.

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@ Manchester @ Central Jackson Liberty Donovan Catholic @ Manasquan Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Lakewood Matawan Pinelands Regional

Head Coach: Rob Davis, 10 th season

Career Record: 52-42 Assistant Coaches:

Kevin Smith (def. coord.); Chris Clerico (OL); Greg Oravets (DL); Mike Burke (RB); Paul Covine (LB); Steve Fence (WR/DB); Mike D’Ambrosio (QB); Mike DeTroia (OL); Ralph Adorno (game day volunteer); Dave Smith, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jarrod Verge (freshmen).

2014 Record: 7-3 (6-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Connor Lustenberger, Jr., S Lustenberger will start at safety where Ricky Gerena patrolled the last two seasons and was among the Shore Conference leaders in interceptions.

X-FACTOR: Offensive line play The Bengals return just one starter from their offensive line and will need the unit to gel to give new quarterback Joe Monaco a chance to succeed.

GLUE GUY: Danny Dugan, Sr., OL/DL Dugan is the lone returning starter on the offensive line and also a returner on defense, and will be counted on to bring stability to both units.

E a r n in g T h e i r S t r i p e s

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

D

espite graduating a tremendous senior class that included a pair of FBS players in Manny Bowen and Sam Madden, Barnegat still plans on being a force in Class B South during the program’s 10th season.

“We’re working to get those types of players back in the sense of showing we still have those types of players,” said senior Nick Camarato.

Three starters return in the Bengals’ spread offense led by senior speed demon Paul Wickwire at running back. The Ocean County 100- and 200meter champion during track season, Wickwire moves into the backfield from receiver where the Bengals feel his speed can be game-changing. He will still see time at receiver and gives Barnegat an element it has never had at the running back position.

“He’s the most explosive kid I’ve ever coached,” said Barnegat head coach Rob Davis.

“Wherever he goes, he tilts the field. Paul is going to have a major effect on defenses, probably more than anyone we’ve ever had at the tailback position. He’ll have his fingerprints on the ball wherever he’s lined up.”

Senior Josh Bowen also returns as the starting tight end. The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder caught 15 passes for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season. Bowen, Camarato, juniors Jacques Picault and junior Hunter Mauro at wide receiver, and Wickwire will be the offensive weapons for junior quarterback Joe Monaco, who will enter his first year as the starter.

“I know Joe is young but he is a tank,” Bowen said. “He flings the ball around and puts it on a dot. He’s young, but we’re trying to get him to step up and launch the ball, not sit back there and panic.”

“I believe in Joe and I always have,” Wickwire said. “I’ve always said he can sling it. He’s going to be a good quarterback.”

“We’re getting him throwing the ball a lot in scrimmages, and if we can get the running game going he’ll be alright,” Davis said. “He has an arm and we have some receivers we’re excited about.”

The fullback will be sophomore Juan Abraham.

Senior Danny Dugan returns as the anchor along the offensive line from his left tackle position. The left guard is senior Greg Schmalz, the center is

junior Kyle Kessinger, the right guard is junior Andrew Meany and the right tackle is senior Kyle Rodmell.

Barnegat’s defense was a top-10 unit in points allowed last season, yielding just 16.1 points per game. The Bengals return five starters from that unit as they look to keep the same level of play. In their 4-3 multiple scheme, Dugan and Schmalz are returning starters at defensive end while senior Joe Scaglione is back at defensive tackle. The other defensive tackle is Meany.

Bowen returns to lead the linebacking group and will be at middle linebacker. He will be joined by senior Phil Wambach and junior Eric Becker on the outside.

“I love defense,” Bowen said. “My older brother obviously went to college for defense, and he taught me everything he knows. It’s the most important to me because if you can stop the other offense every time you’re going to win.”

Wickwire and junior Jake Schmitz will start in the secondary as the cornerbacks while Camarato, a returning starter, and junior Connor Lustenberger are the safeties.

Senior RB Paul Wickwire

Lustenberger will also handle the kicking and punting duties. Wickwire is the return specialist.

