All Shore Media High School Sports 9-10-13 Issue -15

Cover LllXVWraWion by: Philip Sloan

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

�Is this going to be on

�

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

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n Get Video Highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. n Catch up on the action you might have missed n Watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. n www.allshoremedia.com is the most visited sports site in the shore conference during the scholastic year n Follow us on Twitter (over 12,000 followers) and Facebook, we keep fans posted on the latest scores and news n Established leading portal for local high school coverage.

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6 Colts Neck

Class A Central........................Pages 14 thru 22

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Class A South.........................Pages 24 thru 36

1 Red Bank Catholic

Feature Stories

The Big Q ..................................................Pages 34

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The Caseys have finished No. 1 in the Shore in each of the past two seasons and are a heavy favorite to do it again. They have won 24 straight games against Shore Conference competition dating back to 2010 and have captured division titles in five of the last six seasons. They return an enormous front line led by 305-pound Notre Dame recruit Quenton Nelson and 270-pound FCS prospect Tim O’Hara to block for a stellar backfield that includes senior tailback Larry Redaelli and juniors Mike Cordova and Tommy Spernal as well as returning quarterback Pat Toomey. The defense features Nelson, senior defensive end Shawn McCord, leading tackler Ryan Schoer and FBS prospect Jamie Gordinier at linebacker.

The Caseys are shooting to reach their first NJSIAA sectional final since 1980 and repeat as Class A Central champions.

Bigger, Faster, Stronger.....................Pages 35

Class B North.....................Pages 38 thru 47 Class B Central...............Pages 48 thru 54 Class B South...............Pages 55 thru 64 Week-by-week Shore Conf.

Schedule ............................ Page 65

Ocean County Field Directions..................Pages 66 Monmouth County Field Directions...............Pages 67

2 Manalapan .

The Braves are on a mission to win their first NJSIAA sectional title after losing in the finals the last two years. They have 10 of 11 starters back on defense, and an offense led by senior tailback Tyler Leonetti and Rutgers recruit Saeed Blacknall, a senior wide receiver. Senior linebacker Chris Noesges should once again be one of the Shore Conference’s best, and senior noseguard/tight end R.J. Krause is another top returner. Manalapan looks to maintain its grip on the Class A North title, which it has won three straight times without losing a divisional game.

3 Lacey .

The defending Class A South champions are coming off a 10-win season and return standout senior quarterback Tom Kelly as well as star wideout/defensive back Christian Tutela from one of the Shore’s top offenses last season. The Lions have to replace 1,000-yard rusher Kyle Spatz as well as several receivers, and they also look to shore up a run defense that was shaky at times last year. Senior two-way lineman Chris D’Addarrio leads the group up front, and sophomore Tarique Smith is an emerging star at defensive end.

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. Middletown South

The Eagles are hoping this is the year they get over the hump after losing in last year’s Central Jersey Group IV final. They also look to dethrone Manalapan as Class A North champion behind an offense led by senior quarterback Kyle Brey and wideout Andrew Wisialko, and a rugged defense featuring a pair of standout defensive tackles in seniors Tayler Hendrickson and Conner Spreen. Sophomore twins Dylan and Cole Rogers are ones to watch at linebacker, in the backfield and in the secondary after seeing time as freshmen.

The Cougars return the bulk of their standouts on what should be a top defense led by defensive end/linebackers Anthony Gargiulo and Nick Volpe, linebacker Mike Ververka and defensive back John Miller. If they can fill in the cracks offensively after losing eight of 11 starters, they have the goods to follow up on a nine-win season. Gargiulo is a returning 1,000-yard rusher who should make them a factor in Class A North and Central Jersey Group IV, and senior two-way lineman Ryan Wetzel looks to be one of the Shore’s best.

7 Long Branch .

The defending Class B North co-champions bring back several big names on the heels of a nine-win season. Senior tailback/linebacker Deon Williams should be one of the Shore’s top all-around talents, and junior fullback/safety Dahmiere Willis looks to make a big impact on offense this year. Defensive ends Hunter Baillie and Saquan Gwaltney give the Green Wave some playmakers up front, and the secondary is anchored by Willis and senior Shabazz Shuler, who also takes over at quarterback.

8 Ocean .

The Spartans return sophomore tailback Tyler Thompson after a 1,000-yard rushing season as a freshman and also have moved junior playmaker Royal Moore from wide receiver to quarterback. If the Spartans’ offensive line can do the job to let those two operate, and a defense led by senior linebacker Dan Loizos can improve from last year, Ocean should challenge for the Class B North title and make a deeper run in the state playoffs.

9 Rumson-Fair Haven .

The Bulldogs return almost their entire defense under new head coach Bryan Batchler, led by Rutgers recruit Donald Bedell at defensive end and standout Tom Martello at linebacker. If they can replace some key players at the skill spots on offense, they should be in the thick of the Class A Central race and make a deeper run in the Central Jersey Group II playoffs.

10

. Barnegat

The Bengals are coming off a playoff appearance and have a strong junior class led by quarterback Cinjun Erskine and two-way lineman Sam Madden, a pair of FBS prospects. Their line, which includes Madden and senior standout Zach Andrews, looks to be the biggest in Class B South. They also have added a major weapon in junior wideout/kick returner Manny Bowen, a Central transfer, and senior tailback A.J. Opre returns after falling just short of 1,000 yards rushing last season. Three-year starter Greg Moran anchors the defense at linebacker.

Other teams to watch:

Neptune, Toms River South, Brick, Lakewood, Manasquan, Shore Regional, Point Beach, Asbury Park, Matawan.

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Class A North.............................Pages 6 thru 13

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ELITE/ASM Future Top Recruits ........................................................Page 4

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The Mustangs were among the Shore’s best through half the season before a five-game losing streak ended last season in frustration. With one of the Shore Conference’s most explosive all-around players in senior Mike Basile, an athletic quarterback in Joe Hans, and several other key returners, they look to get back in the mix as a team chasing division and state championships. They will get tested right away by a new-look Brick team in the opener that is also looking for a return to glory.

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5 Brick Memorial

Table of Contents

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2013

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Analysis on the Shore Conference Classes of 2013, 2014 & 2015

By Chris Melvin - Eliterecruits.Com /All Shore Media

Ever year the Shore Conference tends to draw college coaches from all levels of play and from all over the country. From UConn to the University of Hawaii, an abundance of college coaches have evaluated and sought after footage of recruits to help fill out their respective recruiting classes and the Shore Conference’s Classes of 2014 and 2015 both possess an abundance of talent at various programs. The quarterback position, receiving (tight end and wideouts) corps, offensive/defensive line fronts, defensive backs, and the linebacker group are all impressive with players receiving major recruiting attention. Expect the Class of 2016 to also feature some nationally known recruits with the likes of Ocean running back Tyler Thompson and St. John Vianney quarterback Anthony Brown leading the way.

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Chris Melvin Shore Elite Squad

QUARTERBACKS

TIGHT ENDS

ATHLETES

Cinjun Erskine 6-2/210 Barnegat (Jr.): One of the nation’s top quarterbacks for the Class of 2015. A poised, athletic and strong-armed signal-caller who places the ball exactly where it needs to go and also has the type of running skills that top running backs normally display. Erskine has early offers from Miami as an athlete and UMass as a quarterback.

Mike Gesicki 6-6/230 Southern Regional (Sr.): Gesicki is ranked by many scouts as one of the New Jersey’s Class of 2014 tight ends. Having seen the state’s top tight ends, not only do I feel he is by far the best and most athletic – I feel he is one of the best the country has to offer. Big, athletic, good speed, soft hands, smooth route runner, impressive agility, superb leaping ability all sum up Gesicki. The three-sport star has everything that former Southern/Rutgers tight end Clark Harris, Brick Memorial/Houston Texan Garrett Graham, and former Red Bank Catholic/Penn State and now current Miami head coach Al Golden had plus much more.

Joey Fields II 5-9/170 Monsignor Donovan (Sr.): One of the state’s most exciting players as a receiver, returner, running back and cornerback. What he lacks in size he makes up for in skills, speed, desire and athleticism.

Has offers on the table with more on the way with a superb senior campaign.

n Alex Thomson 6-5/225 Keyport (Sr.) n Matt Muh 6-4/215 Shore (Sr.)

n Billy DeMato 5-10/210 St. John Vianney (Sr.) n Charles Lombana 5-9/180 Manalapan (Jr.) n Anthony Brown 6-0.5/150 SJV (Soph.)

RUNNING BACKS Tyler Thompson 5-11/190 Ocean (Soph.): Thompson entered the 2012 season with an outstanding performance against Manchester and the then-freshman continued to prosper the remainder of the season for coach Don Klein. Has superb size, speed and good vision and will only get better once he improves his vision and matures as a player. He has an offer by Temple.

Expect tons more to come. Reminds me of Knowshon Moreno when he was a sophomore. n Matt Gudzak 5-10.5/195 Toms River East (Sr.)

n Marcus Ademilola 6-3/210 Jackson Memorial

n Tayler Hendrickson 6-2/235 Middletown South (Sr.)

n Sam Madden 6-7/340 Barnegat (Jr.) n Ben Watson 6-5/280 Lakewood (Jr.)

n Larry Redaelli 5-7/160 Red Bank Catholic (Jr.)

n Tim O’Hara 6-5/265 Red Bank Catholic (Sr.)

n Mario Williams 5-9/165 Red Bank Regional (Sr.)

n Kyle Gibson 6-4/310 St. John Vianney (Soph.)

n Tre’von Bass 5-10/190 Monsignor Donovan (Sr.)

n Brody Graham 6-3/255 Jackson Memorial (Jr.)

n Julanee Prince: 5-10/165 St. John Vianney (Sr.) n Darrius Hart 6-2/205 Toms River South (Sr.) n DeJohn Rogers 5-9/150 Matawan (Soph)

n Tymere Berry 5-9/160 Toms River South (Jr.) n Carmen Sclafani 5-8/190 Brick (Jr.)

n Matt Castronuova 5-10/170 Jackson Liberty (Jr.) n Joe Hans (QB/WR) 6-1/175 Brick Memorial (Jr.)

DEFENSIVE BACKS

n Ryan Wetzel 6-3/285 Colts Neck (Sr.)

n Tyrod Smith: 6-4.5/205 Freehold Boro (Sr.)

n Christian Tutela 5-11/185 Lacey (Sr.)

Otis Kearney Jr. 5-10/190 Toms River South (Sr.): “Silent Thunder” is what I call Kearney, who has the same name and skills as his father Otis Kearney Sr., who was an all-state defensive back for the Indians in 1987. Like Brick Memorial’s Mike Basile, Kearney is impressive on the offensive side of the ball, but has top college-level defensive-back skills with a knack for dishing-out NFLcaliber hits from his safety spot. Kearney reminds me of former Matawan star and now current Old Dominion outside linebacker Larry Alston. Kearney holds offers from the likes of Michigan State, UMass, Old Dominion, and Monmouth among others.

n Deon Williams 5-11/210 Long Branch (Sr.)

n Kyle Carrington: 6-2/170 Monsignor (Sr.)

n Daquane Bland-Bennett 5-8/160 Asbury Park (Sr.)

Quenton Nelson 6-5/300 Red Bank Catholic (Sr.): An early Notre Dame commit who had offers from all over the country. Big, agile and very physical. Nelson has the ability to play anywhere on the offensive front and isn’t bad as a defensive tackle either. I love his intensity and drive.

n Chris Okupski 6-4/300 Shore Regional (Sr.)

Saeed Blacknall 6-3/210 Manalapan (Sr.): A superb talent as a safety and receiver who chose Rutgers in mid-August over LSU, Alabama and another 23 schools to play wideout. Has legit speed and soft hands but will need to add some more wiggle once he hauls in a pass to shine at the Big Ten level. Blacknall is also a legit kick returner.

n Manny Bowen 6-2/195 Barnegat (Jr.)

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

n Ray Fattaruso 5-10/215 Brick Township (Jr.)

WIDE RECEIVERS

n Royal Moore: 6-2/180 Ocean Township (Jr.)

n Zach Andrews 6-3/310 Barnegat (Sr.)

KICKERS/PUNTERS Mike Caggiano 5-10/170 Manalapan (Jr.): Caggiano is one of the nation’s top kickers/punters in the Class of 2015. Has the ability to shine at the collegiate level as either a punter or place-kicker. Averages 55 yards a punt, 63 yards on kick-offs, and has field goal range out past 50 yards. Prefers kicking rather than punting.

n Kevin Dougherty 5-9/160 Toms River North (Sr.) n Pat Davis 5-8/150 Lacey Township (Soph.)

n Mike Basile 6-0/195 Brick Memorial (Sr.) n Earl Peters III 6-2/195 Manasquan (Sr.)

n Kashaun Barnes 6-2/185 Manchester (Sr.)

n RJ Bromell 5-9/165 Toms River North (Sr.)

n Zach Skesavage 6-3/190 Monsignor Donovan (Sr.) n Robert Barksdale 6-1/180 Asbury Park (Sr.)

n Shaquille Benjamin 5-8/150 Manchester Township (Sr.) n Xavier Chestnut 5-10/171 Red Bank Regional (Sr.) n Valdez Santiago 6-2/180 Toms River North (Jr.)

LINEBACKERS Chris Noesges 5-10/190 Manalapan (Sr.): Chris may not be the biggest and most intriguing linebacker without his pads on, but when this guy has them on, look out.

Smart, instinctive, aggressive and makes bonecrushing stops on a random basis. May not get big-time

n Ken Bradley 5-10/210 Jackson Memorial (Sr.) n Anthony Gargiulo 6-2/235 Colts Neck (Sr.)

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BEST OF 2013 BEST ARM: Erksine

9/10/13

looks, but the school that reels him in will be happy it recruited him.

n Chapelle Cook 6-1.5/215 Lakewood (Jr.)

BEST QB INTANGIBLES: Thomson

n Ryan Schoer 6-2/235 Red Bank Catholic (Sr.)

MOST EXCITING PLAYER: Fields

n Jamie Gordinier: 6-4/235, RBC (Jr.)

HARDEST PLAYER TO BRING DOWN: Condito

BEST RUNNER: Gudzak

n Hunter Baillie (LB/DE) 6-2/200 Long Branch (Jr.)

HARDEST HITTERS: Kearny, Noesges, Williams

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n Frank Condito 5-11/215 Holmdel (Jr.)

BEST LEAPER: Gesicki BEST OL: Nelson

Donald Bedell Rumson-FH 6-4/230 (Sr.): A fundamentally sound defensive end who has superb quickness and technique that allowed him to pick up offers from the likes of UConn and Rutgers before he eventually chose the Scarlet Knights.

BIGGEST SPECIMEN: Sam Madden 6-7/350

n Justin Gille 6-5/235 St. John Vianney (Sr.)

PLAYER OUT OF NOWHERE: Saquan Gwaltney

n Saquan Gwaltney 6-4/255 Long Branch (Sr.)

BEST WR: Blacknall

n Pat Toal 6-4/280 Raritan (Sr.)

BEST BACK-UP: Anthony Brown (SJV)

n Maurice Diawara 6-3/235 Lakewood (Sr.)

FRESHMEN WITH SKILLS

n Mike Nobile 5-11/265 Brick Memorial (Soph.)

n Aneesh Agrawl (QB Holmdel).

n Adam Kakar: 6-3/310 Toms River North (Jr.)

BEST ROUTES: Carrington BEST MULTI-SKILLED: Grasso, Barnes

n Datrell Reed 6-4/220Lakewood (Jr.)

BEST TE: Mike Gesicki

n Clay Kemp 5-10/260 St. John Vianney (Jr.)

MOST LIKELY TO SCORE VARIOUS WAYS: Fields

n Dylan DeVita 6-2/228 Red Bank Regional (Sr.) n Matt Proto 6-2/265 Shore (Sr.)

Fri

Fri

Fri

n Darien Carrington (WR – Toms River North)

(Game s to be broadcast on 105.7FM & 1160/ 1310AM)

9/13

9/20

9/27

T.R. South

Lakewood

Southern

at

at

at

Central

(7pm, 105.7FM)

(7pm, 105.7FM)

T.R. North

10/4

Lacey

at

T.R. South

Fri

10/18 or

T.R. North Central

at at

Brick Memorial Barnegat

Fri Fri Fri

Thr

10/11

10/25 or

Msgr. Donovan

Point Boro T.R. East

at

(7pm, 105.7FM)

(7pm, 105.7FM) (7pm, 105.7FM)

Barnegat T.R. South

(7pm, 105.7FM) (7pm, 105.7FM)

at

T.R. North

(7pm, 105.7FM)

Jackson Memorial T.R. South

at at

11/28

Manasquan

at

T.R. South

Point Boro

(7pm, 105.7FM)

at at

11/1 or

11/8

(7pm, 105.7FM)

Msgr. Donovan

Fri Fri

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QUICKEST PLAYERS: Daquane Bland-Bennett, Amani Richardson

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DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Southern Brick Memorial

Wall

NJSIAA Championship Playoffs - TBD

(7pm, 105.7FM) (7pm, 105.7FM)

(11am, 1160/1310AM)

BROADCAST CREW

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09-21-13 09-27-13 10-04-13 10-12-13 10-18-13 10-25-13 11-01-13 11-08-13 11-28-13

Brick Township @Howell @Manalapan @Manasquan @Freehold Twp. Marlboro @Red Bank Cath.

Colts Neck Middletown North

Head Coach: Steve Antonucci, 15th Season Career Record: 144-29

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

2012 Record: 8-4 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jeremy Concepcion, Sr., RB. Concepcion is the most experienced returner in a backfield that graduated standouts Jake Ripnick & Eli Smith.

X-FACTOR: The running game. The Eagles have long employed a punishing running game to set up the passing game, but lost the majority of their production to graduation. Will someone emerge out of the group to be a workhorse back, or will running back-by-committee be enough?

GLUE GUY: Tayler Hendrickson, Sr., TE/DE. A star who is also a blue-collar hard worker, Hendrickson sets the tone for a workmanlike team looking to make it back to the state finals.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Dylan & Cole Rogers, So., RB/LB/DB. The twin brothers, who are the younger brothers of former Eagles star wideout Taylor Rogers, both made their presence felt toward the end of last season as freshmen. They both should see time in the backfield this season & will also play important roles defensively. They have all the makings of future stars.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 4 at Manalapan. Last year's showdown at The Swamp was an epic 35-31 win by Manalapan that came down to the final seconds. If the Eagles want to break the Braves' grip on the Class A North title, they will have to go on the road and find a way to get over the hump against a formidable Braves team.

Making it to the Finish Line

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

his bridesmaid stuff is getting old for Middletown South..

Eagles are in the midst of an incredible run in which they have reached NJSIAA sectional finals in 10 of the last 12 seasons, but have lost their last four championship games after 2012 ended with a 35-28 defeat at the hands of Sayreville in the Central Jersey Group IV final. The streak of frustration comes after they won four straight titles from 2003-06 and five in six years.

"When we were winning those championships maybe we didn't need the breaks,'' said Eagles head coach Steve Antonucci, who is six wins shy of 150 for his career. "We were spoiled in the beginning, and now we're on the other end of it. That's what keeps me coming back. Winning that championship is always going to be the goal as long as I'm here."

That was a heartbreaker last year,'' said senior tight end/defensive tackle Tayler Hendrickson. "It was so frustrating, but we knew we had a team coming back this year that could get back there and win it, so we just told each other we have to work even harder."

An offense that came on strong at the end of last year will have to replace two standout running backs and some talented linemen, while a young and talented defense fortified by a stellar sophomore class looks to be the backbone of the team under veteran coordinator Al Bigos.

"I'm happy with where we are defensively right now,'' Antonucci sid. "We're playing with kids who have some football sense for the first time in a while. They remind me of our past teams that were successful. It's not work for them. They're a tight group, they have fun, and they work hard."

"With some new guys breaking in on offense, I think defense is our strength right now,'' Hendrickson said. "Defense will be what gets us back to the championship game."

The Eagles look to have one of the best defensive tackle tandems in the Shore Conference with Hendrickson and senior Conner Spreen playing side-by-side.

Hendrickson was an ASM first-team All-Shore selection as a junior with 52 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. He has multiple FCS offers from the likes of Bucknell, Monmouth and the University of Pennsylvania along with interest from Delaware and Villanova.

"I think he's going to cause havoc with people,'' Antonucci said. "He's someone you have to pay attention to. He's a throwback kid who's all about going to work and getting after it."

Spreen was an All-Class A North selection last season, and he has the ability to cause

T

trouble when teams try to double team Hendrickson.

"Conner Spreen is one of my best friends, and as our coaches always say, you can't double us both,'' Hendrickson said. "He's a great player, and he will make plays if teams try to send a couple guys at me."

Junior Dan Servidio also should see time at defensive tackle, with 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior Pat Crowe and senior Martin Berke, a pair of newcomers, starting at defensive end.

Sophomore Sean Killeen also should see time at defensive end.

The linebackers are young, but experienced, as sophomores Dylan Rogers and Trent Giglio will both start at the inside linebacker spots.

Both of them started five games as freshmen, a rarity at Middletown South, including the state championship game.

"I think those guys are just touching the surface of what I hope will be great careers,'' Antonucci said.

"They obviously have plenty of talent because I remember when I was a freshman and there was no way I could've started a varsity game,'' Hendrickson said. "They have already played in playoff games and the state championship, so they have good experience."

Junior Sergio Gonzalez also should see time at inside linebacker. Senior Corey Casini and sophomore Tom Coffey will start at outside linebacker, where junior Dom Tobacco and sophomore Rob Hulse should also see time.

Senior Andrew Wisialko is a returning starter at cornerback, with either experienced senior Jeremy Concepcion or sophomore Cole Rogers, Dylan's twin brother, at the other cornerback spot. The safety will either be senior Drew O'Connell or junior Nolan Pereless.

On the other side of the ball, Middletown South returns senior quarterback Kyle Brey, who threw for 1,529 yards and 14 touchdowns and also ran for a pair of touchdowns in his first year as the starter last season.

"He definitely grew up in the offense and has a better grasp of what we're doing,'' Antonucci said. "He had his moments, and now that he understands (the offense), he should have more of those big moments than last year."

"I think it was more of just getting used to the speed of varsity football, which is much, much faster,'' Brey said. "I've just worked on reading defenses better and making better decisions overall, getting quicker, and helping out the line with their protections, which I didn't do last year."

The Eagles graduated 1,000-yard rusher Jake Ripnick and their top big-play threat, ASM first-team All-Shore selection Eli Smith.

Looking to replace their production will be a group of running backs that includes

Senior TE/DT Tayler Hendrickson Concepcion, who ran for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, junior A.J. Leandro, and Cole Rogers. In the formations where they use a fullback, Dylan Rogers will be at that spot.

"We got a lot out of Jake Ripnick, and Eli Smith was a special kid,'' Antonucci said. "I think the kids we have now in combination all do something well. We may be running back by committee."

Wisialko will be a primary target for Brey at wideout after finishing with a team-high 33 catches for 493 yards and four touchdowns last season. O'Connell, Crowe and Pereless should also see time at receiver. Another key target in the passing game will be Hendrickson, who returns as a starter at tight end. Crowe and Casini also should see time at tight end.

The offensive line returns two starters in junior left tackle James Wilson and senior right tackle Jonathan Lowe. Two more members of Middletown South's standout freshman class from last year, sophomores Joe Rutkowski and Tom Lopez, will start at center and left guard, respectively, and the right guard spot is between junior Kyle Maynes and senior Rob Usa. Promising sophomore Matt Mosquera will replace Connor Ryan, the most accomplished kicker in school history, as the placekicker and the punter.

While last year ended in disappointment, the Eagles are hoping the hunger of having been so close and the experience of the young players tasting the atmosphere at Rutgers Stadium can finally push them over the top this season. Sayreville, which won CJ Group IV three straight years, was realigned into Central Jersey Group V this season, so the bracket is there for the taking for any team that wants it bad enough.

In the Shore, the Eagles are in the relatively rare position for their program of being underdogs. Manalapan has won Class A North for the last three seasons, going undefeated in the division, and again will be the team to beat.

"We were only a few mistakes away from beating Manalapan last year, and that game came right down to the final seconds,'' Hendrickson said. "If we can correct our mistakes, we can be right there with them."

"I like being the underdog,'' Brey said. "I don't mind it because when you win, it makes you look good."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

n Thomas Acerra—Monmouth Regional n Jared Allison—Matawan n Kaysonne Anderson—Manasquan n Robert Barksdale—Asbury Park n Joey Beggans—Red Bank Regional n David Bergeron—Middletown North n Mike Bland—Long Branch n Jared Bradham—Long Branch n Jawann Brown—Matawan n Chris Bunge—Middletown South n Brian Calder—Colts Neck n Shilque Calhoun—Middletown North n Cleveland Cannon—Long Branch n Dwayne Chapman—Matawan n Swede Chevalier—The Lawrenceville School n Allen Choback—Red Bank Catholic n Joe Cilurzo—Shore Regiona n Dwight Clark—Long Branch n Jason Corley—Long Branch n Tom Corley—Matawan n Rahmir Cottman—Red Bank Regional n Richie Curran—Red Bank Catholic n Charles Davis—Neptune n Amir Dew—Toms River North n Drew Diakos— St. John Vianney n Sean Dolan— Red Bank Catholic n Brian Dominianni—Point Beach n Alex Faherty—Brooklyn Polytech (NY) n Glen Ford—Red Bank Catholic n Chris Fortunato—Wall Township n Jeremy Fountain—Matawan n Tyrone Garland—Matawan n Wesley Garland—Matawan n Clifton Geathers—Carver’s Bay (SC)

n Kwame Geathers—Carver’s Bay (SC) n Nick Gialanella—Red Bank Catholic n Tom Gorski—Holmdel n Tajh Hammary—Asbury Park n Malcolm Harris—Neptune n Chris Herring—Matawan n Carl Howard—Matawan n Jihaad Howard—Brick Memorial n Anthony Hubbert—Freehold Boro n Darryl Jackson—Red Bank Reg. n Bobby Jameson—Matawan n Greg Kafaf—Don Bosco Prep n Tom Kalieta—Matawan n Larry Kelly— Manasquan n Caleb King— Christian Academy (GA) n Terrence King— Long Branch n Tyler King—Buford H (GA) n Donald Klein—Shore Reg. n Donnie Klein—Manasquan n Kyle Leach—Point Pleasant Beach n Frank Lefkowitz—Colts Neck n Joe Lepore—Colts Neck n Glennis Lester—Matawan n Ron Lewis—Asbury Park n Matt Maddox—Manasquan n Christian Martino—Point Pleasant Beach n Joseph Martucci—Matawan n John Masini—Morristown Beard School n Tyron McCalister—Asbury Park n Eric McCoo—Red Bank Regional n Terrance McKeller—Long Branch n John McLaughlin—Middletown South

V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e , w w w. m a c t e s t i n g . c o m

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Joe Mickens—Manchester Knowshon Moreno—Middletown South Kevin Moriarity—Shore Regional TJ Moriarity—Red Bank Catholic Darius Morris—Long Branch Matt Moulton—Colts Neck John Pellegrino—St. John Vianney Jim Pittenger—Wall John Pittenger—Wall Stephon Pluviose—Matawan n Mike Postell—Matawan n Simon Press—Asbury Park n Ryan Quinlan—Wall n Dave Reeves—RBC n Charlie Rogers—Matawan n Jerret Sanderson—Long Branch n Tyler Schmelz—RBC n Bill Shea—Keyport HS n Branden Smith— Booker T. Washington (GA) n Chris Stavola—RBC n Stephen Swift—Red Bank Regional n Jamuir Taylor—Neptune n Maurice Turpin—Long Branch n McArthur Underwood - Matawan n Tony Vergari— Point Pleasant Beach n Joey Villapiano—Ocean Township n Scott Wellerson—Point Pleasant Beach n Kade Weston—Red Bank Regional n Cassius Williams—Matawan Knowshon Moreno RB Middletown South, University of Georgia, Denver Broncos 1st Rd Draft Pick

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A S A M P L I N G O F C U R R E N T A N D F O R M E R M AC A L L - S TA R S

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Toms River North @Marlboro Middletown South Toms River East @St. Joseph (Met.) @Freehold Twp. @Middletown North Manalapan @Colts Neck

Head Coach: Derek Reichenbecher, 2nd season Career Record: 1-9

Assistant Coaches: Dennis Bruck (def. coord.), Mike Sinisi (WR/DB/spec. teams), Allei Kalakutok (OL/DL), Ryan Klusewicz (RB/DB), Mike Fiorillo (ILB), Joe Rattacasa (OLB); Joe Santopietro, John Baum (freshman), Amy Ghione (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 1-9 (0-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Dontrell Jones, Sr., WR/DB. Even on a team that struggled to score points last season, receiver Tory Robinson was a tough matchup for opposing defenses. The Rebels need Jones to emerge opposite Schultz and give McGlynn another reliable target.

X-FACTOR: Turnovers. The Rebels put their defense in bad positions much too often last season by turning the ball over, and will have to dramatically cut down on those in order to turn things around.

GLUE GUY: Joey Schultz, Sr., WR/DB. A hardnosed, lead-by-example player who will play a big role on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jarvis Leaks, Jr., RB/DB. Leaks will start in a split-carry backfield and brings a speed dimension to the Rebels' ground attack.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 vs. Toms River North. Usually a very competitive game, the Rebels want to start off on the right foot after losing 35-7 last season.

A Different Identity

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer hen last season began, Howell had plans on rebounding from a sub-.500 year and getting back to playing championship football under then first-year head coach Derek Reichenbecher. aight titles from 2003-06 and five in six years.

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But when quarterback John Quinlan got injured just a week before the season, it sent the young and inexperienced Rebels into a tailspin they never could recover from, and their 1-9 finish had every returning player eager to fast forward to 2013.

Now, with senior quarterback Connor McGlynn back after getting valuable action last season, plus nine returning starters on defense, Howell is looking to prove last season was just a blip on the radar.

"We definitely feel better than we did last season with the amount of returning starters we have," said senior linebacker Stephen Boncimino. "As a whole, we just look a lot better."

For years under former head coach Cory Davies, the Rebels would solve most of their problems by simply outscoring teams in their spread passing attack, but last season their average dipped to 12.9 points per game, the fourth-lowest in the Shore. Having McGlynn ready to begin the season after he started four games for Quinlan is a big step toward improving that total. However, the unit that has the most potential to lead Howell back to the winning side is actually its defense.

Howell's offense has carried the torch for the program for the better part of the last decade, but with nine defensive starters returning, including the entire front seven, Howell could have a very different identity in 2013.

"In our scrimmages our defense has played very well, and we do expect that to be a strength," Reichenbecher said. "We still want to put points on the board and be explosive, but we do expect to lean on our defense."

The Rebels will switch from a 4-4 to a 3-4 and use 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior Kevin MacWilliams, 6-foot-4, 245-pound junior Liam Baldwin and 6-foot-2, 270-pound senior Joe Martinos along the defensive line. All three were starters last season. Senior Austin Marques and juniors James Bast and Ryan Demian provide depth along the line.

Senior Jimmy Leefe started at defensive end

last year and will move to outside linebacker this season.

He'll be joined by returning starter and junior Colin Mastowski. Seniors Nate Senior Litowsky and Chris Urso will also see time as outside linebackers. Senior returning starters Stephen Boncimino and Kyle Cocozza anchor the defense from their inside linebacker positions, with senior Grant Kennedy and junior Mike McGuinness backing them up.

The secondary is usually Howell's strength on defense, and will feature a pair of returning starters in senior safety Joey Schultz and senior cornerback Tyler Smalls. Junior Anthony Sarullo is the other corner and senior Dontrell Jones is the safety opposite Schultz. Juniors Jarvis Leaks and Joe Salafrio, and senior John DeMarco will provide depth in the defensive backfield.

Howell's weakness on defense has been stopping opposing teams from running at will and chewing time off the clock, all while keeping the Rebels' offense on the sideline. With some big bodies who gained valuable experience up front, plus a solid group of linebackers, they aim to turn run defense into a strength.

"Our secondary is usually solid, and if you look back the last few years we've been struggling to find guys up front," Reichenbecher said. "Now for the first time in a long time we feel really strong up front, and that's going to make a huge difference on defense."

The key will be getting off the field. Last year Howell struggled on third down, and that will eventually break a defense.

"Last year we had some trouble with those third-and-5s, third-and-6s, where we'd give up a 10-yard run, and that would keep us on the field and wear us down," Boncimino said. "We have to make big plays and step up in those situations."

"With our spread offense, sometimes they're only on they field for two-and-a-half minutes and sometimes they're only on the field for 20 seconds," Cocozza said. "It's kind of tough that way, but we have to get it together and make third-down stops."

On offense it will be McGlynn at quarterback behind an offensive line that returns four starters.

The left tackle is 6-foot-4, 275-pound junior Jeremy Subjinski, and the left guard is senior Rob Hering. McGuinness returns as the center and junior Jorge Hidalgo shifts inside to right

quarterback Connor McGlynn guard from the tackle position he started at last season. Marques is the lone newcomer on the line at right tackle. Junior backups Johnny Fumato, Evan Cofrancisco and Demian give the offensive line some depth.

Schultz, a 6-foot-2 target, is a returning starter and the team's No. 1 receiver. He'll be joined by Jones, Salafrio, DeMarco and Smalls.

Mastowski, Urso and junior Kamyar Assadipour are also in the mix at receiver.

The Rebels' philosophy on offense has always been to spread the ball around, but with Schultz as the clear top receiver, he'll see plenty of targets throughout the season.

"We don't want to have one go-to guy, we want to spread the ball around," Reichenbecher said. "But we need him to get touches. He has to make plays for us on both sides of the ball."

"I'm excited to be playing important roles on both sides of the ball," Schultz said. "I'm trying to do whatever I can for my team."

Litowsky and Leaks bring a thunder and lightning approach to the running back position, and both are expected to be on the field at the same time in two-back sets.

On special teams, seniors Tommy Wilson and Jack Long will share the kicking and punting duties.

Howell begins its season against a Toms River North team that has been largely dismissed because of the mass exodus that occurred during the offseason. But Reichenbecher knows the players the Mariners have left will bring a ton of effort and give the Rebels all they can handle.

"Everyone is talking about the kids (Toms River North) lost, but the kids they have are tough kids, and it's going to be a fight for us," Reichenbecher said. "We're at the point where we have to appreciate every game. Right now, our season is getting ready for North, and we're going to learn a lot about ourself Week One."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Head Coach: Jason Dagato, 1st season Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Matt Wisniewski (off. coord./QB); Kirk Wagner (RB/DL); Alex Iachetta (OL/DL); Carl Jordan (spec. teams/WR/DB); Ryan Hilla (WR/DB); Brian Moore (RB/DB); Matthew Levi (RB/LB); Nick Scalzo, Corey Varrial (freshman); Mark Bramble (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-6 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jared Moffett, Jr., DL. The 6-foot3, 210-pound junior will step in at defensive end, where the graduated Thomas Vetrano was a force for the Mustangs last year.

X-FACTOR: The offensive and defensive lines. Will so much inexperience up front hinder Marlboro in the early going? back, or will running back-by-committee be enough?

GLUE GUY: Dustin Jensen, Sr., QB/S. Along with Chris Coyle, Jensen will play a key role on both sides of the ball and will be looked to help get an inexperienced group of offensive linemen up to speed.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kyle Moffitt, Sr., OL/DL. Moffitt started a handful of games last year, but should make a much bigger impact this season as one of the few returners who saw any time. This is also only Moffitt's second year of playing football, so he is expected to be a much bigger contributor with a year under his belt.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at J.P. Stevens. It's a nonconference game, but the season opener is crucial for a team that is inexperienced up front and has a new head coach to gain the confidence that they will be as competitive or more competitive than last year.

arlboro was in the running for its first state playoff berth since 1999 right down to the cutoff weekend last season.

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Now the challenge for the Mustangs is taking that next step and showing they can be a consistent winner and break through for a playoff spot. New head coach Jason Dagato and his players are optimistic they can improve on their 4-6 record, which matched their best mark since 1999.

On the other side of the ball, they will continue to run a 4-3 defense with six players competing for the four down lineman spots. Moffitt will be the three-technique and Culver will be at nose tackle, with junior Dave Weiner spelling both of them.

Dagato moved up from defensive coordinator to replace Derek Sininsky, who stepped down after the final game of the season to end his five-year tenure. He takes over a team that has experience returning at the skill positions but is very thin on the offensive and defensive lines.

"We are working extremely hard and will continue to work on the field, lifting off the field and trying to stay strong,'' Dagato said.

Dagato is in his sixth year of coaching, all at Marlboro as an offensive and defensive line coach for two seasons and the last three as defensive coordinator. There won't be a lot of changes on either side of the ball, scheme-wise. They will still run a 4-3 on defense with a few wrinkles.

"We wanted to put some things in last year but couldn't because of injuries,'' Dagato said. "We feel like we can this year."

On the offensive side, the Mustangs will run the spread option but will incorporate more two-back sets.

"I want to be able to go at our opponents a little more rather than just running read plays,'' Dagato said.

Senior Dustin Jensen will take over at quarterback this year. He played running back, quarterback and wide receiver last year, finishing with five touchdowns, so he is looking to use his versatility as the signal-caller this year.

The running attack will be led by senior Brian Prestigiacomo, who split time with Dewann McAllister, a junior who transferred to Lacey in the offseason. Senior Ruben Cruz and

difference-maker, and Omar is a self-made kid who has worked extremely hard in the weight room and on the track team,'' Dagato said.

Senior TB Brian Prestigiacomo junior Josh Zemlock, an All-Class A North linebacker, will rotate in when they are in a two-back set.

Five players are battling for three spots at wide receiver, with the only returning starter being senior Chris Coyle, who will move inside to the slot position.

"I like the change,'' Coyle said. "It plays to my strength with my speed, agility and ability to catch the ball in traffic."

Seniors Erik Fleischman, Pedro Zacchino and Eric Affronte and sophomore Chris Peckyno are fighting for the other two spots.

The offensive line was hit very hard by graduation. Last year's injuries did help get others some playing time but overall they will be very inexperienced.

Senior Shane Culver will be at center, senior Kyle Moffitt will be at right tackle and senior Omar Mahmoud at right guard. The remaining spots are still in competition and are rotating people in.

"Kyle is only in his second year of playing football but could be a

Junior Jared Moffett, senior Joe DeLaCalle, a converted linebacker, and senior Zach Vignola, an undersized track athlete with good speed, will be the rotation at the defensive end positions. The strength of the defense is at linebacker, where Zemlock returns at inside linebacker with Mahmoud, Cruz and Eric Affrunti rotating as the outside linebackers.

Jensen and Coyle will start at safety after registering 44 and 54 tackles last year, respectively, with Fleischman adding depth at those spots.

Prestigiacomo and Zacchino will hold down the cornerback spots with senior Bradley Kraft and junior Andrew Fishbaum also seeing some time. Coyle will also handle the kicking duties.

With 55 players at a Group V program, Dagato is realistic that the low numbers put the Mustangs at a disadvantage against their peers, but feels that the staff will just work harder to help offset the numbers gap.

"I want a team that will hit,'' Dagato said. "If we outhit our opponent, the scoreboard will take care of itself. We are stressing aggressiveness.

"We will go into every game with the mindset to win. If we prepare correctly and go in ready to compete, we will be fine."

P ho t os by: Bill No rmile billno rmile .z en f olio . com

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By Art Gordon - All Shore Media Contributor

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@J.P. Stevens Howell Colts Neck @ Freehold Twp. Middletown North @Middletown South @Perth Amboy Edison @Manalapan

Striving for Consistency

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@ Brick Memorial @ Manalapan Colts Neck Old Bridge @ Marlboro @ South Brunswick Howell Freehold Twp. @ Middletown South

Head Coach: Steve Bush, 1st season (14th overall) Career Record: 0-0 Assistant Coaches: John Denuto (def. coord./LB/WR); George Kostas (OL/DL); Geoff Massimini (TE/DB); Jason Pino (RB/OLB); Larry McKnight (OL/DL); Dana Webster, Lyndon Johnson, Matt Rosner (freshman); Danielle Kanski (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 2-8 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Dan Napolitano, Sr., LB. Napolitano takes over as the leader of the linebacking corps after the graduation of All-Class A North talent Dom Pedone, who was a standout on last year's defense. Napolitano's main issue is getting healthy, as he has missed time in the preseason with an injury.

X-FACTOR: Injuries. If McMahon is out for any extended period at quarterback, that will force the Lions to reshuffle their lineup to the detriment of other positions. They also have several injuries among offensive linemen and on defense, so this team has to get healthy.

