2020 Shore Sports Network Football Preview by Shore Sports Network Journal

Cover Designed by Steve Meyer

S h o r e R e g i o n a l ..................................................... 68 W a l l ............................................................................ 70 SSN Top Ten.............................................Page

SSN Players To watch.................... Page

New Faces

New Places....................

Monmouth County Teams

Page 11

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A s b u r y P a r k .............................................................. 12 C o l t s N e c k ................................................................. 14 F r e e h o l d B o r o .......................................................... 17 F r e e h o l d T o w n s h i p ............................................... 18 H o w e l l ......................................................................... 20 H o l m d e l ....................................................................... 22 K e a n s b u r g .................................................................. 24 K e y p o r t ....................................................................... 25 L o n g B r a n c h .............................................................. 26 M a n a l a p a n .................................................................. 30 M a n a s q u a n ................................................................. 32 M a r l b o r o .................................................................... 34 M a t a w a n ..................................................................... 36 M a t e r D e i P r e p ....................................................... 38 M i d d l e t o w n N o r t h ................................................ 40 M i d d l e t o w n S o u t h ................................................ 42 M o n m o u t h R e g i o n a l .............................................. 44 N e p t u n e ........................................................................ 46 O c e a n T o w n s h i p ...................................................... 48 R a r i t a n ........................................................................ 50 R e d B a n k ...................................................................... 52 R e d B a n k C a t h o l i c ................................................ 58 R u m s o n - F a i r H a v e n ................................................ 62 S t . J o h n V i a n n e y .................................................... 66

Feature Story..................................Pages Ocean County Teams

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B a r n e g a t .................................................................. 72 B r i c k T o w n s h i p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 B r i c k M e m o r i a l ..................................................... 76 C e n t r a l R e g i o n a l ................................................ 78 D o n o v a n C a t h o l i c ............................................... 80 J a c k s o n L i b e r t y .................................................. 82 J a c k s o n M e m o r i a l ............................................... 84 L a c e y .......................................................................... 86 L a k e w o o d .................................................................. 88 M a n c h e s t e r ............................................................. 89 P i n e l a n d s ................................................................. 91 P o i n t B e a c h ............................................................ 92 P o i n t B o r o .............................................................. 94 S o u t h e r n R e g i o n a l ............................................. 96 T o m s R i v e r E a s t ................................................... 98 T o m s R i v e r N o r t h ............................................... 100 T o m s R i v e r S o u t h ............................................... 102 Field

Directions

Monmouth County.............................Page Ocean County...........................................Page

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Week-by-week Shore Conference Schedule..........Page

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Tfootball season has arrived.

he 2020 Shore Conference high school

At many points during the past several months, it was hard to imagine a football season this fall. But on Friday, Oct. 2, the 2020 Shore Conference high school football season will finally get underway. It’s a small victory in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be a very different season than what we’re used to, however. Teams will play a six- or seven-game regularseason schedule. Within the Shore Conference, there will be no divisions. There will be a postseason but don’t call it the playoffs. It will be just two games and will not crown state sectional champions. What won’t change is the presence of the Shore Sports Network Top 10. We’re back once again to take our best shot at ranking the 10 best teams in the Shore Conference, and with no championships to play for, rankings may actually be a tangible reward for teams to play for. Four teams played for sectional championships last season and all four return as ranked teams to begin the 2020 season. WALL finished last season as the SSN Team of the Year and with most of the roster returning, the Crimson Knights will begin the year as the team to beat. After that it’s many of the usual suspects, some of which will play each other during the year. Even though there are no divisions, many teams will have a chance to settle any debates on the field

Without further ado, we present the Shore Sports Network Preseason Football Top 10. Jackson Mater Dei Prep

Wall

(12-1). Final 2019 ranking: No. 1 Last season, Wall won the Central Jersey Group 3 title and the Colonial Division crown to start 12-0 before falling to Woodrow Wilson, 12-7, in the South Group 3 Regional Final. The Crimson Knights went from No. 9 in the preseason to No. 1 in the final poll, proving that it’s not where you start but where you finish. Wall has a loaded roster that includes quarterback/safety Logan Peters, running back/cornerback Casey Larkin, linebackers Charlie Sasso and Colin Riley, tight end Blake Rezk, linemen Grant Puharic, Brian Byrne and Eddie Van Woudenberg and several other standouts.

(8-4). Final 2019 ranking: No. 3 The Seraphs reached their fourth straight state final last season but were unable to bring home the title in a loss to DePaul. Mater Dei lost some big-time players to graduation but should still be a formidable squad thanks to players like Michigan-bound defensive end Dominick Giudice, Kent State-bound receiver Naran Buntin and Temple-bound lineman Rakim Cooper, plus junior quarterback Alex Brown, wideout Kyree Drake, linebacker Jahqual Talmadge and cornerback Eli Johnston.

River

North

(9-2). Final 2019 ranking: No. 2 The Mariners came out on top and won the most difficult division in Shore Conference history by taking the American Division title over the likes of Rumson-Fair Haven, Middletown South, Red Bank Catholic, Long Branch and Manalapan. Senior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky, the reigning SSN Offensive Player of the Year, returns along with firstteam All-Shore receivers Zach Goodale and Zac Browne, running back Jordan Grey and defensive end John O’Donnell.

Donovan

Catholic

The Griffins won the Liberty Division title, tied the school record for wins in a season and reached the Non-Public Group 3 semifinals last season. They had the No. 1 scoring offense and the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore but were hurt by a lesser schedule than all of the other top teams in the Shore and lost their only marquee game against Red Bank Catholic. Their senior class features multiple threeand four-year starters such as linebackers Quamire Green and Dominick Nocero, wide receiver James Bivens, tight ends Ethan Capone and Levi Wilkins, lineman Cam McNair and running back Jahdir Loftland. They also welcome a pair of impact transfers in wide receiver Jayon Farrar and quarterback/safety Jalin Butler. The Griffins are clearly a team on the cusp of the elite, they just need a signature win.

Rumson-Fair Haven

(6-5). Final 2019 ranking: No. 5 Rumson reached its seventh consecutive sectional championship game last season but also failed to win at least nine games for the first time since 2012. A brutal schedule and injuries played a role in that, but the Bulldogs were still among the Shore’s best and that shouldn’t change this season, either. There are talented players up and down the roster including Princeton-bound running back John Volker, wide receiver Patrick Jamin, offensive tackle James Smith, defensive linemen Aiden Moriarty, Von Factor and Jack Kelly, linebackers John Lista and Ryan McKay and safety Ryan Ruane.

(8-3). Final 2019 ranking: No. 4 Jackson has to replace several impact starters off the team that reached the Central Jersey Group 4 final last season, especially SSN Defensive Player of the Year Collin McCarthy (UConn), but returns some important members of their core. Senior running back Will Towns, who is committed to Wake Forest, leads the way along with receiver/safety Wally Doman, receiver/cornerback Jabari Lofton, tight end/defensive tackle Jaden Persichilli and linebacker Tyron Blackwell.

Manalapan

(9-2). Final 2019 ranking: No. 8 Toms

Memorial

Red Bank Catholic

(5-4). Final 2019 ranking: No. 7 Red Bank Catholic came back to the pack one year after going 10-0 and winning the Non-Public Group 3 state title but remained a top-10 team thanks to ranked wins over Toms River North and Donovan Catholic. The Caseys graduated multiple key players, namely FBS tight ends Kevin Bauman (Notre Dame) and Charlie Gordinier (Boston College) but return first-team All-Shore defensive tackle Jake Louro, quarterback Anthony Borriello, tight end/defensive end Alex Bauman and receivers Lenny Loria and Joe Diorio. They also have a pair of impact sophomores in Sabino Portela and Najih Rahman. Former defensive coordinator Mike Lange takes over as the Caseys’ head coach.

(5-4). Final 2019 ranking: No. 6 The Braves have been entrenched in the top 10 for some time now, so despite losing a ton to graduation Manalapan gets the nod to start as a ranked team. Former defensive coordinator Dom Lepore takes over as the head coach and inherits a roster that includes running back/linebacker Ray Vender, receivers/defensive backs Anthony Matrone, Chris Marzo, Ethan Rodriguez and Paul Wojciechowski, lineman Mike Maksimik, defensive end Gavin Claro and All-Shore kicker Vincenzo Rea.

Middletown

South

(5-5). Final 2019 ranking: No. 9 To label Middletown South a potential surprise team seems kind of silly considering the program’s elite status in the Shore, but the Eagles find themselves in a position where their roster is talented yet filled with many unheralded players. After a 5-5 season last year, the Eagles will look to position themselves high in the rankings once again. Quarterback Tom Schork, running back Matt Mauro, tight end/defensive end Joe Stanzione, linebacker Liam Murphy and two-way lineman Brendan Bigos are among the key returners for Middletown South and head coach Steve Antonucci.

Southern

7-3). Final 2019 ranking: not ranked The lone team in the rankings that didn’t finish last season as a top-10 team is Southern, which is coming off its best season since 2012 after going 7-3 and winning the Constitution Division title. Junior running back Jaiden Brown leads the way for a team that has multiple returning starters, including fullback/linebacker Nate Committee, fullback/linebacker Hank Gallacher, tight end/defensive end Jay Silva, wide receiver Xavier Hendricks, linebacker Steve Langton and two-way lineman Pat Fulginiti.

Dear Shore Conference Football Fans I have covered football at the Shore for more than 40 years and nothing comes close to what all of us have been dealing with. The pandemic surrounding COVID-19 has drastically changed everything involving high school football and it’s made things very difficult for our 43 schools. Coaches, players, administrators and other participants (band, cheerleaders, and dance teams) have all been impacted greatly and we start the 2020 season with in many cases more questions than answers. This season will be like none other in the history of the Shore Conference. There are no divisions and no championships to play for. The six-game regular season schedule is based largely on geography with the goal to keep teams closer to home. There will be no tracking the rankings to determine playoff seeds and pairings, although there will be a two-week postseason of some form. In truth, if we get to that point this season will be a success. Our Shore Sports Network team has put in countless hours to prepare and present this football preview. Heading up the content effort was Bob Badders and Matt Manley with contributions from Vin Ebenau, as well. Of course we could not have done this without Steve Meyer who put it all together and took many of the pictures you will find in this issue. He also captured the times we are in with a brilliant cover photo featuring nine of the area’s top players. Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Skype have become as common as pass, run, block and tackle for the past several months. I would also be remiss if I did not thank the many advertisers whose ads you will see on the forthcoming pages. Without them, we could not present this FREE preview and I encourage all of you to support them when possible. Special thanks to the Jersey Mike’s family for their tremendous support of the SSN during these challenging times for all of us in the media. Peter Cancro grew up in Point Pleasant Beach and has never forgotten his roots, and for that I am extremely grateful. Back in May and even June I did not think there was any way we would have a football season this fall, so the fact we are almost ready to kick it off is a true victory unto itself. Let’s keep that in mind throughout the season and hope that the young men who love this game have an opportunity to step onto the field each weekend. Sure, everyone wants to win but the most important number at the end of this season might be how many games you got to play.

Let’s be smart and stay healthy and safe. Happy Football Season! Kevin Williams, Director Shore Sports Network

This year’s schedule features some of the Shore Conference’s top teams. Matt Harmon is back as the play-byplay voice of the game broadcasts and will be joined by longtime partners Kevin Williams and Ed Sarluca. The trio have been together for over 20 years calling Shore Conference football games in Ocean and Monmouth County. It’s a game on for our game broadcasts Jersey Mike’s returns as the title as they will all be streamed live on sponsor of the weekly streaming shoresportsnetwork.com and through the broadcasts and will also sponsor the Shore Sports Network mobile app. popular Team of the Week program throughout the season. Brielle Orthopedics at Rothman will be this year’s presenting sponsor.

he Jersey Mike’s Game of the Week returns to the Shore Sports Network this fall with the regular season broadcast schedule to begin on Friday, October 2 when Toms River North visits Toms River South in a battle of the Toms Rivers.

Friday

Oct. 2

TR North

TR South

(7pm)

Friday

Oct. 9

Manalapan

Howell

(6:30)

Friday

Oct. 16

Brick Mem.

Lacey

(6:30)

Friday

Oct. 23

Donovan Cath.

Brick

(7pm)

Friday

Oct. 30

Manasquan

Wall

(7pm)

Friday

Nov. 6

Donovan Cath.

TR North

(7pm)

Friday

Nov. 13

TBD

Friday

Nov. 20

TBD

Schedule is subject to change

All games streamed live at shoresportsnetwork.com and on the FREE Shore Sports Network App 5

2019 Shore Conference Football Standings AMERICAN DIVISION Team

FREEDOM DIVISION

Overall Division

x-Toms River North

9-2

4-1

357

238

Rumson-Fair Haven

6-5

3-2

220

172

Manalapan

5-4

3-2

192

157

Red Bank Catholic

5-4

2-3

156

116

Middletown South

5-5

2-3

215

181

Long Branch

4-7

1-4

236

263

COLONIAL DIVISION Team

Overall Division

Team x-Toms River East Neptune Colts Neck Matawan Toms River South Jackson Liberty Lakewood

NATIONAL DIVISION Overall Division 9-2 6-0 6-4 5-1 8-2 4-2 5-4 3-3 4-6 2-4 2-7 1-5 2-8 0-6

PF 222 276 270 175 224 106 118

PA 184 201 111 167 276 158 311

Overall Division

Overall 5-4

Division 4-1

PF 180

PA 171

Point Beach

7-3

3-2

143

149

Keansburg

5-4

3-2

124

156

Keyport

3-6

2-3

117

152

Manchester

2-8

2-3

118

223

Pinelands

1-8

1-4

209

LIBERTY DIVISION Team

x-Wall

12-1

5-0

346

124

x-Donovan Catholic

9-2

5-0

398

Mater Dei Prep

8-4

4-1

344

136

Lacey

7-4

3-2

191

166

Jackson Memorial

8-3

3-2

211

208

Holmdel

6-4

2-3

138

170

St. John Vianney

4-5

2-3

197

187

Red Bank

7-4

2-3

237

174

Brick

3-6

1-4

144

255

Manasquan

4-6

2-3

104

141

Freehold

2-7

0-5

158

328

Central

3-6

1-4

155

200

Team

PATRIOT DIVISION

CONSTITUTION DIVISION Team

Team x-Asbury Park

Overall Division

x-Southern

7-3

5-0

207

152

x-Ocean

8-1

5-0

317

Middletown North

4-7

3-2

142

206

Raritan

5-4

4-1

275

159

Marlboro

3-7

3-2

149

227

Barnegat

5-5

2-3

176

189

Brick Memorial

3-6

2-3

190

221

Shore

4-6

2-3

212

216

Freehold Township

2-8

2-3

123

232

Point Boro

3-6

2-3

170

261

Howell

1-9

0-5

144

199

Monmouth

0-9

0-5

340

very year the Shore Conference has countless ESaturday football players who light it up on Friday and during the football season, bringing crowds to their feet and giving us endless video highlights and topics to write about. This season is no different, with several players already committed to FBS schools and other standouts looking to cement their high school legacies. Here are some of the top players in the Shore Conference who you should make a point to see in person. qUarter BACKS

defensive linemen

JAKE KAZANOWSKY, SR., TOMS RIVER NORTH

DOMINICK GIUDICE, SR., MATER DEI PREP

The 2019 Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, Kazanowsky threw for 2,144 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Shore in both categories. He piloted a Toms River North offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game as the Mariners went 9-2, won the American Division championship, reached the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group 5 state playoffs and finished No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was also selected as the American Division Offensive Player of the Year.

After a solid sophomore season, Giudice had a breakout junior year to blossom into a dominating edge rusher. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound University of Michigan recruit racked up 24 sacks, the most in the Shore Conference, to go along with 43 tackles for loss and 26 quarterback pressures for a Mater Dei defense that was fifth in the Shore allowing just 11.3 points per game while recording four shutouts. One of his best games of the season came in the Non-Public Group 3 state final when he recorded three sacks in a loss to DePaul. His play helped the Seraphs reach their fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

n LOGAN PETERS, SR., WALL n ALEX BROWN, JR., MATER DEI PREP n ANTHONY BORRIELLO, SR., RED BANK CATHOLIC n SHA’KIM SHULER, SR., FREEHOLD

n JAKE LOURO, SR., RED BANK CATHOLIC n VON FACTOR, SR., RUNSON-FIAR HAVEN n IMEER JOHNSON, SR., CENTRAL

Running BACKS

WILL TOWNS, SR., JACKSON MEMORIAL After sharing the backfield as a sophomore Towns took over as the Jaguars starting running back last season and rushed for 1,372 yards and 12 touchdowns to finish third in the Shore Conference in rushing. He had six 100-yard games, including a career-high 242 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Brick and 232 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Freehold. Towns’ play helped Jackson go 8-3, reach the Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional final and finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10. His recruiting ramped up as the season progressed and during the offseason, he committed to Wake Forest. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

n n n n

JAIDEN BROWN, JR., SOUTHERN AKHI BARKSDALE, SR., BRICK MEMORIAL SHANE MCLAUGHLIN, SR., SHORE JOHN VOLKER, SR., RB, RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

Wide receivers

n AIDEN MORIARTY, JR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN line BACKerS

CHARLIE SASSO, JR., WALL Sasso had the rare distinction of starting as a freshman and there was certainly no sophomore slump for the standout inside linebacker. Sasso was a complete all-around linebacker who could play the run and pass and also rush the quarterback. He was fifth in the Shore with 127 tackles, 73 of which were solo stops, along with 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. Wall’s defense was second in the Shore allowing just 9.5 points per game with one shutout and his play helped the Crimson Knights go 12-1 with a school record for wins, claim the Colonial Division title, win the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

n QUAMIRE GREEN, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC n COLIN RILEY, JR., WALL n YUSUF AHMED, SR., TOMS RIVER EAST

Tight Ends

n DOMINICK NOCERO, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC

ZACH GOODALE, SR., TOMS RIVER NORTH

defensive backs

A big-play machine who recently committed to Rutgers, Goodale averaged 28 yards per receptions with 21 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns, which tied for the most in the Shore, for an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game. His played helped Toms River North go 9-2, win the American Division title, reach the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

n n n n n

ZAC BROWNE, SR., TOMS RIVER NORTH TYLER OCHOJSKI, JR., FREEHOLD NARAN BUNTIN, SR., MATER DEI PREP MIKAI BROWN-JONES, SR., ASBURY PARK PATRICK JAMIN, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

offensive linemen

CAM MCNAIR, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC McNair is an imposing figure up front with his 6-foot-5, 325-pound frame and his skills paved the way for Donovan Catholic’s explosive offense to lead the Shore Conference at 36.2 points per game in 2019. McNair’s blocking was a major reason the Griffins ran for 2,908 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and 264 yards per game. The Griffins also averaged 356 yards per game. Donovan had one of the best seasons in program history with a 9-2 record, the Liberty Division championship, a trip to the Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals and the No. 8 ranking in the final SSN Top 10. McNair holds FBS scholarship offers from Buffalo, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

n n n n 8

GRANT PUHARIC, SR., WALL JAMES SMITH, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN RAKIM COOPER, SR., MATER DEI PREP BRIAN BYRNE, JR., WALL

CASEY LARKIN, SR., WALL Larkin was an indispensable player for Wall and did a little bit of everything to lead the way in a historic season. Larkin ran for 1,038 yards and 12 touchdowns on an average of 6.5 yards per carry and posted a team-leading 19 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns. As a defensive back, Larkin made 41 tackles with three interceptions and pick6. He was sorely missed in a Group 3 Regional Championship loss to Woodrow Wilson after suffering a concussion against Manasquan on Thanksgiving. Larkin’s play was a major reason why Wall set a school record with 12 wins and only one defeat, won the Colonial Division championship, captured the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and ﬁnished No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. Larkin was also selected as the Colonial Division co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Logan Peters. He recently committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point (Army). He was a ﬁrst-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

n RYAN RUANE, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN n NICK FERROGINE, SR., RED BANK n WALLY DOMAN, SR., JACKSON MEMORIAL

kickers VINCENZO REA, SR., MANALAPAN A returning first-team All-Shore selection, Rea tied for the Shore Conference lead with six field goals and also tied for the longest kick with a 43-yard field goal. He also converted 22 of 24 extra points and was 6-for-8 on field goals. He added 13 touchbacks on kickoffs and as a punter dropped seven punts inside the 20-yard line

n CADE TORRES, SR., SHORE n ANDREW MYERSON, SR., MATAWAN n SEAN HURLEY, JR., CENTRAL

others n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

watch

Gary Alaimo, Sr., OL, Holmdel Troy Alvarez, Sr., DB, Keyport Patrick Beltran, Sr., DB, Keansburg Brendan Bigos, Sr., OL/DL, Middletown South James Bivens, Jr., WR, Donovan Catholic Tyron Blackwell, Sr., LB, Jackson Memorial Mikal Braithwaite, Jr., QB, Keansburg Noah Brunatti, Sr., QB, Lacey Nino Bua, Sr., QB, Neptune Jalin Butler, Jr., QB/DB, Donovan Catholic Yah’sin Calhoun, Jr., RB/LB, Freehold Ethan Capone, Sr., TE, Donovan Catholic Chris Carasia, Sr., WR, Ocean Nick Cerulli, Sr., LB, Howell Jared Chathaunt, Sr., OL, Asbury Park Gavin Claro, Sr., DL, Manalapan Josh East, Sr., DB, St. John Vianney Tommy Fallon, Jr., QB, Colts Neck Gerry Ferrigno, Sr., LB, Toms River South Patrick Frawley, Sr., DL, Point Boro Nick Glende, Sr., OL, Matawan Josh Glenn, Sr., RB, Manchester Jordan Grey, Sr., RB, Toms River North Chris Grille, Sr., LB, Manchester Connor Harris, Sr., LB, Pinelands Junior Haughton, Sr., RB, Neptune Jack Huber, Sr., QB, Toms River South Jack Kelly, Sr., DL, Rumson-Fair Haven John Lista, Jr., LB, Rumson-Fair Haven Jahdir Loftland, Sr., RB, Donovan Catholic Delano Marcelus, Sr., DL, Colts Neck Tyler Madeo, Sr., DB, Toms River South Najier Massey, Sr., RB, Asbury Park Jamie Mazzacco, Jr., LB, Shore T.J. McArthur, Sr., RB/LB, Brick Memorial Brandon McCormack, Sr., DL, Matawan Caron McNair, Jr., OL, Donovan Catholic Dante Moore, Sr., OL, Asbury Park Yassin Moore, Sr., DB, Monmouth Kingborn Morris, Jr., DL, Manchester Darian Newcomb, Jr., OL/DL, Brick Robert Pendergist, Jr., DB, Manasquan Nick Povia, Sr., OL, Lacey Josh Ramos, Sr., OL, Point Beach Blake Rezk, Jr., TE/DL, Wall Matt Rua, Sr., OL, Central Tommy Schork, Jr., QB/DB, Middletown South Matt Scully, Sr., DB, Colts Neck Quentin Soler, Sr., DB, Middletown North Travis Squire, Sr., LB, Toms River South Scott Stevens, Jr., FB/LB, Lacey Nick Sura, Sr., DB, Central Anthony Swearine, Sr., DL, Asbury Park Joe Teresi, Sr., DL, Ocean DJ Thomson, Jr., WR, Keyport Nick Totten, Sr., DB, Toms River East Nick Tuzzolino, Sr., DB, Point Boro Levi Wilkins, Jr., DL, Donovan Catholic Eddie Van Woudenberg, Sr., OL, Wall Charlie Vitale, Jr., QB, Point Boro Julian Young, Sr., LB, St. John Vianney

KevinWILLIAMS S h o r e S p o r t s N e t w o r k Director kevin.williams@townsquaremedia.com

SteveMEYER Shore Sports Network Director High School Division steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com 7 3 2 - 2 3 3 - 4 4 6 0

Managing Editor BobBadders // bob.badders@townsquaremedia.com

Senior Content Provider

Join Us thursday nights on shoresportsnetwork.com The only weekly online show that covers Ocean and Monmouth County High School Football

MattManley // Mmanley21@gmail.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

Award-winning broadcasters Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca and Bob Badders cover the entire Shore Conference from Matawan to Pinelands. Broadcast live each week the show features players, coaches and a preview of upcoming games.

2020 Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football Team

hore Sports Network is proud to present its fourth annual Shore Conference Preseason All-Shore Football team, featuring our compilation of the top returning players in the Shore Conference.

Offense

QB – JAKE KAZANOWSKY, SR., TR NORTH The 2019 Shore Sports Network Offensive Player of the Year, Kazanowsky threw for 2,144 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Shore in both categories. He piloted a Toms River North offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game as the Mariners went 9-2, won the American Division championship, reached the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group 5 state playoffs and finished No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was also selected as the American Division Offensive Player of the Year. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

RB – WILL TOWNS, SR., JACKSON MEMORIAL After sharing the backfield as a sophomore Towns took over as the Jaguars starting running back last season and literally ran with it, rushing for 1,372 yards and 12 touchdowns to finish third in the Shore Conference in rushing. He had six 100-yard games, including a career-high 242 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Brick and 232 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Freehold. Towns’ play helped Jackson go 8-3, reach the Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional final and finish No. 4 in the SSN Top 10. His recruiting ramped up as the season progressed and during the offseason, he committed to Wake Forest. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

RB – CASEY LARKIN, SR., WALL Larkin was an indispensable player for Wall and did a little bit of everything to lead the way in a historic season. Larkin ran for 1,038 yards and 12 touchdowns on an average of 6.5 yards per carry and posted a team-leading 19 receptions for 388 yards and three touchdowns. As a defensive back, Larkin made 41 tackles with three interceptions and pick-6. He was sorely missed in a Group 3 Regional Championship loss to Woodrow Wilson after suffering a concussion against Manasquan on Thanksgiving. Larkin’s play was a major reason why Wall set a school record with 12 wins and only one defeat, won the Colonial Division championship, captured the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finished No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. Larkin was also selected as the Colonial Division co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Logan Peters. He recently committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point (Army). He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

RB – JAIDEN BROWN, JR., SOUTHERN A battering ram in the backfield, Brown ran for 1,242 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven 100-yard games to jolt Southern’s offense as the Rams went 7-3 and captured the Constitution Division title. He also had three interceptions on defense as a linebacker. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.

WR – JAYON FARRAR, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC Playing at Long Branch last season, Farrar led the Shore Conference in receptions with 52 and totaled 601 yards and three touchdowns to cap a superb junior season. His signature game came in a win over Middletown South where he caught seven passes for 146 yards. He had four catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns against Toms River North and had 11 catches in a game against Middletown North. Farrar also threw a touchdown pass, had two interceptions on defense and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

WR – ZACH GOODALE, SR., TR NORTH A big-play machine who recently committed to Rutgers, Goodale averaged 28 yards per receptions with 21 catches for 587 yards and seven touchdowns, which tied for the most in the Shore, for an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game. His played helped Toms River North go 9-2, win the American Division title, reach the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

WR – ZAC BROWNE, SR., TR NORTH Part of a deep group of receivers for the Mariners, Browne caught 34 passes for 542 yards and five touchdowns for an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and 350 yards per game. His play helped the Mariners go 9-2, win the American Division championship, reach the Central Jersey Group 5 semifinals and finish No. 2 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

TE – TYLER OCHOJSKI, JR., FREEHOLD A dynamic two-way player for the Colonials, Ochojski caught 23 passes for 324 yards and 4 touchdowns and also had a great year on defense with 67 tackles, 11.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He was a second-team AllShore selection last year.

OL – GRANT PUHARIC, SR., WALL The top lineman for the No. 1 team in the Shore in 2019, Puharic led a stout unit in the trenches as Wall ran for 2,363 yards and 30 touchdowns and threw for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Crimson Knights were eighth in the Shore in scoring, averaging 26.6 points per game. Puharic was also a starter for a stingy Wall defense and recorded 45 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. His play helped Wall set a school record with a 12-1 record as the Knights won the Colonial Division title and the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional championship. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

OL – CAM MCNAIR, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC McNair is an imposing figure up front with his 6-foot-5, 325-pound frame and his skills paved the way for Donovan Catholic’s explosive offense to lead the Shore Conference at 36.2 points per game in 2019. McNair’s blocking was a major reason the Griffins ran for 2,908 yards and 44 touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards per attempt and 264 yards per game. The Griffins also averaged 356 yards per game. Donovan had one of the best seasons in program history with a 9-2 record, the Liberty Division championship, a trip to the Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals and the No. 8 ranking in the final SSN Top 10. McNair holds FBS scholarship offers from Buffalo, West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

OL – JAMES SMITH, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN The latest standout offensive lineman for Rumson, Smith led the way up front for a Bulldogs team that reached the Central Jersey Group 3 final for the seventh straight season. His blocking led a line comprised of five first-year starters as Rumson ran for 1,222 yards and 14 touchdowns and threw for 1,191 yard and 11 touchdowns against a grueling schedule. Rumson finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

DEFENSE

LB – YUSUF AHMED, SR., TOMS RIVER EAST

DL – JAKE LOURO, SR., RED BANK CATHOLIC

Ahmed recorded a team-high 90 tackles with eight tackles for loss, one sack and one forced fumble and also ran for 510 yards and six touchdowns to help the

Louro had a breakout season to help Red Bank Catholic remain one of the best defensive teams in the Shore Conference, posting four sacks and 24 tackles for loss with 57 total stops from his defensive tackle position. RBC allowed just 12.9 points per game with one shutout and held five of its nine opponents to 10 points or less. Louro’s play helped the Caseys finish No. 7 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

DL – DOMINICK GIUDICE, SR., MATER DEI PREP After a solid sophomore season, Giudice had a breakout year to blossom into a dominating edge rusher. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound University of Michigan recruit racked up 19 sacks, the most in the Shore Conference, to go along with 14 tackles for loss, 44 total tackles and 26 quarterback pressures for a Mater Dei defense that was fifth in the Shore allowing just 11.3 points per game while recording four shutouts. One of his best games of the season came in the NonPublic Group 3 state final when he recorded three sacks in a loss to DePaul. His play helped the Seraphs reach their fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

DL – VON FACTOR, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN A disruptive player along Rumson’s defensive line, Factor made 79 tackles with 3 sacks and 9 tackles for loss to help the Bulldogs reach their seventh straight state sectional championship game and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.

OL – RAKIM COOPER, SR., OL, MATER DEI PREP A two-way standout in the trenches for the Seraphs, the 6-foot-4, 280-pound Cooper helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 28.7 points per game and had a potent rushing offense in 2019. His blocking paved the way for the Seraphs to rush for 2,757 yards and 31 touchdowns on an average of 8.5 yards per carry and 230 yards per game. His play helped the Seraphs reach a fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. Cooper became the latest FBS recruit for Mater Dei when he committed to Temple in June.

DL – IMEER JOHNSON, SR., CENTRAL

OL – BRIAN BYRNE, JR., OL, WALL

The sophomore defensive end was one of the top sack artists in the Shore with 13.5 sacks to go along with 70 tackles as the Bulldogs reached their seventh consecutive sectional final and finished No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a thirdteam All-Shore selection last year.

Byrne has been starting since his freshman year and last season helped anchor the Crimson Knights’ offensive line as the team’s center. His play helped the Shore’s top-ranked team rush for 2,363 yards and 30 touchdowns and pass for 1,311 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Crimson Knights were eighth in the Shore in scoring, averaging 26.6 points per game. The play of the offensive line was a major reason Wall set a school record with a 12-1 record as the Knights won the Colonial Division title and the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional championship.

UT – LOGAN PETERS, SR., WALL A great two-way player for the No. 1 Crimson Knights, Peters was one of the top quarterbacks in the Shore Conference and also a standout defensive back. He threw for 1,301 yards on 62 percent passing with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also ran for 630 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a safety, Peters made 43 tackles with a team-leading four interceptions, including a memorable game-clinching interception when Wall took down Mater Dei Prep, 14-7, to take over the top spot in the Shore. Peters was an integral contributor to a Wall team that set a school record for wins (12-1), claimed the Colonial Division title and won the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title. Peters was also the Colonial Division co-Offensive Player of the Year with teammate Casey Larkin. Also a lacrosse star, Peters is committed to Rutgers University for lacrosse. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

UT – NARAN BUNTIN, SR., MATER DEI PREP A home run threat on a Seraphs team loaded with playmakers, Buntin caught 19 passes for 320 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 209 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 7 carries to average 30 yards per carry. His played helped Mater Dei reach its fourth straight state final and finish No. 3 in the SSN Top 10. Buntin is committed to Kent State University.

K – VINCENZO REA, SR., MANALAPAN Rea tied for the Shore Conference lead with six field goals and also tied for the longest kick with a 43-yard field goal. He also converted 22 of 24 extra points and was 6-for-8 on field goals. He added 13 touchbacks on kickoffs and as a punter dropped seven punts inside the 20-yard line. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019

Johnson was a defensive force for the Golden Eagles with 49 tackles, 8 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced fumbles, 1 safety and 3 defensive touchdowns. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.

DL – AIDEN MORIARTY, JR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN

LB – CHARLIE SASSO, JR., WALL Sasso had the rare distinction of starting as a freshman and there was certainly no sophomore slump for the standout inside linebacker. Sasso was a complete all-around linebacker who could play the run and pass and also rush the quarterback. He was fifth in the Shore with 127 tackles, 73 of which were solo stops, along with 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble. Wall’s defense was second in the Shore allowing just 9.5 points per game with one shutout and his play helped the Crimson Knights go 12-1 with a school record for wins, claim the Colonial Division title, win the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finish No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team AllShore selection in 2019.

Raiders to their best season in a decade. Toms River East went 9-2, won the Freedom Division championship and reached the Central Jersey Group 4 semifinals. Ahmed, who is committed to FCS program Davidson College, was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.

LB – DOMINICK NOCERO, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC A standout linebacker for the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore (8.7 ppg), Nocero made 78 tackles with 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. He also had a punt return for a touchdown. His play helped the Griffins go 9-2, win the Liberty Division title, reach the Non-Public Group 3 semifinals and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.

DB – RYAN RUANE, SR., RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN A rangy safety who played well against both the run and pass, Ruane totaled 93 tackles and intercepted four passes for a Rumson defense that was 11th in the Shore allowing 15.6 points per game. He had 13 tackles and an interception against Middletown South and posted seven tackles, one interception and one sack against Toms River North. His play helped Rumson reach a seventh consecutive state sectional final and finish No. 5 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team All-Shore selection in 2019.

DB – NICK FERROGINE, SR., RED BANK Ferrogine made 68 tackles with 5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovery and 1 blocked punt for the Bucs. He also caught 16 passes for 275 yards and two touchdowns. He was a second-team AllShore selection last year.

DB – WALLY DOMAN, SR., JACKSON MEMORIAL Doman recorded 103 tackles with 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 10 pass breakups, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble to help the Jaguars to 8-3 and reach the Central Jersey Group 4 championship game. He was a first-team All-Division selection in the Colonial Division and a third-team All-Shore selection last year.

DB – MIKAI BROWN-JONES, SR., ASBURY PARK Brown-Jones was second in the Shore in receiving with 29 catches for 624 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 21.5 yards per catch. He also had one touchdown run. On defense, Brown-Jones had two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year

UT – ANTHONY BORRIELLO, SR., RED BANK CATHOLIC Borriello pulled down a team-high four interceptions and added 51 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. He also split time at quarterback, rushing for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns and throwing for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. He was a third-team All-Shore selection last year.

LB – QUAMIRE GREEN, SR., DONOVAN CATHOLIC

UT – AKHI BARKSDALE, SR., BRICK MEMORIAL

The leader of the No. 1 scoring defense in the Shore in 2019, Green’s third year as a starting inside linebacker saw him make a team-high 102 tackles along with 4 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Donovan allowed a conference-low 96 points in 11 games, an average of just 8.7 per game, with six shutouts. Green’s play helped the Griffins go 92, win the Liberty Division title, reach the Non-Public Group 3 state semifinals and finish No. 8 in the SSN Top 10. He was a first-team AllShore selection in 2019.

Barksdale had a great all-around season as the Mustangs’ top offensive weapon with 542 yards rushing and 8 touchdowns on an incredible 13.4 yards per carry, plus 28 receptions for 342 yards and one touchdown. He added three pass breakups, an interception, a sack and a defensive touchdown. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.

LB – COLIN RILEY, JR., WALL After seeing time as a freshman, Riley flourished in his first full year as a starter as one of the best edge rushers in the Shore. He was seventh in the Shore with 11 sacks to go along with 69 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble. Wall was second in the Shore in scoring defense at 9.5 points per game with one shutout in a special season where it went 12-1, won the Colonial Division title, claimed the Central Jersey Group 3 state sectional title and finished No. 1 in the SSN Top 10. He was a second-team All-Shore selection last year.

P – CADE TORRES, SR., SHORE Torres converted 22 of 27 extra points and connected on four field goals with a long for 40 yards. He also averaged 35 yards per punt with a long of 50 and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Torres was the All-Division kicker in the Patriot Division and a third-team AllShore selection last year.

frank edgerly

Nick Famularo Asbury Park

A graduate of Asbury Park High School and was

first-time head coach, Famularo is a 2013

hired as the Blue Bishops head coach in July to replace Tim Fosque, who was not rehired. Famularo was a football player and a wrestler at Asbury Park before playing collegiately at South Carolina State and Delaware State.

dom lepore manalapan

epore had been Manalapan’s defensive coordinator

L since 2016 and on staff since 2013 and is the former head coach at Freehold Township. He succeeds Ed Gurrieri, who resigned on June 2 after 23 years at Manalapan, including 13 as the head coach. Lepore was the head coach at Freehold Township from 2000 to 2009 and accumulated a 36-64 record. In 2001 he led the Patriots to a 7-3 record, which at the time was the school record for wins in a season, and the program’s first appearance in the state playoffs. Freehold Township has had just six winning seasons in its 48-year history and Lepore was at the helm for two of them. He was also Neptune’s defensive coordinator when the Scarlet Fliers won the Central Jersey Group 3 title in 2011 and reached the final in 2012.

jarrett pidgeon

howell

Central regional

A was the head coach at Red Bank Catholic for two

idgeon had been an assistant coach at Central for the past six seasons, including serving as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator since 2016. He is a 2009 graduate of Southern Regional High School where he was a standout linebacker, helping the Rams go 10-2 and reach the program’s first sectional championship game in 2008. Pidgeon then attended Bloomsburg University where he was a captain and a three-year starter for the Huskies.

well-known name in the Shore Conference, Edgerly

different stints totaling 14 seasons. He set the foundation on which RBC would become a Shore Conference powerhouse and amassed an 85-54 career record that included five division titles and one state title when the Caseys went 100 and won the Non-Public Group 3 title in 2018. In between his periods at RBC, Edgerly was a pro scout with the New England Patriots and an assistant coach with the Cleveland Browns. He is a 1990 graduate of Red Bank Catholic where as a senior in 1989 he quarterbacked the Caseys to their first division title. He went on to play at Rutgers.

Shane Fallon Neptune

brian wilkinson

manchester

he former head coach at Rumson-Fair Haven and most recently the athletic director at Holmdel, Fallon built Rumson into the football powerhouse it is today when he coached the Bulldogs from 1998-2012. During his tenure at Rumson, Fallon went 106-51 with four division titles and the program’s first state sectional title, which came in 2010. After going 4-6 in his second season in 1999, his teams finished with a winning record the next 12 seasons. Fallon is a 1990 Rumson-Fair Haven graduate where he quarterbacked the Bulldogs from 1987 to 1989, including leading the team to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 2 final in 1989.

W South

ilkinson is the former head coach at Toms River and Pinelands and has been on Manchester’s staff for the last three seasons, including as the Hawks’ defensive coordinator the past two years. He compiled a 35-36 record in seven seasons at Toms River South from 2001-2007 and led the Indians to the Constitution Division title in 2002. In his four years at Pinelands he helped the Wildcats snap a 21-game losing streak that included consecutive winless seasons prior to his arrival. Pinelands went 4-6 in his fourth and final season in 2016.

mike Lange Red Bank Catholic

L the past two seasons and was the defensive line

ange was Red Bank Catholic’s defensive coordinator

coach in 2017. He played tight end and linebacker at Bishop Ahr High School in Edison, which is now known as St. Thomas Aquinas High School, before playing collegiately at Marshall University. He was an assistant at Bishop Ahr from 2000-2010 where he served as defensive coordinator and later offensive coordinator. He then coached at since-closed Cardinal McCarrick High School in South Amboy, including as the head coach during the final season in 2014.

mike alberque st. john vianney

A John Vianney, was the passing game coordinator

lberque, who is also the athletic director at St.

and quarterbacks coach for the last two seasons under former head coach Joe Martucci. He has significant experience as a head coach having previously coached at Fair Lawn High School from 1985-2001 with 14 years as the head coach. He was then the head coach at Ridgefield Park from 2001 through 2012. From 2012 to 2018, Alberque was an assistant at Castleton University.

Baby

Blue

Bishops

lJai’Sun Brown running the offense in his first fall as a high-school student.

ast year, Asbury Park had the youngest starting quarterback in the Shore Conference, with freshman

Head

Coach:

NICK FAMULARO 1st season Career

Record:

Assistant

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

0-0

Coaches:

Matt Ardizzone, Barry Baity, Isaias Calderon, Lamar Davenport, Lamar Davenport, Keith Killea, Gary Salerno, Matthew Voskian, Rob Ward, Kyle Weedon, William Wells, Islam Joshua, Nancy Saphow (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-4 2016: 8-4

2018: 4-6 2015: 6-4

2017: 6-4

(L-R) NA’JIER MASSEY, MIKAI JONES, JAI’SUN BROWN, KNASIR ALSTON & NAHEEM CROOMS, O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

4-3

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Josh Handy, Jr., LT/DT Two-way lineman Haleem Stephens was one of the few seniors to start on last year’s Asbury Park team and Handy is taking over the open left tackle spot on offense while plugging in at defensive tackle on defense. Having three returning seniors in Chathuant, Moore and Crooms on the line with him will definitely take the pressure off and is Handy and sophomore center Elijah Drake get settled in quickly, Asbury Park’s line should be a force again.

X -FACTOR:

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 9

Sat. Oct. 17

manasquan 1:00 pm

Pt. beach 6:00 pm

keansburg Noon

Fri. Oct. 23

fri. Oct. 30

sat. Nov. 7

bye

vs.

Shore 7:00 pm

neptune 10:00 am

Jai’Sun Brown, So., QB Brown is both an established varsity quarterback and an unfinished product after showing promise as a freshman. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes (64-for-126) for 1,110 years with 10 touchdowns against six interceptions – all encouraging numbers for a rare freshman quarterback. The developmental progression is not always a straight line, so there is no guarantee the numbers will be better this year, but if Brown grows as a leader and competes on both sides of the ball, Famularo and the coaching staff will be happy. “Coaches from other teams watch him and they are surprised to find out he’s only a sophomore this year,” Famularo said. “He has a great handle on the offense for such a young player and he is starting to become the kid of leader we want our quarterback to be. We have a lot of confidence in Jai’Sun.”

This year, the Blue Bishops will pair their young quarterback with the youngest head coach in the Shore Conference. Nick Famularo is just eight years removed from his last high-school football season and nine removed from winning a Central Jersey Group I championship with the Blue Bishops. The 25-year-old alumnus is hoping to keep Asbury Park playing for postseason wins, develop a young core led by Brown, set up his players to reach the next level and establish a reputation as a disciplined, well-oiled machine of a football program at Asbury Park. “I’m all about changing the culture so we have one of the most disciplined teams on the field and in the classroom,” Famularo said. “I want us to change the narrative at Asbury Park

and give our kids a change to go to college and compete at the next level.” With its team full of young skill players, Asbury Park showed flashes of a championship-caliber team while also hitting a few bumps along the way. With a more seasoned group on both sides of the ball and a new coaching staff, the Bishops are hoping for more consistency that comes with more experience. “The kids are locked in,” Famularo said. “It’s a young group but they are learning how to be leaders and how to come out and work every day.”

Player to Watch:

Mikai Jones, Sr., WR/SS Jones has been an impact player for the Blue Bishops since his freshman season and put up the stats to match as a junior. With a freshman quarterback targeting him, Jones hauled in 29 receptions for 624 yards and five touchdowns – the second-highest receiving yardage total in the Shore Conference during the 2019 season. Jones is also in line to reclaim his starting strong safety spot and lead a promising secondary. “He’s a leader and a captain of this squad,” Famularo said. “He has

SO. QB JAI’SUN BROWN

always been a really talented player and now, me and the rest of the coaches, we have been telling him it’s time to take that next step and be a leader for these young guys. He’s a great route-runner, he looks great physically and now he is ready to show his leadership.”

Players Under the Radar: Jarred Chathuant (Sr., LG/DT) and Donte Moore (Sr., RT/DE) Asbury Park’s offensive and defensive lines have been a strong suit of the team and the linemen have been unsung heroes within the roster during the championship seasons of the last 15 years. With three starters back on the line for 2020, Asbury Park should again thrive in the trenches and Chathuant and Donte Moore are the enforcers on either side on offense. On defense, Moore can set the edge and get after the passer while Chathuant plugs up the middle. “We have a few seniors back on the line and they are learning some new things,” Famularo said. “Those guys are experienced players and we got a guy like Donte Moore who is a big, strong kid and a good leader for those guys.”

Top Position Group: Skill Players While Asbury Park is excited about Ja’Sun Brown making plays through the air to Jones, Brown and Corey Thermitus, the Bishops are also looking forward to him handing it off to some quality running backs.

Na’Jier Massey and Knasir Alston are proven ballcarriers who can also block, while Jashawn Carter is an exciting sophomore who could work his way into a significant share of carries. A Brown-Carter backfield could be in the works for 2020 and appears to be on tap for the next two years. “We’re excited about having guys like Massey, Alston and Jashawn Carter to give the ball to,” Famularo said. “They are all good athletes but their all a little bit different.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Lydell Brown, Jr., WR/CB

There will be no shortage of targets for Brown in the passing game and Brown is one of the emerging players in the group of receivers and backs. The junior is poised to see the field in sets with three receivers or more and could even find himself No. 2 on the depth chart, while also holding down one of the two cornerback positions on defense. “Lydell is a very good athlete who was on the team as a sophomore last year but he is really ready to step up as a receiver and in the secondary,” Famularo said. “We have a lot of guys who are good athletes who put a lot of work in and are still working hard to get better and Lydell is definitely one of the

Projected Offensive Starters:

LG:

JARRED CHATHAUNT, SR., RS

OLB:

KNASIR ALSTON, JR. RS

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

ELIJAH DRAKE, SO.

MLB:

EMON MORALES, SR.

QB:

JAI’SUN BROWN, SO. RS

RG:

NAHEEM CROOMS, SR., RS

OLB:

EXAVIER CHATHUANT, JR.

RB:

NA’JIER MASSEY, SR. RS; JASHAWN CARTER, SO.

RT:

DONTE MOORE, SR. RS

CB:

LYDELL BROWN, JR.

CB:

COREY THERMITUS, SR.

