Colonial Division.......................... Pages 30

20 receptions for 420 yards and five touchdowns and fellow junior wideout Jeremiah Pruitt caught 19 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. At tight end, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Kazanowsky will be entering his third year as a starter. The fullback is senior Nick Walano, who is also a returning starter.

Bringing it all together is an offensive line that is big, physical, and experienced. Ja'elyne Matthews played his way into the starting lineup as a freshman thanks to his 6-foot-6, 300-pound frame and undeniable talent. He still has three years left of high school football and has already received multiple FBS scholarship offers, including from defending NCAA champion Georgia, Ohio State, Penn State, and Texas A&M. Senior Josh Kaye (6-0, 245) is the center after earning a Third Team All-Shore selection last year, senior Nick Baiocco (6-5, 240) will be entering his third year as a starter and will line up at right guard, and junior Justin Kaye (6-6, 285) will line up at right tackle to give North two towering bookends to the offensive line. The only player on offense who didn't see time last year is sophomore right guard Hatham Hooranyi (6-3, 260).

Many of the same names will start on defense in the Mariners' 3-4 base alignment. Baiocco (67 tackles) and senior Nasir McDougald are the defensive ends with Matthews slated to start at nose guard. Kazanowsky is a three-year returning starter at outside linebacker where he was a Third Team All-Shore selection last season. He recorded 84 tackles, 5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 32 hurries. Senior Cody VanderVliet is also a returning starter at outside linebacker. Senior Ty Boland, a three-year starter at inside linebacker, is the team's leading returning tackler (105) and junior Anthony Rodriguez also returns after making 90 tackles last season.

All four players return in the secondary, as well, with Council and Moore as the cornerbacks, Pruitt at strong safety, and Ford at free safety. Pruitt had 89 tackles and two interceptions last year as a Third Team All-Shore selection and Council also had two interceptions.

Other returners include senior defensive back Jameel Matthews and sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Nasir Jackson.

Newcomers not already named include junior receiver Trey Rinella, junior defensive back Luke Oizerowitz, junior linebacker/running back Christian Oliveri, junior linebacker Ryan Warner, sophomore receiver Cameron Thomas, sophomore quarterback/defensive back TJ Valerio, sophomore receiver Mordecai Ford, sophomore defensive back Ja'Quez Hunter, and sophomore kicker/offensive lineman Yianni Papanikolas.

Toms River North's division opponents have changed for this season. After competing in the American Division with Rumson-Fair Haven, Donovan Catholic, Wall, and Colts Neck, the Mariners will now play in the Colonial Division with Central Regional, Lacey, Long Branch, Middletown North, and Southern Regional.

The ingredients are certainly there for Toms River North to be among the Shore's elite teams and compete for a sectional title. Last year's run to the title game gave them a taste of success, and now they want more. "It's more about staying hungry," Kazanowsky said. "We know where we were last year but we haven't done anything yet this year. It's not automatically going to send us back to the playoffs." "Dedication and putting the time in, no shortcuts. If anything, take the harder way," Ford said. "Just keeping our minds on a straight path and not worrying about what's said, just what goes on in the TR North locker room and on the field."

Projected Offensive Starters:

(RS=returning starter, 3RS=3rd-year returning starter) Returning Starters: 9

QB: MICAH FORD, JR., 3RS RB: JOSH MOORE, JR, RS.; FB: NICK WALANO, SR., RS WR: TAREQ COUNCIL, JR., 3RS; JEREMIAH PRUITT, JR., RS TE: TY KAZANOWSKY, SR., 3RS LT: JA'ELYNE MATTHEW, SO., RS LG: HATHAM HOORANYI, SO. C: JOSH KAYE, SR., RS RG: NICK BAIOCCO, SR., 3RS RT: JUSTIN KAYE, JR.

Projected Defensive Starters:

Returning Starters: 10

DE: NICK BAIOCCO, SR., 3RS NG: JA'ELYNE MATTHEWS, SO., RS DE: NASIR MCDOUGALD, SR. OLB: TY KAZANOWSKY, SR., 3RS ILB: ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ, JR., RS ILB: TY BOLAND, SR. 3RS OLB: CODY VANDERVLIET, SR., RS CB: JOSH MOORE, JR., RS CB: TAREQ COUNCIL, JR., RS SS: JEREMIAH PRUITT, JR., RS FS: MICAH FORD, JR., RS

Projected Special Team Starters:

K/P: YIANNI PAPANIKOLAS, SO.

Photo by