Barnegat knows teams will be gunning for them in B South and also that the division features a Central team with 2,000-yard rusher Mike Bickford and a Point Boro team loaded with experience, among others. The goal remains to hoist the division championship again and make a deep run in the state playoffs.

“We tell the kids that tradition doesn’t graduate,” Davis said. “We have a lot of program

kids in that locker room and now it’s their turn to step up.

“We tell the kids when you’re striving for perfection there will always be stress and a sense of urgency. Expectations aren’t a nice completion on the practice field when no one’s around. We’re not expecting anything less than the goals we put in place.”

Photo by: Bill Normile billnormile.zenfolio.com

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Joe Monaco, Jr., QB Monaco takes over as the starting quarterback in Barnegat’s spread offense, replacing two-year starter Cinjun Erskine.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 18 at Central This game last year, won by Central, ended up forcing a tie for the Class B South division title.

This year’s winner gets a major advantage in the title race. The Bengals will need to contain 2,000yard rusher Mike Bickford and versatile quarterback Mike Miserendino.

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@ Central Pinelands @ Manchester Twp. @ Jackson Liberty @ Donovan Catholic Rumson Barnegat @ Pt. Pleasant Boro Toms River South

Head Coach: L.J. Clark, 5th season

Career Record: 19-22 Assistant Coaches:

Evan Baubles (off. coord/OL); Jamil Jackson (def. coord.); Kyle Watson (WR/LB); Al LaMura (QB); Tim Brown (DB); Lew Peccarelli, Bobby King, Mike Muh, Frank Harrison, Jay Grahman.

2014 Record: 4-6 (4-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Zyhier Jones, So., QB Jones steps in as a first-year starter for the graduated Chapelle Cook, the engine of last year’s offense, who is now at Temple. The last sophomore to start regularly at quarterback for Lakewood was current Stony Brook standout Tyrice Beverette.

GLUE GUY: Jaquel Hunter, Sr., RB/LB A three-year starter, Hunter is expected to be an impact player at multiple positions.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Zyhier Jones, So., QB While the Piners look to bring Jones slowly with Tyler shouldering the load in the backfield, if they want to make that leap to a championship team, he will have to make plays down the stretch. Coach L.J. Clark sees him as the next potential breakout star at Lakewood.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 11 at Central The Piners go on the road to face the defending Class B South co-champs, who look to be the preseason favorite this fall. A win in that game would send the message that the Piners have a good shot at claiming their first division title in 15 years.

Doing It The Right Way

By Art Gordon – Shore Sports Network Contributor

A

s he continues to build a solid foundation at Lakewood in his fifth season, head coach L.J. Clark has been stressing doing things right away from the field as much as on it.

During the preseason, he piled the entire team into a couple cars and brought them to his father’s house for a pool and pizza party as he tries to build cohesion among a talented group.

“My kids come from unstructured environments and for some, football is their only structure,’’ Clark said. “We are trying to show them that doing the right thing in everything they do will help things work out.

We are not preaching wins and losses, but we are saying that that will come with hard work.”

Clark is looking for his team to take the next step this year. The Piners have made the playoffs the last three years, including their first state playoff win since 1986 in 2013. This year they have their sights set on a state playoff home game and playing that 12th game for a state championship, but first their concentration is on winning Class B South. They hope to kick off that campaign with some excitement as they will play their first night game in history on Sept. 19 when they bring out temporary lights for their divisional showdown against Pinelands.

Lakewood returns a large number of talented players, mostly from their offensive and defensive lines.

Senior two-way lineman Elijah Gill (6foot-3, 270 pounds) leads the way up front, while senior running back/safety Amir Tyler is one of the Shore’s top returning players.

Tyler has offers from Syracuse, Temple, Pittsburgh and multiple FCS schools after rushing for 816 yards on 125 carries as a junior. He looks to step in and shoulder the load that Temple recruit Chappelle Cook handled for the last two years. Tyler is a threeyear starter who will be counted on to be a leader as much as a playmaker

“I am trying to give the underclassmen the same thing that the seniors gave me when I was younger, and that is doing it the right way,’’ Tyler said.