SS:

MIKAI JONES, SR. RS

FS:

JAI’SUN BROWN, SO.

FB/TE: KNASIR ALSTON, JR., RS

Projected Defensive Starters:

WR:

MIKAI JONES, SR. RS

DE:

DONTE MOORE, SR. RS

WR:

LYDELL BROWN, JR.

DT:

JARRED CHATHUANT, SR., RS

WR:

COREY THERMITUS, SR. RS

DT:

JOSH HANDY, JR.

LT:

JOSH HANDY, JR.

DE:

NAHEEM CROOMS, SR. RS

JR. FB/TE: KNASIR ALSTON

Fountain Of Youth Iis poised for another roaring performance on the football field on a team comprised of 13 seniors,

f 2019 was building from the ground up, then this seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s version of the Colts Neck Cougars

Head

Coach:

MATT AHEARN 3rd season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 11-9 Assistant

21 juniors and 23 sophomores leading the way.

Vin Ebenau

ssn contributor

vets" in 2020 like 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior quarterback Tommy Fallon who underwent a baptism-by-fire in starting seven varsity games as a freshman before taking the job outright last season.

Coaches:

Jim Portela (Defensive Coordinator/QB/DB); Dom Pollifrone (Special Teams Coordinator/OL/DL); Bill Hill Jr. (WR/DB); Ryan Byrne (RB/LB); Doug Zockoll (TE/DE); Dylan Hroncich (RB/LB); Ryan Schoer (OL/DL); (Freshmen); Tom Bonham; Joe Conaghan; Dan Drashinsky; Adam Mintz. Eric Nussbaum (Athletic Trainer)

"Tommy just has to keep improving on his reads, the passing game and the run game and getting us in the right calls and lined up," Ahearn said. "He's also gained some weight and with that comes the arm strength. He's also getting more mature and that's helping out. This year, he's growing in confidence and the team is very confident in him as their leader."

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 8-2 2016: 4-6

By:

2018: 3-7 2017: 2-8 2015: 2-8

Player to Watch: (L-R) MATT SCULLY(5), CHRIS MONTEFUSCO (81), TOMMY FALLON (12), DELANO MARCELUS (85)

O ffense:

Multiple-I

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Joe Barsky, Sr., RB, John Manos, Jr., RB, and Jake Lupo, Sr., RB Romeo Thomas set the bar high running the ball for the Cougars, piling up 2,242 rushing yards between his junior and senior seasons along with 27 touchdowns. Barsky, Manos and Lupo will split most of the time at running back this season Ahearn said and they will have to form a triumphant trio to make up for the offense that Thomas left behind when he graduated. For the Cougars to be successful they need the running game to be top-notch.

X -FACTOR:

Executing plays The Cougars vastly improved on both sides of the ball last season by scoring 270 points and giving up 111 compared to the 2018 campaign when they scored 149 points and gave up 249. They return a ton of talent this season including Fallon, Volpe and Scully, and in order for the team to have success in a shortened season, they will need to execute each play on offense and defense like a surgeon with a knife, it can't be wasted and it has to be done correctly.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Will Surdez, So., WR/LB There's been a good crop of talent coming up from the freshmen team the last couple seasons and those players have made immediate impacts on the varsity level as sophomores (or in the case of Tommy Fallon as an actual freshman). WSurdez is one of the players Ahearn is looking to make some plays in a deep wide receiver core as well as making big stops on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker.

"We have a good young nucleus that we're excited about," head coach Matt Ahearn tells the Shore Sports Network.

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 10

vs.

Marlboro Noon

Freehold Noon

Sat. Oct. 17 vs.

Howell Noon

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

Sa Nov. 7

Frrhold Twp.

Manalapan

Monmouth

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

Noon

vs.

Ahearn saw a quick turnaround from his first to the second season going from 3-7 in 2018 to 8-2 in 2019, yet they still didn't reach their goal of making the playoffs or winning the division, in which they trailed Neptune (2nd) and Toms River East (1st). "The seniors have done a great job so far of reminding these younger guys who thought that they did something last year that 'yea, we won 8 games but we didn't finish in the top two in our division, we didn't make the playoffs and these are all goals that they set as a team and individually and we didn't do any of that," Ahearn said. "Even though we did things last year, we didn't do what we wanted to do." The Cougars only lost seven seniors to graduation last year and Ahearn is counting on the "young pups who became seasoned

Tommy Fallon, Jr., QB Fallon is the trusted leader of the Cougars offensive attack both by his teammates and his coach, who is counting on his continued growth and maturity calling plays on the field. Fallon put on 25 pounds in the offseason and Ahearn said the arm strength has picked up on the junior quarterback, who led a team that scored 270 points last season. In a short season, if Fallon finishes developing, the Cougars will have an even more lethal attack on offense and could be a threat come playoff time.

Player Under the Radar: Matt Scully, Sr., WR/DB/QB Scully is Mr. Versatility for the Cougars as he possesses the skills and abilities for Ahearn to put him in different positions depending on the plays being run on offense. "He's our do-it-all guy, the jack of all trades," Ahearn said. "He'll play a little quarterback, a little running back, a little slot receiver for us, so he's going to be doing a lot of stuff for us on offense as well as defense."

Top Position Group: The offensive line For a young team that quickly improved last season, Colts Neck retur ns 34 players, including several key offensive linemen. The g roup is led by retur ning starters Dan Volpe (junior left tackle, 6-5, 290), Matt Jannucci (junior center, 6-1,

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB: TOMMY FALLON, JR., 3RS RB: JOE BARSKY, SR.; JOHN MANOS, JR.; JAKE LUPO, SR., RS AT FULLBACK WR: MATT SCULLY, SR., RS; CADE CHREBET, JR., RS; NICK VILLANI, SR., 3RS TE: CHRIS MONTEFUSCO, SR., RS LT: DAN VOLPE, JR., RS LG: NICK CATENA, SR. C: MATT JANNUCCI, JR., RS RG: LOGAN LUPO, SR., 3RS RT: RYAN WHALEN, JR., RS

270), Logan Lupo (senior right guard, 6-1, 225) and Ryan Whalen (junior right tackle 604, 280) and adds senior Nick Cetena at left guard. "We have some guys that got a lot of experience last year," Coach Ahear n said. "We're really excited about those guys gelling and meshing this season."

OLB: JOE BARSKY, SR., RS; ALSO WILL SURDEZ, SO. CB: NICK VILLANI, SR./MATT CELLI SO. CB: JOHN RUNFOLO, JR. SS: TOMMY FALLON, JR., RS FS: MATT SCULLY SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: CHRISTIAN MONTEFORTE, JR., RS; ALSO MATT BELLONIO, JR. P: TOMMY FALLON, JR., 3RS LONG SNAPPER: LOUIE GUERRA, SO.

Projected Defensive Starters:

JR. QB TOMMY FALLON

DE: DELANO MARCELUS, SR., RS DT: MIKE SPINELLI, SR. DT: JESSE LUGO, SR. DE: CHRIS MONTEFUSCO, SR., RS OLB: JOHN MANOS, JR., RS MLB: ANTHONY BONANNO, JR., RS

SR. DE DELANO MARCELUS

Adapt and Thrive T explosive offensive teams of the last decade, but with the schedule the Colonials

he Freehold Boro football team did not have the personnel to match some of their

Head

Coach:

DAVE ELLIS, 10TH season Career

Record:

Assistant

played, they still got treated as though they did.

42-49

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

Players to Watch: Sha’kim Shuler, Sr., QB/CB and Yahsin Calhoun (Sr., RB/FS) (108 tackles)

Coaches:

Not only are Shuler and Calhoun important two-way players, but Shuler is Freehold’s most productive returning offensive player and Calhoun its top defender. Shuler led the Colonials in rushing with 687 yards and 11 touchdowns as well as passing with 926 passing yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. In addition to catching 26 passes for 348 yards and four touchdowns, Calhoun also finished eighth at the Shore with 108 tackles from his safety position. Both players also offer versatility, with Calhoun able to play running back and receiving and Shuler capable of running the offense at quarterback or starring at receiver or running back. “(Shuler) is a hard-working and a great athlete,” Ellis said. “He’s come along really nicely over the last year or so and he has really gotten better at throwing the ball to give him that extra dimension to go with his legs. He has also really embraced being a leader now that he’s a senior. At the end of the day, Sha is just a gamer.”

Mike D’Antonio (WR/OLB), Jason Blum (OL), Zac Cooper (DL), Jeremy Mercer (TE/LB), Matt Whalen (RB/LB), John Kinzel (OL/DL), Nick Tyson (QB/DB), Mike Stoia (Freshmen), Nick Rice (Freshmen), Jim Lee (Freshmen) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 2-7 2018: 5-4 2017: 8-4 2016: 6-5 2015: 6-4

( L - R ) Y A H S I N C A L H O U N , T Y L E R O C H O J S K I , N I C K H A L L , M A T T G R A D Y & S H A ’K I M S H U L E R

Player Under the Radar: Tyler Ochojski Jr., (TE/OLB) (67 tackles)

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

3-3 Stack

__________________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL: Nick Hall, Sr., C/NT Hall is a returning starter, so he is not replacing a player, but he will take over as the de facto captain of the offensive line with the graduation of Jake Larsen. Last year, Larsen was the lone returnee on the line so Hall will be leading a more seasoned group. He will also anchor Freehold Boro’s three-man front as the nose tackle. “Having Nick Hall back is huge,” Ellis said. “We’re still figuring out how we’re going to look up front, but anytime you bring back an experienced senior who plays center, that’s a great start. He is also going to be big for us on the defensive line, so that’s a bonus.”

X -FACTOR:

Versatility

There are plenty of teams with depth at receiver and running back but few are able to mix and match their skill players at different positions. Shuler proved he could throw the ball last season and the Colonials also have senior Jason Lee, who can also play both quarterback and receiver. Sophomore Chris Lang has also shown promise at quarterback and if he proves ready, Freehold could feature an offense with Shuler, Calhoun and Lee all running routes at the same time. “They all bring different things to the table,” Ellis said of the quarterback competition. “It will be interesting to see who rises to the top heading into the opener. It’s not so much about who puts up the best numbers but the guy who gets the most out of everybody else. That’s the guy we’re going to go with.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Mike Incremona, So., LT Freehold spent much of 2019 working in younger players into the varsity rotation so the need for new talent isn’t as pressing this season. The most notable position on the depth chart with an underclass occupant is left tackle, where Incremona is making a bid to take over as the starter. Junior Matt Verardi is also looking to become a newcomer to the starting lineup and would start at guard with Incremona on the left side of the line. “The offensive line has been a work in progress since I got here,” Ellis said. “We’ve never been a particularly big team up front, so it’s never been a group that is going to overpower the opposing line and dominate the game. It’s always about finding the right five guys and for the most part, the guys we have had on the offensive line have been tough, smart players who understand what we’re asking them to do.”

Sat. Oct. 3

Sat. Oct. 9

vs.

Manalapan

Colts neck Noon

Marlboro Noon

Noon

Fri. Oct. 23 @

Howell 6:30 pm

Sat. Oct. 31

Sat. Oct. 17

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Freeholld Twp. Noon

Midd. North 7:00 pm

With a young, inexperienced collection of skill players and a makeshift offensive line, the Colonials scratched and clawed to get to a 2-7 record against one of the Shore Conference’s tougher schedules. While that mark does not meet the standard for a program that played in an NJSIAA sectional championship game just two years earlier, the rugged schedule sharpened the skills of the wave of players back on this year’s squad.

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB: SHA’KIM SHULER, SR. RS; JASON LEE, SR.; CHRIS LANG, SO. RB: YAHSIN CALHOUN, JR. RS; SHA’KIM SHULER, SR. WR: JASON LEE, SR. RS; CHRISTIAN DASILVA, JR., RS WR: KAYDEN HUTCHINSON, JR. RS; HECTOR RODRIGUEZ, JR. WR: KAMORE GILL, JR. RS; SIVAD DAVIS, JR. TE: TYLER OCHOJSKI, JR. RS LT: MIKE INCREMONA, SO.

“We’re a lot farther ahead this year than we were last year, even with all of the (COVID-19) protocols,” 10th-year coach Dave Ellis said. “Most of the guys are returning starters, so we’re not necessarily teaching the plays anymore as much as we’re practicing on just getting better at the things they are already familiar with. Also, being a year older, they are not going to be shocked physically by the practices or the physicality of the games.” Nominally speaking, there won’t be any “championships” for Freehold or any other team to aim for, but the Colonials will have a real chance to get back to a winning record thanks to both their more experienced roster and a much more forgiving schedule. The season opens with perennial Group V contender Manalapan, but gone from the slate are the likes of Wall, Mater Dei Prep, St. John Vianney, Brick, Jackson Memorial and Red Bank. The intrigue on Freehold’s roster is rooted in its versatility, with three players taking snaps at quarterback at the opening of camp and two of those players – seniors Sha’kim Shuler and Jason Lee – returning with experience at both quarterback and receiver. Throw in the usual mix of two-way talent and the Colonials certainly have some players to watch, which should add up to a team to watch.

LG: C: RG: RT:

MATT VERARDI, JR. NICK HALL, SR. RS DOM CANOZA, SR. RS J.J. JOHNSON, JR. RS

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: RAKIM HAIRSTON, SR. RS NT: NICK HALL, SR. RS; IAN STAPLES, JR. DE: ANDREW REIFF, JR. LB: TYLER OCHOJSKI, JR. RS MLB: MATT GRADY, SR. RS

Ochojski was a breakout player as a sophomore for the Colonials and might have been a more prominent name around the area had Freehold Boro had one of its typical, playoffworthy seasons. In his first year as a starter, Ochojski recorded 11 1/2 sacks – tied for fifth at the Shore – and was second on the team with 67 tackles. He is also a weapon on offense as a tight end and could find himself more involved in the passing game this season. “By the end of the year, Tyler Ochojski was a beast for us,” Ellis said. “Most of his sacks came in the last few games and over the last three or four games, he was averaging between 15 and 20 yards per catch. To see a sophomore do what he did at the end of the season is exciting when you think he’s still only a junior this year.”

Top Position Group: Skill-Positions The Colonials had to try new players in new positions last season and as a result, they return with a group of established talent in the backfield, out wide and at quarterback. Shuler and Calhoun are proven playmakers while Jason Lee is also a multidimensional offensive player who can take the reins at quarterback if moving Shuler away from the center proves a better option. Kamore Gill and Kayden Hutchinson are also threats at receiver and Ochojski gives Freehold a tight-end option as well.

LB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

NEIL SPIRA, SR.; RYAN GUDDEMI, SR. JOE HALL, JR. RS; NOAH EVANS, SR. SHA’KIM SHULER, SR. RS KAMORE GILL, JR. RS JASON LEE, SR. RS YAHSIN CALHOUN, JR. RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

KAYDEN HUTCHINSON, JR. TYLER OCHOJSKI, JR.

Fly

Again

Sbest stretch of football in program history. In 2016, they posted the program’s first winning season in 12 ince Cory Davies arrived at Freehold Township prior to the 2015 season, the Patriots have enjoyed their

Head

Coach:

CORY DAVIES, 6TH season (27th overall) Career

Record:

Assistant

years and the following season they secured the first playoff win in program history.

By:

121-140

Bob Badders managing editor

Coaches:

Ryan Davies (Offensive Coordinator/QB/DB); Matt Hardison (Defensive Coordinator/DL/OL); Todd Bitsko (WR/LB/JV); Vince Tesi (WR/DL/JV); Ed Von Nessen (WR/DB); Gene Blanco freshmen); Jesse Heubel (freshmen); Mike Verrochi (quality control); Rebekah Bernard (athletic trainer).

fri. Oct. 2

fri. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

vs.

howell 6:30 pm

marlboro 6:30 pm

manalapan 7:00 pm

Fri. Oct. 23

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 2-8 2018: 5-5 2017:8-3 2016: 7-3 2015: 4-6

O ffense:

Air Raid

D efense:

4-2-5

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Dylan Longo, Sr., ILB and Thomas Tocci, Sr., ILB Along with Longo and Tocci you can also add juniors Jaden Morales and Quincy Moore, who are all in the mix for the two standard linebacker spots. Last season, Freehold Township had Duke Young at inside linebacker, who was a first-team AllConstitution Division pick and led the team with 90 tackles.

X -FACTOR:

Offensive line Joe Dunleavy appears to have won the job at center and the rest of the position battles are becoming clearer, but rebuilding the offensive line remains the biggest task facing the Patriots. “We have about nine guys and we’re going to try to find five,” Davies said. “With that being said, if they can give us protection and Lorenzo can hit the open man, we’ll be okay.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Thomas Goodman, Sr., WR Goodman is a possession receiver who Davies likened to a Wes Welker-type of a player who can move the chains and pick up crucial catches. You can never have enough players like that, especially in the Air Raid.

MATT CARDONE, JOE DUNLEAVY, LORENZO CHIRICHELLA, MATT ARWAY & BRIAN SILVA The challenge, however, has been to sustain that success, and after a down-but-not-out 5-5 year in 2018, Freehold Township suffered a 2-8 campaign last season to finish fifth out of six teams in the Constitution Division. When Davies’ teams at Howell and Freehold Township have had success it has been with a relentless passing attack, and that starts with a standout quarterback. Fortunately for the Patriots, they return a three-year starter who they hope will have his breakout year just when it is needed the most. Senior Lorenzo Chirichella returns for his third season piloting Freehold Township’s high-octane Air Raid offense. Last season, he threw for 865 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions as the Patriots averaged just 12.3 points per game. Based on what Davies’ offense asks of the quarterback, those numbers need to go way up if Freehold Township is to get back into contention. “There’s a lot on Lorenzo and he’s a key guy in what we have going on,” Davies said. “Through the years, we’ve had our quarterbacks make a big jump going from their junior to senior year, so we hope that’s the same with him. He’s the pivotal guy and so far he looks like he’s making that adjustment.” The Air Raid offense will spread teams out with four- and five-receiver sets, so Freehold Township will have a plethora of wideouts taking the field. Senior Matt Cardone is a returning starter and will be

Projected Offensive Starters: ( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: LORENZO CHIRICHELLA, SR., 3RS RB: MATT ARWAY, SR., RS; DYLAN LONGO, SR.; JADEN MORALES, JR. WR: MATT CARDONE, SR., RS; ANTONIO WILLIS, SR.; GIACOMO CALAMITA, JR.; JOE ZAPPULLA, SR.; THOMAS GOODMAN, SR.; BRANDON KUSE, SR. LT: OMAR FRANCIS, JR., JOE JUAREZ, JR., OR ZACH KRIEG, JR. LG: HUNTER BERNSTEIN, JR.

joined by seniors Antonio Willis, Joe Zappulla, Thomas Goodman and Brandon Kuse and junior Giacomo Calamita. Senior Matt Arway returns as a starting running back and Davies’ offenses have traditionally utilized the backs a lot in the passing game. Senior Dylan Longo and junior Jaden Morales could also see time in the backfield. The offensive line is the question mark of the offense with several players working in so far. Freehold Township has four starters back in its 42-5 defense but has to replace three first-team alldivision players. Senior Brian Silva returns as a starting defensive end and junior Omar Francis is back at defensive tackle. Their experience should help offset the loss of standout lineman Jarrid Markowitz. The two inside linebackers will both be first-year starters as the Patriots try to fill the void left by Duke Young. The secondary and the outside linebackers comprise the third level of Freehold Township’s defense and two starters return from that group. Arway returns in the strong safety/outside linebacker hybrid position and Cardone is set to start at cornerback one again. In the defensive backfield, Freehold Township has to replace Brendan Doel, who was a three-year starter and the team’s most versatile player. The defenses on Davies’ teams at Howell and Freehold Township have never been elite, but they C: RG: RT:

JOE DUNLEAVY, SR.. SHAWN MESIA, JR. NASIR BURNS, SR. BRIAN SILVA, SR.; JOE JUAREZ, JR. OR ZACH KRIEG, JR. ALSO ANTONIO MARTINEZ, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT:

BRIAN SILVA, SR., RS OMAR FRANCIS, JR., RS MIKE CATALFUMO, SR. OR ZACH KRIEG, JR. OR ANTONIO MARTINEZ, SR. DE: JOE JUAREZ, JR. ILB: THOMAS TOCCI, SR.; JADEN MORALES, JR.

Sat. Oct. 31 @

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Colts Necko 6:30 pm

Freeholld Noon

lacey 6:30 pm

haven’t had to be. It starts and ends with the offense and the quarterback for Freehold Township, so if Chirichella can have a breakout year and harness the potential of the offense, the Patriots will be back in business.

Player to Watch:

Lorenzo Chirichella, Sr., QB Chrichella played in a handful of games as a sophomore and became the full-ﬂedged starter last season. He has enough experience leading the offense that a breakout year is expected. If that comes to fruition, the Patriots will be in good shape.

Player Under the Radar: Giacomo Calamita, Jr., WR The Patriots’ group of wide receivers is all seniors expect for Calamita, who has been impressive in the preseason and has the potential to become the team’s top wideout.

Top Position Group: Wide receivers The wideouts are a deep group that includes Matt Cardone, Antonio Willis, Giacomo Calamita, Joe Zappulla, Thomas Goodman and Brandon Kuse. The running backs, Matt Arway, Dylan Longo and Jaden Morales, ﬁgure to get plenty of targets, as well.

ILB: DYLAN LONGO, SR.; QUINCY MOORE, JR. SS/OLB: MATT ARWAY, SR., RS SS/OLB: JOE ZAPPULLA, SR. AND BRANDON KUSE, SR. CB: MATT CARDONE, SR., RS CB: MULTIPLE PLAYERS COMPETING FS: DEVIN OLESIN, JR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

MATT ARWAY, SR. AND ANDREW ACKERMAN, SR. LORENZO CHIRICHELLA, SR., RS OR MATT ARWAY, SR. OR ANDREW ACKERMAN, SR.

Continue the Surge

Jmuch shocked the Shore. Holmdel followed that up with a 6-4 season and a second straight trip to the

eff Rainess was the 2018 Shore Sports Network Coach of the Year following an 8-2 season which pretty

Head

Coach:

JEFF RAINESS, 5th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 22-18 Assistant

NJSIAA sectional semifinals, which gave Rainess and the Hornets a third straight winning season. That’s pretty significant when you consider prior to that the school had gone nine consecutive years without a winning season. So what has happened at Holmdel?

Coaches:

By:

Kevin Williams Ssn director

John Principe (Defensive Coordinator/LB); John Kaye (QB/RB); Drew Piscatelli (WR); Mike Dorsi (DL); Charlie Marsh (DB); Jeff Mahalik (OL/DB); Steve Leo (P/K); Matt Cooney (strength); Colin Hart & Scott Cannon (freshmen); Jeff Scenna (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 6-4 2016: 2-8

2018: 8-2 2015: 1-8

2017: 6-4

O ffense:

Triple option

D efense:

Multiple

(L-R) NICK IULO, KARIM TEHLIKIAN, JOE MANCINO, GARY ALAIMO, CHRISTIAN DUNNELLY & JOE HAMMER

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

fri. Oct. 16

Jaden Gallo, Jr., RB and AJ DeCicco, Sr., RB

raritan

Ocean

Red bank

7:00 pm

X -FACTOR:

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

fri. nov. 6

Christian Donnelly took over at the end of last season when three others got hurt and was the starter in two NJSIAA olayoff games. However, Jared Battaglia also saw action down the stretch and had a couple of big runs in the win over Red Bank after Donnelly was injured. The two are battling it out to see who will be the starter but both will likely see action in running the Hornets' triple-option attack.

st. john vianney

Matawan

marlboro

7:00 pm

The top three running backs from 2019 have all graduated, including All-Division selection Tommy Ammirati. Gallo and DeCicco both saw action last year and Rainess expects both to make a major impact this season, which will be needed and expected.

Quarterback play

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Gavin Raheb, Jr., DL/TE The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Raheb will help fill the void left by the graduated Quinn Pavlinetz, an All-Division selection last year. Raheb will start on defense and also see action as a blocking tight end.

vs.

“The success has come from the kids,” said Rainess, who begins his fifth year as head coach. “We knew the culture was the toughest part about this job and we were very honest with the kids (and the parents) at the beginning. There would be no shortcuts, you have to outwork the old culture and create a lunch pail culture, which not many thought was possible. Now kids know what is expected of them, there is continuity in the staff and system and that’s how we’ve been able to turn the tide.” So should we expect winning seasons year after year at Crawfords Corner Road? That would be unfair because what Rainess and his staff have done is fairly remarkable. Holmdel has not been blessed with superior athletes and loads of depth. It has built success with those lunch pail guys who fit into the program and style of play. The upside is that once kids get a taste of winning they don’t want to go back into the losing mentality, and after a few years of success that tends to motivate the next generation of players. Holmdel survived a tremendous rash of injuries to their skill players

last season thanks in large part to a solid offensive line which returns three starters and will likely be the largest in school history. Jaden Gallo and AJ DeCicco should get the bulk of the carries in the Hornets' triple-option attack but the big question remains who will be handing off to them. Christian Donnelly and Jared Battaglia both saw action last year out of necessity when Holmdel lost three quarterbacks to injury. While neither will likely throw a lot they do have experienced receivers in Tighe Steineke and Dylan Day. Stout defense has keyed much of the Hornets' success, and in their six wins last season they gave up just over 10 points a game. That kind of consistent defense makes life easier for their ball-control, timeconsuming offense. Anchoring that defense is junior inside linebacker Thomas Sardo, an AllDivision choice as a sophomore. While the other starting linebackers are new, there is plenty of experience in the secondary with Steineke, Myles Day, Dylan Day, and Donnelly. The line is in solid shape with the return of starters Nick Iulo and Karim Tehlikian.

JR. QB CHRISTIAN DONNELLY

Player to Watch:

Tommy Sardo, Jr., ILB Sardo led the team in tackles as a sophomore with 84, including 10 tackles for loss, and also forced a pair of fumbles. With two new starters at linebacker he will be counted on to once again be a tackling machine and also provide leadership.

Players Under the Radar:

Top Position Group:

Tighe Steineke, Sr., WR/SS Nick Iulo, Sr., OL/DL

Offensive line

Both Steineke and Iulo were two-way starters last year and return to the same roles. Rainess believes the pair will gain more and more recognition as the season goes on. They are not necessarily big names outside of Holmdel but are impact performers.

Projected Offensive Starters:

DT: GAVIN RAHEB, SR.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

OLB: JOHN FANZINI, JR. OR MAC RAINESS, SR.

QB: CHRISTIAN DONNELLY, JR. RS OR JARED BATTAGLIA, JR. RB: JADEN GALLO, JR.; AJ DECICCO, SR.; TIGHE STEINEKE, SR. WR: MAC RAINESS, SR.; DYLAN DAY, SR RS.; ANTHONY JAROSZEWSKI, SR. TE:

KARIM TEHLIKIAN, SR.; MATT PEREZ, SR.; GAVIN RAHEB, JR.

LT:

GARY ALAIMO, SR. RS

LG: NICK IULO, SR. RS C:

JAKE LEROUX, SR. OR MIKE UMBRINO, SR.

RG: JOE HAMMER, SR. RS RT:

JOE MANCINO, SR. RS

and

Three starters return in bookend tackles Gar y Alaimo (6-foot2, 300) and Joe Mancino (6-foot-3, 300) plus guard Nick Iulo (5foot-10, 245) which will give the Hornets their biggest offensive line ever once the other positions are defined. Mancino & Alaimo are both getting serious looks from FCS schools.

ILB: THOMAS SARDO, JR. RS ILB: JOE HAMMER, SR. NICKEL: LUKE DUPONT, JR. OR THOMAS ILVENTO, SR. CB: DYLAN DAY, SR. CB: MYLES DAY, SR. RS SS: TIGHE STEINEKE, SR. RS FS: CHRISTIAN DONNELLY, SR. RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

TIM HAGGERTY, SO. ANTHONY JAROSZEWSKI, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

Photo by:

DL: KARIM TEHLIKIAN, SR. RS DT: NICK IULO, SR. RS

SR. DT/G NICK IULO

New

Era

Tathletics. But at Howell High School, the 2020 football season also brings a sense of excitement hese are strange and different times in our lives, especially in the world of high school

Head

Coach:

FRANK EDGERLY, 1st season (15th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 85-54 Assistant

and optimism.

By:

Bob Badders managing editor

Coaches:

Bill Hill (Defensive Coordinator); Matt Norman (Special Teams Coordinator/TE/LB); Bob Generelli (OL); Michael Griggs (OL); Dave Jimerson (WR/DB); Bob Mussari (RB/LB); Adam Sacco (DL); Alex Taylor (WR/DB); Nick Farrar (freshmen); Larry Peslak (freshmen); Joe McAuliffe (Director of Sports Performance); Amy Ghione (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 1-9 2018: 1-9 2017: 9-2 2016: 6-5 2015: 3-7

NICK CERULLI, CRAIG IANDOLI, HUNTER

O ffense:

Multiple-Pro

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

LINO,

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

Sat. Oct. 17 @

Freehold twp. 6:30 pm

Manalapan 6:30 pm

Colts neck noon

JT Goodman, Jr., QB or Steve Jardim, Jr, QB

Whoever wins the battle to become the starting quarterback will be replacing Jason Caston, who was 11th in the Shore in passing with 1,117 and six touchdowns and was also a first-team all-division selection on defense.

X -FACTOR:

FRI. Oct. 23

Sat. Oct. 31 @

fri. nov. 6

vs.

Freehold

Malboro noon

St. John Vianney 7:00 pm

6:30 pm

Time

Howell is a great unknown at this point. We know Edgerly’s reputation but it remains to be seen how it all fits together for the Rebels in 2020. The condensed preseason could mean this group doesn’t really show its cards until midway through the season. iMPACT NEWCOMER: JT Goodman, Jr., QB/DB

Goodman’s last significant snaps came on the freshman level as he lost all of last season to a knee injury. He is competing for the starting quarterback spot and could also see time playing in the secondary.

Howell made a big splash in May when it hired Frank Edgerly as its head coach, bringing in a state championship-winning coach to guide the Rebels and rebuild a program that is three years removed from reaching a state sectional semifinal game but has struggled for much of the past decade. “From a community standpoint, the response has frankly been

TIMMY ZACCARIA & MATT IOANNIDES overwhelming,” Edgerly said. “It’s very encouraging to see so many people excited. You can see how important (football) is to the community. I knew to make a move like this it had to make a lot of sense for both parties involved and the feedback and support I’ve had has been great.” Edgerly was the head coach at Red Bank Catholic for two stints totaling 14 years, building the Caseys from a middling program to one of the best in the Shore Conference. In 2018 he guided RBC to the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 3 title with a perfect 10-0 season. His teams are known for their explosive offenses built around a balanced pro-style scheme. In between his coaching periods at RBC, Edgerly was a scout for the New England Patriots and an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns. He resigned from his coaching post at Red Bank Catholic in February. Edgerly will try to bring Howell back to championship form. Since reaching consecutive NJSIAA South Jersey Group 5 sectional finals, including a 9-2 season in 2017, Howell has

J R . OL/DL M A T T I O A N N I D E S

struggled to a 2-18 record over the past two seasons. The Rebels’ last division title came in 2009 when they won the American Division under longtime head coach Cory Davies, who is now the head coach at rival Freehold Township. Howell’s only state sectional championship came in 2007 when the team went 11-1, also with Davies at the helm. “There are definitely a lot of parallels from when I was first hired at Red Bank Catholic, but every situation brings different challenges, whether it’s moving to a new program and a new school or returning year after year,” Edgerly said. “It’s high school football, so the dynamics of the roster change every year. Coming into a program brand new, that’s a transition for both the players and the coaches. Having taken over a program previously that had been down and was going through some growing pains, I’ve been able to go back and look at the lessons learned from that.” Complicating matters is the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place as a result. Edgerly didn’t get to evaluate the Howell roster until the NJSIAA’s Phase 1 of its Return to Play guidelines began in July so he and his staff are still trying to figure out where all the pieces of the puzzle fit.

Hunter Lino, Craig Iandoli and Tim Zaccaria. The picture is becoming clearer as opening day closes in, but there are still multiple players competing at every position along with some players at different positions than last season. The starting lineup is far from set. “We’re trying to find out where we’re good and what we do well,” Edgerly said. “It’s coach speak, but we’re looking to get better day after day. This is such a unique situation where we are trying to evaluate the roster on the fly. Right now, it’s about having a clear and concise plan and establishing the mentality and our identity.” The coaching staff is still gelling, as well, but Edgerly has Shore Conference Hall of Fame coach Bob Generelli of Middletown South and Raritan fame coaching the offensive line and former Howell star Bill Hill as the defensive coordinator. There are also two former RBC players, Michael Griggs and Alex Taylor, on the staff. Additionally, Edgerly said some recent RBC players helped out over the summer, which “greatly aided in not only accelerating the understanding of the scheme but also how we practice, the drills, and the expectations.”

Player to Watch:

Nick Cerulli, Sr., RB/ILB Cerulli was a ﬁrst-team All-Constitution Division selection on defense last year when he led the Rebels in tackles (60), sacks (2) and tackles for loss (8). “He had a lot of success last year and has really picked things up and established himself,” Edgerly said. “And has been a tremendous leader. He’s a ‘football kid’.”

Player Under the Radar: Hunter Lino, Sr., RB/LB “Hunter has been a guy who has jumped out and has continued to elevate his level on this team,” Edgerly said. “He wears hats in all three phases. He’s doing things he hasn’t been asked to do so far but this is a smart kid with a very high football IQ. His level of intellect and his talent has really given us a lot of versatility. He’s a kid you can hang your hat on. You know you’re going to get the effort and toughness.”

Top Position Group: Wide receivers and linebackers

Howell graduated several of its top players from last season and returns just a handful of players who started last season. Senior linebacker Nick Cerulli was a first-team All-Constitution Division last season, as was senior Jake Davis as a punter. Earning second-team all-division status were seniors Trevor Curnal,

“We’re expecting incremental gains each day,” Edgerly said. “The more and more we can focus on that, day-by-day, the big-picture stuff starts to care of itself.”

Wideouts Jake Davis, Tim Zaccaria and Craig Iandoli were all-division selections last year and among the linebackers, Nick Cerulli was a first-team all-division pick while Hunter Lino and Trevor Curnal were second-team selections. Both units have good depth and solid talent across the board.

Projected Offensive Starters:

OL:

ILB/OLB: COLE IANDOLI, SR.; HUNTER LINO, SR.;

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB:

JT GOODMAN, JR. OR STEVE JARDIM, JR.

ETHAN CONOVER, SR.; KYLE CRITCHLEY, SR.; CHRISTIAN FRIESENDORF, SR.; JOHN ENZERILLO, SR.; RILEY JOHNSTON, SO.

DB:

RB/FB: NICK CERULLI, SR.; HUNTER LINO, SR.; TREVOR CURNAL, SR.; CONNOR GORDON, JR.; LUKE DALTON, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

TE:

DL:

COLE IANDOLI, SR; VINNIE HOFFMAN, JR.; NICK VECCHIARELLI, JR.; SAM MELE, SO.

WR:

JAKE DAVIS, SR.; TIM ZACCARIA, SR.; CRAIG IANDOLI, SR.; NICK VECCHIARELLI, JR.

OL:

MATT IOANNIDES, JR., RS; STANLEY FEDEROVICH, JR.

NICK VECCHIARELLI, JR.; SAM MELE, SO., TREVOR CURNAL, SR.

ILB:

MATT IOANNIDES, JR.; STANLEY FEDEROVICH, JR.; ETHAN CONOVER, SR.; KYLE CRITCHLEY, SR.; CHRISTIAN FRIESENDORF; JOHN ENZERILLO; RILEY JOHNSTON.

JT GOODMAN, JR.; ROBERT SCHAEFFER, SR. TIM ZACCARIA, SR.; JAKE DAVIS, SR. CRAIG IANDOLI, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

JAKE DAVIS, SR., RS JAKE DAVIS, SR., RS

NICK CERULLI, SR., RS

Winner ’s

Mentality

Cup the ranks of the Shore Conference’s group of small schools. The Titans came excruciatingly close to qualifying for oming off its first winning season and NJSIAA playoff appearance since 2007, Keansburg continues its steady climb

Head

Coach:

the playoffs in both 2017 and 2018, so last year’s 5-4 season was a breakthrough for the Titans and sixth-year coach John Bird.

JOHN BIRD. 6th season Career

Record:

Assistant

17-31

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

Coaches:

Jim Reid (Off. Coordinator/QB/LB),

quarterbacks and also gives this year’s team a chance to win every game. He is coming off a sophomore campaign in which he racked up 1,502 total years and 13 total touchdowns between his passing and rushing.

Uriel Morfin (RB/LB), Raffaele Spagnola (LB), Jim Papcun (WR/DB), Nic Vloyanetes (WR/DB), Troy Fowlkes (OL/DL), Richie Squeo (OL/DL), Kelli Hudson (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-4 2018: 4-5 2017: 5-5 2016: 2-8 2015: 1-9

(L-R) BRENDAN FLANZBAUM, JON BEATTIE, DESMOND LAWSON, MIKAL BRAITHWAITE & PATRICK BELTRAN

fri. Oct. 2

sat. Oct. 10

Sat. Oct. 17

vs.

Pt. Beach 7:00 pm

roselle noon

Asbury Park noon

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Brendan Flanzbaum (Sr., WR) and Waylon Manoes (Sr., ILB) Braithwaite lost his No. 1 target in Nasir Williams but Flanzbaum and Graf are back at wide receiver and are fine-tuning their rapport with the junior quarterback in order to take the passing game to the next level. At inside linebacker, meanwhile, the Titans are looking for a player to pair with senior Desmond Lawson in the 3-4 front after 2019 captain Matt Gillen graduated. Manoes is the early front-runner to fill the open spot and join a strong linebacker corps.

X -FACTOR:

Offensive Line There is a mix of uncertainty and potential up front that makes the Titans offensive line the team’s wild card. Gabe Braithwaite transferred out, leaving a large void previously occupied by the 6-foot-4, 280-pound tackle. Despite that loss, the Titans still bring back three starters in left tackle Hassan Champion, center Waylon Manoes and right guard Jon Beattie, plus add Coppinger-Ward to the mix at left guard. Senior Tino Valverde and sophomore Mike Menture are the candidates to replace the elder Braithwaite on the line and if Keansburg can settle that spot, the Titans have the makings of a quality offensive line that can free up their weapons.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Keyshaun Coppinger-Ward, Jr., LG/DT After taking the 2019 season off from football and establishing himself on the Titans wrestling team, Coppinger-Ward is back on the gridiron and poised to make an impact on both the offensive and defensive lines

sat. Oct. 23

fri. Oct. 30

vs.

Keyport

manchester 7:00 pm

noon

sat nov. 6 vs.

shore 2:00 pm

Now, the Titans have a group of players who have only known competitive football, with Keansburg’s record over the past three seasons an even .500 (14-14). Bird is hoping that is a sign of a change in culture that will mean even more winning this year and in years to come. “It felt like losing the seniors from last year was a big loss because they really set the expectation of winning,” Bird said. “I think what has happened though is that the guys who are coming up as seniors and juniors this year have

Projected Offensive Starters: ( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB: RB: RB: WR: WR: WR: LT: LG: C:

MIKAL BRAITHWAITE, JR. RS PATRICK BELTRAN, SR. RS DESMOND LAWSON, SR. RS BRENDAN FLANZBAUM, SR. RS CONNOR GRAF, SR., RS KYCIR ROBINSON, JR.; LOU CHALMERS, SR. HASSAN CHAMPION, SR. RS KEYSHAUN COPPINGER-WARD, JR. WAYLON MANOES, SR. RS

that same attitude and now they are ready to take over the program, which is what every coach wants from a program.” It’s not just about culture, though. Keansburg has talent and on-field experience. The Titans return eight starters on offense and seven on defense and should have some newcomers ready to step in and help. “We have an all-division quarterback, we return two starting receivers, three starting linemen, our entire secondary, three linebackers,” Bird said. “We just have one lineman and a middle linebacker to figured out and the other positions we pretty much have figured out. It’ a bunch of seniors who have played a lot and who have gotten used to winning, which is what you want to see coming back as a coach. We’re not very deep so health is going to be a huge factor, but if we stay healthy, this group has a chance to have a pretty good season.”

“We weren’t sure what we had when Mikal first got here but it didn’t take us long to figure out he was pretty special player,” Bird said. “He’s a competitor. He studies the game, he likes contact he gets other guys going. I had Danny Vitale a couple of years ago and I think Mikal could potentially be better than Danny. For me, that’s a major compliment because I think the world of Danny as a player and a leader.”

Player Under the Radar: Patrick Beltran, Sr., RB/OLB Beltran has been a varsity mainstay for the past few seasons, playing in a part-time role as a sophomore before ascending to regular starting duties last year. The senior will be a leading tailback option and an ideal complement to Brathwaite, who will do plenty of running in his own right. In addition to sharing the backfield, Beltran and Braithwaite will book-end the linebacker corps on the outside.

Top Position Group: Offensive Backfield The offense will revolve around Braithwaite and will go as he goes, but his senior backfield mates will help him and the team get where they want to go as well. Beltran and fellow senior Desmond Lawson are the running-back tandem and will provide a more conventional ground attack to go with Braithwaite’s dual-threat game.

Player to Watch:

Mikal Braithwaite, Jr., QB/OLB After arriving at Keansburg last season and beginning the year as a slot receiver, Brathwaite showed enough promise in practice to get him a look at quarterback and since then, he has taken off. Still only a junior, the dual-threat signal-caller has a chance to be one of the program’s better all-around

RG: JON BEATTIE, JR. RS RT: TINO VALVERDE, SR.; MIKE MENTURE, SO.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: MIKE MENTURE, SO. DT: JON BETTIE, JR. RS; KEYSHAUN COPPINGER-WARD, JR. DE: HASSAN CHAMPION, SR. RS OLB: PATRICK BELTRAN, SR. RS ILB: DESMOND LAWSON, SR. RS ILB: WAYLON MANOES, SR.

Photo by:

OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

MIKAL BRAITHWAITE, JR. RS KYCIR ROBINSON, JR. CONNOR GRAF, SR. RS LOU CHALMERS, SR. BRENDAN FLANZBAUM, SR. RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

JOE SAUTNER, SO. RS JOE SAUTNER, SO.

Air-Raiders uGroup I contender for so many years, the Keyport football team tried something different and lived with the nder a new head coach and in an offense that strayed far from the traditional run-oriented attack that made it a perennial

Head

Coach:

JASON GLEZMAN,, 2nd season Career

Record:

Assistant

consequences – a 3-6 season and an offense that had trouble protecting the ball.

3-6

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

Coaches:

Angelo Marocco (Off. Coordinator), Steve Bower (Special Teams/WR/DB), Jimmy Maguire (Def. Coordinator/RB/LB), Pete Miller (QB/LB), Tyler Alvarez (OL/DL), Jerry Hourihan (OL/DL), Kelly O’Donnell (Athletic Trainer)

Player Under the Radar: Dylan Burns, Sr., C/DT

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 3-6 2018: 3-6 2016: 10-2 2015: 6-5

( L - R ) J OE M ANTINO , J AKE S TAEGER , D YLAN B URNS , Z ACK C ONNALLON , D.J. T HOMSON , T ROY A LVAREZ & J AKE M ITCHELL

2017: 1-9

Sat. Oct. 3

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

4-3

sat. Oct. 10 @

fri. Oct. 16

vs.

Governor Livingston 2:00 pm

monmouth noon

shore 7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 31

fri. nov. 6

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Joe Martino Sr., RT/DT Keyport’s biggest loss from last year, by far, was imposing offensive tackle Devon Meza, who is heading into his freshman season at Central Connecticut State. Replacing a dominant force like Meza at the Group I level does not happen with a snap of the fingers, so the Raiders will look to band together to pick up the slack up front. With returning starter Jake Staeger sliding over the left tackle, Mantino will take over on the right side and is one of the seniors who has waited for his opportunity after putting in the work.

X -FACTOR:

Ball Security Turnovers were Keyport’s downfall last year, as the Red Raiders sported a minus-10 turnover margin while losing four games by a one-score margin and the other two by two scores. Alvarez was the primary culprit, throwing 15 interceptions in Keyport’s high-volume passing attack. With Alvarez more polished this season, Glezman doesn’t expect he’ll have to scale back the passing game in order to protect the ball.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Kymir Britt, So., RB Although this is the last year Keyport will have Alvarez at quarterback, the Red Raiders have a bright immediate future thanks to a tandem of running backs who will break in this season. Britt is the one most likely to seize a role as Keyport’s feature back, as he shares carries with senior Sean Lachky and serves as a big-play threat. Freshman Nazir Treadwell has also opened eyes early in camp and while will work his way into the lineup at a more deliberate pace given his inexperience.

are ready. The guys are excited. All the passing game stuff we’re putting in, they are ready for it.” Despite finishing 3-6, Keyport was within striking distance of winning each of its games and the Red Raiders will bring back a bevy of skill-position talent around returning quarterback Troy Alvarez – conditions that suggest Keyport is on the cusp of a bounceback season, even if it’s only a shortened season.

Player to Watch: Sat. Oct. 23 @

keansburg noon

vs.

Pt. Beach noon

matawan 7:00 pm

A year after going to an all-out, pass-heavy spread offense, second-year coach Jason Glezman and his staff are expecting the payoff to come this year. “It was my first year as a head coach and I think I underestimated how valuable the year before is,” Glezman said. “Last year can really set the tone for the upcoming year and between some of the young guys who were starters for the first time and trying to install a new offense, we asked the guys to do a lot. This year, the seniors

Projected Offensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) )

QB: RB: WR: WR: WR: TE: LT: LG:

TROY ALVAREZ, SR. 3RS SEAN LACHKY, SR., RS; KYMIR BRITT, SO. JAKE MITCHELL, SR. RS D.J. THOMSON, JR. RS ZACH CONNALLON, SR. RS; JAKE FERRARA, SR. CHRISTYAN AZEVEDO, JR. JAKE STAEGER, SR. RS SEAN JOHNSTONE, JR.

Troy Alvarez, Sr., QB/OLB Alvarez embraced Keyport’s move to the spread offense last year and became the director of an attack that sets a new direction for the Red Raiders program. After finishing eighth in the Shore Conference with 1,204 passing yards, Alvarez now has a better grasp of the offense and more mature weapons at his disposal, giving Glezman some additional optimism that his Red Raiders can take off with his senior signal-caller at the helm. “Troy is super talented and he’s a really hardworking kid,” Glezman said. “Turnovers were the problem last year but when you watch him going through his reads and calling out assignments, you can really see him figuring it out. His level of understanding is much more advanced than it was last year and I think going through that learning process last year led to some of those interceptions.”