GLUE GUY: Jake Betkowski, Sr., WR/DB. A team leader and returning starter on both sides of the ball, the Lions need Betkowski to be productive in order to make a darkhorse run in Class A North.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: John Mimes, Jr., DL. Mimes has good speed off the edge at defensive end at 6-foot3 & 195 pounds. Also keep an eye on freshman QB Donald Glenn, who may not see much time this season but has the makings of a future star.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at Brick Memorial. The Lions have the dreaded first-week bye & then have to start with perennial playoff contender Brick Memorial on the road. This will be a test to see if the newcomers can get up to speed quickly, & it kicks off a brutal opening schedule. Middletown North follows the Mustangs with three-time defending division champion Manalpaan & then a Colts Neck team that won nine games last year.

A New Chapter

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor he high tempo and enthusiasm at preseason practices at Middletown North this summer have been emblematic of a team excited to get started with a new head coach who has joined them fresh off working on an NFL staff.

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Former Syracuse University and Miami Dolphins assistant Steve Bush is back in the high school ranks, where he previously has won championships at Manalapan and West Genessee (N.Y.) during 13 years at three schools as a high school head coach. Bush was the wide receivers coach with the Dolphins before he decided he wanted to return to the Northeast to be closer to family and return to high school coaching. He takes over for Joe Trezza, who stepped down in the offseason after leading the Lions to a pair of state playoff appearances in his seven seasons.

"The kids have been excited, and they're working hard,'' Bush said.

"There's been a lot of enthusiasm. We're not where we need to be yet, but we're getting there."

new starter at tailback, where juniors John Mimes and Felix Santana also should see some carries. The Lions have some veterans in the wide receiver group in Betkowski and Puccini, a pair of returning starters. Juniors Jordan Pitts and Keshawn Williams also will be at wide receiver, and junior Parker Anderson will be the tight end while Thompson is at quarterback.

"It's going to take time until we're precise and everything, but I think as of right now we're learning it quickly and getting better every day,'' Piccini said.

"The offense wasn't a huge adjustment,'' Betkowski said. "We're just real up-tempo in practice to get us at game speed so that we don't get sluggish at any point in games. Last year we were in a lot of games into the fourth quarter, but we didn't compete the whole way."

"The Dolphins are my favorite NFL team so I was pumped,'' said senior wide receiver Brandon Piccini. "(Senior) Jake (Betkowski) and I have been playing football together our whole lives, and we were extremely excited because we want to finish our senior year strong and put Middletown North back on the map."

Easing the transition is the fact that Bush is employing the same spread offense run last season under Trezza with just a few new wrinkles.

However, the main issue right now has been keeping players in the lineup. Senior Ryan McMahon, the projected starter at quarterback to take over for graduated two-year starter Cody Thompson, is currently out with a right shoulder injury, according to Bush.

That has meant moving projected tight end Troy Thompson, a junior, to quarterback until McMahon gets healthy. Thompson's backup is promising freshman Donald Glenn, a star at the youth level who initially was at Mater Dei Prep but has transferred to Middletown North.

"I think we've got some good skill guys who can make some plays,'' Bush said. "When we get everybody healthy, I think we've got a good, solid group who is hungry to win and excited to get going."

Sophomore Chad Freshnock steps in as the

Senior wideout Brandon Piccine Senior John Quinn is a returning starter at center who will lead an offensive line featuring a group of newcomers. Seniors Jake Zani and Anthony Fabiano will be the tackles, junior Vincent Pianforte will be at one guard spot, and the other guard position is being contested between senior Andrew Moran and 6-foot-5, 290-pound senior Doug Bornhoeft. Juniors Constantine Dudzinski and Joe Antonio and senior Jeff Timmons also should see time in the offensive line rotation. Junior Nick Banta returns as the placekicker and punter.

Defensively, the Lions will run a 4-4 under new coordinator John Denuto and have experienced returners in the front, at linebacker and in the secondary. Bornhoeft will be at one defensive tackle spot with Quinn, who saw time last year, and Timmons rotating at the

Head coach Steve Bush other spot. Moran, Zani and Pianforte will rotate at defensive end and tackle. Mimes will be at defensive end after seeing time last year and could develop into a force this season.

"Mimes has a lot of athletic ability and has a chance to be a good player,'' Bush said. "He has some explosiveness, and he's still developing."

Senior captain Dan Napolitano is a returning starter at inside linebacker, but is currently out injured.

Freshnock is a returning starter at the other inside linebacker spot, and Thompson is back at outside linebacker. The lone newcomer is junior outside linebacker Dylan Hallard, and Fabiano and Anderson also look to see time at linebacker.

Betkowski is a returning starter at cornerback, and Santana and senior Roshaad Redway are in the running to start at the other cornerback spot. Piccini will be at safety after seeing time there last season, and Pitts also should see some snaps at safety.

"We don't have any one big stud player on defense, so without all 11 men getting to the ball, we're not going to stop a lot of people,'' Piccini said. "We have to play as a team."

The Lions' last playoff appearance was in 2009, and they have not won a state playoff game or had a winning season since 2000.

They also have lost 12 straight times on Thanksgiving to crosstown rival Middletown South, which has dominated the headlines in a football-mad town. Bush is more concerned with boosting Middletown North than what is going on across town.

"I think we worry about ourselves and getting these guys believing in everything we're doing,'' Bush said. "We'll worry about that game when we get to Thanksgiving. We're just excited about moving forward."

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Head Coach: Ed Gurrieri, 7th season

Career Record: 48-18

Assistant Coaches: Steve Vella (off. coord.); Justin Fumando (def. coord.); Joe Tetley (OL); Tim Fleming (WR); Bill Smith Sr. (LB); Dom Lepore (DB); Andy Sliwoski (football operations); Bill Smith Jr., Corey DeCastro, Bobby Schreck, Jon Harrison (freshman); Shannon Tomasula (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 11-1 (6-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Omar Dogbey, Sr., WR. Dogbey is in the running to play the other wide receiver spot opposite Saeed Blacknall that was vacated by twotime, first-team All-Shore selection Anthony Firkser.

X-FACTOR: The new quarterback. Can the winner of the competition between Charles Lombana & Dan Anerella make enough plays in big games to put the Braves over the top in the state playoffs?

GLUE GUY: Chris Noesges, Sr., LB. The heart & soul of what should be one of the Shore Conference's most ferocious defenses, Noesges is a fiery leader who is already the school's all-time leading tackler.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Charles Lombana, Jr., QB. A transfer from Jackson Memorial, he is one of four transfers to join the Braves this offseason, including RB Mo Omar & LB Carlos Teixiera from St. John Vianney as well as RB/LB Imamu Mayfield from Freehold Boro.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 4 at home vs. Middletown South. The Braves pulled out a thriller in a 35-31 win over the Eagles at The Swamp last year. Now they will be on their home field in a game that should go a long way toward deciding the Class A North title in advance of another key home game against Colts Neck on Oct. 25.

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

here might not be a team in New Jersey more motivated to win a state sectional title this season than Manalapan.

In each of the past two seasons, the Braves have been one win away from becoming the first Manalapan team to ever win an NJSIAA title, only to walk away in frustration. Their only loss last season came in a 33-22 setback against South Brunswick in the inaugural Central Jersey Group V championship game at Rutgers Stadium, throwing more gas on the fire coming into this season.

The Braves have accomplished everything else in winning a school-record three straight Class A North titles and registering a schoolrecord 11 wins last season. The only gap in the resume is an NJSIAA championship after losses to Sayreville and South Brunswick the past two seasons. With 10 starters back on defense, Rutgers-bound dynamo Saeed Blacknall returning at wide receiver, and 1,300-yard rusher Tyler Leonetti back in the fold, the mission is clear.

“We live off of one word this year and it’s just ‘Finish,’’’ Blacknall said. “Coach (Ed Gurrieri) has been preaching it. By any means, we have to get there this year and finish it off.” fine."

“We want the ring,’’ said senior tight end/noseguard R.J. Krause. “That’s all that matters.”

The defense looks to be the backbone, as the Braves return all but one starter in their 3-4 alignment after allowing 11.6 points per game last year.

“We’re a month ahead of where we were last year,’’ said senior linebacker Chris Noesges.

“All of our defenses and all of our blitzes are already in. Our defense should be one of the best.”

Krause is a returning starter at noseguard, and he will be flanked by a pair of returning starters at defensive end in senior Nick Douglas and junior Kyle Mullen. Junior Christian Ferrante, who is 6-foot-3, 285 pounds, adds depth to the front line.

“Our goal is to be the No. 1 defense in the state,’’ Krause said.

The leader of the defense is Noesges, a threeyear starter who was an ASM first-team AllShore selection as a junior. He was named the Class A North Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches after finishing with 134 tackles along with four sacks. He already is the school’s all-time leading tackler with more than 300, and has received interest from Marist, Cornell, and Yale. Joining him at inside linebacker is another returning starter, senior Matt McCann.

Senior Mike D’Angelo is a returning starter at outside linebacker, and the tandem of senior Will Meany and junior Joe Mendez both return after splitting time at the other outside linebacker spot last year.

Senior Chris Cruz returns at cornerback after earning All-Class A North honors last season, and seniors Vincent D’Angelo and Anthony Barone are both returning starters at the safety spots. The only newcomer on the defense is junior cornerback Dan Debner, who steps in for his older brother, Dave, who graduated.

Blacknall also could see some time in the secondary after making 44 tackles last year, and seniors Nick Macchio and Mike Loretta will give the defensive backfield some added depth.

Offensively, the Braves return five starters in their pro-style offense. For the first time in Gurrieri’s seven seasons at the helm, there is a competition for the starting quarterback spot.

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Junior Dan Anerella, who was the JV quarterback last season, is battling with Jackson Memorial transfer Charles Lombana, a junior who threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns in five games with the Jaguars last season.

“We’ve had something we never had before, a competition, which is great,’’ Senior WR Gurrieri said. “It’s only going to make those two guys better. They are similar in stature, similar in arm strength, and they’re both competing hard.”

The winner will have one of the top weapons of any quarterback in the state in Blacknall, one of the top wide receivers in the nation. An ASM first-team All-Shore selection who has verbally committed to Rutgers, Blacknall had 47 catches for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior and also had four touchdown returns on special teams. An electrifying talent, he should see plenty of defensive attention this season now that standout wideout Anthony Firkser, another firstteam All-Shore player, has moved on to Harvard University.

“I don’t worry too much about it because we have a lot of other weapons on the team,’’ Blacknall said. “When they roll down on me, it opens the run game and leaves somebody else open.”

Leonetti returns at tailback after rolling up 1,377 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns as a junior to earn second-team All-Shore honors.

Senior fullback Nelson Rivera is another returning starter who also is a receiving threat out of the backfield. Gurrieri has stressed the quarterbacks working on their checkdowns in the preseason as Leonetti is also a factor in the passing game. Krause gives the Braves another option as a big target at tight end, where he is a three-year starter.

There are a host of players competing to be at the other wide receiver spot opposite Blacknall, including senior Omar Dogbey, junior Tyson Plummer and junior Gerard Hodge-Rocourt.

“If you pay too much attention to Saeed, then Tyler is going to have a great year,’’ Gurrieri

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Finishing the Job

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said. “I also think that R.J. is going to be able to work the middle of the field real well, and you have Rivera in the flat. It might not be your traditional, ‘Here’s the X (receiver), here’s the Z,’ but you better account for both running backs and the tight end.”

The offensive line Saeed Blacknall returns one starter, senior left guard Shane Peles.

Douglas will also play on offense now at center after starting on defense last year, and senior Matt Colella will be at left tackle after seeing time on defense last year. The right guard spot is being contested between junior Nick Surhoff and sophomore Joe Sellmeyer.

“Since 2003, (offensive line) coach (Joe) Tetley’s been here and we have had a 1,000yard rusher every year,’’ Krause said. “We don’t have big-name guys. We have tough high school linemen who come in and become great high school players.”

The Braves also return a major special teams weapon in junior Mike Caggiano, one of the Shore Conference’s top returning kickers. He went 6-for-8 on field goal attempts last season with a long of 37 yards.

It all adds up to a team that is favored to win its fourth straight Class A North title after going undefeated in divisional play the last three seasons. Then it will hopefully be on to a third straight sectional final appearance in a Central Jersey Group V bracket that will feature returning champion South Brunswick as well as Sayreville, which has been realigned into the section after winning three straight Central Jersey Group IV titles. Perennial contenders like Hunterdon Central and Brick Memorial also will be lurking.

The Braves have to get there first, but they have all the tangible and intangible ingredients to do it.

“I’ve been doing this since ’83, and this is the largest group of seniors I’ve ever had who love football this much,’’ Gurrieri said. “This is the largest group of football junkies I’ve ever been around. You take that, and their athletic ability, and I think they’re a special group.

“It’s all in place. Nobody thinks anything is owed to them. They know they have to work hard to deserve a chance to get back there.”

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@ Southern Manalapan @ Marlboro @ Sayreville Middletown South Howell @ Colts Neck @ Middletown North @ Freehold Boro

Head Coach: Mike D'Antonio, 4th season

Career Record: 8-22 Assistant Coaches: Mike D'Ambrosio (off. coord./QB); Gene Blanco (def. coord./ILB); Dan Shine (DL); Dan Cooper (OL); Mike Stoia (RB); Kevin Popek (DB); Ed Von Nessen (OLB); Mark Migliori, Brian Glick, Gerard England (freshman); Cindy Carter (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-6 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jack O'Brien, So., QB; Nate Corvil, Jr., QB. Whichever one wins the starting quarterback job will have to replace Dan Bloodgood, who ran for 1,005 yards last season to become the Patriots' first 1,000-yard rusher in eight years. He accounted for nearly 2,000 yards of total offense.

X-FACTOR: Experience. When you lose a class of 33 seniors who made up the majority of the starting lineup, it always begs the question of whether it will be a rebuilding season.

GLUE GUY: Dimitri Abadiotakis, Sr., RB/LB. A hardnosed senior who will play fullback and linebacker, he is a do-everything player for the Patriots who also is a leader in the locker room.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Nate Corvil, Jr., QB/RB/DB. One of the top all-around athletes on the field, he could be playing four different positions this season. If he is not the quarterback, he will be in the backfield, and he is expected to start at cornerback as well.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 4 at home vs. Marlboro. The Patriots start the season with two tough games against Southern and Manalapan, so this looks to be a crucial game they will have to have if they want to make a push for a state playoff berth.

Sustaining Momentum

By Art Gordon - All Shore Media Contributor veryone associated with Freehold Township thought last year was going to be a big season and the culmination of three years of hard work with a class of 33 seniors.

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However, a disappointing 0-5 start wrecked any thought of earning just the second state playoff berth in program history. The silver lining is that the Patriots went 4-1 to finish the season, and that's what they are looking to build on heading into this fall despite the heavy graduation losses.

but that is to be expected. Make them now and we can correct them. Our offense is quarterback-driven, and he has to make 2-3 decisions or reads on every play."

Junior Nate Corvil is pushing O'Brien at quarterback and also excelling at slotback. He is considered one of the best athletes on the team, so he will be playing somewhere. Junior Tyree Wilson, a transfer from Freehold Boro, is also in the mix.

Now in his fourth season, head coach Mike D'Antonio believe this is the year he and his staff will change the culture at a program that has had little success in its history.

"We are building off Year Three, but it's Part Two of Year Three when we were 4-1 that we are stressing,'' D'Antonio said. "If you look around the Shore, you will see that the successful programs are the ones that have stability on the staff and with the offensive and defensive schemes. We are now in Year Four, and it's time to put some wins together."

Returning senior fullback/linebacker Dimitri Abadiotakis is ready to play in a playoff game for the first time since the program's only appearance in 2001.

"We know the playoffs were right there for us,'' Abadiotakis said. "If we had done one or two things differently, we might have made it.

Now it's a new year, new people, new results."

Freehold Township will continue to run the triple option on offense and will have to find a replacement for two-year starting quarterback Dan Bloodgood. He accounted for 1,005 yards rushing and 800 yards passing as a senior last year.

The competition to be his replacement is being led by sophomore Jack O'Brien.

"He has had a great preseason,'' D'Antonio said. "He has made some sophomore mistakes,

pushing for time.

Defensively, they will line up in a 3-4 and occasionally jump into a 3-3 stack. The 3-4 is their base and it gives them a great deal of versatility. They have some good athletes at linebacker and safety so they want to allow them to move around and play in space.

The defensive line has to replace Monmouth University recruit Manny Maragoto, and looks to be a unit that will rely on constant shifting.

Senior Ahmed Elsayed, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound noseguard, will get most of the work in the middle with junior Anthony DeMatteo spelling him. Rosario, senior Ray Tobia and Schlumpf will rotate at defensive end.

The middle linebackers will be seniors Dan Weissman, who returns as a starter, and Abadiotakis. Junior Al Santorelli is pushing both for some playing time. The outside spots feature juniors Collin Bitsko, Chris Maguire and O'Brien. Weissman feels that the team's inexperience won't hurt that badly.

"We are ready for a big season, and we are all working toward that one goal ,'' he said.

Senior OL Josh Rosario "I have never been afraid to have the ball in my hands,'' Corvil said about his increased role on offense. "I have always felt that big players make big plays."

The slotback spots will feature Corvil or junior Matt Pine, and junior Frank Suglia and senior Jake Derenzo will also get plenty of reps. D'Antonio likes to rotate three to four players at slot to keep them fresh for defense.

The wide receiver spots will be filled by the rotation of junior Kyle Fenton, senior Brandon Ventura and Wilson.

The offensive line returns three starters in senior Josh Rosario, a three-year starter, junior Jimmy Purcell, who was an All-Class A North selection as a sophomore, and senior Alex Mattina. The rest of the line will consist of newcomers in senior Nate Alston and juniors Mike O'Brien and Mike Petrula, as well as 6foot-3, 270-pound sophomore Alex Schlumpf

Corvil will be at one of the cornerback spots along with a first-year baseball transplant who has never played football before in senior Sam Beres. Wilson will also get plenty of work at corner or safety. The other safety will be Pine, who is the team's top returning tackler.

Ventura and Suglia also figure in the secondary rotation.

"Traditionally we have always been very good on defense, and we don't expect that to change,'' D'Antonio said. "We had our best offensive output last year with close to 2,500 yards. The kids are believing in our system and want to start being more consistent. The consistency they are looking for is the positive one from our 4-1 finish.

"We must remember what got us to finish 41, but it really has nothing to do with this year except to remind us what can happen if we don't continue to work toward consistency and stability."

P hot o s b y: Bill N ormile billno rmile. ze nf o lio. co m

Head Coach: Greg LaCava, 5 th season (10 th overall) Career Record: 34-58

Assistant Coaches: Jack Nascimento (off. coord./RB); Tom Letson (def. coord./DL); Greg Hope (DB); K.C. Keenan (WR); Derek Sininsky (OL/LB); John Andl (QB); Dennis Cotter (DL); Robert Kilmurray (OL); Vince Tesi, Larry Nikola, Kevin Gaul (freshman); Eric Nussbaum (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 9-2 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Danny Calabro, Jr., WR., is the only returning wide receiver for the Cougars who had a touchdown catch last season & will try to help fill the void left by Tim Vangelas, who had 1,041 yards receiving & 13 touchdowns, which are both school records & also led the Shore Conference.

X-FACTOR: Offense. After losing so much firepower to graduation at the skill positions, can the Cougars consistently score against playoff-caliber teams to take some of the pressure off the defense?

GLUE GUY: Anthony Gargiulo, Sr., RB/LB. A 1,000-yard rusher at tailback & the team's leading tackler at DE/OLB, Gargiulo is a three-year varsity starter who is crucial to the team's success on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Danny Calabro, Jr., WR/DB., looks to be a top threat as a wideout & also will play safety on defense after showing promise as a sophomore.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 25 at Manalapan. If the Cougars have any designs on the Class A North title, they will have to handle their business in games against Marlboro & Middletown North in which they will be favored in order to set up a showdown with the three-time defending champion Braves. Manalapan handed Colts Neck one of its two losses last year in a game the Cougars led at the half, so they will be looking to reverse that result this time around

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ground or standing up off the line of scrimmage depending on the opponent.

Gargiulo had a team-high 137 tackles last season, and Volpe was right behind him with 125 tackles. Both have received interest from FCS programs.

"We've been preaching all season that our defense really has to carry the load early in the year until we can put all the pieces together on offense, and we have the personnel to do it,'' LaCava said.

Senior Mike Ververka is a returning starter at middle linebacker to make that group a particular strength of the defense.

He finished with 98 tackles as a junior, and also takes over full time as the fullback on offense this season. Juniors Christian Sanchez and Jason Geniton also should see time in the linebacker rotation.

Senior Dylan Campbell is a returning starter at safety to lead the secondary, where junior Danny Calabro will be at the other safety spot and seniors Jake Mullaney and Zach Celmer will be the cornerbacks.

On special teams, the placekicker job is still up in the air, and Volpe will handle the punting.

The main question mark is on the other side of the ball, where the Cougars have to replace 1,000-yard receiver Tim Vangelas, who is now at Lafayette, and quarterback Mike Campbell, who threw for a school-record 2,176 yards and 24 touchdowns last year in Colts Neck's multiple pro offense.

Senior John Miller and Sanchez are competing for the starting quarterback spot, and both play a different style than Campbell, who was a classic dropback passer.

Senior RB Anthon y Gargiulo

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he bar has been raised at Colts Neck, so now it's up to a group of returning stars on defense and a host of newcomers on offense to live up to it.

The Cougars are coming off the best season in program history after winning a school-record nine games and registering just their second state playoff victory ever. Eight of 11 starters on offense have graduated, including the best wide receiver and the most productive quarterback in school history. However, a talented group on defense returns to steady the ship while the newcomers on offense get up to speed, and the Cougars plan to keep the wins coming.

"We have some big shoes to fill, a lot of spots to make up, but we've been working hard in practice to replace all those guys,'' said senior tight end/linebacker Nick Volpe.

"Our message has been, you guys have been in the program, you saw how (last year's seniors) did it, you know what to expect from us as a coaching staff, so you guys have to bring your level up to them,'' head coach Greg LaCava said.

A group of solid veterans returns to lead a defense that will be Colts Neck's calling card coming off a season in which it allowed 13 points per game. Ryan Wetzel, a 6-foot-4, 290-pound senior who has offers from Bucknell and Monmouth University, will be at defensive tackle in the Cougars' multiple alignment along with junior Mike Blaier and senior Ryan Lamantia.

The defensive ends will be senior Martin Hooper, who saw time last year, as well as returning first-team All-Shore talent Anthony Gargiulo. He and Volpe form a standout tandem as hybrid defensive ends/outside linebackers who can play with their hand on the

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@ Toms River East North Brunswick @ Marlboro @ Middletown North St. John Vianney @ Manalapan Freehold Twp. @ Middletown South Howell

"I think John Miller is more of an athlete playing quarterback, and the same thing with Christian Sanchez,'' LaCava said. "Within our offensive package, we're not doing anything differently.

We're just taking stuff that we've had that we've had to dust off with the contrast in quarterbacks. It's just going to be a different dynamic on offense. We're definitely a work in progress."

Gargiulo returns after rolling up 1,292 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns as a junior while also catching 20 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns. He currently has an offer from Navy and interest from several high-level FCS programs, according to LaCava.

Mullaney also should see some carries at tailback, and Ververka will be the fullback after splitting time at that spot last season.

Volpe will be the tight end to replace graduated standout Connor Canonico.

Calabro and senior Craig Russo, who had a combined 12 catches in seeing some time last year, will try to fill the considerable shoes of Vangelas at wide receiver.

"It's going to be a big test for us this year after losing all those guys,'' Volpe said. "We just have to find a way to get it done."

Both tackles return on the offensive line, led by Wetzel, who looks to be one of the Shore Conference's best this season. Wetzel will be at right tackle, while Hooper returns at left tackle.

"We've got a couple other guys coming in so that we can spread the ball around a little bit more,'' Wetzel said. "The run game is still there with Ant (Gargiulo) returning, and we're working on the Oline to make sure things stay the same.

We've got to work a little harder on the O-line. I think that's going to be the difference in winning games for us and keeping the offense more balanced to keep the defense on their toes."

Senior Ryan McGowan will be at right guard, and senior Adam Saeger and newcomer Nick Gargiulo, Anthony's younger brother, are competing at center.

There is a three-way competition to start at left guard between Lamantia and juniors Donte Dean and Fred Womack.

Despite the graduation losses, the expectations are still for the Cougars to once again be in the thick of the Class A North race and secure a state playoff berth.

"We just ignore it,'' Gargiulo said about the increased pressure. "We play the way we know we can play, and play as hard as we can play."

"We're not going to lower our expectations,'' LaCava said. "It's the kids' objective to rise up to those expectations."

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Raising the Bar Written by Scott Stump - Managing Editor

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Msgr. Donovan @ Rumson Red Bank Cath. @ Manasquan @ Colts Neck Monmouth @ Holmdel Raritan @ Matawan

Head Coach: Andy Carlstrom, 3rd season (6th overall) Career Record: 27-24 Assistant Coaches: Brendan Gebert (def. coord.); Eddie Hernandez (LB); Tom Lucas (DL); Mike Morgan (RB); Bill Newman (OL); Jim Papcun (DB); Jim Reid (WR); Greg Altmajer (DL); Ruthanne Rutledge (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 6-4 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Julanee Prince, Sr., WR/DB. The Lancers lost a combined 96 catches, 1,275 yards and 13 touchdowns to graduation among their top four receivers. As the most accomplished returning wideout, Prince will have to raise his production to help fill that void.

X-FACTOR: The defense. This was an up-anddown unit that surrendered 30 points or more five times last season, putting a lot of pressure on the offense to keep up. With highly-accomplished defensive coordinator Brendan Gebert now in the fold, this group could go a long way toward determing the Lancers' fate.

GLUE GUY: Clay Kemp, Jr., OL/DL. A vocal leader and two-way starter up front, Kemp will be a crucial component in the team's success.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Tyler Hyman, Jr., WR/DB. A Howell transfer who is the cousin of former Lancers' star Ishmael Hyman, the younger Hyman should be an integral part of the wide receiver group and in the secondary.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at Rumson-Fair Haven.

While the 1-95 Classic game against Monsignor Donovan gives them the spotlight early in the season, this game against a team that has had their number for a while will show if the Lancers are ready to make a move in Class A Central or remain in the middle of the pack. A victory over Rumson would be a concrete sign that this team is on the rise.

Building on Success

By Art Gordon - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r efore 2011-12, the last time St. John Vianney had consecutive non-losing seasons was in 2000-01. Don't think this fact has gone unnoticed by all those involved in the Lancers' program.

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Last year the theme was to change the culture around the program in the second season under head coach Andy Carlstrom.

Instead of "hoping to win," it became "expecting to win." With a solid foundation in place, the Lancers now look to build on their success.

"The plan now is to get better every year,'' Carlstrom said.

That attitude started in the weight room in the middle of December and carried through the rest of the school year and the summer.

"We competed in a couple of 7-on-7 tournaments, but most of the time was spent on getting better every day,'' Carlstrom said.

"If we feel that we will win and look to improve every time we step on the field, we will improve our division record, which in turn means a higher seed in the Non-Public Group III playoffs, which then hopefully leads to a state playoff home game."

Conditioning is going to be crucial, as there will be more players going both ways this season after the Lancers attempted a two-platoon system last year.

"Depth has always been a problem for us,'' Carlstrom said. "We tried to two-platoon last year, but injuries hurt us, so we bagged it halfway through and now we have quality backups. We have first-team offensive linemen backing up our first-team defensive linemen."

One of the team's primary strengths last season was its spread offense, which averaged 21.2 points per game and will be run by Carlstrom this season. The unit returns prolific senior quarterback Billy DeMato, who threw for 2,051 yards and 18 touchdowns last year after transferring from Bishop Ahr. However, his two top targets, Kansas recruit Ishmael Hyman and AllDivision talent Steve Callari, both graduated.

Senior Julanee Prince is ready to step into the No. 1 spot after catching 23 passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns as a junior.

"I am looking to be number one and show

the younger receivers how it's done on the varsity level,'' Prince said.

He will be joined by Josh Taylor, a junior quarterback transfer from Red Bank Catholic who has been shifted to wideout, and Tyler Hyman, a Howell transfer who is Ishmael Hyman's cousin. Seniors Steve Ruiz and Frank Bonavitacola round out the receiving corps.

The offensive and defensive lines will be the strength of the team as they return five players who saw considerable varsity action last year. Senior Justin Gille, a three-year starter and FBS prospect with offers from Buffalo, Old Dominion and Monmouth, will be at right tackle. Junior Clay Kemp comes over from the defensive line to play right guard. Senior Brandon Furrer is now at center after starting at right guard last season.

"I love making the line calls and helping everyone with their assignments,'' Furrer said about making the adjustment.

The left guard spot will be filled by junior Nick Mastria, a returning starter, and the left tackle will be junior Kyle Gibson, who has been shifted from right tackle to left tackle.

The Lancers are very confident in their ability to throw the ball successfully out of their spread attack, but are looking to improve the running game. DeMato and senior running back Tim Hopkinson are hoping to lead that resurgence. DeMato was the team's second-leading rusher with just 159 yards last season in an attack centered on the passing game.

"I worked real hard in the off season to improve my strength and agility, which in turn will improve my rushing stats,'' DeMato said.

Defensively, the Lancers are changing to a 4-3 look under new defensive coordinator Brendan Gebert, who previously coached the defense at parochial juggernaut St. Joseph-Montvale. A retired New York City firefighter, Gebert was looking to move his family to the Shore, and Carlstrom jumped at the chance to hire a coach with a successful track record at the highest levels of New Jersey football.

The right side of the defensive line will be manned by Gille, who looks to be one of the top defensive ends in the Shore after

Senior QB Billy DeMato registering five sacks as a junior, and Kemp, a returning starter at defensive tackle who had 58 tackles last season. The left tackle spot will have Gibson and senior Brian Matuszewski, who has returned to football after a two-year absence, rotating in. Left defensive end will be a rotation between Furrer and Mastria.

The inside linebacker spots will filled by senior Louis Thompson, who saw time last year, and senior Matt Falco, who moves inside from his outside linebacker spot.

"At outside linebacker I was able to use my athletic ability and speed,'' Falco said.

"At the inside spot there are more reads and traffic around you. I just have to be more patient."

The secondary will have a solid rotation with Prince and Taylor holding down the cornerback spots and junior Liam Casey, a returning starter at the hybrid linebacker/safety "rover'' position, also making an impact. Senior Ryan Lucas and Hyman will be at the safety spots.

The Lancers will open the season in what they call "Week Zero." They have been invited to play Monsignor Donovan in the I95 Kickoff Classic at Kean University on Sept. 6, six days before any other Shore Conference teams start their seasons.

The I-95 Classic is a two-day event featuring some of the top teams from New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, D.C., including St. Peter's Prep, DeMatha Catholic, St. Joseph-Montvale, and a showdown between Maryland power Gilman and a top-five team in the nation, Paramus Catholic from North Jersey.

"It's a good step forward for the program to be involved in the showcase,'' Carlstrom said.

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Head Coach: Anthony Petruzzi, 4th season Career Record: 10-20

Assistant Coaches: John Principe (def. coord.); Keith Rescorl (DL); Billy Kvalheim (DB); Matt Dempsey (OL); George Gibson (DL); Jeff Struble (QB); Joe Schroeck (DB); Chris Raitano, Mike Nunes, Mike Thaner, Nick Sparacello (freshman); Amanda Stump (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 0-10 (0-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Chris Passenant, Sr., DB. Passenant steps into a starting role at CB, where Nick Pasquenza was an All-Division performer a year ago.

X-FACTOR: Defense. The Rockets gave up 32.8 points per game last season. They once again will face several explosive offensive teams in a tough schedule.

Can the defense keep them close late into games against quality opponents?

GLUE GUY: Tyler Jones, Sr., RB/LB. A fiery & emotional leader of the defense, Jones also will carry the ball at tailback this year. His absence in the final six games last season may have been the difference in some close losses, which magnified his importance.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Riley Sullivan, Jr., QB. Raritan needs him to stabilize a position that was chaotic for most of last season & minimize turnovers while also keeping defenses honest that try to stuff the run game.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 27 at home vs. Manasquan. The Rockets' first two games will be tall orders against Central Jersey Group III finalist Neptune & Central Jersey Group II champion Carteret, but both of those are nondivisional. The first test in Class A Central comes at home against old rival Manasquan, and is an opportunity to grab some key power points and show how much they have improved after losing 42-17 to the Warriors last year.

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Looking Ahead

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

hen a proud program falls into the abyss like Raritan did in going winless last season, there are two ways to approach it.season.

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Either that 0-10 mark becomes a constant reminder and motivator, or the team just puts it in the rearview mirror and focuses on moving forward. For this year's Rockets, it's definitely the latter.

"We're forgetting about last season,'' said senior two-way lineman Pat Toal.

"This is a new team with a new mentality. We're coming back and ready to fight."

"I think they were embarrassed by it, and I think it motivated them through the summer, but we didn't really harp on it because there was no reason to,'' said Rockets head coach Anthony Petruzzi. "These guys have done everything we've asked them to do so far to help get us back to where we want to be."

Eight of Raritan's 10 losses came against state playoff teams, including an undefeated Carteret squad, Central Jersey Group III finalist Neptune, and a nine-win Colonia team. The schedule is the same this season, so Raritan has its work cut out if it's going to make a return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2009, when it made its 13th playoff appearance in 15 years.

"We really weren't ready for (the schedule) last year, but now we're all for it,'' said senior running back Jared Collins. "We have to pick up the tempo in practice because last year we had dog practices at least three or four times a week, and it showed on Friday nights and in the fourth quarter of close games."

After using several different quarterbacks over the course of last season in their multiple pro offense, the Rockets appear to be settled at that spot this fall and look to improve on the 13.7 points per game they averaged last season. Junior Riley Sullivan will be the starter from the outset after seeing time late last season, and his downfield arm should help Raritan stretch defenses vertically.

"We need him to be a great decisionmaker,'' Petruzzi said. "When you look at the difference between our first four games and our last four games last season, in our last four, we took care of the ball and didn't beat ourselves, so we gave ourselves a chance to win at the end. We need to get back to that, and I think this year we can make some plays."

Collins, who also played some quarterback last season, will be at tailback this year along with senior

Tyler Jones, who gives them a power running presence.

Senior Vinny Caporrino and junior Anthony Zabe will both see time at fullback.

Sullivan's primary targets in the passing game will be junior Dylan Dewysockie and senior James Wines, a pair of returning starters at wide receiver. Senior Nick Payne and promising sophomore Jahciere Jones also will see time at wideout.

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Neptune @ Carteret Manasquan @ Red Bank Cath.

Monmouth Rumson @ Colonia @ St. John Vianney @ Holmdel

Senior Francisco Cordiero is a returning starter at tight end, and senior Luke Werner, who started on defense last season, also will see time there. Senior Darren James will start at center after seeing time last season, senior Erik Friedman is a three-year starter at left guard, junior Chris Vurchio will be at right guard after seeing minutes last season, and junior Nick Buzzo steps in at right tackle. Anchoring the whole unit is the 280-pound Toal, a three-year starter who has verbally committed to Old Dominion.

"Our O-line is just getting after it,'' Toal said. "It's a completely different thing from last year. We have a young right side, but we're pushing them. It's going to be tough to break us this year."

Junior Tom Pulcine will be the placekicker, and Cordiero will handle the punting duties.

Defensively, the Rockets are moving to more of a three-man front from a 4-3 look in order to keep their linemen fresh and help shore up a unit that gave up 32.8 points per game last season.

Toal will be in the middle up front but is versatile enough to switch to end depending on the situation. James, Friedman, Vurchio, Buzzo and Zabe will all be in the rotation at the two end positions.

Jones returns at inside linebacker after missing the last six games of last season following surgery to relieve compartment syndrome in his right leg.

A hard-nosed linebacker and ferocious hitter in the mold of many Rockets' linebackers from their best teams, Jones is the heart and soul of the defense.

"It's such a great feeling to be back,'' Jones said. "We had to put in a lot of hard work this offseason and break the mental habit of quitting. We cannot quit when everything starts going in the tank. You have to keep fighting because there's always a chance."

Senior Mike Porpora is also a

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Senior lineman Pat Toal returning starter at the other inside linebacker spot, where sophomore Sean Ennis should also see significant minutes. The outside linebacker group looks to be a rotation of Caporrino, Werner, Cordiero and junior Anthony Simone.

Seniors Chris Passenant and Tito Acevedo and junior Kevin Kohler should all see time at the two cornerback spots, with Kohler also able to play safety. Junior Colby Jones, Tyler's younger brother, will be at safety along with junior Peter Terranova and senior Jason Carr.

Collins also is able to step in at safety, although he will primarily be preserved for offense.

"Last year was the first time we ever felt we were able to be run on,'' Petruzzi said. "In the past, we felt we could always stop the run, so that really starts it all. Hopefully this year with big guys up front and guys who want to run to the football, we can force teams to throw and also force more turnovers."

A change in attitude will nearly be as important as better execution on the field for Raritan to dig itself out of the hole.

"We didn't have any leadership last year,'' Toal said. "One of our captains was a junior last year, which was kind of ridiculous. This year we're coming together to the point where it's hard to pick just four captains out of this senior class. We're a tight group, and we're going to fight our way out of this."

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

smeyer@allshoremedia.com

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Barnegat @ Middlesex @ Rumson Monmouth Shore Red Bank Cath.

Manasquan @ St. John Vianney @ Raritan

Head Coach: Frank Papalia, 5th season

Career Record: 11-29 Assistant Coaches: Joe Trezza (off. coord./RB); John Corneliusen (passing game coord./QB); Bill Beining (asst. head coach/OL); Joe Zaccone (strength & conditioning/DB/ST); Scott Cannon (DL); Colin Hart (freshman/WR); Brian Kroeper (OL); Tyler Fischer (student asst./QB); Brandon Gross (video coord.); Shannon Davis (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-6 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jake Russo, Jr., LB. Russo steps in as a starter at LB, where the Hornets look to replace the production of graduated star Brett Lambert, who had 141 tackles last season.

X-FACTOR: The QB position. Jeff Harris has never played QB before and will now lead an offense that looks to equal or improve on last season's 18.7 points per game.

GLUE GUY: Frank Condito, Jr., RB/LB. Holmdel's top offensive & defensive player, the hard-nosed Condito is crucial to any success the Hornets will have this season.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Joe Tages, Sr., TE. Also a basketball & lacrosse player for the Hornets, Tages will step in at tight end this year & look to be a playmaking target for Harris in the passing game as well as a physical blocker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Barnegat. The Bengals were a playoff team a year ago that Holmdel defeated 21-0 in the opener. Barnegat has a stronger team this season featuring two FBS recruits, so this is a good barometer to see where the Hornets are at right away.

A New Approach

By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r r

ith a revamped offense, a new quarterback and talented junior fullback/linebacker Frank Condito returning, Holmdel is hoping to make a push for its first state playoff berth since 2007.

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After the Hornets finished 4-6 last season while competing in a tough Class A Central division, fifth-year head coach Frank Papalia has decided to switch things up a bit offensively.

Moving on from the triple option attack offense they employed last season with now-graduated quarterback Robbie Cantelli, Holmdel has made some key additions to its coaching staff to direct a new offensive scheme.

"We're running a multiple pistol offense this year," Papalia said. "We hired Joe Trezza of Middletown North and John Corneliusen of Rumson, and they basically merged their offenses, so we changed it up a little bit there."

The Hornets have also had to make a difficult decision in deciding on Cantelli's replacement because of a unfortunate medical situation for the projected starter.

Their original plan was to move sophomore Tyler Fischer into the quarterback spot, but he underwent a pair of open heart surgeries during the summer to repair a pre-existing condition and has been told by his doctors that he cannot play football again.

That resulted in Holmdel moving junior wide receiver Jeff Harris, who has never played quarterback in his career, into the starting spot.

"It's a work in progress," Papalia said.

"He's learning, and he's a good athlete and a confident kid, and he's gotten a lot better since he's changed to the position."

Harris will be using the same style as Cantelli in using his athletic ability and speed to make plays.

"Last year we put Robbie at quarterback because he was our best athlete, and we figured he could hurt you running the ball and then the passing would come along," Papalia said. "The same thought went into Jeff - he's a good athlete, and he can run.

He's probably a run-first guy, so if he can throw that would great."

Harris admits his transition has been a challenge, but is adjusting to the big change and beginning to have some fun with it.

"In the beginning it was a tough change, but coach (Papalia) has been helping me a lot and getting me through it," Harris said. "I've had no experience in this position until now, but it has gotten really fun, and I am excited for practice every day. It gives me confidence knowing I have good players to rely on and give the ball to."

Taking some of the pressure off Harris is the return of junior running back Frank Condito and senior receivers Matt Dixon and Mark Scherzer.