The offense will have a new face calling the plays this year. Len Zdanowicz, last year’s offensive coordinator, is now the head coach at Brick. Stepping in for him will be Wall alumnus Evan Baubles, who will also coach the offensive line.

The Piners will run continue to run the shotgun Wing-T that began six years ago under the legendary Warren Wolf, who came to Lakewood after 51 Hall of Fame seasons at Brick.

“We are still teaching Coach Wolf ’s Wing-T offense, but we went to some clinics and put some things in that fit our kids,’’ Clark said. “You don’t invent anything new in football. You just mimic what others do.”

Replacing Cook at quarterback will be sophomore Zyhier Jones, who comes up from the junior varsity.

The plan is to bring him along slowly and not put too much on his plate too early with Tyler in the backfield.

Senior Linemen Elijah Gill

“He will be a very special player and everyone will know him by the time he graduates,” Clark said.

Taylor will be at halfback and next to him will be senior Sheldon Cobbs, who is another threat capable of burning defenses that are geared up to stop Tyler. Senior Kemar Chambers and Ja’Shaun Fisher are also pushing for some snaps at halfback and fullback.

Returning at split end is junior Adi Plamer, who had a strong offseason and showed playmaking ability in the team’s 7on-7 tournaments.

Senior Captain Jaquel Hunter, a three-year starter, returns at wingback, with Chambers and Fisher

Senior RB Amir Tyler moving outside in certain sets.

The offensive and defensive lines return six starters, led by Gill, a Division I prospect coming in from a strong offseason. Playing alongside him is 6-foot-1, 250-pound sophomore Josh Lezin, who played varsity as a freshman. Freshman Tye Pierce steps in as the new starting center, and senior Ryzson Barnes, sophomore John Paul Rodriquez and junior Isiah Francis are fighting for the guard and tackle spots on the left side.

The Piners will line up in a 3-4 defense, where they return six starters. Just like on offense, they will be led by their captains, with Tyler at free safety and Gill at defensive tackle.

Isiah Calhoun, Daquan Butler, Archie Jackson and Fisher are all fighting for minutes at the two inside linebacker spots. Adi Palmer returns at outside linebacker, along with senior Dimitri Toombs, who is returning from a torn ACL he suffered at the end of last season

The corner positions will be a rotation of Jakin Tunes, Honore Richardson and Elijah Miller. The defensive line returns Lezin, Gill and Barnes and looks to be a strength.

Lakewood, which routinely went for two last season, looks to have found a placekicker in Richardson, with Palmer or Tyler handling the punting.

The goal now is to make the leap from a playoff qualifier to a state championship contender while also making a run at their first division title since 2000.

“We lost two Division I football players, but we are ready to move on,’’ Clark said. “We have limited numbers, but the ones we have are working hard and trying to do things the right way – the Lakewood way.”

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2015 Week - by - Week Shore Conference Football Schedule FRIDAY, SEPT. 5

Central Regional at Southern, Donovan Catholic at Pinelands,

F R I D A Y , S E P T . 11

Toms River East at Southern, Marlboro at Manalapan, Middletown South at South Brunswick, Perth Amboy at Middletown North, Monmouth at Holmdel, Jackson Liberty at Jackson Memorial, Donovan Catholic at Toms River South, Red Bank Catholic at Long Branch, Ocean Township at Neptune, Red Bank at Wall, Keyport at Shore, Asbury Park at Point Pleasant Beach, Lakewood at Central Regional, Barnegat at Manchester Township, Point Pleasant Boro at Pinelands,

S A T U R D A Y , S E P T . 12

Howell at Colts Neck, Freehold Twp. at Freehold Borough, Raritan at Manasquan, Brick Memorial at Brick Township, Toms River North at Lacey, Mater Dei at Keansburg, St. John Vianney at Matawan,