C: RG: RT:

DYLAN BURNS, SR. RS DANIEL GROSS, SR. JOE MANTINO, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB:

JAKE STAEGER, SR. JOE MANTINO, SR. DYLAN BURNS, SR. ZACH CONNALLON, SR. RS SEAN LACHKY, SR. RS

The offensive line is one of Keyport’s unknowns, but the bright side for Glezman is it will be a seniorheavy group led by a seasoned veteran at center. Along with tackle Jake Staeger, Burns is one of two returning starters on the Red Raiders offensive line and will also be a regular on the defensive line for the first time as well. “Only two of our (offensive) linemen started last year but they are playing left tackle and center, which are the two positions you always want to be set at,” Glezman said. “Dylan is a ready steady guy for us as a leader on both lines and we’re excited to see Staeger on that left side of the line.”

Top Position Group: Wide Receivers Alvarez is only the start of Keyport’s air attack, which will boast three returning receivers with a chance to make a lot of plays if the ball is thrown their way. Junior D.J. Thomson is the standout athlete of the trio, which he showed by catching 18 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. Seniors Jake Mitchell and Zach Connallon are also dangerous receivers, with Connallon catching a team-high 19 passes for 271 yards and a two touchdowns and Mitchell joining the receiving corps midseason following his transfer from Mater Dei. “Thomson has filled out and he is really coming into his body,” Glezman said. “By the end of the year, teams were throwing extra defenders at him and it opened things up for other guys and we saw Zach Connallon really step up and make some plays for us.”

Photo by:

MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

ALBERT SILVA, SR. TROY ALVAREZ, SR. 3RS JAKE FERRARA, SR. RS D.J. THOMSON, JR. RS JAKE MITCHELL, SR. RS ZIVON CRANK, JR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

CHRISTYAN AZEVEDO, JR. TREVOR AHMEN, JR. 25

Long Shots

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

Sgrouped with the other upper-echelon programs at the Shore Conference. After all, the Green Wave were a top-five

ince the Shore Conference changed its alignment and scheduling formula in football, Long Branch has been a program

Head

Coach:

DAN GEORGE, 21st season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 159-90 Assistant

team in the Shore Sports Network in back-to-back seasons in 2017 and 2018

Throw in an unusual, limited preseason as well as the transfer of standout receiver Jayon Farrar to Donovan Catholic and George and his team will have their hands full in 2020. Long Branch, however, has thrived in difficult conditions in recent years and its longtime head coach is hoping the challenging circumstances inspire his players to rise to the occasion.

Coaches:

Chad King (Def. Coordinator/DB), Ben Woolley (Off. Coordinator/OL), Greg Penta (Off. Coordinator/QB/WR), Shawn Brown (LB), Ryan Burgess (DL), Terrence King (RB), Jamel Pitts (Freshman), Devron Clark (Freshman), Kim Smalls (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-7 2016: 2-8

2018: 12-1 2015: 3-7

2017: 9-3

( L - R ) A N D R E W C O N K L I N , M E L V I N M O U LT I V E , J A C K F R I E D M A N , B A -S E A N F R A S E R , D A V I D R O O D R I G U E S & B O B B Y L A W R E N C E O ffense:

spread

D efense:

4-3

_______________________________

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Midd. South

Rumson

Midd. North

7:00 pm

Sekou Kamau, So., RB/SS Jermaine Corbett turned in three big seasons as Long Branch’s tailback and now the Green Wave will go back to the factory to find their next standout in the backfield. Kamau looks like another promising runner who is capable of becoming the team’s feature back as a sophomore to set off what could be a productive three-year career, if the success of Long Branch’s recent running backs is any indication. “Kamau has looked really good at running back and at free safety so we’re anticipating him being a factor this year,” George said. “We have about four or five sophomore skill players who look like their ready to contribute this year.”

X -FACTOR:

vs.

“We were told the schedule was going to be more local and yet, we’re not playing Neptune and Ocean but we’re going to Rumson and Mater Dei and Neptune is playing two teams from Jackson,” George said. “Then you take a team that has a lot of new guys, you give us a restricted preseason and offseason, you have parochial schools recruiting our kids away from the program and then you make us play six of the best teams in the Shore. Schedules can destroy a program, or at least set a program back. But we’ve been here before, I have the best coaching staff in the Shore and I think all the adversity, it’s a rallying cry for the kids.”

Player to Watch:

Jayden Farmer, Jr., WR/CB

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

fri. nov. 6

Mater dei

RBC

red bank

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

Even with standout receiver Farrar leaving for Donovan Catholic, Long Branch will remain strong at the wideout position thanks to a deep mix of returnees and newcomers. Farmer broke into the lineup last season and coming back this year in good shape and prepared to assume a leadership role as a junior. He and senior BaSean Fraser will lead the receivers while Farmer will also join Logan Davis as Long Branch’s starting cornerback duo.

vs.

Quarterback Long Branch has gotten more-than-solid play out of the quarterback position during the past three seasons, but this season, the position is more of an unknown than it has been during that time. Junior Christian Rodriguez and senior Michael Bacon have been competing for the job during camp and Rodriguez, in particular, has caught George’s eye with his multi-dimensional skillset. “Christian looks like he’s taken control of the situation and he’s good some upside,” George said. “He has a strong arm, he’s athletic and he adds a different dimension that wasn’t really part of the position last year. We got really solid play at the position but Christian is going to bring some more speed to the position.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Kai Coleman, So., LT/DT Only senior Andrew Conklin returns from last year’s starting offensive line and the Green Wave are putting together a new group that George said has been a pleasant surprise so far. One key to the line is the sophomore Coleman, who along with junior center Deiondre McCullers, has made an early impression with their preseason work.

Now, Long Branch has its most inexperienced team since 2016 but the schedule is not any more forgiving. With only six games on the schedule, it might be even more difficult than the Green Wave have experienced over the past two seasons: four of the seven teams that beat Long Branch last year are on this year’s schedule, one the Long Branch beat (Middletown South) and the sixth is against non-public power Mater Dei Prep.

“Farmer had a great preseason and he looks like he is ready to take a major step up for us on both sides of the ball,” George said. “Ba-Sean Fraser is a stud too, so we’re still very good at the receiver position.”

I think we’re going to be a team that’s got some speed and we’re going to better than a lot of people expect up front,” Long Branch coach Dan George said. “The problem is sometimes you can’t tell how much guys are improving when you’re constantly going up against the kind of teams that are on our schedule. Rumson might have the best D-Line in the Shore. RBC is not far behind. Mater Dei has guys going to Notre Dame and Michigan. Middletown South is always tough. That’s about as tough as you’re going to find and we’re mostly a new starting lineup.”

SR. WR BA-SEAN FRASER 26

Long Branch Continued page 28

Long

Branch

Top Position Group:

Continued from page 26

Player Under the Radar: Melvin Moultrie, Sr., DE Moultrie got some time on the defensive line as a junior and, according to George, came back for his senior year two inches taller (6-3) and 30 pounds bigger (240), ready to do damage on defense. “Melvin Moultrie had an awesome offseason,” George said. “He trained with his dad, who is a retired NYPD detective and he turned himself into a guy who has the size to play at the next level.

Linebackers On an inexperienced team, Long Branch’s linebackers stand out as a unit that brings some stability and experience to the defense. Conklin and fellow seniors Dave Rodriguez and Bobby Lawrence are all back and will be key in holding together a Long Branch defense that has some promise on the line and in the secondary, but little experience. All three linebackers are also offensive contributors – Conklin on the line, Rodriguez at tight end and Lawrence in the backfield.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: DT: DT: DE: WLB: SLB: RLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

JACK FRIEDMAN, SR. KAI COLEMAN, SO. ISRAEL DELGADILLO, JR. MELVIN MOULTRIE, SR. RS BOBBY LAWRENCE, SR. RS ANDREW CONKLIN, SR. RS DAVE RODRIGUEZ, SR. RS LOGAN DAVIS, SR. JAYDEN FARMER, JR. RS SEKOU KAMAU, SO. CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ, SR. RS

QB:

MICHAEL BACON, SR.; CHRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ, JR.

RB:

BOBBY LAWRENCE, SR.; SEKOU KAMAU, SO.

WR:

BA-SEAN FRASER, SR.

WR:

JAYDEN FARMER, JR. RS

WR:

LOGAN DAVIS, SR.

TE:

JAYSON PRESLEY, JR.; DAVE RODRIGUEZ, SR.

LT:

KAI COLEMAN, SO.

RT:

ANDREW CONKLIN, SR. RS

DEIONDRE MCCULLERS, JR.

RG:

ANTHONY SANTANA, JR.; MARCELO BARBOZA-SANTIAGO, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

MATT GANITHER, SR.

K: P:

RT:

ANTHONY EUGENIO-FLORES, SR. ANTHONY EUGENIO-FLORES

S R . RB B OBBY L AWRENCE

Join Us thursday nights shoresportsnetwork.com

The only weekly online show that covers Ocean and Monmouth County High School Football Award-winning broadcasters and Bob Badders cover the entire Shore Conference from Matawan to Pinelands. Broadcast live each week the show features players, coaches and a preview of upcoming games.

Kevin Williams, Ed Sarluca

New CEO, Same Mission Statement Head

Coach:

DOM LEPORE, 1st season (11th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 36-64 Assistant

analapan is one of those teams within the Shore Conference that expects to contend for M division and state championships every season. That won’t be possible in the traditional sense this year due to the altered structure of the season as a result of the COVID19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the Braves have changed their mentality.

By:

Bob Badders

managing editor

Coaches:

Cody High (Offensive coordinator/WR/DB); Bill Smith Sr. (TE/OLB); Bill Smith Jr. (OL); Jon Harrison (Special teams/ILB); Dan Anerella Jr. (QB); Mike Caggiano (K/P); David Calderon (DL); Rich Nyers (RB); Freshman coaches: Andrew Jones, Alex Mattina & Reggie Grant Sr.; Volunteers: Tim Fleming & Steve Vella; Shannon Tomasula (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 6-4 2016: 6-5

2018: 11-1 2015: 11-1

2017:11-1

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

3-4

( TOP L - R ): ( BOTTOM

C HRIS M ARZO , G AVIN C LARO , M ATT S ADLER , R AY V ANDER L - R ): A NTHONY M ATRONE , EJ M ARQUEZ , E THAN R ODRIGUEZ

_______________________________ Despite some key losses via graduation, Manalapan has eight returning starters on offense and seven returning starters on defense. One year after going 6-5 playing in the juggernaut American Division that featured NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 finalist Rumson-Fair Haven, South Jersey Group 5 semifinalist Toms River North and Non-Public Group 3 semifinalist Red Bank Catholic, plus regular stalwarts Middletown South and Long Branch, the Braves are eying a bounce-back season. This year’s six-game schedule balances district rivalries with a pair of games against two teams that figure to once again be among the Shore’s best – Wall and Mater Dei Prep.

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Dante Barone, Jr., TE/LB Barone has a chance to make a major impact on both sides of the ball. At 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds with good hands, he should be a reliable option and a chess piece who can create mismatches on offense. Defensively, he’ll get snaps at outside linebacker.

X -FACTOR: Quarterback play Manalapan has three players – Mike DeMayo, Keegan Streimer and Mike Heckel – competing for the starting quarterback position and the battle won’t be decided until just a week before the season starts. Manalapan won’t need either of them to drop back and throw 20 times a game, but they will have to manage the offense and be an effective leader.

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

Freehold

Howell

Freehold Twp.

Noon

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Wall

Colts neck

Mater Dei

7:00 pm

vs.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Elijah Marquez, Jr., RB/OLB A 5-foot-10, 200-pound junior, Marquez is slated to share the backfield with senior Ray Vender and see significant snaps at outside linebacker.

SR. WR CHRIS MARZO 30

The calling card of Manalapan football has long been a power running game and a stout defense, and that identity will remain the same under first-year head coach Dom Lepore, who was hired as Manalapan’s head coach in June after longtime head coach Eddie Gurrieri resigned. Lepore had been Manalapan’s defensive coordinator since 2016 and on staff since 2013. He was the head coach at Freehold Township from 2000-2009, coached at Manalapan in 2010 and was Neptune’s defensive coordinator when the Scarlet Fliers won the Central Jersey Group 3 title in 2011 and reached the final in 2012. “Running the ball and playing tough defense, that will never change,” Lepore said. “Eddie has laid the foundation and built the house, and it’s a great house. As a new head coach, you get the opportunity and you’re going to come in and have your spin on some things. I compare it to, you might touch up a bathroom or redo the kitchen, but the structure stays the same. He did a tremendous job building it and my job is to come in and continue what has been developed.” Regarding the running game, the offensive line has just two returning starters with three-year returning starter Mike Maksimik at left guard and senior Victor Berrios at right tackle. Last year’s feature back, Andre Johnson, has graduated, leaving senior Ray Vender and junior Elijah Marquez to likely split the workload unless either emerges as the clear-cut standout. Regardless of the names, Manalapan usually figures it out on the ground and even though that will be a challenge with several newcomers and with longtime offensive line coach Joe Tetley having retired, the running game doesn’t figure to be an issue. An area to watch is at the quarterback position where three players are vying to take over after two-year starter Sean Kehley graduated. Seniors Mike DeMayo and Keegan

Streimer and junior Mike Heckel have been battling since practice resumed and the competition will likely go down to the wire. With teams being allowed only one scrimmage this preseason, Manalapan’s annual scrimmage with Jackson Memorial will be big for position battles, especially under center. DeMayo and Heckel have sub-varsity experience within Manalapan’s system while Streimer was a two-year starter for Tri-Valley High School in the Catskills Region of upstate New York. Tri-Valley competed in an eight-man football league and Streimer was a standout, but more of a running quarterback and posting consecutive 1,000-yards rushing seasons. Last season as a junior he ran for 1,248 yards and 19 touchdowns on an average of 6.1 yards per carry and threw for 315 yards and six touchdowns with only one interception on just 36 pass attempts. “We’ll see which one of those quarterbacks step up and take charge of the team,” Lepore said. “Unfortunately in the situation we’re in this year, we’re trying to evaluate those guys in one scrimmage and just a couple weeks to get ready. We’ll be keeping a real close eye on that position and see who handles what in the Jackson scrimmage.” The unquestioned strength of the offense and a position group that will greatly aid whoever emerges as the starting quarterback is the wide receiver corps. All four wideouts are returning starters with seniors Anthony Matrone, Chris Marzo and Ethan Rodriguez and junior speedster Paul Wojciechowski back to reprise their roles. Manalapan graduated standout tight end Matt Benedetti, who was the team’s leading receiver last year, but have three tight ends/fullbacks who will all see time in what will be more of an H-back role. Senior Justin Nyers is a returning starter and will be joined by senior Gavin Claro and promising junior Dante Barone, who stands 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds and could emerge as a major weapon in the passing game. “It’s a good feeling to have all those guys and we have to find a way to get the ball in their hands,” Lepore said. “They can all make plays so as a defense you can’t just key on one guy. And Barone is a guy we’re excited about. He can create mismatches versus linebackers and strong safeties.” The front seven of Manalapan’s 3-4 defense will feature a rotation along the defensive line with Claro and Berrios anchoring the unit at defensive end. Vender is the only other returning starter in the front seven, moving to outside linebacker from safety. Like the wide receiver group, the secondary is experienced with Rodriguez at cornerback, Matrone at strong safety and

Marzo at free safety. The other cornerback spot looks to be manned by either Wojciechowski or junior Tyler Walker.

Player to Watch:

Manalapan once again has one of the state’s best kickers, continuing its special teams legacy. Senior Vincenzo Rea is a returning Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore selection after kicking six field goals with a long of 43 yards last season.

Matrone started at wide receiver and in the secondary and even played a little bit of outside linebacker last season. He’ll once again be relied on for production and leadership. Last season, he caught 12 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown and made 49 tackles with one sack and one interception.

Speaking of Manalapan’s kicking legacy, former standout Mike Caggiano, who kicked collegiately at the University of Massachusetts, is on the coaching staff as the kicking and punting coach. So is quarterbacks coach Dan Anerella, who helped lead Manalapan to its only state sectional title in 2014. Another of Lepore’s former players on staff is defensive line coach David Calderon, who started at Neptune when Lepore was the Scarlet Fliers’ defensive coordinator. “When I think about it, this is my 11th year as a head coach and this is the best group I’ve had the opportunity to work with in terms of experience, youth, alumni, energy; it’s just a great mix of guys,” Lepore said. “We have guys who have played in the Shore and either won or coached in state championship games, which is so important. They know how to translate the attitude and work ethic that it takes to win.” Manalapan will open the season with three games against district rivals before hosting Wall, the reigning No. 1 team in the Shore Conference. There’s also a home game against Mater Dei Prep, which has reached four straight state finals. “We always enjoy the local rivalries and adding Wall into the mix, which has done very well over the last 10 years, similar to what we’ve done, and then Mater Dei, who we played last year, we’re excited about the schedule,” Lepore said. Mostly, the Braves are just excited to get back on the field and play some football even though the season will be different than anything they’ve ever experienced.

DE:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

RB: FB/TE: WR: LT: LG: C: RG: RT:

MIKE DEMAYO, SR. OR KEEGAN STREIMER, SR. OR MIKE HECKEL, JR. RAYMOND VENDER, SR; ELIJAH MARQUEZ, JR JUSTIN NYERS, SR. RS; GAVIN CLARO, SR.; DANTE BARONE, JR. ANTHONY MATRONE, SR., RS; CHRIS MARZO, SR., RS; ETHAN RODRIGUEZ, SR., RS; PAUL WOJCIECHOWSKI, JR., RS. JOHN KOKKINAKOS, SR. OR MAX SHRAYFEL, SR. MIKE MAKSIMIK, SR., 3RS; ALSO GIANCARLO NEVAREZ, JR. LIAM O’CONNELL, SR. OR COREY HOLOWACH, JR. MARIO CHIERCHIA, JR. OR KEVIN CRADDOX, SO. VICTOR BERRIOS, SR., RS

Projected Defensive Starters: NG: DE:

GIANCARLO NEVAREZ, JR. AND KEVIN CRADDOX, SO. GAVIN CLARO, SR., RS; MAX SHRAYFEL, SR. WILL ROTATE IN

Player Under the Radar: Chris Marzo, Sr., WR/FS “He is a quiet guy but he does such a solid job,” Lepore said. “He goes about his business with a great work ethic and is a student of the game and also a great student in the classroom. He’s the type of player you win with.”

Top Position Group: Wide receivers The Braves have a deep g roup of pass-catchers with seniors Anthony Matrone, Chris Marzo and Ethan Rodriguez and junior Paul Wojciechowski, all of whom are retur ning starters. Junior Dante Barone is listed as a tight end but the 6-foot-3, 225pounder could also have a major impact in the passing game. Together they’ll give whichever player wins the starting quarterback job plenty of options.

“At one point you didn’t really know if it was going to happen but now we’re getting so close,” Lepore said. “The kids, the coaches, all the people around the program are excited.”

Projected Offensive Starters: QB:

Anthony Matrone, Sr., WR/SS

ILB: ILB: OLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

VICTOR BERRIOS, SR., RS; JUSTIN NYERS, SR. WILL ROTATE IN. MATT SADLER, SR. JORDAN GRAVESANDE, JR. RAYMOND VENDER, SR., RS ELIJAH MARQUEZ, JR. OR DANTE BARONE, JR. ETHAN RODRIGUEZ, SR., RS TYLER WALKER, JR. OR PAUL WOJCIECHOWSKI, JR. ANTHONY MATRONE, SR., RS CHRIS MARZO, SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K:

VINCENZO REA, SR., RS

SR. WR ETHAN RODRIGUEZ

Forged Under Fire Head

Record:

57-39

win at least half their games, but last season was just one of those years where youth and inexperience added up to a 4-6 mark.

Coaches:

Pete Cahill (Co-Offensive Coordinator/DB); Lou Certo (Co-Offensive Coordinator/WR); Brian Lee (QB); Bill Bertscha (OL); Darrell Falkinburg (RB); Eric Howland (LB); Eddie Kapalko (DL); Rich Griffith (freshmen); John Morris (freshmen); Bruce Bresnahan (video coordinator); Kevin Hyland (athletic trainer)

responded under current head coach Jay Price to go 10-2 and win the Central Jersey Group 2 title. This brief history lesson is not to say Manasquan is bound for immediate glory, but rather the Warriors are primed to get back to their usual winning ways sooner than later. “We were able to gain a lot of experience last year with many young athletes in the lineup, so we are hoping the game has slowed down for them,” Price said. “If we can mature and gel, we might be able to make some noise.”

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-6 2016: 10-2

2018: 8-3 2015: 3-7

2017: 7-4

( L - R ) T OMMY R ICE , J ACK C OLLINS , C OLE K OZLOWSKI , D YLAN L EBLANC & S HAYNE L EDDY

O ffense:

Multiple-I

D efense:

4-3

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 9 @

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Asbury Park

Jackson Mem.

Pt. Boro

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Neptune

Wall

Barnegat

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

Jack Burns, Jr., DE One of Manasquan’s few holes opened by graduation is at defensive end where John Foreman was a first-team All-Liberty Division selection last season. Burns will look to fill that role and give Manasquan an edge presence alongside a pair of returning starters at defensive tackle.

X -FACTOR:

Quarterback Play Whether it’s junior Cole Kozlowski or sophomore Brett Patten, Manasquan will have a new starting quarterback in 2020. Priority No. 1 will be to manage the game and avoid critical mistakes. “You’re never going to lose the game by throwing an incomplete pass,” Price said. “We want to make sure our possessions end with a kick of some sort.” “Kozlowski obviously has a year more than Brett under his belt. Both are tall but Kozlowski (6-foot-2, 195) is just a big, solid dude who has the confidence of a senior and is a good leader. Brett (6-foot-2, 175) is still a sophomore but he can run, he can throw; there’s nothing he can’t do. If he can get some confidence going he can be a good one.”

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Jhamier Howard, So., RB/DB and Brett Patten, So. QB/WR/DB Traditionally, Manasquan has one tailback who gets the lion’s share of the carries. Right now it’s a bit more of a by-committee approach, but Howard certainly has the ability to emerge as the feature back. The talent is there, it’s just a matter of whether or not he seizes the opportunity as a sophomore. Patten is competing for the starting quarterback job but will be a factor on offense as a wide receiver should Kozlowski emerge as the starting QB. Manasquan is deep and experienced in the secondary but Patten could fill a role there if needed.

managing editor

osing seasons are few and far between at Manasquan, a program that has won a Shore Conference

Jay Price, 10th season Assistant

Bob Badders

Lrecord 12 NJSIAA state sectional championships. Just five times since 1965 have the Warriors failed to

Coach:

Career

By:

vs.

History is on Manasquan’s side, however. In the four prior instances of finishing below .500, the Warriors quickly rebounded to reclaim their throne. In 1988 under legendary head coach Vic Kubu, Manasquan finished 3-6 for its first losing season in 24 years. Two years later, Manasquan was 11-0 and Central Jersey Group 2 champions and backed it up with another 11-0 championship year the next season in 1991. In 2004, Manasquan finished 4-6 just two years after finishing off an unprecedented run of five straight sectional titles. The next season, Kubu led the Warriors to an 11-1 season and another Central Jersey Group 2 title and the following year in 2006, Manasquan went 12-0 and repeated as state champs Kubu’s final season.

Six starters return on offense and nine starters return on defense for the Warriors as they aim for a bounce-back campaign in a shortened season set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Price lamented the lack of the usual beefiness Manasquan has traditionally enjoyed in the trenches, the Warriors do return four linemen who saw starting action a year ago, including three who are still juniors. If the running game is clicking Manasquan is usually in great shape, so having experience up front certainly puts the Warriors in an advantageous position. Last season, it was not, and the Warriors averaged just 10.4 points per game, w h i c h was 41st out of 43 teams in t h e conference. Also returning on the offensive side are wide receivers Robert Pendergist and Jack Collins. Pendergist will be in his third year as an offensive starter and is a great all-around athlete. At 6-foot-5, Collins is a huge target in the passing game. Both were second-team All-Liberty Division selections last season. The backfield features promising sophomore Jhamier Howard, who saw playing time last season as a freshman, along with Pat Woodford and Jack Burns at tailback and Shayne Leddy, Ryan Burns and Christian

It happened again in 2016. Manasquan suffered back-to-back 3-7 seasons in 2014 and 2015 but

S R QB C OLE K OZLOWSKI

Masonius working in at fullback. The quarterback spot is between junior Cole Kozlowski and sophomore Brett Patten. While the Warriors’ offense struggled a year ago, its defense was among the best in the Shore allowing just 14.1 points per game, which was the seventh-best mark in the conference. Manasquan is strong in the back seven with all three linebackers – Leddy, Ryan Burns and Dylan LeBlanc – returning along with a fully experienced secondary that features Pendergist, Masonius and Woodford as cornerbacks, Kozlowski as the strong safety and Collins as the free safety. Along the line, JJ Cavanagh and Rob Marks anchor the front four from their defensive tackle positions. How the 2020 season will play out remains an act of wishful thinking, in terms of both simply getting through the entire season and trying to gauge a particular team’s prospects for success. In both instances, the Warriors feel pretty good about their position. “We’ve tried to control what we can this summer and our guys are as excited as they’ve ever been to get out there,” Price said.

Projected Offensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: COLE KOZLOWSKI, JR. OR BRETT PATTEN, SO. RB: JHAMIER HOWARD, SO.; PAT WOODFORD, JR.; JACK BURNS, JR.; FB: SHAYNE LEDDY, SR; RYAN BURNS, JR; CHRISTIAN MASONIUS, SR. TE: DYLAN LEBLANC, JR.; ANDREW SOLOMON, SR. WR: ROBERT PENDERGIST, JR., 3RS; JACK COLLINS, SR., RS; ALSO MIKE ANTONUCCI, JR., SHEA KEATING, JR.; JACK DETTLINGER, SO., DAN HYLAND, JR. & MIKE PRESBREY, JR. LT: ROB MARKS, JR., RS

“They are working hard and competing in every rep. I’m just hoping they get a chance to get out there. The rest will take care of itself.”

Player to Watch:

Cole Kozlowski, Jr., QB/SS A returning starter on the defensive side as the strong safety, Kozlowski is also competing for the starting quarterback position. As a junior, he appears to have an edge at winning the job under center but could be an impact player at multiple positions on the offensive side. “He’s a complete football player who could play anywhere on the field,” Price said. “He’s a very intense competitor and a very coachable kid.

has that combination of good hands, good feet and he plays with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder,” Price said. “He’s going to be pretty good.”

Top Position Group: Skill positions Depth and youth don’t often go together, but that is the combination Manasquan has at its skill positions. The Warriors have three-year starting wideout Robert Pendergist and 6-foot5 senior Jack Collins on the flank ahead of a host of solid underclassmen receivers. Jhamier Howard is a promising sophomore tailback in a backfield that is buoyed by seniors Shayne Leddy and Christian Masonius.

Player Under the Radar: JJ Cavanagh, Jr., OL/DL “He did a great job working on himself in the offseason and

LG: C: RG: RT:

JJ CAVANAGH, JR., RS TOMMY RICE, SR., RS OR JOHN FONSECA, JR. DOM RAZZINO, JR., RS TOMMY RICE, SR., RS OR JOHN FONSECA, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: JACK BURNS, JR.; JOE FRANKLIN, JR. DT: JJ CAVANAGH, JR., RS; ED DINGLER, JR.; SPENCER MULY, JR. DT: ROB MARKS, JR., RS; JON FONSECA, JR. DE: DOM RAZZINO, JR.; ANDREW SOLOMON, SR.; OLB: SHAYNE LEDDY, SR., RS; TREVOR WELLS, SR.

MLB: DYLAN LEBLANC, JR., RS; TOMMY RICE, SR.; JACK O’SHEA, SO. OLB: RYAN BURNS, JR., RS; ALEX PILATOS, SR.; JACK O’SHEA, SO. CB: ROBERT PENDERGIST, JR., 3RS; JHAMIER HOWARD, SO. CB: CHRISTIAN MASONIUS, SR., RS; PAT WOODFORD, JR., RS; SS: COLE KOZLOWSKI, JR., RS; JACK DETTLINGER, SO. FS: JACK COLLINS, SR., RS; SHEA KEATING, JR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

ROBERT PENDERGIST, JR. OR JACK DETTLINGER, SO. CHRISTIAN MASONIUS, SR., RS

Playing

for

Today

Ifive years of his tenure as head coach, Jason Dagato has focused in on the long-term goal of getting the t has been two decades since the Marlboro football team was part of the NJSIAA Playoffs and for the first

Head

Coach:

Jason Dagato 7th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 16-54 Assistant

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2018: 4-6 2017: 3-7 2015: 1-9

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Trevor Navarro (Sr., LT/DE) and Dan Mihnuk (Jr., RT/DE) With an entirely new offensive and defensive lines, Marlboro will need a whole group of players to emerge, but Navarro and Mihnuk will be especially crucial as two players projected to play both ways heading into week one. Navarro is the senior of the duo and should be ready to take on the challenge while he also handles the punting duties. “You never want to think about replacing a great player with one guy,” Dagato said. “You always want to see multiple guys step up and that’s what we’ve seen from this group so far. They have put in a lot of work over the summer and they all have a great attitude. We might be limited in what we can do at practice, but as long as you have that good attitude, you can find a way to keep getting better.”

X -FACTOR:

Up Front

Marlboro has the pieces in place to make plays on offense and defend against the air attack, but that can only go so far if the Mustangs can’t assemble a competent, cohesive line on at least one side of the ball. After boasting a senior-loaded line on both sides last year, this group of offensive and defensive linemen are total unknowns, so if they catch on quickly, Marlboro’s ceiling could be especially high this season. “It’s been hard to evaluate them because we haven’t been allowed to practice with the kind of contact you need to develop a good line,” Dagato said. “The physicality you develop by doing those contactheavy drills in practice is how you make good linemen and we have had to find ways to evaluate and develop without that contact.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Zach Mendez, Jr., RB/SS Mendez played back-up to leading rusher and touchdown-scorer Vinny Spitalieri (720 yards, seven touchdowns) and will now assume the lead-back role as he ascends into his junior season. Marlboro has produced quality running backs over the past decade and while the offensive line clearing the way for him will be an x-factor, Mendez has the profile to be the next well-rounded Mustangs tailback.

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

Coaches:

Reid Stapp (Def. Coordinator/RB/LB), Jim Papalia (Special Teams/RB/DL), Mike Seber (Passing Coordinator/QB/DB), Bill Cook (OL/DL), Sam Iacobone (WR/DB), Tom Caporale (WR/DB/Freshman), Cory Varrial (Freshman), William Oplinger (Freshman), Anais Mixson (Athletic Trainer)

2019: 3-7 2016: 3-7

Mustangs back into the postseason field.

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 9

Sat. Oct. 17

colts neck

Freeholld Twp.

Freeholld Boro

Noon

7:00 pm

Noon

Sat. Oct. 24

Sat. Oct. 31

FRI. Nov. 6

Howell

Holmdel 7:00 pm

vs.

Jackson Lib. noon

vs.

Noon

vs.

With a shortened season, a modified NJSIAA postseason, no championships to play for and the specter of COVID-19 hovering over this scholastic season, long-view goals don’t have a place for the Mustangs or any other team. There is only week one and that might be a blessing in disguise for Dagato’s team. “I think you always want to get your players to focus on today and just thinking about preparing for the next game,” Dagato said. “You don’t want them thinking about the playoffs in September – you want them working on being as good as they can be today and hopefully, at the end of the season, you’re in position to play some meaningful games. I think with the pandemic, with all the uncertainty that’s out there, the kids realize that nothing is guaranteed and all they can do is go out and take advantage of the opportunity that’s right in front of them, whether that’s a practice, a workout or a game.” Marlboro has grown far more competitive as Dagato’s tenure has progressed and despite coming up shy of .500 in each of those seasons, the Mustangs have been within a score of the lead in the fourth quarter in all but four games over the past two seasons. An improved week-by-week focus could push Marlboro to the .500 mark, as could its passing attack. Senior quarterback Nick Wright returns with experienced weapons Andrew Spinello, Caden Lawless and Zach Mendez, but will need an untested group of linemen to emerge to push Marlboro over the top.

S R QB N ICK W RIGHT

Player to Watch:

Nick Wright, Sr., QB/CB As a junior, Wright finished No. 13 at the Shore in passing yards with 1,107 yards and posted a solid 10 touchdown passes to six interceptions – a strong base upon which to build heading into 2020. Wright also has skill players with whom he is comfortable – both in the backfield and out wide. The second-year starter is now a senior leader as well, both under center and in the secondary, so he will have a significant say in the success of the Mustangs this fall. “We can do a lot of different things with Nick,” Dagato said. “He does well with play action, he can drop back, sprint out and he keeps getting better understanding the game. We have some good targets on the outside for Nick to throw to and if the line can give him some time, he has shown he can make plays.”

Players Under the Radar: Andrew Spinello (Sr., WR/LB) and

Caden Lawless (Sr., WR/DB) Both Spinello and Lawless have a chance to combine to take the Marlboro pass attack to the next level as experienced, senior wide-receivers. On top of that, they are key cogs on the defensive side, with Spinello playing outside linebacker in Marlboro’s 3-4 base defense. The combination of athleticism, skill and toughness make the duo one to watch within Marlboro’s experiencerich pass attack.

“All three (Wright, Spinello and Lawless) are good athletes, hard workers and smart kids,” Dagato said. “We’re going to depend on them a lot. Spinello and Lawless have both shown flashes of being great playmakers and it’s going to be on us as a coaching staff to find ways to get them the ball and give them a chance to flash more.”

Top Position Group: Skill Positions If Marlboro has the kind of season it would like to, the Mustangs will win games behind a group of backs and receivers that puts up big numbers and a quarterback in Nick Wright who puts himself in the conversation with the most productive signalcallers at the Shore. That could also translate to the secondary, where the Mustangs will use Wright, Mendez and Lawless in three of its four defensive-back spots.

Projected Offensive Starters:

OLB: DYLAN CONSELYEA, JR.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) )

ILB: JOE MUCCI, JR.

QB: NICK WRIGHT, SR. RS

ILB: BRYDEN DELANEY, SR. RS

RB: ZACH MENDEZ, JR.

OLB: ANDREW SPINELLO, SR. RS

RB: DYLAN MICCOLI, SO.

CB: JOE WEISS, JR.

WR: ANDREW SPINELLO, SR. RS

CB:

WR: CADEN LAWLESS, SR. RS

SS: ZACH MENDEZ, JR. RS

TE: DYLAN CONSELYEA, SR.

FS: CADEN LAWLESS, SR. RS

LT:

NICK WRIGHT, SR. RS

TREVOR NAVARRO, SR.

LG: JOE MUCCI, JR.; PETER BUDVEIT, SO.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

ZACH SCHNEIDER, SR.

TREVOR NAVARRO, SR.

MIKE RYAN, SR.

RG: ANGELO TROPEANO, SR.; PETER BUDVEIT, SO. RT: DAN MIHNUK, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

Photos by:

NT: DAN MIHNUK, JR. DT: CHRIS GAZZILLO, JR. DE: TREVOR NAVARRO, SR.

S R . OL T REVOR N AVARRO

From Paws to Claws Abig turnaround, albeit at a program that has a richer tradition of championship football than fter a successful run at Allentown, Jay Graber came to Matawan hoping to orchestrate another

Head

Coach:

Jay Graber, 2nd season Career

Record:

Assistant

Allentown previously had. After one year, the Huskies are eying a second straight winning season and have a wave of young talent ready to help them get there. By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

66-38

Coaches:

Player to Watch:

Mohammed El Sherbini (Def. Coordinator/OL/LB), Scott Messler (OL/DL), Bob Wietecha (WR/DB), Robert Cordasco (OL/DL/Freshman), Nick Christathakis (TE/FB/Freshman), Anthony SanFilippo (RB/DB), Matt Gaetz (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-4 2016: 2-8

2018: 1-8 2015: 7-4

2017: 2-8 (L-R) NICK GLENDE, ADAM COLEMAN, MARVIN LOVINSKY, DAVID ONUOHA & DENNIS BUONAGURA

fri. Oct. 2 O ffense: D efense:

FRI. Oct. 9 @

FRI. Oct. 16 vs.

Multiple

Ocean

Red bank

St. John Vianney

4-3

7:00 pm

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Adam Coleman, Sr., RB/FS Coleman is a returning starter on defense and will be a leader in a promising secondary, but his new role as the team’s No. 1 tailback has him attempting to replace the production of 2020 graduate Marc Gagneron. After Gagneron put up 900-plus yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Huskies, Coleman will look to be a steady backfield option to complement the team’s rising junior quarterback.

X -FACTOR:

Playmakers

Matawan has talent and experience up front on both sides of the ball, three promising linebackers, an up-and-coming quarterback and a seasoned secondary. Where the Huskies have a lot to prove is in their playmaking ability, with most of last year’s top yard-gainers gone to graduation. The top two rushers and the team’s No. 1 receiver all moved on to graduation and while the secondary is experienced and senior Marvin Lovinsky collected four sacks from the cornerback spot, the group didn’t have a player with more than two interceptions.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Joe Bodin, So., MLB Matawan could have as many as five sophomore starters on opening day and the spots on the depth chart in which the youth jumps out are at middle linebacker and the two tackle positions (more on that below). Bodin takes over at middle linebacker as a sophomore and will play in between two experienced, proven players in Chris Hayes and David Onuoha (69 tackles in 2019) while replacing leading tackler Vincent Guarino (101 tackles). “This sophomore group played together on the freshman team last year and they have really committed to what we’re preaching,” Graber said. “They have given themselves a chance to contribute this year and it’s going to be up to them to keep working through the process of getting better.”

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Raritan

Holmdel

Keyport

7:00 pm

The Huskies – like every team in N.J. – won’t have a chance to get back into the playoffs – at least not a traditional playoffs – this season but with six regular season games and possibly two more in the NJSIAA’s modified postseason, Matawan has a chance to build on last year’s 5-4 showing that was sparked by a motivated group of seniors.

Projected Offensive Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) )

QB: RB: FB/TE: WR: WR: TE: LT: LG:

DENNIS BUONAGURA, JR. RS ADAM COLEMAN, SR. CHRIS HAYES, SR. RS JOE HEGEL, SR. RS ANDREW FANELLI, SO. KYLE HALLIBURTON, JR. NICK WINZER, SO. MATT BAUER, SR. RS

“Last year, we had a very motivated group of seniors who really committed to turning the program around and finishing their high-school careers on a positive note,” Graber said. “The younger guys who were around them got to see that commitment and it’s carried over to their offseason. This has obviously been a unique summer but the kids have done a good job controlling what they can control.” While those seniors are gone, the Huskies still return starters at 14 positions including kicker and will work a promising group of five sophomores into the mix. Among the returning group is junior quarterback Dennis Buonagura and with a big step forward from the returning signal-caller, the Huskies could make the 2020 season a fruitful one. So what would a fruitful season look like at Matawan? “We never really talk about long-term expectations with the kids, even in normal seasons,” Graber said. “We always try to work on those things that make a team better every day and hopefully, if we stay with the process, it will show on the field and in our results.”

C: RG: RT:

BALDEMAR ROJAS, SR. RS NICK GLENDE, SR. RS ZION SPENCE, SO. RS

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB:

BRANDON MCCORMACK, SR. RS NICK GLENDE, SR. RS TIM RYF, JR. TYLER LUGO, SR. CHRIS HAYES, SR. RS

Dennis Buonagura, Jr., QB Buonagura took his lumps as a sophomore quarterback, throwing 12 interceptions to his seven touchdowns, but laid the groundwork to be one of the Shore’s more effective passers in 2020. He is back with more size (6-foot-1, 185 pounds), a better grasp of the offense and a dependable offensive line behind which to operate. “Every kid is different but a lot happens in a year, especially for a quarterback going from sophomore to junior year,” Graber said. “Dennis has gotten taller, he has worked hard and he has changed his body to where he is stronger and more athletic, which should help him in a lot of ways.”

Player Under the Radar:

Brandon M cCormack, Sr., DE Matawan should be a lot to handle on both lines and McCormack is the player opposing offensive coordinators will have to be aware of leading up to a matchup vs. Matawan. As a junior, McCormack chased down eight sacks, which was tied for 14th in the Shore Conference.

Top Position Group:

Offensive Line The Huskies return four big dogs up front and add a fifth to what should be a capable unit. At 6foot-5, 280 pounds, sophomore Nick Winzer fits the profile of a left tackle despite his youth and will play opposite of 6-1, 225-pound returning starter Zion Spence. The two sophomores will bookend three senior interior linemen (Matt Bauer, Baldemar Rojas and Nick Glende) on a good front five that should continue to get better.

MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

JOE BODIN, SO. DAVID ONUOHA, JR. RS MARVIN LOVINSKY, SR. RS NAZIR ABDUL-GHAFFAR, SR. AIDAN GLENDE, SO. ADAM COLEMAN, SR. RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters : K: P:

ANDREW MYERSON, SR. RS ANDREW MYERSON

Dei

for

Redemption

Sbecome a non-public power in N.J. and a perennial contender for the No. 1 spot in the Shore Conference.

ince Dino Mangiero got to Mater Dei Prep as the Seraphs head coach in 2016, the Middletown school has

Head

Coach:

DINO MANGIERO, 5th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 148-42 Assistant

Coaches:

Offense: Taylor Groh, Jesse Ascolese, Andy Eastwood, Chris Parker, Naji Johnson (JV/Freshman);

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

sat. Oct. 17

red Bank Cath.

Midd. north

7:00 pm

Midd. South 1:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

sat. Oct. 31

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Long Branch

Rumson 1:00 pm

Manalapan 7:00 pm

vs.

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

a b o u t t h a t . W e ’ r e doing what we think is right for our kids.”

Defense: Shannon Hoadley, Jake Pew, Sam Eisenstadt, Pete Ottaviano, Gary Lindor (JV/Freshman) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 8-4 2018:10-2 2016: 12-0 2015: 3-7

2017: 8-2

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

4-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Secondary The running backs have a lot to prove with the graduation of Ingram, but that is just one player to replace. Lewis and Isaiah Noguera were key losses in the receiving corps but Buntin and shifty speedster Kyree Drake will be capable replacements. The linebackers have some questions as well, but also have a pair of returning starters in Cooper and Jahqual Talmadge as well as returning reserve Khalil Elamin. That leaves the secondary, which should also feature some promising prospects but will be a mostly-unproven group as starters. Cornerback Elijah Johnston some time as a starting cornerback in 2019 and will be relied upon to help offset the loss of Lewis and Noguera at safety and Tahaj Parland at cornerback. Senior and Montclair Immaculate transfer Kody Gibbs will take care of the duties at free safety, while juniors Timothy Thomas and Tyler Malik-Ishmael jump in at corner and strong safety, respectively.

X -FACTOR:

Alex Brown, Jr., QB Brown showed ﬂashes of brilliance as a sophomore and in most games, was able to rely on a strong running game. Other times, Brown played like a sophomore and ﬁrst-year varsity starter – probably because that is what he was. Now a junior, Brown is a more physical athlete, has some running ability to go with an accurate throwing arm, will play behind a seasoned offensive line and still has weapons at his disposal. “We’re in a different system this year, so he is in the process of adjusting to that,” Mangiero said. “Last year was more of a run-and-shoot offense and this year will be more of a traditional spread. Last year, everything was on the coaches as far as changing the plays but this year, he’s going to have his little bag of tools out there to help him change the plays on his own and get us into the play we want. He is more mature after playing as a tenth-grader with tenth-grade linemen blocking for him.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Jaijon Cross, So., RB In addition to replacing Lewis in the passing game, Mater Dei will have to find a way to make up for the immense production lost with the graduation of Malik Ingram, the Shore’s second-leading rusher in 2019 (1,480 yards, 21 touchdowns). Junior Ra’Jahn Cooper returns with some varsity experience and is prepared for a look at starter, as is Cross as a promising sophomore.

1:00 pm

The Seraphs won the NJSIAA Non-Public Group II championship in Mangiero’s first season and have been to three straight sectional championship games – the last two of which came in Group III. It was not until last year, however, that they had the schedule to match their stature. Faced with far and away the toughest schedule in the history of the program, Mater Dei faltered with a three-game losing streak during the middle of the year, but rebounded to again reach the Non-Public Group III championship game, where they fell for the second straight year in a game decided by one score. “I joke that the short season is probably a good thing for me,” Mangiero said. “We’ve lost three straight championship games and lost by four points and two points the last two years. If we got to another championship and lost again, they would probably fire me.” While the Seraphs and their 11 returning starting players would jump at the chance to play in another state sectional final, this year’s shortened season won’t offer them or anyone else that opportunity. They will, however, still have an opportunity to make their case as the Shore’s best team by running through another schedule that features a who’s-who of some of the area’s best teams. “Around here, we’re trying to win every game,” Mangiero said. “Whatever games we get to play, we’re going to try to win them. That’s been our mindset since I got here and when you look at this year, you don’t know how many games you’re going to get so it’s even more important to focus

on what’s right in front of us.” The season opens with Red Bank Catholic and it is safe to assume the Caseys are the highest-profile opener in Mater Dei’s football history. “This is by far the toughest opener we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Mangiero said. “It’s a tough year for it because of all the restrictions. We’re taking (COVID-19) very seriously and it’s impacted h o w m u c h we’re able to get done. You just hope that everybody else is taking the same precautions and that it’s a level playing field, but if other teams are getting more done and are further along, we can’t w o r r y

Among the other teams on this year’s schedule is Rumson-Fair Haven – one of the teams that beat the Seraphs during their three-game skid and this time around, the two Shore powers will clash in the penultimate game of the season on Halloween at Mater Dei Prep. The Mater Dei team that will try to build on last year’s 8-4 season shapes up differently than last year’s team because of some graduated personnel, but the players who remain and are joining the fray don’t represent much, if any, of a drop-off.

Player to Watch: Dom Giudice, Sr., C/DE The Michigan-bound defensive end is coming off a huge junior season in which he became one of the Shore’s best players as a junior and landed big-time FBS offers that eventually netted a signed letter of intent to play for the Wolverines. Giudice’s junior season included 24 sacks and 43 tackles for loss – and 26 quarterback pressures for a Mater Dei defense that ranked among the Shore’s best while playing in the conference’s most competitive division. “He is a big, strong high school football player and he is a better kid than he is a player,”

J R . QB A L E X B R O W N

Mangiero said. “He is a high-character kid, he comes from a great family and we all love to be around him. You don’t get many opportunities to coach a kid like him in high school.”

“Replacing Clarence is going to be a big deal,” Mangiero said. “We have some athletic wide receivers and corners to help us out and they’re all capable of doing a good job for us. Naran is a key guy at wide receiver and he’ll be a big target in the passing game.”

Player Under the Radar: Naran Buntin, Sr., WR Mater Dei had the Shore’s leading receiver last year in Clarence Lewis (39 catches, 636 yards, five touchdowns), who is now at Notre Dame and playing as a freshman, so Buntin flew under the radar last year. A year older and with more time to work with quarterback Alex Brown, Buntin is in line to be Mater Dei’s top downfield threat before he heads to play at Kent State next season.