Both Dixon and Scherzer have started the past three years, and Condito has been a varsity player since his freshman year. Last season Condito was an ASM third-team AllShore selection after rushing for 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns. Also a standout linebacker, Condito has received interest from multiple FCS programs.

There are several starting wide receivers who will be used in different packages and formations. They include senior Dylan Popin, sophomore Will Van Name, junior Tom Torresse, and sophomore Steven Wallier, who could all see time. Senior Joe Tages will be at tight end while juniors Adam Ibrahim and Ryan Nolan will rotate at fullback.

On the offensive line, senior Kevin Brady is a returning starter at center, with seniors Anthony DeSousa and Sam Avellino stepping in at the guard spots. Senior Nick Bruno and sophomore Chris Tascione round out the line at the tackle spots.

One thing the Holmdel coaching staff stresses every year is protecting the ball, which the Hornets look to improve on.

"Our Number One goal for this season is efficiency and consistency because we've had games where we'll score 25, 30, or 40 points and then the next two weeks it will be the complete opposite," Papalia said.

The Hornets will still be using the same 43 defense, but will have to replace leading tackler Brett Lambert, who is now at Fordham University with Cantelli. The good news is that Condito should be one of the

Junior quarterback Jeff Harris Shore Conference's best linebackers this season.

Junior Kyle Rooney and Brady will the defensive ends, with junior Matt McDonnell and senior Sam Avellino at defensive tackle.

Condito, who is a three-year starter, Nolan and junior Jake Russo are the three linebackers, with sophomore Jovanny Rodriquez also in the rotation. Dixon and Scherzer are both returning starters in the secondary, where junior Joe Ibrahim will also start. Senior Tim Davis will handle the kicking and punting duties.

"Brett Lambert, one of our top linebackers from last season, is gone and playing at Fordham now, and we also graduated John Tascione, who was a really underrated player last year,'' Papalia said. "We also lost Frank DeLucia up front at tackle and Robbie (Cantelli) in the secondary. On the flip side, h we do bring a lot of good guys back, and we have a lot of young guys ready to step up and work real hard."

In order to return to the postseason, the Hornets have to find a way to navigate a schedule that includes playoff teams like Red Bank Catholic, Rumson-Fair Haven, Manasquan, Shore Regional, Barnegat and St. John Vianney.

"Barnegat will definitely be a good game, and we have always had a rivalry with Saint John Vianney and Red Bank Catholic,'' Scherzer said. "Last year six of the nine teams we played (in the regular season) made the playoffs, so it's going to be a challenge once again this season. Our goal like every season is to make the playoffs, and that's what we plan to do."

Head Coach: Rich Mosca, 1st season (17th overall) Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Dan Wendel (off. coord./DL/QB); Jason McQuay (RB/LB); Phil Green (spec. teams/WR/DB); Joe Yglesias (OL/DL); Kevin Egan (WR/DB); Joe Nappi, Justin McGhee (freshman); Lee-ann Pearce (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 2-8 (1-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Isaiah Searight, Jr.; Jimmy Green, Jr.; Hassan Barnes, Sr., QB. The winner of the quarterback competition will have to replace the graduated Jeff Farrah, a two-year starter and All-Class A Central selection who was Monmouth's most productive offensive player last year.

X-FACTOR: Coaching change and graduation losses.

With a good deal of turnover in the lineup and a new head coach in preseason camp, can the Falcons get on the same page quickly enough to move up in the standings in Class A Central?

GLUE GUY: Hassan Barnes, Sr., QB/DB. Barnes is being counted on for leadership and to anchor the secondary.

He also is in the running to be the starting quarterback.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Darryl Gamble, Jr., WR/DB. A rising talent, Gamble should help fill the role of a playmaking threat in the passing game left by the graduation of tight end Sheldon McCue, and he also should see time in the secondary.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Point Boro. For a team dealing with so much change, a win in the season opener would be huge for its confidence going forward.

fter its head coach left only three days before the start of preseason camp to accept an administrative position at another school, Monmouth Regional is persevering with a veteran coach and an upbeat attitude.

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"When adversity strikes, you must fight through it in order to be successful,'' senior two-way tackle Joey Pietz said.

incorporate the I-formation, some spread and a great deal of read schemes this year.

"I will be as multiple as possible as long as the players can handle it,'' Mosca said.

Handling the offense will fall to a group of inexperienced but talented athletes.

Only days before his third season with the Falcons was set to get started, head coach Jason Morrell accepted an administrative position at West Deptford High School in Gloucester County.

The good news is that the Falcons had an experienced and accomplished coach on their staff who has been able to step right in as the new head man. Rich Mosca returns for his second stint as the head coach at Monmouth after coaching the Falcons for six years in the 1990s.

The longtime Shore Conference and collegiate football coach worked the last three years as Monmouth Regional's defensive coordinator after serving as the head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University from 2002-10. Mosca also was the first head coach in Middletown South history, starting the program in 1976 and coaching there for nine years after having been the head coach at Keyport for three seasons.

Under Mosca, Monmouth will try to improve on its 1-9 and 2-8 records the past two years and look to overcome the graduation of quarterback Jeff Farrah and tight end/defensive end Sheldon McCue.

"I was fortunate to work with coach Morrell for the last two years and feel that we have a good chance to continue the improvements we have made, even though our record might not show it,'' Mosca said.

Offensively, the Falcons will employ multiple schemes. They will

The senior-laden offensive line will be returning the most experience. Junior Liam Kennedy will be making the line calls at center, with Battle and Pietz manning the right side and seniors Mike Morano and Ibrahim Alsoub on the left.

Senior Rich Johnson will fill in at all the line spots.

Pietz, a returning starter, is looking forward to this year's offense.

"Coach Morrell pushed me and made me a better player and a better person," senior two-way lineman Rashad Battle said.

"He was like a father to us," senior two-way lineman Mike Morano said.

In an offense that will not hesitate to put the ball in the air frequently, the wide receivers will be juniors Eddie Hendrex, Mike Montefinese and Darryl Gamble, with sophomore Christian Boujaoude also picking up some playing time.

Senior tailback Mike Reardon "I know our quarterbacks and receivers are new, but I also know that they will get better as we go,'' Mosca said.

The quarterback battle is being waged by juniors Isaiah Searight and Jimmy Green and senior Hassan Barnes. There is also a talented sophomore in the mix, Keith Egan, but he is also one of the leading candidates at cornerback. At this point, Barnes has a slight edge and is looking to be one of the leaders in Monmouth's new-look scheme.

"I have tried to be a leader my entire career at Monmouth,'' Barnes said. "As a sophomore, I tried to help other sophomores and the same as a junior, and now I am looking to lead us to the postseason for the first time since my freshman year."

The running back position will be handled committee-style. They will try to keep them fresh as possible knowing that most are playing on both sides of the ball.

The tailback position will be filled by seniors Azavia Gibson, Dylan Brown and Mike Reardon, with sophomore Eli Velez showing some potential. Sophomore Frankie Ashe and Brown will line up in the fullback spot when Monmouth wants to go to a two-back set. They will

"Our new schemes and formations will give us a chance to flex our muscles in addition to our athleticism,'' Pietz said. "We are hoping that this is the year we turn it around."

Mosca will still use a 4-3 defensive scheme and will try to rotate his players as much as possible to keep them fresh. Mosca is fortunate to have some depth up front with Hendrex, Ramsey, Pietz, Morano and Battle all in the defensive line rotation.

Junior Shannen McCue, Sheldon's younger brother, will call the defensive signals in the middle at linebacker and will be flanked by Green, Brown and Velez. The secondary has depth in that eight players are competing for four spots.

Montefinese seems to have a lock at strong safety, Searight at free safety and Gibson at cornerback, with Gamble, Ashe, Boujaoude, Egan and sophomore Justin Trapp fighting for reps. The kicking game will be handled by sophomore Ross Spadavecchia, with Montefinese doing the punting.

"Right now we are trying to put them in position to win,'' Mosca said. "The kids are trying to prove to the Shore Conference that Monmouth Regional can play some football."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Forging Ahead

By Art Gordon - All Shore Media Contributor

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also not be afraid to use senior tight ends Dan Armenti and Jalen Ramsey, who will also work in at fullback.

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@ Shore St. John Vianney @ Holmdel Red Bank @ Raritan @ Msgr. Donovan Monmouth Manasquan @ Red Bank Cath.

Head Coach: Bryan Batchler, 1st season Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Jerry Schulte (def. coord./LB); Charlie Pirrello (off. coord./QB); Bill Lagrotteria (DL); Jeremy Schulte (DL); Charlie O'Brien (DB); Joe Murphy (OL); Rob Orrok (RB); Chris Quinn (WR); Ryan Kirchner (WR) Frank Gripp III (QB); Jerry Gagliano, Jason Lippart, John Belevance, Tommy Orrok (freshman); Alex Stein (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 7-3 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Brian Dunphy, Sr., QB. Dunphy takes over for two-year starter Danny Roberto, who is now at the University of New Hampshire after throwing for 1,589 yards and 20 touchdowns last season to earn Class A Central Offensive Player of the Year honors from the coaches.

X-FACTOR: The offense. With a new coordinator, a new system, and several newcomers at the skill spots and up front, this unit is a work in progress that will have to get better as the season progresses in order to make a deep playoff run.

GLUE GUY: Sam Shaud, Sr., WR/DB. A rare twoway starter on a mostly two-platoon team, Shaud is the team's top wideout as well as a solid starter in the secondary.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jackson Reid, Jr., DB. Reid is one of the few new starters on defense at safety and will patrol the back with Shaud.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Shore Regional. It's a nondivisional game, but the season opener against bitter rival Shore should be a great test right off the bat, as the Blue Devils have their own championship aspirations this year.

Embracing the Expectations

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

n taking over for the most successful head coach in Rumson-Fair Haven history, Bryan Batchler has no problem with the lofty expectation that the Bulldogs should be right there in the hunt for a state sectional title this fall.

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"The town expects us to be good, and I told my coaching staff and my players to embrace the expectations,'' Batchler said. "You're going to sit there and shy away from them, or you can meet them head on.''

atchler ascended to his first head coaching job after serving as an assistant under Shane Fallon, who stepped down in the offseason after a school-record 106 wins from 1998-2012, including three state final appearances and the school's only NJSIAA sectional title in 2010.

Batchler inherits a team that returns nine of 11 starters on defense and looks to be a contender in Class A Central and a threat to go the distance in Central Jersey Group II after being ousted in the first round last season.

"I think it's been a really smooth transition,'' said senior defensive end Donald Bedell.

"'Batch' is very energetic and loves when everyone buys into practice,'' said senior linebacker J.T. Jennings. "He also really, really loves film. He really stresses watching your mistakes, correcting them, moving on and getting better. He's all excited, and he gets everyone else excited."

Rumson's 4-3 defense under veteran coordinator Jerry Schulte has the makings of a special unit with almost everyone returning from last year's group, which allowed 11.1 points per game. Seniors Dan Morea and Conner Phillips, the latter of whom is headed to Syracuse on a lacrosse scholarship, both return at defensive tackle. Bedell, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound force who has verbally committed to Rutgers, is back at defensive end, and senior Kevin Clayton is a returning starter at the other defensive end spot.

Senior Grant Giftos and junior Kenny Ferrare should also see some time in the defensive line rotation.

"It's been a night and day difference with Donald,'' Batchler said. "He was good enough to play as a sophomore even though he was new to football, and his offseason work ethic has been unbelievable."

"I gained weight, got a little bit faster, and trained a lot,'' Bedell said. "I think we've always been a really good defensive team, so we just have to keep that up."

The linebackers also look to be a stellar group.

Jennings is a three-year starter at middle

linebacker, and senior Tom Martello returns at weakside linebacker after leading the Bulldogs with 80 tackles last season. Junior Tucker Briggs returns at strongside linebacker after starting multiple games when Travis Clark battled injuries and had to help out at tailback last year. Senior Dylan Zohn, who will start at fullback, could also see time at linebacker.

"Sky is the limit,'' Batchler said. "We've been a top five defense in the Shore the last three or four years, and I don't expect that to change. Coach Schulte does a fantastic job."

Senior Chris Hubler, who is headed to Johns Hopkins University to play lacrosse, is a returning starter at safety. Junior Jackson Reid will step in at the other safety spot, while senior Sam Shaud is a returning starter at cornerback.

The other cornerback spot is being contested between senior Matt Giannotto and junior Sam Eisenstadt.

"We are so experienced, so we're going to be relied on that much more early on,'' Jennings said.

Offensively, the Bulldogs are going from the spread to a multiple-I offense under new offensive coordinator Charlie Pirrello. Batchler played for Pirrello at Northern Burlington, where Pirrello won 144 games and a pair of South Jersey Group II titles in 24 years before moving on to further success at Holy Cross in Delran.

"When you bring in a guy who has that much experience and confidence, I expect his knowledge to transfer to our players,'' Batchler said.

Last year, Rumson relied heavily on quarterback Danny Roberto and the passing game after starting tailback Conor Walsh suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the season opener against Shore Regional. The Bulldogs look to achieve more balance this season under Pirrello.

"The tempo of the offense, and the style is going to be a lot different,'' Jennings said. "We're going to be more of a ground-and-pound (team) and just play-action (passes)."

Senior Brian Dunphy steps in for the graduated Roberto at quarterback, with sophomore Max Mullaney also pushing for snaps. They return two experienced tailbacks in junior Charlie Volker and senior Jamie Reeves as well as Zohn at fullback. Clayton will be at tight end, where Bedell also should see some action. Shaud

Senior defensive end Donald Bedell returns as a playmaking wideout along with senior Melquan Reevey.

"We've just got to get our formations down and the different routes as well as the chemistry with the quarterbacks down,'' Shaud said.

Senior Timmy Littlefield will be at center after playing guard last season, with Giftos and senior Jack Horan competing for the starting left guard position. The left tackle spot is being contested between senior Tonino Solimine and junior Cooper Cuje, and Jennings and Morea will see time at right guard. The most promising member of the group is returning starter Peter Righi, a senior who is moving from guard to right tackle.

He put on 40 pounds in the offseason and is up to 285, putting himself on the radar of several FCS programs.

Rumson also has a major special teams weapon in senior Jake D'Amelio, one of the top returning kickers in the Shore Conference. He led the Shore with nine field goals as a junior, with a long of 41 yards, and booted high-pressure kicks in an overtime win over Shore Regional and a loss to Manasquan.

Put it all together, and you have a team capable of making a deep run in Central Jersey Group II after a first-round loss to Weequahic last season.

The Bulldogs also hope to end a 10-game losing streak to Thanksgiving rival Red Bank Catholic, the Shore's reigning No. 1 team.

"You don't want to be one round and out,'' Jennings said. "This year our goal is to go 12-0.

We want to beat RBC, we want to beat Manasquan and whoever we have to take down to win the state championship. If we can get our O-line and passing game under control, I feel we have a good shot to win a state championship."

"I think we lacked a little bit of hunger and humility (last year), but hopefully that hunger is back and that humility is back when you lose a final (in 2011) and you lose a home playoff game in the quarterfinals in two straight years,'' Batchler said.

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@ Red Bank Manasquan St. John Vianney @ Raritan Freehold Boro @ Holmdel @ Middletown South Monmouth @ Rumson

Head Coach: Jim Portela, 5th season

Career Record: 34-8 Assistant Coaches: Matt Ahearn (off. coord.); Nick Varanelli (RB/LB); Mike Rosenfeld (QB/DB); Keith Hugger (WR/DB); Dom Polliferone (TE/DL); Joe Lanza (OL/DL); Joe McAuliffe (strength & conditioning); Tony Flego, Joe Gallagher, Matt Bijas (freshmen); Mike DeSocio (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 10-1 (6-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ryan Kroeger, Jr., OL/DL. Kroeger is in the lead to replace current Rutgers freshman Josh Klecko, one of the Shore Conference's top defensive players the past two years, at defensive tackle.

X-FACTOR: The passing game. If RBC gets back into a playoff clash with the likes of Delbarton or defending champion St. Joseph-Montvale, can the Caseys make enough plays in the air to keep them from stacking the box against the running game?

GLUE GUY: Frank Olmo, Sr., RB/LB. He does a lot of the dirty work blocking at fullback but also is a running and receiving threat. A hard-nosed leader, Olmo also will play at linebacker this year.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Eddie Hahn, So., QB/DB. Hahn is pushing incumbent Pat Toomey for the starting quarterback spot and should also see time at safety.

PIVOTAL GAME: Nov. 1 at home vs. Middletown South. A nondivisional clash between the Shore's No. 1 team and an Eagles squad that reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final last year, this will feature a Middletown South team hungry for revenge after losing 34-7 to RBC in last year's match-up.

Closing the Gap

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

ed Bank Catholic has won 24 straight games against Shore Conference competition, yet it's the Caseys' lone loss last season that is pushing them to reach another level.

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RBC suffered a 42-7 defeat at the hand of perennial state power St. Joseph-Montvale in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group III semifinals last year to deny the Caseys a trip to their first sectional final since 1980. They registered a second straight school-record 10-win season, but it was a harsh reminder that a large gap still exists between an RBC program that has grown stronger by the year and a Green Knights' squad that competes with the nation's best in the North Jersey parochial gauntlet. St. Joseph has won the Non-Public Group III championship four out of the last five years and has long ruled the bracket.

"We want to be the best in the Shore, but that's not really our main goal right now,'' said senior two-way lineman Quenton Nelson. "We want to win states. I've watched that St. Joe's film so many times. We're trying to close down that big gap, but it's going to take a lot."

Offensively, the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team will be massive up front and return several key skill position players from last year in their punishing pro-I offense. Senior Pat Toomey is back at quarterback after throwing for 784 yards and 6 touchdowns and also running for four touchdowns last season.

He is being pushed by sophomore Eddie Hahn, who starred at the freshman level last season.

The backfield is teeming with talent as usual on a team that has had numerous standout tailbacks over the past decade. Senior Larry Redaelli returns after leading the Caseys in rushing with 920 yards and 13 touchdowns, and junior Mike Cordova is back after rolling up 493 yards and five touchdowns on an average of 7 yards per carry as a sophomore.

Junior Tommy Spernal and sophomore Dylan Murphy also could see some carries at tailback.

Another weapon in the running game is senior fullback Frank Olmo, a returning starter who ran for 343 yards and 2 touchdowns last year and also had 10 catches for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. Senior Bruno Lins and junior Nick Cella are competing to see who will rotate in to give Olmo a rest because he is

playing on both sides of the ball.

other defensive tackle spot, but the Caseys have plenty of depth that allows them to constantly rotate in fresh linemen.

Roy,

The main targets at wideout are a trio of seniors, Connor Smith, Senior DE Sha wn McCord Christian Wagar and James Sheridan, who all saw time last Horenburg, year. Juniors Trevor Cowley, John senior Nick Portela and Nick Lubischer also Canella and junior Pat Cino look to be in the wide receiver all should see time at tackle. rotation. RBC also has an impressive McCord is a returning collection of tight ends in seniors Matt starter at defensive end after Golden and Shawn McCord and junior registering 38 tackles and 6 Jamie Gordinier, who all rotated at the spot sacks last season. Golden, last year and have good size and athleticism.

Castellano, Wilen, junior Senior David Black also could see some snaps Doug Zockoll, and senior at tight end.

Anthony Demian all should Up front, the Caseys look to have the rotate in at the other biggest offensive line in the Shore Conference defensive end spot. at nearly 270 pounds across. Nelson, who is 6The linebackers should foot-5, 305 pounds, has verbally committed to be a particularly ferocious unit Notre Dame and is one of the top offensive led by senior Ryan Schoer, who led the Caseys linemen in the nation. He will be at tackle, with 95 tackles last season. Gordinier also is a with senior Tim O'Hara (6-5, 270), who has returning starter and FBS prospect at 6-foot-4, multiple FCS offers, returning at the other 245 pounds, who should be a force if he tackle spot. Promising sophomores Liam avoids the nagging injuries that slowed him at Smith (6-4, 245) and Ryan Oneidas (6-2, 235) times last year. Olmo is the leader to start at should see some time in the tackle rotation. the other linebacker spot, where he is Junior Ryan Kroeger (6-3, 280) is a competing with Lins, Murphy, senior Andrew returning starter at guard, and the other guard Porzio, sophomore Jeremy Redaelli and junior spot is being contested between senior Joe Nick LaGrippo.

Castellano (6-0, 220) and juniors Neil Cordova is a returning starter at safety, with Horenburg (6-3, 275) and Dan Wilen (6-2, Wagar and Hahn competing for the other 245). Senior Liam Coffey (6-2, 280) and starting safety spot. Sheridan and Larry junior Nick Roy (6-1, 265) are competing for Redaelli add depth in that position. The the starting center spot. leading candidates to start at cornerback are "We're humongous,'' Portela said. "Last year senior Craig Levine and junior Mike we were 260 across, and this year I think we'll Demonte, with Lubischer, Spernal and senior be bigger than that."

Johnny Johnson all pushing for time in the rotation.

Toomey also returns as one of the top placekicker/punter combinations in the Shore Considering no Shore team has beaten RBC Conference, with field goal range out to 50 since Freehold Boro in 2010, maintaining their yards. He had 12 touchbacks last year and also edge is something the Caseys have focused on went 3-for-4 on field goals with a long of 38 so that they don't get complacent. yards.

"We don't really care about how many times Defensively, the Caseys have starters in a row we've won,'' Redaelli said. "We don't returning up front, at linebacker and in the get cocky about it, and we don't brag about it backfield from a punishing unit that allowed because we're focused on getting to that next 9.7 points per game, including only 6.5 against level with St. Joe's. We're just going to have to Shore Conference competition. come back even harder."

Nelson returns at defensive tackle, where he looks to be an equally disruptive force as he is Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e on offense. Kroeger is the leader to start at the www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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@ Long Branch Red Bank Cath. @ Raritan St. John Vianney Middletown South @ Monmouth Holmdel @ Rumson @ Wall

Head Coach: Jay Price, 3rd season Career Record: 14-7 Assistant Coaches: Lou Certo (off. coord./WR); P.J. Gibbs (def. coord./DB); Don Klein (OL); Brian Lee (QB); Andy Manser (RB); Jay Price Sr. (LB); Dave Hallion (DL); Alex Vasilenko (DL); Billy Bertsche (OL); Rich Griffith, Matt Voskian, Andy Sefalo, Eric Howland (freshman); Kevin Hyland (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 5-5 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Joe Fittin, Sr., WR/DB. Fittin succeeds Connor Grogan as a top wideout and defensive back for the Warriors after a strong allaround season by Grogan earned him ASM secondteam All-Shore honors.

X-FACTOR: The offensive line. Manasquan's best teams have always had an offensive line that can control the line of scrimmage and establish the running game to set up play-action. This unit has to bring it up a notch if the Warriors are going to make a deeper playoff run.

GLUE GUY: Monte Sinisi, Sr., OL/DL. A hard worker who will start on both sides of the ball, Sinisi's high motor helps set the tone for this team.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Earl Peters III, Sr., WR/DB. A transfer from Ewing, Peters gives the Warriors a vertical threat in the passing game and a 6-foot-2 safety patrolling the back. Also keep an eye on junior James McAlary, who left soccer to play football this year and should be an asset as a running back/receiver and in the secondary.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Long Branch. The season opener may be a nondivisional game against the Green Wave, but it should be a good gauge to see how much Manasquan has improved after losing to the Green Wave to start a rare .500 season last year.

Fighting to the Finish

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

n three of Manasquan's five losses last year, the Warriors had halftime leads only to watch them evaporate en route to a rare 55 season at a program that has won a Shore Conference-record 11 NJSIAA sectional titles in its history.

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An emotional season in which Hurricane Sandy ravaged Manasquan's sending district ended with a win over rival Wall on Thanksgiving following a 21-14 loss against eventual Central Jersey Group III champion Nottingham in the first round, leaving the Warriors short of their annual goal to play 12 games. They had the lead in the second half of that game, only to watch it slip away and witness the Northstars make a run all the way to their first NJSIAA title. It concluded a season that also included a 39-35 loss to St. John Vianney in a game the Warriors led 35-6.

For the first time since 1989, a senior class at Manasquan went all four years without winning an NJSIAA title. Manasquan's last appearance in the championship game was in 2009 in a loss to Matawan, and its last title came in 2008.

"They get reminded of that every day in town,'' Manasquan head coach Jay Price said.

"We've put the onus on them as opposed to us driving it, and our seniors have done a great job leading the way."

With a strong senior class returning, including leading rusher Joe Murphy, the Warriors are out to reclaim their customary place among the elite and make a run in their new state playoff bracket in South Jersey Group III. "I think we just have to play four quarters of Manasquan football every game,'' said senior wideout/safety Joe Fittin. "We can't let up. We

had big leads going into halftime a couple times, and then I don't know what happened, to be truly honest."

"For them last year, it was a confidence game,'' Price said. "If things were going well, they were doing well, but once things turned, you could see their demeanor change and the way they played changed. We've been emphasizing not only finishing games, but practices, weight room, and running sessions. It's about as hungry a squad as we've had."

Forst had a knee operation last June and couldn't run all summer, so he had to kind of play his way into shape during the season and wasn't really full strength until November. Now he's probably where he should've been last year, and Monte looks phenomenal."

The defense has the makings of a standout unit with five starters and several other experienced players returning under coordinator P.J. Gibbs. The front seven in Senior Dakotah Jones will start their 4-3 base defense at the other defensive tackle spot, should be a particular and senior Jake Vernaglia will be at strength, with 285-pound the other defensive end position. Junior senior Matt Forst Matt McGrady and senior Craig Miller will returning at defensive also be in the defensive line rotation. tackle after recording 43 Senior Blaine Birch is a returning starter tackles and 2 sacks last who is moving from weakside linebacker to year, and senior Monte middle linebacker after making 81 tackles last Sinisi returning at season. Senior Tom Bellefuille (30 tackles) will defensive end. Forst be the starter at weakside linebacker, and junior said he has gotten Tanner Cowley is a returning starter at FCS interest from strongside linebacker after registering 65 schools like tackles as a sophomore. At 6-foot-5 and Monmouth, Senior RB Joe Murphy 205 pounds, Cowley is an FBS prospect Fordham and who projects as a defensive end at the Lafayette. college level and has received interest from "Our defensive line is returning for the most Temple, Delaware, Penn State, Boston College, part and are much stronger,'' Price said. "Matt

Offensively, Manasquan returns plenty of experience up front to pave the way for Murphy, who ran for 988 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. Fittin also returns after seeing some carries out of the backfield as well as lining up at receiver last year, and McAlary should be another threat at tailback. Birch and senior Jack Bianco will

There also has been a specific emphasis on finishing drives, as the Warriors frequently stalled in the red zone last season.

"We're really stressing conditioning, grinding out practices, finishing sprints, and doing everything 100 percent all the way through so we don't fall apart in games, fall apart mid-play, and take plays off,'' Murphy said.

"We've just got to keep that intensity up through the whole drive,'' Sinisi said.

Forst is a returning starter at center and Sinisi returns at left guard

Senior Raul Perez returns as the placekicker after booting three field goals last season, while the punting job is being contested between multiple players.

After the disappointment of last year, the Warriors worked on themselves mentally almost as much as physically in the offseason.

"I think we just got complacent thinking we could just walk out on the field and win games just because we're the Manasquan Warriors,'' Forst said. We're back to being a blue-collar Manasquan team."

"I feel that mental toughness is something we were lacking last year,'' Murphy said. "I think we have that this year, so things last year where we could've squeaked a game out and lost won't happen this year. Our goal is to get to the last game in December, win it and make it 12 (state titles). Bringing us back is something we really want to do, and something we can do this year."

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"Tucker can throw the ball very well, and both guys are doing a tremendous job right now, plus our wide receivers can stretch the field,'' Murphy said.

to anchor the offensive line. Vernaglia will be at left tackle, and senior Matt Clayton steps in at right guard. Right tackle is a competition between Jones and junior Rob Hart.

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Earl Peters III, a transfer from Ewing, will start at one safety spot, with Murphy at the other safety position, where Caccavale also should see time. Fittin is a returning starter at cornerback, and senior Kieran Preston will be at the other cornerback position. Junior James McAlary, who has come over from the soccer team and is in the mold of former Warriors' standout Connor Grogan, also should see time in the secondary.

The starting quarterback spot is being contested between Caccavale, who threw for 807 yards and four touchdowns on an average of 17.9 yards per completion last year, and senior Will Pezzollo. Their main targets look to be Fittin, Peters, and senior Evan Walsh. The hope is to achieve more offensive balance so teams can't sell out on defense to slow down Murphy.

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"I think our linebackers are excellent,'' Forst said. "I think Blaine Birch is going to shock a lot of people. He put some weight on. I also think Tanner Cowley is a great player who is going to surprise a lot of people."

be the tandem rotating at fullback.

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"Tanner is a very confident player,'' Murphy said. "He's a big kid, he gets his hands on people, and he's agile. He should have a big year."

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and Missouri, according to Price.

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@ Howell Lacey Southern @ Jackson @ Brick Memorial Brick Township Manalapan Toms River South @ Toms River East

Head Coach: Dave Oizerowitz, 1st season (3rd overall)

Career Record: 11-9 Assistant Coaches: Mike Oizerowitz (off. coord./WR/DB); Gabe Roonan (def. coord./LB/TE); Bobby Cassidy (DL); Billy Dowd (OL/co-spec. teams); Darian Barnes (DL/co-spec. teams/RB); Anthony Penna (QB/DB); Nick Zaza (QB); Matt Sura (DB); Chris Gold, Billy Wilbert, B.J. Bowes, Jay Gold (freshman); Kendall Hostnik (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 6-4 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Mark Neglio, Sr., QB. Neglio is the frontrunner to succeed jr. Carmen Sclafani, who transferred to Brick after running for 1,003 yards, passing for 1,211 & accounting for 22 total touchdowns last season.

X-FACTOR: Experience. Only a handful of players return who saw significant time last season, & the Mariners are also implementing a new offense, so there could be some growing pains.

GLUE GUY: Nick Silva, Sr., OL. Silva will run the show on the offensive line, making all the line calls & setting the tone for a unit that looks to be physical & establish the run to create opportunities in the passing game. His loss to a broken leg last year was a big blow to the Mariners, who learned his value.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Tyler MacLaine, Jr., LB. MacLaine steps in at middle linebacker, a crucial spot in Toms River North's defense, & should be a key playmaker. There are numerous newcomers on this team who should make an impact, including jr. Mike Siewic, a 220-lb transfer from Las Vegas who is also a standout wrestler.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 21 vs. Lacey at home. The defending Class A South champions travel to face the Mariners at Gernerd Field. If TRN wants to make a statement that it is more than a darkhorse in the division race, this is a perfect opportunity.

Focused on the Future

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

here might not be a team in the Shore Conference with a bigger chip on its shoulder entering this season than Toms River North.

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During the offseason, the Mariners watched as their starting quarterback and top two wideouts transferred to other Shore Conference programs. Their head coach stepped down when the Board of Education made it clear that administrators were no longer allowed to coach in the district, and then took a job as the offensive coordinator at a division rival. After suffering all those losses, Toms River North is out to show people that its program will not take a step back.

“We’re not worried about the people that left,’’ said senior center Nick Silva. “We have people who wanted to stay and prove that North is not what everybody thinks.”

“We’re just working with who we have,’’ said senior safety Jake Forlenza. “We don’t care who left. We’re happy with who we got.”

New head coach Dave Oizerowitz, who was an assistant under former coach Chip LaBarca Jr., inherits a team with plenty of upand-coming talent that just needs experience.

He and his staff are eager to put an imprint on the new group.

“We want to forge a new future,'' Oizerowitz said. "We haven’t discussed what’s occurred. All we care about is what we want to do going forward.”

As the former defensive coordinator, Oizerowitz was the architect of a dominating defense that helped Toms River North go 120 in 2007 and wants to get back to being that type of team.

“Our whole mentality and vision of what we want to be is physical in every area,’’ he said. "We want to ground and pound with the run game, don’t turn it over, let the quarterback manage the game and distribute the football, and play physical, shutdown defense.”

The Mariners are switching from the spread offense run by LaBarca to a multiple pro-I attack in which they look to smash teams with the run game and control the clock. Senior Mark Neglio is in the lead to take over at quarterback for Carmen Sclafani, a junior who rushed and passed for more than 1,000 yards last season but transferred to Brick. There are also two young quarterbacks pushing for time, freshman Mike Husni and sophomore Mike Cangialosi.

The tailback spot looks to be by committee, featuring junior Caleb Lewis, a slashing-style runner with speed, and Asante Moorer, a promising 5-foot-10, 215-pound sophomore with solid speed in addition to his size. Junior Demetrious Fitzpatrick and speedy sophomore Ricky Carberry also should get some carries. Sophomore Tommy Donovan will be the fullback, where junior Mike

Siewic, a 6-foot-2, 220pound transfer from Las Vegas, also could see time.

At wide receiver, senior R.J. Bromell, a four-year varsity player, is Toms River North’s fastest player and a vertical threat. He looks to lead a group that has to replace top wideouts Anthony Carrington and Joey Fields, who both transferred to Monsignor Donovan. Joining Bromell in the receiving corps will be 6foot-5, 215-pound junior Jordan Craig, senior Evan Sirota and Valdez Santiago, a 6-foot-2 junior who started at safety last year but has been moved to wideout.

“R.J. Bromell is a guy who I think has been overshadowed a little bit,’’ Oizerowitz said.

“He’s a game-breaker, and we have big, physical receivers on the outside.”

Up front, Silva is a returning starter at center who is eager to make up for lost time after a broken leg suffered in a Week Two loss to Lacey last year put him out for the season.

“It feels great just being out there again,’’ Silva said. “At first I didn’t think I was going to play again, but I wanted to make a comeback for myself and my team.”

The rest of the line is all new, as senior Yhago Silva will be at one guard spot, with a trio of sophomores, Luke Butera, Alex Kallai, and Nick Tedeschi, competing for the other guard position. The tackles will be senior Robert Dietlmeier and junior Joe Fantozzi.

The tight ends will be 315-pound junior Adam Kakar and junior Kevin Benson.

Having so many newcomers may actually help since they are not ingrained in the previous offensive scheme.

“Everything’s different,’’ Nick Silva said.

“Way back in July, it was a little confusing. I was taught differently, so I think it’s easier for the new guys. They’re doing a lot of good things in the preseason.”

Senior Kevin Dougherty will look to fill the shoes of first-team All-Shore placekicker Chris Gulla, who is now at Penn State.

Dougherty will also handle the punting.

Oizerowitz said the Mariners are devoting an hour a day of practice to special teams because field position is so crucial to the way they want to play with a physical defense and an offense based on the run game.

The Mariners will be in a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Gabe Roonan, with Kakar, a three-year starter, as a roadblock in the middle up front. Up-and-coming talent Dashon Copes, a 235-pound sophomore, will be at one defensive end spot. Yhago Silva, Dietlmeier and sophomore Tim Petersen are

Senior safety Jake Forlenza competing for minutes at the other defensive end spot. Siewic could also end up being a major addition at defensive end.

Juniors Tyler MacLaine and Joe Rozell step in at linebacker, where Donovan and sophomore Rich Roma are pushing for time.

Forlenza is a returning starter at strong safety, and Bromell is back at cornerback to anchor the secondary. Sirota, who saw time at free safety last season, will be the other cornerback. Fitzpatrick is expected to make an impact as the new free safety.

“We want to force teams to throw the ball because we believe we’ve got guys who can cover,’’ Oizerowitz said.

“The strength is going to be our defense,’’ Forlenza said. “We rally to the ball and try to be as physical as possible.”

In starting a new chapter in the program’s history, the new coaching staff has also maintained a link to the Mariners’ proud past.

Former star running back Darian Barnes, who won a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, has joined the staff as an assistant. He is one of several former Toms River North standouts working under Oizerowitz.

“We have embraced the past,’’ Oizerowitz said. “This program has tremendous tradition, up there with the best public schools in the Shore, and we want to continue that.”

The Mariners also are looking to the future without worrying what others are saying about their chances following the exodus this summer.

“It’s not something that I’ve brought up a whole lot,’’ Oizerowitz said. “The kids understand what happened, but it’s just another opportunity for someone else. The cupboard is far from bare.”

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Head Coach: Walt Krystopik, 3rd season Career Record: 11-9 Assistant Coaches: Corey Lavin (off. coord./QB), Tom Bradley (def. coord./DL), Chris Rash (spec. teams/DL), Jeff Brown (OL), Tony Compitello (WR/TE), Keith Anderson (RB/freshman), Mike Smith (LB), Vinny Mistretta (DB), Rob Schultz (LB/freshman), Luke Wainczak (offensive asst.), Nicole Figaro (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 3-7 (2-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Glenn Kipila, Jr., OL/DL. You could pick any of the new offensive linemen, who like Kipila have to replace a senior-laden unit that returns just one starter. Kipila has the size (6-foot-3, 250 pounds) to make an impact.

X-FACTOR: The running game. When Jackson can run the ball efficiently, it has a positive effect on every other area of the team.

GLUE GUY: Ken Bradley, Sr., LB/TE. A tackling machine in the middle of the Jaguars' defense, he and fellow senior Vinny Celidonio are the team's heart and soul.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kyle Johnson, So., DB. The 5-foot10, 175-pound Johnson will see time in the defensive backfield.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Manalapan. The Braves are loaded as one of the top teams in the Shore, but the Jaguars always play them tough. An upset win on the road on opening night would be a huge statement.

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Properly Seasoned

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

ast season was a down year for Jackson Memorial, and certainly not how the Jaguars wanted to follow their 8-2 season of 2011.

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At the same time, last season provided valuable experience for a large contingent of sophomores who were thrust into starting roles, and the Jaguars are hoping to use that as building blocks to contend for the Class A South division title.

"We feel last year wasn't what we wanted or expected, but it was a learning experience for a lot of guys that jumped from JV to the varsity level," said senior linebacker Ken Bradley. "They got on the field and saw what the speed and physicality of varsity football is like. In practice, you can see a big improvement in the awareness of a lot of those guys."

"We had some very talented sophomores, but anytime you have to throw sophomores out there, there's going to be a learning curve," said Jaguars' head coach Walt Krystopik.

"That jump from freshmen to varsity is a big one."

As always at Jackson Memorial, the approach starts with a physical, run-oriented attack and a tough front seven on defense. The Jaguars return five starters in their shotgun, spread offense, including 6-foot-1, 190pound junior quarterback Joe DeMaio. The Jags feel his development after starting as a sophomore will be key to their resurgence.

"I think it makes a big difference," Bradley said. "He has a lot more confidence this year, and he's not afraid to make mistakes. He's going to go out there and lead us from the quarterback position, where last year he was the youngest guy on the offense and was a little tentative.

This year he's more of a vocal leader on and off the field."

"I feel good," DeMaio said. "All the coaches have helped me a lot and the experience from last year will

serve me well."

Senior running backs Khani Glover and Justin Gullo each return after splitting carries last season. They'll run behind an offensive line that has just one returning starter, but has players with varsity experience. Senior Sam Mistretta won a starting job last season and returns as the team's center. Cole Collins, a 6foot-2, 225-pound junior, started one game last season and will be the left tackle. Junior Brad Greenway will be the left guard after starting on defense last year. Junior Glenn Kipila, a 6-foot-3, 250pounder, will play right guard with junior Tyler Rauch (6-foot, 230 pounds) at right tackle.

"This year's challenge is replacing those guys on the line," Krystopik said. "Mistretta comes back as the leader of the offensive line, Collins started a game and Greenway played on defense, so they do have field experience."

At receiver, DeMaio will have a pair of 6-foot-3 targets that are also ferocious blockers in senior Marcus Ademilola, a returning starter, and 250-pound junior Brody Graham.

Ademilola was the team's leading receiver last season while Graham started on defense. Junior Aaron Curet is also in the mix at receiver.

"Ademilola comes back as our leading receiver, and he's really picked up his level of physicality and his blocking," Krystopik said.

"He's really rounded out his game this year."

Bradley and senior Vinny Celidonio will play H-back, and Bradley also said he expects to see time at slot receiver.

The Jaguars' 4-3 defense has a great chance to return to playing at a high level thanks to its front seven.

Ademilola and Graham are the defensive ends with Kipila and Greenway as the tackles.

"Last year they were young and not as strong and physically

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

Se ni or s LB Vi nny Ce li do ni o developed," Bradley said of the current juniors. "Graham and Greenway, especially, made a lot of improvements on their body. Now they get their hands on people and shut them down, and I can fly around and make tackles. That's made my job 10 times easier."

Bradley and Celidonio are the inside linebackers with either senior Mike Petrizzo or junior Zach Tetro as the outside linebacker.

"The heart of our defense is our two inside linebackers," Krystopik said. "How well they play is going to determine how well we'll do."