F R I D A Y , S E P T . 18

Freehold Borough at Howell, Point Pleasant Boro at Donovan Catholic, Freehold Towsship at Manalapan, Neptune at Middletown South, Holmdel at St. John Vianney, Matawan at Rumson-Fair Haven, Southern at Brick Township, Lacey at Jackson Memorial, Toms River North at Brick Memorial, Toms River South at Toms River East, Long Branch at Carteret, Wall at Ocean Township, Colts Neck at Red Bank Regional, Middlesex at Point Pleasant Beach, Keansburg at Highland Park, Barnegat at Central Regional, Manchester Township at Jackson Liberty,

S A T U R D A Y , S E P T . 19

Manasquan at Monmouth, South River at Keyport, Middletown North at Marlboro, Red Bank Catholic at St. Joseph (Met.), Asbury Park at Metuchen, Shore at Spotswood, Newark Collegiate Academy Charter at Mater Dei, Pinelands at Lakewood,

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F R I D A Y , S E P T . 25

Mater Dei at Asbury Park, Freehold Township at Howell, Jackson Memorial at Southern, Manalapan at Sayreville, Marlboro at Middletown South, St. John Vianney at Central Regional, Raritan at Matawan, Toms River South at Toms River North, Red Bank Catholic at Neptune, Long Branch at Wall, Red Bank Regional at Ocean Township, Colts Neck at Woodbridge, Jackson Liberty at Barnegat, Bishop Ahr at Point Pleasant Boro, Lakewood at Manchester Township,

S A T U R D A Y , S E P T . 26

Rumson-Fair Haven at Monmouth, Point Pleasant Beach at Keyport, Middletown North at Freehold Borough, Holmdel at Manasquan, Brick Memorial at Lacey, Shore at Keansburg, Brick at Toms River East,

FRIDAY, OCT. 2

Middlesex at Asbury Park, Middletown South at Freehold Township, Southern at Howell, Manalapan at Middletown North, Freehold Borough at Raritan, Rumson-Fair Haven at St. John Vianney, Monmouth at Matawan, Manasquan at Ocean Township, Jackson Memorial at Brick Township, Wall at Red Bank Catholic, Neptune at Red Bank Region, Colts Neck at Long Branch, Dunellen at Shore, Pinelands at Central Regional, Donovan Catholic at Barnegat, Manchester at Point Pleasant Boro, Lakewood at Jackson Liberty,

SATURDAY, OCT. 3

Point Pleasant Beach at Spotswood, Keyport at Metuchen, Keansburg at South River, Peddie at Mater Dei, Marlboro at Toms River North, Lacey at Toms River South,

FRIDAY, OCT. 9

Toms River East at Freehold Township, Lacey at Manalapan, Howell at Middletown South, Ocean Township at Middletown North, St. John Vianney at Manchester Township, Long Branch at Rumson-Fair Haven, Matawan at Colonia, Red Bank Regional at Raritan, Monmouth at Pinelands, Brick Township at Wall, Jackson Memorial at Toms River North, Dunellen at Point Pleasant Beach,

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Point Pleasant Boro at Central Regional, Donovan Catholic at Jackson Liberty,

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S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 10

Red Bank Catholic at Colts Neck, Highland Park at Keyport, Barnegat at Manasquan, Holmdel at Spotswood, South River at Mater Dei, Metuchen at Keansburg, Freehold Borough at Marlboro,

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F R I D A Y , O C T . 16

Keyport at Asbury Park, Marlboro at Freehold Township Middletown North at Howell, Lakewood at Donovan Catholic, Manalapan at Middletown South, Raritan at St. John Vianney, Manasquan at Rumson-Fair Haven, Holmdel at Matawan, Brick Memorial at Jackson Memorial, Toms River North at Toms River East, Red Bank Catholic at Red Bank Regional, Long Branch at Ocean Township, Mater Dei at Shore, Manchester Township at Central Regional, Point Pleasant Boro at Barnegat, Jackson Liberty at Pinelands,

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S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 17