Top Position Group: The Lines Both offensive and defensive lines are packed with returning starters – one of the reasons to believe in breakout seasons for Mater Dei’s running backs, as well as Brown. Giudice will lead both lines at center and defensive end while senior Rakim Cooper returns at left tackle and at tackle in Mater Dei’s four-man front. Senior Anthony Perez and junior Vincent Ciulla are both back to handle the right side of the line and junior Terry Charles fills in the open left guard spot. Senior Elijah Wilson is also back on defense, lining up at the other tackle alongside Cooper. The new

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

S O . RB J A I J O N C R O S S

QB: RB: RB: WR: WR: TE: RT: RG:

ALEX BROWN, JR. RS RA’JAHN COOPER, JR. JAIJON CROSS, SO. NARAN BUNTIN, SR., RS KYREE DRAKE, JR., RS TAFARI THOMPSON, JR., RS ANTHONY PEREZ, SR., RS VINCENT CIULLA, JR., RS

starter on the defensive line is junior Tafari Thompson, another tall, athletic edge rusher to follow in the footsteps of Boston College sophomore Shittah Sillah. Thompson will also be a receiving threat at tight end. “We were really young on the line last year, plus we had a tenth-grader at quarterback, so there were some things we couldn’t do because of how inexperienced we were,” Mangiero said. “Now that we have seniors and juniors in there, they understand their responsibilities. It’s probably fair to say this will be the best offensive line we have had while I have been here.”

C: DOM GIUDICE, SR., RS LG: TERRY CHARLES, JR. LT: RAKIM COOPER, SR., RS

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB:

DOM GIUDICE, SR., RS RAKIM COOPER, SR., RS ELIJAH WILSON, SR., RS TAFARI THOMPSON, JR. RA’JAHN COOPER, JR. RS

Photo by:

MLB: KHALIL ELAMIN, SR. OLB: JAHQUAL TALMADGE, SR., RS CB: ELIJAH JOHNSTON, SR. RS CB: TIMOTHY THOMAS, JR. SS: TYLER MALIK-ISHMAEL, JR. FS: KODY GIBBS, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K/P: JAKE JACOBSEN, JR.

Back

Work

WMiddletown North will be looking to snap a streak of two losing seasons and get back to being a team ith multiple starters back on both sides of the ball and some promising newcomers at key positions,

Head

Coach:

STEVE BUSH, 8th season (14th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 118-85-1 Assistant

ranked in the Shore Conference Top 10.

By:

Coaches:

managing editor

Geoff Massimini (Defensive Coordinator/LB/TE); Justin Bloss (OL/DL); Randy Kalman (Special Teams Coordinator/WR/DB); Justin McGhee (RB/OLB); Larry McKnight (OL/DL); Dana Webster (freshmen); Mike Brandow (freshmen); Danielle Kanski (athletic trainer).

rare distinction of starting as a freshman but also led the team in sacks with 6.5. Seniors Andrew Zamor (270 pounds) and Gordon Toth (6-foot-2, 235) bring good size to the nose tackle position in the Lions’ 33 stack defense.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-7 2016: 9-3

2018: 2-8 2017:5-5 2015: 7-4

(L-R) NICO CERBO, ADAM IBRAIMOVIC, QUENTIN SOLER & JAKE JANKOWSKI

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

3-3 Stack

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Lucas Cerbo, Jr., OLB Two of the Lions’ three linebackers return, but the one loss is a big one. Last season, Eddie Farrell made 134 tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks to be selected as the Constitution Division Defensive Player of the Year. Cerbo will try to step into a starting role and help the Lions’ linebackers remain a strength of the defense.

X -FACTOR:

Avoiding injuries Injuries at various positions have really hurt Middletown North the past few years. With a daunting schedule in front of them, the Lions can’t afford to be missing any of their best players and still hope to compete with the top-tier teams.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Tommy Giannone, Jr., QB At 6-foot-6, Giannone brings great size to the quarterback position as the Lions look to replace the graduated Nick Ferreira, who was sixth in the Shore in passing yards last season.

Bob Badders

fri. Oct. 2 @

FRI. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

vs.

Rumson 7:00 pm

Mater dei 7:00 pm

long branch 7:00 pm

Fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30 @

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

red Bank Cath.

Midd. South 7:00 pm

freehold 7:00 pm

7:00 pm

vs.

Since reaching the NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 final in 2016, Middletown North has slid back with seasons of five, two and four wins. To reverse that trend, they’ll look to an experienced defense and a standout running back along with the hopefulness that a first-year starting quarterback can be a difference-maker. As a sophomore last season, Brian Haddow was a pleasant surprise at running back and on defense, rushing for 737 yards and six touchdowns and recording 80 tackles as a safety. Still just a junior, Haddow gives Middletown North’s spread offense a reliable threat in the backfield. That should ease the burden of

whichever player wins the starting quarterback job, although 6-foot-6 junior Tommy Giannone appears to be the guy. The wide receiver group lost a good one in second-team All-Shore player Matt Spencer but returns senior Quentin Soler, who was third in the Shore in catches with 37 and finished with 382 yards and 2 touchdowns. The tight end room has plenty of size with 6-foot-3, 250-pound senior Logan Halloran and 6-foot-5, 215-pound junior Zach Searight. he offensive line is also a well-sized group and includes senior Nico Cerbo as the returning starter at left tackle and senior Adam Ibraimovic as the starting right guard. A big key for Middletown North’s offense will be finishing drives. Despite having very good yardage statistics, the Lions scored just 12.9 points per game, which was 36th in the Shore. The defense, however, had a pretty solid year in allowing 18.7 points per game and will return six starters. Cerbo is a returning starter at defensive end along with 6-foot-5 sophomore Jack Lopez, who not only had the

Although Middletown North will have to replace Constitution Division Defensive Player of the Year Eddie Farrell at linebacker, both senior Jake Jankowski and senior Joey Kang return after solid junior years. The secondary has three returning starters with Soler at cornerback,

J R . RB B R I A N H A D D O W

Haddow at free safety and senior Jonathan Miranda at strong safety. Making strides on the field will be on thing. Having it reflect in their record is another, however, when you consider the Lions’ schedule includes Middletown South, Mater Dei Prep, Rumson-Fair Haven, Red Bank Catholic, Long Branch and Freehold.

Player to Watch:

Brian Haddow, Jr., RB/FS Injuries forced Haddow into starting roles as a sophomore and he delivered about as well as Middletown North could have hoped with 737 yards rushing and six touchdowns along with 80 tackles and one interception on defense. This is a year where he could continue to emerge as one of the Shore’s top two-way players.

Player Under the Radar:

finishing second in the Shore in tackles and recording 5.5 sacks. Jankowski had a pretty good year in his own right, making 97 stops with 3.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss and one interception. He looks to be the leader of the Lions’ defense this year.

Top Position Group: Secondary Three starters return with Quentin Soler (55 tackles, 2 INT) at cornerback, Jonathan Miranda (69) tackles) at strong safety and Brian Haddow (80 tackles, 1 INT) at free safety.

Jake Jankowski, Sr., MLB Eddie Farrell was the Constitution Division Defensive Player of the Year last season while

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: NT: DE: OLB: MLB: OLB: CB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

QB: TOMMY GIANNONE, JR.; R.J. KERNAN, SO.; DOM SCERBO, SR. RB: BRIAN HADDOW, JR., RS; LUCAS CERBO, JR. TE: LOGAN HALLORAN, SR.; ZACH SEARIGHT, JR. WR: QUENTIN SOLER, SR., RS; DJ WILLIS, SR.; JONATHAN MIRANDA, SR.; LEVIN WILSON, JR.; COLIN COSTIGAN, JR.; ALEX PEREZ, SR. LT: NICO CERBO, SR., RS LG: GORDON TOTH, SR.; CONNOR CLARK, JR.; ANDREW ZAMOR, SR. C: GIUSEPPE SALANDRA, SR.; KARL STRAUCH, JR. RG: ADAM IBRAIMOVIC, SR., RS RT: JACK LOPEZ, SO.; ADAM CONKLIN, JR.

NICO CERBO, SR., RS ANDREW ZAMOR, SR.; GORDON TOTH, SR. JACK LOPEZ, SR., RS LUCAS CERBO, JR. JAKE JANKOWSKI, SR., RS JOEY KANG, SR., RS; ZACH SEARIGHT, JR. QUENTIN SOLER, SR., RS; DJ WILLIS, SR. LEVI WILSON, JR. JONATHAN MIRANDA, SR., RS BRIAN HADDOW, JR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: LOGAN HALLORAN, SR., RS; ALEX PEREZ, SR. P: LOGAN HALLORAN, SR., RS; ALEX PEREZ, SR.

S R . TE/K/P L OGAN H ALLORAN Photos by:

Almost Famous

Asides of the ball. This year’s Eagles team may very well end up being the same, but entering the 2020 s a perennial state-title contender, Middletown South is usually loaded with All-Shore talent on both

Head

Coach:

STEVE ANTONUCCI, 23rd season Career

Record:

Assistant

season, Middletown South is kind of a no-name group by its usual standards.

195-54

By:

Al Bigos (Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator); Joe Trezza (DB/WR); Nick Trezza (OL/DL); Steve Roberts (Special Teams Coordinator/DL); Marc Tomo (LB/TE); Jeff Martin (RB/DB); Tuck Isherwood (quality control); Rob Murchie (freshmen); Kevin Higgins (freshmen); Zach Even-Esh (strength coach); Stacy White (athletic trainer).

in at running back with freshman Donovan Summey also pushing for playing time. The quarterback battle is between junior Tom Schork, who was a starting wideout last season, and sophomore Madden Stanley.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-5 2016: 7-4

2018: 8-3 2017: 5-5 2015: 12-0

( L - R ) J OE S TANZIONE , M ATT M AURO , T OM S CHORK , A LEX H IGGINS & B RENDAN B IGOS

O ffense:

Multiple

spread

D efense:

3-4

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

sat. Oct. 17 @

Long Branch 7:00 pm

red Bank Cath. 7:00 pm

Mater Dei 1:00 pm

more players who were second-team all-division selections. There are six starters back on offense and seven back on defense, including three players who will be three-year starters. There may not be any household names, but there is not a lack of talent.

It isn’t a direct replacement, but Mauro will step into positions that were occupied by first-team All-Shore player Chris Lotito last season. Lotito was one of the Shore’s most versatile players with contributions at running back, safety, quarterback and on special teams.

Fri. Oct. 23

“Mauro has stepped up to be the No. 1 guy at running back and he has legit speed,” Antonucci said. “He has a great burst and if he gets in to the open he’ll run forever.”

“I think a lot of people look at us and see that we have some guys back but no big names, and it’s true, we really don’t,” said Middletown South head coach Steve Antonucci. “We don’t have a big-name tailback or that one name who everybody knows, but we do have many guys who can become that.” This year’s roster features senior linebacker Liam Murphy, who earned first-team all-division status in the elite American Division last season, plus three

Senior Joe Stanzione will be a three-year starter at tight end, as will senior Luke Albrecht at wide receiver. Senior speedster Matt Mauro will step

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Matt Mauro, Sr., RB/SS

X -FACTOR:

The team is high on what junior Tom Schork can bring to the quarterback position. If he ends up being a dynamic dual-threat playmaker the Eagles could have one of the best offenses in the Shore.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Logan Colleran, So., WR With Luke Albrecht the lone returning starter among the wide receivers, Colleran has a chance to see significant playing time.

rumson 7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Midd. North 7:00 pm

Wall 7:00 pm

Defensively, Middletown South’s 3-4 unit has all three linemen back as three-year starters and three out of four spots in the secondary manned by returning starters. Just as with the offense, the Eagles’ defensive line looks very strong with Bigos and Stanzione as the ends and senior Ian Rahil as the nose tackle.

“I feel really good about this group,” Antonucci said. The offensive line looks to be a major strength in Middletown South’s multiple spread offense, starting with senior threeyear starter Brendan Bigos at right tackle. Senior Alex Higgins returns as the starting right guard and junior Jake Williamson is back as the starting center. Junior Jack Latore looks to be the left tackle while junior Matt Cody is working at left guard along with Aidan Caruso, Ian Schwerdt and St. John Vianney transfer Dante Miranda.

_______________________________

Quarterback play

Bob Badders managing editor

Coaches:

JR. QB TOM SCHORK

Murphy returns as a starting inside linebacker and will be flanked by junior Jack Willi. The outside linebackers look to be junior Mark Tardy and senior Nick Trezza with senior Nick Altilio and sophomore Jason Wagner also in the mix. Schork and junior Matt Grab are back as the starting cornerbacks and senior Tom Mauro is the returning starter at strong safety. The free safety will be either Albrecht or senior Tom DeMarco. Middletown South had maybe the Shore’s toughest schedule last season when it finished 5-5 and the same argument can be made this season with games against Long Branch, Mater Dei, Rumson-Fair Haven, Wall, Red Bank Catholic and Middletown North. “It’s punishing week-in and week-out,” Antonucci said. “If we go through the same injuries and attrition as last year it’s going to be a struggle, but I think that will be a challenge for everybody.”

Projected Offensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: TOM SCHORK, JR., RS OR MADDEN STANLEY, SO. RB: MATT MAURO, SR.; DONOVAN SUMMEY, FR. TE/FB: JOE STANZIONE, SR., 3RS; JASON WAGNER, SO. WR: LUKE ALBRECHT, SR., 3RS; FRANCIS BROWN, SR.; MATT GRAB, JR., LOGAN COLLERAN, SO. LT: JACK LATORE, JR. LG: MATT CODY, JR.; DANTE MIRANDA, JR.; AIDAN CARUSO, JR.; IAN SCHWERDT, JR. C: JAKE WILLIAMSON, JR., RS RG: ALEX HIGGINS, SR., RS; DANTE MIRANDA, JR. RT: BRENDAN BIGOS, SR., 3RS

Player to Watch:

Tom Schork, Jr., QB/CB Schork was a starting wide receiver last season and a second-team all-division selection but will move to quarterback this year. He is competing with sophomore Madden Stanley but appears to have a leg up. “He whistles the ball all over the place,” Antonucci said. “He can throw it, he can run it, and in our offense he’s going to be a pain in the butt. He’s going to be a good one.”

Player Under the Radar: Joe Stanzione, Sr., TE/DE Stanzione is will be a two-way, three-year starter and is coming off a junior year where he earned second-team all-division honors in the stacked American Division.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: NT:

BRENDAN BIGOS, SR., 3RS; JACK LATORE, JR. IAN RAHILL, SR., 3RS; ALEX HIGGINS, SR.; JAKE WILLIAMSON, JR. DE: JOE STANZIONE, SR., 3RS OLB: MARK TARDY, JR.; ALSO JASON WAGNER, SO.; NICK ALTILIO, SR. ILB: JACK WILLI, JR. ILB: LIAM MURPHY, SR., RS OLB: NICK TREZZA, SR CB: MATT GRAB, JR., RS CB: TOM SCHORK, JR., RS

Top Position Group: Defensive line Seniors Brendan Bigos, Joe Stanzione and Ian Rahill will all be entering their third year as starters along the defensive front and could comprise one of the Shore’s best units. “We really have six guys we think can rotate throughout the game,” Antonucci said. “You’ll see a difference with us in terms of our size and our line is pretty deep on both sides of the ball. Some guys are two-way players but we can give those guys significant breaks in the game and not lose much.”

SS: FS:

TOM MAURO, SR., RS LUKE ALBRECHT, SR. OR TOM DEMARCO, SR.

Projected S PECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

MIKE D’AMATO, SR., RS MIKE D’AMATO, SR.

SR. TE/DE JOE STANZIONE

This Time, It ’ s Personal

Heven accounting for the effect 2020 has had on everyone’s sense of time, that winning season feels like it eading into the 2020 season, Monmouth is three years removed from an elusive winning season and

Head

Coach:

DAN WENDEL, 2nd season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 0-9 Assistant

happened even longer ago.

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

Coaches:

this year. I would have liked to see a full year in the weight room and a normal summer for them, but everybody is dealing with that. Otherwise I feel good about where we’re at. We went from 14 players in the program on the day I got hired to bringing back some quality people and bring some new kids into the program.”

Jason McQuay (Def. Coordinator/LB/RB), Val Barnaby (Special Teams/DL/OL), Clifton Orwick (OL/DL), Malik Wiggins (DB/WR), Anthony Fontana (QB/DB), Billy D. Williams (Volunteer), Jeff Sfraga (Volunteer), Freshman Coaches: Anthony Guarino, Rob Micheliche & Domenic Miraglia Adam Elsieidy (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 0-9 2016: 2-8

2018: 4-5 2015: 5-5

2017: 7-4 (L-R) Y ASSIN M OORE , W ILL D IEDRICHSEN , S HELDON L ARIVIERE , M ATT F LESCHNER ,

K EONTAE W IGGINS & B RIAN Y ADLON

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

4-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Sat. Oct. 3

Sat. Oct. 10

vs.

Sat. Oct. 17 @

shore

keyport

lakewood

noon

Brian Yadlon, Sr., WR/OLB Monmouth has a lot of players back from last year’s team but there are a few key spots vacated by 2020 graduates – Aidan Convery at outside linebacker and John DeMarzo at safety and receiver to name a couple. Yadlon is a returning starter but will be adapting to a new position on offense as he moves from quarterback to wide receiver while also entering the season as a starting outside linebacker after working there last year. Fortunately for the Falcons, there is a reason Wendel does not mind asking so much from his senior.

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

Sat. nov. 7

bye

colts neck

vs.

pt. boro noon

noon

X -FACTOR:

Quiet Friday Nights There are still a number of Shore Conference teams who play their home games on Saturday afternoon, but rarely does a team go an entire season without playing under the Friday night lights. Monmouth will be one of those rare instances this season, as the Falcons will play at Lakewood and Colts Neck for their two road games with a Week 5 bye mixed in.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Frankie Harris-Thomas (Jr., WR/SS) and Julian Jones (So., RB/OLB) The two key skill players on the Monmouth offense earned some looks at different points last year but will be first-time starters this year. Harris-Thomas is looking at the third receiver spot alongside Brian Yadlon and speedster Sheldon Lariviere and will also play strong safety next to Moore on defense. Jones is recovered from a torn ACL that he suffered in the team’s second game of the season in 2019 and will challenge Wiggins for carries as a change-of-pace back who looks to be the future of Monmouth’s offense, if not a big part of its 2020 plans.

The Falcons followed it up with a 4-5 2018 season and last year, with a new head coach and only 38 players in the entire program, the team fell back to 0-9. Despite the struggles of 2019 and the challenges that come with a 2020 season played with an active virus still circulating throughout

the country, second-year Falcons coach Dan Wendel feels much better about his team heading into this season.

Once the games start, Monmouth will have a different look on offense, with seniors Yasin Moore and Brian Yadlon switching positions. Moore led the team in receiving last year but will take on the quarterback position as the Falcons look to get

For one thing, the Falcons return nine starters on offense and seven on defense from last year’s team, so the experience level is significantly improved. Additionally, Monmouth is up to 52 players in the program this season, so the depth should make for better practices and more options on game day for Wendel and his staff. “We have a group, especially on the offensive line, who I think took last year personally and they are our to prove something,” Wendel said. “The players like each other, they look out for each other and they want to work together and play better

SR. QB YASSIN MOORE

more of a running threat under center. Yadlon, meanwhile, will shift out to wide receiver. While it is the most noteworthy change to Monmouth’s personnel, it won’t be the only one for a team looking to orchestrate a quick turnaround.

Players to Watch:

Yassin Moore (Sr., QB/FS) and Keontae Wiggins, Sr., RB/CB Moore played out wide last year and led Monmouth in receiving with 273 yards on 19 catches and a receiving touchdown, while Wiggins was the top Falcons rusher with 569 yards and six touchdowns. This year, they will share a backfield as Moore moves from wide receiver to quarterback while Wiggins reprises his role as the lead back in the Monmouth offense. With Moore at quarterback, Wendel is hoping for more big plays without having to put the ball in the air.

“Moore is doing a great job at quarterback,” Wendel said. “The idea is to get him as involved in the offense as possible and we felt like the best way to do that was to have him touch the ball every play and give him a chance to do something dynamic.”

garage so he was able to lift a lot and his older brother plays football at Rowan, so he had a workout buddy,” Wendel said. “Him and Fleschner were our big growth spurt guys. Fleschner was big before but now he is every bit of 6-7 and he got a lot stronger as well.”

Players Under the Radar:

Top Position Group:

Loukas Plasteras, Jr., TE/MLB and Matt Fleschner (Sr., LG/DT) Fleschner and Plasteras grew in every way possible between 2019 and this fall, according to Wendel, and they return as two of Monmouth’s more imposing players. Fleschner is a 6-foot-7, 300-pound senior who will help anchor the interior line on both sides of the ball. Plasteras, meanwhile, grew from six-foot to 6-4 and put in the work to fill out as well. “His dad (Plasteras) built a gym in their

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB: RB: FB: WR: WR: TE: LT: LG:

YASSIN MOORE, SR. RS KEONTAE WIGGINS, SR. RS; JULIAN JONES, SO. CONNER GARCED, SR. RS SHELDON LARIVIERE, SR. RS BRIAN YADLON, SR. RS; FRANKIE HARRIS-THOMAS, JR. LOUKAS PLASTERAS, JR. RYAN ENGLISH, SR. MATT FLESCHNER, SR. RS

The Lines Both offensive and defensive lines are packed with returning starters – one of the reasons to believe in breakout seasons for Mater Dei’s running backs, as well as Brown. Giudice will lead both lines at center and defensive end while senior Rakim Cooper returns at left tackle and at tackle in Mater Dei’s four-man front. Senior Anthony Perez and junior Vincent Ciulla are both back to handle the right side of the line and junior Terry Charles fills in the open left guard spot.

C: RYAN FORSTENHAULSER, SR. RS RG: WILL DIEDRICHSEN, SR. RS RT: MATT BURRESS, SR. RS

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB:

LUCAS BONTEMPO, SO. MATT FLESCHNER, SR., RS RYAN FORSTENHAULSER, SR. MATT BURRESS, SR. BRIAN YADLON, SR., RS

MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

Senior Elijah Wilson is also back on defense, lining up at the other tackle alongside Cooper. The new starter on the defensive line is junior Tafari Thompson, another tall, athletic edge rusher to follow in the footsteps of Boston College sophomore Shittah Sillah. Thompson will also be a receiving threat at tight end. “We were really young on the line last year, plus we had a tenth-grader at quarterback, so there were some things we couldn’t do because of how inexperienced we were,” Mangiero said. “Now that we have seniors and juniors in there, they understand their responsibilities. It’s probably fair to say this will be the best offensive line we have had while I have been here.”

LOUKAS PLASTERAS, JR., RS JULIAN JONES, SO. KEONTAE WIGGINS, SR., RS SHELDON LARIVIERE, SR., RS FRANKIE HARRIS-THOMAS, JR. YASIN MOORE, SR. RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

BIAGGIO PUGGLIANO, SR.; BRANDON LIGON, JR. YASSIN MOORE, SR.

Catching

Tteams for week one of the season. No team, however, was hit as hard as Neptune, which was the lone team he COVID-19 pandemic affected every team in the summer and continues to impact the preparation of

Head

Coach:

SHANE FALLON, 1st season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 106-51 Assistant

in the Shore Conference to not conduct summer workouts in either July or August.

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

Coaches:

Justin Cella (Off. Coordinator/QB/Special Teams), Noel Kavanagh (Def. Coordinator/WR/OLB), Netanis Bean (RB/LB), Shane Bigelow (OL/DL), Jay Clark (RB/LB), Kevin Frederick (WR/DB), Frank Iachetta (OL/DL), Myson Lydett (RB/DB), Bill Pietsch (OL/DL/Special Teams), Brandon Settles (OL/DL), Jaheem Woods (QB/DB), Amanda Kelly (Athletic Trainer)

includes starting the season with home games against Jackson Memorial and Wall. “We understand we can’t waste a day because we came in so far behind and have had to play catch-up,” Fallon said. “We are using our time wisely. At this stage, we have really had to just worry about ourselves and focus on the things that we do well and the things we need to do to get better.”

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 6-4 2016: 3-7

2018: 5-5 2015: 4-6

The bright side for Neptune is that it is advanced at the quarterback position and has enough weapons to form a high-scoring offense once Fallon and his staff are able to unleash the full offense. If the Fliers can tread water during the first two weeks, they have the offensive wherewithal to make some late-season noise.

2017: 0-10

( L - R ) I S A I A H L E E K S , Z A H N I E R H O R N S B Y -C A R T E R , N I N O B U A , JUNIOR HAUGHTON & ZAIRE STEWART O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Rekai Nedab, Sr., S Jalin Butler was only a sophomore last season but showed an advanced ability to make plays at quarterback and lead a secondary at safety, so replacing the Donovan Catholic transfer is not a small task. Fortunately for the Scarlet Fliers, they will have an all-senior secondary with Nedab at safety and Hornsby-Carter and Kelly Beubrun playing corner back. Nedab will be the lone safety in the 3-5 scheme so the senior is taking on a big assignment.

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9 @

sat. Oct. 17

vs.

jackson Mem. 7:00 pm

Wall 7:00 pm

jackson Lib. 7:00 pm

Offensive Line Neptune has the quarterback, it has a stable of running backs and an army of wide receivers for Bua to throw to. The question will be whether or not Bua will have the time to make the throws and the running backs consistently have the lanes to move the chains. The two tackles – Isaias Thomas-Palafox and Zaire Stewart – are the two returning starters among the group and junior Ah’mere Booze has made a good first impression as the projected right guard. “The guys on the line are doing a good job learning and gelling and if they can just be solid, we have the talent to be a dynamic offense,” Fallon said.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Jaquan Smith, So., OLB One of four projected sophomore starters, Smith is part of an athletic, versatile set of linebackers and will pair with Isaiah Leeks as outside linebackers who can handle a wide array of responsibilities on the defensive side. He is part of an intriguing group of linebackers that includes seniors Junior Haughton and Kayvon Banks and 6-3, 275-pound junior Ra’Sun Banks on the inside. Smith can also play running back, although Neptune’s depth at the position means Smith is likely to focus on defense this year and join the running back competition next year.

vs.

Player to Watch: Nino Bua, Sr., QB

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

Sat. Nov. 7

Manaquan 1:00 pm

Pt Boro 7:00 pm

Asbury Park 10:00 am

X -FACTOR:

“There is a of senior leadership on this team and we have a lot of kids who saw time over the past two years, so that should work in our favor,” Fallon said.

vs.

eptune’s first football activity was in midSeptember when teams returned to the field for heat acclimatization and the first official day of practice on Sept. 14. New head coach Shane Fallon has had limited time to get to know his new team and has added to the built-in challenges that come with the season – which

S R . QB N I N O B U A

Bua is a third-year starting quarterback and for the first time in his Neptune career, he will enter the season as the clear-cut starting quarterback and without another quarterback taking snaps. In each of the past two seasons, Bua proved his worth as the starter and now a senior, the 5-10 signalcaller will put his wide range of skills on display for the Fliers. “Nino is a highly intelligent

player who can throw the ball to any spot on the field and at the same time, he can tuck it and run when he feels the pressure,” Fallon said. “He is a pain in the neck for opposing teams to prepare for because he is savvy enough to feel pressure and adjust. He has fantastic arm strength and some talented receivers to throw to so we think he has a chance to be an All-Shore caliber quarterback.”

Player Under the Radar: Zahnier Hornsby-Carter, Sr., WR/CB Receiver will be a position of strength for Neptune and Hornsby-Carter is a senior with whom Bua already has a good rapport. In addition to being the No. 1 receiver, Hornsby-Carter will man one of the starting cornerback positions, making him the lone two-way starter among both the wide receivers and corners.

Top Position Group: Running Backs Neptune will have plenty of speed and depth at wide receiver and with Bua at quarterback, the

Scarlet Fliers have two positional groups that should form a dangerous passing game. The running back group, however, features three starting-caliber players, led by returning starter Junior Haughton and a player in Isaiah Leeks who earned starter carries two years ago as a sophomore. Add in senior Xavier Chisolm, who missed most of last year due to injury and is bidding for a significant share this season, and Neptune will have a chance to give opponents fresh looks out of the backfield. “Junior Haughton is an outstanding leader as a senior and has plenty of experience at the position,” Fallon said. “Isaiah Leeks has been a starter and Chisolm got injured early last year and he has looked good running the ball so far.”

Projected Offensive Starters:

LG:

ANTHONY BANKS, SO.

ILB: RA’SUN BANKS, JR. RS

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

TYLER PERSICO, JR.

ILB: KAYVON BANKS, SR.

QB:

NINO BUA, SR. RS

RG:

AH’MERE BOOZE, JR.

OLB: ISAIAH LEEKS, SR. RS

RB:

JUNIOR HAUGHTON, SR. RS; XAVIER CHISOLM, SR.

RT:

ZAIRE STEWART, SR. RS

RAKAI NEDAB, SR. RS

CB:

ZAHNIER HORNSBY-CARTER, SR. RS

CB:

KELLY BEUBRUN, SR. RS

WR: ZAHNIER HORNSBY-CARTER, SR. RS WR: MATEO ANDREWS, SO.

Projected Defensive Starters:

WR: ISAIAH KELLY, SR.

DE:

DE’ONDRE BANKS, SO. RS

TE:

KEVIN HUFF, SR.

DT:

AH’MERE BOOZE, JR. RS

LT:

ISAIAS THOMAS-PALAFOX, SR. RS

DE:

ZAIRE STEWART, SR. RS

OLB: JAQUAN SMITH, SO.

SR. WR ZAHNIER HORNSBY-CARTER

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K:

THOMAS LOWE, SR.

RAYMOND ROGERS, SR.

ILB: JUNIOR HAUGHTON, SR. RS

Moving Head

ow does a team go about replacing a Shore Conference MVP who turned in one of the best individual seasons in program history and was one of New Jersey’s most dynamic talents?

Coach:

DON KLEIN, 14th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 76-52-1 Assistant

Forward By:

managing editor

Coaches:

will be entering their third year as starters.

RJ Read (Offensive Coordinator); Phil Greene (Defensive Coordinator); Jim Simonelli (Special Teams Coordinator/LB); Sam Kinningham (OL/DL); Rich Read (OL); Cornell Key (RB/DL); Dean Athans (freshmen); Jimmy Nottingham (freshmen); Katelyn Zimmerman (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 8-1 2016: 5-5

2018: 4-6 2015: 9-2

2017: 2-8

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

Multiple

(L-R) EAN SHAMROCK, EVAN PETERS, CHRIS CARASIA, JOE TERESI & ANTHONY PONTECORVO

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

fri. Oct. 16 @

Matawan 7:00 pm

Holmdel 7:00 pm

Raritan 7:00 pm

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

_______________________________

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

The running backs

Whether one player ends up getting the majority of the carries or it’s a by-committee approach, following in the footsteps of 2019 MVP Trebor Pena is a Herculean task.

X -FACTOR:

Depth

Ocean’s weakness is a thin roster that doesn’t provide a lot of depth. Losing players to injury or illness could quickly derail the season.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Shane Garrett, So., TE/DE The 6-foot-2, 220-pound sophomore will step in as a two-way starter and look to make an immediate impact as a tight end and a defensive end.

red bank 7:00 pm

vs.

st. john vianney 7:00 pm

Rumson 7:00 pm

You don’t, of course, but in the post-Trebor Pena era, Ocean is hoping it can build on last season’s success with a roster that includes several returning starters, including most of the defense. Last season, Pena, who is now a freshman at Syracuse University, led the Shore Conference in rushing 1,550 yards and 19 touchdowns on an incredible average of 11.4 yards per carry and added two receiving touchdowns. On defense as a safety, Pena made 66 tackles and intercepted six passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also returned a punt for a touchdown and was a dangerous kick returner. His 23 total touchdowns and 138 points tied for the most in the Shore Conference and those efforts were instrumental in Ocean going 8-1 and winning the Patriot Division title. The Spartans will certainly miss Pena’s presence and his big-play ability, but they hope

Bob Badders

the sum of their parts can equate to a successful season once again. The unenviable task of following Pena in the backfield of Ocean’s spread offense falls on the shoulders of juniors Christian LaRosa and Nick Martinez along with sophomore CJ Flannigan also in the mix. Another underthe-radar hole to fill is at quarterback where Ocean will need to replace threeyear starter R o b b i e N u n g e s s e r. Promising sophomore Tyler Douglas will take over and look to build on a solid freshman year at the varsity level. Douglas will have a pair of returning starting wide receivers in seniors Chris Carasia and Evan Peters. Carasia had just 13 receptions last season but was a big-play force with 326 yards and five touchdowns. The offensive line is also a veteran group with three returning starters, including senior tackles Johnny Aldarelli and Joe Teresi, who

Ocean’s offense with Pena leading the way got most of the attention last season when it was second in the Shore averaging 35.2 points per game, but the defense was also great in posting the third-best scoring average (10.8 ppg) in the Shore. Seven starters are back in the Spartans’ multiple-front defense, starting with Teresi at defensive tackle and senior Eddie Aldarelli at defensive end. Senior Anthony Pontecorvo is the returning starter at inside linebacker and senior Evan Peters is a returning starter at outside

S R . WR C H R I S C A R A S I A

linebacker. In the secondary, Carasia is a returning starter at cornerback and Douglas is the free safety after seeing time last season. “We are healthy and hungry entering the season and our senior class is motivated to continue to add to our tradition of success,” said Ocean head coach Don Klein.

Player to Watch:

Joe Teresi, Sr., RT/DT Teresi will be entering his third year as a starter and last season was a first-team all-division

selection in the Patriot Division. He will help anchor the offensive line and is a disruptive player on defense as an interior lineman.

Player Under the Radar: Chris Carasia, Sr., WR/DB It was easy to be overshadowed by Trebor Pena last season, but Carasia was a big play waiting to happen in his own right. The first-team All-Patriot Division pick averaged 25 yards per reception last year along with five touchdowns and also had two 90-plus yard pick-sixes on defense.

Top Position Group: Offensive line With three of five starters returning the offensive line is the most experienced group on the team. Klein also highlighted the skill positions with Douglas taking over at quarterback, Carasia and Peters back at wide receiver and a trio of running backs looking to make their presence felt.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB: ILB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

QB: TYLER DOUGLAS, SO, RB: CHRISTIAN LAROSA, JR.; NICK MARTINEZ, JR.; CJ FLANNIGAN, SO. TE:

SHANE GARRETT, SO.; AUSTIN CANAVAN, SR.; ETHAN BRANDIMARTE, JR.

WR: CHRIS CARASIA, SR., 3RS; EVAN PETERS, SR., RS; NICK MARTINEZ, JR.; CJ FLANNIGAN, SO. LT:

JOHNNY ALDARELLI, SR., 3R

LG: NICK ATCHISON, JR. C:

SHANE GARRETT, SO. JOE TERESI, SR., RS JOHNNY ALDARELLI, SR. EDDIE ALDARELLI, SR., RS RYAN SAVAGE, SR. ANTHONY PONTECORVO, SR., RS EVAN PETERS, SR., RS CHRIS CARASIA, SR., RS LOGAN BIANCHI, SR. CJ FLANNIGAN, SO.; NICK MARTINEZ, JR. TYLER DOUGLAS, SO.

NICK CARUSO, FR.

RG: EAN SHAMROCK, SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

RT:

K: P:

JOE TERESI, SR., 3RS

TYLER DOUGLAS, SO. TYLER DOUGLAS, SO.

S R . RT/DT J O E T E R E S I

Refueled Rockets

WRaritan coach Anthony Petruzzi would like the up-and-coming starters to take their cues from returning ith his team boasting eight new offensive starters and seven more on the defensive side of the ball,

Head

Coach:

Anthony Petruzzi, 11th season Career

Record:

Assistant

Rockets senior Luke O’Hea.

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

45-55

Coaches:

sideline to sideline and Raritan’s strong defensive line occupying the opposing offensive line, Marquez should be in for another productive fall.

Chris Damian (Off. Coordinator), Jeff Struble (QB), Dave Ernst (RB/WR), Matt Dempsey (OL), Jerome Dean (LB), Keith Rescorl (DL), Joe Schroeck (DB), Mike Nunes (Freshman), Nick Buzzo (Strength Conditioning), Nick Sparacello (Freshman), Mike Desocio (Athletic Trainer)

“We’re expecting to be pretty strong up front and Angel is going to fill the middle,” Petruzzi said. “Last year, he played alongside McCormack and did a nice job making plays. He’s a downhill kid, a smart kid, he can run with tight ends and he’s got the speed to go sideline to sideline.”

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

Player Under the Radar:

2019: 5-4 2018: 5-4 2017: 4-6 2016: 6-4 2015: 7-5 ( L - R ) P A U L D E F A L C O , A N G E L M A R Q U E Z & L U K E O’H E A

fri. Oct. 2 O ffense:

Flex Bone

D efense:

Multiple

_______________________________

FRI. Oct. 9 @

FRI. Oct. 16 vs.

Holmdel

St. John Vianney

Ocean

7:00 pm

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Luke O’Hea, Sr. (SB/FS) The reason O’Hea is filling so many big shoes is because Petruzzi already has the trust in him to do so. He’ll jump in as a primary ball-carrier and receiver for a team that is replacing its top rusher (Mike Fiore), receiver (Jaylen Smith) and passer (Steven Caponi) while also moving into a starting cornerback spot as the leader of the secondary after the Rockets graduated Dan Fiore, Kevin Haug, Chris Carton and Smith from last year. “O’Hea is going to have a much bigger role this year,” Petruzzi said. “We’re going to have a first-year quarterback, regardless of who wins out competition and we’re likely going to be pretty young at the traditional tailback position, so Luke is going to be a leader in the huddle to help those guys out.”

X -FACTOR:

Inexperience Without a lot of returning starters, Raritan appears to be a year away from being threat to win in the postseason but Petruzzi sees this group as more of a wild card than a project. The new starting group has some age and maturity - senior Chris Gonzalez, for instance, came back out to play football and will make an impact on both sides of the ball - to make up for lack of game experience and the Rockets head coach won’t put it past them to win some tough games this season

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Kieran Falzon, So. (RB/CB) With the loss to graduation of some key skill players on offense, Raritan is going to give looks to several players and one of the more exciting prospects is Falzon. O’Hea is the veteran likely to absorb the bulk of the load, but Falzon will get a chance as well and while he is a potential back of the future, he could ascend to feature-back status by the end of 2020. “He’s a second-year high-school player but he is very physical and has a ton of talent,” Petruzzi said. “He has the speed, he knows where to go and once he gets settled in, we think he’ll be a productive guy for us out of the backfield.”

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Matawan 7:00 pm

red Bank 7:00 pm

RBC 7:00 pm

Last year, O’Hea was a well-rounded slot back who approached 500 yards both rushing and receiving and jumped into a starting cornerback role late in the year and picked off a pass in his team’s 27-26 loss to Timber Creek in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III first round. Petruzzi is optimistic he has a team of players like O’Hea, ready to step in and contribute.

Projected Offensive Starters: ( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: BEN HUTCHINS, JR.; BILLY TIGAR, SO. RB: KIERAN FALZON, SO.; KEITH WALLING, JR. SLOT: LUKE O’HEA, SR. RS SLOT: JOE CAMPANELLA, JR.; DAN CALICARI, SO. WR: CHRIS GONZALEZ, SR.; JACK COLEMAN, SO. WR: ROBBIE SCAROLA, JR.; MATT AGAR SO. LT: A.J. FITZSIMMONS, SR. RS; ANTHONY ENGELS, JR. LG: PAUL DEFALCO, SR. 3RS C: MANI ABAS, JR.; DENNIS BROWN, SR.

“We’ll have a lot of first-time starters but a good amount of them have some in-game experience and familiarity with what we’re asking them to do,” Petruzzi said. “The good thing about having to meet with them remotely and being limited in what we can do on the field is we have had a lot of time to go over our assignments and concepts. We still have to see who can execute it in practice and against another team, but I think the circumstances have led to guys being a little further ahead mentally than we would usually have. Despite an overhaul to the depth chart at the skill positions and in the secondary, the Rockets are shooting for a winning record for the fifth time in six seasons, or at least a .500 mark for the sixth time in seven years.

Player to Watch:

Angel Marquez, Sr., MLB Marquez returns as the top returning tackler from last year’s Rockets team and playing alongside now-graduated Dan McCormack, he took advantage of his opportunities to make stops in the middle of the field. This year, he will be the captain in the middle and with his ability to cover the field from RG: RT:

PATRICK GULL, SR.; JACK D’ANTONIO, SO. JASON TROTTA, SO.

Paul DeFalco, Sr. (LG/DT) The lone three-year starter on the team, DeFalco clears the way as a left guard on the offensive line and clogs the road as a defensive tackle. Raritan has been a 3-4 front in recent years but is more likely to feature 4-3 looks this season, with DeFalco lined up for a more conventional defensive tackle role. “We’re keeping Paul as a three-technique this year,” Petruzzi said. “He was the nose guard in our 34 structure last year and while we’re probably going to have some different looks this year, we’re going to try to give him a chance to do what he does best.”

Top Position Group:

Defensive Line On a team without a lot of returning starters, the Raritan defensive line has some experience back as well as some senior replacements. In addition to DeFalco, junior defensive end Mani Abas is back after starting on the end as a sophomore. Seniors Mike Alaimo and Jack Yenella make up the other side of the line, with Alaimo at tackle and Yenella the other defensive end. Junior Jack Shea will also be part of the rotation and the outside linebackers – juniors Alex Dekis, Anthony Bavarro, Max Garboski and sophomore Jack Coleman – can also double as edge rushers if Raritan shows a three-man front.

OLB: ANTHONY BAVARO, JR.; MAX GARBOSKI, JR. CB:

CHRIS GONZALEZ, SR.; JOE CAMPANELLA, JR.

CB:

ROBBIE SCAROLA, JR.; KIERAN FALZON, SO.

Projected Defensive Starters:

SS:

TYLER RUZZANO, SR.; DAN MAIERS, JR.

DE:

MANI ABAS, JR. RS

FS:

LUKE O’HEA, SR.; DAN CALICARI, SO.

DT:

PAUL DEFALCO, SR. 3RS

DT:

MIKE ALAIMO, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

DE:

JACK YENELLA, SR.; JACK SHEA, JR.

K: P:

OLB: ALEX DEKIS, JR.; JACK COLEMAN, SO. MLB: ANGEL MARQUEZ, SR. RS; MATT AGAR, SO.

BEN HUTCHINS, JR. BEN HUTCHINS

The Bucs Don ’t Stop Here

Dand not long after, he found out he would be without his most dynamic offensive

avid Schuman took the Red Bank football head coaching job ahead of the 2019 season

Head

Coach:

DAVID SCHUMAN, 2 season nd

Career

Record:

Assistant

weapon when running back Makai Mickens went down with a torn ACL.

By: Matt Manley Senior Staff Writer

44-62

Coaches:

Derek Depascale (Assistant HC/Def. Coordinator), Jeff Mass (OL/DL), Dexter McDougle (Special Teams/DB/RB), Chris Leroy (Freshman/WR/LB), Adam Bobertz (Freshman/OL/DL), Christine Emerich (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 7-4 2016: 4-6

2018: 7-3 2017: 2-8 2015: 11-1

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

Multiple

_______________________________

Fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

FRI. Oct. 16 @

St. John Vianney 7:00 pm

matawan 7:00 pm

holmdel 7:00 pm

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Player to Watch:

Owen Laughlin, Sr., QB/OLB Quarterback Jack Chamberlain was both the leading passing and leading rusher for Red Bank, so regardless of how deep and athletic the Bucs may be around the depth chart, replacing that sort of production creates challenges. Laughlin, though, is just as capable of leading the team in rushing, he has impressed in camp with his throwing ability and he can even shift back to wide receiver if Grassi proves ready and Schuman wants to further stack the receiver position.

X -FACTOR:

Defense

With seven starters back – including five in the front seven and hard-hitting safety in Ferrogine – Red Bank’s defense has all the ingredients to be a strong unit. The xfactor status lies in the defense’s ability to go from quality defense to elite status and there is reason for hope. Curylo has the makings of a disruptive edgerusher, Laughlin picked up four sacks last year at outside linebacker, they have a sturdy interior duo in Jakir Johnson and Dan Jurek and a deep, athletic secondary.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Jack Grassi, Jr., QB/FS Grassi might be a year away from filling the starting quarterback role, but he is pushing projected starter Owen Laughlin. He has also put himself in position to start at free safety next to Ferrogine, so even if he ends up as QB2 on the depth chart, Grassi should find a way to make an impact in his junior season.

Schuman and the Bucs feel good about the prospects of a winning 2020.

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

vs.

FRI. Nov. 6

ocean 7:00 pm

raritan 7:00 pm

long branch 7:00 pm

This year, Schuman and the Bucs again have to replace a highly-productive offensive player in leading passer and rusher Jack Chamberlain but this time, Red Bank is ready and loaded with the talent necessary to keep moving forward. “Skill-wise, we’re loaded,” Schuman said. “Not to minimize what the seniors did last year because they played great, but we were in a situation where we had a lot of juniors and underclassmen who were probably ready and were just waiting for their opportunity. I think the other think that’s really surprised me is how vocal these seniors have been as leaders because last year, they really stepped back and let the seniors run the team.” The offensive line will require some more work to reconstruct after two starters graduated and imposing junior Vincent Carpenter transferred to Red Bank Catholic but despite some questions on the O-line,

Nick Ferrogine, Sr., WR/SS/P The leader returning tackler (68 in 2019), a tough receiver, a capable ball-carrier and the No. 1 punter, Ferrogine can do it all for Red Bank and he’ll be asked to do more than ever for the Bucs in 2020. “Ferrogine can do anything on a field and he’s going to wear a lot of hats for us,” Schuman said. “He was very good for us last year and so far this year, he looks out of this world.”

Player Under the Radar: Jack Dengler, Sr., WR/CB Red Bank graduated top receiver A.J. Abarno but with Ferrogine back and Dengler ready to step up in the receiving corps, the Bucs don’t expect to fall too far. Dengler is also part of a promising secondary and will pair up with younger brother Matt to form the cornerback duo.

S R . QB O W E N L A U G H L I N

“Jack is a guy I think you’re going to see really step up as one of the leaders and top guys, especially on defense. He’s a great athlete and a tough kid so wherever he is in on the field, he is making an impact.”

perhaps. The Bucs lost star running back Makai Mickens to a torn ACL for the bulk of last season but that created an opportunity to other players to get a trial at the position and junior Cian Curylo heads into 2020 ready to take the reins.

Top Position Group:

Photos by:

Skill positions There will be shifting of positions and some new names in the starting lineup, but Schuman is confident this year’s collection of backs and receivers will be every bit as good as last year’s group and even then some,

Projected Defensive Starters: Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

S R . WR N I C K F E R R O G I N E

QB:

OWEN LAUGHLIN, SR.; JACK GRASSI, JR.

RB:

CIAN CURYLO, JR.; JAKIR JOHNSON, SR.

WR:

NICK FERROGINE, SR. RS

WR:

GORDON OGDEN, SR. RS

WR:

JACK DENGLER, SR. RS; LAMAR HICKS, SO.

TE:

NICK WALSACK, SR.

LT:

PETE THOMAS, JR. RS

LG:

NASSIM ABDULLAH, SR.

BRIAN NAVITSKY, SR. RS

RG:

LUKE CHRAMPANIS, SR.