Gulla and Curet are the cornerbacks with DeMaio and Glover as the safeties. Sophomore Kyle Johnson will see time as a backup in the secondary.

On special teams, Celidonio is the punter and sophomore Dan Van Clef is the kicker.

There is always a certain amount of unfamiliarity entering the season, but with experience now a strength, the Jaguars feel good about their Week One contest against Manalapan. And at the very least, the Jaguars know they'll bring a certain style to every game.

"We're always a physical and aggressive team, and we always play in-your-face," Bradley said. "We'll fly around and play aggressive.

That's what we teach."

Ph ot o s by: Bill N ormile b illn ormile . ze nf o lio. co m

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Freehold Twp. @ Toms River South @ Toms River North Brick Township @ Lacey Brick Memorial Jackson @ Toms River East Central

Head Coach: Chuck Donohue Sr., 16th season (38th overall).

Career Record: 226-151-4

Assistant Coaches: Matt Abbato (Def. coordinator), Andrew Beckett (DL), Eric Fierro (QB), CJ Tomelden (DB/RB), Dylan Larson (OL), Chuck Donohue Jr. (OL); Joe Fleck, Dan Roy (Freshmen); Jason Lister, Mike Concilio, Matt Tatur (Middle school); Evan Osbourne (Director of Football Operations), Corey Braun (Manager), Joe Caucino (Athletic Trainer).

2012 Record: 9-3 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Grant Bissey, Sr., RB. Abe Gonzalez set program records for rushing yards and touchdowns in his only season as a starter last year and was a monster in the playoffs.

Bissey gets that opportunity this season and is capable of a breakout year.

X-FACTOR: Receiving depth. If a player can emerge opposite Gesicki in the passing game it will change the entire complexion of Southern's offense.

GLUE GUY: Bailey Bellissimo, Sr., OL/LB. An integral player in some capacity since his sophomore year, everything Southern does offensively and defensively comes off his play.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Ryan Jensen, Sr., WR. Donohue isn't sure how much or if at all Jensen will be on the field, but his impact can be huge in the passing game.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 vs. Toms River South.

The Indians are loaded on offense and are thinking division title. A lot will be learned about both teams after this Week 2 game.

Programmed to Succeed

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer ailey Bellissimo knows that Southern lost a good amount to graduation, and that challenges lie ahead if the Rams hope to return to the South Jersey Group V final, but if that does anything to change the program's expectations, then they've already lost.

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"Our expectations are better than what they were last year," Bellissimo said. "But our mindset is 1-0 for 12 weeks. That's our goal."

The words coming from his players are music to head coach Chuck Donohue Sr.'s ears. It's a sign the program has reached a level they've been shooting for.

"As a coach you want it coming from them," Donohue said. "In the beginning it was always us trying to convince them.

Programs that are consistently at the top have it coming from the players."

"Coach will not accept us being anything less than great," said senior wide receiver Mike Gesicki. "He's not going to let us underachieve. People can say it's a down year for Southern - that they don't have this or that - but our expectations and goals are higher than they've ever been."

All the optimism down in Ram country isn't without substance. Southern has gone 17-5 over the past two seasons, winning a division title in 2011 and reaching the program's second sectional final last season.

The Rams have proven they can reload with unknown names who morph into impact players, and they plan on doing the same in 2013.

On offense it all starts with Gesicki, a 6foot-6, 230-pound monster who is arguably New Jersey's best wideout and one of the country's top recruits with 22 FBS offers.

Last season he hauled in 50 passes for 958 yards and nine touchdowns and played his best in Southern's biggest games. He's basically impossible to stop, and he opens up so many options for the Rams' offense.

"We know what Mike can do by himself, but he's going to have two or three guys on him so we'll have one-on-one coverage or six guys in the box, so we'll have a lot of options to work with," said senior Logan Sheehan, who takes over as the starting

quarterback in the Rams shotgun, pro-style offense.

"It's not even just him making plays, it's the defenses so worried about what he's going to do that opens up everything else."

Sheehan started at safety for the Rams last season and was approached by Donohue during the offseason to replace two-year starter Dan Higgins. His athleticism and ability to make plays outside the pocket and in the run game have the Rams excited about the versatile potential of their offense.

"Coach pulled me out of class one day and said we need a quarterback," Sheehan said. "I'm excited for it. I took no days off in the summer. I've been working every day to get better."

"He has done everything he's been asked to do," Donohue said. "I've been very happy with him standing in there and doing things I didn't know he could do until we saw him do them."

Replacing All Shore Media AllConference first-team running back Abe Gonzalez, who set a program record with 1,483 yards and 23 touchdowns, will be the combination of seniors Rob Yaiser and Grant Bissey. Yaiser was the No. 2 running back behind Gonzalez last season and saw plenty of action, while Bissey is a 6-foot, 200-pound downhill runner who will pick up tough yards and has a chance to become the feature back. Junior Ryan Winkler should also see touches coming out of the backfield.

Gesicki leads a wide receiver group that is searching for a complement to him on the other side of the field. Last season it was Nick Hem who emerged after an injury to speedster Kevin Barreau knocked him out for the season. Senior Vinnie Colecchia and junior Zac Halliday will also start with senior Ryan Jensen also slated to see some time. Jensen recently joined practice and has the size and speed to be a potential

impact player if he can get on the field.

"He's a guy who could change everything we have on offense with his speed and athletic ability," Donohue said.

"But I don't have confidence in him right now.

He's a kid that we need but right now I don't know if he will do it or not."

Justin Ruppert, a 6-foot-2, 205pound senior, will start at tight end.

The offensive line returns just one starter in Bellissimo, but his experience will serve the team well as they break in some promising, yet inexperienced players.

He is the center with senior Mason Fazekas to his left and senior C.J. Lovas to his right.

Junior Pat Ferraro is the left tackle and junior Nick Miele is the right tackle. It isn't an overly sizable group, but one that plays with an edge and a high motor.

Seni or WR Mike Gesi cki "In my eyes, we have the greatest O-line coach in the Shore (Chuck Donohue Jr.)," Bellissimo said. "The run game will be there and our quarterback is showing us great things."

"He'll take over the line and he can block five guys if he wants to," Sheehan said of Bellissimo. "He's an animal on the line, which is big because we have some new guys there. I'm comfortable back there."

Juniors Clay Robinson and Ben Castellazzo and sophomore Doug Vandevelde will also see playing time along the offensive line.

One of the biggest challenges for Sheehan

"For us to win over the long haul we had to become a defensive team, and where we have been really fortunate is that philosophically we committed to defense years ago," Donohue said. "Matt (Abbato) playing in the defense and now coaching on the staff has really been able to take the

"We'll take it game by game and we'll be fine," Bellissimo said. "The sky is the limit for us."

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"My sophomore year we weren't expected to do much, and we won the division for the first time in like 40 years," Gesicki said. "Last year we weren't expected to do as much and we got to the state final. This year probably no one is expecting us to do anything with what we graduated. I think we deserve the respect, but we may not get it. But that's a good spot to be in. We'll embrace that underdog role if that's what it is."

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Yaiser will return as the kicker and Gesicki will once again be the punter. Sheehan will be the long-snapper.

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Southern's identity has always been a hard-nosed, toughto-play-against defense. It's been the hallmark of Donohue's teams and will once again be a major focus in 2013. The 5-2 front features Fazekas as the nose guard and Robinson, Ruppert, Vandevelde and Ferraro all seeing playing time at defensive tackle. Gesicki has moved from the secondary to

Yaiser and Colecchia are the cornerbacks with junior Mike Butera expected to see time. Sheehan and Halliday are both returning starters at safety with junior Shawn McManus, a lacrosse standout, also in the mix. Junior Dominick Vandebrook should also see time in the secondary.

defensive worry totally away from me. We take a lot of pride in tackling, and I think we're fundamentally sound, and we play with energy."

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"Logan has to understand that if he will trust the offense and go through his progressions, Gesicki will pop open more often," Donohue said. "Why force him the ball on a 12-yard route when he's surrounded by defenders and tackled for a 12-yard gain when you can get him the ball in space and he can turn it into a 70-yard touchdown? That's where we are now with the progression of our offense."

outside linebacker and Castellazzo will also play there.

Bissey and junior Tim Davis will split time as the strong side linebacker. Winkler is one of the inside linebackers while Bellissimo shifts there after starting at nose guard last season. Sophomore Pat Walker is expected to push for playing time there, as well.

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will be not forcing it to Gesicki. It's easy to just check to a pass and throw the ball up to him, but for Gesicki's impact to be fully realized, the offense has to be balanced.

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@ Central Reg. Southern @ Brick Township Lacey Jackson Toms River East @ Brick Memorial @ Toms River North @ Lakewood

Head Coach: Ron Signorino Jr., 3rd season Career Record: 7-13

Assistant Coaches: Ron Signorino Sr., (LB), Jim Drackwicz (DL), Greg Elias (DB), Matt Martin (OCord./slot backs), Joe Kelly (RB), Brett Hardie (WR), Kyle Austin (OL), Bill Rankin Jr. (QB), Keith Elias (Character coach), Dan Peterson (DL), Ray Guzzi (OLB); Bill Rankin, Dave Fanslau, John Smicklo, John Lightbody (Freshmen), Mike Schumann (Video), Mike Lovell (Equipment manager), Debbie Morante (Athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-6 (4-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Kyle Hebrew, So., C. Most of the Indians' key players return this season, but Hebrew starts at a line position that is usually the most important in the flexbone offense.

X-FACTOR: Run defense. The Indians expect to score point in bunches this season, so it's on the defense to play stingy in order to get the program to the next level.

GLUE GUY: Billy Kosh, Sr., RB/LB.. A two-way starter who plays with grit and intensity, Signorino said Kosh embodies everything South wants in a player.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Javion Harris, So., WR/DB. Harris will see time in the wide receiver rotation and as a backup cornerback.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 27 at Brick Township.

These longtime rivals both have their sights set on entering the division title picture, and both teams have offenses that expect to score at will.

Ready to Contend

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer oms River South has shown noticeable improvement in each season under third-year head coach Ron Signorino Jr., going from a winless team the year before he arrived, to three wins in 2011, to four victories and a return to the playoffs after a five-year drought last season.

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And now the Indians are ready for more.

"We're hungry, and we're tired of losing," Signorino said.

It's more than a simple jump in the number of wins that has Toms River South excited it can make an impact in the Shore Conference's Class A South division. The quality of the Indians' wins last season were exponentially better than two years ago, and two of their losses came to a 10-1 Lacey team. In posting wins over Brick, Brick Memorial, Jackson Memorial and Toms River East, the Indians found tangible evidence that has them thinking big in 2013.

"We were right there last year," Signorino said. "A lot of coaches can say it but you look back on it and we feel if we would have just tackled better, we beat Lacey twice and Central. And with who our wins were against last year, we're hoping to make that next jump."

"We can definitely win," said junior quarterback Tymere Berry. "We have the talent, we just have to work hard."

The Indians averaged 21.8 points per game last season and feel they can have one of the Shore's top offenses with eight starters returning, including all their skill players. Berry returns at quarterback in

their flexbone offense after showing flashes of being a game-breaking player as a sophomore. Alongside him in the backfield will be senior FBS prospect Otis Kearney Jr. at Aback, and junior Khaleel Greene and senior Billy Kosh as the slotbacks.

Senior Darrius Hart (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) returns at wide receiver along with senior Russell Messler, who saw some time on offense last season. Together, they're a group that has the size and speed to take opposing defenses apart.

"I just love the talent we have, and the offense

right guard is 6-foot-2, 250-pound senior Brandon Kelly, and the other returning starter is 6-foot-1, 220pound junior Mike Rutter at left tackle. Kyle Hebrew, a 285-pound sophomore, will start at center.

Juniors Tyler Parenteau (6-foot-2, 245 pounds) and Austin Gregory (6foot-2, 285 pounds) are competing for the spot at left guard.

"It's no secret we are talented on offense and on the perimeter," Signorino said. "Tymere will make plays, Otis will make plays and Darrius will make plays. The offense has performed for 15 years, and I think it will again. If we can play good defense we feel real good about going out there and competing."

Toms River South allowed 21.2 points per game last season, and with an offense that is expected to put up big points, a stingy defense could put the Indians over the top.

we run is perfect for us," Berry said. "I can run it, pitch it or pass it. We just have so many different weapons."

Senior Justin Schumann will also see time at slot back, and senior Jared Egan and sophomore Javion Harris will be in the rotation at receiver.

The offensive line returns three starters, led by three-year starting right tackle Sergio Hernandez. The

Senior RB Otis Kearney Jr.

Eight starters also return in South's 4-4 alignment, which will feature a rotation along the defensive line. Junior Quinten DeCarlo started at linebacker last season and will move down to defensive tackle.

Senior Dominick Petrizzo and juniors Jacob Krempel and Frank Mannato are competing for time as the other tackle. Jimmy Allen, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound junior, returns as a starter at defensive end with 6-foot-2, 255-pound junior Jimmy Kearney as the other end.

Jesse Palazzo, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound senior, will also see snaps at defensive end.

Kosh and Otis Kearney each return as starters at outside linebacker.

Messler, who has verbally committed to Rutgers for baseball, is a returning starter at inside linebacker with senior Joe Berlinski, junior Joe Odebode and sophomores Tyler Sosa, Jaden Kosh and Josh Bowen all expected to see time.

All three secondary members are returning starters with Egan, a three-

"The seniors this year have been playing together for a while, and everyone is working hard to make the team better," Messler said.

"Everyone has high expectations for this year."

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"When we crossed the white line two years ago it was a matter of how bad were we going to lose," Signorino said. "The kids were damaged goods. They were beaten down so bad. This group, it's a credit to them that they now feel and believe they're pretty good.

We're really hoping this is the year the Indian is back."

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Messler will be the kicker and punter. Billy Kosh is the holder, Schumann is the longsnapper and Mannato is the short-snapper.

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"The big thing on defense will be everyone getting to the ball and forcing turnovers," Kearney said. "If everyone does their job we'll be fine."

When Signorino took over as the head coach of his alma mater in 2011, he knew there was plenty of work to be done in order to get the program back to its winning ways.

From zero wins to three and then four and a playoff berth, the arrow continues to trend up for Toms River South. It's a stark contrast to a program that was an afterthought in the five years prior to Signorino arriving.

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year starter, and Schumann as the cornerbacks. Hart is the safety. Senior Kyle Winkleman and Harris are the backups at corner with Green and junior Francis Hearne backing up Hart.

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Colts Neck @ Jackson @ Lacey Brick Memorial @ Howell Brick Township @ Toms River South Southern Toms River North

Head Coach: Charlie Diskin, 8th season (9th overall) Career Record: 44-38

Assistant Coaches: Matt Maddeo (co-off. coord./RB); Mike Nemeth (co-off. coord./OL); Damon Coiro (DE/TE); Chuck Gookins (WR); T.J. Tkac (OLB/S); Kyle Sandberg (DB); Pete Gudzak (DL); Jim Dempsey, Joe Arminio Jr., Kevin Kanarkowski (freshman); Mike Bronstein (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 2-8 (0-7)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ron Waters, Sr., LB. Waters takes over at middle linebacker for All-Division talent Pat Gallagher.

X-FACTOR: Defense. The Raiders know that allowing 33.5 points per game is not going to cut it, so can they make the type of dramatic improvement with head coach Charlie Diskin running the defense that can help them make a leap forward in the standings?

GLUE GUY: Ron Waters, Sr., OL/LB. A gritty player who will play as 205-pound guard on the offensive line in addition to playing linebacker, Waters is a team leader.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Brandon Burdge, So., TE/DE. The coaching staff thinks Burdge has the talent to develop into an All-Shore performer, and he will play significant minutes on both sides of the ball as a sophomore.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at home vs. Colts Neck.

After two straight 2-8 seasons, a season-opening win over a Colts Neck program coming off a ninewin season and returning some good talent would be a big statement to set the tone for the Raiders.

Now or Never

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

or the past two years, a good portion of the senior class at Toms River East has taken their lumps since being thrust into varsity action as sophomores.

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�A lot of these kids were thrown into the fire as sophomores,'' head coach Charlie Diskin said. "Now's the time for that experience to pay off, and they know it. It's the old clichÊ that you've got to take it one game at a time, but everyone knows in the back of their heads that where we were the last two years, that's not us, and we're going to change it."

A good place to start the turnaround is with a healthy Gudzak, who ran for 1,159 yards and 13 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per carry last season despite playing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He had surgery after the Raiders' Thanksgiving game against Toms River North to repair it, and looks to be one of the Shore Conference's top running backs this fall. Also a strong student, he has attracted interest from Yale and Princeton.

"My shoulder is better than ever, so I'm just ready to get back to it,'' Gudzak said. "I wasn't able to play defense as much as I'd like to last year, but this year that will definitely be a different story."

"He's 5-11, 195, and he's one of the strongest, most explosive kids and works harder than anybody,'' Diskin said. "When he runs, it's fun to watch. I'm excited to see him do some big things behind an O-line that has just been getting better and better."

Senior Jerry Caporale is in the lead to direct the Raiders' pistol offense at quarterback after starting most of last season, but is competing with fellow senior Paul Aliseo. Caporale ran for 717 yards and six touchdowns and also threw for 519 yards last season. The winner of the competition will be directed by new co-offensive coordinators Matt Maddeo and Mike Nemeth, who coached the running backs and offensive line, respectively, last season.

"They're always helping each other,'' Diskin said. "It's a positive competition, and it spreads among the team. We're light years ahead of where we've been at this point of the preseason in terms of what we've had installed, and that's because of these guys with their experience."

Toms River East has solid depth in the

backfield as senior Hector Torres returns at running back after seeing time last year, and junior Jeff Wood is a returning starter. A newcomer to the backfield at fullback is senior Dom Spalletta, who played defensive end last year but runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and gives the Raiders another weapon with good speed.

"We're a fast team in general and have a lot of endurance, and a lot of teams out there can't keep up with us,'' Gudzak said. "If we keep that fast tempo and catch defenses off guard, that's going to give us more success."

The primary target in the passing game is senior Zach Rosengrant, a three-year starter at wide receiver, who led the team with 17 catches for 238 yards last season. Senior Ryan Connelly returns after seeing time at wideout last year, and senior newcomer Mark Sisk and sophomore Pat Saunders round out the receiving group. Two other potential targets in the passing game are senior tight end Corey Reynolds, a returning starter, and promising sophomore tight end Brandon Burdge.

Up front, 6-foot-1, 305-pound senior DeVante Rodriguez is a returning starter who is moving from tackle to center, senior Ron Waters is a returning starter at guard, and 6-foot-2, 285-pound senior John Laird is a returning starter at tackle. Rodriguez and Laird are both receiving Division II and FCS interest, according to Diskin. The other guard spot is a competition between senior Dean Ramos, junior Justin Sauers and sophomore Joe Lawson. The other tackle spot is being contested between seniors Brian Murphy and Dylan Jusino.

The Raiders are hoping to carry over the offensive momentum from the second half of last year, when they hung 63 points on Woodrow Wilson in their NJSIAA consolation game and scored 24 in a seasonending loss to Toms River North.

"On the offensive side, we just want to keep going,'' Diskin said. "We got better and better offensively and things started clicking at the end of last season."

Caporale returns as the kicker after booting a pair of field goals and going 25for-28 on extra points last year. Gudzak will be the punter.

Senior RB Matt Gudzak Diskin has taken over as the defensive coordinator now that last year's coordinator, Brian Wilkinson, is the new head coach at Pinelands. The Raiders' multiple 4-3 will feature a rotation of familiar faces from offense up front. Rodriguez, Laird, Sauers, Murphy, Lawson and Ramos will work in a rotation at defensive tackle. Spalletta returns as a starter at defensive end, where Jusino, Burdge and junior Jay Lameo will also be in the rotation.

Waters, who played on the defensive line last year, moves back to his natural position at middle linebacker. Wood is a returning starter at linebacker, and sophomore Christian Lynch will step into the starting lineup. Torres also will see time at linebacker.

Rosengrant and Caporale return at corneback and Gudzak will be at safety to give the Raiders' a talented and experienced secondary. Saunders should also see time at cornerback.

The Raiders have to get better on defense after getting lit up for 33.5 points per game last year, and much of it should come down to execution with all the experienced personnel returning.

"Number one is tackling,'' Diskin said.

"We were in the right place, and we just didn't finish the tackle. We talk to the kids all the time about finishing. I'm happy with the way we run and our speed is good overall as a team, but we've got to tackle."

After a last-place finish in Class A South, the Raiders know they will be overlooked in one of the Shore Conference's toughest divisions.

"I enjoy it,'' Waters said about being an underdog. "We're going to come out this season and shock the Shore."

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Head Coach: Rob Dahl, 3rd season

Career Record: 11-18

Assistant Coaches: Chip LaBarca Jr. (OC/R), Brian McNamara (DC/S), Vin Spadavecchia (RB), Jon Power (OL), Tim Brey (TE), Kevin Stockhoff (QBs), Chris Blackburn (DL), Paul Zambito, Vinny Marra (ILBs), Scott Davis (OL, Kurt Wieboldt (kickers), Dominick Marino, Jay Groschel, Ed Leech, Joe Smyth (freshmen), Scott Lloyd (Strength), Jim Barber (Athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 3-7 (2-5).

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Anthony Trapasso, Jr., DE. Trapasso will also be starting on the offensive line but on defense he has the task of replacing Dan Watson, who led the Shore with 18 sacks last season.

X-FACTOR: Consistent defense. With Sclafani now at quarterback, Brick's offense will concern opposing defenses. Its defense needs to get back to the level it had been in previous seasons to truly give Brick a shot at a division title.

GLUE GUY: Matthew Ulufanua, Sr., OL/DL. A vocal leader whom players rally around, he is fired up 24/7 and has a non-stop motor.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Carmen Sclafani, Jr., QB. The biggest impact newcomer in the Shore. It's not often a player of his caliber transfers, and his impact should be felt immediately.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 14 vs. Brick Memorial. The Dragons haven't defeated the Mustangs since 2008 and a win in the season opener would be a huge confidence boost.

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

n the quest to return to its former glory enjoyed under legendary coach Warren Wolf, Brick Township's football team received some serious reinforcements over the summer to bolster its chances.

Arguably the biggest story of the offseason in the Shore Conference was both former Toms River North head coach Chip LaBarca Jr. and his nephew, quarterback Carmen Sclafani, leaving the Mariners for the Dragons. LaBarca, who coached the Mariners to a 12-0 state championship in 2007, and Sclafani, who ran and threw for over 1,000 yards each as a sophomore, join a Dragons squad with a highly-touted junior class that hopes to turn in a bounceback season and have Brick making noise in Class A South.

"I'm very optimistic about this year," said third-year head coach Rob Dahl. "I think we're going to surprise some people."

Sclafani will take over as Brick's starting quarterback in its spread offense while fellow junior Joe Phillips shifts to wide receiver. Sclafani, who was a third-team All Shore Media All-Conference selection last season, is an obvious upgrade at the position and allows Phillips to use his size and speed on the outside to add to Brick's offensive arsenal. It has been a smooth transition with Sclafani coming over from Toms River North thanks to the team-first approach by Phillips.

"When (Carmen) did come in, the first thing I did was have a discussion with Joe, and Joe is a team player," Dahl said. "His response was that he would do whatever was best for the program. His response is what you dream of coming from a kid, especially with this generation of kids where you don't know how they're going to react. I knew right away this might be a situation, but the way Joe handled himself and put the team first really helped things fall into place."

"He was the quarterback and I had to earn the spot," Sclafani said. "Now with what we have around me there are so many weapons, and we can get the ball to anybody and they can make a big play.

That's what our offense is. We complement each other well."

The running back will be junior Ray Fattaruso, a returning starter and another player who helped ease the transition for both Sclafani and his other teammates.

"It's been really good so far. We all get along and everyone gave him respect and a chance," Fattaruso said. "It's really a big impact having him here. We didn't expect to get a new quarterback, and it's definitely a big boost for our offense. He rushed for 1,000 and passed for 1,000, and hopefully he can do the same this year."

Phillips will start at wide receiver and will be joined by Ja'Quez Johnson, another junior who was part of an undefeated freshman team two years ago. His speed opposite Phillips could potentially create matchup problems for opposing defenses.

The tight end will be Drew Scott, a

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Junior WR Joe Phillips returning starter. Also seeing time at receiver will be senior Mike Muratore and junior Tommy Leech.

The offensive line is an area that is still coming together and returns just one starter in senior right guard Matthew Ulufanua.

Senior Logan Schmitz, who started two games as a sophomore but missed all of his junior year, will start at left tackle and sophomore Tyler Colonno will be the left guard. Sophomores Alex Trapasso and Pasquale Altilio are battling for the starting center spot while junior Anthony Trapasso will start at right tackle.

"As of right now with the offense we should be very fast and powerful," Fattaruso said. "We have a lot of speed on the outside. The offensive line is working to get things down pat but that's what the preseason is for."

"We have more offensive weapons than I can ever recall and most of them are juniors," Dahl said. "The offense is a good mix, and with the skill players we have it's perfect."

As much of an impact Sclafani is expected to have on Brick' s offense, the presence of LaBarca helps Brick in several ways. Being a former state championship coach speaks for itself. Having two coordinators for the first time has also helped Dahl oversee the entire team in a way he hasn't been able to in the past two seasons.

"I'm finally able to be a head coach

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Brick Memorial @ Middletown South Toms River South @ Southern Wall @ Toms River East @ Toms River North @ Lacey Jackson

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without worrying about running the offense or defense or special teams," Dahl said.

"I'm finally able to oversee the team and that's helped. The kids are working hard and my expectation for them is to win a championship."

When a new player joins a team he is most likely faced with the task of learning a new offense, defense or both. When it is a quarterback making the transition, the problem is compounded. In Sclafani's case, he will be running the same offense he did last year at Toms River North.

"Not only is it the same offense I ran last year, it's the same offense I've been hearing at the dinner table since I was like five," Sclafani said. "It's an offense I've grown up playing so it helps a lot, and I think it's a good fit for the rest of the team."

Even during its down seasons when its offense was struggling to put up points, Brick's defense has usually been its reliable backbone. The Dragons allowed 21.8 points per game last season, including 28 per game during their 0-5 start. Much of that had to do with an offense that struggled to move the ball and committed far too many turnovers, but it's nonetheless an area Brick knows it needs to improve.

Eight starters return for the Dragons on the defensive side of the ball in their 4-2-5 defense. Ulufanua, a returning starter, and Schmitz are the defensive tackles with Anthony Trapasso and junior returning starter Jake Layton at defensive end. The two inside linebackers are Scott, a returning starter, and junior James Juliano.

The outside linebacker/strong safety hybrids are Fattaruso and Muratore, both of whom are returning starters.

All three players in the secondary are returning starters with Phillips and senior Freddy Flores as the cornerbacks and Leech as the safety.

"I think the points we gave up in the beginning were deceiving," Dahl said. "Our offense and special teams turned the ball over too much and put our defense in a tough position, so we have an emphasis this year to not turn the ball over and not give up the big play on defense."

Senior Steve Ferlisi will handle both the punting and placekicking duties. Senior Anthony Starego is practicing with the team but won't be able to play in games while his eligibility case is still in the courts.

The Dragons feel they have the ingredients to be one of the surprise teams in the Shore Conference, compete for a division title and make a run in the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs. Expectations for the Dragons by their fans never change, and they hope this is the year they begin to regain past glory. For players like Fattaruso, who got a taste of championship football as a freshman, this is the year to put it together on the varsity level.

"Our junior class went undefeated as freshmen, and we've always worked our butts off," he said. "Winning a championship has been on our minds since Pee Wee football. We work every day, we know what it takes to win a championship, and that's our goal."

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Pinelands @ Toms River North Toms River East @ Toms River South @ Manchester Twp. Southern @ Jackson Brick Township Brick Memorial

Head Coach: Lou Vircillo, 33rd season (37th overall)

Career Record: 258-113-3 Assistant Coaches: Cory Davies (off. coord./QB); Joe Tobin (WR/DB); Shane Allen (DL/spec. teams); John Tierney (OL); Sam Iacobone (LB); Joe Migliore (RB); Danny Fornoff, Watson Heilala, Michael Fumarola (freshman); Lee Emery (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 10-1 (7-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: James Peaney, Jr., OL. Takes over at center in Lacey's high-powered offense for Tyler Walsh, who was a 1st-team All-Shore selection last fall.

There also will be multiple players who look to fill the void left by tailback Kyle Spatz, a 1,200-yard rusher & another 1st-team All-Shore pick.

X-FACTOR: The run defense. This area proved to be Lacey's undoing last season, & Class A South & South Jersey Group IV both feature several talented running attacks, so the improvement in this facet should be something to keep an eye on.

GLUE GUY: Christian Tutela, Sr., WR/DB/P/KR/PR. The Swiss Army knife of the Shore Conference, Tutela is seemingly everywhere on the field. He also is a fiery leader whose effort & motor set the tone for the team.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jake Post, So., LB. Post will start in the middle at LB & has the rugged athleticism of a traditional hard-nosed Lacey LB. Sophomore DE Tariqe Smith isn't technically a newcomer because he started games as a freshman, but watch for him to take a leap forward as a defensive standout this year. Smith, the younger brother of former Lacey star & current UMass lineman Tyrell Smith, has the makings of the second FBS recruit in the family.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 4 at TRS. These two teams had some great back-and-forth battles last season, with Lacey coming out on top in the regular season & the state playoffs. This looks like a key game on the road to the Class A South title if Lacey can take care of business in divisional games against TRN & TRE leading into the showdown with the Indians.

Great Expectations

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

n the first year under coordinator Cory Davies, Lacey's spread offense detonated opponents to the tune of 38 points per game last season, second-best in the Shore Conference, to power a 10-win campaign.

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The scary part? The Lions feel they can be even better this year.

"Last year was just a preview of what this offense is capable of, and that's saying a lot considering we scored 38 points per game,'' said senior quarterback Tom Kelly. "The possibilities are limitless with the players we have coming back."

One of those key players is Kelly, a three-year starter who returns after a breakout junior season.

Kelly was in the Offensive Player of the Year discussion before a broken collarbone sidelined him for two games. He still finished with 1,223 yards passing on 72.3 percent accuracy with 15 touchdown passes and only two interceptions.

Junior Conor Davies, the son of the offensive coordinator, is also pushing for reps after helping the Lions to a pair of wins in Kelly's absence last year and combining with him for a state playoff victory.

"I am leaps and bounds more comfortable in the offense this year,'' said Kelly, who is getting Ivy League and Patriot League interest. "To make a jump forward last year was great, but there's always things you can improve on. I went to a lot of camps and have really been working on my footwork."

"Kelly has worked extremely hard in the offseason and hopefully he has a season reflective of the time he put in,'' Lacey head coach Lou Vircillo said.

The Lions also return one of the Shore Conference's top weapons in first-team All-Shore selection Christian Tutela, a senior wide receiver and general jack-of-all-trades. He had 26 catches for 598 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, ran for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns and also threw two touchdown passes on trick plays. He has gotten interest from Towson University, Army and New Hampshire.

"I don't think there's anyone in the Shore except maybe (Manalapan's Saeed) Blacknall who can be as much of a home run threat as Tutela,'' Kelly said.

However, Lacey has to replace the remainder of its talented receiving corps from last year.

Junior Michael Bocchine will step in at the other wideout spot, and junior George Sayre could also be a threat as an H-back in certain sets. Junior Isaiah Brown is another target at tight end, where senior Travis Covell should also see some time.

"We will spend a lot of time in practice on the passing game,'' Vircillo said. "We also look to add a little bit more power with the tight end and

the fullback in the running game."

The offensive line graduated first-team All-Shore selection Tyler Walsh at center, but returns three starters on what should be Senior wide receiver Christian Tutela another solid unit.

Senior guard Chris D'Addarrio, junior sophomore Jake Post and junior Brian Lester guard Frank Cimirro, and senior tackle Matt starting at the inside linebacker spots. Brown also McGovern all return. Junior James Peaney steps in should see time at inside linebacker. at center for Walsh, and the other tackle spot is Tutela is a returning starter at safety and being contested between senior Jake Hikade and Jensen is a returner at cornerback to bolster the sophomore Joe MacAvoy. Sophomore Tarique secondary. Senior Justin Longo will be the other Smith, a rising star on defense, also could see time cornerback after starting some games last season, at guard in the line rotation. and senior newcomer Dan Velez should also see At tailback, the Lions have to replace first-team time at corner. Sayre or Bocchine will be at All-Shore selection Kyle Spatz, who ran for 1,201 safety. Junior Dewann McAllister, a transfer from yards and 15 touchdowns last year. The running Marlboro, is another possibility at safety, but game will be more by committee this year, Vircillo said his status is in limbo and he has not featuring Sayre, seniors Chris Jensen and Ian been at preseason camp.

O'Loughlin, and junior fullback Shane Januik.

"I think it's going to be a great year "We know coming into it that we're not going defensively,'' Tutela said. "We have a strong to have a No. 1 guy like Kyle Spatz, but we've linebacker group, and me and Jensen in the got multiple talented guys who play both sides of secondary, so we're looking good on that side." the ball and will need a rest, so it will be more a Lacey was a newcomer to Class A South last group of backs than just one guy," Kelly said. season and ran through the division without a Lacey's special teams, which are perennially loss on its way to the championship. Now the some of the Shore's best, look to be a strength Lions are the ones being hunted. once again. Tutela returns as one of the "That's what I dealt with my sophomore year conference's top punters, and sophomore kicker when no one touched us the year before (in an Pat Davis should make an immediate impact with undefeated 2010 season), so I'm used to it,'' Kelly field goal range out past 50 yards. said. "No one gave us much of a shot to win A On the other side of the ball, the Lions will South last year, and now we have a target on our look to shore up a run defense that turned out to back, so it's a different position this year." be their Achilles' heel in their only loss of the "It's just going to make us work harder season, a 42-28 shootout with Kingsway in the knowing everyone is coming for us,'' Tutela said.

South Jersey Group IV semifinals.

"We'll just go right back at them."

"Last year our defense was not very strong, but Lacey anticipated a showdown with eventual we were athletic enough to make big plays,'' champion Timber Creek in the sectional final last Vircillo said. "We created 29 turnovers and scored year, but didn't get it after losing at home to 10 defensive touchdowns. We're usually a team Kingsway. The hope is to earn a crack at the that shuts people down, but last year we were champs this fall and take home their second more opportunistic, so we're trying to get back to NJSIAA title in four seasons. our traditionally tough defense up front."

D'Addario returns at noseguard in Lacey's 3-4 alignment, and the 230-pound Smith looks to be a force at defensive end after starting a handful of games as a freshman. McGovern, MacAvoy and Cimirro will also be part of the defensive line rotation along with senior newcomer Chandler Hammer, who has not played football since his freshman year.

The linebackers are an entirely new group of starters, with the most experienced being junior Lucas Sirotniak, who saw time last season and will be at outside linebacker. Senior Sean Frank will be at the other outside linebacker spot, with

The Lions also hope to give Vircillo a special milestone along the way. A Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Famer and the only coach in Lacey's history, Vircillo enters the year with 258 victories, five shy of the late Vic Kubu for the second-most wins in Shore Conference history. Kubu had 263 wins during his tenures at Middletown North and Manasquan, second only to Brick legend Warren Wolf, whose 364 wins in 52 seasons are second all-time in New Jersey history.

P hot o s b y: Bill N ormile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

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Indianapolis Colts running back) Donnie Brown because he has a great desire to keep getting better,’’ RBC head coach Jim Portela said. “He’s not satisfied with where he's at.”

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

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That’s the amount of time Red Bank Catholic senior two-way lineman Quenton Nelson is focused on doing maximum damage on every play, and he plans on using every second of it.

“I just like putting people on their backs every opportunity that I get,’’ Nelson said. “I know I have at least five seconds because that’s the length of the average play. When kids will give up before the whistle blows, you just keep fighting every play and pushing them back and making them feel terrible.”

There may not be a more ferocious player in the Shore Conference than the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Notre Dame recruit. Five seconds is also usually about as long as it takes for his non-stop motor to become apparent on film and in person to opposing players and coaches.

“He’s the best football player I’ve ever seen in person in high school,’’ said Manasquan head coach Jay Price, who has coached several FBS players in his time with the Warriors. “He’s unbelievable. The way he can move at his size is frightening.”

Coaches are usually the first to be skeptical about the hype over a star player, believing a close study of the film will really tell the story. With Nelson, coaches preparing to play the Caseys last year often found themselves rewinding the tape in disbelief just to admire his handiwork. Nelson has a combination of size, athleticism, technique and ferocity that have many coaches believing he may be the best offensive line prospect in the modern history of the Shore Conference .

“I’ve never in my life seen a lineman as good as Quenton Nelson at the high school level,’’ said Toms River North head coach Dave Oizerowitz, who also has coached several FBS talents.

“He is an absolute road grader and mauler at the line of scrimmage. If you get lucky and beat him, he wants to destroy you on the next play.”

“I compare to him to (former Ocean star and Penn State lineman) Lou Eliades and those guys,’’ Middletown South coach Steve Antonucci said. “I think

where he's at right now, he's the best I've seen.”

In addition to his tireless work on his agility, the senior offensive tackle has also been playing

Nelson also did one-on-one drills with former Red Bank Regional star defensive end Garrett Sickels, who is now a freshman at Penn State. He wanted to compete against the best to improve.

basketball since he was in middle school, which has helped hone his athleticism for his size.

“From playing basketball at an early age and having to cover kids quicker than me, that has made me more athletic and nimble,’’ Nelson said. “I also played middle linebacker in Pop Warner, and those things help.”

Nelson, who has never allowed a sack in his RBC career, also has the type of aggressiveness that can be hard to teach. A relatively quiet person off the field, he has the on-field nasty streak that most great linemen possess.

“He's not just comfortable blocking you,’’ said former Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Shane Fallon, who coached NFL lineman Rob Petitti. “He wants to bury you until there’s black pellets from the turf all over your facemask. A lot of kids become turf sandwiches when he's blocking them.”

“He plays with a chip on his shoulder,’’ Price said. “(Former Manasquan star and Boston College player Brad) Newman was like that. You had to put him in a box in practice because you didn’t want him to kill anybody. Nelson plays like a serial killer, but he’s not a dirty player.”

While he relishes contact, much of Nelson’s aggressiveness comes from the fact that he knows someone is always watching, and the film doesn’t lie.

“Especially with recruitment, coaches want to see your game film, so I never take a play off,’’ Nelson said.

“I run the sprints hard in practice and build up endurance, so I'm going 100 percent on each play.”

His drive to improve is nearly as relentless as his play on the field. In addition to working with RBC assistant coaches Joe Lanza and Matt Ahearn, he also had multiple sessions with Petitti, who was an All-American at the University of Pittsburgh in 2004 and played for four NFL teams.

Petitti, who is now an assistant at Servite High School in Anaheim, Calif., specifically worked with Nelson on pass blocking to help prepare him for what he will see at Notre Dame.

“I think he has way more upside than I did as a high school player,’’ Petitti said. “I thought I was a hard worker, but technique-wise, he’s way ahead of where I was. We worked a lot on pass setting and the two-point stance used in college, and he picked it up pretty quick. I watched him on film, and he finishes way more than I did. I went to Pitt and got more of an understanding to finish blocks and be as nasty as possible, but you watch his clips and it looks like he already has that.”

Nelson has also worked diligently to improve his play at defensive tackle, where he should be a game-changing force this season for the Shore Conference’s No. 1 team.

“He reminds me of (former RBC star and

“That's unique to have that drive,’’ Portela said. “You can think, ‘I got a scholarship, I'm good, I can cruise,’ but he doesn't have that at all.”

“He reminded me of when I was young because he kept asking me every question about everything,’’ Petitti said. “I remember he was going to some big national camp, and I said, ‘Why would you do that? You already have a ton of scholarship offers, and you could get hurt.’ He said, ‘I want to beat everybody.’ He already had everything going for him, but he still wanted to show everyone that he was the best.”

While his non-stop motor and competitiveness stand out on film, it’s clear that the time he’s spent honing the technical aspects of the game also has paid off.

“I think the most

impressive thing about him is how schooled he is with his footwork,’’ said Raritan head coach Anthony Petruzzi, who coached current Northwestern University lineman Shane Mertz.

“To be able to play with a low pad level, the way he does it at that size with the knee bend, the foot

t’s one of the worst feelings as a defensive coach.

The alignment was correct, the right defense was called, the players were perfectly positioned to stop the play, but the athletic freak on the other side wrecked it all with one well-timed leap or breathtaking catch in traffic.

Any team that has faced Manalapan senior wide receiver Saeed Blacknall and Southern senior wideout/tight end Mike Gesicki in the last two seasons knows the feeling. It’s the helplessness that comes with knowing there is only so much you can do to stop them, and then the rest is up to luck.