Wall at Freehold Borough, Brick Township at Lacey, Colts Neck at Neptune, Point Pleasant Beach at Keansburg, Toms River South at Southern, JFK-Iselin at Monmouth,

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F R I D A Y , O C T . 23

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St. John Vianney at Donovan Catholic, Red Bank Catholic at Manalapan, Middletown South at Brick Memorial, Freehold Township. at New Brunswick, Howell at Monroe, Marlboro at East Brunswick, Matawan at Long Branch, Raritan at Point Pleasant Borough, Pinelands at Holmdel, Colts Neck at Brick, Toms River South at Jackson Memorial, Southern at Toms River North, Lacey at Jackson Liberty, Wall at Neptune, Point Pleasant Beach at Highland Park, Asbury Park at Dunellen,

S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 24

Spotswood at Keyport, Toms River East at Freehold Boro, Rumson-Fair Haven at Lakewood, Shore at South River, Metuchen at Mater Dei Keansburg at Middlesex,

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F R I D A Y , O C T . 30

Keansburg at Asbury Park, Edison at Freehold Township, Freehold Borough at Manalapan, North Brunswick at Middletown North Rumson-Fair Haven at Raritan, Holmdel at Red Bank Regional, Toms River North at Brick Township, Toms River East at Jackson Memorial, Brick Memorial at Toms River South, Ocean Township at Red Bank Catholic, Shore at Point Pleasant Beach, Donovan Catholic at Central Regional, Point Pleasant Boro at Jackson Liberty, Manchester Township at Pinelands,

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S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 31

___

St. John Vianney at Monmouth, Wall at Colts Neck, Howell at Marlboro, Matawan at Manasquan, Southern at Lacey, Neptune at Long Branch, Keyport at Mater Dei Prep, Barnegat at Lakewood,

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FRIDAY, NOV. 6

Manalapan at Howell, Freehold Township at Middletown North, Manasquan at St. John Vianney, Rumson-Fair Haven at Holmdel, Matawan at Barnegat, Monmouth at Raritan, Brick Township at Toms River South, Jackson Memorial at Red Bank Catholic, Toms River North at Neptune, Southern at Brick Memorial, Red Bank at Manchester Township, Asbury Park at Shore, Mater Dei Prep at Point Pleasant Beach, Jackson Liberty at Central Regional,

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SATURDAY, NOV. 7

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Ocean Township at Colts Neck, Keansburg at Keyport, J.P. Stevens at Marlboro, Lakewood at Point Pleasant Boro, Middletown South at Freehold Borough, Lacey at Toms River East,

F R I D A Y , N O V . 20

Manchester Township at Donovan Catholic, 6:30 p.m

W E D N E S D A Y , N O V . 25 Pinelands at Barnegat,

T H U R S D A Y , N O V . 26

Raritan at Holmdel, Long Branch at Red Bank Regional, Neptune at Asbury Park, Middletown North at Middletown South, Ocean Township at Monmouth, Manasquan at Wall, Shore at Rumson-Fair Haven, Toms River South at Lakewood,

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Long Branch

Field Address: Indiana Avenue, Long Branch Directions: Parkway exit 105. Take Route 36 east, bear onto route 71 past Monmouth University and turn left on Westwood Avenue. Make a right onto Bath Avenue and then a right onto Indiana Avenue. School is ahead on right.

Manalapan

Asbury Park

Field Address: 1003 Sunset Avenue, Asbury Park Directions: From south - Parkway exit 100A. Take Route 66 east to traffic circle. Follow Route 35 north to Sunset Avenue.

Turn right; school is about two miles on left. From north Parkway exit 102 to Asbury Avenue east. Asbury Avenue runs into Route 66 and then same as above.

Colts Neck

Field Address: 59 Five Points Road, Colts Neck Directions: Route 34 to Route 537 west toward Freehold.

School is two to three miles ahead on the left.

Freehold Boro

Field Address: 2 Robertsville Road, Freehold Directions: Take Route 18 to Route 79 south. Turn left onto Robertsville Road. Filed is one block ahead on left.