RT:

DAN JUREK, SR.

DE: DT: DT: DE/OLB: OLB: MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

A.J. SOLLECITO, SR. JAKIR JOHNSON, SR. RS DAN JUREK, SR. RS CIAN CURYLO, JR. RS OWEN LAUGHLIN, SR. RS SEAN MASONIUS, JR. NICK WALSACK, SR. RS JACK DENGLER, SR. RS MATT DENGLER, JR.; RAS ALLY, SR. NICK FERROGINE, SR. RS JACK GRASSI, JR.; GORDON OGDEN, SR.

J R . QB J A C K G R A S S I

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

GIAN CARLO DAUTAJ, SO. NICK FERROGINE, SR. RS

Red Bank Catholic ’ s

Jake Louro

“A

SEASON WE�LL NEVER FORGET: HS FO

First, there were a few cases. Then dozens. Then hundreds. Then thousands. One minute, our lives were as normal as ever. We went to work, kids went to school, we went out to eat, stopped at our favorite local businesses and took in sporting events. Then, piece by piece, our lives were turned upside down. The COVID-19 pandemic had reached us. It was the second week of March when the plug was pulled on the remainder of the high school basketball season. Schools around the state began to transition to remote learning and then Gov. Phil Murphy made the decision to close all schools for in-person learning. On May 4, it was announced that schools would remain closed through the end of the school year and the spring season of high school sports would be canceled. Those were dark times. Since then, our only certainty has been uncertainty. During the early portion of the summer, it seemed doubtful we would be able to begin pursuing normalcy any time soon. Inperson school seemed like a pipe dream and a fall season of high school sports appeared out of reach. But finally, things started to change for the better. Cases started to decline and restrictions were slowly lifted. Youth sports returned, high school sports got the go-ahead to begin restricted practices and Gov. Murphy announced that schools could start the year with in-person learning. We’ve come a long way and yet still have a long way to go, but the fact that we’re about to begin the 2020 New Jersey high school football season is a victory we desperately needed. The 2020 season will kick off on Friday, Oct. 2 to begin a season like none other. There will be a six-game regular season and a postseason that will be two games long and not award any championships. Within the Shore Conference, there will be no divisions. It

mater dei prep ’ s

Jake Louro Action Photo by: J Harms Photography 54

Dominick Giudice

OOTBALL IN THE SHADOW OF COVID-19

certainly isn’t football as we know it, but it’s still football, still a chance for Friday night lights and Saturday afternoon glory, still a chance for seniors to forge memories they’ll never forget.

“ W hen we started to hit the football field again our kids felt like things were getting back to normal,” SAID B RICK M EMORIAL H EAD C OACH W ALT C URRIE . I think their genuine love for football has reemerged because of the lockdown we’ve been through, and I’m sure that’s the same throughout the country.

“The energy and enthusiasm have been amazing. They’re not so much looking forward to the first game as t h e y ’ r e l o o k i n g forward to being out there with their teammates every day.” It has been a unique challenge for players and coaches since March. Offseason meetings were down virtually through video chat. There were no team strength and conditioning programs. Meaningful interaction between people was at a standstill.

”

hose challenges were compounded for newly-hired coaches. There are eight Shore Conference coaches who are either first-year head coaches or are veterans at new schools for 2020. Longtime Red Bank Catholic head coach Frank Edgerly resigned from RBC in February and was hired as Howell’s coach in May. He didn’t get to meet the team in person and see them on the field until July. It has been even more difficult for Shane Fallon, the former Rumson-Fair Haven head coach and Holmdel athletic director who was hired as Neptune’s head coach in March. Unsure of the status of fall sports, the Neptune Board of Education did not approve any of its fall coaches or commit to fall sports until early September. The Scarlet Fliers had no summer workouts and Fallon didn’t have his first in-person interaction with the players until Sept. 11. The transition has been less difficult for Asbury Park’s Nick Famularo, Central’s Jarrett Pidgeon, Manchester’s Brian Wilkinson, Red Bank Catholic’s Mike Lange, St. John Vianney’s Mike Alberque and Manalapan’s Dom Lepore because they were already assistants at their schools before becoming the head coach, but easy isn’t the way to describe their situations either.

Wall ’ s

casey larkin

See

playbook page 56 55

playbook

donovan catholic’ s

from page 55

cam M c Nair

A litany of new restrictions and guidelines are in place to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus as masks and social distancing have become as common as blocking and tackling. Hand sanitizer is in higher demand than Gatorade. Coaches used to doing things a certain way year after year have had a lot more thrown on their plates.

“The little things you tell your kids to focus on are now the details it takes just to get on the field,” said Manasquan head coach Jay Price. “You’re worried if they’re masked up, distanced, making smart decisions at lunch, when they go home. Because with those errors in judgment we’re not talking about just losing games. We’re talking about losing seasons.”

“The hardest part has been starting practice in September when school starts,” said Freehold Township head coach Cory Davies, who is set to begin his 27th season as a head coach. “When you start in August you go for three weeks with no school, and that’s not so much easier on the kids, but on me as a coach. We’re all remote (in the Freehold Regional High School District) now so between teaching and practice and all the things we can usually do all day during August, I’m dead by the time I get home every night.”

“During the summer I went from being the football coach to being the Covid coach,” Currie said. “Masks, forms, temperature checks, no locker rooms. There have been some unique challenges.”

Price was one of many coaches to praise his team’s leaders, especially the seniors, for holding the entire team accountable and making sure they do everything in their power to ensure the team doesn’t jeopardize its season with bad decisions. “It’s been huge and we have a good core of kids doing that,” Price said. “Some are vocal and some aren’t and those are leading by example. As coaches, we started out in summer practices having to remind them every day of it and it seems like after a while they’re just doing it themselves. We had that scare in town in July (with several lifeguards and beach personnel testing positive) and I think that woke the kids up a little and reminded them that nothing is guaranteed.”

Most coaches would admit the new restrictions are a bit of a pain, but they also agree they are necessary in order to start and finish the season and of course keep all those involved healthy. Since Phase 1 of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Return to Play guidelines began in July, they have impressed on their teams the need to be smart and do the right things outside of football. A good majority of whether the season goes on without significant interruptions lies in the hands of the student-athletes themselves.

“We’ve tried to impress on them how important it is to stay healthy, to do what the doctors and the scientists say to do,” said Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Jerry Schulte, whose Bulldogs have reached seven straight NJSIAA sectional finals and won six titles in the last 10 years. “A couple of kids get it and we’ll get shut down. I can control what happens on the field but once they leave, it’s on them. Talking to our kids and seeing how they behave, they’ve done a great job policing themselves.”

toms river north ’ s

Jake Kazanowsky toms river east ’ s

yusuf ahmed 56

Success will be judged differently this year. Whereas in a normal year a team’s first goal may be to win a division title or have a winning record, now it could be to simply play all their games. Each team can schedule six regular-season games and has the option to add a game during Thanksgiving Week if they so desire for a total of seven. The postseason

isn’t a playoff, it’s basically an extension of the season for which every team can opt into regardless of record. Teams will be separated into four-team pods so top teams of similar size and in the same geographic area will be grouped together, which will allow us to draw our conclusions and perhaps pick champions like the NJSIAA did before the playoffs began in 1974. Players are thrilled to be back on the field at all, but it has to be a tough pill to swallow for teams like Wall, Toms River North, Jackson Memorial, Rumson-Fair Haven, Mater Dei, Donovan Catholic and others with legitimate state championship aspirations. Wall, for example, won the Central Jersey Group 3 title last season before suffering its only loss of the season in the Central vs. South Bowl Game. The Crimson Knights are loaded with talent again with players like quarterback Logan Peters, running back Casey Larkin, lineman Grant Puharic and linebackers Charlie Sasso and Colin Riley, but they won’t get the chance to win another state title or even another division championship. Toms River North returns first-team AllShore quarterback Jake Kazanowsky and first-team All-Shore wide receivers Zach Goodale and Zac Browne, among others. The Mariners came out on top to win the brutally-tough American Division championship last season but lost in the semifinals of the South Jersey Group 5 playoffs. Their rallying cry in the months after was to get back and finish the job, but that won’t be possible now. Jackson Memorial reached the Central Jersey Group 4 final before coming up short but planned on being a title contender this year with Wake Forestbound running back Will Towns leading the way. Donovan Catholic is a program on the rise trying to break through in an ultra-competitive nonpublic state bracket. The Griffins have a large and

talented senior class that includes first-team All-Shore selections Quamire Green (LB) and Cam McNair (OL). Their championship aspirations are on hold. Rumson’s streak of reaching seven straight sectional finals will technically be snapped, but not because of anything that happens on the field. The same goes for Mater Dei, which has reached four straight state championship games.

“I know it’s cliché but to me, you have to take it day by day because next week this could all be over,” Price said. “To us, we’re looking forward to playing and trying to get ready for it. But in terms of outlooks, whether it’s rosy or gloomy, I’m not even worried about that. Victory will be stepping on the field and playing a game.” Jackson Memorial ’ s

It will be much different for teams that weren’t expected to compete for championships, too. A packed stadium on a Friday night won’t be a scene this fall because of spectator restrictions. It doesn’t look like there will be student sections allowed, either.

sr.

will towns

You only get one senior year, and for the Class of 2021 it won’t be what they envisioned when they first entered high school. It’s unfortunate, but it’s reality. It’s also far from the worst-case scenario.

“We would rather play more games or be able to play in the playoffs, but our kids are just happy to be able to be out there,” Davies said. “At one point they thought it may be taken away from them so when they learned we would be able to play everyone was excited.” And with that, we’re about to be off and running. After much doubt, the 2020 Shore Conference football season is upon us. Who can say what the next seven weeks will hold, but it’s good to have hope when for many months it was hard to see beyond the haze. There are always surprises during the course of the football season, but this time we hope it’s only for what happens between the lines. Like everything else these days, the motto for every team has been to win the day, just for a different reason than in yrs past.

Red Bank regional ’ s

Nick Ferrogine

Rumson-Fair Haven ’ s

Ryan Ruane

FOR INFORMATION

ON HI-RES COLOR PRINTS OF ANY PAGES & IMAGES IN ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS CONTACT: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460

steve.meyer@townsquaremedia.com 57

Different Names, Same Expectations Head

one are two FBS tight ends, a longtime face of the program, two more All-Shore recipients and several other key players.

Coach:

MIKE LANGE, 1 season (2 C a r e e r R e c o r d : 0-7 st

Assistant

By:

overall)

managing editor

Coaches:

Joe O’Connor (Offensive coordinator/OL); Kevin Gaul (Defensive coordinator/DL); Mike Rosenfeld (Passing game coordinator/QB); Joe Gallagher (WR/DB); Keith Hugger (Special teams/WR/DB); Jay Graham (OL/DL); Andrew Lamura (RB/LB); Tony Flego and Matt Finucane (freshmen); Lauren Barry (athletic trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-4 2016: 5-5

2018: 10-0 2015: 8-3

2017: 8-2

O ffense:

SPREAD

D efense:

4-3

JJ L ODATO , A NTHONY B ORRIELLO , A LEX B AUMAN , L UKE G UIDETTI & J AKE L OURO

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Alex Bauman, Jr., TE/DE RBC graduated two of the best tight ends in the country in Notre Dame’s Kevin Bauman and Boston College’s Charlie Gordinier. Alex Bauman, Kevin’s younger brother, played some tight end and started at defensive end last season and will have an expanded role and expectations on both sides of the ball. “He is going to be his own man; he doesn’t have to be Kevin or Charlie,” Lange said. “Defensively, he’ll play that hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role and offensively, you’ll see what we’re trying to do with him as more of that hybrid tight end who can also play outside. He’ll be an inline tight end, in the backfield, in the slot. You’ll see his whole skill set.”

X -FACTOR:

Starting fast A condensed offseason has put every team behind schedule in terms of preparation. The Caseys don’t have the luxury of easing into the year with three straight ranked teams on the schedule to begin the season. “I’m sure this is the same for a lot of teams, but we have to get off to a fast start,” Lange said. “You think of this layoff we’ve had and there’s going to be some rust on a lot of levels. I think the important thing is to come out sharp and come out swinging.”

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Sabino Portela, So., OLB/RB A standout wrestler as a freshman and a beast on the freshman football team, Portela is slated to start at outside linebacker and will push senior Dan Brewton for carries at running back. He is a highly-touted player who has star potential. “He’s a kid we feel like we can plug and play in a few different spots,” Lange said. “He works hard and is a kid who plays above his age. I expect a big year from him. The sky’s the limit.”

Bob Badders

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9 @

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Mater dei

Midd. South

Rumson

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Midd. North

Long Branch

raritan

7:00 pm

Wed. nov. 25.

vs.

St. John Vianney 7:00 pm

But for Red Bank Catholic, the focus is not on who no longer walks the halls of the school or patrols the sideline. Rather, it is on how to sustain success and deliver on a set of expectations that remain the same every year. The Caseys have a new head coach as Mike Lange takes over for Frank Edgerly, who resigned in February and is now the head coach at Howell. Lange was RBC’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons and the defensive line coach in 2017. Also moving on were star tight end/defensive end Kevin Bauman (Notre Dame) and standout tight end/linebacker Charlie Gordinier (Boston College). Nearly the entire core of the team that went 100 and won the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 3 state title in 2018 has graduated, but RBC expects to remain one of

the state’s best programs and bounce back from a 5-4 season in 2019. Over half of the starters on each side of the ball are back, so even though the Caseys don’t have as many household names as in recent years, they are a deceptively experienced group. “We have a good batch – not a huge senior class – but they all started or contributed in some way,” Lange said. “We also played a decent amount of sophomores last year so now they will work their way up the ranks. It’s a little misleading that we’re younger because we still have a lot back on both sides of the ball.” Senior Jake Louro, a returning first-team All-Shore selection at defensive tackle, leads the way as an

anchor to both lines. A three-year starter, Louro posted 57 tackles, including 4 sacks and 24 tackles for loss last season for an RBC defense that allowed just 12.9 points per game and held five of its nine opponents to 10 points or less. Offensively, he’ll line up at right guard. Another key returner is senior quarterback and free safety Anthony Borriello, who was a Shore Sports Network third-team All-Shore selection last season. As a defensive back, Borriello pulled down a team-high four interceptions and added 51 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. Borriello saw some action at quarterback last season as well, rushing for 241 yards and 2 touchdowns and throwing for 151 yards and 1 touchdown. He’ll be the lone starter this season and RBC has transitioned from a multiple pro offense to a spread scheme to utilize his dualthreat abilities. Borriello will have a pair of returning starters at wideout in senior Lenny Loria and junior Joe Diorio. RBC doesn’t have its behemoth bookends anymore but will still have an impactful weapon at tight end in the form of 6-foot4, 225-pound junior Alex Bauman. He has the versatility to play as a standard inline tight end and to split out wide. Joining Louro as a returning starter along the offensive line is another three-year starter, senior left guard Luke Guidetti. Among the newcomers up front is 6-foot6, 285-pound junior Vince Carpenter, a transfer from Red Bank Regional. RBC’s offense has received most of the attention over the last few years but its defense has also been among the Shore’s best. Seven starters return in the Caseys’ 4-3 scheme, including three defensive linemen and three defensive backs. Louro is a three-year starter at defensive tackle and one of the most disruptive players in the Shore. Senior JJ Lodato lines up next to him with Bauman, a returning starter, at defensive end. Junior Ryan McPherson steps into the other defensive end spot where Kevin Bauman wreaked havoc a season ago. Senior outside linebacker Scott Ungemah is the only returning starter in the second level but the Caseys have an experienced varsity player at middle linebacker with Guidetti and a very promising sophomore in

S R . QB A N T H O N Y B O R R I E L L O

RBC Continued

page

RBC

Players to Watch:

Continued from page 58

Sabino Portela at the other outside linebacker position. Diorio and Loria return as the starting cornerbacks with Borriello as the free safety. Junior Corbett Cimini will be the strong safety. Red Bank Catholic will play a seven-game regular-season schedule after adding St. John Vianney on Thanksgiving Eve. This isn’t a normal season by any stretch due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Caseys will have an opportunity to play nine games, the same number as last season, if they can reach the postseason finale. “The expectation is to play the best teams and be one of the best teams, and right out of the rip here we get three of the best in the Shore (Mater Dei Prep, Middletown South and Rumson-Fair Haven),” Lange said. “We’re excited, but it’s been all about Week 1 so far.

Jake Louro, Sr., OG/DT and Anthony Borriello, Sr., QB/FS Louro will be entering his third year as a two-way starter and last season was a first-team All-Shore selection as a defensive tackle. “Obviously you can talk about his skill set all day and night, but what I really like is the leadership role he’s taken this year,” Lange said. “He’s been up with us since his freshman year. The kids look toward him and I think he embraces that role. For what our offseason was he came in a little bit lighter but he’s a lot faster and obviously has plenty of strength. We expect even a bigger year from him.” Borriello will take the reins full-time in RBC’s spread offense and could be a breakout force at the quarterback position. He showed flashes of his dual-threat potential in limited action last season, including leading the Caseys to a win over Donovan Catholic in a marquee nondivisional game. “I think you’re going to see an exciting new offense here,” Lange said. “We’re relying on the quarterback to make a lot of decisions. (Borriello) is good with the ball in his hands whether it’s running or throwing. I’m excited to see him in (this offense). It fits his skills to a T.”

“He doesn’t have any defensive stats because he only played a little bit of end for us last year, but he’s one of our leaders,” Lange said. “He’s an old-school linebacker. He just wants to make a lot of tackles, which is what we need. And his role, leadership-wise, is crucial.”

Top Position Group: Pass catchers The Caseys have two returning starters at wide receiver in senior Lenny Loria and junior Joe Diorio, plus junior tight end Alex Bauman. Another player to keep an eye on is sophomore wideout Najih Rahman, who started at wide receiver for St. Joseph (Montvale) last season. He’s another sophomore with a chance to make an immediate impact and have a special high school career.

Player Under the Radar: Luke Guidetti, Sr., OG/MLB Guidetti has been a mainstay on the Caseys’ offensive line the last two seasons and will be entering his third year as a varsity starter. He’ll also play a big role on defense as the starting middle linebacker.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB: MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

K/P: MIKE O’CONNOR, SR., RS

QB: RB: TE: WR:

S R . L UKE G UIDETTI

S R . OG/OT J A K E L O U R O

LT: LG: C: RG: RT:

ANTHONY BORRIELLO, SR., RS DAN BREWTON, SR. ALEX BAUMAN, JR., RS LENNY LORIA, SR., RS; JOE DIORIO, JR., RS; NAJIH RAHMAN, SO. VINCE CARPENTER, JR. LUKE GUIDETTI, SR., 3RS MIKE CONNELY, JR. JAKE LOURO, SR., 3RS JOHN O’BRIEN, SR.

RYAN MCPHERSON, JR. JJ LODATO, SR., RS JAKE LOURO, SR., 3RS ALEX BAUMAN, JR., RS SABINO PORTELA, SO. LUKE GUIDETTI, SR. SCOTT UNGEMAH, SR., RS LENNY LORIA, SR., RS JOE DIORIO, JR., RS CORBETT CIMINI, JR. ANTHONY BORRIELLO, SR., RS

Photo by:

Great Expectations Head

Coach:

JERRY SCHULTE, 5th season (19nth overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 94-90-1 (35-12 at RFH) Assistant

irst, a fact: the 2019 season was a down year for Rumson-Fair Haven’s football program.

By:

Coaches:

managing editor

John Corneliusen (Offensive Coordinator); Jeremy Schulte (Defensive Coordinator); Joe Murphy (OL); Chris Quinn (WR); John Andl (RB); James Rizzo (WR); Brandon Wall (OL); Matt Walsh (DB); John Wagner (DB); Rich Mosca (DL); Mike Zadlock (DL); John Bellavance (freshmen); Frank Papalia (freshmen); Glenn Grainger (freshmen); Alex Stein (athletic trainer)

Josh Harmon or junior Colin Kennedy, who are still competing for the starting job to replace twoyear starter Collin Coles. Harmon has varsity experience as a starting wide receiver last season.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 6-5 2016: 9-3

2018: 10-2 2017: 10-2 2015: 10-2

O ffense:

Multiple Pro

D efense:

4-3

_______________________________

(L-R)

VON FACTOR, JOHN VOLKER, PATRICK JAMIN, RYAN RUANE, JAMES SMITH & JACK KELLY

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

FRI. Oct. 16

Midd. North

long branch

red bank Cath.

7:00 pm

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Tommy Swain, Sr., OLB Gordon Forsyth was the Shore’s leading tackler and a first-team All-Shore selection last year. With him having graduated in June, Swain will join junior returning starters John Lista and Ryan McKay in the linebacker unit

X -FACTOR:

FRI. Oct. 23

sat Oct. 31

FRI. Nov. 6

Midd. South

Mater dei

Ocean

7:00 pm

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

vs.

Staying healthy Injuries threatened to derail Rumson’s 2019 season and the nature of its schedule never allowed the Bulldogs to get fully healthy. Most teams preach a next next-man-up mentality but the reality is that no team is going to be as good as advertised if their top players are on the sideline.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Josh Harmon, Sr., QB or Colin Kennedy, Jr., QB Harmon isn’t a true newcomer since he played wide receiver last year, but either he or Kennedy will be a first-year starting quarterback. The winner of the competition will replace Collin Coles, who was a twoyear starter, an All-Shore selection and helped lead Rumson to two sectional title games, a state sectional championship and a bowl game victory.

Bob Badders

Now, some more facts: the Bulldogs won six games and finished second in the most stacked division in Shore Conference history. They also reached their seventh consecutive NJSIAA state sectional final and finished ranked fifth in the Shore Sports Network Top 10. A down year? Only based on the gold standard Rumson has set for itself. Most Shore Conference teams would happily sign up for that kind of season, but the Bulldogs are not just any program. Since 2010, Rumson has won six NJSIAA state sectional championships, reached a total of nine sectional finals and averaged nine wins per season. Few teams in New Jersey have been as good as Rumson over the past decade. The ever-so-slight step backward last year was due in large part to injuries to key players, inexperience at certain positions and a brutal schedule. Given Rumson’s history, it’s fair to assume it was just a blip on the radar, especially considering the talent the Bulldogs bring back for the 2020 season. After a very good sophomore year when he primarily served as the backup to first-team All-Shore running back

Alex Maldjian, the 2019 season was supposed to be a breakout season for John Volker. He ran for 717 yards and six touchdowns and added 292 yards receiving and three touchdowns, finishing fourth in the American Division in rushing. He missed some time due to injuries and Rumson’s offensive line was also breaking in five new full-time starters.

Rumson is known for its strong defensive play and last season was no different as the Bulldogs ranked 11th in the Shore at 15.6 points per game. Eight starters, including three All-Shore players, return in Rumson’s 4-3 scheme. Junior defensive end Aiden Moriarty recorded 70 tackles and 13.5 sacks last season when he started as a sophomore and was a third-team All-Shore selection. Senior defensive tackle Von Factor was a second-team All-Shore pick with 79 tackles and three sacks. Senior Jack Kelly made some big plays last season and is another returning starter at defensive tackle. Senior Thomas Quadarella is also considered a returning starter based on the amount of playing time he received as Rumson employed a heavy rotation up front. Rumson had two stud sophomore linebackers, John Lista and Ryan McKay, flanking first-team All-Shore middle

This season, Rumson has senior James Smith, a returning first-team All-Shore player, at left tackle along with juniors Christian Smith and Charlie Pearson at right guard and right tackle, respectively. Both saw plenty of time last season as sophomores. As long as he’s healthy, Volker, who is committed to Princeton University, could be in for a monster season. The silver lining to Volker being banged up last season was the emergence of junior Geoff Schroeder, who ran for 269 yards and two touchdowns on an average of five yards per carry, including 113 yards and a touchdown when he started for an injured Volker against Toms River North. Volker and Schroeder together give Rumson one of the best backfield tandems in the Shore. “We plan on having those guys in the backfield together a lot,” said Rumson head coach Jerry Schulte. “We can move them around at tailback, fullback, and in the slot.” In the passing game, Rumson has three-year starter Patrick Jamin at wideout along with another returning starter, senior David Livingston. Senior Luke Devlin is also a returning starter at tight end. Jamin caught 35 passes for 451 yards and 3 touchdowns and was a third-team All-Shore selection last season. Throwing to them will be either senior

S R . RB J O H N V O L K E R Rumson Continued page 64

Rumson Continued from page 62

not the same kind of season but whatever the state decides to do our goal is to be in the thick of it.”

linebacker Gordon Forsyth last season. With Forsyth now graduated, McKay moves to the middle and Lista remains at outside linebacker. First-team All-Shore selection Ryan Ruane, who is committed to Holy Cross, leads R u m s o n ’s secondary from his strong safety position. Senior Agnello Pane is a returning starter at cornerback. The schedule isn’t as unforgiving as last season, but it’s still no picnic. Rumson has games against Mater Dei Prep, Middletown South and Red Bank Catholic included in its sixgame regular-season schedule. “The schedule is formidable,” Schulte said. “I think just about everybody’s main goal is to get through the season, to have those eight games, and do the best we possibly can. It’s

John Volker, Sr., RB and Ryan Ruane, Sr., SS Volker, who is committed to Princeton University, possesses great speed and strength and is equally comfortable running between the tackles and on the edges. He totaled 1,009 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns a season ago. If all goes well, Volker is a potential MVP/Offensive Player of the Year candidate. A returning ﬁrst-team All-Shore selection, Ruane is a rangy safety who plays equally well against both the run and pass. He totaled 93 tackles and intercepted four passes last season. “Ruane is kind of like the defensive quarterback,” Schulte said. “We call defenses in but we also, depending on who we’re playing, have automatic calls we’ll do and he’s right on top of it. He understands every aspect of the defense. It’s like having another coach on the ﬁeld.”

John Lista, Jr., LB and Ryan McKay, Jr., LB Both started as sophomores last season with Lista recording 85 tackles and McKay making 69 stops. With a year of varsity games already under their belts, both could be on the cusp of emerging as two of the Shore’s very best linebackers.

Top Position Group: Defensive line & running backs Seniors Von Factor, Jack Kelly and Thomas Quadarella and junior Aiden Moriarty give Rumson four retur ning starters along the defensive line, which should be among the Shore’s most fearsome units. With senior John Volker and junior Geoff Schroeder in the offensive backfield, Rumson has a versatile 12 combo that can be deployed in a variety of ways.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: DT:

QB: RB: TE: WR:

S R . SS R Y A N R U A N E

Players to Watch:

Players Under the Radar:

LT: LG: C: RG: RT:

JOSH HARMON, SR., OR COLLIN KENNEDY, JR. JOHN VOLKER, SR., 3RS; GEOFF SCHRODER, JR., RS LUKE DEVLIN, SR., RS PATRICK JAMIN, SR., 3RS; DAVID LIVINGSTON, SR., RS JAMES SMITH, SR., 3RS GEORGE CLOUGH, JR. MULTIPLE PLAYERS COMPETING CHRISTIAN SMITH, JR., RS CHARLIE PEARSON, JR., RS

AIDEN MORIARTY, JR., RS VON FACTOR, SR., RS; THOMAS QUADARELLA, SR., RS DT: JACK KELLY, SR., RS; JAMES PELUSO, SR. DE: LUKE KARAGJOZI, SR. OLB: JOHN LISTA, JR., RS MLB: RYAN MCKAY, JR., RS OLB: TOMMY SWAIN, SR. CB: JIMMY KENNEDY, SR. CB: AGNELLO PANE, SR., RS SS: RYAN RUANE, SR., 3RS FS: IAN LITTMAN, SR

JACK MCCARRON, JR. OR JUSTIN WOROBEL, JR. NICK FERRARA, SR., 3RS

Photos by:

Not

Done

Yet

Fschedule and playing deep into the NJSIAA Playoffs in one of New Jersey’s toughest sections.

rom 2014 to 2017, St. John Vianney was routinely the Shore Conference’s top team – playing a loaded

Head

Coach:

MIKE ALBERQUE, 1st season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 71-61-1 Assistant

By: Matt manley senior staff writter

Coaches:

Jeff Papcun (Off. Coordinator), Mike Morgan (Def. Coordinator), Mike Warnock (OL), Ed Hernandez (DL/Special Teams), Dan Fierro (QB/Passing Coordinator), Tony Abarno (WR), Jamiel Sims (LB), Mark Alberque (DB), Brian Lucas (Freshman), Lou Liberatore (Freshman), Ruthann Rutledge (Athletic Trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-5 2018: 5-5 2017: 10-1 2016: 10-1 2015: 11-1 (L-R) NICK GUARASI, DOMINICK MCCAFFERY, STEPHEN KENNEDY, JULIAN YOUNG, JOSH EAST, TIM CRUDUP, BLAKE CLAYTON & ROBERT LAMBE

O ffense: Pistol/Multiple D efense:

Odd/Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

FRI. Oct. 2 @

FRI. Oct. 9 vs.

red Bank

Raritan 7:00 pm

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 16 @

Matawan 7:00 pm

Peter Pezzullo, Jr., RB/CB Kavon Chambers was a steady back at SJV, as well as at Central Regional prior to transferring for his final two seasons of high school. While his numbers took a dip last season, he still posted 7.8 yards per carry and seven touchdowns, so figuring out the backfield will be an early-season priority for Alberque and his staff. Pezzullo has the inside track to take over as the feature back on offense and on defense, he will add depth to a secondary that will have to pick up the slack with the transfer of Bellamy.

X -FACTOR:

Antonio Rosato, So., QB Even with a proven senior in C.J. Duell starting at quarterback last year, Rosato earned important snaps at quarterback as a freshman and showed he was ready right away. Now a sophomore, Rosato brings big-play ability both in the air and with his legs and his ability to absorb the entire playbook and adjust to running an entire game as the quarterback will determine how effective the St. John Vianney offense is this season.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Makel Davis, So., RT/DE The Lancers will boast an inexperienced offensive line, with Davis slated to start at right tackle and junior Jacob Davis (no relation) lined up to take the starting left tackle spot. They are two of the four new starters on the offensive line along with returnee and right guard Dominick McCaffery. The Lancers return two starting defensive ends in Robert Lamb and Blake Clayton so Davis will work in to give the both a breather when needed.

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30 @

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Holmdel

Ocean

7:00 pm

howell 7:00 pm

Wed. nov. 25.

vs.

red bank Catholic 7:00 pm

Over the past two seasons, marquee talent has graduated and the Lancers have come back to the pack while the schedule has remained grueling.

As has been the case over the past several seasons, St. John Vianney will have some serious talent to replace but in this abbreviated 2020 season, the schedule – which is absent every opponent from each of the past two seasons – opens the door for another high win total. On the field, there will be some new faces, but also some similarities and some key entrenched starters. Josh East and Julian Young have been mainstays in the lineup and a number of young contributors from last year – led by dynamic sophomore quarterback Antonio Rosato – are ready for greater roles. Another member of the Lancers who is stepping up his role is head coach Mike Alberque, who was an assistant under previous coach Joe Martucci and is also the school’s athletic director. “I work in the building, so the kids know me and they know I support them in whatever they’re doing in the school,” Alberque said. “I think what we were doing with coach Martucci in terms of gameplans and schemes was pretty much on-target and I brought back a good number of coaches from the staff so there is not a big difference for the guys who are back.

SR. JOSH EAST

“I think the big difference is the energy in the summer and in the first week of the practice, which I think is because the kids were locked inside for so long. I’d love to take credit for their excitement but I think they would be fired up to do just about anything right now so we’re going to try to take advantage of that.

“Josh East is a pretty special player with all he can do on a football field,” Alberque said. “Julian Young is also a very versatile player in his own right and he’s also a very vocal kid, which is key when you’re playing in a middle linebacker spot.”

Player Under the Radar:

Players to Watch:

Josh East (Sr., WR/CB) and Julian Young (Sr., TE/ILB) East is a third-year starter who can wear many hats for the Lancers: he can play quarterback, carry the ball, cover and catch passes. This year, he will be the top returning wide receiver and No. 1 cornerback for a St. John Vianney team that will be strong again at the receiver position, as well as in the secondary thanks to a handful of quality two-way talent. Young is St. John Vianney’s other established two-way senior and he will again occupy the tight end and inside linebacker spots. Young led the team with 72 tackles in 2019 and with sophomore quarterback Antonio Rosato showing as a freshman he can get the passing game going, the Lancers tight end should have his moments on offense as well.

Mason Shenk, Jr., K/OLB Shenk showed promise as a sophomore kicker and could be poised to challenge for an All-Shore spot at the position over the next two seasons after knocking in 20-of-22 extra-point attempts and connecting for a 37-yard field goal last year. He is also in the rotation at outside linebacker in St. John Vianney’s 3-4 scheme so he is more than just a big leg.

“Jayden is a special, special player and you don’t find many kids with his talent, but as coaches always say, there is only one football to go around,” Alberque said. “Even though we don’t have Jayden, we still have a lot of skill guys who we’re excited about using in different looks and they’re all deserving of an opportunity.”

Top Position Group: Receivers/Passing Game Despite losing standout junior Jayden Bellamy to Bergen Catholic, the Lancers will still have a receiving corps that can stack up with any of the opposing receivers on their

Projected Offensive Starters:

TE:

JULIAN YOUNG, SR. RS

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

LT:

JACOB DAVIS, JR.

QB: ANTONIO ROSATO, SO.

LG: ROBERT LAMBE, SR.; DAVID GLASS, SR.

RB: PETER PEZZULLO, JR.; BLAKE CLAYTON, SR., COREY PITTS, JR.; TIM CRUDUP, SR.; JOEY ABARNO, JR.

WR: JOSH EAST, SR. 3RS

RT:

STEPHEN KENNEDY, SR.

RG: DOMINICK MCCAFFERY, SR. RS; TIM O’DOWD, SO. MAKEL DAVIS, SO.

WR: KYLE VERRIEST, SO. WR: ISAAC MONTALVO, JR.; T.J. CRUDUP, SR.; TROY DEY, JR.

schedule and most other units at the Shore. East is a varsity football veteran, sophomore Kyle Verriest made plays as a freshman last year, T.J. Crudup transferred in from Barnegat for his senior season and juniors Isaac Montalvo and Troy Dey are also capable of making plays in the passing game. Throw in Young as the tight end and Rosato will have plenty of options when he drops back.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: ROBERT LAMBE, SR. RS

DT: JACOB DAVIS, JR.; ETHAN CAWLEY, JR. DE: BLAKE CLAYTON, SR. RS; MAKAL DAVIS, SO. OLB: KYLE VERRIEST, SO. ILB: JULIAN YOUNG, SR. 3RS ILB: JOEY ABARNO, JR. OLB: NICK GUARASI, SR.; MASON SHENK, JR. CB: JOSH EAST, SR. 3RS CB: T.J. CRUDUP, SR.; PETER PEZZULLO, JR. SS: COREY PITTS, JR., RS FS: ISAAC MONTALVO, JR.; TROY DEY JR.

SR. JOSH EAST

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

MASON SHENK, JR. MASON SHENK

Photos by:

A Chance for Redemption

Slast season the Blue Devils were hoping to be state championship contenders once again. They were coming off a

hore Regional has long been one of the best Group 1 programs in both the Shore Conference and statewide, and

Head

Coach:

MARK COSTANTINO, 29th season Career

Record:

Assistant

seven-win season in 2018 and had an impressive roster, but after a convincing season-opening win the wheels started to come off.

187-104-1

By:

Bob Badders managing editor

Coaches:

Mike Whitacre, Jon Remedios, Pete Vincelli, Joe Rankin, John Vaccarelli, Nick Mahoney, Chris Riley, Mark Costantino; Joe Amicucci (athletic trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-6 2016: 7-4

2018: 7-3 2015: 12-0

2017: 4-6

( L - R ) D YLAN D RAHOS , T ORIN H ARMON , S HANE M C L AUGHLIN , M IKE M C G HEE , C ADE T ORRES , T REVOR C ROCHET & J AMIE M AZZACCO

O ffense: Delaware D efense:

Wing-T

Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Wide receivers

culminated in a 4-6 finish.

sat. Oct. 3 @

Monmouth noon

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

barnegat 7:00 pm

Ketport 7:00 pm

Terry Carlstrom was Shore’s deep threat the past three seasons and earned third-team AllShore honors last year. His speed and playmaking ability will be missed.

X -FACTOR: Line depth

Shore doesn’t have many positions that aren’t manned by returning starters, but wide receiver is a void that Kramer will look to fill along with working in at cornerback. iMPACT NEWCOMER: Alex Kramer, Jr., WR/CB

Shore doesn’t have many positions that aren’t manned by returning starters, but wide receiver is a void that Kramer will look to fill along with working in at cornerback.

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30 @

sat. Nov. 7

vs.

Pt. Beach 7:00 pm

Asbury Park 6:00 pm

keansburg 2:00 pm

It is very hard for a small school to battle through injuries and not suffer a noticeable drop-off, and Shore is no different. Injuries to key players, namely standout running back Shane McLaughlin, were a major factor in a lateseason, three-game losing streak that

If there is a positive that came from the adversity of 2019, however, it is that most of the roster returns to take a shot at redemption. The backfield of Shore’s longrunning Delaware Wing-T offense is stacked with five returning starters who will serve as the heart of the team. McLaughlin was off to a great start last season before suffering an injury in the fifth game. He ended up returning later in the season and finished with 672 yards and 12 touchdowns on an average of 6.4 yards per carry and 14 receptions for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns in just seven games. Senior Dylan Drahos, junior Jamie Mazzacco and sophomore Torin Harmon are also back, as is senior quarterback Mike McGhee.

The offensive line has three returning starters with senior Brendan Bauer at left guard, senior Cade Torres at right guard and junior Nahmir Jones at right tackle. Senior tight end Trevor Crochet is also a returning starter. Shore’s defense is loaded with players who saw starting time last season. The unit of linebackers featuring McGhee, Mazzacco, Harmon and Drahos looks especially strong and McLaughlin is a standout in the secondary as the free safety. Staying healthy will be critical, especially in the season of COVID-19, but if the Blue Devils can do that they have a good chance to run the table in the regular season and be a force in the postseason.

S R . RB S HANE M C L AUGHLIN

Player to Watch:

Shane McLaughlin, Sr., RB/FS McLaughlin missed a portion of the season with a collarbone injury but still put up very good numbers in just seven games. He ran for 672 yards and 12 touchdowns on an average of 6.4 yards per carry and caught 14 passes for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns to earn third-team All-Shore honors.

Player Under the Radar: Cade Torres, Sr., OL/DL/K Torres is an impact player in all three phases. A third-team All-Shore selection last season, he converted 22 of 27 extra points and connected on four field goals with a long for 40 yards.

Top Position Group: Running backs Third-team All-Shore selection Shane McLaughlin leads an impressive group of four returning starters that also includes Dylan Drahos, Jamie Mazzacco and Torin Harmon. They’ll all see plenty of carries in the Wing-T offense and will make the Blue Devils’ ground game a bear to handle.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: BRENDAN BAUER, SR., RS; JACK MARTUCCI, SR.

QB: MIKE MCGHEE, SR., RS

DT: NAHMIR JONES, JR., RS; OWEN FEELEY, JR.

RB: SHANE MCLAUGHLIN, SR., 3RS

DT: NIC SOYER, SR., RS; RICHARD BARTON, JR.

RB: TORIN HARMON, SO., RS

DE: CADE TORRES, SR., RS; MAX WHITE, JR.

RB: DYLAN DRAHOS, SR., RS RB: JAMIE MAZZACCO, JR., RS TE:

TREVOR CROCHET, SR., RS; MAX KRAMER, JR.

WR: CHRIS KESSLER, SR.; ALEX KRAMER, JR.; RYLAN FEGAN, JR.; AIDEN SCATURRO, JR. LT:

NICK SOYER, SR.

LG: BRENDAN BAUER, SR., RS; JACK MARTUCCI, SR.

S R . RG/DE/K C ADE T ORRES

Torres also averaged 35 yards per punt with a long of 50 and two punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He is also a returning starter along the offensive line and at defensive end.

EVAN THOMPSON, SR.

RG: CADE TORRES, SR., RS; BOB FIORE, SR. RT:

NAHMIR JONES, JR., RS

OLB: DYLAN DRAHOS, SR., RS; ANDREW DECKER, JR. ILB: JAMIE MAZZACCO, JR., RS; EVAN THOMPSON, SR., RS; ILB: TORIN HARMON, SO., RS; LIAM ROSA, JR. OLB: MIKE M C GHEE, SR., RS; JOE GILLEN, JR. CB: TREVOR CROCHET, SR., RS; TYLER TILTON, SR. CB: ALEX KRAMER, JR.; RYLAN FEGAN, JR.; CHRIS KESSLER, SR. SS: SEAN O’BRIEN, SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K/P: CADE TORRES, SR., RS

Chip on their Shoulder

Wthe varsity level, is stocked with talented players. The pipeline looks to have the Crimson Knights contending for

all High School football is in a good place these days; a great place, really. The entire program, from the youth teams to

Head

Coach:

Tony Grandinetti, 4th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 23-10 Assistant

championships for years to come and the competition in practice has raised the bar for everybody.

Coaches:

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2018: 6-3 2015: 4-6

2017: 5-6

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________

(L-R) C HARLIE

S ASSO , G RANT P UHARIC , C ASEY L ARKIN , L OGAN P ETERS , C OLIN R ILEY & B LAKE R EZK

FRI. Oct. 16

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

Pt. Boro

Neptune

Jackson Mem.

7:00 pm

It is that defeat that has stuck in the craw of the entire program, however, and set the stage for the 2020 season. “Everybody recognizes the 2019 season and how good it was, but people don’t realize there is a lot of anger in this program,” Grandinetti said. “There is a chip in the shoulders of all these players because of that loss last season. It’s written in the weight room: Woodrow Wilson, 12-7. We enjoyed last year and embrace it, but at the same time we remember we didn’t ﬁnish the way we wanted to.”

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

X -FACTOR:

One game at a time “As cliché as it sounds, it’s simple enough for us,” Grandinetti said. “Goal No. 1 is to win the first game and think that’s very important to get off on the right foot. Second is usually to win the division, get a home playoff game and make a deep run. Without the ability to have some of those concrete goals we’ve simplified things. Now, our goal is 1-0, so we don’t look past anyone. With a team like this that has played in really big games, that is going to help us.”

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Jake Davis, Jr., SS & Jaquari Medler, So., TE At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Davis probably would have started on many teams in the Shore Conference last season, but on Wall he was stuck behind some of the Shore’s best players. With two spots opening up in the secondary it will be his time to step in at strong safety. He could also be the quarterback of the future and will serve as the backup to Logan Peters. He has great football genetics as his father, Scott, played in the NFL. Medler (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) gives Wall another potential standout to pair with 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior Blake Rezk, who is among the Shore’s best tight ends.

the Colonial Division championship, winning the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 title to become the first team in program history to win 12 games in a season and finishing No. 1 in the final Shore. The only blemish was a 12-7 loss to Woodrow Wilson in the NJSIAA South-Central Group 3 Bowl Game.

FRI. Oct. 2

Keisun Sanders, So., RG Ian Ackerman was a first-team All-Shore defensive lineman last season and also the Crimson Knights’ starting right guard. With him moving on via graduation, Sanders steps into his position along the offensive line as the starting right guard and could also see time along the defensive line. Sanders (6-foot, 225 pounds) does have varsity experience on the wrestling team where last season he was a district runner-up as Wall’s 220-pounder.

Bob Badders managing editor

Jeremy Balina (def. coordinator); Mike Cerminaro (QB); Bob Grace (RB); Fred Sprengel (WR); Kyle Watson (WR); Joe LaFerlita (DB, special teams); Tim Heaney (DL); James Cadigan (DL); Brian Duffy (OL); Chris Quinlan (OLB); Victor Rivera (head freshman coach); Dan Shine (assistant freshman coach); Matt McDonough (athletic trainer)

2019: 12-1 2016: 10-2

By:

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Manalapan

Mansquan

Midd. South

7:00 pm

vs.

“Football is really big right now in Wall,” said head coach Tony Grandinetti. “With the success we’ve had and having a great relationship with the AYF, it’s a great position to be in. We’re very fortunate.”

Wall played the 2019 ﬁnale without standout running back and cornerback Casey Larkin because of a concussion suffered in a Thanksgiving Day win over Manasquan. The Knights refused to even entertain the notion of using that as an excuse for scoring a season-low seven points, but the absence of his dynamic presence was certainly felt. Defensively, however, Wall played its best game of the season in holding a juggernaut Woodrow Wilson offense stacked with FBS recruits to just two touchdowns.

Yet, despite the stocked cupboard that features a senior class led by three of the Shore Conference’s best and a junior class that is among the most talented groups in program history, there is a rather large chip on the collective shoulder of Wall football. The Crimson Knights started last year ranked No. 9 in the Shore before rattling off 12 straight wins, claiming

The silver lining to the loss, which prevented Wall from becoming the ﬁrst team in Shore Conference history to go 130, is that much of last season’s starters return. Larkin, who is verbally committed to the United States Military Academy at West Point, is one of four returning Shore Sports Network ﬁrstteam All-Shore selections for Wall. He ran for 1,038 yards and

12 touchdowns, caught 19 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns, recorded 41 tackles, intercepted three passes and returned one for a defensive touchdown. Quarterback/free safety Logan Peters is another two-way All-Shore standout. A three-year starter, Peters threw for 1,301 yards and 15 touchdowns with just two interceptions and added 630 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. On defense, Peters made 43 tackles with a team-leading four interceptions. Leading one of the Shore’s best offensive lines is senior left guard Grant Puharic, who helped the Crimson Knights average 26.6 points per game and score 15 touchdowns, including 30 on the ground. On defense, junior inside linebacker Charlie Sasso started as a freshman and then turned in a great sophomore season with 127 tackles (73 solo) with 3 sacks, 5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble for a defense that was second in the Shore allowing just 9.5 points per game. Additionally, the Crimson Knights have two more players who were named to the SSN Preseason All-Shore team. Junior inside linebacker Colin Riley starred as a rush linebacker last season and recorded 11 sacks, 69 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 1 fumble recovery and 1 forced fumble en route to a secondteam All-Shore selection. Junior center Brian Byrne is another standout up front who should also see time on the defensive line this year. In total, Wall has eight returning starters on offense and six returning starters on defense, including the aforementioned standouts along with wide receiver Matt Dollive, tight end/defensive end Blake Rezk plus Oakley and three-year starter Eddie Van Woudenberg along the offensive line. The Knights also return kicker Max Oakley and once again boast an elite long snapper in senior Ryan Legere, who is an FBS prospect. Wall won’t get to avenge its lone defeat in the traditional sense, not with the COVID-19 pandemic changing the structure of the season, eliminating divisions within the Shore Conference and limiting the NJSIAA postseason. Entering the season as one of the best teams in New Jersey, Wall will play a six-game regular-season schedule against some of the Shore’s best before setting its sights on another championship in a truncated playoff format. The expectations are sky-high. “We don’t look at it that we can’t accomplish the goals we want to; the one thing I preach is that you have to adapt,” Grandinetti said. “Complaining is not a conversation. We are grateful for any opportunity we have and with the team we have coming back the expectation is to compete in every game. Every time the scoreboard gets turned on we’re going to compete and be grateful for the opportunity.”