“They're going to make plays,’’ said Toms River North head coach Dave Oizerowitz, whose team has to face them both this year. “Your kid could do everything right, but they are big, athletic kids. They can do things smaller players can do, and one's 6-6 and the other one’s 6-4.”

Both are coming off stellar junior campaigns and productive offseasons that put them among the top talents in the nation at their respective positions.

Blacknall, who has verbally committed to Rutgers, is a four-star recruit

ranked No. 31 by Rivals.com among wide receiver prospects in the nation for his class. Gesicki is ranked as the No. 14 tight end prospect in the country by Rivals and has 22 FBS offers and counting.

Each of them was a first-team All-Shore selection last year. Blacknall had 40 catches for 743 yards and 11 touchdowns receiving, ran for 114 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, and averaged 43 yards per punt return and 47 yards per kickoff return in bringing back four kicks or punts for touchdowns.

Gesicki rewrote the school record book at Southern with 50 catches for 958 yards and nine touchdowns. Both of their teams reached NJSIAA sectional finals.

“Saeed Blacknall is definitely faster, but Gesicki has football speed that people don’t realize,’’ said Freehold Township coach Mike D’Antonio, who also has to face them both. “He is fast on the field.

They pose very similar challenges in that they’re physically bigger, faster and stronger.”

Big Red Machine

Blacknall remembers always being the fastest player on his youth teams growing up, and that has not changed at all in high school. He runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, and does it seemingly effortlessly. On a punt return for a touchdown in a wild, 35-31 win over Middletown South last season, he covered 85 yards in 11 seconds while cutting all the way back across the field and eluding defenders. It’s no surprise that he also is an elite track athlete as a sprinter in the winter and spring.

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After all, as Nelson knows, sometimes it only takes five seconds to make a lasting impression.

football hits his hands, you're in trouble.”

Blacknall has worked hard on his route-running and technique to go with his pure speed. He also has had high-level workout partners, as he was routinely pushed by good friend Ishmael Hyman, the former St. John Vianney star wideout who is now at the University of Kansas.

“It’s just experience,’’ Blacknall said.

“I’ve been to so many places and have seen so many other talented wide receivers that I just took something from all of them and from different coaches and incorporated it into my game.”

The past two seasons, Blacknall has had All-Shore receiver Anthony Firkser playing opposite him, but Firsker is now at Harvard University. This season will be a test to see how Blacknall handles blanket coverage, but the loaded Braves have weapons to counteract that in the form of 1,300-yard rusher Tyler Leonetti, tight end R.J. Krause and more.

“If you pay too much attention to Saeed, then Tyler is going to have a great year,’’ Manalapan coach Ed Gurrieri said. “I also think that R.J. is going to be able to work the middle of the field real well, and you have (fullback Nelson) Rivera in the flat. It might not be your traditional, ‘Here’s the X (receiver), here’s the Z,’ but you better account for both running backs and the tight end.”

No Answer

Gesicki is literally a bigger problem than Blacknall in the sense that he is 6foot-6 and 220 pounds with a 35inch vertical leap.

Mike Gesicki can line up at tight end or split wide, and there really aren’t any defensive

“He's a legitimate 4.4 kid, he's every bit of 6-4, and he's etched out of stone,’’ Oizerwitz said. “He's just gliding out there. When he catches it, everyone else looks like they're standing still. I had Ryshaun Conover and (New York Knicks guard) J.R. Smith at Lakewood, and this kid has got that burst. He's the kind of kid you see playing in the SEC, and luckily for Rutgers he chose to stay home.

“The only way you have a chance to stop him is if you have an elite corner who's 6-2, 190 pounds, and no one has one of those. If the

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

“It’s always in the back of your mind that you’ve got to stay humble and not think you're the greatest,’’ Nelson said. “That's what motivates me to

work hard to do every rep I'm supposed to in the weight room and do every sprint. With every one of those, my chances of winning that competition increase.”

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With offers from a who’s who of Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, ACC and more FBS schools, plus the two programs in last year’s national championship game, Alabama and Notre Dame, Nelson studied the depth charts and years of the linemen at every one to see what fit would be best for him. He knows that another

challenge awaits when it comes to battling the incumbents on the Fighting Irish next year, and that pushes him every day. He wants to enter the program and show what he can do right away.

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placement, and rolling his hips through and finishing, you can tell he takes it seriously. He is a student of the game. A lot of guys at his age are raw and just leaning into people with size and strength.”

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@ Brick Township Middletown North Jackson @ Toms River East @ Neptune Toms River North @ Southern Toms River South @ Lacey

Head Coach: Walt Currie, 7th season

Career Record: 38-28

Assistant Coaches: Pete Brennan (DC), Mike Cintron (ST), Ed Sarluca (DB), James Bright (OLB), Ryan Graham (DL), Rob Merola (OL), Bill Brunner (OL), Brian Staub (DB); Tim Brennan, Keith Farr (Freshmen), Sue Penrod (Athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 5-5 (3-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Chris Kimbiz, Jr., OL/DL. Kimbiz steps in as a two-way starter occupying a spot that was either Richie Kuhn or John Devaney last season, who were important players along both lines for the Mustangs.

X-FACTOR: Run defense. The Mustangs scored plenty of points last season and should do the same this year, but it won't matter if they can't stop teams from running at will and keeping their offense on the sidelines.

GLUE GUY: Jake Lombardo, Sr., OL/MLB. The man in the middle for the Mustangs is a leader the coaching staff has no problem giving great responsibility to.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Matt Cathey, Jr., RB/LB. Basile will get a lot of attention and that should give Cathey plenty of opportunities to make plays out of the backfield.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 14 at Brick Township. With the emotion that goes into this game plus the fact that both teams now both play in A South it's a chance to set the tone for the season.

A Chance at Redemption

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

superb 5-0 start to the 2012 season that culminated with a 40-28 win over previously undefeated Neptune had Brick Memorial thinking championship and entering the discussion as arguably the top-ranked team in the Shore Conference.

The Mustangs were averaging 39 points per game and looked unstoppable.

A 30-25 loss to Toms River North sent them tumbling, however, and when the dust settled the Mustangs had lost five straight to finish the season with a disappointing 5-5 record. The entire program was left thinking what could have been.

"I don't think it was one loss, we lost the games for a different reason, but in the end we were like, 'Man, what happened?' said Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie.

Their fall from grace has been a driving force for the Mustangs since the offseason began and prompted the staff to make plenty of changes across the board to ensure a similar situation doesn't unfold again. It hasn't been something they've tried to bury and move on from. Instead they're using it as a motivator and a tool for learning how to handle adversity.

"I feel like that has been the majority of our off-the-field talk as a team, not letting that happen again," said senior center/linebacker Jake Lombardo. "That bitter taste is still in my mouth.

We got too high on ourselves too early in the season. We have to learn from that and understand the real victories come in the playoffs."

The Mustangs graduated a strong class of seniors from last season that included quarterback Ryan Cieplenski and two-way linemen Richie Kuhn and John Devaney, but a strong junior class and all-around threat Mike Basile have Brick Memorial thinking championship once again as the 2013 season draws closer. There will be several new faces and some old faces in new places for the Mustangs, but with depth at the skill positions and some new wrinkles on both sides of the ball they feel they will once again be a team to be reckoned with.

Even with their season-ending slide, the Mustangs still finished the fall averaging 28.4 points per game. They will continue to run the option but will use a pistol set with junior Joe Hans likely to take over as the starting quarterback. Hans was getting half of the reps in practice with seniors Christian Giordano and Rob Triano splitting the remaining snaps. Hans played significantly as a freshman and started at wide receiver as a sophomore while also being groomed for an opportunity to become the team's starting quarterback this season. At 6-foot-3 and over 200 pounds, he has good size for a quarterback, especially in an option offense, and has shown an above-average arm.

"The No. 1 thing I like from him is his decision-making and command of the offense," Currie said. "He's a leader in the huddle, and he has an understanding of our scheme and what we're trying to do. Couple that with a dropback quarterback arm and the ability to run the football in the option game, you have a pretty good combination at quarterback."

Taking a receiving target and moving him to quarterback was a decision made easier because of Brick Memorial's depth at wideout,

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specifically with 6-foot-4 junior Karl Kumm, who bulked up in the offseason and showed off great hands in practice. Kumm, a returning starter, will be joined by seniors Tristan Gibson and Lance Hansen as downfield targets for Hans.

"What made (the decision to move Hans to quarterback) even easier is that the guys we have going for the other wide receiver spot are quality kids," Currie said. "None of them can do it all, but together they can. We have guys that can fill in and play a role on that other side. We could have had Karl and Joe at receiver and be set there, but moving Joe to quarterback makes us a better team."

Basile returns as halfback after scoring doubledigit touchdowns as a junior and is one of the most explosive players in the conference. He's a threat to score every time he touches the ball.

Junior Matt Cathey has seen extensive time as the other pitch back and junior Mike Manso is also in the mix. Junior Conner Owen is the fullback with Triano likely to get some playing time there as well.

"Everyone thinks we graduated too many seniors, but I honestly think we're coming back even stronger than last year," Basile said. "Karl is getting bigger and stronger, and Hans moving to quarterback will be pretty good for us."

As it seems to be with nearly every team in the Shore Conference, the

Mustangs' offensive line is an area of question as the start of the season looms. The Mustangs return basically three starters but lost Kuhn and Devaney as well as center Tom Sindel to graduation. Seniors Nick and Matt Merola return after being mostly full-time players last season at left tackle and right guard, respectively, while Lombardo shifts inside to center. Junior Chris Kimbiz will be the left guard and senior Mike Guastaferro will start at right tackle. The center is the most important player along the line in Brick Memorial's offense, and the Mustangs are fortunate to have Lombardo there, who will have now played every position on the offensive line.

"I wouldn't want any other guy on our team there," Currie said of Lombardo. "He's experienced, savvy and a leader. He's a diamond in the rough for us. People pay attention to Mike and Joe and Karl, but he's going to be the heart and soul of our team. We're going to rely on him a lot."

"The fact that I've played every other position helps a lot and is probably the reason they want me at center," Lombardo said. "I'm an experienced player that knows the calls and can help the other guys out."

One major difference teams will see is an uptempo, Chip Kelly-like offense from Brick Memorial. Although it won't be the base offense, there will be times when the Mustangs will push the pace at breakneck speeds. Currie said at one point they ran 30 plays in 10 minutes while in a no-huddle offense and 24 plays in 11 minutes while working with a huddle.

"We've been going at a pretty good clip and the kids are really keeping up the tempo," Currie said. "It's something we'll use in games, but more as change-up. It's another thing teams have to prepare for. It won't be only what we do, but how fast we do it."

One of the major keys offensively will be seeing who besides Basile can make an impact on offense and be another player opposing defenses have to account for. Basile will draw two defenders his way a lot of the time, and it will be important for Hans not to force the ball to him.

"If we can do that we're going to be better," Currie said. "Mike is going to get his touches, but if he's double-covered somebody else should be getting the ball. It's going to be the Mike Basile show in the sense that when he gets the ball he's going to be in a position to make a big play. When he shouldn't be getting the ball based on a read or a progression, we have to make sure we're not forcing it to him."

Even during their 5-0 start the Mustangs were giving up points.

They held teams under 14 points just twice (Brick and Jackson Memorial) and allowed 40 points in each of their final three games. It's an area they know has to be improved, and it begins with stopping the run in a division that features several very good running games.

"That's the normal deal in football, you have to stop the run first," Currie said. "If we can do that - play physical and tackle - we'll be in good shape. We've been tackling every day, even if it's just form."

As explosive as Basile is on offense, he's even more dangerous on defense. Last season he was the Class A South co-Defensive Player of the Year from his safety position and was an All

Senior C/MLB Jake Lombardo

backs in the area who can match up with him. Plus, he runs a 4.52 40-yard dash at his size, making him the total package. “(Former Brick Memorial star and Texans tight end) Garrett Graham is the closest thing I can compare him to, but Gesicki is different because this kid is a guy you can split out wide at the next level,’’ Oizerowitz said. “He's kind of like (New Orleans Saints All-Pro) Jimmy Graham. I'm not so sure he's just a tight end. I think he's more of a hybrid, a guy who could get paid handsomely in the National Football League if he can continue to develop because that’s what they are looking for right now at that level.”

“I was talking to the coach at Wisconsin (Gary Andersen), and he doesn't call me a tight end or a wide receiver,’’ Gesicki said. “He calls me a ‘big athlete,’ who can be a mismatch on different

talked to him about playing basketball, and he even met with legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski during an unofficial visit to Duke. The volleyball coaches at Rutgers and perennial national power Penn State have also reached out, as Gesicki has been a key cog on a perennial powerhouse volleyball squad for the Rams under coach Eric Maxwell. His two older sisters, Kelsey and Ashley, are former volleyball stars at Southern, so it runs in the family.

“I never even thought of going this far in football,’’ Gesicki said. “It just kind of fell in my lap. My thought was always to play basketball. All three sports help make me a better athlete. I wasn't as mentally and physically strong before I started playing football, and it helped me in basketball because I used to sit on the perimeter and was afraid to go inside. Now I go inside and bang up on people. Volleyball has helped my jumping ability and footwork from finding the ball and swinging down.”

“He’s a once-every-twodecades athlete,’’ Oizerowitz said. “I’m not sure everyone understands or appreciates how great of an athlete he is. When he fills out, he is going to be a scary guy.”

types of defenders.”

Gesicki is also the last of a breed that is nearly extinct in the age of specialization – the true three-sport star. He is a fouryear varsity player in basketball and volleyball who has starred at both since his freshman year.

He also highjumped six feet as an eighth-grader before deciding to quit track.

He said Bucknell and Colgate have offered him football and basketball scholarships, Miami has

Different Approaches

While Gesicki and Blacknall present similar problems on the field, one area where they have differed is in the recruiting process.

Blacknall couldn’t wait to end the siege of phone calls and messages on social media by making his choice and getting it over with. He chose Rutgers over defending national champion Alabama and fellow SEC power LSU, and felt the process showed that he is his own man.

“A lot of people reached out to give me credit for making my own decision and not being pressured into anything,’’ Blacknall said. “It’s not easy to sit across a desk from Les Miles and Nick Saban and say no or say that you need more time. A lot of other kids couldn’t do that. I respect those coaches and know they are great coaches, but I think a lot of people thought it showed I had the backbone to make the decision I thought was best for me and my family.”

Gesicki, on the other hand, is soaking it up and having fun, whether it’s posting Instagram photos of unique recruiting mail from Ohio State coach Urban

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com Meyer or changing the background of his Twitter page to get fans of a prospective team riled up that he might commit. Also, His father is a commercial pilot for United Airlines, so the family connection allows him to zip around the country for much less money.

During one four-day stretch in late June, he went from Ohio State to Yale to Miami. He has narrowed his list to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida State, Miami, Rutgers and Penn State, but plans on taking multiple official visits before making a decision.

“I have a great time with this whole process,’’ Gesicki said. “People say it can get hectic. I’ve talked to Saeed and completely understand his approach.

I’ve just had so many great experiences. Whether it’s sitting down with (Penn State coach) Bill O'Brien and watching film, or being able to sit down with coach Meyer, it’s not only made me a better football player, but also a better person.”

One area where the two are very much alike is that the bigger the game, the better chance that they will do something special. Whether it’s Blacknall turning in a sensational game against Middletown South that was pivotal to a division title, or Gesicki going toeto-toe with current Ohio State freshman defensive back Eli Apple in a win over Eastern in the South Jersey Group V semifinals, they want the ball when the pressure is at its peak.

“That’s what you train so hard for,’’ Blacknall said. “You want to be the one to make the big play when your team needs it the most.”

“I love big stages,’’ Gesicki said. “In my first home (basketball) game my freshman year against Toms River South, we were up one with a minute left and I wanted to have the ball to shoot the big free throws.

Whenever we need a kill in volleyball, I say, ‘Coach, I want to put it down.’ A lot of people shy away from those moments, but to make a big play on a big stage only makes it that much better.”

If they continue to progress, they may one day play on the biggest stage of them all.

“I can’t say we’re really rooting for them this year,’’ D’Antonio said before laughing. “But as they move forward, you definitely root for those guys.

They’re from the Shore, and you want to see them play on Sundays.”

P h o t o s b y : Cliff Lavelle www.clearedge.zenfolio.com Bill Normile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y : Philip Sloan

FOR INFORMATION

ON HI-RES COLOR PRINTS OF ANY

PAGES & IMAGES IN ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS CONTACT: Steven Meyer 732-233-4460 smeyer@allshoremedia.com

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"It's awesome," Basile said. "With the transfers it fires us up even more. They're working hard to beat us, and we're working hard to beat them. It's the best game. It's the best feeling beating Old Brick."

Brick Memorial has plenty of potential to reclaim its status as one of the Shore's best and a contender for the Central Jersey Group V championship. The sting of last season is still fresh in their memories as a motivator but there are also question marks with new starters in important places. Even so, those factors haven't altered the program's goals.

"Every year we have an introduction meeting and the main focus is that we're going to be a championship team," Lombardo said.

"Currie's main motto is that we're playing to win championships, and that hasn't changed."

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harder than we have since I've been here, and we've made some little changes on defense that hopefully will help us."

"Stopping the run is the biggest thing," Basile added. "If we can do that we'll be pretty good. Our defense did lose a lot of people, but we have a bunch of kids stepping up."

On special teams Kumm will be the kicker and Basile will be the punter.

For the fourth straight season Brick Memorial will open the season against Brick Township in one of the Shore's best rivalry games. The Mustangs have won the last three openers and four in a row in the series dating back to 2009. Ironically, their last loss to Brick came when they won the Central Jersey Group IV sectional title in 2008.

One of the biggest stories of the offseason was former Toms River North head coach Chip LaBarca Jr. joining Brick's staff as the offensive coordinator and his nephew, former Mariners' quarterback Carmen Sclafani, transferring to Brick after rushing and throwing for 1,000 yards as a sophomore. The additional story lines only add to the build-up for the Sept. 13 game at Brick.

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Shore Media All-Conference defensive back with 84.5 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 4 interceptions and 3 pass break-ups. He is stout against the run and has great ball skills. Just as he is on offense, he's a player opposing offensive coordinators have to account for.

"As an offensive coach you have to know where he is going to be," Currie said of Basile. "It's something we hope to take advantage of. I think Mike's biggest impact will be how opposing offenses gameplan with him in mind."

Basile is the strong safety in Brick Memorial's 4-3 base defense with Triano as the free safety. The corners are Hans and Hanson. The front seven features senior John Schaefer as the nose tackle and sophomore Mike Nobile, who started one game last year, at defensive tackle. Kimbiz and Dwayne Gudge are the defensive ends.

Lombardo returns as a starter at middle linebacker and will be flanked by Owen and Cathey.

"Whenever you play defense you have to start with stopping the run," Lombardo said. "This offseason we hit the weight room a lot

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Manchester Twp. @ Neptune @ Matawan @ JFK (Iselin) Red Bank Long Branch Wall @ Freehold Boro @ Monmouth

Head Coach: Don Klein, 7th season

Career Record: 33-28-1 Assistant Coaches: Marc Tomo (def. coord./OL); John Della Pesca (off. coord./WR/DL); Jim Symonelli (LB/OL); Pat O'Neill (QB/DB); Joe Barnicle (WR/DB); Jon Molinelli (RB/LB); Warren Towns, John Bosmans, Joe Siciliano (freshman); John DeSemmi (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 5-4-1 (2-3-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Luke Roman, Sr., OL. Roman takes over the starting guard spot vacated by the graduation of 330-pound lineman Matt Hicks, who was an All-Class B North pick by the coaches last year.

X-FACTOR: The passing game. Can Ocean do enough in the air to keep defenses from stacking the box to stop Thompson and Moore?

GLUE GUY: Dan Loizos, Sr., RB/LB. A fullback/middle linebacker who has been starting on varsity since his freshman year, Loizos is a team leader and defensive standout who will need to have a big season for Ocean to take a jump forward.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Ryan McGuckin, Sr., WR. McGuckin looks to give the Spartans another downfield threat to add balance to the offense, and he also should see time at linebacker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 20 at Neptune. The Spartans forfeited their game against the Scarlet Fliers last year because of a skin rash issue, and this season's match-up against the defending Class B North cochampions should be a crucial game in the divisional race and in the power points column.

Taking the Next Step

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

fter ending a two-year playoff drought last season, Ocean is ready to take the next step in its resurgence behind a talented backfield and a veteran defense.

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The Spartans fell to Allentown in the first round of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs last season, but believe they have the ammunition to restore the program to its customary prominent spot in the Shore Conference and state playoffs. They also look to make a run in what looks to be a fairly wide-open Class B North race.

The main reasons are a defense returning six starters and a backfield featuring sophomore standout Tyler Thompson at tailback and junior Royal Moore at quarterback.

Thompson returns after becoming the first Shore Conference freshman to amass 1,000 yards rushing since current Denver Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno did it for Middletown South in 2002. Thompson ran for 1,005 yards and 9 touchdowns on 183 carries in making the difficult leap from youth football to the varsity level. He already has an offer from Temple and interest from numerous FBS programs.

"I feel a little pressure, and I'm excited at the same time,'' Thompson said. "The pressure part is because everybody expects me to do a lot better than last year."

Moore, another dynamic athlete, will move from wide receiver to quarterback, the position he played two years ago on the freshman team.

Senior Gabe Jean-Charles is also competing with him for snaps at quarterback, according to Spartans coach Don Klein. Moore caught 20 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns at wideout last year, but now will make defenses think twice about ganging up on Thompson.

The Spartans will be employing some zone read plays in their multiple offense in which Moore can choose to hand off to Thompson, fake it and keep it himself, or use his strong arm to beat teams over the top. The goal is to get defenders to take a false step or freeze for that split second that could be the difference in breaking a big play. Senior Cody Cooper will be another threat at tailback, with senior Dan Loizos returning at fullback and senior Mike Halawani also seeing some action at that spot.

"I think it's going to be hard to stop us,'' Moore said. "Last year, Ty got the ball constantly, and now with me back there, I can

pull it and run, and teams will have to worry about that."

"We definitely have high expectations,'' Loizos said. "We have a lot of good skill guys coming back, and I feel like we have a lot of potential."

Ocean is also looking to improve its vertical passing game to keep teams honest by making them respect Moore's throwing ability. Seniors Cole Mehr and Jair Bernier are returning starters at wide receiver, where senior Ryan McGuckin and junior Marcus Blackman also look to make an impact.

tackles and three sacks last season, and McGuckin, Moody, and junior Frank Henry are competing for the strongside linebacker spot.

Walsh, Echandia, Ellison and Roman form the rotation at defensive tackle in Ocean's four-man front.

Morris is a returning starter at defensive end, and Halawani, who had 66 tackles and a team-high seven sacks at linebacker last year, has moved to the other defensive end spot.

Matarazzo and Demeter also should see time at end.

"I think defensively, we're going to be a strong unit,'' Klein said.

"We have a nice combination of talent with experience, we run very well defensively, and I think we'll be a

"Ultimately, we're aware of what we have with Tyler, and we're aware of teams trying to take him away, so we Sophomore TB Tyler Thompson have to do things in the pass game if they want to stack the box and take him lot more physical." away,'' Klein said. "We have to do more than we've done the last few years, especially The secondary looks to be a strong group vertically." with Moore, who led the team with three interceptions last year, and Bernier, who had "We struggled a little bit and didn't have two picks, both returning as the cornerbacks. much of a passing game last year, but Royal Mehr is also a returning starter at free safety. has a good arm," Loizos said. "We have a lot Blackman will be at strong safety, with of depth at receiver so I think that will Thompson, Jean-Charles and senior Zack improve."

Godfrey all part of the defensive backfield The Spartans return two starters up front in rotation. senior left guard John Walsh and senior right "Our starting defense is almost all back, so I tackle Jack Morris. Junior Blake Demeter will think we'll be good on that side of the ball,'' start at center, with junior Pat Ellison at left Moore said. "We just need to get the chemistry tackle and junior Luke Roman at right guard. on offense, and I think we can be really Juniors Haydn Matarazzo and Dom Echandia successful." also look to be in the offensive line rotation.

The hope is that it all adds up to Ocean's The placekicker spot is still up for grabs first run to the Central Jersey Group III final between sophomore Matt Fisher and Jeansince the Spartans won their last title in 2005.

Charles. Senior Miles Moody will handle the punting.

"We got back to the playoffs and now everyone is being held to that standard,'' With a host of experience on defense, the Morris said. "We want to go beyond it."

Spartans look to improve a unit that gave up 20.4 points per game last season. Leading the "Obviously there's a positive buzz about way is Loizos, a four-year starter at inside the program and kids we have back, but we linebacker who had 118 tackles and three can't take anyone for granted,'' Klein said. sacks last season and should be one of the "We're playing a very difficult schedule, so Shore's best this fall. Cooper returns at we need to stay focused." weakside linebacker after registering 69 P ho t o by:

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@ Manasquan Monmouth @ Neptune @ Wall Pinelands @ Freehold Boro Ocean Twp. Matawan Red Bank

Head Coach: Dan George, 15th season (17th overall) Career Record: 114-58 Assistant Coaches: Nick Tranchina (def. coord./LB); Terry King (WR); Ben Woolley (OL); Dennis O'Keefe (OL); Kris Parker; Brev Creech (DL); Chad King (DB); Tom D'Ambrisi (QB); Frank Pannullo, Derrell Sapp, Mike Dennis (freshman); Chris Grande (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 9-2 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Connor Mullan, Sr., LB. Mullan steps in at middle linebacker for Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year Joscil Jackson, who had a team-high 132 tackles last season.

X-FACTOR: Offensive line. With an entirely new group of starters, can the Green Wave maintain their highly-productive running game?

GLUE GUY: Deon Williams, Sr., RB/LB. Williams has All-Shore potential on both sides of the ball and has embraced the role of a team leader as a senior.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Saquan Gwaltney, Sr., DE. Gwaltney only saw limited action last season because of injuries but looks to be a much bigger contributor to the defense this season. He has already received interest from several FCS programs.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 28 at home vs. Neptune.

While the opener against Manasquan is also a big game powerpoints-wise, as far as Class B North is concerned, the showdown with the Scarlet Fliers looks to be a big one. Neptune handed Long Branch one of its two losses last season, and the two shared the division title.

Not in a Sharing Mood

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

fter winning the Class B North cochampionship last season for its first division title in five years, Long Branch is no longer in a sharing mood coming into this fall.

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The Green Wave have their sights set on their first back-to-back division titles since they won three straight from 1985-87 and also look to make a run at the program's first NJSIAA sectional title since 1999.

"We don't want to share (the B North title) with anybody else this year,'' said senior running back/linebacker Deon Williams. "We just want it for ourselves."

Nearly the entire lineup returns from one of the Shore Conference's top defenses last year, which should be a strength in the early going while an offense featuring several newcomers gets up to speed.

A pair of standout bookends at defensive end highlight the defensive line in Long Branch's 4-3 alignment, which allowed 10.3 points per game last season. Junior FBS prospect Hunter Baillie is coming off a sophomore season in which he earned ASM second-team All-Shore honors with 84 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception return for a touchdown.

"Defense is definitely going to be a strength because we've got most of our returners from last year on that side of the ball,'' Baillie said.

"I've just been working on getting stronger and faster, and working on my hands against run blocking."

At the other defensive end spot will be Saquan Gwaltney, a 6foot-3, 250-pound senior.

Gwaltney transferred to Long Branch from Irvington last season and missed much of the season with injuries, but has the potential to be a breakout player this year.

"In our scrimmages, he's looked pretty good,'' Williams said. "He's been getting his hands on people and making tackles."

"(Gwaltney) and Hunter complement each other well, no question,'' said head coach Dan George.

Juniors Isaiah Martinez and Earl Mackason and senior T.J. Covin make

Senior TB/LB Deon Williams

up the defensive tackle rotation. At linebacker, the Green Wave will have to replace ASM Shore Conference Defensive Player of the Year Joscil Jackson, who had 132 tackles last season. Senior Connor Mullan steps into Jackson's spot at middle linebacker, and senior Nick Mankin will be at weakside linebacker. Williams anchors the group as a three-year starter at strongside linebacker after making 91 tackles as a junior.

Senior cornerback Shabazz Shuler is a threeyear starter who will lead the secondary, which will also feature cornerback Kenny Barrow, a senior transfer from Monmouth Regional. Junior Jahmiere Elliot-Hare also should see time at cornerback. Junior Dahmiere Willis is a returning starter and rising star at safety who had 52 tackles and 5 interceptions as a sophomore.

Senior Myson Pennington will be at the other safety spot after seeing time last year.

"Going into Game One, I would say defense is our strength,'' George said.

"The defensive line looks good, the linebackers are learning, and our secondary for the most part is back.

The Pennington kid is a 6-foot-4 safety, and I think he's going to cause some havoc."

Offensively, Shuler steps in for the graduated Avry Griffin as the new quarterback in the Green Wave's multiple-I offense. The cousin of former Long Branch star Miles Shuler, the younger Shuler played wide receiver last year but was a quarterback on his freshman team.

"It's a little faster, but I'm getting it,'' Shuler said.

"He looks pretty good,'' Williams said.

"He's making great reads and throwing the ball well. I guess he gets it from his older cousin Miles."

Shuler also should have a dynamic backfield behind him. Williams and Jackson formed one of the most productive running tandems in the Shore Conference last season, and now the talented Willis steps into the role vacated

by Jackson. "(Willis) is a very good tailback,'' George said.

"We're playing him at fullback because we want them both in the backfield just like we wanted them both in the backfield last year. He's

embracing his role, and he knows he's going to get some shots at tailback because Deon will be out for a series here, a series there."

Williams is coming off a junior season in which he came up two yards shy of 1,000 for the season and looks to be one of the top backs in the Shore this year. He also is looking to fill the leadership void left by Jackson's graduation.

"Deon's in phenomenal shape,'' George said.

"He lifted hard with Joscil and Dwight (Clark) in the offseason with (trainer) Cornell Key. He had a very good year last year, and he wasn't in the shape last year that he's in this year."

"Last year Joscil was more of the team leader and I was more of the quiet guy, but we both got things done, so I think I will be able to handle it this year,'' Williams said. "We don't have a lot of seniors. I have to be more of the vocal leader for the team."

Pennington and junior Dave Colbert, who saw time last year, will be the wideouts, with senior Antoine Felder stepping in at tight end. The main question mark is an offensive line that graduated all five starters. What has helped is that Long Branch has four scrimmages this preseason instead of three, giving the new group more time to mesh in game conditions.

"The offensive line looks pretty good for a young offensive line,'' Williams said. "They've gotten better and better every day. Our offensive line doesn't play defense, so they work every day together in practice."

"They know that they have some big shoes to fill, so they're working hard,'' Shuler said. "They need to get as much experience as possible before the season starts at possible."

Senior Dan Navarette will be the center, with senior Arturo Rios and sophomore Joe Jazzio as the guards. Sophomore Careron Hills and 275-pound junior Andrew Huff are the new tackles.

"That group has been a pleasant surprise,'' George said. "We scrimmaged Brick Memorial, Westfield, Bayonne and Monroe, all Group V schools, and I felt like we held our own up front in every single scrimmage. They are also extremely coachable kids."

Junior Vinny Mota returns as the placekicker after making several clutch kicks last season, including a field goal that beat Matawan in the final seconds of a regular-season game. Willis will handle the punting.

The goals for the Green Wave are clear, and by Week Three they should have a good idea of where they stand in the hierarchy of the Shore and Class B North. They play Manasquan in the season opener and face Neptune in their third game after sharing the division title with the Scarlet Fliers last year.

"We're ready,'' George said. "We've just got to survive the first three weeks and then build from there."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Jackson Liberty @ Red Bank Freehold Boro @ Long Branch @ Brick Township Matawan @ Ocean Twp. Neptune Manasquan

Head Coach: Nick Gregorio, 2nd season (4th overall) Career Record: 13-16-1 Assistant Coaches: Dan Curcione (def. coord./ILB); James Cadigan (TE); Bill Carasia (OLB); Mike Cerminaro (passing game coord./QB); Jimmy DiPaolo (WR); Bob Grace (RB); Tim Heaney (spec. teams/DL); Sean McPherson (DB); Bill Pietsch, Jim Rochford, Cody Smith (freshman); Mike Hackett (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 2-7-1 (1-4-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Brendan Brady, Sr., OL. Brady takes over for current Lehigh freshman Evan Sweeney as the senior leader of the offensive line, which will be a crucial unit in Wall's success this year.

X-FACTOR: The offensive line. The Crimson Knights have to be able to move people up front to help establish the run game and give Jack Gifford time to make plays through the air. With three newcomers, this unit will have to get up to speed quickly.

GLUE GUY: Geoff Horwitz, Sr., TE/DE. Horwitz will start on both sides of the ball and looks to be an integral part of each unit as well as a team leader.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Anthony Palmieri, Sr., DB. Palmieri steps in at cornerback in a veteran secondary that should be a strength of the defense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at home vs. Jackson Liberty. The Lions return quarterback Matt Castronuova and have the expectations of a second straight state playoff berth, so this is a chance for Wall to show its improvement and set the tone for a winning season by avenging a loss from last year.

Settled In

By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r

all knew it wasn't going to be smooth sailing with a brand new team, coach and division last year, but with a roster full of returning starters and a more situated head coach, the Crimson Knights are ready to quickly erase the memory of a losing season.

W

"There is a totally different feel this year, a totally different vibe," second-year Wall head coach Nick Gregorio said. "We have a lot of new coaches that have made a positive impact, and I've had a full offseason with them that I didn't get to have in my first year last season. I feel like it's mine now, and the team is embracing our vision and philosophy."

A young team had its ups and downs in going 2-7-1 last season, but now a more seasoned group is ready to get back to the program's tradition of state playoff contention and winning championships.

"Last year, it was tough,'' Gregorio said.

"I'm a North Jersey guy and I didn't know anyone here so I was getting my feet wet, and now I have my guys and my staff, and the kids are really getting used to what we're doing now."

Offensively, the Crimson Knights will still be running the spread/I-formation hybrid they implemented last season, but it will be with some tweaks to make it more of a multiple Iformation. They have a host of returners at the skill positions, including senior wide receivers Cadell Kennedy, Chris Quinlan, and Kyle McDonough as well as running back Pete Miceli and 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end Geoff Horwitz.

"We have a lot of guys on offense that we can trust and rely on to make plays," Gregorio said. "We just have to take care of business this season up front, and that's the big question mark for right now."

Senior Jack Gifford returns at quarterback with a full season under his belt in Gregorio's system after throwing for 853 yards and 7 touchdowns last season on a unit that averaged 15.9 points per game.

"Last season definitely helped us gain experience," Gifford said. "We know what we have to do this year, and we just have to get it done. I have a lot of great guys to create plays with up front so we will see."

"(Gifford) has taken major leaps and bounds compared to last year in his footwork, the way he throws the football, his decision-making, and leadership,'' Gregorio said. "You can just see he has improved a lot."

Miceli returns after rushing for 686 yards and 2 scores last season, and Gifford also played a role in the running game with 426 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground. Out of the receiver group, McDonough led the team with 13 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown, Quinlan led the team in receiving yards (214) and touchdown catches (3), Kennedy had 9 catches for 108 yards, and Miceli was also a factor in the passing game with 9 catches for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns.

One area Wall looks to become more settled is on the offensive line, where Lehigh recruit Evan Sweeney was among the losses to graduation.

"We're coming along in our offensive line,'' Gregorio said. "We struggled a little last year. We still have a long way to go up front, and that will be the difference. With the skill players we have up front, if we can get the line right, we will be explosive. If we can't, we're going to run into some problems, so hopefully we can get the blocking to the level we want it to."

"We're really looking to improve on offense this year because some of the positions are new to the guys," Kennedy said. "Our linemen really need to step up big this year because it wasn't so great last year."

Junior Jim Onulak is a returning starter at left tackle and senior Brendan Brady is back at left guard. Four players are currently battling it out for the starting spots at center and on the right side of the line.

On defense, the Crimson Knights have switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base alignment under new defensive coordinator Dan Curcione, who was the defensive coordinator at Toms River North last season. With almost their entire lineup returning, they hope to improve a unit that gave up 26.3 points per game last season.

Tom Munro, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound senior, gives Wall the imposing presence in the

Senior quarterback Jack Gifford middle suited to the 3-4 after finishing with 26 tackles last year. Horwitz returns at defensive end after leading the team with four sacks as a junior to go with 38 tackles. Juniors Tim McGevna and Rich Eknoian return at inside linebacker, with senior Joe Onulak and senior Ken Dioguardi as the outside linebackers.

Eknoian is the team's top returning tackler after registering 83 as a sophomore, and McGevna also saw time.

McDonough and senior Jack Cluley return as the safeties, and Kennedy and senior Anthony Palmieri will be at cornerback.

Cluley had 47 tackles last year, and Kennedy finished with 36. Senior Phil Shields returns as the punter and placekicker.

The Crimson Knights open their season against Jackson Liberty, which is coming off its first state playoff appearance in program history and beat Wall 21-6 in last year's opener. It's a chance to show how much has changed since they were an entirely new group under a new head coach last year.

"We are definitely looking to go out there and win against Jackson Liberty, and we just want to take it one game at a time," Horwitz said.

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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@ Red Bank Cath.

Wall @ Rumson @ Ocean Twp. @ Neptune @ Matawan Freehold Boro Barnegat Long Branch

Head Coach: Nick Giglio, 5th season (12th overall)

Career Record: 41-79 Assistant Coaches: Jeff Mauro (OL); Steve Turner (LB); Mike Bland (DL); Cory Giddings (WR); Jerett Sanderson (DB); Michael Zadlock (TE); Ron Puryear, Darnell Lewis, Shane Bigelow, Keith Savage (freshman); Joel Gray (alumni relations); Christina Emrich (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-6 (2-4)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Dylan DeVita, Sr., TE/DE. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, DeVita steps into the role as a playmaking defensive end vacated by Penn State recruit Garrett Sickels, who was a first-team All-Shore performer and one of the top recruits in New Jersey last year.

X-FACTOR: Experience. With so many newcomers, particularly on the offensive line, the new Bucs will have to catch up quickly against a challenging schedule.

GLUE GUY: Xavier Chestnut, Sr., RB/DB. A team leader, he is expected to play a significant role on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Sadiq Palmer, So., WR/DB. A rising talent who had the coaches buzzing last year as a freshman, Palmer now gets a chance to show what he can do at the varsity level. He has game-breaking speed on offense and also will be at safety.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at home vs. Wall. The season opener against No. 1 RBC is a tall order, but this game against a Crimson Knights team coming off a losing season is a chance for the new group to gain confidence and show that it will be competitive in Class B North. Red Bank also has a score to settle after losing 34-28 in overtime to Wall last year.

Next Man Up

By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r

fter suffering heavy graduation losses, Red Bank Regional hopes to use some talented newcomers and a physical style of play this season to make up for a lack of experience.

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We have a lot of young and inexperienced players in our starting lineup this season, but they're very enthusiastic and ready to go," head coach Nick Giglio said. "It's very refreshing to have a young team that takes in everything you say."

Seniors Xavier Chestnut and Mario Williams, a pair of running backs/defensive backs, look to lead the team this fall and help the younger players mesh with the veterans.

"Practice has been going good for us so far," Chestnut said. "We have been pretty much working on everything since we lost a lot of the older guys and are starting fresh. Our defense is good like always, but we're just trying to see where everyone fits in right now."

Red Bank is trying to move past the frustration of last season, when it finished 4-6 thanks to several close losses in a season with high expectations thanks to a large senior class.

"We lost two double-overtime games last year, and we lost two other very close games,'' Giglio said. "It was like one more point, and we're in the playoffs, but it was something along the line that just didn't get us over the hump."

Two of the most prominent graduation losses came on the defensive line, as star defensive end Garrett Sickels is now at Penn State, and nosetackle Isaac Coates is at Grambling.

"I'm not sure if we're ever truly going to be able to replace Sickels and Coates from last year, but we're replacing them with numbers and more players working hard," Giglio said. "Maybe we'll never be at the level of those guys, but if we have seven or 10 people working at trying to be as good as them, we might be able to work at the level of the individual talent from last year."

Offensively, there are two players competing

for the starting quarterback spot in senior Joe Persico, who was the JV quarterback last year, and sophomore Jack Navitsky, who was the freshman quarterback last season.

"Both players are really working hard and competing to get the top spot," Giglio said. "They are both getting better every day, and that's all I can ask for."

The Bucs are running a true doublewing offense after using more of a single wing last season in averaging only 12.6 points per game.

"We have a true running back in the back there, not the blocking back, so speed and misdirection are the two things we're going for this season,'' Giglio said.