Manasquan

Field Address: 159 Broad Street, Manasquan Directions: From north - Parkway exit 98. Take Route 34 south two miles to Manasquan/Sea Girt Exit. Go under Route 34 and follow Atlantic Avenue through circle. School is about one mile ahead on left. From south - Parkway exit 98. Take route 138 west to route 34 south, follow rest of above directions.

Marlboro

Field Address: 95 Route 79, Marlboro Directions: Route 18 north to Route 79 north. School is a few miles ahead on left.

Matawan

Field Address: 281 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township Directions: Take Route 9 to Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524).

Go west on Route 524. School is one mile ahead on left.

Field Address: 450 Atlantic Avenue, Aberdeen Directions: Parkway exit 117. Bear left off exit (passing northbound tollbooths) and get in left lane of Route 35 south. Turn left onto Route 35 north and follow sign back to the Parkway.

Before toll booth, turn right on Clark Street. At light, turn left on Lloyd Road. At next light, turn right on Church Street. At next light, turn right on Atlantic. School is just ahead on the right.

Howell

Mater Dei

Freehold Township

Field Address: 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell Directions: Route I-195 west to Lakewood-Farmingdale exit for Route 547 west (toward Farmingdale). Go about 200 yards to Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, turn left. School is about two miles on left.

Holmdel

Field Address: 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel Directions: Parkway exit 114. Go west on Red Hill Raod. At first intersection, turn right onto Crawfords Corner Road. School is one and a half miles ahead on the right.

Keansburg

Field Address: 140 Port Monmouth Road, Keansburg Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right off ramp onto Red Hill Road. At first light, turn left onto VanShoik Road. VanSchoik becomes Laurel Avenue. Take Laurel across Route 35 to Route 36.

Turn right on Route 36 and take to jughandle left turn for Main Street. At first light, turn right onto Port Monmouth Road. School is down on the right.

Keyport

Field Address: Jackson Street, Keyport Directions: Parkway exit 117. Take Route 35 south and bear left onto Route 36 south. Take jughandle left onto Atlantic Street. Turn right on Jackson Street and go two blocks. Field is at the end of the street.

88

Field Address: 30 Church Lane, Manalapan Directions: Route 9 to Route 522 west. Turn right on Tennent Road, then left on Church lane. School is a half mile on right.

Field Address: 538 Church Street, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right on Red Hill Road, follow to end. Turn left onto Kings Highway, and right on Harmony Road, Take Harmony Road across Route 35 and turn right on Cherry Tree Farm Road. School is one and a half miles ahead on left.

Middletown North

Field Address: 63 Tindall Road, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right onto Red Hill Road and follow to end. Turn right onto Kings Highway. Make a right and follow to Route 35 south to the jughandle for Tindall Road.

Take the jughandle and then make a right to Tindall Road. The school will be a half mile on right.

Middletown South

Field Address: 501 Nutswamp Road, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Go east on Red Hill Road to light for Dwight Road. Turn right on Dwight Road to MiddletownLincroft Road. Cross Middletown-Lincroft Road to Nutswamp.

School is a half mile on the right.

Monmouth Regional

Field Address: 1 Normal J. Field Way, Tinton Falls Directions: Parkway to exit 105. Take jughandle at first traffic light to Hope Road and go north to Tinton Avenue. Turn left on Tinton Avenue and go about half a mile to school entrance on the right, just before Parkway overpass.

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Neptune

Field Address: Memorial Field, Summerfield School, Neptune Directions: From south - Parkway Exit 100. Take Route 33 east a few miles to Green Grove Road. Turn left onto Green Grove Road, school is just ahead on the left. From north - Parkway exit 100B. Follow rest of directions from above.

Ocean Township

Field Address: 550 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township Directions: Route 35 to West Park Avenue. Go east on West Park Avenue, school is a half mile on the right.

Raritan

Field Address: 419 Middle Road, Hazlet Directions: From north - Parkway exit 114. Make a left off the exit onto Red Hill Road, which turns into Laurel Avenue. Follow Laurel north across Route 35 to Middle Road. Turn left, school is on the right. From south - Parkway Exit 114. Turn right onto Red Hill Road, which turns into Laurel Avenue. Follow Laurel north across Route 35 to Middle Road. Turn left, school is on the right.