Players to Watch:

Logan Peters, Sr., QB/FS and Casey Larkin, Sr., RB/CB Wall has many playmakers on both sides of the ball, but we’ll go with their two senior leaders who are integral to the Crimson Knights’ success. Peters is a dynamic dualthreat quarterback as well as a standout safety. His athletic future is on the lacrosse field, as he is one of the best midfielders in the state who is committed to Rutgers University, so expect his final season of football to be his best yet. Offensively, Larkin, who recently committed to Army, is a multi-talented running back who was Wall’s leading rusher and receiver last year. He is a big-play threat on the ground and through the air but can also move the chains with tough yards between the tackles or a drive-extending reception. The Crimson Knights sorely missed his presence in the loss to Woodrow Wilson last season. On defense, he’s a lockdown cornerback who is also effective at coming up to play the run and was recruited as such by Army.

Players Under the Radar:

Top Position Group:

Brian Byrne, Jr., C and Eddie Van Woudenberg, Sr., RT

Inside linebackers

Not often can three-year starters be thought of as being unheralded players, but given that Byrne and Van Woudenberg are humble offensive lineman on a Wall team stacked with standouts at the skill positions, they aren’t the first players who come to mind. Wall had arguably the best offensive line in the Shore Conference last year and both Byrne (center) and Van Woudenberg (right tackle) made major impacts in that regard. “I work closely with (offensive line coach Brian) Duffy and the O-line,’ said Grandinetti, who was Wall’s offensive line coach prior to becoming head coach. “Brian Byrne is going to be a different player this year. I’d be surprised if he’s not a first-team All-Shore type of player, he’s getting that good. His footwork has improved, his size, strength; he looks the part now and he has the confidence to match.” “Eddie is another kid who is so underrated even though he’s been playing for three years. He won’t say two words but he’s a high-quality offensive lineman.”

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

S R . QB L O G A N P E T E R S

QB: LOGAN PETERS, SR., 3RS RB: CASEY LARKIN, SR., 3RS; CHARLIE SASSO RS (fullback in 2019) FB: KYLE PETTIT, SR. TE: BLAKE REZK, JR., RS; JAQUARI MEDLER, SO. WR: MATT DOLLIVE, JR., RS; JACKSON COAN, JR.; ROCCO PALMIERI, SR. LT: MAX OAKLEY, JR., RS LG: GRANT PUHARIC, SR., 3RS

C: BRIAN BYRNE, JR., 3RS RG: KEISUN SANDERS, SO. RT: EDDIE VAN WOUDENBERG, SR., 3RS

Projected Defensive Starters: NT: DE: DE: ILB: ILB: OLB:

BRIAN BYRNE, JR.; JOE SOMMERS, JR. BLAKE REZK, JR., RS GRANT PUHARIC, SR., RS CHARLIE SASSO, JR., 3RS COLIN RILEY, JR., 3RS LOU PILLA, JR.

Picking this group was splitting hairs but we’ll go with the inside linebacker tandem of standout juniors Charlie Sasso and Colin Riley. Sasso will be entering his third year as a starter and earned first-team AllShore honors last season. He’s a complete linebacker who excels at playing the run, rushing the quarterback and dropping back in coverage. He does a little bit of ever ything and will surely have even more on his plate as a junior. Riley was among the Shore’s best edge rushers last season (11 sacks) and a second-team All-Shore selection. He will also be entering his third year as a starter and will slide inside next to Sasso. Photo by:

OLB: MAX OAKLEY, JR. CB: CASEY LARKIN, SR., 3RS CB: ROCCO PALMIERI, SR., OR ORLANDO VALERIANO, SR. SS: JAKE DAVIS, JR. FS: LOGAN PETERS, SR., 3RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: MAX OAKLEY, JR., RS P: MAX OAKLEY, JR. LONG SNAPPER: RYAN LEGERE, SR., RS

Continued Consistency

By:

Bob Badders managing editor

B New football programs usually take a

uilding a program from the ground up is a task that requires a focused vision, commitment, and, most of all, patience.

Head

Coach:

ROB DAVIS, 15th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 77-67 Assistant

Coaches:

Paul Covine (Defensive Coordinator); Mike Burke (DL); Mike DeTroia (OL); Andrew Villiez (DB); Andrew Petruzzi (RB); Pat Moran (Special Teams Coordinator/WR); Ken MacIver (gameday coach); Zach Brebner (freshmen); Mike Leone (freshmen); Brian Fitzpatrick (middle school); Derek Rizzo (middle school); Zach Andrews (middle school); Lauren Tribley (athletic trainer).

while to get to the point where they are competitive on a yearly basis, but ever since Barnegat High School opened in 2006, the Bengals have been remarkably consistent.

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

pinelands

shore

central

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 5-4 2016: 5-5

2018: 7-3 2015: 3-7

2017: 5-5 @

manchester 7:00 pm

O ffense: Spread D efense:

no-huddle

3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Travis Hoffman, Sr., OL

Even though the offensive line is a strength, the one spot that won’t be manned by a returning starter is at left guard where Hoffman will step in and take the place of Griffin Jackstadt, who was an All-Shore player last year and is currently a member of the football team at the University of Pennsylvania.

X -FACTOR:

Quarterback play

Senior Matt Xiques was the Bengals’ starting kicker and punter last season but will jump into an even bigger role now as the quarterback of Barnegat’s fast-paced offense. He’ll won’t have a ton on his shoulders given the Bengals have an experienced running back and offensive line, but he can elevate the offense with consistent playmaking ability. iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Shikeith Gordon, So., WR/DB and Naseim Lee, So., WR/DB

Both Gordon and Lee are members of a promising sophomore class and will get their opportunity to make an impact in the passing game and as cornerbacks.

vs.

lacey 7:00 pm

Manasquan 7:00 pm

In head coach Rob Davis’s 14 seasons leading the program, Barnegat has just four losing seasons, and three of those were 4-6 records in the school’s first four years. The Bengals always seem to be the hunt, and with multiple starters returning on both sides of the ball that’s exactly the place they hope to again find themselves in 2020. Barnegat returns seven starters on offense, seven on defense and has depth all over the field that will allow it to limit the number of two-way players, or at least rotate players in to keep everyone fresh. There is a nice mix of returning starters and promising newcomers, plus a sophomore class that is loaded with talent. Barnegat will look to gas opposing defenses with an uptempo, no-huddle spread offense. Senior Matt Xiques takes over as the quarterback and will have plenty of returning starters surrounding him. Senior Nik DiLeo returns as the running back and senior Robert Armstrong moves to fullback after starting at guard last season. Senior Dorsey Criss is back as a starting wideout. Although Barnegat will have to replace All-Shore lineman Griffin Jackstadt, the group in the trenches has four returning starters and averages about 6-foot-3 and

270 pounds at the guard and tackle positions.

Player Under the Radar:

The Bengals’ 3-4 defense has experience in all three levels, starting with senior defensive ends TJ Stokes and Robert Armstrong as returning starters. Both inside linebackers are returning starters with DiLeo and senior John Porcelli manning the middle. In the secondary, senior Andrew Vernieri is back as a cornerback and senior Kris Pollack returns to start at free safety.

TJ Stokes, Sr., RT/DE

While the schedule has drastically changed for many teams, Barnegat will face several familiar opponents this year, tangling with the usual Ocean County teams and squaring off against Manasquan and Shore, two Monmouth County teams they have played against in recent years.

Player to Watch:

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Stokes gives Barnegat a big body up front on both sides of the ball as a right tackle and a defensive end. Davis said Stokes has received college interest from Division 1 FCS and Division 2 schools.

Top Position Group: Offensive line Despite losing All-Shore lineman Griffin Jackstadt to graduation, Barnegat returns four starters up front. The guard and tackles are all at least 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds.

Nik DiLeo, Sr., RB/ILB

DiLeo ran for 545 yards and six touchdowns on an average of 6.4 yards per carry to earn second-team all-division honors. He will be entering his third year as a two-way varsity starter

Projected Offensive Starters:

LG:

TRAVIS HOFFMAN, SR.

WLB: JOHN PORCELLI, SR., RS

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

ANTHONY BUCCA, SR., RS OR BRYON ORTIZ, JR.

OLB: JERRY WEIR, JR. CB:

ANDREW VERNIERI, SR., RS

CB:

SHIKEITH GORDON, SO. OR NASEIM LEE, SO.

SS:

VICTOR BRESCIA, SR.

FS:

KRIS POLLACK, SR., RS

QB:

MATT XIQUES, SR.

RB:

NIK DILEO, SR., RS

RG:

KENNY MINOR, JR., RS

FB:

ROBERT ARMSTRONG, SR., RS

RT:

TJ STOKES, SR., RS

TE:

KEENAN PAUL, JR.

WR:

DORSEY CRISS, SR., RS;

WR:

SHIKEITH GORDON, SO. OR KYLE ESLINGER, SO.

WR: LT:

vs.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE:

TJ STOKES, SR., RS

NT:

CONNOR DARMSTATTER, JR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

NASEIM LEE, SO. OR ANDREW VERNIERI, SR.

DE:

ROBERT ARMSTRONG, SR., RS

MATT XIQUES, SR., RS OR KYLE ESLINGER, SO.

CONNOR DARMSTATTER, JR., RS

MLB: NIK DILEO, SR., RS

MATT XIQUES, SR., RS

OLB: JARED SCHWORN, JR.

Blue-Collar Boys

B claiming seven NJSIAA state sectional titles, seven additional state titles awarded by the NJSIAA prior

rick’s football program has done a heck of a lot of winning over the course of its 63-year history,

Head

Coach:

LEN ZDANOWICZ, 6th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 34-21 Assistant

to the playoff system and 26 Shore Conference division titles.

By:

Coaches:

managing editor

Brian McNamara (Defensive Coordinator/LB); Andrew Cruz (OL/TE); Jared Kight (OL/TE); John Dolan (WR); Bill McDonnell (QB); Al Saner (offensive assistant); Joe Smyth (DL); Chad Dougherty (DB); Kurt Weiboldt (Kickers/special teams); Scott Lloyd (strength & conditioning); Jay Groschel (freshmen); Chris Blackburn (freshmen); Dan Dornacker (freshmen) Wayne Niedermeier (freshmen); Jim Barber (athletic trainer).

2019. On the surface that makes it seem as though Brick is in for a tough season, but the Dragons don’t see it that way. The lack of entrenched starters has fueled competition and fostered a no-frills, win-as-a-team approach they hope will pay dividends against a schedule filled with local rivals once more.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 3-6 2016: 8-4

2018: 8-3 2017: 6-5 2015: 8-2

( L - R ) H AO T ANG , C HRISTIAN K UHL , A LEXANDER L AWES , D ECLAN D ECOURSEY , E VAN T RAVISANO , A NTHONY S EAMAN & L OGAN B UKOWSKI O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

The quarterback

Brick’s quarterback battle is still undecided but whoever wins the job has the task of replacing Anthony Prato, who was a first-team all-division selection and gave Brick a dualthreat option with his versatility.

X -FACTOR:

Finding an offensive identity

Brick football has an identity, of course, but this question concerns what the calling card will be for this year’s team. With several new players competing for starting positions and a potential throwback for its offense scheme, it will be interesting to see how this Brick team develops given the limited offseason and preseason. iMPACT NEWCOMER: Austin Lungren, Sr., DB/RB

Lungren transferred in from DePaul Catholic where he was a starting strong safety last season. His arrival upgrades the secondary and he could also see time in the backfield.

Bob Badders

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

Southern

TR North

TR East

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

sat. Nov. 7

Donovan Cath.

Jackson mem.

Brick mem.

7:00 pm

1:00 pm

vs.

A handful of starters are back on both sides ball, led by juniors Darian Newcomb and Tyler Weisneck, both of whom were second-team all-division selections last season. Newcomb has played at the varsity level since his freshman year and is a returning starter along the defensive line. He’ll also see time along the offensive line, likely at left tackle. Weisneck was a starter at wide receiver last year and will switch to wing back this year. Defensively, he’ll reprise his role as a starting defensive back. Senior Anthony Seaman started as a slot receiver last year and moves into the backfield as a wing back. Junior Evan Travisano returns at wide receiver. The offensive line has three returning starters with junior AJ Ellis at left guard, junior Jason Glass at right guard and senior Declan Decoursey at right tackle. Many of the other spots, especially quarterback where seniors Joaquin Ragland and Logan Bukowski, junior Ryan Panuska and sophomore AJ Grygiel are battling out, are still up in the air.

FRI. Oct. 16 @

vs.

The Dragons are one of the Shore Conference’s banner programs and have won with a variety of different makeups. Some years it’s been an electric offense, others an unrelenting defense. There have been seasons Brick had loads of AllShore talent and others it got it done with an unheralded yet hungry roster. This season’s team looks to belong to the latter group. There are no returning AllShore players and just three players who earned second-team all-division honors in

S R . DT, C H R I S T I A N K U H L

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION Contact: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 74

steve.meyer@shoresportsnetwork.com

In addition to Newcomb and Weisneck, the defense returns senior Alex Lawes as a starting cornerback. The defense also receives a boost in the form of senior Austin Lungren, a transfer from DePaul Catholic who was a starter for the Spartans before suffering a season-ending injury early in the year. He’ll start in Brick’s secondary and also push for carries at running back. Player to Watch: Darian Newcomb, Jr., OL/DL Newcomb is a three-year varsity player and a returning starter along the defensive line. He’ll also play on the offensive line and can be a game-changing player for the Dragons. “Two years ago we had a very good team and as a freshman he came in on the first day of practice and won everybody over with his work ethic and love of the game,” said Brick head coach Len Zdanowicz. “He brought it every play and from the minute he was here he acted like he belonged. He just loves football.”

Players Under the Radar: Anthony Seaman, Sr., WB/OLB

Secondary and Defensive Line Junior Darian Newcomb leads a defensive line that looks to have a deep rotation while the secondar y features three returning starters in senior Alex Lawes at cornerback and junior Tyler Weisneck and senior transfer Austin Lungren as the safeties.

Projected Defensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE:

TYSON LOPEZ, SO.

QB:

DT:

AJ LORENZO, JR.; CHRISTIAN KUHL, SR.

DT:

JOHN KAISER, SO.; AJ ELLIS, JR.; ANTHONY GONCALVES, SO.

DE:

DARIAN NEWCOMB, JR., RS; SHANE BOSKO, SR.; JASON GLASS, JR; DECLAN DECOURSEY, SR.; HAO TANG, SR.

WB: FB:

ANTHONY SEAMAN, SR., RS AT SLOT; TYLER WEISNECK, JR., RS AT WR; JASON NORMAN, JR. MIKEY SCHLIEFER, JR.; JAKE DEDREUX, SO.; RYAN DUFFY, SR.

TE:

SHANE BOSKO, SR. AND TYSON LOPEZ, SO.; JEREMIAH CERVANTES, SR.

WR:

EVAN TRAVISANO, JR., RS; ALEX LAWES, SR.; JUSTIN KURC, JR.

Tyler Weisneck, Jr. WB/S

Top Position Group:

Projected Offensive Starters: JOAQUIN RAGLAND, SR. OR LOGAN BUKOWSKI, SR. OR RYAN PANUSKA, JR. OR AJ GRYGIEL, SO.

and

Both Seaman and Weisneck were starting receivers last season who will now transition to the backfield as wing backs. Weisneck is also a returning starter in the secondary while Seaman is in the mix to start at outside linebacker.

OLB: JUSTIN KURC, JR.; ANTHONY SEAMAN, SR.; RYAN PANUSKA, JR; MIKEY SCHLEIFER, JR; BEN TANG, SR.; COLIN WILSON, SO.

LT:

VIN CALDARISE, JR.; ALSO DARIAN NEWCOMB, JR.

MLB: JAKE DEDREUX, SO.; RILEY BELL, JR.; RYAN DUFFY, SR.

LG:

AJ ELLIS, JR., RS

CB:

ALEX LAWES, SR., RS

CHRISTIAN KUHL, SR.

CB:

RG:

JASON GLASS, JR., RS AND HAO TANG, SR.

RT:

DECLAN DECOURSEY, SR., RS AND AJ LORENZO, JR.

JUAQUIN RAGLAND, SR.; LOGAN BUKOWSKI, SR.; AJ GRYGIEL, SO.; LOGAN DONNELLY, SO.; MALECHI WRIGHT, JR.; TREVOR THORPE, SR.

AUSTIN LUNGREN, SR., RS AND TYLER WEISNECK, JR., R

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

HAO TANG, SR., RS AND JORGE LEYVA, SR. ALEX LAWES, SR., RS

S R . QB, L O G A N B U K O W S K I Photos by:

Reversal

Fortune

Btime in two decades. The Mustangs have been a very consistent program over the last 20 years and on rick Memorial had a down year in 2019, finishing 3-6 to suffer consecutive losing seasons for the first

Head

Coach:

WALT CURRIE, 14th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 75-62 Assistant

Coaches:

the few occasions they’ve finished under .500, they’ve come out on the other side as division and state championship contenders. This program doesn’t stay down for long. By: Bob Badders managing editor

Rob Brown (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties); James Mahoney (Offensive Coordinator/QB); Mike Cintron (Special Teams Coordinator/slot backs); Bill Brunner (OL); Rob Merola (DL); Keith Farr (WR/CB); Connor Owen (RB); Nick Moschella (ILB); Mike Mahoney (OLB); Brady Watson (DB); Pete Walski (WR); Jimmy Bright (freshmen); Ryan Graham (freshmen); Sue Penrod (athletic trainer).

those two guys will be playing a lot on offense.” Hutchinson would slide to either slot back or wide receiver if he is not the quarterback while McArthur would move back to his running back spot if Hutchinson emerges as the starting quarterback.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 3-6 2018: 4-6 2016: 2-8. 2015: 9-3

2017: 7-3

( L - R ) A KHI B ARKSDALE (8), TJ M C A RTHUR (17), R AHMERE H UTCHINSON (1), B RIAN H ALLORAN (55) AND D AVID S ZUBA (50)

O ffense:

Multiple Option

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________

FRI. Oct. 2 @

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Donovan Cath.

Southern

Lacey

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

6:30 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

Sat. Nov. 7

vs.

TR East

TR South

Brick

7:00 pm

1:00 pm

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Rahmere Hutchinson or T.J. McArthur, QB Whoever emerges as the starting quarterback will take the place of Anthony Albanese, who last year as a senior threw for 1,210 yard and nine touchdowns, ran for 506 yards and four touchdowns and was a third-team AllShore selection.

X -FACTOR:

Offensive line Brick Memorial won’t deploy the biggest offensive line but the triple-option offense doesn’t exclusively require brute strength and hulking linemen. In an offense that uses misdirection and deception, quickness and technique from the guys up front is plenty to get the job done. Juniors Evan Gillen and Colin Mullahey are returning starters at left tackle and left guard, respectively. Senior David Szuba is the center, senior Brian Halloran is the right guard and senior Kyle Kohlmann is the right tackle.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Rahmere Hutchinson, Sr., QB/SB/WR/DB Hutchinson played sparingly last season but figures to have a major role at any of few positions on the offensive side. He is competing for the starting quarterback job and could also see time at slot back and wide receiver. He’s also in the mix in the secondary.

The 2020 Mustangs looks to follow the same path and get Brick Memorial back to its usual place as a team ranked in the Shore Conference Top 10. Although the Mustangs will have a first-year starting quarterback, they do return six starters on the offensive side in their multiple, option-based offense. The quarterback is the focal point when

running the triple option and the Mustangs have a pair of seniors battling it out for the starting job in Rahmere Hutchinson and T.J. McArthur. Hutchinson saw a small amount of playing time last year on defense while McArthur is a three-year returning starter at “A” back. “Rahmere brings a calmness and athleticism and an ability to read defenses,” said Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie, who in his 14th season is the longest-tenured coach in program history. “With T.J., one of the great things about option football is when you put your best running back at quarterback and he can read it, it makes the offense that much more dangerous. Either way,

Regardless of who wins the quarterback job, they will add to a stout backfield that is headlined by returning Shore Sports Network second-team AllShore selection, Akhi Barksdale. The senior was a big-play force last season as a slot back and wide receiver, rushing for 542 yards and eight touchdowns on an eye-popping average of 13.4 yards per carry and also catching 28 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. Depending on how the quarterback battle shakes out, the prospective three-headed monster of Hutchinson, McArthur and Barksdale has the potential to be great. The passing game also features seniors Robert Gibbs III and JT Henderson, both of whom are returning starters at w i d e receiver. T h e offensive line has a pair of returning starters, both on the left side, with junior Evan Gillen at left tackle and junior Colin Mullahey at left guard.

S R . QB R A H M E R E H U T C H I N S O N

When Brick Memorial is competing for championships its offense is always humming and garnering much of the headlines, but at the same time, the Mustangs’ defense is also quietly among the best in the Shore. That has been lacking the last couple of years for a variety of reasons. Last season, Brick Memorial allowed 24.6 points per game to rank 37th in the Shore. “We have to do a better job at stopping the run and tackling in general,” Currie said. “We really have to do a better job on third down, which was our Achilles Heel last year. We’d have teams in third-and-7, third-and-10 and they would convert on us. That’s been a point of emphasis for us.” Brick Memorial’s multiple, 3-4 base defense has senior David Szuba as a returning starter at nose tackle, McArthur back as a starting inside linebacker and Barksdale and junior Damien DiLuccio back as starters in the secondary. On paper, the edict is pretty simple: reignite a punishing ground attack and get back to playing stingy defense. If that happens, Brick Memorial will be back in business as one of the Shore’s best.

Player to Watch:

Akhi Barksdale, Sr., RB/DB Barksdale was great as a junior, rushing for 542 yards and eight touchdowns on a crazy average of 13.4 yards per carry and catching 28 passes for 342 yards and one touchdown. He is a threat to score a touchdown every time he touches the ball. “Akhi is a long strider and a really strong kid,” Currie said. “He is also versatile and it’s rare to find that combo. It’s usually a player can either run the ball well or be a receiver, but he can do both. The biggest challenge for us is to make sure he gets enough touches.”

Player Under the Radar: David Szuba, Sr., C/NT

A standout wrestler who was a state finalist last season, Szuba is a returning starter at nose tackle and is a disruptive player on the interior of the defensive line. He’ll also play along the offensive line at center where his strength and athleticism will be a crucial asset. “He’s a huge piece of what we’re trying to do this year,” Currie said. “The center is huge in any offense because they’re making every call and are the captain of the offensive line. But in the option it’s especially important because they’re not just identifying the scheme and who we’re blocking, but also who we’re not blocking.”

Top Position Group: Backs (QB and “A” back) Depth is something ever y team craves and Brick Memorial has it at two of its more important positions: quarterback and “A” back. Senior T.J. McArthur will be at either quarterback or at “A” back where he would be a three-year retur ning starter. He is competing for the starting quarterback job with senior Rahmere Hutchinson. There’s also senior Ruben Lizardi, junior Mike Angrosina and junior Bruce Morris at “A” back. “We are, at the ver y least, two deep in all those spots,” Currie said. “At “A” back we have possibly four who could play at the varsity level and even a freshman who can be pretty good.” Photo by:

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: EVAN GILLEN, JR.

QB: RAHMERE HUTCHINSON, SR., OR TJ MCARTHUR, SR. (RS AT RUNNING BACK)

NT: DAVID SZUBA, SR., RS

RB: RUBEN LIZARDI, SR. OR MIKE ANGROSINA, JR. OR BRUCE MORRIS, JR.

OLB: MIKE ANGROSINA, JR.

SB: AKHI BARKSDALE, SR., RS; JAKE LAROCCA, JR.; TIM QUACKENBOSS, JR.

ILB: BRIAN HALLORAN, SR.

DE: COLIN MULLAHEY, JR. ILB: TJ MCARTHUR, SR., RS

WR: ROBERT GIBBS III, SR., RS; JT HENDERSON, SR., RS; JASON JANKOWSKI, SR.

OLB: JT HENDERSON, SR.

LT:

CB: JASON JANKOWSKI, SR. OR ROBERT GIBBS III, SR.

EVAN GILLEN, JR., RS

CB: AKHI BARKSDALE, SR., RS OR TIM QUACKENBOSS, JR.

LG: COLIN MULLAHEY, JR., RS

SS: DAMIEN DILUCCIO, JR., RS OR RAHMERE HUTCHINSON, SR.

FS: JAKE GALLO, JR. RS

DAVID SZUBA, SR.

RG: BRIAN HALLORAN, SR. RT: KYLE KOHLMANN, SR.

S R . SB A K H I B A R K S D A L E

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K:

MIKE OCCHIOGROSSO, SO.

TJ MCARTHUR, SR.

All

About

the

Team

Athe last two years, winning just three games in each.

fter posting three straight winning seasons from 2015 to 2017, Central headed in the opposite direction

Head

Coach:

JARRETT PIDGEON, 1st season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 75-62 Assistant

Coaches:

By:

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 3-6 2016: 7-2

2018: 3-7 2015: 6-4

2017: 7-3

( L - R ) R YAN B ASSETT , V INNE D ALLICARDILLO , N ICK S URA , I MEER J OHNSON , B RANDON M ONTGOMERY & D ANNY T ARIS

O ffense:

Multiple Pro

D efense:

3-4

_______________________________

ex-quarterback in Danny Higgins (Southern Regional/Bridgewater State).

sat. Oct. 3 @

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Lakewood

manchester

barnegat

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Offensive line Seniors Connor Sheppard and Ryan Bassett return as starters but two others graduated and highly-regarded guard Matt Rau (6-foot-5, 295) is now at Delran High School. There are a host of players battling for the open spots with Peyton Dasti, Sayquan Mosley and Todd Dudley among them. How quickly this group comes together will be a key to Central’s success.

X -FACTOR: Frankie Farmer, Jr., QB The 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior sat behind Gavin Whelan last year and is poised to take the reins of the offense. He is clearly dedicated, spends considerable time in training and at clinics and is a pro-style quarterback who, if he develops quickly, could be the difference for this team. Central has a solid group of receivers and if Farmer can deliver on target the Golden Eagles passing game could be a major asset.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Brandon Montgomery, Sr. WR and Chase Gumbrecht, So., RB Montgomery is actually not a “newcomer” as he was a starter as a sophomore and would have been as a junior before a knee injury forced him to miss all of last season. His return is a big boost. Gumbrecht is a sophomore who should see his fair share of carries.

Kevin Williams Ssn director

Chris James (Offensive Coordinator/QB); Danny Higgins (WR); Dennis Pidgeon (RB); Frank Backle (OL); James Plummer (OLB); Terrance Hardy (DB); Will Wowkanyn (DL); Walter Karasiewicz (freshmen); Tommy Koenig (freshmen); Pat Reilly (video operations); Cassie Dennis (athletic trainer).

FRI. Oct. 30 @

fri. Nov. 6

vs.

lacey

pinelands

southern

7:00 pm

Jarrett Pidgeon was an assistant throughout those five years but in 2020 makes the leap from defensive coordinator to head coach replacing Justin Fumando, who was not rehired. Being on the staff allowed Pidgeon to bring back most of his assistants and after a one-year hiatus, former standout quarterback Chris James returns as offensive coordinator and he’ll get help from another

Pidgeon might be a first-year head coach but he’s been around the game for a long time and is well prepared to take over the Golden Eagles program. Like the other 42 head coaches in the Shore, getting ready for this season is very different when “it’s not just about handing out equipment but making sure your players follow all the necessary (COVID-19) protocols. Trying to chase them down for physicals was not easy when you were pretty much limited to Zoom meetings for so long.” However, he is confident that Central will be as ready as possible for its October 3 opener at Lakewood, and part of that is because they return as many as 17 starters, including 10 who started all or part of the season on defense. Not only did they play a host of underclassmen in 2019 but they were in just about every game with the exception of a 4514 loss to Donovan Catholic. Central lost three of its last four games, all by a touchdown or less, so the 3-6 record easily

could have been 6-3. Now those young players have grown up, gotten bigger and stronger and are ready to turn things around in a hurry. Leading that group is Imeer Johnson, who is primarily listed as a linebacker but can also play on the defensive line and is a disruptor wherever he lines up. Johnson has added about 15 pounds of muscle from last year on his 6-foot-3 frame and is a Shore Sports Network Preseason AllShore selection. He will have plenty of help on defense from the likes of Vinnie Dallicardillo, Anthony Musso, CJ Alicia, Gio Libassi, Danny Morris and Nick Sura. It appears junior Frankie Farmer has won the starting quarterback spot although sophomore JJ Garcia has played well and is a capable backup. Either way, opposing teams should expect to see a more wide-open attack than in the past. Senior Nick Sura leads a stable of running backs and when Farmer/Garcia take to the air they will have solid targets in Michael Prasad, Brandon Montgomery and tight end Danny Taris, a four-year veteran who Pidgeon also praised as one of the area’s top punters. Connor Sheppard and Ryan Bassett return as starters and will need to anchor the offensive line. Pidgeon is especially excited about his skill players on both offense and defense along with the leadership of a senior class that is not just talented but embracing the TEAM philosophy he and his staff are preaching. He includes #WITHAPURPOSE when he shares anything on Twitter and truly believes “the sky is the limit for this group” if they play as a team.

Player to Watch:

Imeer Johnson, Sr., OLB Johnson was a defensive force in 2019 and a third-team SSN All-Shore selection. Had 49 tackles, 17 for loss, 8 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 forced fumbles. Equally devastating at linebacker or if they line him up as a defensive end. At 218 pounds, he will be a problem for opposing teams to handle.

Player Under the Radar: Nick Sura, Sr., RB/SS

This is where Johnson was listed last year and he clearly was not under the radar for long. It’s hard to put Sura here as he’s a three-year starter but one who has not drawn a whole lot of accolades outside the program. He simply does everything well and is a true “program player.” With the graduation of leading rusher Landon Richardson look for Sura to fill that spot while standing out once again at strong safety.

TE: DANNY TARIS, SR. 3RS AND MICHAEL RAPPOLA, JR.

SR. TE/K DANNY TARIS

It's tough to pick between them when just about all the starters return. Imeer Johnson, Vinnie Dallicardillo, Evan Horgan and Anthony Marrone are part of an excellent group of linebackers but the foursome of Gio Libassi, Danny Morris, Nick Sura and Dominic Fraulo along with newcomer Zahkee Spivey make the defensive backs tough to beat.

ILB: EVAN HORGAN, JR. RS CB: GIO LIBASSI, SR. 3RS AND ZAHKEE SPIVEY, SR.

OL: RYAN BASSETT, SR. RS

CB: DANNY MORRIS, JR. RS

OL: PEYTON DASTI, JR. OR JOSH CAMPOS, SR.

SS: NICK SURA, SR. 3RS

OL: SAYQUAN MOSLEY, SR.; AARON JOSSA, JR. OR NICK RUA, JR.

FS: DOMINIC FRAULO, JR. RS

OL: TODD DUDLEY, JR. OR JACK VANDIVER, JR.

QB: FRANKIE FARMER, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

RB: NICK SURA, SR. RS; JOHN FERRO, SR.; CHASE GUMBRECHT, SO.

NG: CJ ALICIA, SR. RS

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

WR: MICHAEL PRASAD, SR. RS; BRANDON MONTGOMERY, SR. 3RS, SHANE SAJAWEICZ, JR.

Linebackers/secondary

OL: CONNOR SHEPPARD, SR. R

Projected Offensive Starters:

FB: ANTHONY MUSSO, JR. RS

Top Position Group:

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K:

SEAN HURLEY, JR. RS

DANNY TARIS, SR. RS

DE: ANTHONY MUSSO, JR. RS DE: DJ GLENN, SR. RS

Acton Photo by:

OLB: ANTHONY MARRONE, SR. OLB: IMEER JOHNSON, SR. RS ILB: VINNIE DALLICARDILLO, SR. RS

The Head

Coach:

DAN CURCIONE, 4th season (7th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 36-56 Assistant

Step

an Curcione took over a Donovan Catholic program in 2017 that had bottomed out. The Griffins went 0-10 in both 2014 and 2016 with a four-win season sandwiched in between. By:

Coaches:

Ssn director

Chip LaBarca Jr. (Asst. HC/Offensive Coordinator); Jack Nascimento (QB); Dean Helstowski (RB); Jon Power (OL/DL); Ryan Wells (OLB/RB); Dean Helstowski, Jr. (DB); Mark Deppen (Strength and Conditioning); Mike Heilala (freshmen) Eric Bruno (freshmen); Bob DeStefano (athletic trainer)

senior running backs Jahdir Loftland, Quamire Green Dominick Nocero and junior Nunes Bukula, a transfer from Pinelands. When the Griffins put it up in their air they have targets-a-plenty in senior wideouts James Bivins, Trevor Pruitt and Jayon

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 9-2 2018: 7-3 2016: 0-10 2015: 4-6

Kevin Williams

2017: 4-6 (L-R) EVYN MENTA, DOMINICK NOCERO, CAM MCNAIR, QUAMIRE GREEN, ETHAN CAPONE, JAHDIR LOFTLAND, JAYON FARRAR & JAMES BIVINS IV

O ffense: D efense:

Spread 3-4

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

FRI. Oct. 16

Brick Mem.

TR East

TR South

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

fri. Nov. 6

vs.

Brick

Southern 6:30 pm

TR North

vs.

Evyn Menta, Sr., QB and Jalin Butler, Jr., QB One or both of them will try to replace Ryan Clark, whose contributions to the program can’t be understated. Curcione said when Menta lined up at quarterback in the first practice it was the first time anyone other than Clark took first-team snaps in the four years he’s been the head coach. The back-up last year gets a two-week automatic trial as the starter with Butler having to sit out after transferring.

X -FACTOR: The schedule The Griffins won their Liberty Division games by an average of 34 points per game, which left many questioning how good they would be against better competition. That will be answered this season as they basically play an old-style Class A South schedule against all three Toms River schools, both Brick teams and Southern. It should be very interesting.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Jayon Farrar, Sr., WR/DB The explosive senior is only new to Donovan Catholic because as a junior at Long Branch he caught a Shore Conference-leading 52 passes for 601 yards and 3 touchdowns. A returning first-team All-Shore selection, Farrar is just as likely to contribute on the other side of the ball as he’s an outstanding cornerback who will add to the depth at what is a strong group already.

7:00 pm

Curcione had just won a state title at Wall and the move to the parochial school in Toms River was a head-scratcher to many. However, along with offensive coordinator Chip LaBarca Jr. they saw the potential for success and what has happened on the field since has put the program on the football map. Donovan Catholic went 4-6 in Curcione’s first season, improved to 7-3 in 2018 and produced a 9-2 mark last season, which included the Liberty Division title along with a state playoff victory. With 15 starters back from a team that finished No. 8 in the final SSN Top 10 the Griffins should be a force again, but don’t expect the goals to have changed. “My philosophy has never changed in that I don’t set lofty goals at the start of a season,” Curcione said. “At the end of the season, I

want to look at the film of our very first practice and then compare it to our last game. If we have improved during that time then everything else takes care of itself. We sure we want to win titles and take extra steps from the year before but that’s not what determines success, it’s the ability to improve throughout the season.” With no division title to compete for this season, each Friday night will be an opportunity for Donovan Catholic to show how far the program has come. The major criticism they have faced had to do with their schedule as they dominated division opponents last fall while losing to Red Bank Catholic and DePaul, the top two teams on their schedule. This season, the Griffins only leave Toms River for a Week 4 visit to Brick as they stay close to home and take on teams that comprised much of the old Class A South division. The good news is that the Griffins have a roster that can play with anyone in the Shore. They have to replace All-Shore quarterback Ryan Clark, who graduated as one of the greatest players in school history. His backup, senior Evyn Menta gets the first shot because newcomer Jalin Butler, a junior has to sit out two games following a transfer from Neptune. Either one has loads of weapons in

S R . WR J A M E S B I V I N S

Farrar, who was a first-team All-Shore selection last season at Long Branch. The tight end is talented senior Ethan Capone, a four-year starter who caught 17 passes last season with 4 touchdowns. Opening up holes for the running back and protecting the quarterbacks will be the brothers McNair, senior tackle and major college recruit Cam and junior guard Caron, who lines up right next to big brother. The other spots will be filled by juniors Rob Madison, Aaron Crooms and Nico Ippolito, who has to replace the graduated Tom Buxton.

Rush-Esdaile all capable of making tackles or picking off a pass and going the distance. Donovan does have to replace an all-division kicker in Keaon Torres with that spot going to junior Gavin Ngyun. When asked if he’s built a program Curcione said “We have a bunch of good players and expect to be good for many years. Whether that means we have built a program…well I’ll leave that up to you guys in the media.”

News flash...the Griffins have arrived.

The Griffins gave up less than nine points per game last season with five shutouts and return most of that unit. The McNair brothers will be joined up front by Ippolito and Capone as the group replaces the graduated Chris Aldrich and Dominick Brogna, who transferred to Bergen Catholic. The linebacking unit is as good as anywhere around as Green and Nocero take care of the inside with Levi Wilkins and Connor Farrell on the outside. The defensive backfield is talented and deep with Bivins, Farrar, Loftland, Trevor Pruitt and Mysun

Player to Watch:

Projected Offensive Starters:

C: RG: RT:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

QB: RB: FB: WR: TE: LT: LG:

EVYN MENTA, SR. OR JALIN BUTLER, JR. JAHDIR LOFTLAND, SR., RS; NUNES BUKULA, JR. QUAMIRE GREEN, SR., 4RS AND DOMINICK NOCERO, SR., 4RS JAMES BIVINS, SR., 4RS; TREVOR PRUITT, SR., RS; JAYON FARRAR, SR. ETHAN CAPONE, SR., 4RS; LEVI WILKINS, JR., 3RS CAM MCNAIR, SR., 3RS CARON MCNAIR, JR., RS

Take your pick

Player Under the Radar: Dominick Nocero, Sr., ILB/FB

If he’s under the radar it’s because he is surrounded by so much talent but Nocero is one of the top players in the Shore. He had 78 tackles and five sacks last season and will also provide some blocking from the fullback spot.

Top Position Group: Linebackers Not really much question about this. With four-year starters Quamire Green and Dominick Nocero, retur ning starter Levi Wilkins and impressive junior Connor Farrell, this is one of the top foursomes at the Shore.

Griffins return seven players who made the all-division team in 2019, including Defensive Player of the Year Quamire Green, who had over 100 tackles from his linebacker spot. He’s always around the ball and his fun to watch…if you’re a DC fan. Others poised for big seasons include two-way starters Jahdir Loftland (RB/DB), James Bivins (WR/DB), Ethan Capone (TE/DE) and Cam McNair (OT/DE), who is a prime FBS recruit.

ROB MADISON, JR. AARON CROOMS, JR. NICO IPPOLITO, JR.; ANDY SACKO, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB: ILB:

CAM MCNAIR, SR., 3RS NICO IPPOLITO, JR., RS CARON MCNAIR, JR. ETHAN CAPONE, SR., RS CONNOR FARRELL, JR. QUAMIRE GREEN, SR., 4RS

Action Photos by

ILB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

DOMINICK NOCERO, SR., 4RS JAMES BIVINS, SR., RS; JAYON FARRAR, SR. MYSUN RUSH-ESDAILE, JR., RS JAHDIR LOFTLAND, SR., 3RS; JALIN BUTLER, JR. TREVOR PRUITT, SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

GAVIN NGYUN, JR. LEVI WILKINS, JR. OR DOMINICK NOCERO, SR.

Finding Their Way Head

Coach:

JIM SHARPLES, 8th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 22-47 Assistant

I t's been a tough go for the Jackson Liberty Lions the last few years. By: Vin Ebenau ssn contributorr

Coaches:

Jeff Schmidt (Defensive Coordinator/LB); Dan Gorzynski (Offensive Coordinator/QB); Matt Schmidt (OL); Gerard O’Donnell (DB); Jimmy Lopez (DL); Matt Spader (WR); Matt Fergusen (freshmen); Chris Grande (Athletic Trainer)

Player to Watch:

Jayvon Vilus, Sr., QB/DB Jake Bosco was one of the Lions' best players the last couple seasons but his absence this season following graduation opens up the door to his backup at quarterback. Jayvon Vilus also got some reps in the slot last season along with running a fair amount of plays at quarterback when Bosco was banged, so he's learned the triple-option offense fairly well. If he continues to learn and do so quickly, the Lions will be fun to watch.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 2-7 2016: 1-9

2018: 3-7 2015: 4-6

2017: 3-7

Player Under the Radar: Cooper Yorke, Jr., WR/DB

This junior is an important part of the offense, Sharples said, and spent the preseason working at wide receiver and defensive back but also took some snaps at quarterback to back up for Jayvon Vilus. Yorke will be asked to ﬁll a couple of different roles this season and will need to make sure every play is impactful. "He's got really good hands, he's a big kid, you can put him in the slot, you can put him out wide...he's an important contributor for us," Sharples said.

(L-R) JMATT ROMERO (77), SAL PIERRO (92), ZACH CORRADO (3), BRANDON BITTAR (4), JAYVON VILLUS (1), COOPER YORKE (82) & GIAN LIBASSI (42) O ffense: Pistol D efense:

Option

4-3

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

TR EasT

Pt. Boro

Neptune

PPD, TBA

7:00 pm

Gian Libassi, Sr., RB/FB/LB Jimmy Celentano leaves behind a void at running back following graduation that Gian Libassi will have to fill this season for the Lions to put points on the board and put themselves in a position to win games. Libassi didn't get a lot of reps last year as Celentano's backup but Sharples has high praise for him. "He is going to be an important contributor for us at that position," Sharples said. "He's an important player for us both ways."

X -FACTOR:

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Matt Romero, Jr., LG/DE The newest Lion to the pack was a Jaguar a season ago where he started on a Jackson Memorial team that lost in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 state sectional championship game. The offense where he played left guard last season scored 211 points. Romero's presence here could help give Jayvon Vilus more time in the pocket to make decisions in the triple-option offense and on the blindside to keep him from getting injured or banged up at a position that's had a slight issue there in recent seasons.

Top Position Group: Defense

Sat. Oct. 24 @

The triple-option offense Jackson Liberty scored only 106 points in its ﬁrst year running the triple option and in order to make some noise this season and score points, they'll need Jayvon Vilus to be locked in with Connor Gallagher, Casey Braun, Cooper Yorke and Zach Corrado at wide receiver. They will not only need to know the offense and run it well, but run it with enough precision to keep defenses guessing and chasing.

FRI. Oct. 16

"This year we're getting down the subtleties and nuances and things should be a lot better," Sharples tells the Shore Sports Network. It was a rough start, to put it lightly, last season for the Lions but even though they lost their ﬁnal three

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

Marlboro

Lakewood

Noon

7:00 pm

Jackson mem. 7:00 pm

There's been progress along the way but little to show for it on Friday nights with consecutive losing seasons. In the last three seasons, they've added defensive coordinator Jeff Schmidt to resurrect the defense and they switched from a pro-style to a triple-option offense to try and take advantage of their strengths and to put more points on the board than the 9.1 average per game in 2018. In 2019, they scored 106 points by the end of the season but the ﬁrst three games were all shutout losses, followed by a 35-0 drubbing of Lakewood in Week Four, their only regular-season win. Head coach Jim Sharples, who enters year number eight in the Lions' Den, is optimistic the triple-option offense will bear more fruit this season.

games, all of them were close and Sharples is hoping to build on that with this year's team that is young. There are, however, only 35 players on the roster, meaning there are several two-way starters. "For some reason, it seems like we've been stuck in a young team mode for the last couple years and even again this year," Sharples said. "There's a lot of sophomores, a handful of juniors and not a big senior class with just 10 kids. It's going to be trying again in terms of our experience but the kids are growing." Sharples said there were several freshmen players last season who ended up contributing on the varsity level and they can use that experience to help the team in 2020.

Projected Offensive Starters:

SLOT:

ZACH CORRADO, SO.

Projected Defensive Starters:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

LT:

JACK DUKE, JR.

QB:

DT: DT: DT: DE: DE: LB: LB:

JAYVON VILUS, SR., RS

LG:

MATT ROMERO, JR.,

RB/FB: GIAN LIBASSI, SR.

BRANDON BITTAR, SO.

WR:

CONNOR GALLAGHER, JR.

RG:

SAL PIERRO, SR., RS

WR:

CASEY BRAUN, SR., RS

SLOT:

COOPER YORKE, JR., RS

RT:

ETHAN CONNOR, SR.

KAI WILSON, SR., RS BRANDON BITTAR, SO., RS SAL PIERRO, SR., RS MATT ROMERO, JR. ETHAN CONNOR, SR. GIAN LIBASSI, SR., RS DONTA ROBERTO JR.

The defense has been a strong point for the Lions over the last few seasons in a 4-3 look and players who've adapted quickly to the package of plays being called. Jackson Liberty gave up the second-fewest points in the Freedom Division last season (158) trailing only Colts Neck (111) and neither team finished in the top two. The Lions had some close games to finish out last season, if they continue to play stingy defense then they'll win those kinds of games this year with an offense still finding its way.

S R . QB J A Y V O N V I L U S LB: CB: FS: SS:

COOPER YORKE, JR., RS CASEY BRAUN, SR., RS CONNOR GALLAGHER, JR. ZACH CORRADO, SO., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

COOPER YORKE, JR., RS COOPER YORKE, JR., RS

By:

Bob Badders managing editor

Unfinished Business Head

Coach:

VIN MISTRETTA, 4th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 20-12 Assistant

Opersonnel or to keep up with the Joneses while others will stick with what they know best. Don’t expect ffensive trends come and go in the game of football. Some programs will change it up based on

to see many surprises on Don Connor Boulevard this year, or any year for that matter. Jackson Memorial has a philosophy it believes is timeless.

Coaches:

Keith Anderson (Offensive coordinator); Jeff Brown (OL); Pat Kilmurray (OL); Ken Bradley (RB); Eric Rado (WR); Chris Rash (DL); Mike McCarthy (DL); Arnell Cozart (LB); TJ Tkac (DB); Khani Glover (DB); Nicolle Figaro (Athletic trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 8-4 2018: 6-4 2017: 6-5 2016: 6-5 2015: 8-4

(L-R) WALLY DOMAN, WILL TOWNS, TYRON BLACKWELL & JABARI LOFTON O ffense: Multiple-I D efense:

4-3

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jared Cadavero, Sr., DE

No one player is going to replace Defensive Player of the Year Collin McCarthy, but Cadavero will do his best to provide production when he steps into a starting role at defensive end. “He has matured immensely from last year to this year,” Mistretta said. “He understands the defense and has really impressed us in camp.”

X -FACTOR:

Passing game

The quarterback position is an unproven commodity for the Jaguars, to it remains to be seen if either Devin Foderaro or Tai Mann can deliver what Jackson needs from its signalcaller. The running game will be the focal point, so whoever is the quarterback needs to manage the offense, limit turnovers and come through with clutch plays when the moment presents itself. iMPACT NEWCOMER: Rob Paneque, Jr., FS

Paneque was a ballhawk at the junior varsity level and was able to make an impact on special teams in some important varsity games, namely recovering a fumble in a playoff win over Toms River East.