Chestnut and Williams will be in the backfield, and senior Adam Lynch and junior Trevor Riley will see carries at fullback, with junior Jimmy Ferrogine at wingback in an all-new backfield.

The most promising newcomer is sophomore Sadiq Palmer, who brings big-play ability at split end and could also be dangerous in the run game.

Dylan DeVita, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound senior, will be at tight end.

An offensive line featuring all newcomers will consist of a tackle rotation of seniors Jake Smolokoff, Jerry Ayala and Sha'mere Williams, senior guards Gary Johnson and Mickey Granese, and sophomore center Ricky Wild.

Defensively, they have shifted gears from a 4-3 defense to a 3-3 stack team this fall. Giglio hopes that this will take advantage of their speed and help them negate a size disadvantage.

"We're a 3-3 team this season, and right now we're trying to find guys to fill some of those voids left by players like Sickels and Coates," Giglio said. "We have guys who are vastly improving in those spots, and we hope our strengths in the other spots we'll make up for those losses."

Senior Gary Johnson returns at linebacker and DaVita looks to be a disruptive force at defensive

Senior LB Gary Johnson end to lead the defense. Smolokoff, Lynch, and senior Ryan Seely make up the rotation at inside linebacker, with senior Saiquan Thigpen at outside linebacker. Sophomore Sean Naiman will be at the other defensive end spot, but suffered a wrist injury in a preseason scrimmage that should keep him out a few weeks. Sha'mere Williams steps in for Coates at nosetackle.

The secondary looks to be a strength with Williams and Chestnut as the cornerbacks and Palmer at safety. Junior Dan Vilardi will be the punter, and Eduardo Lino will handle the placekicking.

The Bucs will have to get up to speed quickly, as they open with rival Red Bank Catholic, the No. 1 team in the Shore Conference, and then go into a Class B North schedule featuring defending co-champions Long Branch and Neptune as well as several other traditional powers.

"Our division is a battle with playoff teams, and then we go to our nondivisional games and they're playoff teams as well," Giglio said.

"Every week it's going to be more and more difficult, and we need to find different ways to compete with those guys."

"It makes you want to work harder and be better,'' Mario Williams said. "Our goal is always to win a championship, so that is what we plan to work toward this season."

P hot o s b y: Bill N ormile billno rmile. ze nf o lio. co m

Head Coach: John Kaye, 2nd season (8th overall)

Career Record: 6-4 (36-19-1 overall)

Assistant Coaches: Jay Bellamy (def. coord./spec. teams); Charlie Marsh (LB); Nick Citro (DL); Ken Mandeville (RB); Matt Walsh (QB); Dave Monro (OL); Justin Bloss (TE); Scott Davis (WR); Buddy Scott (WR); Robert Carnovsky, Sam Turner, Bob Wietecha (freshman); Matt Goetz (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 6-4 (4-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Aliem Shaw, So., LB. After starting five games at linebacker as a freshman, Shaw moves into the middle linebacker spot vacated by the graduation of Dan Incle, one of the top linebackers in the Shore from last season.

X-FACTOR: Experience. With a new quarterback, new backfield and mostly new wide receivers, the Huskies will be relying on several players in key spots to get up to speed quickly.

GLUE GUY: Nick Tomkins, Sr., TE/DE. An academic standout and hard-nosed leader, he will play a big role on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jimmy Pierce, Jr., QB. Pierce takes over at quarterback in Matawan's spread offense for two-year starter Kashaun Barnes, who is now at Manchester.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 27 at home vs. Ocean. The Spartans look to also be a contender in Class B North this season, so this is an early game that will offer an indication of which team will remain in the hunt for the title deep into the season. It also should be crucial for both teams powerpoints-wise.

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Young and Hungry

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

atawan may be a young and inexperienced team on paper, but that doesn't change the annual high expectations at a program only two seasons removed from winning its second NJSIAA sectional title in three years

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The Huskies have a host of newcomers at the skill positions on offense and some young players at key spots on defense who will look to get up to speed quickly in order to stay afloat in the competitive Class B North. The goal is to get back to the 12th game after a strange season in which the Huskies had a 24-day layoff because of Hurricane Sandy and New Brunswick deciding not to play a regular-season match-up before they fell to Long Branch in the first round of the Central Jersey Group II playoffs.

"The seniors definitely want to get two rings to show for our time here,'' said senior tight end/defensive end Nick Tomkins. "We lost a lot of people, but everyone filling in the spots is the same or better than last year."

"A lot of people don't think we're going to be good because we have a young team, but we're going to be good, and we feel we have a wide-open state bracket,'' said senior Mike Creamer, who was the ASM first-team All-Shore punter as a junior and also is a standout placekicker.

There will be a lot of new faces in the backfield, starting with junior Jimmy Pierce at quarterback. He takes over for two-year starter Kashaun Barnes, who transferred to Manchester in the offseason.

"Jimmy's coming along really well,'' said senior two-way lineman Chris Veary. "He put the time in during the offseason, and he's learning to be a leader."

He will be at the helm of an offense that is moving away from pounding the ball up the middle to more of a spread pistol look because of its personnel.

"I think we'll have a lot of short, quick passes, and we'll be able to run the ball because we have a lot of speed,'' Tomkins said.

"We're going to have to force people to make plays on the perimeter against us,'' said Matawan head coach John Kaye.

Three speedy backs will be competing for touches at tailback - senior Justin Lester, junior Devon Spann and sophomore Mikaya Caesar. Junior Nick Malta and senior Lameen Spann will see time at fullback.

Tomkins is an athletic 6-foot-4 target at tight end, and the Huskies have good speed at receiver. Explosive sophomore Khalil Haskins is a returning playmaker at slot receiver, and sophomore DeJohn Rodgers, the nephew of former Matawan great Charlie Rodgers, will also be at receiver, with junior Justin Ferrara at split end. Senior Pritender Singh also will be in the wide receiver rotation.

"We have five guys we can hand off to on the edge and that helps because the defense doesn't know who it's going to,'' Tomkins said.

Veary returns as a three-year starter at center, and senior Brandon Murphy is a returning starter at left guard.

Juniors Zach Castenada and Jake Weber, who both started on defense last year, will be at right guard and left tackle, respectively. Senior Doug Weber is a three-year starter at right tackle, and senior Sultan Abdel-Aziz will be in the offensive line rotation.

"Blocking-wise, (the spread offense) is much easier for us,'' Doug Weber said. "Same zone, same gap schemes.

It's a really good transition."

Creamer returns as a special teams weapon after averaging 38.5 yards per punt and dropping 12 punts inside opponents' 10-yard lines last year. He also booted five field goals and did not miss an extra point all season. He is trying to recover from a deltoid ligament strain in his left leg that he suffered playing baseball for the Huskies in the spring and re-injured in July playing summer baseball. He got back to kicking shortly before camp began in early August.

Defense and special teams have been two areas Matawan has heavily relied on during its run of success, and that

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Senior TE/DE Nick Tomkins should be no different this season.

"We always feel like we'll be stout defensively and strong in the kicking game, so it's all about the offense limiting turnovers and not giving other teams field position," Kaye said. "We'll make everybody earn what they get."

Doug Weber is a returning starter at defensive tackle and will be joined by sophomore Calvin Beaty at the other tackle spot, with junior Dan Corredor in the rotation. Jake Weber is a returning starter at defensive end, and Tomkins will move from linebacker to defensive end to play the position he projects to play in college. Also a great student, Tomkins has interest from Lafayette, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania and Albany, who are interested in seeing the first four games of his senior film.

Sophomore Aliem Shaw, who started five games last year as a freshman, will be at middle linebacker. Lameen Spann and junior Matt Liebowitz are competing for the strongside linebacker spot, and sophomore Isaiah Phillip will be at weakside linebacker.

Sophomore Shawn Ramcheran, who also should see time at the skill positions on offense, returns at safety after starting five games as a freshman.

Junior Juan Gonzalez is a returning starter at safety, and Haskins returns at cornerback. The other cornerback spot is a competition between Rodgers, Caesar and senior Jordan Pisano.

The first-round playoff exit for the Huskies has renewed their hunger to restore themselves as the best in Central Jersey Group II.

"It was hard turning in our stuff in November instead of December,'' Veary said. "Now we have that chip on our shoulder again."

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@ Raritan Ocean Twp. @ Long Branch Matawan Brick Memorial Red Bank @ Freehold Boro @ Wall @ Asbury Park

Head Coach: Mark Ciccotelli, 3rd season (11th overall) Career Record: 20-4 (66-52 overall) Assistant Coaches: Noel Kavanagh (def. coord.); Mike DeLucia (OL); Al Saner (OL); Sal Spampanato (off. asst./RB/LB); Frank Iachetta (OL); Pete Christathakis (DL); Nick Tyson (QB/DB); Tom Dinetta (K/P); Rodney Taylor, Mike Seber (freshman); Frank Viggiani (football operations); Frank Palumbo (video coord./scouting).

2012 Record: 9-3 (5-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Shakeem Richardson, Sr., QB. Richardson may have the biggest shoes to fill of any player in the Shore in following in the footsteps of Offensive Player of the Year Ajee Patterson, now at the University of New Haven, who rolled up 3,225 total yards & 38 touchdowns last season.

X-FACTOR: Experience. Will the heavy graduation losses take their toll with so many newcomers?

GLUE GUY: Byron Campbell, Sr., RB/LB. One of the few returners with experience, he is expected to anchor the defense at linebacker & help solidify the backfield.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Cameron Calderon, Jr., RB/WR/DB/LB. A versatile athlete, he looks to be a weapon as a slotback & lining up as a receiver while also playing defense at the Scarlet Fliers' hybrid safety/linebacker spot.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at home vs. Ocean. The Spartans forfeited to Neptune last year because of a skin rash issue, so this year it will get settled on the field.

Ocean looks to be a Class B North contender with a strong backfield featuring sophomore Tyler Thompson, so this should be a good test for the defending division cochamps. It kicks off a crucial stretch, as Neptune follows this with big divisional games against defending cochampion Long Branch & Matawan & then a nondivisional clash with Brick Memorial.

Ready to Reload

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

fter losing nearly its entire lineup on both sides of the ball to graduation following two straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III final appearances, Neptune has no intention of taking a step back despite all the newcomers.

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"That's what Neptune does - we reload,'' said senior quarterback Shakeem Richardson. "We don't rebuild."

This will be a year for the Scarlet Fliers to show the strength and depth of their program, because all 11 starters on offense graduated and eight of 11 starters from defense are gone from a team that went 9-3, won its first division title since 1998, and reached the sectional final before losing 35-24 to Nottingham.

or the second straight year, a Neptune quarterback was named ASM's Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as Ajee Patterson followed Jaheem Woods with a monster season in which he racked up 2,665 yards passing and 26 touchdowns while also running for 560 yards and 12 touchdowns for 3,225 yards of total offense and 38 total touchdowns.

Richardson, who has started in the secondary the last two years and seen time at the skill spots on offense, returns to the quarterback position he played as a freshman.

"It's a big transition, but it's all about being disciplined,'' he said. "I've been in this offense for two years, so there's really no excuse for me not to know what's really going on. I just have to take the next step with it."

He also steps into the lofty spot occupied by two players who lit up the Shore as seniors the last two years.

During head coach Mark Ciccotelli's tenures at Freehold and Neptune, four quarterbacks in his veer offense have been first-team All-Shore performers.

"I don't feel pressure,'' Richardson said.

"It's all about the team. It's not about me continuing the tradition of being the Player of the Year. It's all about us winning. All we want is a state championship."

"Shakeem is a leader, and we're not asking him to be Jaheem or Ajee,'' said Ciccotelli, now in his third season. "We just want him to control what he can control, execute the offense and lead this new group. He's a great athlete with experience, and he has a chance to really do some things, particularly running the ball."

He is part of a completely new group on offense that will look to keep the production coming on a unit that averaged 31 points per game last season. Seniors Marcus Washington and Byron Campbell are competing at tailback, and a host of

players are competing for time at slotback.

Oshane Curate, Jaree Parrish, Jeff Sergilus, Zaire Alston, Romello Union and junior Cameron Calderon, the younger brother of former AllShore talent Ikie Calderon, are all in the mix to get touches at that spot.

"They're hungry,'' Richardson said of the new skill players.

"They want to be good. They know what they have to execute."

"We're just trying to find the guys who Senior can make plays and be consistent for us right now,'' Ciccotelli said. "These guys have talent and some good speed, and I tell them this is an opportunity for the ones who work hard to get a chance to make an impact after sitting behind these other guys the last few years."

Richardson has been reacquainting himself with the footwork and timing of Neptune's offense. It requires precision to keep defenses off balance and create creases for the Scarlet Fliers' explosive runners by making defenses freeze or take a false step in the wrong direction.

"I've been working on my steps and reading the veer because we're a veer team and that's our base play,'' Richardson said.

The wide receiver group also features plenty of competition, with Curate, senior Dyshon Day, and sophomores Isaiah Calhoun and Marcque Ellington all potentially seeing time there.

The offensive line is an entirely new group consisting of center Keysan Johnson, tackles Andrew Samuels and Jarrone Perry, and guards Melquan Taylor and Gyse Pierce. Aaron Garner and Anthony Robinson also should be in the offensive line rotation.

"We're trying to get them up to speed because they are all new, so it's a work in progress right now,'' Ciccotelli said.

Neptune has also added a special teams weapon in junior kicker/punter Hunter Daly, who has field goal range out to 40 yards. He just joined the team this year and gives the Scarlet Fliers a dimension in the kicking game they have not had for a long time.

Defensively, they return three starters in their 3-5-3 stack alignment under new

QB Shakeem Richardson coordinator Noel Kavanagh, with the linebackers looking to be the main strength. Senior Tyrell Montgomery and Curate will be at defensive end, where junior Nasir Williams and senior Myles Mooney will also be in the rotation.

Pierce is a returning starter at noseguard, where Robinson should also see time.

Campbell is a returning starter at strongside linebacker and senior Aaron Washington is returning at weakside linebacker. Junior Mi'Jaut Berry steps in at middle linebacker, and Parrish, Calderon and Aaron Young will be in the rotation at the hybrid safety/outside linebacker spots.

"The strengths of this defense are definitely speed and hard hitters who rally to the ball,'' Richardson said.

"With the seniors back at linebacker, we expect those guys to lead the defense and set the tone for all these new guys,'' Ciccotelli said.

Senior Michael Dove and Anthony Mallory will be at cornerback, where Union and Day are also battling for time.

Junior Savior King steps in as the starting safety. Richardson also has started in the secondary the past two years, but Ciccotelli is hoping to create enough depth to preserve him only for offense.

After going a combined 20-4 the past two seasons with a state championship and two trips to the sectional finals, this is going to be by far the biggest challenge yet for the Scarlet Fliers during their successful run under Ciccotelli.

"The expectations are always the same no matter who graduates,'' Richardson said. "We have to get back to that state championship game."

Head Coach: Dave Ellis, 3rd season

Career Record: 5-15

Assistant Coaches: Bill Hill (off. coord./WR/DB); Jason Blum (OL/DL); John Kinzel (OL/DL); Mike Salum (OLB/WR); Andrew Mandeville (QB); Len Rivers, Alex Killian, Robert Keyes (freshman); Mike Stehle (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 2-8 (1-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Darrin Shields, Sr., OL. Shields returns at guard and will look to be a leader on the offensive line at that position to help replace 6-foot-6, 290-pound Colgate recruit Ryan Kasten, who was the left guard last season.

X-FACTOR: Offense. The Colonials have struggled to score against playoff-caliber teams, so the improvement on that side of the ball will go a long way toward determining how far they go.

GLUE GUY: John Bostic, Sr., OL/DL. A two-way returner, he will be called upon to lead the line on both sides of the ball to let Freehold's playmakers go to work on offense and let its linebackers run free to make plays on defense.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Jack Curry, So., QB/DB. Curry is pushing incumbent Brad Jones for snaps at quarterback and also will see plenty of time at safety on defense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Lakewood. The Piners enter the season with high expectations coming off their first playoff appearance in a decade, so a win over Freehold head coach Dave Ellis' alma mater would immediately open some eyes that this is an improved Colonials team.

ith several key returners on offense and an experienced defense, Freehold is looking to get back to its winning ways as a Class B North contender after consecutive losing seasons.

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Senior guard Darrin Shields and senior center John Bostic return to anchor the offensive line, where junior David Alpaugh looks to be a key newcomer in a unit that graduated Colgate recruit Ryan Kasten. Junior Mitch Johnson steps in for the graduated Kevin Smith at tight end.

Head coach Dave Ellis feels his system is firmly in place and the expectations are clear as he heads into his third year coaching the Colonials.

"This year we will be bringing a little more speed to the offense, which goes for our linemen as well," Ellis said.

"They don't have the size as some of the guys from last year, but they are picking up our schemes really well and that's all we can ask for."

"Being a head coach, it's always a growing process," Ellis said. "I just try to reflect from the previous year and see the areas where I can improve, whether it's in the coaching staff or the roster. In my third year I feel like everything has settled down. I think the players know what they can expect from me, and that is the biggest part."

On defense, the Colonials will still be running a 3-3-5 stack. They will have a good mix of returning starters, including Bostic and Shields on the defensive line.

Seniors Jomar DeJesus and Max Stein are back to give a veteran presence at linebacker, where the Colonials suffered a loss when talented sophomore Imamu Mayfield transferred to Manalapan in the offseason. Bates and Morgan Quinones will also see time at linebacker.

Just three years ago, the Colonials brought home the Central Jersey Group III title, and seniors like quarterback Brad Jones who were on that team remember what it felt like to reach the top. That has left them hungrier than ever to get back to that stage.

"Our players are absolutely motivated to get back there," Ellis said. "They still remember the feeling of being at that game, and it's something we talk about. I explain to them that the water isn't any different in Freehold. It's a matter of buying in and sticking together and playing hard."

The Colonials will still be in the shotgun spread offense this year under new offensive coordinator Bill Hill, the former head coach at Toms River South. The plan remains the same - get the ball in their playmakers' hands, particularly junior running back Josh Dixon. He showed flashes of explosiveness as a sophomore, running for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns on an impressive 9.7 yards per carry. His improvement should help boost a unit that averaged 14.7 points per game last year.

"Josh Dixon is a very dynamic player and a special running back for us,'' Ellis said.

"He has the ability to run on the inside, and he has the speed to break away. I feel that when we got him the ball down the stretch last year he was great, so we are trying to get him the ball more so he can do what he does."

"In my sophomore season last year I was still getting the feel for everything," Dixon said. "I feel like this season everything will come together for me a lot more in my cuts and overall play."

Senior QB Brad Jones

One thing Dixon is working on that Ellis has been stressing the whole preseason is his conditioning so he remains strong in the second half of games.

"I'm working to keep my stamina up for this season because last season I would get a little tired in the second half," Dixon said.

"We just have to all push this year and not shut down in the third and fourth quarter, and if we can do that, we will be in good shape."

Seniors Glenn Bates and Ralph Wright also should see some carries at running back.

Jones returns at quarterback after throwing for 977 yards and 9 touchdowns and running for 213 yards and two scores as a junior. He is being pushed by promising sophomore quarterback Jack Curry.

Jones will have a deep group of talented wideouts in the passing game that includes seniors Luke Tiefenthaler, Donald Allen and Tyrod Smith-Rush, junior Danny Parr, and speedy newcomers Jah'sim Fenn and Jamel Smith-Rush.

Now in his second season as the starter, Jones has worked to be more polished against the fast defenses he will face in

"The defense isn't that hard to learn,'' Ellis said. "It's just a matter of repping it over and over, and I think we're starting to grasp it."

The secondary will feature a host of players from the skill positions on offense, with Dixon, Allen and senior Tahji Brinson all returning with experience. Curry and Wright step in at safety, with Fenn and Smith-Rush seeing time at cornerback.

Tiefenthaler returns as the punter, and Parr is back as the placekicker after going 18-for-19 on extra points last season.

In addition to a rugged Class B North schedule, the Colonials also have nondivisional games against the Shore's No. 1 team, Red Bank Catholic, and a Lakewood team that went to the state playoffs last year.

"Our goal is to always win a division championship and a state championship," Ellis said. "Obviously we want to win our first game (against Lakewood), but we also want to make sure we win every game we can win. We know last year we left some on the table and are coming back this season to win and steal a few and see where we end up."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r

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"I'm trying to be 100 percent focused this season, which includes reading the defense better and trying to get my team behind my back to lead them to victory," Jones said. "I would definitely like to go out my senior year with a championship win, but I'm going to take it one game at a time and see where we end up."

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Ready to Make a Move

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@ Keansburg Card. McCarrick Dunellen @ Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Keyport Asbury Park Shore @ Metuchen Spotswood

Head Coach: Steve Sciarappa, 4th season Career Record: 5-25

Assistant Coaches: Shannon Hoadley (assoc. head coach/OL/DL); Drew Eldridge (RB/LB); Bill Dickinson (WR/DB); John Washington; Jeff Morton; Nick Scerbo; Brian Petrone; Dwight Sheehan; Marc Bilotta (quality control); Derek McAllister (football operations) 2012 Record: 1-9 (0-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Liam Olausen, Jr., C. Olausen steps into the center spot vacated by the graduation of All-Class B Central lineman Shane Sullivan.

X-FACTOR: The newcomers. Can the addition of talents like Mitchell and White plus the incoming freshmen to the veteran group help the Seraphs take a leap forward in the standings?

GLUE GUY: Ron Perez, Sr., OL/DL, Matt Eckert, Sr., OL/DL. A pair of four-year starters, they look to be leaders on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Tyson White, Jr., WR/RB/DB. You can take your pick in this category, as there are a host of newcomers to keep an eye on. White will bolster the secondary at safety and also should be a weapon on offense who gives the Seraphs the big-play threat they have lacked.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 14 at Keansburg. The newlook Seraphs have a chance to make a statement right out of the gate against the Titans in the season opener. A victory here would give them immediate confidence and set the tone for an improved season.

The Next Phase

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

ow in the fourth year of a five-year rebuilding plan envisioned by head coach Steve Sciarappa, Mater Dei Prep is eager to take a crucial step forward by having something concrete to show for its progress.

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"I always talk to our kids about our five-year program,'' said Sciarappa, who is also the school's principal. "The first year was stability, just making sure we don't fold the program. The next two years, it was, 'Learn to compete, learn the game.' Year Four is about winning games.

Now we've got to go out and win games.''

The Seraphs are coming off a one-win season, but believe they can make a leap forward this fall thanks to the return of a veteran core and the addition of multiple transfers and promising incoming freshmen.

"We're a lot more athletic than we've ever been, which is our biggest asset,'' Sciarappa said.

"Also, our depth is much better. Our twos are really competing for spots the ones have. That competition hasn't been in place here for probably 10 years."

"There's been so much fire in the locker room, and so much excitement about the program from the coaches to the players to the community,'' said junior quarterback Christian Palmer. "We're here to win."

Mater Dei Prep has switched from a triple option team to running a multiple pro set in order to take advantage of its weapons at the skill positions and a veteran offensive line. Palmer returns at quarterback and is working on making the adjustment to the new scheme to boost an offense that averaged 12.5 points per game last year.

"It's definitely been a big change going from not passing to having more opportunities with more athletes,'' Palmer said. "Last year we had about three kids touch the ball on offense, but now we have six or

seven kids who touch the ball and can take it and score. With the option, it was more about trying to control the clock a lot, but this year you go out there and every play you expect to score."

Senior Derek Lopez, who transferred from Rahway before last season, is a returning starter at tailback, and a pair of newcomers should bolster the attack with their versatility. Junior Tyson White, a transfer from St. Anthony in Jersey City, will see time at running back and wide receiver along with senior Jelanie Mitchell, another transfer from Rahway. Senior Sam Miles, who had over 700 yards rushing last season, is a returning starter at fullback.

Miles will also see some time at tight end, where junior Jason Mandile will be another contributor along with junior Sean Canney, a Red Bank Catholic transfer.

Senior tackles Ron Perez and Matt Eckert are both four-year starters who will anchor the offensive line. Senior Sean Fraser is a returning starter at guard, and junior Dave Osborn will start at the other guard spot. Junior Liam Olausen will be the center. The kicking and punting spots both remain unsettled in preseason camp.

Defensively, the Seraphs return all four starters up front and have some promising newcomers in the secondary. Perez and Osborn are returning starters at defensive tackle in Mater Dei's 4-3 base alignment, and Eckert and Mandile both return as the defensive ends.

Miles is a returning starter at middle linebacker, with Canney stepping in at strongside linebacker and freshman John

Lubintus taking over at weakside linebacker. A pair of freshmen, Ishmael Glasco and Eddie Lewis, will be the starting cornerbacks, with White and Mitchell as the safeties. The hope is that the added speed will improve a unit that allowed 34.6 points per game last year.

"I think our defense is going to be good this year,'' Palmer said. "We can match up with some of those teams like Asbury Park, who we had trouble matching up with athletically, and the physicality is still there."

Glasco, Lewis, White, Mitchell, and Lunbintus all live in towns like Linden, Westfield and Jersey City and beyond. Sciarappa said Mater Dei Prep is positioned as an affordable alternative to parochial schools like Bishop Ahr in Edison and St. Joseph's-Metuchen. He also believes it's a closer alternative than the North Jersey parochials like Don Bosco Prep and Bergen Catholic for players who live just over the Driscoll Bridge and want to play for a non-public program.

"We just happen to geographically be in the right place,'' Sciarappa said.

A group of those players travels south by train every day to Middletown.

"Guys like Tyson, Jelanie, Eddie, they came in with great attitudes,'' Palmer said. "They knew what we have been last couple years, but they came in with the expectation to change the program. Their work ethic is great. Eddie (Lewis) lives in Manhattan, and yet is coming to practice every day at 6 o'clock in the morning, so that says a lot."

"All these guys are here because they want to be here, which is really cool because at a lot of other schools, that may be a player's only option,'' Sciarappa said. "There's a certain sense of family, a certain sense of community that is really, really strong with us."

In Sciarappa's first season in 2010, the Seraphs had 16 total players on their roster from a school of 300 students and whispers began that the program might fold. Now they have 43 players, and they also started a team last year at their sister school, St. Mary Elementary School, which is on the same campus as Mater Dei. "We're finally turning that corner,'' Sciarappa said.

"I've been involved with this campus since I was in kindergarten at St. Mary's,'' Palmer said. "It's really been an awesome sight."

Now comes their biggest hurdle yet - consistently picking up victories at a program that has not had a winning season since 1999.

"This year I feel like we're coming out with a whole different mindset,'' Palmer said.

"We're going to show everyone that we've built a program here.

We're not just those kids at school who put the football equipment on any more."

Junior QB Christian Palmer with Head Coach Steve Sciarappa

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Rumson @ Asbury Park Metuchen @ South River Holmdel @ Mater Dei @ Keansburg Keyport Pt. Pleasant Beach

Head Coach: Mark Costantino, 22nd season

Career Record: 132-82-1 Assistant Coaches: Mike Whitacre (OL/DL); John Remedios (OL/DL); Pete Vincelli (RB/DB); Bob Biasi (WR/LB); Jack Levy (QB/DB) Martin Mullarney, Joe Rankin, John Vaccarelli (freshman); Nora McCormick (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 9-3 (4-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Brian Miller, Sr., RB/DB. Miller takes over at halfback for 1st-team All-Shore selection Mark Costantino, the Blue Devils' leading rusher & top all-around big-play threat last season. He also steps in for Costantino at free safety, where he was a force defensively.

X-FACTOR: The secondary. This is an entirely new unit, so teams will look to attack it early in the season.

How it holds up in games against quality passing teams like Rumson-Fair Haven and Asbury Park right off the bat could be crucial. .

GLUE GUY: Brian Miller, Sr., RB/DB. A team captain, Miller sets the tone with a high motor & will be counted upon heavily on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Doug Goldsmith, So., RB/LB. Goldsmith has particularly shown promise on defense, where the coaches feel he can develop into a standout linebacker.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at home vs. Rumson-Fair Haven. The Blue Devils' fierce rival comes to West Long Branch for a game that not only has bragging rights at stake but also crucial power points and possibly Shore Conference Top 10 implications. Rumson rallied to beat Shore in an overtime thriller last year, so the Blue Devils will be looking for payback while also trying to gain momentum heading into a key divisional match-up on the road against Asbury Park one week later.

Highly Motivated

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

hore Regional was literally inches away from potentially winning a state sectional championship last year, so motivation has not been an issue coming into this season.

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The Blue Devils lost 23-17 in double overtime to Florence in last year's NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I final when Shore quarterback Matt Muh was stopped on a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-inches at Florence's 16-yard line to end the game. It denied Shore its second CJ I title in three seasons, but has given renewed purpose to this year's returners.

"They're motivated,'' said head coach Mark Costantino, who is in his 22nd season.

"We have had a great preseason. We just want to get back there and finish the job. We want to see Florence again."

"It has motivated us a lot,'' said senior two-way lineman Chris Okupski. "We've been working really hard, and we're taking it very seriously this year. We just can't let up.

In practice, we just have to go 110 percent every day."

Muh returns for his second season as the starter in Shore's Wing-T offense after throwing for 932 yards and 13 touchdowns while also running for three scores last fall.

He has verbally committed to Bucknell, and Shore looks to utilize his size more in the running game this season.

"He has just looked fantastic,'' Costantino said. "We're going to put more on him, throwing and running the ball. He's 6-4, 215 pounds, and he's willing to do more in the running game."

"He's improved tremendously,'' Okupski said. "With all the summer work that he did, you can really see an improvement."

The Blue Devils have to replace their starting backfield, but look to have some depth that should keep the backs fresh.

Senior Chris Francisco, who played linebacker last year, will be at fullback, where junior Mike Moore and sophomore Doug Goldsmith should also see carries.

Senior Brian Miller will take over for first-team All-Shore selection Mark Costantino, the coach's son, at halfback after seeing time there last season. Senior James Murphy and sophomore Jack Britton also will get carries.

"They're looking to pick up right where Mark and Kevin (Masica) left off last year,'' Muh said.

The wide receivers are an entirely new group that will consist of juniors Cole Barrale, Kevin Donegan and Jake Monteiro.

Senior tight end Brandon Neyhart is another target in the passing game.

"They look like they will hold their own,'' Muh said. "Cole is about 6-2 with good hands and good speed, so he's going to be a key player."

The offensive line returns a pair of imposing tackles in Okupski, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior who has verbally committed to the University of Albany, and Matt Proto, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound senior who has received FCS interest.

"They're two of the better tackles we've ever had,'' Costantino said. "Sometimes we may put them both on the same side because when we need to get the chains moving, we'll do what we have to do."

Senior Dennis Vaccaro, who started on defense last year, will be at one guard spot, with junior James Bidell stepping in at the other guard position. Senior Cullen Wilbanks is a newcomer at center, and seniors Mark MacStudy and Dave Musselman will also be part of the rotation to add depth.

Monteiro also returns as one of the Shore Conference's top kickers after earning thirdteam All-Shore honors as a sophomore. He hit a school-record eight field goals in his first varsity season, including a clutch 30yard field goal in the fourth quarter that sent the game into overtime against Florence.

Monteiro finished the season 8-for-10 on field goal attempts and 49-for-51 on extrapoint attempts. Muh also should be one of the better punters in the division.

Defensively, the Blue Devils will feature the run-stuffing rotation of Proto, Okupski, Musselman, junior Dom Liana and sophomore Steve Fiumefreddo at defensive tackle in their 4-4 alignment. Vaccaro is a returning starter at defensive end, and the other spot will feature a rotation of Neyhart, Wilbanks and Proto.

Goldsmith is a rising talent who will be at inside linebacker as part of a rotation with Bidell and junior Mitch Canditto. Francisco is a returning starter at outside linebacker,

Doug Bost

Senior QB Matt Muh and the other spot will be a rotation of Murphy and junior Ryan Campi, with Miller also occasionally playing a hybrid safety/linebacker spot in certain alignments.

The secondary is entirely new, with Britton and Moore at the cornerback spots, Miller at free safety, and junior Kyle Masica at strong safety.

"I think we're very good up front on defense,'' Costantino said. "I think our question mark is the secondary. Brian (Miller) is outstanding, and we're going to move him around. Britton is up and coming and has had a great preseason, so it just comes down to those guys getting more experience."

With all of that talent returning, the Blue Devils are expected to make a run at the Class B Central title, where Point Beach is the defending champion. They also look to return to the Central Jersey Group I final, where usual suspects like Florence, Point Beach and Asbury Park should once again be in the way.

"There is a lot to do before now and then,'' Costantino said. "We are trying to replace the pieces that we lost and survive the early part of the season with Rumson and Asbury Park, two tough games from the get-go."

"You can't get ahead of yourself,'' Muh said. "With a situation like this, you have to keep your cool and just focus on the game ahead of you."

Head Coach: Keith Killea, 1st season

Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Evan Baubles (def. coord./OL/ILB); Matt Ardizzone (off. coord./QB/DB); Rob Ward (RB/DL); Tim Fosque (OL/DL); Leroy Hayes, Larry Hill, Barry Baity (freshman); Nancy Saphow (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 6-4 (2-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Josue Williams, Jr., OL/DL. Williams steps into the tackle positions manned by two-way standout Domingo Perez, a team leader and All-Class B Central selection who now plays at Wesley College.

X-FACTOR: The offensive/defensive line. Can the newcomers up front give the talented skill players room to operate, and can they slow down the physical running games of teams like Point Beach and Shore on defense?

GLUE GUY: Dashere Saunders, Sr., OL/DL. Asbury Park needs Saunders to be a leader and get the line up to speed on both sides.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Amir Jones-Archer, Sr., WR/DB. Archer is going to start on both sides of the ball after transferring from Lenape, and at 6-foot-2, he gives Barksdale another imposing target to stretch the field vertically along with Jaedon Stephens.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at home vs. Shore Regional.

The first night game in the history of a program that started in the early 1900s will be a big one against division rival Shore. If Asbury Park has designs on the Class B Central title, it has to solve a team that beat the Blue Bishops twice last year. It's also a team they could see again in the Central Jersey Group I playoffs.

ISSUE-15

Back in the Hunt

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

fter winning four NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I titles in five seasons, Asbury Park suffered a semifinal playoff exit last season that has left the Blue Bishops eager to show it was just a blip on the radar.

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They are hoping 2012 was like their .500 season in 2010 - a bump in the road before a return to championship form. With an offense returning a host of talented skill players and a defense with good speed, the Blue Bishops are working to get back to that CJ I title game under new head coach Keith Killea.

"All we've got to do is execute,'' said senior running back Daquane BlandBennett. "The talent is always going to be there. We have our backfield back and some great skill players, so we just have to execute."

Killea has returned to Asbury Park after serving as an assistant at resurgent Lakewood. He was an assistant under former coach Don Sofilkanich when the Blue Bishops won three straight CJ I titles from 2007-09.

"Everybody has got to buy in to what we're selling,'' Killea said. "We're putting together a solid scheme, and we know we have athletes who can run, but they have to be here every day willing to work hard.

Anyone can say, 'I want to win,' but are you willing to put in the time and effort? It's up to us to show how bad we really want it.''

Matt Ardizzone, who was the head coach the past three seasons, will now return to the offensive coordinator role he had as an assistant under Sofilkanich during that great run. His shotgun Wing-T attack returns plenty of experience in the backfield and question marks up front with a new group of linemen.

Senior Robert Barksdale is a three-year starter at quarterback and returns after throwing for 1,077 yards and 13 touchdowns and running for 339 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior.

"Coach Ardizzone is really able to concentrate on being his quarterback coach again, so I believe him having that one-onone time again as opposed to him having to do a lot more of the administrative stuff will help Rob grow,'' Killea said.

Two main areas Barksdale has looked to improve are accuracy and decision-making after completing only 48 percent of his passes and throwing 16 interceptions last year.

"I've been working hard on my accuracy, decision-making and reading coverages,'' Barksdale said. "I went to a lot of camps and think I have improved in those areas."

"He's definitely gotten better as far as his accuracy,'' Bland-Bennett said. "Also, I'm the more vocal one, but he's becoming more vocal as a leader. I like seeing it because sometimes I feel like I have to say something, and he steps in and says it before I get to it.''

Bland-Bennett is a returning starter at running back after showing flashes of brilliance in running for 325 yards and 4

touchdowns on an average of 7.7 yards per carry and catching 14 passes for 407 yards and 3 touchdowns last year.

Seniors Elijah Scott and Malik King should also see some carries out of the backfield.

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@ Keyport Shore @ Pt. Pleasant Boro Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Mater Dei Metuchen @ Middlesex Keansburg Neptune

"This year I feel like I got more on my shoulders as far as my city because I got a lot more people telling me I have to get it done,'' Bland said. "I'm definitely trying to play up to that expectation."

Junior Tyquis Davis is a returning starter at fullback after rushing for Senior RB Daquane Bland-Bennett 333 yards and 5 touchdowns on 52 carries as a sophomore returning starters at outside linebacker and to give the Blue Bishops two dangerous will be joined by Wells and Scott at inside running threats. Asbury Park also has two linebacker, with King also seeing plenty of explosive wideouts with good size in snaps. sophomore Jaedon Stephens, who had 14 Those players will be crucial in a Class B catches for 302 yards as a freshman, and 6Central division where top teams like Shore foot-2 senior Amir Jones-Archer, a transfer Regional and Point Beach look to pound from Lenape in South Jersey who was opponents with a punishing Wing-T running previously at Neptune. Junior Sal Swain is game. another possible target.

"Everybody flies around on defense, so "We're going to have a lot of threats we should be good on that side,'' Barksdale through the air this year, which should open said. up the running game for me and Tyquis,'' Bland-Bennett said.

The offensive line is entirely new because of graduation losses, so it is a unit that will have to mesh quickly in order to take advantage of all that skill talent. Senior Dashere Saunders will be at center, senior Ricky Cortes will be at left guard, junior Josue Williams will man the left tackle spot, senior Paul Bacon steps in at right guard, and junior Imani Stephenson will be the right tackle. Senior William Wells is also in the offensive line rotation.

"Our experienced guys back there have to help out those younger guys on the line and not get down on them when they do something wrong, but instead pick each other up,'' Killea said.

"We have to let the line know that it starts with them, and we have to block better in the open field,'' Bland-Bennett said.

Davis will be the punter, and Barksdale will handle extra points unless the Blue Bishops decide to routinely go for two-point conversions after touchdowns.

Defensively, Asbury Park is switching from a 4-4 base look to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Evan Baubles, a former baseball and football standout at Wall who came over with Killea after coaching at Lakewood. The three-man front will hopefully allow the Blue Bishops to keep their linemen fresh by rotating them frequently.

Saunders will be at noseguard, flanked by Williams and Bacon, with Stephenson and Cortes in the rotation in an all-new defensive line that graduated standout Domingo Perez. Stephens and Davis are

Bland-Bennett returns at cornerback and Barksdale is a returning starter at safety.

Junior Karon Rigby will be the other cornerback, and Jones-Archer will see time at both safety and cornerback.

If the line on both sides can get up to speed, then it will just be up to the returners to raise their game and get Asbury Park back to playing on that first weekend in December. There also will be the added excitement of night games for the first time in their long and storied history. Asbury Park Stadium was equipped with lights in the offseason, and the Blue Bishops will play four night games, including three against divisional opponents.

"We want to come out and play hard and show out for our town,'' Davis said. "Our effort has to be better, and we have to work together as a family. We just need to get our linemen a little better, and we can make it to the championship."

"We're going to have to work harder than we did in practice last year and keep our tempo up,'' Stephens said.

Last season, the Blue Bishops sat back and watched as nemesis Shore Regional and upstart Point Beach stole the spotlight that was theirs a year earlier.

"That got to me, big time,'' Bland said.

"That's one thing I am pushing as a senior. Let's play Asbury Park football explosive, fast, smashmouth football, and get that ring."

P ho to s b y: sportshotswlb.com

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Asbury Park @ Highland Park @ Card. McCarrick @ Middlesex Mater Dei South River Keansburg @ Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Shore

Head Coach: Mike Ciccotelli, 36th season

Career Record: 226-126-3 Assistant Coaches: Nick Christathakis (def. coord./OL); John Paczkowski (OL/DL); Pete Miller (QB/WR/DB); Ezra Hill (DB); Steve Bower (DB); Jimmy Maguire (RB/DL); Johnny Kemp (RB); Dom Amoroso (freshman).

2012 Record: 6-4 (2-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jeff Sheard, So., WR. Sheard becomes the main wide receiver after the graduation of Greg Armstrong, who had 44 catches for 758 yards and 5 touchdowns to earn ASM 3rd-team AllShore honors last year.

X-FACTOR: Experience. With so many sophomores playing important roles, with Keyport be able to navigate a tough early schedule and stay in the division title hunt?