Red Bank Regional

Field Address: 101 Ridge Road, Little Silver Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to end to Route 35 (Broad Street), turn left. At the second light, turn right on Harding Road. School is one and a half miles on right.

Red Bank Catholic

Field Address: Count Basie Field, Henry Street, RB Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to Henry Street - Red Bank Volvo is n the corner. Turn left, field entrance is just ahead on the left.

Rumson-Fair Haven

Field Address: 74 Ridge Road, Rumson Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to Route 35 (Broad Street), turn left. At the second light, turn right on Harding Road. After about three miles, Harding becomes Ridge Road. Pass Red Bank Regional High School and go about three more miles. Rumson-Fair Haven will be on the left.

St. John Vianney

Field Address: 540 Road, Holmdel Directions: Parkway exit 117. Bear left off exit (passing northbound tollbooths) and get in left lane of Route 35 south. Turn left onto Route 35 north and follow sign back to the parkway.

Before tollbooth, turn right onto Clark Street. At light, turn left on Lloyd Road. At first light, turn left onto Church Street. At next light, turn right onto Line road. School is on left.

Shore Regional

Field Address: Route 36 east, West long Branch Directions: Parkway exit 105. Take route 36 a few miles, cross route 71. School is just ahead on the right.

Wall

Field Address: 18th Avenue and New Bedford Road, Wall Directions: Parkway exit 98. Take Route 138 east about two miles to second light, turn right onto New Bedford Road. Follow to school entrance on left.

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Jackson Liberty

Field Address: 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson

Directions: From south- Route 9 north to Cox Cro Road Road

in Toms River. Make a left onto Cox Cro and follow about two

miles to 527 (Whitesville Road). Make a left onto 527 and follow for about 4-5 miles. Make a right onto South Hope Chapel

Pinelands Regional

Field Address: Nugentown Road, Little Egg Harbor

Directions: Parkway Exit 58. Take Route 539 east about

three miles. Turn right on Nugentown Road. School is three miles on the right.

Road/CR-547. School is just ahead on the left. From north -

Point Pleasant Beach

onto Route 527 South. Follow for 6-7 miles and turn left onto

Beach

Whitesville Road). School is about a half mile on the right.

Manasquan River, follow signs for Broadway/Beach and make U-

second light make a left onto Barnegat Boulevard North. Go

Jackson Memorial

Make a right onto St. Louis Avenue and follow until you see the

School is on the left. From the South-Parkway to Exit 63. Follow

about 10-12 miles west to Route 528 intersection. Turn right on

a right onto Barnegat Boulevard North and follow above

School is a quarter mile on the left. From north - Parkway exit 98.

Parkway exit 98. Take I-195 west to Exit 21. Bear left and turn South Hope Chapel Road (just after 527 becomes 528 at

Barnegat

Field Address: 180 Bengal Boulevard, Barnegat

Directions: From the north - Parkway to exit 67 (Barnegat).

Make a left at the end of the exit ramp onto Bay Avenue. At

approximately one mile and make a left onto Bengal Boulevard.

route 72 east to route 9 north. Make a left onto Bay Avenue. Make direction.

Field Address: Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson

Directions: From south - Route 9 north to Route 571. Go

Field Address: 346 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick

Connor Boulevard and make a left. Follow directions above.

Parkway overpass and school is just ahead on right. From south-

Parkway exit 90. School is short distance on right from off-ramp.

Directions: Parkway Exit 74. Turn right on Lacey Road.

Follow less than two miles, take jughandle left turn for

Brick Memorial

Street. School is on the right.

Field Address: Haines Street, Lacey

Manchester Avenue. Go to the first light, turn right on Haines

you on Chambers Bridge Road. Take first jughandle U-turn and

Lakewood

second light, where there is a convenience store on the left and a

jughandle U-turn to go west on Chambers Bridge Road. Turn left

the 7-Eleven and take the jughandle left turn for Lanes Mill Road.