FRI. Oct. 2 @

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Neptune

Manasquan

Wall

7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

TR North

Brick

Jackson Lib.

7:00 pm

vs.

“We have our pieces of the puzzle and each year we can add some new things, but we’re always going to look like the same team,” said Jackson Memorial head coach Vin Mistretta. “Execution is always going to be the key.” A power running game and a ferocious defense have long been the calling cards of Jackson football and the 2020 Jaguars will once again take the field with the same set of principles. Despite some key losses to graduation from last season’s team that reached a state sectional title game, the Jaguars have the pieces in place to once again be among the Shore Conference’s best teams. It all starts in the backfield with senior tailback Will Towns, a Wake Forest University recruit who is a returning first-team All-Shore selection. Towns ran for 1,372 yards and 12 touchdowns to finish third in the Shore Conference in rushing, authoring six 100-yard games, including a career-high 242 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Brick and 232 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Freehold. He is the V-8 engine in Jackson’s multiple-I offense. “Will is stronger, faster and more mature than last year so we have

high expectations for a kid who is an outstanding athlete and student,” Mistretta said. “He’s got it all.” Jackson has traditionally been a one-tailback offense save for some seasons where it had multiple threats in the backﬁeld. Towns will get the majority of the carries with seniors Michael Collins and Damian Henderson serving as the fullbacks. The offensive line graduated two people-movers in the form of Collin McCarthy (more on him in a minute) and Sean Laverty, but returns three starters from last season’s unit. Senior Matt Milone is the left tackle, senior Sebi Marc is the right guard and senior Drew Trust is the right tackle. Juniors Kyle Laverty at left guard and Donny Zapata at center have elevated to starting roles. The Jags also have returning starter Jaden Persichilli back as the tight end, who is a very good blocker and also has soft hands when called upon in the passing game. The Jaguars graduated starting wide receivers Jake McKown and Zach Novak but feel good about the new group of wideouts. Senior Wally Doman played many snaps at wide receiver last season and will be joined by seniors Jabari Lofton and Kai Blair, who transferred from St. Peter’s Prep last season and played in the secondary after sitting out the required four games. “The overall thought based on all the guys we lost is that we have a lot of unproven guys, but the reality is we have a lot of players with varsity experience,” Mistretta said. “Four of ﬁve offensive linemen have started games, we lost Novak and McKown but Wally is a three-year starter, Jabari started plenty of games and Kai Blair is probably one of the better

S R . RB WILL TOWNS

receivers in the Shore.”

linebacker will be junior Tom Widawski.

The quarterback position is the one spot that is still undecided as junior Devin Foderaro and sophomore Tai Mann are battling it out to replace Lonnie Cebulski under center.

The secondary looks to be a very strong unit with three returning starters. Doman will be a three-year returning starter at strong safety with Lofton and Blair back as the starting cornerbacks. Junior Rob Paneque will look to step in as the starting free safety.

“They have different skill sets so we’re not opposed to splitting some time,” Mistretta said. “Devin is more of a pocket passer with a pretty big arm and Tai is the more dynamic athlete. We’re good with either guy as leaders.” Jackson’s 4-3 defense lost some absolute hammers to graduation, namely McCarthy, who was the 2019 SSN Defensive Player of the Year, the state Defensive Player of the Year and is currently at the University of Connecticut. Still, the unit returns six starters and still expects to bring it with a fast and physical style. The position group with the biggest shoes to ﬁll is along the defensive line as Persichilli is the only returning starter. Seniors Jared Cadavero and Angel Cespedes along with junior Eric Ibe will join Persichilli to comprise the new front four. “Between Persichilli and Angel Cespedes we have 600 pounds of beef in the middle, so that’s pretty nice,” Mistretta said. “We don’t have Collin McCarthy and we’re never going to replace that guy, but we have a bunch of angry dudes ﬂying around trying to make plays.” Senior Tyron Blackwell returns as a three-year starter at outside linebacker and Henderson is also a returning starter at outside linebacker. The middle

After going 8-3 and reaching the Central Jersey Group 4 ﬁnal last season only to come up short against Hammonton, the mission statement of the current senior class has been to take care of unﬁnished business. That won’t be possible in a traditional sense because there will be no sectional playoffs this season, but the Jaguars don’t necessarily need hardware to validate an accomplishment of their goals.

Player Under the Radar: Tyron Blackwell, Sr., OLB Blackwell will be entering his third year as a starter and for the first two years was overshadowed by some of his teammates. Now a senior, Blackwell could be in for a breakout year that puts him in the discussion as an All-Shore player. He had eight sacks last season. “He has a little chip on his shoulder and he plays angry at times,” Mistretta said. “He has an offer from Army but he probably feels underrecruited. He’s 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, that prototypical size you want in a linebacker, so he’s playing with something to prove. He’s done the right things in the offseason to get himself better.”

“If we win all the games on our regular-season schedule with Wall and Toms River North; if at the end we’re 6-0 and then we can go 8-0, you can call yourselves whatever the heck you want,” Mistretta said. “You beat everyone in front of you. These guys have the ﬁre and they’re already ﬁred up to get going.”

Top Position Group:

Player to Watch:

Senior Wally Doman will be a three-year starter at strong safety while seniors Jabari Lofton and Kai Blair are both returning starters at cornerback. It is the most experienced level of the Jaguars’ defense.

Will Towns, Sr., RB

Secondary

Towns, who is verbally committed to Wake Forest, had a great junior season and as a senior is one of the top running backs in New Jersey. The offense will go through him, so if he has another big year the Jaguars will remain one of the Shore’s best teams and play deep into the season.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB: MLB: OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

ANTONIO BILANCIONE, SR.

QB: RB: FB: TE: WR: LT: LG: C: RG: RT:

DEVIN FODERARO, JR. OR TAI MANN, SO. WILL TOWNS, SR., 3RS MICHAEL COLLINS, SR. AND DAMIAN HENDERSON, SR. JADEN PERSICHILLI, SR., RS WALLY DOMAN, SR., RS; JABARI LOFTON, SR., RS; KAI BLAIR, SR. MATT MILONE, SR., RS KYLE LAVERTY, JR. DONNY ZAPATA, JR. SEBI MARC, SR., RS DREW TRUST, SR., RS

JARED CADAVERO, SR. ANGEL CESPEDES, SR. ERIC IBE, JR. JADEN PERSICHILLI, SR., 3RS TYRON BLACKWELL, SR., 3RS TOM WIDAWSKI, JR. DAMIEN HENDERSON, SR., RS JABARI LOFTON, SR., RS KAI BLAIR, SR., RS WALLY DOMAN, SR., 3RS ROB PANEQUE, JR.

Photo by:

Getting Back To The Top Ichampionship game only to come up short and having to look forward to next year.

magine putting it all on the line and coming within a game of reaching a state sectional

Head

Coach:

LOU VIRCILLO, 40th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 294-148 Assistant

By: Vin Ebenau ssn contributorr

Coaches:

Warren Smith (QB); Mike Stuppiello (DE); Chris DiMicco (LB); Bob Nani (DT); Matt Kiefer (OL); Shane Allen (DB); Shawn McAndrew (WR); Jack Bush; Joe Tobin; Lee Emery (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 7-4 2016: 6-4

2018: 5-5 2015: 3-7

2017: 7-3

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Damian O'Loughlin, Jr., OL and Joe Kudlacik, Jr., OL Lacey lost its center and right tackle to graduation after last season so O'Loughlin and Kudlacik will have the task of ensuring a strong offensive line that can give Noah Brunatti plenty of time in the pocket and provide gaps for the running backs to sprint on through.

X -FACTOR:

Strength and endurance The restrictions and guidelines put in place by the state and NJSIAA have made coaches and teams have to find new ways to prepare for the season. Players have more work to do on their own than in previous seasons in terms of being physically and mentally prepared. The Lions have been getting their practices and workouts in but can the team who fought tough with Wall last season in the semifinals find a way to be prepared for the six games in front of them? If they're well-conditioned and strong physically and mentally in being game-ready and focused, they will find success.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Gaetano Dimiele, Jr., RB/OLB and Mike Rozell, Jr., WR/CB The linebacker corp for the Lions has been strong for years and it has a lot of depth heading into the 2020 season. Dimiele played his freshman year at Lacey, then transferred to Rumson-Fair Haven where he attended school but did not play football and is now back playing for Lacey again. He's been competing in the preseason for playing time and reps with Tynan Jensen and John Dodero. Rozell is a junior wide receiver who transferred in from Toms River South who Vircillo says has a chance to play a lot this season. It would give quarterback Noah Brunatti another weapon at receiver to help offset the loss of his favorite target, Bobby Evans, to graduation

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: RB/FB: RB: WR: TE: LT: 86

NOAH BRUNATTI, JR., RS SCOTT STEVENS, JR., RS TYNAN JENSEN, SR., RS; CHASE GRANIT, SR. ANDREW TOBIA, JR., RS; MATT COON, SO.; JAKE HOULE, SR.; MATT MCCLUNG, JR. JOHN DODERO, JR.,RS; BRANDON DEANGELO SR. PADRAIC BANFIELD, JR., RS

where they stand heading into the season, where fri. Oct. 2 FRI. Oct. 9 FRI. Oct. 16 each athlete will play and @ vs. vs. how to manage the schedule game by game. Pinelands Brick Memorial Manchester "I get the team to 7 6 :00 pm :30 pm 6:30 pm concentrate on improving themselves each and every day as an individual and as a team," said Vircillo, who enters his 40th season on the Lions sideline. "I try not to get them to think of any fri. Oct. 23 FRI. Oct. 30 FRI. Nov. 6 particular team or goal @ @ vs. except opening day, which Central Barnegat Freehold Twp. this year is Manchester." While they have 7:00 pm 7:00 pm 6:30 pm traditionally sharpened their skills ahead of the Wall was an unstoppable force last season, Vircillo has been able to help them season but they were tested by this Lions focus on the game and each other. team in the Central Jersey Group 3 "Our challenge is always to develop our semifinals even leading 6-0 after the first chemistry and our leadership," Vircillo said. quarter before the Crimson Knights put the "You take kids from last year and try to get game away in the second half. them out of the summer mode of things and There's a good nucleus of young players into a work mode." back for another round this season As they prepare for a shortened and including junior quarterback Noah Brunatti different kind of season due to Covid-19 and junior fullback/linebacker Scott restrictions and everything being delayed, Stevens. Vircillo is relying on his senior leadership to Each year though, head coach Lou Vircillo help get the team started off right. He's starts from scratch, not continuing what asked the team as a whole to focus on the happened a season ago but assessing present and the task at hand.

LG: C: RG: RT:

NICK CHRISTINA, SR., RS DAMIAN O'LOUGHLIN, JR., RS NICK POVIA, SR., RS JOE KUDLACIK, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DE: DE:

NICK CHRISTINA, SR., RS AUSTIN CHADWICK, SR., RS NICK POVIA, SR., RS; GERARD O'CONNOR, SR.;

DE: NG: DT: MLB: ILB: OLB: OLB: FS:

"The focus is to prepare for one game at a time, prepare for that one game, don't get lofty at all," Vircillo said. "If they take care of each game and be as competitive as they can possibly be, then they'll win their share of games. We're (the coaching staff) working to have them be the best that they can be." In his more than four decades of being a head coach, Vircillo has totaled 294 wins and is closing in on a milestone number heading into the 2020 season, trailing only the legendary Warren Wolf, who had 364 victories across 51 seasons at Brick and one season at Lakewood, for the most wins in Shore Conference history For Vircillo, 300 wins is just a number. What matters more to him is all the teams he's coached over the years and the time they spent together on the field. "People on the outside talk about this a lot more than I do," Vircillo said. "To be quite honest, I just cherish the fact that we can come out here and practice." In a six-game season, the Lions would need to run the table to give Vircillo win number 300 in the regular season, but there are always the playoffs, and if it doesn't happen this year there's always next season. This is also season number 40 as the head coach at Lacey for Vircillo and he has no plans on slowing down and retiring. He still enjoys driving to practice, to games and being there with his team on the sidelines instructing them on how to get better and making the tough calls with the game on the line. This is what drives him to continue coaching day by day and minute by minute for however long it is and coaching past the flashes of 'this is it' because he loves the game and working with the studentathletes. "Those moments have been precious to me like I would believe any moment in anyone else's life and I've been happy to be able to work with athletes and see them do well in life," Vircillo said. "As most coaches do, we want to see the young men that we teach and coach do well in life and make the right choices. I've been blessed to be able

MARIO RAMIREZ, SR. DAMIAN O'LOUGHLIN, JR., RS DAKOTA SCHWAB, JR. SCOTT STEVENS, JR., RS CHRISTIAN BOOS, SR.; DOMINIC TARRICONE, JR. TYNAN JENSEN, SR., RS JOHN DODERO, JR., RS, GAETANO DIMIELE, JR. LIAM SANGER, SR., RS

SS: CB: CB:

to coach and if God willing it's meant to be that I continue, then I continue, and if not, then I don't, so it's day-to-day."

Player to Watch:

Tynan Jensen, Sr., RB/OLB The Lions continue to be a factory of producing solid running backs and Tynan Jensen is no different. Justin Gorski got the bulk of the carries in 2019 but when an injury kept him out of the lineup, Jensen was one of the players getting more carries. He'll be tasked with getting most of them this year. Jensen is also a key part of the Lions' defense at outside linebacker.

Player Under the Radar: Chase Granit, Sr., RB/OLB

A series of injuries since the beginning of his sophomore year when he appeared well on his way to a 1,000 rushing yard season has left Granit on the sidelines eager to get back out there. His senior year is his ﬁnal chance to put it all on the line and in doing so could help the Lions make a big statement in the Shore Conference. "Some unfortunate things have happened to him over the last couple of years and he hasn't been able to stay healthy. It was a pregame sprained ankle and then became a pulled hamstring. Last year he suffered an injury in the summer and was never able to play," Coach Vircillo said. "This year he seems healthy. He's very capable as a running back."

Top Position Group: Running backs

When the running game is going strong for Lacey as is often the case, good things are happening on the ﬁeld. Scott Stevens, who will mostly play in the fullback position, is a "scholarship type of player", Vircillo said, and he'll be getting the bulk of the carries along with Tynan Jensen this season with Chase Granit poised for a Comeback Player of the Year kind of season. If these three and the depth behind them continue to have the success they did in the backﬁeld last season, the Lions will be a top contender this year and make 2020 memorable even in a shortened season.

DYLAN HILSHIEMER, SR., RS ANDREW TOBIA, JR., RS ZACH STROIN, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: JACK BOREL, JR., RS P: DOMINIC TARRICONE, JR., RS KR/PR: CHASE GRANIT, SR.

THAN

THE

GAME

Iand they've hit bottom and are trying to get back up.

t's been a series of peaks and valleys over the last few seasons for the Lakewood Piners

Head

Coach:

L.J. CLARK, 10th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 41-51 Assistant

By: Vin Ebenau ssn contributor

community, passed on to him before she died in June.

Coaches:

Evan Baubles (Assistant HC/Off. Coordinator); Andy Carlstrom (Defensive Coordinator); Sam Turner (OL); Be Pivets (WR/DB); Bob Terringo (FB/LB); Tim Brown, Mike Muth, Tim Redding, John Revel.

"For the last ten years my mother cooked pasta dinners on Thursdays or Fridays, every night before a game and before every home game she would cook twelve dozen eggs and six pounds of bacon for the kids so they'd have a square meal to eat," Clark said. "She was the best and she loved Lakewood football."

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

Player to Watch:

2019: 2-8 2016: 7-3

2018: 1-9 2015: 6-4

Haaziq Barksdale, Sr., RB/DB

2017: 6-5

(L-R) HAAZIQ BARKSDALE, ANGEL GONZALEZ, ANDRE PEACE, JAYVON GONZALEZ, JAVON MCDANIEL & GUSTAVO SAAVEDRA

O ffense: Shotgun D efense:

Wing-T

Sat. Oct. 3

FRI. Oct. 9

Sat. Oct. 17

Central

TR South

Monmouth

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

1:00 pm

vs.

3-4 Multiple

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

vs.

Evan Wall, Sr. WR/DB It's very important to have skillful receivers with good hands and great speed and can also block a little bit in a Shotgun Wing-T offense. The Piners lost three wide receivers to graduation following last season in Rodney Wall, Tymir Bergstrom and Sean Antoine, all of whom were also over six feet tall. Wall and the other receivers playing this season will need to have speed, agility and good instincts to make up for a lack of size.

Sat. Oct. 24

Fri. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Pinelands

Jackson Lib.

Pt. Boro

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

vs.

X -FACTOR:

The offensive line The Piners have produced some successful running backs over the years and they've been helped by the offensive line. They have four starters returning this season and Clark says they'll be relied on heavily.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Jayvon Gonzalez, So. QB It'll be a baptism by fire for Jayvon Gonzalez who will be taking the reins as the starting quarterback in 2020. Clark describes him as "very athletic" and someone who has taken the bull by the horns during training camp.

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB:

JAYVON GONZALEZ SO.

RB:

HAAZIQ BARKSDALE SR.; ANGEL GONZALEZ SR.; GUSTAVO SAAVERDA SR.; KENYON TIMS SO., RASHON DABNEY SR.

FB:

RAYMOND TORRES SR.; ALEXIS MONTES JR.

SB/WR: ANDRE PEACE JR. WR:

EVAN WALL SR.

They had a stretch of making the playoffs for seven years in a row but the 2018 and 2019 campaigns were not kind to them and it wasn't necessarily because of skills, abilities and putting points on the board." "I think going to the playoffs for seven straight years, character had a lot to do with that," head coach LJ Clark tells the Shore Sports Network. "In the offseason, we've been doing a lot of character building, not really X's and O's, and I think that's going to help us this year because I have a group of kids with better character. I think the character of the team is very good this year."

WR:

SYKEER POWELL SR; MATT SUTTON SR.; MATT VARGAS JR

The character building is not just for the football field at practices and games but for how the Piners act in the classroom and in the community. "It's flat out morals, 'what do you do when we're not watching?' and I'm a firm believer that if you're a good person, good things will work out for you," Clark said. "If you're doing the right thing off the field, I think the right thing will happen to you on the field. We've been preaching (to the team) do the right thing all of the time." The top goal of the Piners program under Clark isn't to just pick up wins on the football field, it's to pick up wins in the classroom and in life. "If your goal is to just win football games, you're never going to win. The goal of my program is that we're going to be good kids on and off the field," Clark said. "Our main goal is to get these kids to have a better life in college or some type of post-high school education. It's about pushing these kids to better themselves." There may only be between 30 and 40 student-athletes on the roster but Clark says "I have eight or nine kids going to college every year. I have some kids going into the military as well." One of Clark's former players ended up in the NFL earlier this year when Chapelle Russell was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Temple University, where another former Piner, Amir Tyler, currently plays as a redshirt Senior.

May there be Peace on offense...and defense, too. Clark expects this 2-year starter to have a breakout junior season in large part because of his speed. "He's one of the top guys in track at the Shore and unfortunately because of the spring season being cut short (due to Covid-19) no-one really knows that he's that fast," Clark said.

Top Position Group: Running Backs From Chapelle Russell to Amir Tyler, the Piners have found success in recent seasons at the running back position. Russell and Tyler moved to become primarily defense players at Temple University but they both have been blessed with speed and that's something that comes out of the current group of running backs in Lakewood. The group this year will be led by Tyler's younger brother, Haaziq Barksdale, whose ability to find daylight could provide a muchneeded boost to the offense.

JALEN LONDON JR.

DB:

EVAN WALL SR.

DL:

LAMIR CLARK JR.; RAYMOND TORRES SR.; ANGEL GONZALEZ SR.; ALEXIS BAUSTIA SO.; ALEXIS MONTES JR.

DB:

SYKEER POWELL SR.; MATT SUTTON SR.; MATT VARGAS JR

SS:

ANDRE PEACE JR.

OL:

JALEN LONDON JR.

OL:

LAMIR CLARK JR.

LB:

ANGEL GONZALEZ SR.

OL:

RAYMOND TORRES SR.

LB:

GUSTAVO SAAVERDA SR.

OL:

ALEXIS BAUSTIA SO.

LB:

KENYON TIMS SO.

LB:

RASHON DABNEY SR.; ALEXIS MONTES JR.

DB:

HAAZIQ BARKSDALE SR.

JAYVON M C DANIELS SR.

Andre Peace, Jr., WR/SS

DL:

JAYVON MCDANIELS SR.

DL:

Player Under the Radar:

Clark is passing onto his players what his late mother, Barbara, who had a huge impact on the Lakewood

OL:

Projected Defensive Starters:

The younger brother of former Piners star Amir Tyler is poised for a big senior campaign of his own. Barksdale is now a four-year starter for Lakewood and Clark predicts he is going to have a breakout year. "He's one of the fastest kids in the Shore Conference in track and ﬁeld. He's also done a really great job of dedicating himself during quarantine by staying in shape and running by himself, and I think his hard work is going to pay off," Clark said.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

JAYVON GONZALEZ SO. JAYVON GONZALEZ SO.

BUILDING

NEST

By:

Kevin Williams Ssn director

Blost 21 straight games and in his second game there ended the streak with an overtime victory.

rian Wilkinson is not afraid of a challenge. He took over a Pinelands Regional program in 2013 that had

Head

Coach:

BRIAN WILKINSON, 1st season (12th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 45-66 Assistant

Charlie Diskin (Offensive Coordinator/QB); Craig Karahuta (RB); Rich Stratton (OL); Tye Coleman (WR); Paul Findlow (DL); Kevin Hester (DB); Amani Richardson (DB) Tiffany Whalen (athletic trainer). T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 2-8 2018: 5-5 2017: 3-7 2016: 3-7 2015: 1-9

It was their only win of the season but they doubled that in 2014 and two years later they won four games and Wilkinson was named the division Coach of the Year. Prior to that, he was the head coach at his alma mater, Toms River South, for seven seasons. Now after three seasons as an assistant he is the new head coach at Manchester Township, a program that has had

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

lacey

central

pinelands

6:30 pm

7:00 pm

fri. Oct. 23

fri. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

vs.

barnaget

keansburg

Pt Beach

7:00 pm

Coaches:

(L - R )

MYLES LAWSON, THOMAS SMITH, SAVON MYERS, GAVIN CLARK, CHRIS GILLE & NICK UBERTI (L-R) JULIUS BARRITEAU, JOSH GLENN, ANTHONY PERRELLI & SEAN SNEAD

very little success on the gridiron.

want to learn and be excited about football.”

“There are certainly similarities between what I inherited at Pinelands and now at Manchester,” Wilkinson told the Shore Sports Network. “There are attitudes that need to be changed, there are bad habits that need to go away and good habits that need to be developed. At both schools there are great kids that

Wilkinson was named head coach in May at a time when the future of the 2020 season was very much in doubt. However, it did not slow him down when it came to instilling change and it began with teaching his players about leadership. Every week he used Google Meet to have different speakers address the

vs.

team, including former New York Giants players Keith Elias, Brandon Jacobs and Roman Oben, Montclair State assistant coach Mike Palazzo (who played for him at Toms River South) and Kean University head coach Dan Garrett. Wilkinson said his players, manchester Continued

page

manchester Continued

page

Player to Watch:

Josh Glenn, Sr., RB/DB especially the seniors, listened carefully and asked questions and it was a positive experience for them and his staff.

O ffense:

Spread

D efense:

3-3

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Diondre Johnson, Jr., DE The junior replaces John Mayer, a two-way standout who was an all-division performer as a senior. Johnson is an athletic 6-foot, 175-pounder who has stepped into that spot on defense and shown a lot of promise. He figures to improve each week and should be a significant contributor to a Hawks defense that needs to make big strides from 2019.

X -FACTOR:

Grasping change Manchester has never been able to establish any type of winning program and losing was somewhat accepted. The Hawks have not had a winning season since 2010 when they made the NJSIAA playoffs for just the second time in school history. Now they have a new head coach, new systems, new challenges and most of all, new expectations. How quickly the upperclassmen buy into the changes and set an example for the younger players will likely determine what happens this year and in the future.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs:

That’s a start, but now it has to translate to the playing field. Fortunately, the Hawks have some talent along with speed and athleticism. It starts with senior running back and defensive back Josh Glenn, a two-time all-division player who will be counted on to provide additional leadership on and off the field. They return two other all-division players in junior defensive tackle Kingborn Morris and senior linebacker Chris Grille, who will also be one of the featured running backs on offense. Safety D’Maari Brown led the team in tackles as a sophomore and returns, as does senior linebacker Julius Barriteau, who like Grille will also play in the offensive backfield. Sophomore Evan Weiner gives the Hawks a capable kicker. What likely excites Wilkinson and offensive coordinator Charlie Diskin (former Toms River East head coach) the most is what they have at quarterback in juniors Savon Myers and Anthony Perelli. The 6-foot-5 Myers played basketball last winter but skipped the football season, so he is still a work in progress. He possesses a strong arm but is being pushed by Perelli as both have worked hard to learn a new offense. The coaching staff is confident that either one can get the job done. Another promising note is that there are about 70 players in the program, which is an increase of about 30 from a year ago. The coaching staff stayed in constant contact with players throughout the summer via email, text, calls, and even resorting to writing letters. They answered questions, addressed concerns and kept them updated and made sure the players knew that most of all this new staff cared about them.

When you play on a losing team you sometimes get lost in the mix but opposing coaches know all too well that Glenn is a special player. He made all-division on defense as a sophomore and offense as a junior and is a true do-it-all performer for the Hawks.

Player Under the Radar: Savon Myers, Jr., QB Myers did not even play football as a sophomore but instead focused on basketball. Now he’s expected to be the starter at a pivotal position in the Hawks' spread attack. At 6foot-5, and 205 pounds he has all the physical tools, but inexperience will force him to learn on the fly.

Top Position Group: Defensive backs

backs/running

Since Glenn is the leader of both groups there's no surprise here. Chris Grille and Julius Barriteau also return to give the Hawks a stable of quality running backs and D’Maari Brown and Gavin Clark are part of an experienced group of defensive backs.

A pair of seniors who are expected to be two-way starters and contributors on both sides of the ball.

Manchester opens the season with a road contest against what’s expected to be a good Lacey team and the rest of the schedule is a challenging one. Of course, challenges are nothing new for Wilkinson and a program searching for success.

Projected Offensive Starters:

Projected Defensive Starters:

SS: SEAN SNEAD, SR.

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

DE: CHRISTOPHER PARRISH-MARSHALL, SR.

FS: D’MAARI BROWN, SR., RS

Isaiah Elgamraoul, Sr., OL/LB and Sean Snead, Sr., WR/DB

QB:

SAVON MYERS, JR.

RB:

JOSH GLENN, SR., RS; CHRIS GRILLE, SR.; JULIUS BARRITEAU, SR.;

WR:

D’MAARI BROWN, JR., RS; SEAN SNEAD, SR.

TE:

GAVIN CLARK, SR.

LT:

THOMAS SMITH, SR.

LG:

NICK UBERTI, SR. OR ISAIAH ELGAMROUAI, SR.

MYLES LAWSON, SR.

RG:

CHRISTOPHER PASOS, JR.

RT:

JUSTICE WILSON, SR.

DT: KINGBORN MORRIS, JR., RS DE: DIONDRE JOHNSON, JR. ILB: CHRIS GRILLE, SR., RS DS: JULIUS BARRITEAU, SR., RS ILB: ISAIAH ELGAMROUAI, SR.

S R . RB/DB J O S H G L E N N

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K:

EVAN WEINER, SO., RS

JUSTICE WILSON, SR.

ILB: NICK UBERTI, SR. CB: GAVIN CLARK, SR. OR T TANYAN VALMON, JR. CB: JOSH GLENN, SR., RS

Photos by:

Ready for Anything dhave imagined they would have to deal with. But if there was one Shore Conference team that could have been

ue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season will be filled with challenges that coaches and players could never

Head

Coach:

MATT FULLER, 4th season Career

Record:

Assistant

somehow prepared for the disjointed offseason and preseason and the bevy of restrictions in place it is without a doubt the Pinelands Wildcats.

7-21

By:

managing editor

Coaches:

Joe Adelizzi (Defensive Coordinator/LB/FB); Anthony Allocca (DL/OL); Scott Peterka (OL/DL); Mike Keller (QB/OLB); Gennaro Balleta (WR/RB/DB); Justin Loomis (freshmen); Howard Berry (freshmen); John Tierney (middle school head coach); Joseph Yglesias (middle school asst.); Stacy Childs (athletic trainer)

2018: 4-5 2015: 2-8

FRI. oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

barnegat 7:00 pm

Lacey 7:00 pm

Manchester 7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

Fri. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

lakewood

central 7:00 pm

bye

vs.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 1-8 2016: 4-6

Bob Badders

2017: 2-8

vs.

1:00 pm

Thur. nov. 26 O ffense:

Flexbone

D efense:

3-5-3

vs.

southern 10:00 am

When the current seniors were freshmen Pinelands was on split sessions, which meant they didn’t start practice until 5 p.m. and also could not use the locker room. During their sophomore year, emergency construction at the school closed the building and moved everyone across the street the middle school. The team had no locker room, no weight room and no home field. Their junior year offered a respite as they returned to school with locker room access and got back on their home field, but adversity struck again when the pandemic hit in March.

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Andrew Jenkins, Sr., TE Jenkins is a seasoned varsity player as a three-year starter but is now at tight end where last season Ed Wilkinson was a first-team all-division selection.

X -FACTOR:

“Our team is led by a group of seniors who have gotten very comfortable in uncomfortable situations,” said Pinelands head coach Matt Fuller. “Our leaders have never had a normal season or offseason. They have gotten used to the things that many schools are just now trying to figure out. If we can use those experiences to help us focus on just playing the game we will have a successful season.”

New offensive scheme Pinelands has installed a new offense in switching to the triple option. The Wildcats were last in the Shore averaging just 7.1 points per game last season so they obviously have to improve significantly.

Hardened from unique and adverse situations and loaded with returning starters on both sides of the ball, Pinelands will try to end an unforgettable year on a positive note by authoring the program’s first winning season since 2004.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: TJ Maino, Sr., OL/ILB There are just a couple spots not filled with returning starters and Maino is in line to fill one on offense at left guard and another on defense at inside linebacker.

A whopping 10 players who started at one point or another return in the Wildcats’ flexbone offense, which is new for this year. One key loss, however, is junior running back Nunes Bukula Jr., who transferred to Donovan Catholic. The only

position that will not feature a returning starter is left guard where senior TJ Maino and junior Chris Caravano are working in. Senior Connor Harris is the quarterback, seniors Shayne Michot and Tyler Nikola are the fullbacks and seniors Dom Darcy and Nathan Jeanotte are the running backs. Pinelands has nine starters back in its 3-5-3 defense, including four of its five linebackers, all of whom will be three-year starters. Harris leads the way after earning firstteam all-National Division honors last season and is joined by his twin brother, Aaron, at outside linebacker. Michot and senior Andrew Jenkins are the inside linebackers and will be joined by either Maino or sophomore Jack O’Brien. The defensive line has senior Matt Perez as a returning starter at defensive tackle and senior Abdullah Elaysad as a returning starter at defensive end. The entire secondary returns with seniors Dom Darcy and Xavier Jenkins as the cornerbacks and senior Jack Lawrie as the free safety. “If we can control the ball and limit big plays we can be successful,” Fuller said. “It’s going to come down to how quickly we can adapt to the new offense.”

Player to Watch:

Connor Harris, Sr., QB/LB Harris will be entering his third year as a starting linebacker and is the leader of the Wildcats’ defense. He’ll also spearhead Pinelands’ ﬂexbone triple-option as the quarterback.

Player Under the Radar: Shayne Michot, Sr., FB/LB This could be any number of players but we’ll go with Michot, who was a second-team all-division lineman last season but will move to fullback in the flexbone offense. He returns as a three-year starter at linebacker after leading Pinelands with 81 tackles last season.

Top Position Group: Linebackers With four three-year retur ning starters, the second level of Pinelands 3-5-3 defense is the clear strength of the team.

Projected Offensive Starters:

WR: JACOB HALDENWAGON, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

ILB: TJ MAINO SR.; JACK O’BRIEN, SO.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

LT: DAN MCNEIMER, JR., RS

NT: ANDREW STAUB, SR.

OLB: AARON HARRIS, SR., 3RS

QB: CONNOR HARRIS, SR., RS

LG: TJ MAINO, SR.; CHRIS CARAVANO, JR.

DT: MATT PEREZ, SR., RS

CB: DOM DARCY, SR., 3RS; NATE JEANOTTE, SR.

RB: DOM DARCY, SR., RS; NATHAN JEANOTTE, SR., RS

DE: ABDULLAH ELAYSAD, SR., RS

CB: XAVIER JENKINS, SR., RS; NICK DALEO, JR.

FB: SHAYNE MICHOT, SR., RS; TYLER NIKOLA, SR.

RG: ANDREW STAUB, SR., RS

OLB: CONNOR HARRIS, SR., 3RS

FS: JACK LAWRIE, SR., 3RS

TE: ANDREW JENKINS, SR., 3RS

RT: MATT PEREZ, SR., RS

ILB: SHAYNE MICHOT, SR., 3RS

WR: JACK LAWRIE, SR., 3RS;

TOMMY MCNEIL, SR., RS

ILB: ANDREW JENKINS, SR., 3RS 91

Not Settling

Oof .500 or better, the first season under head coach Joe Zaccone was a rousing success for Point Beach.

ne year after a winless season snapped the program’s unprecedented streak of seven straight years with a record

Head

Coach:

JOE ZACCONE, 2nd season Career

Record:

Assistant

By:

7-3

managing editor

Coaches:

The biggest reason for Point Beach’s major turnaround last year was a stout defense that finished seventh in the Shore in scoring at 14.9 points per game. They will certainly miss Sherlock and just four starters return from that unit, but many of the new defensive starters have starting experience from the offensive side.

Jeff Bower (Defensive Coordinator/DB/RB); Brandon Gross (Offensive Coordinator/OL/DL); Mike Pellicane (Offensive Coordinator/QB/LB); Jake VanBrunt (Special Teams/DB/RB); Josh Yates (Special Teams/WR/LB); Cali Whedon (athletic trainer) T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 7-3 2018: 0-9 2016: 6-5. 2015: 5-5

( L - R ) M I K E G R A U S O , D A V I D T E R R A -N O V A , M A T T V A N B R U N T , A I D A N J O N E S , JOSH RAMOS & JACK SHAMY

2017: 7-5

fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

fri. Oct. 16

Keansburg

Asbury Park 6:00 pm

BYE

vs.

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

4-3

7:00 pm

Andrew Laumbach, Jr., TE/DE Laumbach will try to do his part to replace the production left by the graduation of Jason Sherlock, who had 102 tackles, 9 sacks and 30 tackles for loss to be named National Division Defensive Player of the Year. Laumbach also plays tight end where Sherlock was the team’s leading receiver.

X -FACTOR:

Staying healthy Staying healthy has taken on a new meaning this season, but in terms of staying injury-free it is a must for all small-school teams because there is usually a significant drop-off after the starters.

fri. Oct. 23

Sat. Oct. 31

FRI. Nov. 6

shore 7:00 pm

keyport Noon

Manchester

vs.

7:00 pm

Coming off an 0-9 year in 2018, the Garnet Gulls regrouped last season to go 7-3 and ﬁnish second in the National Division. It was a huge bounce-back season for a program that has had limited success in its history, especially outside the tenure of legendary head coach John Wagner, who guided the school to its only state sectional title in 2013. Last year showed that Point Beach wasn’t going to accept reverting back to being a struggling program again. There are key players who were lost to graduation

Projected Offensive Starters: iMPACT NEWCOMER:

( RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

Jackson Killian, So., LT/DE

QB: RB:

Despite being just a sophomore, Killian is Point Beach’s biggest lineman at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds and is slated to be a starter at left tackle and defensive end.

TE: WR:

LT: LG: 92

like National Division Defensive Player of the Year Jason Sherlock, standout running back/linebacker Liam Buday and linebacker Matt Vinsko, but Point Beach has a quality senior class and several experienced varsity players returning for the 2020 season. “There is excitement around Point Beach football,” Zaccone said. “This team has a lot of varsity experience and is ready to keep the program going on an upward plane.”

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Bob Badders

MATT VANBRUNT, SR., RS MIKE GRAUSO, SR., RS; AIDAN JONES, SR.; DAWSON MACPHERSON, SO. ANDREW LAUMBACH, JR.; JOE COAKLEY, SR. DAVID TERRA-NOVA, SR., RS; GIUSEPPE TAUROZZI, SR., RS; JOE BELEY, SO.; CONNOR DELORENZO, JR. JACKSON KILLIAN, SO. JOSH RAMOS, SR., RS

Seven starters return on offense as the Garnet Gulls hope to improve on the 14.3 points per game they averaged a season ago. Senior Matt VanBrunt returns as the quarterback after seeing time last season and is joined in the backfield by senior Mike Grauso, a returning starter at running back who was a second-team all-division selection last year. Seniors David Terra-Nova and Giuseppe Taurozzi are back as starting wide receivers. Having a sizeable and experienced offensive line is always a tipping point for a small Group 1 team and Point Beach is fortunate to have three starters back and good size across the board. Senior Josh Ramos is a returning starter at left guard after earning first-team All-National Division honors last season, senior Jeff Wall is back as the starting center and senior Jack Shamy returns as the right guard.

C: RG: RT:

JEFF WALL, SR., RS JACK SHAMY, SR., RS ALEC GLEN, SR.

Projected Defensive Starters: DE: DT: DT: DE: OLB: MLB:

ANDREW LAUMBACH, JR. JOSH RAMOS, SR., RS JACK SHAMY, SR. JACKSON KILLIAN, SO. AIDAN JONES, SR., RS ROMAN GRAUSO, SO.

Ramos is back as a starting defensive tackle while senior Aidan Jones is a returning starter at outside linebacker. The secondary has two returning starters with Terra-Nova at cornerback and VanBrunt, who earned second-team all-division honors on defense, back as the starting free safety. Another big loss from graduation was of kicker George Kaiafas, who was a third-team All-Shore kicker last season. Taurozzi will step in as the starting kicker.

Player to Watch:

Mike Grauso, Sr., RB/LB Grauso was a starter alongside Liam Buday last season and earned second-team all-division honors. This year he looks to be Beach’s No. 1 back and could also see time at linebacker.

Player Under the Radar: Josh Ramos, Sr., OL/DL Ramos is only under the radar because of the positions he plays. He is a returning firstteam all-division offensive lineman and gives Point Beach valuable experience in the trenches.

Top Position Group: Offensive line Having an experienced offensive line is a g reat place to be in for any team, especially a Group 1 school. Point Beach’s three interior linemen are all retur ning starters with guards Josh Ramos and Jack Shamy and center Jeff Wall.

OLB: CB: CB: SS: FS:

ALEC GLEN, SR. JOE BELEY, SO. DAK GREGORY, JR. DAVID TERRA-NOVA, SR., RS MATT VANBRUNT, SR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: P:

GIUSEPPE TAUROZZI, SR. DAWSON MACPHERSON, SO.

Clawing Their Way Back

Fand a trip to an NJSIAA state sectional championship game. But following that season, the mass exodus rom 2015-2017, Point Boro enjoyed a great three-year stretch in which it went 27-5 with three division titles

Head

Coach:

BRIAN STAUB, 3rd season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 6-12 Assistant

through graduation began.

By:

managing editor

Coaches:

‘next man up’ in our program,” Staub said. “It’s a chance for some of your younger guys to show what they can do in that all-important “A” back position.”

Shane O’Connor (Defensive Coordinator); Tom Orrok (Special Teams Coordinator/RB); Ryan Canary (OL); Dan Drzymkowski (DL/OL); Dave Johnson (WR/DB/K); Kyle Ryan (OL/DL); Ty Hughes (FB/DB); Eddie Kendall (DL); Pat Brady (freshmen); Dave Drew (freshmen); John Madden (athletic trainer).

Look for sophomore Tyler Gordon, senior Andrew Mattson and freshman Jake Croce to get carries in Tuzzolino’s absence.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 3-6 2016: 8-2

2018: 3-6 2017: 11-1 2015: 8-2 ( L - R ) J OSH

O ffense: Flexbone

HENDERSON , P AT F RAWLEY , C HARLIE V ITALE , N ICK R EBIMBAS & N ICK T UZZOLINO

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

_______________________________

Wall

Jackson Lib.

Manasquan

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Monmouth

Neptune

Lakewood

noon

7:00 pm

D efense:

3-3

stack

vs.

Aaron Stencil, Sr., WR and Brian Duda, Sr., WR Last season, Point Boro was able to coax standout baseball player Sam Young into playing football, and the result was a 20-catch, 382-yard, 5-touchdown season for the 6-foot-5 senior. With Young no longer an option, it will be up to seniors Aaron Stencil, a returning starter, and Brian Duda to provide the production in the passing game.

X -FACTOR:

vs.

“They’re really coming along and we like what we see up front from them,” Staub said. “We have three senior leaders who are great competitors and they really set the tone.”

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Connor Cilento, So., RB/DB and Connor Reynolds, So., DE Cilento could be a two-way starter as a slot back and a cornerback. Reynolds is in line to start at defensive end and will look to provide an edge presence on the opposite side of the line from All-Shore senior Patrick Frawley. “Cilento has a high football IQ and ran our freshman team as the quarterback really well,” Staub said. “He’ll be at “L” back, which has been one of the more explosive positions in our offense.” “Reynolds is mature beyond his age. He combines great strength and speed at the defensive end position.”

Helping the cause is an offensive line that features three seniors, two of which are returning starters in Josh Henderson and Patrick Frawley. Senior Nick Rebimbas was set to be a starter last season until a bout with mononucleosis derailed his junior season. While the offense needs to improve on the 18.9

everything and Vitale is ready to be the Panthers’ differencemaker. “Last year he really stepped up and showed poise and confidence running the o f f e n s e,” s a i d Staub,

vs.

Offensive line Three starters return along the offensive line with seniors Josh Henderson and Patrick Frawley at right guard and right tackle, respectively, and senior Nick Rebimbas at left tackle. Junior Luke Wilson is the left guard and junior Justin Tuzzolino is the center.

Bob Badders

The fantastic senior class of the 2017 season matriculating out of the program left huge voids at many spots, and the result was a 3-6 year during head coach Brian Staub’s first season at the helm. Last season was similar in that many first-year starters and sophomores were tasked with leading the way, and the result was another sub-par season. However, in year three with Staub as the Panthers’ head coach, there are plenty of reasons for optimism. The silver lining of the past two seasons is that there is now a good mix of juniors and seniors with starting experience who are ready to lead the Panthers back to contender status. In Point Boro’s Flexbone triple-option offense, it all starts with the quarterback, and junior Charlie Vitale is the main reason the Panthers are optimistic entering 2020. Vitale took the reins of the offense last season as a sophomore and had a very good year with 527 yards rushing and eight touchdowns plus 745 yards passing and six touchdowns. A standout quarterback in an option offense is

w h o himself was a standout tripleoption quarterback when he led Brick Memorial to the 2008 Central Jersey Group 4 state title. “This year he’s so far ahead, quicker with his reads and checks. He’s really the true definition of a dual-threat quarterback. He can run it like a tailback, get the ball to the right guy at the right time in our offense and he can throw it over and behind the defense.” Vitale will have even more on his shoulders in the early going after starting fullback, senior Nick Tuzzolino, suffered an injury and is likely to miss the first couple of games. Tuzzolino ran for 552 yards and five touchdowns last season. “Charlie has high expectations for himself and sets a high standard but we have a philosophy of

J R . QB C H A R L I E V I T A L E

points per game it averaged a season ago, the more pressing concern is on the defensive side of the ball where the Panthers allowed 29 points per game, which ranked 40th out of 43 teams. “Priority No. 1 is stopping the run,” Staub said. “In high school football you have to stop the run and put offenses in obvious passing downs. We just need to control the line of scrimmage better, have more tackles for loss and play tough on third-down situations. And we’ve been stressing forcing turnovers all camp.”

Player to Watch:

Top Position Group:

Charlie Vitale, Jr., QB

Offensive backfield

Vitale will be entering his second year as Point Boro’s starting quarterback after a successful sophomore season in which he ran for 527 yards and eight touchdowns and threw for 745 yards and six touchdowns. If he can take the next step in his development, Point Boro’s triple-option offense will be a load to handle.

W i t h C h a r l i e V i t a l e a t q u a r t e r b a c k , N i c k Tu z z o l i n o, Ty l e r Gordon, Andrew Mattson and Jake Croce at “A” back and Gavin O ’ C o n n o r, C o n n o r C i l e n t o, K e n n y H a g e l , a n d D e v i n M o r r i s , a s t h e s l o t b a ck s , t h e e n g i n e o f P o i n t B o r o ’s o f f e n s e h a s t a l e n t and depth.

Frawley, a Shore Sports Network third-team All-Shore selection, leads a solid group of defensive lineman from his defensive end position in Point Boro’s 3-3 stack scheme. Rebimbas is also a returning starter at inside linebacker. The other returning starter on defense is Tuzzolino, so his spot will have to be manned until he returns from his injury.

Player Under the Radar:

Point Boro has the unenviable task of starting the season with a road game against the Wall, the reigning No. 1 team in the Shore that will once again begin the season as one of the best teams in New Jersey. After that, the Panthers should be competitive in every game with a chance to get back to their winning ways.

“I think Pat is one of the more underrated defensive players in the entire Shore Conference,” Staub said. “I would put him up against anybody. He’s a great competitor and really added some size in the offseason to go along with his great first step off the line. Teams are going to walk away knowing who No. 57 is.”

Projected Offensive Starters:

Patrick Frawley, Sr., OT/DE A third-team All-Shore selection on defense last season, Frawley posted 52 tackles with 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries.

JUSTIN TUZZOLINO, JR.

ILB:

GAVIN O’CONNOR, SR.; TYLER GORDON, SO.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

RG: JOSH HENDERSON, SR., RS

CB:

CONNOR CILENTO, SO.; KYLE MESSEROLL

QB: CHARLIE VITALE, JR., RS

RT:

CB:

DEVIN MORRIS, JR.; KENNY HAGEL, SR.

FB: NICK TUZZOLINO, SR., RS; TYLER GORDON, SO.; ANDREW MATTSON, SR.; JAKE CROCE, FR.

SS:

NICK TUZZOLINO, SR., RS; JAKE CROCE, FR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

SS:

THOMAS WELCH, JR.; SAM MURAGLIA, SO.;

SB: GAVIN O’CONNOR, SR.; CONNOR CILENTO, SO; KENNY HAGEL, SR.; DEVIN MORRIS, JR.

DE:

PATRICK FRAWLEY, SR., RS

FS:

CHARLIE VITALE, JR.

NT:

JOSH HENDERSON, SR.

WR: AARON STENCIL, SR., RS; BRIAN DUDA, SR.