GLUE GUY: Alex Thomson, Sr., QB/LB/P. The Red Raiders will need him to be a leader and keep the sideline positive when they get down on the scoreboard as well as having a big season at quarterback.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Ky'sun Pryor, So., RB. The promising new fullback in the Red Raiders' Wing-T offense has the potential to force teams to gameplan against him and give Thomson more time to throw because of the threat that he could break a big run.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 14 at home vs. Asbury Park. We're going to find out right away if Keyport is going to be a contender in Class B Central when it faces an Asbury Park team loaded at the skill positions and ready to make its own run at a division title.

Follow the Leader

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

good barometer for Keyport's success this season will be the performance of three-year starter Alex Thomson at quarterback.

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With a sophomore-laden backfield and five sophomores starting on defense, Thomson and his fellow seniors will be counted upon heavily to produce.

"We're going to be putting a lot of the weight on the shoulders of Alex,'' said Keyport coach Mike Ciccotelli, a Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Famer who is entering his 36th season. "The young kids we have are fairly skilled. Hopefully he'll be able to get the ball to them, and we'll be able to mix it up and keep people back on their heels."

�A lot of our skill guys are young guys, so I had to teach them the whole offense, but they're getting it,'' Thomson said. "I've been working hard on my accuracy and footwork.

Footwork is a big thing for me because I'm big and don't' move my feet too well, so I've been working on that a lot."

The 6-foot-5 Thomson threw for a schoolrecord 1,804 yards along with 14 touchdowns on 51 percent accuracy and also ran for nine touchdowns last year in earning All-Class B Central honors. Delaware and New Hampshire want to see some senior film before deciding if they will offer him, and the University of Hawaii is looking at him as a tight end prospect. Penn State has also offered him a potential walk-on spot.

Last season, he was often under siege from pass rushers against top teams in the division like Point Beach, Shore and Asbury Park, so he has worked on making his reads faster.

"A lot of the times it was my fault because I held the ball too long waiting for things to develop, so I have worked to make quicker decisions,'' Thomson said.

"We're doing a lot of three-step stuff, quick stuff, and play-action,'' Ciccotelli said.

"We've just got to get it done up front."

The backfield in Keyport's Wing-T offense is young but has a lot of potential, particularly sophomore fullback Ky'sun Pryor. Senior Mike O'Dwyer will be the wingback, while sophomore Desmond Underwood will be the halfback. Junior Chase Bright also should get some carries.

"(Pryor) is going to be something special,'' Ciccotelli said. "He runs hard, and he's got that lean. He doesn't take the shot and go back, he just keeps going forward."

"They're very athletic and very fast,'' Thomson said. "We haven't had speed on the outside in a while."

Sophomore Jeff Sheard will be at wideout and sophomore Travis Alvarez will be the tight end as the primary targets in the passing game besides the receiving threats out of the backfield.

Up front, seniors Drew Bright and Danny O'Steen will be the tackles, with senior Alex Meza at guard.

Sophomore Evan Smutz will be at the other guard spot, and sophomore Matt Acuna will be at center. O'Steen is the only returning starter of the group, and he is moving from center to tackle.

Thomson will be the punter, and Elias Martinez takes over at placekicker.

The Red Raiders return three starters in their 4-4 defense under new coordinator Nick Christathakis. O'Steen and Acuna will be the defensive tackles, with Drew Bright and Alvarez at defensive end.

Sophomore Kyle Lewis will also be in the defensive line rotation along with senior Jake Link. Bright led the Red Raiders with 70 tackles, including 17 tackles for a loss and three sacks, as a junior.

"I think we'll be good defensively because we've got a lot of tough kids this year,'' Drew Bright said.

Meza returns at inside linebacker and Chase Bright is a returning starter at outside linebacker to anchor that group. Pryor will start at the other inside linebacker spot, and Thomson, who saw time on defense last season, will be the other starter at outside linebacker. Smutz will also be in the linebacker rotation.

Senior Ezra Hill is a returning starter at cornerback, and Underwood will be at the other cornerback spot. Sheard will be the safety.

The Red Raiders are hoping that young group can mesh with the veterans and help them return to the state playoffs after giving Central Jersey Group I champion Florence a battle in a 40-29 loss in a first-round game last season. They also continue to get their

Senior QB Alex Thomson lives back on track off the field after Hurricane Sandy devastated their sending district, particularly Union Beach.

Keyport, which has 30 players on its varsity team, has been realigned into Central Jersey Group II this season. Since it has a cooperative program that allows students from Henry Hudson, which doesn't have a team, to play for Keyport, the enrollment of both schools is counted together. Ciccotelli said there will only be one or two Henry Hudson students playing this season.

"We're out here, working with what we have and seeing what we can get done,'' Ciccotelli said.

As far as Class B Central, the same primary obstacles remain - Point Beach, Shore Regional and Asbury Park.

"We haven't beaten any of those teams in the last two years, so we have to find a way to get it done,'' Thomson said.

"I like being the underdog because you can show people up,'' Drew Bright said. "We have a whole bunch of people saying we won't have a good record this year, but I don't think so. I think we'll be solid."

P ho to s b y: sportshotswlb.com

Head Coach: John Wagner, 3 rd season (28 th overall) Career Record: 168-96-2

Assistant Coaches: Jeff Bower (Running backs/defensive backs), Rich LaDuca (Offensive line/Defensive line), Mike McGee (Receivers/defensive backs), Brandon Neary (Tight ends/defensive ends), Paul Struncius (Quarterbacks), Cali Whedon (Athletic trainer), Dr. Joseph Mannion (Team physician).

2012 Record: 10-1 (5-0)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Joe Wegrzyniak, Jr., RB/LB. All Danny Tighe did was lead the Shore in rushing with a video-game-like 13.3 yards per carry. Wegrzyniak isn't the speedster Tighe was, but has the ability to carry the load in the running game.

X-FACTOR: Quarterback play. Jake Fioretti has adjusted from a third or fourth option as a sophomore to one of the team's leaders with more on his shoulders as a junior. His continued development can push Point Beach over the top.

GLUE GUY: Sean Struncius, Sr., OL/DL. A three-year starter for the Gulls, Struncius leads by example and is an extension of the coaching staff on the field.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Mike Fraunheim, Jr., RB/DB. Fraunheim will step right into a starting role in the backfield and have plenty of chances to make plays in Point Beach's Wing-T offense.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 11 at Asbury Park. The Blue Bishops speed and athleticism are always a tough test for opposing teams, and this looks to be a crucial game in the Class B Central title race.

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

hen John Wagner took over as Point Beach's head coach three seasons ago, he had a vision that extended well into the future.

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In two years the Garnet Gulls have transformed from perennial doormat to consistent title contenders, and despite graduating an exceptional senior class off the best season in program history, they feel they're primed for another championship run.

"I understand Group I football and there are some intricate parts that have to be addressed," Wagner said. "I never wanted to be 8-3, 10-1 and then 1-9. We have enough good kids back, so let's tweak some things and get this done."

"Last year was a hell of a year," said senior lineman Sean Struncius. "People think we're not going to be good anymore because we graduated such a good class, but the traditionnever-graduates mentality is big. We want to build from year to year and keep this thing rolling."

With a fantastic offensive line and the Shore's leading rusher, Danny Tighe, along with Kyle Samaritano and Andre Cochran, Point Beach detonated teams to the tune of 39.7 points per game while scoring at least 40 points in all but two games. As a team they've acknowledged they probably won't approach the same offensive numbers, but believe they'll achieve the same result albeit in a different manner.

"We don't expect to have those 60- and 70yard sprints for touchdowns, but we expect to get it done in a different style," Wagner said.

Junior Jake Fioretti returns for his second year as the Gulls' starting quarterback in their Delaware Wing-T offense. He'll have an entirely new backfield behind him, but one that Wagner has plenty of confidence in. Junior Joe Wegrzyniak will be the fullback after starting at linebacker last year and serving as Tighe's backup. The 5foot-10, 195-pounder has plenty of promise to be a breakout player on offense. The left halfback will be

junior Mike Fraunheim, who is the grandson of legendary Immaculata coach Pierce Fraunheim, and the right halfback is senior Marshall Gombos. Seniors Trey Watkins and Bill Barry, who is the starting tight end, will also see time in the backfield.

"We're going to be different because graduation does take its weight," Wagner said.

"But Danny Tighe in his junior year was stuck behind Cody Coleman and hardly got any carries. We say, 'Who's going to be this year's Danny Tighe?"

The Gulls have a big - both literally and figuratively - option in the passing game with 6-foot-5 returning starter Noah Yates at receiver. He'll be joined by junior Kent Napoliello on the outside. Barry is the tight end with a pair of 6-foot-2 sophomores, PJ Nasdeo and Tanner Smith, expected to receive playing time also.

Two players return on the offensive line in Struncius at guard and 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior Tommy D'Amore at tackle. The center is 215-pound sophomore Forrest Gardner while sophomore John VanShoick is the other guard and 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior Craig Nicholas will start at the other tackle position. Going along with Wagner's philosophy, there will be a fluid rotation along the line and really the entire offense with seniors Luke Mass and Bronson Liguori expected to play significant snaps.

"We have a few new linemen that haven't started varsity games, but they can play," Fioretti said.

"We knew we had a good team last year, and we used that opportunity to get other kids on the field," Wagner said. "Longevity is when you get to get kids in, and we'll do the same this year. On offense we're looking at 19 kids, and only eight of them are seniors. That's how you perpetuate a program. The experience those kids have has served them well."

Defensively, Point Beach allowed just 12 points per game last year, but that fact was often overlooked because of how explosive its offense was. The Gulls will likely need their defense even more this season because they expect to play in more close games, and they feel they're on par with last season's unit.

Their multiple defense features a heavy rotation along the defensive line. Struncius, D'Amore, Gardner and Liguori will rotate at defensive tackle. VanShoick, Nasdeo, Mass, Nicholas and Smith will shift in and out at defensive end.

At linebacker will be Wegrzyniak along with Barry, Watkins and junior Jake DeLorenzo. Fioretti returns as a starting cornerback with Fraunheim, Napoliello and also Watkins in that spot. Fraunheim will also see time at safety along with Yates and junior Geno Antognoli.

Point Beach's defense is a true multiple in that it can line up in every formation from a 34 to a 46, and nearly every player is interchangeable. Once again, it jibes with Wagner's philosophy of having several players who can play multiple positions and keep fresh bodies on the field.

"We'll play whatever we think we need to to stop the other team," Wagner said.

"This year we're not going to be winning every game by 40 points, so it's going to be harder, and we're going to have to grind games out," Struncius said.

Senior Zach McCartney will handle both the kicking and punting duties and has provided a consistent foot throughout the preseason. Struncius will be the long-snapper.

Point Beach should once again compete for the Class B Central title along with Shore and Asbury Park, and battle those same teams for the Central Jersey Group I title. After losing to eventual champ Florence in the semifinals last season, there's a hunger to get back and move one step closer to the program's first sectional title.

"We want to compete for the B Central title and get into the playoffs," Fioretti said.

"Once we're there, anything can happen."

Junior QB Jake Fioretti

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Beach Replenishment

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Although only five starters return on offense, many of this year's starters saw significant minutes against opposing teams' varsity defenses after Point Beach had jumped out to big leads last season.

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Mater Dei @ Spotswood South River @ Dunellen Highland Park Pt. Pleasant Beach @ Keyport Shore @ Asbury Park

Head Coach: Chris Damian, 1st season Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: John Bird (def. coord.); Jeff Papcun (WR); Jason Wombough (OL); Yuriel Morton (DL); John DeLiso (DB); Jessie Herbert (video coord./operations); Kelli Hudson (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 4-5 (1-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Kason Preston, Sr., QB. Preston takes over for 3-year starter Ryan Kurtz, who rolled up 1,790 yards of total offense last season between rushing and passing.

X-FACTOR: Experience. There will be a lot of new faces seeing their first extensive varsity action on both sides of the ball, so how quickly will they get up to speed?

GLUE GUY: Terry Murray, Sr., TE/LB. One of the few experienced returners, Murray gives the Titans toughness on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Richie Squeo, Fr., OL. A 6foot, 280 pounds, Squeo is a standout from American Youth Football who will start at center and looks to have a big career for the Titans.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 14 at home vs. Mater Dei Prep. The Titans kick off the season against their old rival, and this is a chance to gain some early confidence with a new coach and new schemes by picking up a win.

A Fresh Start

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

fter graduating nearly its entire starting lineup and bringing in a head coach from the college ranks, it’s the dawn of a new era at Keansburg.

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Former Monmouth University assistant Chris Damian has taken over for Brian Kmak, who stepped down in the offseason after 10 seasons in which he led the Titans to three state playoff appearances and a state sectional final in 2007. Damian, a 1999 St. John Vianney graduate who also played at Monmouth, was coaching running backs and special teams under Kevin Callahan for the Hawks before deciding to join the high school ranks.

“It was the right time,’’ Damian said. “I was interested in becoming a head coach, and I wanted to get that opportunity. This was the right fit for me, and it was the right time for me in my life to make the move to high school football. I was looking for a challenge in terms of something that wasn't set in stone, and I could put my own stamp on something.”

Damian inherits a Keansburg team that reached the state playoffs last season despite enduring the ravages of Hurricane Sandy, which devastated the area and prevented a regular-season game against Asbury Park from being played. The Titans graduated nearly every member of the starting lineup on both sides of the ball at the small Group I school, so Damian will get his chance to mold an almost entirely new group.

“We got some guys to come out who hadn't played, and we have a large junior and freshman class, plus some seniors who played a little bit last year, so they’re hungry, like me, to put their stamp on this program,’’ Damian said. “I think we have enough talent that if we are able to teach them the offense and defense, we should be able to compete.”

"It's been great,'' said senior tight end/linebacker Terry Murray. "Every day you don't know what to expect. Kids have put in a lot of work, and we're going to play our hearts out this year. I know some kids have a hard time listening, but a lot of them know to focus and listen to the older guys because we have the experience."

The Titans will run the pistol offense that Monmouth University employs, taking advantage of the running ability of senior quarterback Kason Preston. He played cornerback last year and saw some time as the back-up to starting quarterback Ryan Kurtz.

Senior QB Kason Preston “Running the read option out of the freshman, and we've got some tough kids up pistol with the athletic quarterback we have front."

I hope is one of our strengths,’’ Damian Preston will handle the punting, while the said. “We’re looking to establish the run and placekicking spot is still undecided. throw off that. The goal is to put him into situations where he can make some plays Defensively, the Titans will run a 4-3 with his legs.” under new defensive coordinator John Bird, who was at St. John Vianney the last three "I think working with coach Damian is a seasons. Junior Tony Zemir and Miksza will great opportunity to add to what I knew be the defensive tackles, Bauman will be the before and to see how much more about left defensive end, and Viola will start at the football I can learn,'' Preston said. "The fact other defensive end spot. that my team has my back and coach Damian believes in me, I'm not really Murray is a returning starter who will be worried about getting everything down." the middle linebacker, Thompson will be the strongside linebacker, and junior Dylan Alt Senior David Wilson and juniors Joe will be the weakside linebacker. Rodriguez Rodriguez and Pat Sullivan are all and James are the cornerbacks, with newcomers who will be in the mix at Vloyanetes returning at safety and either running back. Senior Nick Thompson will Preston or Sullivan at the other safety spot. serve as an H-back in certain sets.

“I’m hoping that having two senior The wideouts will be senior Nic linebackers should be a strength for us,’’ Vloyanetes, who started at safety last Damian said. season, and 6-foot-3 sophomore Arkeyel Brown, with senior Yacir James and "It was a little difficult at first, but now sophomore Ian Perry also seeing time at wer're getting the hang of it,'' Murray said those spots. Murray, who started at about the new scheme. "It's been the little linebacker as a junior, will be at tight end. stuff like our linebacker coach teaching us different read steps and things like that."

The offensive line is entirely new, featuring one senior, Chris Viola, at right Damian believes this is a tight-knit group guard. Junior John Corrigan will be at right whose team chemistry also should play a tackle, junior Tristan Miksza is at left tackle, role in the success as the Titans start a new sophomore Dan Bauman is at left guard, and chapter in the tiny town that covers all of promising freshman Richie Squeo, who is one square mile. already 6-foot, 280 pounds, will start at “We're trying to preach the motto of, ‘One center. town, one team,’’’ Damian said. “It’s been "Our line is definitely a strength,'' Murray great so far.” said. "Our center is not your average

Head Coach: Willie Jacobs, 1st season Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Walt Ramsey (off. coord./QB); Chris Loveland (def. coord./LB); Pat Ramsey (WR); Rob Taylor (RB); Justin Colianni (OL); John Sisler (LB); Tige Dillard (DB); Charles Monanian (DL); Darrian Dillard, Stephen Bernath, Angelllo Mazzuca (freshman); Garrett Henshaw (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 3-6 (2-5)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Daniel Scardigno, Sr., LB. Scardigno takes over as the senior leader of the linebacking corps, where Blake Jambor was one of Central's top defensive players last season.

X-FACTOR: The improvement of Marquis Drumright. In his second season in the offense, can Drumright make the type of game-changing plays Central will need to stay in the hunt in a competitive Class B South?

GLUE GUY: Javon Hardy, Sr., RB/WR/DB. One of the most productive defensive backs returning in the Shore Conference, Hardy is a ballhawk in the secondary and also one of Central's most versatile threats on offense.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Isaiah Akers, Sr., WR/DB. A transfer from Toms River South, the 6-foot-3 Akers should be a primary target in the passing game and also will see time in the secondary.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at Jackson Liberty. The season opener against local rival Toms River South certainly looks to be a battle after Central beat the Indians in the final seconds last season, but as far as Class B South is concerned, a game at Jackson Liberty in Week Two will be a sign of whether or not the Golden Eagles will be a contender to watch. .

ISSUE-15

A New Direction

By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r

ith a new head coach and group of experienced seniors, Central Regional plans to get back in the state playoff hunt this season.

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After five seasons with the Golden Eagles, former head coach Vinnie Casale, who is also the school's athletic director, decided to step down and has been replaced by former defensive coordinator Willie Jacobs. Already familiar with the team and his players' potential, Jacobs has a clear idea of the direction he wants to take the Golden Eagles.

"I'm definitely handling a bigger load this season in managing the team," Jacobs said. "It's been fun.

The kids have been responding and the coaching staff has been doing an amazing job, so we're working in the right direction."

After a 3-6 season, the Golden Eagles plan to come back with improvements on both sides of the ball.

"This season we definitely want to focus more and follow through, not only in games but when we practice as well," Jacobs said. "Our guys last season were tired and unfocused in the fourth quarter, and we want to eliminate that for this season by being motivated and staying positive."

Six-foot-3, 220-pound senior Marquis Drumright returns as the starting quarterback after throwing for 659 yards and two touchdowns and also rushing for a pair of scores last season. The area Drumright wants to improve on the most is reducing turnovers after registering seven interceptions last season.

"This season I definitely want to make better decisions with the ball," Drumright said. "I have to have faith in my line so I can have more time in the pocket, so hopefully we're a team that is more evolved this season."

"Marquis is looking really good this season as a leader, which is what we need from him," Jacobs said.

The Golden Eagles will still be running the spread offense this season, where they will be looking to take advantage of opening up the running and passing game with returning skill players like senior running back/wideout Javon Hardy, who had six touchdowns along with 22 catches last season. The offense will also feature senior running back Daniel Scardigno and senior wide receiver Thomas Koenig, who both

started on defense last year.

Other running backs who could see carries are senior Cody Zsoldos, juniors Liam Christensen, Nick Leone and Michael Yager, and sophomore Malcolm Vaughn.

Senior wideout Isaiah Akers, who transferred from Toms River South, also looks to be a primary target for Drumright in a deep group of wideouts that includes juniors Anthony Arneth, Paul Lavecchia, Trevor Palagonia, and Jordan Hardy, and sophomores Matthew Aires and Brandon Vuono. That group will look to make up for the production lost by the transfer of junior Manny Bowen to Barnegat. Bowen led the team with 27 catches for 278 yards and a touchdown and also was a dangerous return man on special teams last season.

Other returning key players on Central's offense include a pair of senior offensive tackles, Jesse Brown and Josh Foca, with senior captain John Febus and junior Nicholas Solomon at the guard spots.

Seniors Atanacio Carrillo and Paulius Kudarauskas also will be in the offensive line rotation, with senior Shawn Valencia at tight end.

Sophomore Joshua Bellamy will be the placekicker.

Defensively, the 4-4 scheme that Jacobs implemented last season will remain the same this season under new coordinator Chris Loveland.

Foca returns at defensive tackle and Brown is back at defensive end to anchor the front line. Carrillo, Kudarauskas, Lavecchia and junior Robert Fallon should also see time in the defensive line rotation.

Scardigno and Solomon are both returners at linebacker, where a large group of newcomers are fighting for time that includes Christensen, Yager, Zsoldos, senior Kyle Slocum, juniors Michael Quick, Joe Baily, Jake Patton, and Tyler Schaal, and sophomore Michael Miserendino.

Hardy, whose seven interceptions were among the Shore Conference leaders last season, returns in the secondary along with Koenig.

Fighting for time at the other two spots are Akers, Aires, Leone, Vaughn, Vuono, Bellamy, Palagonia, Jordan Hardy, and junior Alexander Fernandez.

The Golden Eagles reached the

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Senior WR Javon Hardy state playoffs for the first time in 10 years just two seasons ago, so getting to that stage again is something that hasn't been forgotten in the players' minds.

"The kids are definitely motivated to get back there," Jacobs said.

"They worked very hard all offseason so we're in phase two with the season about to start, and we're hoping if we can get momentum going we can get back there."

The Golden Eagles will start with a difficult opponent right away in a veteran Toms River South team, and then will deal with a Class B South schedule that includes defending champion Monsignor Donovan as well as playoff teams like Lakewood, Barnegat, Point Boro and Jackson Liberty.

"We have a very tough conference," Jacobs said about B South. "We have Barnegat, who can obviously run and throw the ball and also has an awesome defense.

Monsignor Donovan has playmakers, and Lakewood has both, so it's very competitive, and we have to play to their level this season."

"Barnegat and Lakewood are the two games I'm really looking forward to," Drumright said. "We were right with them in those games until the end last season, but we just couldn't finish so I'm looking to have a different outcome this season and get a little revenge."

Photos by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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@ Ocean Twp. Barnegat @ Jackson Liberty Lakewood Lacey Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Pinelands Central @ Msgr. Donovan

Head Coach: Gerard O'Donnell, 8th season

Career Record: 27-40 Assistant Coaches: Steve Fence (off. coord./WR); John Portuese (def. coord.); Scott Moore (RB); Joe Taylor (OL); Joe Hackett (LB); Bob Picton (DL); Dave Beauchemin, Nick Taylor (freshman); Cathi Yayac (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 1-8 (1-6)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Shaquille Benjamin, Sr., WR. Benjamin will be at slot receiver & hopes to fill the void in production left by All-Class B South wide receiver Mason Jones. Benjamin was second on the team with 19 catches for 236 yards & a touchdown last year.

X-FACTOR: The chemistry between Devin Tomei & Kashaun Barnes. The fact that they can switch both players into different positions will give extra value to their offense, but how they mesh together & work in at QB is something to keep an eye on.

GLUE GUY: Nick Ientile, Sr., OL/LB. Ientile's absence with an injury for much of last season hurt the Hawks on both sides of the ball. A team leader who will start on the offensive line & at linebacker, he needs to stay healthy for Manchester to show improvement this fall.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kashaun Barnes, Sr., QB/WR/DB. A major addition, Barnes helped lead Matawan to a sectional title in 2011 & is a versatile talent who can excel at QB, WR & in the secondary. He adds a big-play weapon to the Hawks' offense as well as being a solid defensive back.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 12 at Ocean. This is a nondivisional game, but it's also a chance for the Hawks to make a statement right out of the gate in the season opener. Ocean returns the explosive backfield of Tyler Thompson and Royal Moore, who were major reasons Ocean beat Manchester 30-22 last year.

Bouncing Back

By Liz Matakevich - A l l S h o r e M e d i a C o n t r i b u t o r

ith almost a full lineup returning and a new dual threat on offense, Manchester hopes to get back on the map after a one-win season with a young and rebuilding team last year.

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The Hawks went 1-8 last fall thanks to the 1-2 punch of graduation losses and injuries to key starters.

"Not only did we have inexperience last year but we were also hit with injuries," Manchester head coach Gerard O'Donnell said. "We lost our best lineman/two-way guy, Nick Ientile, who didn't play until Week Five, and our second best guy, Joe Bick, tore his ACL and we didn't see him for the rest of the year. One of my bigger focuses is making sure those guys are ready for Week One, which it seems like they are."

Senior running back/wide receiver/defensive back Amani Richardson agrees that while they were a young team last season, they are already working on moving forward and starting fresh this year with more seasoned returners.

"I think being the young team we were last season prepared us a lot for this year," he said.

"We already took the worst role possible so the only thing we can do now is move up."

One positive factor for the Hawks' upcoming season is the addition of Matawan transfer Kashaun Barnes, a senior and four-year varsity player who started the last two seasons at quarterback for the Huskies.

"The transition from Matawan to Manchester has been fine,'' Barnes said. "I have a lot of guys who have been helping me and carrying me along and helping me with the plays."

Barnes was the starting quarterback on the Huskies team that won the Central Jersey Group II title in his sophomore year with a 3-0 victory over Rumson-Fair Haven, so he has plenty of big-game experience. He can also play wide receiver, so he can be a playmaker depending on wherever Manchester wants to use him.

"He has fit in very well and is a nice kid," O'Donnell said. "Kashaun brings an element to us that is special because the ball is in his hands all the time. The last kid we've had with this much talent was Joe Johnson, who is now playing at Monmouth University. That's the kid I equate him to, so I'm looking forward to having him play for us."

Barnes will be competing for the starting quarterback spot with senior Devin Tomei, who was the starter last season and threw for 1,405 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Tomei has verbally committed to Campbell University on a baseball scholarship, so he is a strong all-around athlete. With Tomei's athleticism and Barnes' speed, they could potentially rotate at quarterback and become a tough dual threat for other teams to worry about.

"I don't think there is a clear cut favorite yet for who will be the starting quarterback, and I think that's how we're going to go through our preseason," O'Donnell said. "I think both players present a different look for the defense, and they'll both be on the field at the same time."

The Hawks will still be using the zone read offense from last season but also are planning to simplify things up front.

"I think we have some kids that will present problems for other defenses," O'Donnell said. "I know our wide receiver Amani Richardson is the fastest on our team, and if he's out in the clear there aren't going to be many kids that will be able to catch him."

One player who Manchester is still looking to replace is graduated wide receiver Mason Jones, who had 23 catches for 576 yards and 8 touchdowns last season. With Tomei and the addition of Barnes, whoever is not playing quarterback will take the vacant spot at wide receiver alongside Richardson and senior Shaquille Benjamin, who will be in the slot after registering 19 catches for 236 yards and a touchdown last year. Bick, Ientile and senior Brian Golad all return to anchor the offensive line.

"It's just a matter of us finding those five guys and hoping we don't have too many guys going both ways on the offensive and defensive lines, so if we have that, we'll be all right," O'Donnell said.

On the defensive side, they have moved from the 3-4 back to a 4-3 base alignment. As of right now, Manchester has multiple players that are playing on both the offensive and defensive lines so they are looking to settle the rotation in those areas.

S e n i o r Q B D e v i n To m e i Ientile returns at inside linebacker, and the secondary should also be a strength with Barnes, Richardson, and Tomei all patrolling the back.

The Hawks look to improve on their conditioning and build depth in order to solidify themselves against any possible rash of injuries like last season. They also hope to reduce the number of turnovers after they started out minus12 in that category last year.

Manchester will be tested in its first game on Sept. 12 when it will face Ocean, a team that beat the Hawks 30-22 last season.

"I'm looking forward to a rematch with Ocean and Lakewood," Richardson said. "We were in the game for the most part in the Ocean game last season. We just had some miscommunication problems in the secondary that gave them the game, so we know it will definitely be a good game again this year."

The Hawks will be underdogs in a Class B South division that returns strong teams in Barnegat, Lakewood, Point Boro and defending champion Monsignor Donovan.

O'Donnell hopes that the disappointing season last year has given his players the motivation for more success this fall.

"For the kids that have returned,and especially Joe Bick and Nick Ientile, who missed the season with injuries, they have worked hard in the offseason and are in great shape," O'Donnell said.

"There are enough guys this season who went 1-8 last season and don't want to feel that again."

P hot o s b y: Bill N ormile w w w. b i l l n o r m i l e . z e n f o l i o . c o m

Head Coach: Brian Wilkinson, 1st season (7th overall)

Career Record: 34-36

Assistant Coaches: Matt Fuller (off. coord./QB), Anthony Allocca (OL), Scott Peterka (OL), Rob Cordasco (DL), Justin Loomis (LB), Joe Adelizzi (DB), Todd Kaiser (WR); Dan Abbato, Rob Sanzari (freshman), Stacey Ayles (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 0-9 (0-7)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: None. Most of Pinelands' impact players return, and when you haven't won a game in two seasons there isn't one player whose presence will be sorely missed.

X-FACTOR: Defense. If Pinelands can't limit teams from scoring at will, nothing else it does will matter.

GLUE GUY: Ryan Bezak, Jr., RB/S. A physical player and vocal leader, Bezak has become an extension of Wilkinson's vision on the field.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Chris Gibbs, Jr., DE. A transfer from Cedar Creek, Gibbs passes the look test at 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds, and is a player Wilkinson hopes to build around.

PIVOTAL GAME: All of them. Pinelands is searching for its first victory since Nov. 5, 2010, and the Wildcats don't care which team it comes against.

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer here is plenty of optimism surrounding Pinelands' football team under new head coach Brian Wilkinson, but for the players who have endured two consecutive winless seasons, there is also the harsh reality of what could happen if they don't begin to turn things around.

"We don't want to be known as the class that went 0-30, or whatever it is," said senior quarterback Dan MacPhee.

"To get that one win would mean a lot to us. It would boost the morale of all of the athletics at Pinelands."

The Wildcats finished 0-10 in 2011 and 0-9 last season (they did not play their NJSIAA consolation game).

Hoping to turn things around is Wilkinson, a former head coach at Toms River South who led the Indians to three South Jersey Group III playoff appearances and the 2002 Shore Conference Constitution Division title.

His first order of business has been fixing a defense that has allowed an average of more than 50 points a game over the past two seasons, and it all begins with tackling.

"We've been teaching tackling since we've been out here. We tackle more than any other team I've been a part of," Wilkinson said. "I've gone back and looked at tape from the last few years and (former head coach Sean) DeRosa knew what he was doing, the players just weren't making the tackles."

"We need to be better defensively," MacPhee said. "Last year we had a couple of games where we were there on offense, but the defense couldn't stop giving up so many points."

Pinelands' 3-5-3 defense that will feature multiple sets has Dave DeFeo as the nose tackle with junior Chris Gibbs, a transfer from Cedar Creek, and either Jake Stuerze or Justin Sisombath as the defensive ends. Mike Yak is the middle linebacker and will be flanked by inside linebackers Rusty Carkhuff and either Shemar Gadson or Greg McLaughlin.

The back end of the defense is where the Wildcats have most of their experience. The outside linebacker/strong safety hybrids are Jimmy Graham, Curtis Clark and Cody Bonicky in a rotation with returning starters Dan and Matt MacPhee as the corners with Matt Schnelker also seeing time. Junior Ryan Bezak, also a returning starter, is the safety with Will Jenkins slated to see some snaps there as well.

"The focus has been on tackling," Bezak said. "It's definitely been a lot more tackling circuits, just trying to get better."

On offense Dan MacPhee returns for his third year as the team's starting

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quarterback in the Wildcats' spread offense, which is basically the same offense as last season. Being a first-year head coach at the school and with some new faces on his staff, plus with all the changes occurring on defense, Wilkinson wanted to leave the players with some familiarity of the past few seasons.

"The biggest thing for me coming in was to play defense," Wilkinson said.

"I looked hard at what they did on offense, and I said I want to build on some of the things they were comfortable with. I wanted something for them to be familiar with."

"Offensively the concepts are the same so it's a little easier on the older guys so we don't have to relearn everything," MacPhee said.

Bezak, a returning starter, will start at running back with Gadson also starting in two-back formations. The wide receivers are Matt MacPhee, Schnelker and Jaylin Roman.

Three starters return along the offensive line with DeFeo and David Staton as the guards. Tom McAndrew is a returning starter at center but is

Senior QB Dan MacPhee battling with Yak for the starting job.

Carkhuff is the left tackle and the right tackle spot is currently between Clark, Bonicky and Graham.

On special teams, Jon Kubricki is the kicker and Matt MacPhee is the punter.

Pinelands' schedule won't do it any favors in its quest to snap its 21-game losing streak. Aside from a solid Class B South slate, the Wildcats will tangle with Long Branch and Lacey in nondivisional games, with the latter being their season-opening opponent.

There is no circled opponent on Pinelands' schedule, just a singular goal of getting that winning feeling back in their locker room.

"I think the biggest battle is within ourselves," Wilkinson said. "We can't be afraid to lay it out there and care enough to get after it. A win would certainly be a shot in the arm for everyone. We feel if we do it the right way, the wins will come. It's just a matter of time. Until then we just have to keep buying in and working hard."

Ph ot o s by: Bill N ormile www.billnormile .zenfolio .com

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@ Wall Central Manchester Twp. @ Barnegat @ Lakewood @ Pinelands Pt. Pleasant Boro Msgr. Donovan @ Jackson

Head Coach: Jim Sharples, 1st season Career Record: 0-0

Assistant Coaches: Frank Gianetti (Assistant head coach/DL), Ryan Hesnan (Defensive coordinator/LB), Chris James (Offensive coordinator/QB), Anthony Myres (WR), Dale Orlovsky (RB), Matt Osborn (OL), Arin West (DB), Mark Lax (ST); Joe Osborn, Mike Patterson, Tanner Ogilvie (Freshman), Scott Royer (Athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 6-4 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Brendan Busacca, Jr., LB. The graduated Jeremy Sousa was a two-year starter at inside linebacker, and Busacca will step into a starting role alongside middle linebacker Bruce Almodovar.

X-FACTOR: The passing game. The Lions seem to have the pieces for an effective running game, so it's up to the passing game to complete their offense.

GLUE GUY: Matt Castronuova, Jr., QB/DB. Castronuova has much more poise than the average junior having been a starter since his freshman year, and now that he is also the quarterback he is the leader on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Clinton Bailey, Sr., WR/DB. Bailey has blazing speed and gives Castronuova a game-breaking option in the passing game.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 27 vs. Manchester. The Lions beat the Hawks last season to start 3-0, and this season Manchester returns nearly its entire team and is looking to make noise in B South.

Forward Progress

By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

hen Tim Osborn, the only coach Jackson Liberty's football program had known, tragically passed away in April it shook the entire Shore Conference football community, and left a large void at the top of the Lions' program.

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While dealing with the loss of their head coach, Jackson Liberty's players also had to wonder what direction the district would go to find the man to keep Osborn's vision going.

resulted in the Lions' first playoff game.

The major piece in continuing their upward trend is Castronuova, a starter at safety since his freshman year who moved to quarterback midway through last season. This year he'll engineer Jackson Liberty's pistol offense, and he plans on becoming a dual-threat

"After coach passed there were questions and rumors everywhere," said senior running back/linebacker Bruce Almodovar. "We didn't know what to think."

Starting at running back will be Almodovar, who played alongside Ahmed Foster last season.

Almodovar is the featured ball carrier in a backfield that also includes 225-pound senior bruiser Doug Thompson and a speed back, junior Dominick Regina. The different skills those three bring to the table coupled with Castronuova at quarterback have the Lions believing they will have a dynamic rushing attack.

"Once we found out it was coach Sharples, we were positive about it," Almodovar said. "We know him and what his plans might be. With Sharples as the head coach, we're all on the same page."

With their head coaching situation settled, the players have been able to focus on building

off the best season in program history, a 6-4 finish that

"I can't just run the ball all the time because defenses will pick that up, so we're going to have to find a passing game, and I worked on that all offseason," Castronuova said. "(Coach James) has helped a lot. He knows different schemes and things that we're doing now that we really didn't work on last year. He's been a big part of this offense."

Backing up Castronuova is senior John Veneziano, who could see time in certain sets where Castronuova is split wide, almost in a reverse-Wildcat formation.

In late May, the district chose to promote defensive coordinator Jim Sharples to head coach, and immediately the players could exhale.

"I feel this would have been a lot harder if it was someone from the outside," said junior quarterback/defensive back Matt Castronuova. "Coach Sharples is a great coach, and we know his style of play.

We're comfortable."

has helped bring out the best in Castronuova, notably in the passing game. Castronuova's athleticism is his biggest attribute at quarterback, and he knows if he can round out his game with an efficient aerial attack he'll be much more difficult to defend.

quarterback who can take over a game.

"Last year we put him in out of necessity, and we basically told him what to do every play," Sharples said.

"Now he's making reads and running the offense.

We knew he had the brains to do it, and that's what he's showing us."

New offensive coordinator Chris James, who starred at quarterback at Brick Memorial before playing at The College of New Jersey, Junior QB Matt Castronuova

"We have a lot of talent and potential," Almodovar said. "If we can use the way the offense is set up to our advantage, we'll be successful."

"I believe our run game is going to be hard to stop this year and people will have to adjust," Castronuova said.

The Lions also have a game-breaking threat at wide receiver with senior Clinton Bailey, a track star who won the Central Jersey Group III 400 hurdles title in the spring. He'll be joined by senior Nate Matos and juniors Brett Ribellino and Matt Pinto.

"With C.J.'s speed, we can hit him deep every time," Castronuova said.

The offensive line has just one returning starter in senior Mike McKenzie. He'll be at right tackle next to 6-foot-4, 230-pound senior Mike Teran, who transferred from Jackson Memorial, at right guard. The center

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If the Lions' defense holds steady and Castronuova can ignite the offense with his playmaking abilities, Jackson Liberty could be in line for a return to the playoffs while competing for the Class B South division title. The program would continue on the right track, just as Osborn always envisioned.

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"We'll miss some inside linebackers that graduated, but if the other kids come along and we stay around 1415 points per game we'll be good," Sharples said.

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McKenzie is the nose guard with Thompson and Alber as the defensive ends. The Lions lost a pair of important linebackers to graduation in Jeremy Sousa

The outside linebacker/strong safety hybrids are Matos and Regina, with junior Ryan Brennan also in the mix. Castronuova is slated to shift from safety, where he started each of the last two seasons, to cornerback to ease some of the contact he'll face on defense now that he is the quarterback. He'll be joined

by Pinto as the opposite corner. Ribellino and Bailey are battling for the spot at safety.

On special teams, sophomore Brendan Yorke will be the kicker and Busacca is the punter.

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The Lions' 3-3-5 defense allowed 17.5 points per game last year and posted a pair of shutouts, and Sharples believes if they can be around that number again with an offense that expects to score more than the 20.5 it averaged last season, they'll be in place for a return to the playoffs.

and Chris Cruz, but return Almodovar as the starting middle linebacker. The other two inside linebackers are junior Brenden Busacca and senior Greg Basilotto, who is currently injured. Sophomore Ryan Van Wickle will hold down his spot until he returns.

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@ St. John Vianney Lakewood Barnegat @ Pt. Pleasant Boro Pinelands Rumson @ Central @ Jackson Liberty Manchester Twp.

Head Coach: Dan Duddy, 7th season Career Record: 29-41 Assistant Coaches: Paul Barna (Offensive coordinator/assistant admin., head coach), Jimmy Papalia, Chad Dougherty (Co-DC), Adam Sacco (DL), Greg Hyslop (ST), Kyle Watson (WR), Danny Sicala (RB); Derek Egan, Vito Steriti, Chris Wynn (Freshman), Bob DeStefano (Athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 6-4 (6-1)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Joey Fields, Sr., RB/DB. You could pick from any of the running backs who have to account for stats put up by all-purpose machine Grant Klimek, who ran for over 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns.

X-FACTOR: Defensive consistency. The Griffins posted two shutouts last season, but also got blown out in three nondivisional games.

GLUE GUY: Vinny Grasso, Sr., QB/DB: One of the few holdovers from last season who is also a twoway starter, Grasso has the experience necessary to lead the Griffins to a second straight division title.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Kyle Carrington, Sr., WR/DB. This could be any of the transfers the Griffins received over the summer, but Carrington's presence on the outside gives opposing defenses a different dimension to worry about.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 vs. Lakewood. The Griffins will have two weeks to prepare for a Lakewood team that also has plans on winning the division.