Take New Hampshire to end, turn left onto Ridge. Go about 1 ½

gas station on the right. The right and go over the Parkway. Pass Go straight across, bear right just pass Lanes Mill Elementary

School. High school is on right. From north - Parkway exit 91.

and continue with above listed directions.

Directions: From north - Parkway Exit 91. Stay left off exit

Go straight at light, follow to Route 88. Cross Route 88, go under

go west on Chambers Bridge Road. Cross Route 88 and follow to

field. From south - Route 35 north. Make a right onto Broadway

Take I-195 west to exit 21. Bear left and turn onto Route 527

Lacey

Directions: From South - Parkway exit 90. Ramp will put

turn onto route 35 North. Make a quick right onto Broadway.

Point Pleasant Boro

Directions: From north - Parkway exit 91. Stay right off exit.

Field Address: 2001 Lanes Mill Road, Brick

Directions: From north - Route 35 south. After crossing

Route 528. Continue on Don Connor Boulevard and make a right.

South. At second light turn right onto Route 528. Continue to Don

Brick

Field Address: St. Louis and Chicago Avenues, Pt. Pleasant

Field Address: 855 Somerset Ave, Lakewood

Directions: From south - Parkway exit 90. Take immediate

Field Address: Laura Herbert Drive, Point Pleasant

and take jughandle around to light at gas station. Turn right and

follow Burnt Tavern Road to Route 70. Turn left on Route 70 and at next intersection turn right onto Herbertsville Road. Stay on Herbertsville Road to intersection with Route 88. Go straight

through light to school less than a mile on the right. From south Route 88 east to Beaver Dam Road and make a right. School entrance is ahead on right.

Southern Regional

Field Address: 600 North Main St. (Route 9), Stafford

Directions: Parkway exit 63. Take Route 72 east about two

miles and bear right onto Route 9 north. Take Route 9 about three miles and school is on the left.

onto Route 88, follow to New Hampshire Avenue and turn right.

Toms River East

miles to school on right. From north - Parkway exit 91. Stay right

Directions: Parkway Exit 82, Take Route 37 east to Coolidge

Field Address: Raider Way, Toms River

off exit. Go straight at light, follow road to Route 88 intersection.

Avenue jughandle. Go north on Coolidge one mile to Raider Way.

Parkway.

Manchester

Toms River North

Central Regional

Directions: Parkway to Exit 82A. Take Route 37 west about

Bear left after the toll. Follow jughandle around, turn right at light at gas station. Follow directions above after going over the

Turn right on Route 88 and follow rest of directions above.

Field Address: 101 Colonial Drive, Manchester

Field Address: Forest Hills Parkway, Berkeley

Directions: From north - Parkway exit 77. Turn left off exit

onto Double Trouble Road, follow it to traffic light. Turn left

five miles to jughandle for Colonial Drive. Cross 37 and follow back to school parking lot.

on Forest Hills Parkway. School is just ahead on right. Parking

Monsignor Donovan

south - Parkway exit 77. Turn right on Forest Hills Parkway.

Directions: Parkway to Exit 82. Take Route 37 east and turn

entrance is at far end of school or at middle school lot. From

School is just ahead on right. Parking entrance is at far end of school or at middle school lot.

90

Field Address: 711 Hooper Avenue, Toms River

right on Hooper Avenue. Go south on Hooper about a half mile and turn left at the first light. School is on the right.

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Turn left, school entrance is on the left.

Field Address: Old Freehold Road, Toms River

Directions: Parkway Exit 82. Take Route 37 East. At first

light take a jughandle left onto Route 166 north. Bear right at next traffic light onto Old Freehold Road. School is about three miles ahead on right.

Toms River South

Field Address: 101 Hyers Street, Toms River

Directions: Parkway exit 82. Take Route 37 east. Turn right

onto Hooper Avenue. The field is a half mile down on the right behind the Ocean County Courthouse.

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