DE:

CONNOR REYNOLDS, SO.; MATT O’DONNELL, SO.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

LT:

ILB:

NICK REBIMBAS, SR., RS

MATT HENRY, SR., RS

AARON STENCIL, SR.

NICK REBIMBAS, SR.

LG: LUKE WILSON, JR.

PATRICK FRAWLEY, SR., RS

MLB: ANDREW MATTSON, SR.

Battering

Rams

Sclaiming the program’s first division title since 2011. But even more important than the seven wins or the outhern finally broke free from mediocrity in 2019, snapping a six-year streak of non-winning seasons and

Head

Coach:

CHUCK DONOHUE Sr., 23th season

division banner was the fact that the Rams found an offensive identity.

By:

(47 overall) Career

Record:

Assistant

managing editor

259-187-4

will have to replace both defensive tackles as standouts Seb Cervetto and Colby Saxton have graduated. The same group that will play along the offensive line will rotate in at defensive tackle to keep everybody fresh.

Coaches:

Matt Abbato (def. coord.), Eric Fierro (QB), Dylan Larson (OL/DL), Eric Sharkey (WR/DB), C.J. Tomelden (OLB/RB), Andrew Becket (head freshmen), Joe Fleck ,David Smith, Nick Herring, John Kinsella, Zack Mentesana (asst. freshmen), John Kaszuba (Director of Football Operations), Evan Osborne (Asst. DFO), Nick Scaramazza (athletic trainer)

Hendricks is a returning starter at cornerback while a host of players could see time at the other cornerback spot and at safety. After playing in the Constitution Division last season with mostly Monmouth County teams, the Rams will play an allOcean County schedule that features many familiar rivals.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

( L - R ) P AT F ULGINITI , C ONOR C LINEMAN , X AVIER H ENDRICKS , S TEVE L ANGTON , H ANK G ALLACHER & J AY S ILVA

2019: 7-3 2018: 4-5 2017: 3-7 2016: 5-5 2015: 4-6

Fri. Oct. 2

O ffense:

Multiple

D efense:

4-4

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

Fri. Oct. 16

Brick 7:00 pm

Brick mem. 7:00 pm

TR North 7:00 pm

Sat. Oct. 24

Fri. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

The Rams can attack the 2020 season knowing full-well what they are, harkening back to the smashmouth days of Glenn Carson and Anthony Stroffolino when Southern reached its ﬁrst sectional ﬁnal in 2008.

“We feel teams are going to have to stop the run in order to beat us, and we think we also have the speed and the athletes to keep teams honest,” said Southern head coach Chuck Donohue Sr. “We developed some receivers last season and we have some kids who can throw the ball and are also capable of running the ball at the quarterback position. In high school football and football in general now, the quarterback becomes such a factor when he can do both things. It changes everything.”

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Defensive tackles

Colby Saxton and Seb Cervetto were linchpins of Southern’s defense last season so replacing them will be difﬁcult. Both were ﬁrst-team all-division picks. The Rams will be using a sixman rotation along the interior of the defensive front.

vs.

TR South 1:00 pm

Donovan Cath. 6:30 pm

The offensive line returns three starters in seniors Pat Fulginiti and Conor Clineman and junior Logan Doherty. Junior Nate Committee returns as a starting fullback and 6-foot-5 senior Jay Silva is back as a starting tight end. Senior Xavier Hendricks is a returning starter as a slot receiver and senior Alex Rainone is also a returning starter at wideout.

vs.

Central 7:00 pm

X -FACTOR:

Winning Week 1

Thur. nov. 26.

Donohue has always put a premium on winning the ﬁrst game of the season and that is even more important with a six-game regular season. The Rams welcome Brick on opening day.

David Casas, Jr., OL/DL and Jaden Anthony, So., WR/DB Casas is a transfer from Toms River East and brings his 6-foot3, 250-pound frame to the offensive and defensive lines. Anthony transferred back to his home district from Donovan Catholic and although he is currently dealing with an injury he ﬁgures into Southern’s plans as a defensive back and a wide receiver once he’s healthy.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: TAYLOR MUNT, SR.; LUKE BRUTHER, SR.; NOLAN SCHUBIGER, JR. RB: JAIDEN BROWN, JR., RS; JP RICCIARDI, SR. FB: NATE COMMITTEE, JR., RS; HANK GALLACHER, SR. TE: JAY SILVA, SR., RS; TRISTAN ARTHUR, JR. WR: ALEX RAINONE, SR., RS; NICK DEVANE, JR.; JORDAN RIFE, JR.; TOM MINEO, SR. 96

vs.

pinelands 10:00 Am

Not since making a run to the South Jersey Group 4 sectional ﬁnal in 2012 when current Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki was on the team have the Rams been able to hang their hat on anything speciﬁc. That all changed last season when running back Jaiden Brown arrived.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs:

Projected Offensive Starters:

Bob Badders

After transferring from Jackson Liberty prior to his sophomore year, Brown injected a much-needed jolt of energy into Southern by rushing for 1,242 yards and 14 touchdowns with seven 100-yard games en route to being a second-team All-Shore selection. Southern became a power running team and everything fell into place.

SLOT: LT: LG: C: RG: RT:

XAVIER HENDRICKS, SR., RS; PAT FULGINITI, SR., RS SEAN ROWLAND, JR., CONOR CLINEMAN, SR., RS DAVID CASAS, JR. LOGAN DOHERTY, JR., RS

Projected Defensive Starters: DE:

NATE COMMITTEE, JR., RS

The quarterback position will feature a new starter as seniors Taylor Munt and Luke Bruther and junior Nolan Schubiger are battling for the starting spot. Southern’s defense was one of the best in the Shore last season, ﬁnishing 10th in scoring defense at 15.2 points per game. Six starters return in the Rams’ 4-4 scheme led by longtime defensive coordinator Matt Abbato, including a very strong unit of linebackers. The second level of the defense has Brown and senior Steve Langton as returning starters at inside linebacker and seniors JP Ricciardi and Hank Gallacher returning as the outside linebackers.

“I think our team is capable of competing with this schedule this year,” Donohue said. “There are some tough games, but we’re excited to be back with an Ocean County schedule. It makes it fun playing these teams again.”

Player to Watch:

Jaiden Brown, Jr., RB/LB Brown was impressive from start to ﬁnish last season in rushing for 1,242 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn second-team All-Shore honors and give the Rams a big-time tailback for the ﬁrst time in several years. “He’s so big and strong and he’s a different kid even from last year,” Donohue said. “He’s settled in now, much more familiar with things and at ease. And he’s such a team guy. Just a tremendous person. The kids love playing with him.”

Player Under the Radar: Hank Gallacher, Sr., FB/LB/K Gallacher does a lot for the Rams. He was a firstteam all-division kicker last season, played multiple positions on defense and rotated in at fullback. He’ll once again be the Rams kicker along with handling the punting duties, playing some fullback and settling in at outside linebacker.

Top Position Group: Linebackers All four linebackers are returning starters, with Brown, Langton, Gallacher and Ricciardi. Brown and Gallacher were first-team all-division selections on offense while Langton was a second-team alldivision pick last season.

Committee is a returning starter at defensive end and Silva will step in at the other defensive end spot. The Rams

DT:

DE: OLB: ILB: ILB: OLB:

ROTATION OF PAT FULGINITI, SR.; LOGAN DOHERTY, JR.; CONOR CLINEMAN, SR.; DAVID CASAS, JR.; SEAN ROWLAND, JR.; RYAN DALE, SR. JAY SILVA, SR. JP RICCIARDI, SR., RS JAIDEN BROWN, JR., RS STEVE LANGTON, SR., RS HANK GALLACHER, SR., RS

: Richard O’Donnell richardodonnellphotograpy.com

Photo by

CB: CB: FS:

XAVIER HENDRICKS, SR., RS LUKE BRUTHER, SR. AND NICK DEVANE, JR. ALEX RAINONE, SR.; JORDAN RIFE, JR.; KWAMERE HOLLAND, SR.; KWADIR HOLLAND, SR.; JADEN ANTHONY, JR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K: HANK GALLACHER, SR., RS P: HANK GALLACHER, SR.

Building

Success

Ttitle in 2019 while winning a division title with a 9-2 record, winning their first playoff game in 10 years and completing he Toms River East Raiders went from major underdogs to a team moments away from competing for a state sectional

Head

Coach:

KYLE SANDBERG, 5th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 14-26 Assistant

a four-year rebuild under head coach Kyle Sandberg.

By: Vin Ebenau ssn contributor

Coaches:

Joe Arminio Jr. (Special Team Coordinator/WR) Vinnie Arminio (Defensive Coordinator/LB); Dan Cicala (QB/DB); Tony Durkin (OC/RB); Frank Giannetti (Special Teams Coordinator/DL); Andrew Bilodeau (freshmen); Peter Gudzak (freshmen); Scott Kopf (freshmen), Jake McCartney (athletic trainer).

you have to be able to fight and go after it because they don't take you seriously still." The Raiders are hungry ready to prove last season wasn't a fluke and that they are primed for continued success this season and for years to come.

Player to Watch: Yusuf Ahmed, Sr. RB/LB/S

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 9-2 2016: 0-9

2018: 3-6 2017: 2-8 2015: 1-9 (L-R) NICK TOTTEN, YUSUF AHMED, GINO GALLO, CHRISTIAN PEINS, NICK COSTA & MICHAEL MADERA

O ffense: 2-Back D efense:

Pistol

Multiple

_______________________________

FRI. Oct. 2

BIG SHOES TO FILL:

Jackson Lib.

Matt Luty, Sr., FB/MLB

PPD, TBA

Frankie Giannetti was the heart and soul of the Raiders before graduating last season, playing with a ground-and-pound attitude that helped the team go from consecutive losses to playoff adrenaline. Luty has the task of taking the baton and helping to be a leader of the defense, which will also require him to impact games with clutch plays and clutch thinking because it'll make the difference in the Raiders chasing playoff nirvana in a shortened season.

X -FACTOR:

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

vs.

Donovan Cath. 7:00 pm

brick 7:00 pm

fri. Oct. 23

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

brick Mem.

TR North

TR South

7:00 pm

vs.

The seniors

The Raiders did lose a good crop of senior talent to graduation after last season but there's a talented and overlooked group who will have to be leaders on and off the field for East to find success this season. This senior group tasted losing when they first got to high school, just like the group who just left, and even in a shortened season they want to go out on top. They've got to have their best seasons individually and be an example the sophomores and juniors can follow to continue the Raiders' new winning ways.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Nick Medina, Jr., RB/LB In limited action on the field last season playing both sides of the ball for the Raiders, Medina displayed some quickness and found some success. He has the ability to run through holes while carrying the ball, which helps make up for his size. On defense, Medina gets good reads and has excellent hands in securing interceptions/turnovers. If he continues to develop and bulk up, he could be a very dangerous weapon for the Raiders this season.

"I knew where I wanted this program to go when I got the job and that's probably the thing I'm most proud of with this staff is that we built it up over four years," Sandberg tells the Shore Sports Network. "If you look at us over the last four years we've been getting better every year." Sandberg adds that it also has a lot to do with the group of seniors who graduated after last season and were taught from the time they were

in middle school how the program is going to be run and what would be expected of each player. "They set the foundation and these kids that I have coming up now have to build off of that," Sandberg said. The underdog label is still attached to the Raiders and over the last couple of years, the team and coaching staff has embraced it like a badge of honor. It's their fuel that ignites the fire within, and the embers burn brighter with each victory.

Ahmed went from playing primarily on defense his sophomore year to being one of the lead running backs for Toms River East in 2019. He has speed, quickness and strength, which also helped him make it to the NJSIAA Group 3 South Sectionals in outdoor track. He also throws the javelin. Ahmed made big plays on defense last season, including six tackles against Neptune with one for a loss in a 14-13 victory for the Raiders. Then he came up big with a playoff touchdown against Middletown North

"We still have that stigma," Sandberg said. "Over four years we've gotten better but really no one has taken notice of us until last year. Going into this season, all the doubters and the haters are going to say 'it was a one-hit wonder' but it wasn't, it was a four-year project that we worked on. We tell these kids not to take anything for granted and Action Photos by

S R . RB/LB/S Y USUF A HMED

last year. In his senior year, expect big things from Ahmed on both sides of the ball. He has also verbally committed to play ball at Davidson College next year.

the semifinals. He was overlooked at times because of quarterback Mike Goodall (graduated) and players like senior Yusuf Ahmed and senior Mike Madera, but Gallo is a key part of the running game at Toms River East.

Player Under the Radar:

"That's another kid that people sleep on is Gino Gallo, he's top-notch, man," Sandberg said.

Gino Gallo, Sr., RB Gallo scored the biggest touchdown of his life with a 4yard run in the Raiders' first-round playoff game last season that helped them defeat Middletown North and move onto

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB:

YUSUF AHMED SR., RS

RB:

GINO GALLO SR., RS; ALSO, MIKE MADERA SR.; MATT LUTY SR.; VINNY COLLETTI SR.; EVAN MILLS SR.; ANTHONY ENCARNACION JR.; NICK MEDINA JR.; KYLE ROEMMELE JR.

WR: NICK COSTA SR. WR: CHRISTIAN PEINS SR., RYAN CARLEVALE SR., DAVID GARCIA SR., CHARLIE ZULIN SR., AIDEN VOSPER JR., MEKHI DEVAUGHN SO. OL:

COLIN MEAKEM SR.

OL:

CONNOR YOSKOWITZ SR.

OL:

NINO SCALA JR.

Running Backs

OL:

JOE AKEL, SR.

LB:

KYLE ROEMMELE JR.

OL:

BRYAN BAXTER JR. OR ISAAC CLAUDIO JR. OR NASIR EVANS JR. OR RSEAN HOWLETT JR. OR THOMAS PRAVATA JR.

DB:

NICK COSTA SR.

DB:

MIKE MADERA SR.

DB:

NICK TOTTEN SR.

DB:

RYAN CARLEVALE SR.; DAVID GARCIA SR.; DENNIS HOLZAPFEL SR.; EVAN MILLS SR.; CHARLIE ZULIN SR.; DANTE CARR JR.; ERIC SCANLON JR.; AIDEN VOSPER JR.; MEKHI DEVAUGHN S

NICK TOTTEN SR. OR DENNIS HOLZAPFEL SR. OR DANTE CARR JR. OR ERIC SCANLON JR.

RB:

Top Position Group:

To m s R i v e r E a s t l o s t a t r i o o f r u n n i n g b a ck s i n Frankie Giannetti, Alex Smith and Thomas G r a n d e t o g r a d u a t i o n b u t Yu s u f A h m e d , G i n o Gallo and Mike Madera return following solid junior seasons. The Raiders' running game h a s b e e n j u s t a s m u ch a s t a p l e o f t h e i r i d e n t i t y ov e r t h e ye a r s a s t h e m a s c o t h i m s e l f.

Projected Defensive Starters: DL:

CONNOR YOSKOWITZ SR.

DL:

JOE AKEL SR.

DL:

BRYAN BAXTER JR.

DL:

ISAAC CLAUDIO JR., NASIR EVANS JR., SEAN HOWLETT JR., THOMAS PRAVATA JR.

LB:

CHRISTIAN PEINS SR,. RS

LB:

MATT LUTY SR.

LB:

YUSUF AHMED, SR., RS; ALSO VINNY COLLETTI SR.; ANTHONY ENCARNACION JR.; NICK MEDINA JR.;

Projected PECIAL TEAM Starter: K:

NICK COSTA SR.

S R . K/P N ICK C OSTA

Full Speed Ahead Bbest wide receivers and plenty of heft along the line of scrimmage, Toms River North is aiming to once

ehind the right arm of one of the best quarterbacks in program history, two of the Shore Conference’s

Head

Coach:

Dave Oizerowitz, 8th season (10th overall) C a r e e r R e c o r d : 56-38 Assistant

again be among the best teams in the Shore Conference.

By:

managing editor

Coaches:

receptions for 587 yards and seven touchdowns, an average of 28 yards per catch. His seven touchdown grabs were tied for tops in the Shore. Browne’s 34 receptions and 542 yards were both fifth in the Shore and he hauled in five touchdown passes. Kazanowsky will spread the wealth, so new starters Shane Saad and Ryan Dean along with tight ends Ty Kazanowsky, Gabe Rispoli and Nick Baiocco will also get their opportunities to make plays.

Mike Oizerowitz (Offensive coordinator/WR/DB); Bill Dowd (OL); Anthony Penna (RB); Nick Zaza (QB/DB); Gabe Roonan (Special teams/LB); Charlie Monanian (DL); Bob Cassidy (DL); Athletic trainers: Kendall Culver & Mike Bronstein.

Senior Jordan Grey is a 1,000-yard rushing candidate after seeing significant action as a junior. The Mariners also have highly-regarded 6-foot-1, 205-pound freshman Micah Ford at running back. Oizerowitz expects him to see plenty of reps with both he and Grey on the field at the same time.

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 9-2 2018: 6-3 2017: 1-9 2016: 11-1 2015: 11-1 (L

O ffense: Power D efense:

3-4

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ryan Rempo, So., OLB Recently-graduated Matt Spalletta was a do-it-all, three-way standout for Toms River North last season and a first-team All-Shore selection for his contributions as a linebacker/safety hybrid, a wildcat quarterback and a special teams demon. Rempo won’t have to do all that, but he will step into Spalletta’s vacated role at outside linebacker. “And he knows it,” Oizerowitz said of Rempo’s tall task of replacing Spalletta. “He was a very good youth football player and is very athletic, and like Matt, he also wrestles. That position is a hybrid position like a strong safety who can come down and set the edge and also cover. Those are the things Rempo brings to the table. He’s a converted strong safety, he’s tough, he’s athletic and he knows how to use leverage and hand fight. And he knows from watching Matt play how to win with that body type. He brings that same skill set.”

X -FACTOR:

Consistent Defense In 11 games last season, Toms River North had three games allowing 14 points or less but also three games allowing between 29 and 43 points, albeit the Mariners did win all three of those high-scoring contests. Given how good their offense should be once again, a consistently stingy defense would elevate them to new heights.

iMPACT NEWCOMER: Ty Kazanowsky, So., TE/OLB and Micah Ford, Fr., RB Toms River North has a very good sophomore class and the 6-foot-3, 205pound Kazanowsky is among those set to make an impact this season. He is in line for plenty of snaps at tight end and is set to start at outside linebacker. “Ty has a chance on both sides of the ball,” Oizerowitz said. “We have talent coming up to augment the junior and senior classes and he’s one of them.” It’s rare for a freshman to push for varsity playing time at any school let alone a successful Group 5 school, but Ford enters with plenty of promise. “We think very highly of him,” Oizerowitz said. “He’s probably as talented a freshman we’ve had come into Toms River North since I’ve been here. He’ll fit right in with our spread offense. We’ll be moving guys all over the place so we’ll probably be running more personnel packages than usual. It’s good because he and Grey mesh well together and will be on the field together a lot of the time.”

100

ZACH GOODALE, ZAC BROWNE, JAKE KAZANOWSKY, J O H N O’D O N N E L L , J A M I E H A N S & J O R D A N G R E Y

FRI. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

FRI. Oct. 16

TR South

Brick

Southern

7:00 pm

FRI. Oct. 23

vs.

FRI. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Jackson mem.

TR East

Donovan Cath.

7:00 pm

vs.

The aforementioned offensive line has three returning starters with Schlosser back at left tackle while O’Donnell shifts from tight end, where he was used mostly as a blocker anyway, to left tackle. Senior Jamie Hans returns as the left guard while Justin Smith jumps in as the center and Michael Dowd is the right guard.

spread

_______________________________

Bob Badders

vs.

“With the COVID-19 pandemic drastically altering the structure of the 2020 high school football season, there will be no tangible championships at stake this fall. That is certainly a disappointing reality for a championshipcaliber team, but the Mariners still have plenty to play for. With a schedule that includes Jackson Memorial and Donovan Catholic, Toms River North has the chance to plant its flag as the best team in Ocean County. Toms River North has three returning Shore Sports Network first-team All-Shore selections at its disposal with senior quarterback Jake Kazanowsky and senior wide receivers Zach Goodale and Zac Browne. Senior running back Jordan Grey also returns along with hulking senior linemen Jaden Schlosser (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) and John O’Donnell (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) from an offense that averaged 32.5 points per game and led the Mariners to a 9-2 record in 2019. Kazanowsky had a great junior season en route to being named SSN Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 2,144 yards and 23 touchdowns to lead the Shore in both categories. His frame is now up to 6-foot-3 and 215

Toms River North’s defense allowed 21.6 points per game last season, which put it in the bottom third of the Shore Conference. Some of that was the result of playing a loaded schedule in the American Division – in which they emerged as division champions, by the way – but defensive consistency has been a point of emphasis heading into the season.

pounds and this will be his third season as the Mariners signalcaller. “He’s g o t t e n bigger, and with the brain that’s in his head; he’s so smart and intelligent. He knows the offense like (the coaches) do,” said Toms River North head coach Dave Oizerowitz. “He’s a very smart kid overall and it translates to the football field.” Kazanowsky’s best asset is his ability to scan the field and find the open man. It’s routine for him to go through multiple reads on a given play, which is why Toms River North’s passing game is tough to predict.

“We’ve addressed it and we want to be more consistent, but you could see the scores and think we’re not good on defense,” Oizerowitz said. “You have to take into consideration the division we played in last year, it was the toughest in the history of the Shore Conference. It was a matter of making stops when we had to. Nobody stopped anybody cold.”

“That’s why we’re tough to defend,” Oizerowitz said. “Kazanowsky is not looking at one guy, he’s going through his progressions and if you’re open, he will find you.” Having two All-Shore wide receivers certainly helps. Goodale, who is committed to Rutgers, established himself as a big-play wideout last season with 21

S R . QB. J A K E K A Z A N O W S K Y

In Toms River North’s 3-4 defense, O’Donnell is a threeyear starter and this year moves from outside linebacker to defensive end. Senior Jake Szigeti returns as the starting nose guard. Senior C.J. Felton is the lone returning starter among the linebackers as the Mariners have to replace key players Matt Spalletta and Vinny Palmieri in the second level. Toms River North plays mostly a two-platoon system but the secondary has been a haven for two-way players. Grey is a returning starter at

cornerback and Goodale is a three-year returning starter at free safety. Brown will also play both ways as the corner opposite Grey. Whatever the adjusted goals are for Toms River North, the Mariners have the pieces in place to accomplish all of them. Now, it’s just a matter of lining up and executing.

said. He’s going to very difficult to block at defensive end. He’s so big and strong and has great hands from wrestling.” O’Donnell was a district and region champion during this past wrestling season and is also a standout golfer

Top Position Group: Player to Watch: Jake Kazanowsky, Sr., QB The reigning SSN Offensive Player of the Year, Kazanowsky is entering his third year as the Mariners’ starting quarterback and has thrown for 3,581 yards and 41 touchdowns in two seasons. He is among the best quarterbacks in New Jersey and as he goes so does Toms River North’s offense.

Wide receivers This is a no-brainer considering the Mariners have two retur ning first-team All-Shore wide receivers in seniors Zach Goodale and Zac Browne. The two combined for 55 catches, 1,129 yard and 12 touchdowns last season.

Photos by:

Player Under the Radar: John O’Donnell, Sr., RT/DE O’Donnell is changing positions on both sides of the ball and Toms River North expects him to have his best season to date. “People don’t realize how athletic he is for us,” said Oizerowitz

S R . WR. Z A C H G O O D A L E

Projected Offensive Starters:

JUSTIN SMITH, JR.

ILB: TY BOLAND, SO.

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter)

RG:

MICHAEL DOWD, JR.

OLB: RYAN REMPO, SO.

QB: JAKE KAZANOWSKY, SR., 3RS

RT:

JOHN O’DONNELL, SR., RS

CB: JORDAN GREY, SR., RS

RB: JORDAN GREY, SR., RS AND MICAH FORD, FR. FB: CJ FELTON, SR. AND JOSH KAYE, SO. TE:

TY KAZANOWSKY, SO./GABE RISPOLI, SR./NICK BAIOCCO, SO.

WR: ZACH GOODALE, SR., 3RS; ZAC BROWNE, SR., 3RS; S SHANE SAAD, SR.; RYAN DEAN, JR. LT:

JADEN SCHLOSSER, SR., RS

LG: JAMIE HANS, SR., RS

Projected Defensive Starters: NT: JOHN O’DONNELL, SR., 3RS NG: JAKE SZIGETI, SR., RS

CB: ZAC BROWNE, SR. SS: KENNY WARNER, SR. FS: ZACH GOODALE, SR., 3RS

DE: GABE RISPOLI, SR.

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters:

OLB: TY KAZANOWSKY, SO.

K: RYAN DEAN, JR. P: JAKE KAZANOWSKY, SR.

ILB: C.J. FELTON, SR., RS

101

’

The

Seniors Moment

Rveteran leadership can lead to a successful season.

on Signorino Jr., now in his 10th year as the Indians' head coach, feels the

Head

Coach:

By:

Assistant

six-game schedule. Signorino is well aware of the challenge.

Coaches:

“Our schedule is daunting and all six of our opponents have had success and are quality programs," Signorino Jr. said. "We will certainly be challenged and look forward to playing and having a football season.”

Matt Martin (Defensive Coordinator/DB); Denis Tobin (Special Teams Coordinator/slotbacks); Kyle Austin (OL); Bill Malast (OL); Ricky Maldonado (RB); RJ D’Anton (DB); Joe Kelly (LB); Jim Dempsey (LB); Jim Drackwicz (DL) Freshman coaches: Dave Fanslau, Brett Hardie, Joey Meyers; Dan Crashewsky` (athletic trainer).

Like the other 42 programs just playing each week is a victory of sorts but Toms River South would also like to add some Ws, as well.

( L - R ) R YAN R OBIN (9), T YLER M ADEO (2), J ACK H UBER (7), T RAVIS S QUIRE (5), G ERRY F ERRIGNO (3), S HANE W ATKINS (67)

T eam r ecord l ast f ive y ears :

2019: 4-6 2018: 3-8 2017: 2-8 2016: 2-8 2015: 5-5

O ffense:

Flexbone

D efense:

3-4

Fri. Oct. 2

FRI. Oct. 9

vs.

Fri. Oct. 16 @

TR North 7:00 pm

Lakewood 7:00 pm

Donovan Cath. 6:30 pm

_______________________________ BIG SHOES TO FILL:

The offensive and defensive linemen

Sat. Oct. 24

Fri. Oct. 30

FRI. Nov. 6

Southern

Brick mem.

TR East

1:00 pm

7:00 pm

Toms River South's graduation losses were mostly along both the offensive and defensive lines so players like Ryan Florio, Sheldon Harvey, Bobby Grady, Tommy Dolan and Josue Tecalero need to contribute from the get-go.

X -FACTOR:

The schedule

Without question, the Indians will play one of the tougher schedules in the Shore comprised mostly of teams from the old Class A South days. Four of their opponents won division titles last year (Toms River North, Donovan Catholic, Southern and Toms River East) and were a combined 34-9. South could be a team that improves greatly but that’s not reﬂected in their ﬁnal record.

iMPACT NEWCOMERs: Juniors South is loaded with returning senior starters but will need help from several juniors including Roy Pappalardo (RB/LB), Gavin Migliore (WR/DB), Ryan Florio (OL/DL) and Wyatt Sternberg (WR/LB).

vs.

“We played our best football in the second half of 2019 and hope to pick up where we left off," Signorino Jr. said. "At times, we performed well in all phases but we just need to put all three together in the same game.” Signorino added that the coaching staff really likes this senior class but “they will need to play better in 2020 while also making our juniors and sophomore classes better.” On offense, it starts at quarterback where Jack Huber is a four-year starter when healthy. He certainly showed ﬂashes in 2019 and earned all-division honors as both a passer and runner for the Indians. “He rarely makes a mistake, has complete dual-threat abilities and makes our option game go,” Signorino Jr. said. "He can make any throw on the ﬁeld regardless of the hash marks. When healthy he is an outstanding quarterback and an even better young man and student.”

Just about all of Huber’s offensive weapons are back including senior backs Gerry Ferrigno, Travis Squire (660 yards) and Anthony Jonin along with wide receivers Tyler Madeo (26 receptions), Mike Citta and Gavin Migliore. Back to start along the offensive line are seniors Shane Watkins, Bobby Grady and Justin Kozak.

Players to Watch:

Travis Squire, Sr., RB/OLB and Gerry Ferrigno, Sr., RB/ILB Squire and Ferrigno give the Indians a pair of big-time performers who were all-division players a year ago, and they will need to step up even more this season. Squire led the team in rushing with 660 yards and Ferrigno led in tackles with 129, which was fourth in the Shore Conference. This duo will be on the ﬁeld for most of the game and need to produce consistently.

Player Under the Radar: Jack Huber, Sr., QB If it seems like his name has been around for a long time it’s because it has. Huber started as a freshman and played well even if he took a beating at times. He missed most of his sophomore year with an injury and then came back last season and made the option game go as an effective runner and passer (850 yards, 9 TD’s). Staying healthy is a must, as is taking his game to the next level.

The defense gave up 37 points per game in the six losses and that unit will clearly have to play better. Experience will not be a problem as the Indians will line up with returning starters at just about every spot. The deepest groups is at linebacker and in the secondary with top returners including linebackers Ferrigno, Squire, Ryan Tobin and Aaron Height and defensive backs Jonin, TMadeo, Elijah Metellus, Dominic Cats and Devin Raevis. Junior Camren Stein will handle both the kicking and punting chores after a solid sophomore season.

Top Position Group: Linebackers With standouts like Gerr y Ferrigno, Travis Squire, Ryan Tobin and Aaron Height this g roup gets the nod over a veteran group of defensive backs.

South lost a 13-8 heartbreaker to crosstown rival Toms River East in its opener last fall. The Raiders went on to win the Freedom Division title while the Indians were left wondering what might have been if they could have pulled that one out. Now in a season without divisions, they are tasked with playing four champions from a year ago as part of their

S R . QB J A C K H U B E R

Projected Offensive Starters: (RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) QB: JACK HUBER, SR., 4RS FB: GERRY FERRIGNO, SR., 3RS; DEVIN REAVIS, JR. SB: TRAVIS SQUIRE, SR. RS; RYAN TOBIN, SR. SB: ANTHONY JONIN, SR., RS; DEVON BOND, SO. WR: TYLER MADEO, SR. RS; MIKE CITTA, SR. WR: GAVIN MIGLIORE, JR.; WYATT STERNBERG, JR. 102

Kevin Williams SSN director

RON SIGNORINO, JR., 10th season C a r e e r R e c o r d : 36-56

LT: LG: C: RG: RT: OL:

RYAN FLORIO, JR.; JAMES BRIERLEY, SO. SHANE WATKINS, SR. RS SHELDON HARVEY, SR.; TOMMY DOLAN, SR. BOBBY GRADY, SR., RS JUSTIN KOZAK, JR., RS TODD DUDLEY, JR. OR JACK VANDIVER, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters: NT: DL: DL: OLB: OLB: ILB: ILB:

SHELDON HARVEY, SR., RS; TOMMY DOLAN, SR. SHANE WATKINS, SR., RS; JOSUE TECALERO, JR. BOBBY GRADY, SR.; RYAN FLORIO, JR. RYAN TOBIN, SR., RS; TRAVIS SQUIRE, SR., 2RS GERRY FERRIGNO, SR., 2RS AARON HEIGHT, SR., RS

CB: CB: S: S:

: Richard O’Donnell richardodonnellphotograpy.com

Photo by

ANTHONY JONIN, SR., RS TYLER MADEO, SR., RS; ELIJAH METELLUS, JR., RS DOMINIC CATS, SR., DEVIN RAEVIS, JR., RS

Projected SPECIAL TEAM Starters: K/P: CAMREN STEIN, JR., RS

103

ASBURY PARK

M ANALAPAN

N EPTUNE

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.

then left on Church lane. School is a half mile on right.

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.

FIELD ADDRESS: 1003 Sunset Avenue, Asbury Park DIRECTIONS: From south - Parkway exit 100A. Take Route 66 east to

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.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP

FIELD ADDRESS: 281 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township DIRECTIONS: Take Route 9 to Elton-Adelphia Road (Rt 524). Go west on Rt 524. School is one mile ahead on left.

FIELD ADDRESS: 30 Church Lane, Manalapan DIRECTIONS: Route 9 to Route 522 west. Turn right on Tennent Road,

M ANASQUAN

FIELD ADDRESS: 159 Broad Street, Manasquan DIRECTIONS: From north - Parkway exit 98. Take Route 34 south two

O CEAN T OWNSHIP

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.

Avenue, school is a half mile on the right.

ahead on left.

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.

FIELD ADDRESS: 95 Route 79, Marlboro DIRECTIONS: Route 18 north to Route 79 north. School is a few miles

M ATAWAN

FIELD ADDRESS: 450 Atlantic Avenue, Aberdeen DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 117. Bear left off exit (passing northbound

Route 547 west (toward Farmingdale). Go about 200 yards to SquankumYellowbrook Road, turn left. School is about two miles on left.

M ATER D EI P REP

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.

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.

R ARITAN

FIELD ADDRESS: 419 Middle Road, Hazlet DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 114. Make a left off the exit onto Red Hill Road,

FIELD ADDRESS: 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell DIRECTIONS: Route I-195 west to Lakewood-Farmingdale exit for

HOLMDEL

FIELD ADDRESS: 550 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township DIRECTIONS: Route 35 to West Park Avenue. Go east on West Park

M ARLBORO

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

FIELD ADDRESS: Memorial Field, Summerﬁeld School, Neptune DIRECTIONS: From south - Parkway Exit 100. Take Route 33 east a few

R ED B ANK R EGIONAL

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.

R ED B ANK C ATHOLIC

FIELD ADDRESS: Count Basie Field, Henry Street, Red Bank DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to

FIELD ADDRESS: 538 Church Street, Middletown DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 114. Turn right on Red Hill Road, follow to

Henry Street - Red Bank Volvo is n the corner. Turn left, ﬁeld entrance is just ahead on the left.

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.

R UMSON -F AIR H AVEN

M IDDLETOWN N ORTH

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.

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.

M IDDLETOWN S OUTH

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 Middletown-Lincroft Road. Cross Middletown-Lincroft Road to Nutswamp. School is a half mile on the right.

M ONMOUTH R EGIONAL

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.

FIELD ADDRESS: 74 Ridge Road, Rumson DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to

S T . J OHN V IANNEY

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.

S HORE R EGIONAL

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.

W ALL

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.

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO PROVIDE THE PHOTOS USED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL SEASON

104

B ARNEGAT

J ACKSON L IBERTY

P INELANDS R EGIONAL

FIELD ADDRESS: 180 Bengal Boulevard, Barnegat

FIELD ADDRESS: 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson

DIRECTIONS: From the north - Parkway to exit 67 (Barnegat). Make a

DIRECTIONS: From south- Route 9 north to Cox Cro Road Road in

FIELD ADDRESS: Nugentown Road, Little Egg Harbor DIRECTIONS: Parkway Exit 58. Take Route 539 east about three miles.

left at the end of the exit ramp onto Bay Avenue. At second light make a left onto Barnegat Boulevard North. Go approximately one mile and make a left onto Bengal Boulevard. School is on the left. From the SouthParkway to Exit 63. Follow route 72 east to route 9 north. Make a left onto Bay Avenue. Make a right onto Barnegat Boulevard North and follow above direction.

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 Road/CR-547. School is just ahead on the left. From north - Parkway exit 98. Take I-195 west to Exit 21. Bear left and turn onto Route 527 South. Follow for 6-7 miles and turn left onto South Hope Chapel Road (just after 527 becomes 528 at Whitesville Road). School is about a half mile on the right.

B RICK FIELD ADDRESS: 346 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick

J ACKSON M EMORIAL

DIRECTIONS: From north - Parkway exit 91. Stay right off exit. Go

FIELD ADDRESS: Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson

straight at light, follow to Route 88. Cross Route 88, go under Parkway overpass and school is just ahead on right. From south- Parkway exit 90. School is short distance on right from off-ramp.

DIRECTIONS: From south - Route 9 north to Route 571. Go about 10-

B RICK M EMORIAL FIELD ADDRESS: 2001 Lanes Mill Road, Brick

12 miles west to Route 528 intersection. Turn right on Route 528. Continue on Don Connor Boulevard and make a right. School is a quarter mile on the left. From north - Parkway exit 98. Take I-195 west to exit 21. Bear left and turn onto Route 527 South. At second light turn right onto Route 528. Continue to Don Connor Boulevard and make a left. Follow directions above.

DIRECTIONS: From South - Parkway exit 90. Ramp will put you on Chambers Bridge Road. Take ﬁrst jughandle U-turn and go west on Chambers Bridge Road. Cross Route 88 and follow to second light, where there is a convenience store on the left and a gas station on the right. The right and go over the Parkway. Pass the 7-Eleven and take the jughandle left turn for Lanes Mill Road. Go straight across, bear right just pass Lanes Mill Elementary School. High school is on right. From north - Parkway exit 91. Bear left after the toll. Follow jughandle around, turn right at light at gas station. Follow directions above after going over the Parkway.

L ACEY

C ENTRAL R EGIONAL

FIELD ADDRESS: 855 Somerset Ave, Lakewood

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 on Forest Hills Parkway. School is just ahead on right. Parking entrance is at far end of school or at middle school lot. From south - Parkway exit 77. Turn right on Forest Hills Parkway. School is just ahead on right. Parking entrance is at far end of school or at middle school lot.

D ONOVAN C ATHOLIC FIELD ADDRESS: 711 Hooper Avenue, Toms River DIRECTIONS: Parkway to Exit 82. Take Route 37 east and turn right on Hooper Avenue. Go south on Hooper about a half mile and turn left at the ﬁrst light. School is on the right.

FIELD ADDRESS: Haines Street, Lacey

Turn right on Nugentown Road. School is three miles on the right.

P OINT P LEASANT B EACH FIELD ADDRESS: St. Louis and Chicago Avenues, Pt. Pleasant Beach DIRECTIONS: From north - Route 35 south. After crossing Manasquan River, follow signs for Broadway/Beach and make U-turn onto route 35 North. Make a quick right onto Broadway. Make a right onto St. Louis Avenue and follow until you see the ﬁeld. From south - Route 35 north. Make a right onto Broadway and continue with above listed directions.

P OINT P LEASANT B ORO FIELD ADDRESS: Laura Herbert Drive, Point Pleasant DIRECTIONS: From north - Parkway Exit 91. Stay left off exit 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.

S OUTHERN R EGIONAL

DIRECTIONS: Parkway Exit 74. Turn right on Lacey Road. Follow less

FIELD ADDRESS: 600 North Main St. (Route 9), Stafford DIRECTIONS: Parkway exit 63. Take Route 72 east about two miles

than two miles, take jughandle left turn for Manchester Avenue. Go to the ﬁrst light, turn right on Haines Street. School is on the right.

and bear right onto Route 9 north. Take Route 9 about three miles and school is on the left.

L AKEWOOD DIRECTIONS: From south - Parkway exit 90. Take immediate jughandle U-turn to go west on Chambers Bridge Road. Turn left onto Route 88, follow to New Hampshire Avenue and turn right. Take New Hampshire to end, turn left onto Ridge. Go about 1 ½ miles to school on right. From north - Parkway exit 91. Stay right off exit. Go straight at light, follow road to Route 88 intersection. Turn right on Route 88 and follow rest of directions above.

M ANCHESTER

T OMS R IVER E AST FIELD ADDRESS: Raider Way, Toms River DIRECTIONS: Parkway Exit 82, Take Route 37 east to Coolidge Avenue jughandle. Go north on Coolidge one mile to Raider Way. Turn left, school entrance is on the left.

T OMS R IVER N ORTH 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.

FIELD ADDRESS: 101 Colonial Drive, Manchester

T OMS R IVER S OUTH

DIRECTIONS: Parkway to Exit 82A. Take Route 37 west about ﬁve

FIELD ADDRESS: 101 Hyers Street, Toms River DIRECTIONS: Directions: Parkway exit 82. Take Route 37 east. Turn

miles to jughandle for Colonial Drive. Cross 37 and follow back to school parking lot.

right onto Hooper Avenue. The ﬁeld is a half mile down on the right behind the Ocean County Courthouse

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO THE PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO PROVIDED THE TEAM & ACTION PHOTOS USED THROUGHOUT THIS PROGRAM AND THE SHORESPORTSNETWORK.COM WEBSITE

105

Week - by - Week

2020

Shore Conference Football Schedule

ootball will begin on Friday, Oct. 2, and play a six-week regular season that will conclude the week of Nov. 6. There will be no divisional structure for 2020 with teams instead being scheduled based on locality and school size with the competitive nature of the program being taken into consideration. Teams with a scheduled bye week will be permitted to find an opponent for that week. Teams can also drop a game if their opponent agrees. In that event, the team that agrees will likely not have a make-up game. Sectional champions will not be crowned. WEEK

WEEK

F RIDAY , O CT . 2 Brick Memorial

Freehold Township Manchester Brick

Howell

Lacey

Southern

6:30 p.m.

Toms River South

Donovan Catholic

Rumson-Fair Haven

7 p.m.

Keyport

7 p.m.

Freehold Township

7 p.m.

Wall

7 p.m.

Manasquan

Ocean

7 p.m.

Jackson Liberty

Holmdel

7 p.m.

Ocean

7 p.m.

St. John Viannye

7 p.m.

Red Bank

7 p.m.

Pinelands

Middletown South

Middletown North @

Rumson-Fair Haven

Wall

Jackson Memorial

St. John Vianney

Neptune

Red Bank

Pinelands

Keansburg

7 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic

Barnegat

Toms River East

Brick

6:30 p.m.

Middletown North

Toms River South

Raritan

6:30 p.m.

Point Beach

Toms River East

Jackson Liberty - PPD

TBA

Toms River North

Middletown North

Middletown South

7 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic

Long Branch

7 p.m.

Colts Neck

Manalapan

7 p.m.

Manasquan

Wall,

7 p.m.

Neptune

Point Boro

7 p.m.

Lakewood

7 p.m.

St. John Vianney

7 p.m.

Holmdel

7 p.m.

Red Bank

7 p.m.

Central

7 p.m.

Lacey

Manalapan

Neptune Matawan

Jackson Memorial,

Manalapan Marlboro Shore

Asbury Park Central

Manalapan Marlboro Southern

Howell

Brick Memorial @

Brick

Toms River South

Donovan Catholic

Red Bank Catholic

Toms River East

Middletown South

Long Branch

Mater Dei

Middletown North,

Neptune

noon

Mater Dei

1 p.m.

Rumson-Fair Haven

Wall

6 p.m.

Colts Neck

6:30 p.m.

Toms River East

Howell

7 p.m.

Middletown South

Rumson-Fair Haven

7 p.m.

Red Bank

7 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic

Middletown North,

7 p.m.

Mater Dei

7 p.m.

Wall

Manalapan

7 p.m.

Freehold

7 p.m.

Ocean

Red Bank

7 p.m.

Ocean

Rumson-Fair Haven

7 p.m.

Matawan

7 p.m.

Raritan

7 p.m.

Holmdel

7 p.m.

Marlboro

7 p.m.

Howell

7 p.m.

Lakewood

7 p.m.

Jackson Liberty

Colts Neck

Monmouth @

Abraham Clark

106

Freehold @

Keansburg

Raritan

St. John Vianney Manchester

Central @

Shore

7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Southern

S ATURDAY , O CT . 24 Jackson Liberty Keyport

noon noon

7 p.m.

Middletown North

Holmdel

Jackson Memorial

Barnegat

Point Beach

Matawan

Asbury Park

Monmouth

Colts Neck

Lakewood

p.m.

Pinelands

noon

Point Boro

noon

Asbury Park

Monmouth

2 p.m. BYE

Brick Memorial Shore

Neptune @

Brick

Keansburg

Pinelands

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

1 p.m.

noon

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Manasquan

Southern

7 p.m.

Point Boro

S ATURDAY , N OV . 7

Mater Dei

7 p.m.

St. John Vianney

1 p.m.

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

1 p.m.

Toms River South Neptune

Marlboro

Keansburg

7 p.m.

Manalapan

Manchester Keyport

7 p.m. 7 p.m.

Wall

Red Bank Catholic

6:30 p.m.

Long Branch

Manasquan

Long Branch

S ATURDAY , O CT . 10 Keyport

Toms River North

Middletown South

7 p.m.

Central

7 p.m.

Point Beach

Manchester

Donovan Catholic

Toms River North

7 p.m.

Shore

7 p.m.

Lacey

Ocean

Toms River South

Jackson Memorial

Holmdel

Barnegat

Toms River East

7 p.m.

Lacey

Pinelands

Freehold Township

6:30 p.m.

Central

7 p.m.

F RIDAY , N OV . 6 6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

Jackson Memorial

Lacey

Brick

St. John Vianney

BYE

Manasquan

Monmouth

Donovan Catholic

TBA noon

7 p.m.

Barnegat

Red Bank

Brick Memorial

Keyport

Marlboro

WEEK

Freehold Township

Freehold

7 p.m.

Raritan

Mater Dei

BYE

6:30 p.m.

Jackson Liberty

Lakewood

Matawan

Keansburg

WEEK

Point Boro @

F RIDAY , O CT . 23

Asbury Park

Freehold Township

Freehold

Point Beach

Toms River North Lakewood

Rumson-Fair Haven

2 p.m.

Freehold Township

1 p.m.

Monmouth

1 p.m.

Middletown South

F RIDAY , O CT . 9 Point Beach

Howell

1 p.m.

WEEK

7 p.m.

Point Beach

1 p.m.

Keyport

7 p.m.

Manchester

noon

Asbury Park

7 p.m.

S ATURDAY , O CT . 31

noon

Gov. Livingston

7 p.m.

Pinelands

noon

Howell

Manasquan

7 p.m.

Raritan,

noon

Freehold

noon

7 p.m.

Marlboro

noon

Lakewood

7 p.m.

Colts Neck

Freehold

Monmouth

Ocean

7 p.m.

S ATURDAY , O CT . 17

Colts Neck

Barnegat

Toms River East

7 p.m.

Matawan

Jackson Liberty

Keansburg

S ATURDAY , O CT . 3

7 p.m.

Barnegat

Brick Memorial

7 p.m.

Manchester

Toms River South

6:30 p.m.

Red Bank Catholic

Holmdel

Donovan Catholic

Toms River North

Point Boro

Southern

W EEK

W EDNESDAY , N OV . 25 6 p.m.

7 p.m.

Asbury Park

Long Branch

Raritan

Central

6:30 p.m.

Shore

Brick

Jackson Memorial

T HANKSGIVING

7 p.m.

Shore

F RIDAY , O CT . 30

Lacey

7 p.m.

Mater Dei

Matawan

Brick Memorial

Southern

Long Branch

Point Boro

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

Toms River North

WEEK

F RIDAY , O CT . 16

Donovan Catholic

7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

10 a.m. noon 1 p.m. 2 p.m. BYE

Red Bank Catholic

St. John Vianney

7 p.m.

T HURSDAY , N OV . 26 Pinelands

Southern

10 a.m.

107