Earned Respect

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

hen Dan Duddy first took over the reigns of Monsignor Donovan's football program, it was easy to use lack of respect as a motivator for his players. But now, coming off back-toback playoff appearances and the program's first division title since 1993, that approach isn't going to work, and he's fine with that.

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"My first three or four years we would sneak up on people, and we would take that back to the locker room," Duddy said. "But now people are lining up with us, and there's a certain amount of respect there. I love the transition. It gives me a little taste of where I'd really like to take our program."

With senior quarterback Vinny Grasso returning along with some highprofile transfers from Toms River North, the Griffins are looking for a second straight Class B South title and a home playoff game in 2013.

"Our expectations have definitely grown," Grasso said. "We expect to win the division again, and we want a higher seed in the playoffs. When I came here everyone shrugged us off, but now we're trying to go back-to-back in the division."

Joining Grasso in the backfield of the Griffins' Navy option offense will be senior transfers Joey Fields at halfback and Tre'von Bass at fullback. Field's speed and shiftiness make him a perfect fit as a player who will take a pitch and look to get to the perimeter. Bass's downhill running style is another seamless plug-and-play for the Griffins' offense.

"As it would happen they all brought dimensions to our offense independent of one another, and in spots we needed," Duddy said. "We had concerns at certain positions because of graduation, and it just so happens they are a fit to what we do."

Rotating at the other halfback spot will be senior Ray Gantt and sophomore David Calderon, a Manchester transfer. The tight end is 6foot-2, 210-pound senior Jimmy Cleveland, another transfer from Toms River North.

At receiver, the Griffins have a pair of tall targets that should add another dimension to their offense. Senior Kyle Carrington was a third-team All Shore Media all-conference pick last season in addition to be named to the All-ASouth squad by the coaches while at Toms River North. The 6-foot-2 target will be joined by 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior Zach Skesavage along with

senior Dante Pagano.

"We'll probably throw the ball more because now we're able to," Grasso said.

"It's been a good fit, and we have a chance to be really explosive on offense," Carrington said.

that defensive mentality.

We played some really tough defense last year, but at times we didn't. I'm an oldschool guy, and you just can't play football without defense."

Although The the the offensive line Griffins was a have depth, strength last they will season with still have five senior two-way starters. This starters at season, every senior Brett position, Senior RB/DB Joey Fields & Hogancamp, and that Senior WR Kyle Carrington who was part means a of the heavy rotation as a rotation in junior, is the only returner. He'll start at their 4-3 defense. Hogancamp, Calhoun right tackle with 240-pound junior and 265-pound junior Shane McGrath Nyeem Calhoun, another Toms River are the defensive tackles with North transfer, at right guard. Lacey Cleveland and sophomore Kyle transfer Dillon Paprota, a 210-pound Schremmer as the ends. Hogancamp sophomore, is the center with junior will also play some end.

Matt Post as the left guard and senior Wilk is the middle linebacker with Dean Wilk, the sixth transfer from Bass, Post and junior Garrett Fitzgerald North who will start for the Griffins, at as outside linebackers. The cornerbacks left tackle. Sophomore Zach Crosio is are Fields, Gantt, Pagano and Calderon, the utility lineman who can step in at and the safeties are Grasso, Carrington any position. and Skesavage. Bass is also the kicker "The most important thing we had to while Post will handle the punting. do was evaluate what our strengths are "That's why we know we have to up front," Duddy said. "We have 16 work hard at MonDon," Grasso said. kids playing five positions, and it's "We don't have the biggest numbers being done basically by committee. It's here. Everyone has to play both ways, much different than last year, but but we're deep." because of the offense we run it's working."

The Griffins allowed 21.3 points per game last season on defense, with 124 of the 213 points they allowed all season coming in nondivisional losses to St. John Vianney, Rumson-Fair Haven and Red Bank Catholic.

Defensive consistency has been stressed throughout the offseason, as Duddy knows that's what it will take for the program to remain on the winning track.

"Defense is always an underlying concern for me," Duddy said. "It's grown by leaps and bounds, but when push comes to shove against the big boys we have to make sure we have

Class B South should be a highlycompetitive division with a loaded Barnegat squad, a continually improving Lakewood team coming off a playoff year, a Manchester unit that returns nearly its entire lineup and and added Matawan transfer quarterback Kashaun Barnes, and usually solid Point Boro and Jackson Liberty teams.

The Griffins, however, are the team they'll all be chasing.

"We expect that and we expect to get everyone's best effort," Grasso said.

"Coach Duddy reminds us of that every day. We know we're going to get the best from every team."

Fri

Fri

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Fri Fri Fri

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Lakewood

Southern

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Lacey

10/18 or

T.R. North Central

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Msgr. Donovan

Point Boro T.R. East

at

at

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T.R. North

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Southern Brick Memorial

Wall

NJSIAA Championship Playoffs - TBD

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@ Monmouth Pinelands @ Central @ Asbury Park @ Msgr. Donovan Manchester Twp. Barnegat Jackson Liberty @ Lakewood

Head Coach: Sean Henry, 4th season

Career Record: 14-11

Assistant Coaches: Mike McArthur (off. coord.); Matt Cilento (def. coord.); Dave Johnson (WR/DB/ST); Ryan Canary (OL/DL); Kevin Hynes (OL/DL); Rusty Miller (OL/DL); Mike Hurden (DL); Pat Brady, Dave Drew (freshman); Tim Spenard (athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 5-5 (4-3)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Jack Fitzsimmons, Jr.; Noah Husek, So., QB. The winner of the quarterback competition will have to replace Chris Oliphant, a dual threat who racked up nearly 1,500 yards combined last season.

X-FACTOR: Experience. With eight sophomores and a freshman competing for significant playing time, can the young Panthers get up to speed quickly in Class B South?

teammates.

Finishing Strong

By Art Gordon - All Shore Media Contributor

he past two years, Point Boro has played the majority of its opponents tough, only to suffer multiple fourth-quarter disappointments.

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Two years ago, it was the big play late in games that hurt the Panthers. Last year, they would wear down and by the fourth quarter, they would be exhausted. Four of Point Boro's five losses last year were in games after it was leading or tied in the fourth quarter, including a double-overtime loss to Jackson Liberty and a state playoff setback against Northern Burlington.

This year the battle cry is simple: "Finish."

"We have been preaching to the kids the entire offseason that it is not how you start, but how you finish,'' fourth-year head coach Sean Henry said. "We have been working hard in the offseason trying to improve our conditioning. We are going in a new direction.

"We have revamped our weight room, and stressed more speed and agility. We have a new offense and defense with new coordinators. We have spent a lot of time on the field introducing new concepts.''

Point Boro will change from a flexbone offensive set to the pistol and will now run a triple stack defensive scheme. Former Colts Neck head coach Mike McArthur moves from defensive coordinator to offensive coordinator while former quarterbacks/secondary coach Matt Cilento will now be calling the defense.

"We decided to switch based on the fact that we graduated a lot of players with a lot of experience, and we figured now was the time to do it,'' Henry said.

"We were looking for a

Junior RB Dan Nobbs

staple offense that we could follow and not be a team constantly changing our schemes.

Being so young, we figured that this was the year to do it.

"We have eight sophomores and one freshman competing for varsity jobs. The pistol is still option-oriented with a lot of reads. It will open the offense and give us more of a play-action ability."

Another problem that the Panthers are facing is a problem that many Group II teams face, and that is depth. Point Boro is fortunate that school's head coaches in baseball, basketball and wrestling are all assistants under Henry. They sat down in the spring and mapped out a schedule that did not conflict with each other.

"Sharing our athletes has helped a great deal,'' Henry said.

The offense will be led at quarterback by junior Jack Fitszimmons or sophomore transfer Noah Husek.

"Right now they are getting equal number of reps and Fitzsimmons could be our best athlete,'' Henry said. "He will play quarterback or running back for us."

The running back spot will be filled by returning junior slotback Dan Nobbs.

"He is small, but he can fly,'' Henry said. "We are looking for a breakout year for him."

Three-year starter Kevin Kelly will also work out of the backfield, but will be more involved in the passing game this year. Kelly and offensive linemen Matt Gliddon and Frank Liantonio are some of the key returners who are providing senior leadership to their young

GLUE GUY: Matt Gliddon, Sr., OL/DL. A 3-year starter up front, Gliddon is an anchor on two key units for the Panthers and also is a team leader.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Noah Husek, So., QB. The transfer is competing for the starting quarterback job.

PIVOTAL GAME: Oct. 11 at home vs.

Monsignor Donovan. While a nondivisional game against Asbury Park on Oct. 4 should be a good test, as far as the Class B South race is concerned, this is a big one. The Griffins are the defending champions and beat Point Boro 28-14 last year. If the Panthers want a shot at a title, it's a good bet they will have to have this game.

Junior slotback Dan Nobbs

"I show up every day and do my best,'' Gliddon said. "I am trying to help all the young kids and show them the right way of doing things. The summer workouts helped a lot."

"We have to keep the team moving, and the line play is where it all starts,'' Liantonio said.

The other offensive line spots are up for grabs with seniors C.J. Griffith and Nick Dzuna having the inside track ahead of junior Kyle Ryan and sophomore Dominic Infante.

Freshman wide receiver Hayden Frey and sophomore quarterback/running back Gene Franceschini are also in the mix for playing time.

The defense returns six starters, with Fitzsimmons at linebacker and Kelly at outside linebacker, and Glidden, Liantonio and Griffith back on the defensive line.

Nobbs also returns at safety to anchor the secondary.

The other defensive spots are all up for grabs with Ryan, senior tight end/linebacker Tom Forsberg, senior cornerback Brendan O'Hara, and sophomore defensive backs Mike Waddleton and Devin Connelly all in the mix.

Fitzsimmons and Kelly love their new defensive scheme, which allows them to fly around, blitzing and causing mayhem from their linebacker spots. Glidden and Liantonio echoed these thoughts, noting how the stack allows them to constantly be moving and slanting.

Henry is pleased with the progress his young team is making.

"I must give the seniors a lot of credit,'' he said. "They are showing the young kids how to do things and making sure they are doing it right. We are very young but, we are definitely ahead of last year."

The Panthers are flying a bit under the radar in Class B South with defending champion Monsignor Donovan adding several high-profile transfers, and Barnegat and Lakewood returning teams with multiple FBS prospects.

"No one is talking about us, so we will make them talk about us,'' Fitzsimmons said.

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

Head Coach: L.J. Clark, 3rd season

Career Record: 9-11

Assistant Coaches: Jamil Jackson (def. coord.); Calvin Thompson (off. coord./RB); Kevin Friedman (spec. teams/OL/DL); Lou Peccarelli (WR/DB); Al LaMura (QB);Joe Serratelli, Steve Poppe (freshman); Pat Halpin (athletic trainer).

2012 Record: 7-3 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ivan Marks, Sr., QB. Marks takes over for four-year starter Tyrice Beverette, a two-time, first-team All-Shore player and team leader who is now at Stony Brook. Also, junior Chapelle Cook will fill in for Beverette at safety, where he was the team's leading tackler the last two years.

X-FACTOR: The expectations. How will the Piners fare now that Beverette has graduated and they are no longer the underdog?

GLUE GUY: Ben Watson, Sr., OL/DL. The soft-spoken Watson does his talking with his play, and the 6-foot-7, 335-pound senior should be a problem for opponents on both sides of the ball.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Josh Palmer, Sr., LB. Palmer steps into a starting role at linebacker after the graduation of star Marquise Oliver and should be a solid addition. He also may be in the rotation at tailback when Chapelle Cook needs a rest.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 20 at Monsignor Donovan. Beverette didn't play in this game last year because of dehydration and the Griffins pulled out an 18-14 comeback win before going on to capture the Class B South title. The Piners will face them at full power this year and give them their best shot in a game that looks to be crucial in the division title race. The Griffins have added some dynamic offensive players, so there will be some great athletes on the field in this game.

By Scott Stump - Managing Editor

ll Lakewood did last year was register its most wins since 2000, reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 years and win as many games as it had won in the previous five years combined.

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Now it's time for an encore.

The resurgent Piners lost two-time AllShore first-teamer and leader Tyrice Beverette to graduation, but the cupboard is far from bare. They are out to show that last season's 7-3 mark was no fluke, and take it a step further this year by making a run at the Class B South and Central Jersey Group II championships. Lakewood's last division title came in 2000, and its only NJSIAA title came in 1986.

"A lot of people said we snuck up on people last year,'' said head coach L.J. Clark, who was the ASM Coach of the Year.

"This year, we're going to get everybody's best punch. People do have high expectations for us, and our kids are hungry. They expect to go to the state playoffs.

"Why can't we have dreams of winning a state championship just like everyone else does? I don't want to say state championship or bust, but that's the way the kids feel this year."

"We're going to have to work harder,'' said sophomore linebacker Amir Tyler.

"Teams are not going to let us sneak up on them. They know what we're capable of, so we can't take anyone for granted."

They will continue to run a pistol spread offense, but have to compensate for the loss of Beverette, a four-year starter at quarterback who is now at Stony Brook. He accounted for 1,522 total yards and 16 touchdowns last season, but the Piners are not looking to get all that back from one player this season. Senior Ivan Marks, a transfer from Manchester, will take over at quarterback.

"No one can do what Tyrice did, and we're not asking Ivan to,'' Clark said. "We have a lot of good running backs and wide receivers, so we just need him to manage the game and not turn the ball over. He's a National Honors Society kid, so he is a very smart player."

He also will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, led by junior tailback Chapelle Cook. A 6-foot-2 battering ram with good speed, Cook rushed for 846 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore and also threw for 212 yards when he stepped in at quarterback when Beverette was out with dehydration early in the season. Cook already has an offer from Temple and interest from Virginia, Maryland, Indiana and Pittsburgh, according to Clark.

"He's up to 220 (pounds),'' Clark said.

"He lives in the weight room. We expect big things from him."

Junior Devin Delaney also should see

some carries at tailback. The Piners return three starters and dynamic threats at wide receiver in seniors David Patterson, Mike Randolph and Joey Keraitis. Patterson had 12 catches for 231 yards last season and Randolph had 11 for 163 yards. Senior Fejon Sutton also should figure into the passing game at tight end.

"Our defense is what we hang our hat on,'' Clark said.

"We're going to come get the quarterback. I'll put my front line vs. anyone in the state. I have three Division Icaliber players there."

"You could say we have one of the biggest and fastest Dlines in the whole Shore,'' Tyler said.

The offense will be run by new coordinator Calvin Thompson, the former head coach at Tyler is a Point Boro and burgeoning star Junior tailback Chapelle Cook Winslow Township at inside who led Point Boro linebacker after to three sectional starting as a freshman. Delaney will be at final appearances and the 2005 South Jersey the other inside linebacker spot, and senior Group II title. He will look to boost a unit Solomon Cobbs is a returning starter at that averaged 20.3 points per game last outside linebacker. Senior Josh Palmer will year. be at the other outside linebacker spot, where Jackson Liberty senior transfer Dan "Any time you get a guy like Cal Niblack could also potentially see time.

Thompson to come in who's that caliber of coach, it's exciting,'' Clark said. "He's like a Keraitis is a returning starter at kid in a candy store because he's not used cornerback, and senior Haseem McGrady to the athleticism we have here." has been recruited off the basketball team to play the other cornerback spot. Senior The offensive line looks to be another Markee Paseler was slated to fill strength with four returning starters.

Beverette's spot at safety, but suffered a Mountainous senior Ben Watson, who is 6fractured collarbone in a preseason foot-7 and 335 pounds, returns at guard. He scrimmage and is out four to six weeks, has offers from Old Dominion, Temple and according to Clark. That means Cook will Albany, and interest from Maryland, also be playing safety.

Monmouth University and Virginia. Junior Jaevon Wright is a returning starter at A program that once only had 15 players guard, and junior Anthony Terry is back at at practice four years ago now has 45, but tackle. Sophomore Darius Morrow returns the Piners still retain the hunger of the team at center after starting all 10 games as a that ended a 33-game losing streak only freshman last year. The lone newcomer is three years ago. They are also out to show sophomore Elijah Gill at tackle. Junior they are much more than a one-man gang.

Keyshawn Conover, who started five games "We all know that Tyrice was a great last season, will also be in the rotation. player, but we have a lot more talent on this Junior Eric Segui returns to handle the team than last year,'' Tyler said. "We want placekicking and the punting. to do better than what we did last season."

The defense has the potential to be a For the first time in a decade, Lakewood shutdown unit after allowing 12.3 points has some preseason hype and lofty per game last season and recording three expectations. To take the next step in their shutouts under coordinator Jamil Jackson. rebirth, the Piners will have to deal with the The defensive line in the Piners' 3-4 newfound pressure of being team that alignment could be one of the fiercest others are chasing after rather than the groups in the Shore Conference with all perennial underdog. three starters returning.

"We look to achieve those goals that The massive Watson will be in the middle everybody has put on us,'' Reed said. "We'll at noseguard, with junior Datrell Reed and be able to deal with the pressure. We have senior Mo Diawara as the defensive ends. already gone through a lot of adversity just Reed was a third-team All-Shore selection to get here. as a sophomore after finishing with 52 tackles and 10 sacks, and has gotten interest from Stanford and Virginia. Like Watson, Diawara is also a basketball standout, and Ph ot o s by: Bill No rmile he has gotten interest from Monmouth www.billnormile .zenfolio .com

FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION C o n t a c t : S t ev e n Me y e r 73 2 -2 3 3- 4 4 6 0

s m e y e r @a l l s h or e m e di a. c o m

ISSUE-15

University and other FCS schools. Terry should also be in the rotation up front.

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Freehold Boro @ Msgr. Donovan Pinelands @ Manchester Twp. Jackson Liberty @ Central Barnegat @ Pt. Pleasant Boro Toms River South

On the Rise

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Holmdel @ Manchester Twp. @ Msgr. Donovan Jackson Liberty Central Pt. Pleasant Boro @ Lakewood @ Red Bank Pinelands

Head Coach: Rob Davis, 8th season

Career Record: 35-37

Assistant Coaches: Kevin Smith (DC), Mike Burke (RB/LB), Chris Clerico (Run game coordinator), Mike Leone (OL), Dave Smith (WR/DB), Greg Oravets (DL). Paul Covine, Jared Burke, Andrew Villiez, Robert Woodcock (Freshmen), Wayne Wedderman (Athletic trainer) 2012 Record: 5-5 (5-2)

BIG SHOES TO FILL: Ryan Ulrich, Sr., WR/DB. Ulrich will start at wide receiver and could become Erskine's go-to, third-down target like the reliable Pat Moran was last season.

X-FACTOR: Eliminating mistakes. The Bengals have the talent and experience to win championships this season, but turnovers, like they had in the Bridgeton game, could submarine everything.

GLUE GUY: Greg Moran, Sr., OG/MLB. A three-year starter who plays like a coach on the field, Moran is arguably the Bengals most important player.

IMPACT NEWCOMER: Manny Bowen, Jr., WR/DE/KR. Bowen showed flashes of his playmaking abilities last season at Central, and an expanded role in Barnegat's offense could lead to a breakout season.

PIVOTAL GAME: Sept. 27 at Monsignor Donovan.

The Griffins are the defending B South champs and Barnegat will have to go through them if it hopes to secure its second division title in program history.

The Great Wall of Barnegat

By Bob Badders – Senior Staff Writer

hroughout its seven-year history as a varsity program, Barnegat has been known for its skill players and a productive passing game, so when the Bengals won the Shore Conference 7on-7 tournament in July it fell into the category of something they expected to do.

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But winning a tournament wearing shorts and T-shirts and without linemen isn't the greatest indicator of what the upcoming season will hold, and that fact isn't lost on Barnegat's players.

"It's always cool to win 7-on-7, but everybody knows it's not real football," said senior center and middle linebacker Greg Moran. "It's nice that we can pass the ball, but it's going to be awesome to see what happens when we have our big line out there."

The Bengals enter the 2013 season returning several offensive weapons off a 5-5 season in which they qualified for the playoffs for the fourth time and third consecutive season, including FBS quarterback prospect Cinjun Erskine, but it's a hulking and experienced group of offensive linemen that has Barnegat excited to see just how good it can be.

Few teams around New Jersey will be able to field offensive tackles like Barnegat will. Senior Zach Andrews, a 6-foot-2, 308-pound roadblock who is a three-year starter and was an all B-South selection by the coaches last season, returns on one side. Junior Sam Madden, a 6-foot-7, 340pound mass of humanity who has 12 FCS offers is the other bookend. Moran is one of the guards with junior Xavier Young (6-foot-2, 250) moving inside from tight end. Senior Tom Kampo will be the center.

"The line worked harder than anybody else on the team in the offseason," Erskine said. "They really are the heart and soul of our team."

There's no denying that if the offensive line plays up to its potential Barnegat could be in store for a huge season.

"We moved our tight end to guard to really make that unit our focal point," said head coach Rob Davis. "We proved we can throw the ball, and when you add that to our run game I think we're balanced, and that's what we're excited about. We can spread the ball around and have different guys make plays."

Erskine, who has been offered by the University of Miami and UMass, returns at quarterback after starting six games as a sophomore. He sat out the first four games of the season to comply with the NJSIAA's transfer rule after he came back to Barnegat from Holy Spirit High School in Atlantic County. He ran for 316 yards and seven touchdowns and threw for another 589 yards and 10 touchdowns. The biggest difference for Erskine as a junior is that he enters the season knowing he will be the starter in the first game, and that has had a teamwide effect, as well.

"It's been awesome," Erskine said. "We have great team camaraderie, and knowing I'm going to be the guy, there's a good trust factor between us."

"Last year we didn't have an identity in the beginning of the season," Davis said. "We were mixing and matching and having (wide receiver) Pat (Moran) hold the fort at quarterback, and he wasn't his regular self when he was there."

"Now we're not worrying about those little things," Moran said.

"Everyone is where they're supposed to be, and we don't have to think about switching things around after four games."

At 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, the left-handed-throwing Erskine has a strong, accurate arm and can also tuck the ball and run in Barnegat's multiple spread offense. He also has plenty of weapons at his disposal with what Davis called his deepest group of wide receivers he's had in his eight seasons. Nine different players could see action at receiver, including senior Ryan Ulrich, juniors Kenny Bass, Ricky Gerena and Kyle Morris along with seniors Anthony Hause, Vinny DiGirolamo and Benny Bivins and sophomore Nick Camarota. The difference-maker among the group could be 6foot-2 junior Manny Bowen, who transferred from Central Regional where he was an alldivision return specialist.

"This wide receiver group is the best we've had in terms of depth," Davis said. "And Manny is going to be a playmaker for us, without a doubt."

Senior LB Greg Moran teams double-team Madden and Andrews inside.

Moran, a three-year starter on defense and an all-division linebacker last season, is the middle linebacker with Mark Magoon, another threeyear starter, as one of the outside linebackers.

McGuiness and Hoffman are competing for the other outside linebacker spot, and both could end up playing in a rotation.

B South is a run-heavy division, so the onus will be on the front seven to stop opposing teams' running games and get its own offense back on the field.

Senior Kenyatta Swift is the tight end, and the 6-foot-4 Morris will also see time there.

"We'd like to think that's how it's going to work out," Moran said. "Everyone has a job. If we get a good push on the line it will allow the linebackers to have free lanes to make tackles."

Barnegat's running game tends to get lost in the shuffle, but the Bengals return senior A.J. Opre, who ran for 914 yards and six touchdowns on a 6.9 yards-per-carry average last season. He will be the tailback with junior Kevin Hoffman as the H-back. Junior Tyler McGuiness will see time at both running back positions.

Erskine will also handle punting duties with Young as another option. Freshman Connor Lustenberger, whom Davis said has range up to 48 yards, will be the placekicker. Bowen will be the punt and kick returner. He returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last season at Central.

"It makes my job way easier," Erskine said.

"Teams have to pick someone they want to cover, and I'm curious to see how defenses are going to adjust to us."

"A.J. does a great job and knows the offense in and out," Erskine said. "I would have no problem giving him the ball on every play, especially with the big guys in front of him."

Barnegat assumes its offense will improve on the 18.1 points per game it averaged last year, and if its defense can come close to the 13.2 points per game it allowed last season, the Bengals will be in great shape.

The philosophy on defense is to rotate players along the defensive line to keep bodies fresh, considering it's basically the same players as the offensive line. Kampo and Young are the defensive ends in the Bengals' 4-3 alignment with Madden and Andrews clogging up the middle of the line. Senior Chris Michaels started last year in the rotation and will be in the same role this season. Bowen will also see time at defensive end, where the Bengals hope his speed off the edge will give them a pass-rushing threat as

The starting cornerbacks will be Bivins, who started three games as a junior, and Gerena, while Ulrich is the strong safety. DiGirolamo, junior Mike Christensen and Erskine will all see time at free safety.

A 24-21 loss to eventual division champion Monsignor Donovan in Week 3 of last season ended up costing Barnegat the division title, and an 18-17 home loss to Bridgeton in the first round of the playoffs after being up 17-0 at halftime has served as a motivator for Barnegat to clean up mistakes and push the program to new heights.

"When you're coming out at halftime up by three scores and end up losing by one point it's tough," Moran said. "You take it to heart."

"It's definitely been a big motivator," Erskine said. "The Marines came in to talk to us and preached being comfortable while being uncomfortable, and that has been our motto."

Photo by: C l i f f L a v e l l e www.clearedge.zenfolio.com

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Freehold at Lakewood, Jackson Mem. at Manalapan, TR North at Howell, Freehold Twp. at Southern, Colts Neck at TR East, Marlboro at J.P. Stevens, Red Bank at RB Catholic, Rumson-FH at Shore, Manasquan at Long Branch, Holmdel at Barnegat, Neptune at Raritan, Bishop Ahr at Matawan, Manchester at Ocean, Jackson Liberty at Wall,

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Shore at Asbury Park, Manalapan at Freehold Twp., Lakewood at Msgr. Donovan, Brick at Midd. South, Midd. North at Brick Mem., SJ Vianney at Rumson-FH, Middlesex at Holmdel, Raritan at Carteret, Southern at TR South, TR East at Jackson Mem., Ocean at Neptune, Wall at Red Bank, Dunellen at Pt. Beach, Central at Jackson Liberty, Barnegat at Manchester, Pt. Boro at Pinelands,

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1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

Colts Neck at Marlboro, TR East at Lacey, Neptune at Long Branch, Pt. Beach at Spotswood, South River at Keansburg, Dunellen at Mater Dei, Pinelands at Lakewood,

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

Marlboro at Freehold Twp., Midd. South at Manalapan, Colts Neck at Midd. North, Raritan at RB Catholic, Red Bank at Rumson-FH, Lacey at TR South, Brick at Southern, TR North at Jackson Mem., Wall at Long Branch, Matawan at Neptune, Ocean at JFK-Iselin, Mater Dei at Pt. Beach, Asbury Park at Pt. Boro, Keansburg at Dunellen, Lakewood at Manchester, Jackson Liberty at Barnegat, Pinelands at Central,

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 5

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Pinelands at Long Branch, Sayreville at Freehold Twp., Point Boro at Msgr. Donovan, Neptune at Brick Mem., Howell at TR East, Brick at Wall, Midd. North at Old Bridge, Manasquan at Midd. South, Freehold at RB Catholic, Shore at Holmdel, Keansburg at Highland Park, Brick Mem. at TR East, 1 p.m.

Shore at South River, 1 p.m.

SJ Vianney at Manasquan, 2 p.m.

Holmdel at Monmouth, 2 p.m.

Keyport at Middlesex, 2 p.m.

Pt. Beach at Asbury Park, TR East at Howell, Freehold Twp. at Sayreville, Old Bridge at Midd. North, Holmdel at Shore, Monmouth at Raritan, Lacey at Manchester, Brick Mem. at Neptune,

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 12

noon 1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

Mater Dei at Keyport, Midd. South at Manasquan, RB Catholic at Freehold, Long Branch at Pinelands, Highland Park at Keansburg,

F R I D A Y , O C T . 18

Pinelands at Msgr. Donovan, Manalapan at East Brunswick, Midd. South at Freehold Twp., Holmdel at RB Catholic, Rumson-FH at Raritan, TR North at Brick Mem., Brick at TR East, Matawan at Wall, Central at Barnegat, Pt. Boro at Manchester,

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 19

noon 12:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

7 p.m.

South River at Keyport, Manasquan at Monmouth, SJ Vianney at Colts Neck, Midd. North at Marlboro, Red Bank at Neptune, Howell at St. Joseph-Metuchen, Southern at Lacey, Freehold at Long Branch, Pt. Beach at Keansburg, Asbury Park at Mater Dei, Jackson Liberty at Lakewood, Jackson Mem. at TR South,

F R I D A Y , O C T . 25

Metuchen at Asbury Park, Howell at Freehold Twp., Colts Neck at Manalapan, Marlboro at Midd. South, Midd. North at South Brunswick, Monmouth at SJ Vianney, Raritan at Colonia, Lacey at Jackson Mem., TR East at TR South, Long Branch at Ocean, Red Bank at Matawan, Highland Park at Pt. Beach, Lakewood at Central, Jackson Liberty at Pinelands, Pt. Boro at Barnegat,

S A T U R D A Y , O C T . 26

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

F R I D A Y , O C T . 11

Red Bank at Ocean, Wall at Brick, Msgr. Donovan at Pt. Boro,

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Keansburg at Keyport, Rumson-FH at Msgr. Donovan, Holmdel at Manasquan, Brick Mem. at Southern, Neptune at Freehold, Shore at Mater Dei, Brick at TR North,

noon 1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

7 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 1

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Manalapan at TR North, Midd. South at RB Catholic, Marlboro at Perth Amboy, Howell at Midd. North, Monmouth at Rumson-FH, SJ Vianney at Holmdel, Jackson Mem. at Southern, TR South at Brick Mem.,

Long Branch at Matawan, Wall at Ocean, Freehold at Red Bank, Keyport at Pt. Beach, Msgr. Donovan at Central, Pt. Boro at Jackson Liberty,

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOV. 2

Freehold Twp. at Colts Neck, Asbury Park at Middlesex, Mater Dei at Metuchen, Barnegat at Lakewood, Shore at Keansburg, Brick at Lacey,

___

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

2:30 p.m.

FRIDAY, NOV. 8

6 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Keansburg at Asbury Park, Manalapan at Howell, Colts Neck at Midd. South, Manasquan at Rumson-FH, TR South at TR North, Jackson Mem. at Brick, Neptune at Wall, Matawan at New Brunswick, Barnegat at Red Bank, Keyport at Shore, Msgr. Donovan at Jackson Liberty, Lakewood at Pt. Boro, Central at Manchester,

SATURDAY, NOV. 9 RB Catholic at Monmouth, Edison at Marlboro, Raritan at SJ Vianney, Brick Mem. at Lacey, Southern at TR East, Ocean at Freehold, Spotswood at Mater Dei,

12:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

F R I D A Y , N O V . 22

Manchester at Msgr. Donovan,

6:30 p.m.

S A T U R D A Y , N O V . 23

12:30 p.m.

Ocean at Monmouth,

W E D N E S D A Y , N O V . 27

Marlboro at Manalapan, Freehold Twp. at Freehold, Jackson Liberty at Jackson Mem., SJ Vianney at Matawan, Long Branch at Red Bank, Pt. Beach at Shore,

T H U R S D A Y , N O V . 28 Howell at Colts Neck, Rumson-FH at RB Catholic, Raritan at Holmdel, Central at Southern, Neptune at Asbury Park, Pinelands at Barnegat, Midd. North at Midd. South, Manasquan at Wall, TR North at TR East, TR South at Lakewood,

5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

10 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

11 a.m.

9/10/13

THURSDAY, SEPT. 12

TR South at Brick, Jackson Mem. at Brick Mem., Ocean at Matawan, Freehold at Wall, Metuchen at Shore, Keyport at Cardinal McCarrick, Manchester at Jackson Liberty, Central at Pt. Boro,

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7:30 p.m.

ISSUE-15

Msgr. Donovan vs. SJ Vianney,

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F R I D A Y , S E P T . 6 (AT KEAN UNIV.)

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2013 Week - by - Week Shore Conference Football Schedule

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Pinelands Regional

Road in Toms River. Make a left onto Cox Cro and follow about two miles to 527 (Whitesville Road). Make a left onto 527 and follow for about 4-5 miles. Make a right onto South Hope Chapel 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 right onto South Hope Chapel Road (just after 527 becomes 528 at Whitesville Road). School is about a half mile on the right.

about three miles. Turn right on Nugentown Road.

School is three miles on the right.

ISSUE-15

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Field Address: 125 North Hope Chapel Road, Jackson Directions: From south- Route 9 north to Cox Cro Road

/ VOLUME-V

Jackson Liberty

Barnegat

Field Address: 180 Bengal Boulevard, Barnegat Directions: From the north - Parkway to exit 67 (Barnegat). Make a left at the end of the exit ramp onto Bay Avenue. At 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 South-Parkway 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.

Brick

Field Address: 346 Chambers Bridge Road, Brick Directions: From north - Parkway exit 91. Stay right off

exit. Go 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.

Brick Memorial

Field Address: 2001 Lanes Mill Road, Brick

Directions: From South - Parkway exit 90. Ramp will put you on Chambers Bridge Road. Take first jughandle Uturn 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.

Central Regional

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.

Jackson Memorial

Field Address: Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson Directions: From south - Route 9 north to Route 571.

Go about 10-12 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.

Lacey

Field Address: Haines Street, Lacey Directions: Parkway Exit 74. Turn right on Lacey Road. Follow less 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.

Lakewood

Field Address: 855 Somerset Ave, Lakewood 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.

Field Address: Nugentown Road, Little Egg Harbor Directions: Parkway Exit 58. Take Route 539 east

Point Pleasant Beach

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.

Point Pleasant Boro

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.

Southern Regional

Field Address: 600 North Main St. (Route 9), Stafford Directions: Parkway exit 63. Take Route 72 east about two miles and bear right onto Route 9 north. Take Route 9 about three miles and school is on the left.

Toms River East

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.

Toms River North

Field Address: 101 Colonial Drive, Manchester Directions: Parkway to Exit 82A. Take Route 37 west about five miles to jughandle for Colonial Drive. Cross 37 and follow back to school parking lot.

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.

Monsignor Donovan

Toms River South

Manchester

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: 101 Hyers Street, Toms River Directions: Parkway exit 82. Take Route 37 east. Turn right onto Hooper Avenue. The field is a half mile down on the right behind the Ocean County Courthouse.

Asbury Park

Field Address: 1003 Sunset Avenue, Asbury Park Directions: From south - Parkway exit 100A. Take Route 66 east to traffic circle. Follow Route 35 north to Sunset Avenue. Turn right; school is about two miles on left. From north - Parkway exit 102 to Asbury Avenue east. Asbury Avenue runs into Route 66 and then same as above.

Colts Neck

Field Address: 59 Five Points Road, Colts Neck Directions: Route 34 to Route 537 west toward Freehold.

School is two to three miles ahead on the left.

Freehold Boro

Field Address: 2 Robertsville Road, Freehold Directions: Take Route 18 to Route 79 south. Turn left onto Robertsville Road. Filed is one block ahead on left.

Freehold Township

Field Address: 281 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township Directions: Take Route 9 to Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524). Go west on Route 524. School is one mile ahead on left.

Howell

Field Address: 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Howell Directions: Route I-195 west to Lakewood-Farmingdale exit for Route 547 west (toward Farmingdale). Go about 200 yards to Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, turn left. School is about two miles on left.

Holmdel

Field Address: 36 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel Directions: Parkway exit 114. Go west on Red Hill Raod.

At first intersection, turn right onto Crawfords Corner Road.

School is one and a half miles ahead on the right.

Keansburg

Field Address: 140 Port Monmouth Road, Keansburg Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right off ramp onto Red Hill Road. At first light, turn left onto VanShoik Road.

VanSchoik becomes Laurel Avenue. Take Laurel across Route 35 to Route 36. Turn right on Route 36 and take to jughandle left turn for Main Street. At first light, turn right onto Port Monmouth Road. School is down on the right.

Keyport

Field Address: Jackson Street, Keyport Directions: Parkway exit 117. Take Route 35 south and bear left onto Route 36 south. Take jughandle left onto Atlantic Street. Turn right on Jackson Street and go two blocks. Field is at the end of the street.

Field Address: 30 Church Lane, Manalapan Directions: Route 9 to Route 522 west. Turn right on Tennent Road, then left on Church lane. School is a half mile on right.

Manasquan

Field Address: 159 Broad Street, Manasquan Directions: From north - Parkway exit 98. Take Route 34 south two miles to Manasquan/Sea Girt Exit. Go under Route 34 and follow Atlantic Avenue through circle. School is about one mile ahead on left. From south - Parkway exit 98. Take route 138 west to route 34 south, follow rest of above directions.

Marlboro

Field Address: 95 Route 79, Marlboro Directions: Route 18 north to Route 79 north. School is a few miles ahead on left.

Matawan

Field Address: Memorial Field, Summerfield School, Neptune Directions: From south - Parkway Exit 100. Take Route 33 east a few miles to Green Grove Road. Turn left onto Green Grove Road, school is just ahead on the left. From north - Parkway exit 100B. Follow rest of directions from above.

Ocean Township

Field Address: 550 West Park Avenue, Ocean Township Directions: Route 35 to West Park Avenue. Go east on West Park Avenue, school is a half mile on the right.

Raritan

Field Address: 419 Middle Road, Hazlet Directions: From north - Parkway exit 114. Make a left off the exit onto Red Hill Road, which turns into Laurel Avenue. Follow Laurel north across Route 35 to Middle Road. Turn left, school is on the right. From south - Parkway Exit 114. Turn right onto Red Hill Road, which turns into Laurel Avenue. Follow Laurel north across Route 35 to Middle Road. Turn left, school is on the right.

Red Bank Regional

Field Address: 101 Ridge Road, Little Silver Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to end to Route 35 (Broad Street), turn left. At the second light, turn right on Harding Road. School is one and a half miles on right.

Field Address: 450 Atlantic Avenue, Aberdeen Directions: Parkway exit 117. Bear left off exit (passing northbound tollbooths) and get in left lane of Route 35 south. Turn left onto Route 35 north and follow sign back to the Parkway. Before toll booth, turn right on Clark Street. At light, turn left on Lloyd Road. At next light, turn right on Church Street. At next light, turn right on Atlantic. School is just ahead on the right.

Field Address: Count Basie Field, Henry Street, RB Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to Henry Street - Red Bank Volvo is n the corner.

Turn left, field entrance is just ahead on the left.

Mater Dei

Rumson-Fair Haven

Field Address: 538 Church Street, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right on Red Hill Road, follow to end. Turn left onto Kings Highway, and right on Harmony Road, Take Harmony Road across Route 35 and turn right on Cherry Tree Farm Road. School is one and a half miles ahead on left.

Middletown North

Field Address: 63 Tindall Road, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Turn right onto Red Hill Road and follow to end. Turn right onto Kings Highway.

Make a right and follow to Route 35 south to the jughandle for Tindall Road. Take the jughandle and then make a right to Tindall Road. The school will be a half mile on right.

Middletown South

Field Address: 501 Nutswamp Road, Middletown Directions: Parkway exit 114. Go east on Red Hill Road to light for Dwight Road. Turn right on Dwight Road to Middletown-Lincroft Road. Cross Middletown-Lincroft Road to Nutswamp. School is a half mile on the right.

Monmouth Regional

Field Address: 1 Normal J. Field Way, Tinton Falls Directions: Parkway to exit 105. Take jughandle at first traffic light to Hope Road and go north to Tinton Avenue.

Turn left on Tinton Avenue and go about half a mile to school entrance on the right, just before Parkway overpass.

Red Bank Catholic

Field Address: 74 Ridge Road, Rumson Directions: Parkway exit 109. Take Newman Springs Road east to Route 35 (Broad Street), turn left. At the second light, turn right on Harding Road. After about three miles, Harding becomes Ridge Road. Pass Red Bank Regional High School and go about three more miles. Rumson-Fair Haven will be on the left.

St. John Vianney

Field Address: 540 Road, Holmdel Directions: Parkway exit 117. Bear left off exit (passing northbound tollbooths) and get in left lane of Route 35 south. Turn left onto Route 35 north and follow sign back to the parkway. Before tollbooth, turn right onto Clark Street.

At light, turn left on Lloyd Road. At first light, turn left onto Church Street. At next light, turn right onto Line road.

School is on left.

Shore Regional

Field Address: Route 36 east, West long Branch Directions: Parkway exit 105. Take route 36 a few miles, cross route 71. School is just ahead on the right.

Wall

Field Address: 18th Avenue and New Bedford Road, Wall Directions: Parkway exit 98. Take Route 138 east about two miles to second light, turn right onto New Bedford Road. Follow to school entrance on left.

ISSUE-15

Manalapan

Neptune

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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.

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Long Branch

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ISSUE-15

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9/10/13

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