Let the Games Begin!

While the college football season is well underway, the High School season gets going in earnest this weekend, with most HS teams playing their first game.

Our HS football show starts off this week with a show on Wednesday night from the Water Street Grill in Toms River. It’s a Wednesday show this week because many teams play Thursday night, because of the Jewish holidays. From next week on, it's Thursday night, 7 to 8:30 p.m. from the Grill. We will break down the divisions and tell you what teams will make a run for that elusive State title, come December.

I have seen quite a few teams in the pre-season and have been to some practices to try and get a feel for the 2013 season. While scrimmages help teams prepare, you cannot take them too serious, as teams sit many players for various reasons such as minor injuries, players not being in shape, and knowing that other coaches are watching (since you can now legally scout scrimmages).

Therefore most teams keep it pretty vanilla. Occasionally you will see two teams going at it, but that doesn’t happen too often. While pre-season Top Tens are worth nothing more than filling up a page, I’ll give it a go:

1-RBC (10-1) Can’t go wrong with this selection, as the Casey’s should be everybody’s pre-season #1 in 2013. Led by one of the top lineman in the state, Quenton Nelson, the Casey’s will try to take that next step in the State Tournament and challenge the likes of St Joe’s who gave them their only loss 42-7, in last year’s semi- finals. Nelson at 6’5” and 305 lbs. has verbally committed to play at Notre Dame next year. Getting that choice out of the way early will allow Nelson to have a stress free senior year and lead RBC to a 3rd straight year as the #1 team in the Shore. He will have a supporting cast that includes QB Pat Toomey and RB Larry Redaelli, who rushed for 920 yds. in 2012. While finishing #1 in the Shore is important, the bottom line is challenging the big powers up North. What they can’t do, is overlook the regular season. Head coach Jim Portela will not allow them to do that.

2-Manalapan (11-1) Ed Gurrieri has done everything at the home of the Braves, except win that elusive State title. Last year they went to the finals and were favored to win it all only to fall to South Brunswick 33-22. They return one of the top receivers in the state in Saeed Blacknall. The wide-out has speed to burn and can catch the ball with the best of them. He has verbally committed to Rutgers University in 2014. Getting the ball to Blacknall will be the problem for the Braves this year. Two kids are fighting it out to get the starting job—last year’s JV QB, Dan Anerella and Charles Lombana, who played his football at Jackson Mem. last year. Both are juniors and both are small in stature, but both possess a big arm. They have alternated during the pre-season games, and I expect both to get playing time. Keep in mind the old adage—when you have 2 QBs, you have none. I don’t necessarily believe that on the HS level, but it should be interesting. RB Tyler Leonetti returns to lead the Braves on the ground. He rushed for 1377 yds. last year, while Blacknall had 47 catches. Balance on offense was key for the Braves last year. LB Chris Noesges returns to lead a defense that might be better than last year. Noesges already has over 300 tackles in his career at Manalapan and will be another highly recruited athlete. CJ Group 5 will not be easy this year as South Brunswick returns and perennial power Sayreville moves into this group.

3-Lacey(10-1) The Lions are another one of those programs that always seem to find themselves in the mix in the SJ Group playoffs. This year will be no different as they return 2 QBs capable of taking them there. Senior Tom Kelly threw for 1200yds and 15 TDs in 2012, while junior Connor Davies, who may have to wait till next year to take over full time won 2 games last year when Kelly was hurt. The Lions must find a RB to compliment these 2 signal callers as Kyle Spatz has graduated. The big threat in all phases of the game is Christian Tutela. Mainly a receiver(26 catches and 8TDs), Tutela may find a place in the backfield if he’s not catching passes. Head Coach Lou Vircillo(258 wins) needs just 6 wins to move into 2nd place in Shore Conf. history. Warren Wolf has 364 victories to lead all coaches.

4-Middletown South(8-4) No program in the Shore has been more successful in recent years than the Eagles. They have reached the State finals in 10 of the last 12 years. The problem of late has been winning when they get there. They have lost their last 4, which came after winning 4 in a row. Now don’t feel too sorry for the Eagles. Head Coach Steve Antonucci has won 5 State titles and has accumulated 144 wins in his 14 year tenure at Middletown South. This year the Eagles return QB Kyle Brey who threw for 1500yds. and 14 TDs in 2012. With both star RBs gone from last year, Jeremy Concepcion looks to be the big back this year. The big “stud” on both sides of the ball (TE and DE) will be Tayler Hendrickson. He’s an all-shore player who will be our leader, says Coach Antonucci. While the Eagles are not the favorite in their division, look for the Eagles to challenge Manalapan.

5-Barnegat(5-5) They have been on the verge of that big season for a few years and I predict the Bengals will have that breakout year in 2013. Why—well there are many reasons: Let’s start with QB Sinjun Erskine. At 6’2”, 210 lbs. Erskine has all the tools. He can throw, run and lead. Perhaps the last will be the most important. Barnegat needs a leader to get them all the way to the end, and Erskine just may be that type of player. Erskine reminds me of Brian Boland. Boland was an all-shore QB at Brick Memorial who went on to Monmouth University, and had a record breaking career while in college. Like Boland he’s a lefty, has a rocket arm and he’s not afraid to tuck it and run. All the things, which made The former Mustang and Hawk a great one. The Bengals received a gift, when Manny Bowen transferred in from Central Reg. Bowen will stretch the field with his outstanding speed and that will keep opponents honest. Up front the Bengals will be huge. Sam Madden(6’7” 330lbs.) and Zach Andrews(6’2” 310lbs.) will anchor the line, that will average 270 lbs. Greg Moran will lead a defense that has the ability to be very good. All the pieces are in place for Head Coach Rob Davis to finally get there. Now they must execute with the respect that I have given them.

6-Ocean(5-4-1) The “Big Red” went through one tough season last year. Even though they had to battle injuries and disease they still got to the playoffs, where they lost to Allentown. They return one of the more exciting sophs to come along in a long time—Tyler Thompson. Thompson ran for 1,000 yds. as a frosh and scored 9 TDs. He will have help at the QB position as Royal Moore moves to that spot from wide out. Running a zone read offense is Moore’s strength, so Coach Dan Klein has incorporated it into the Big Red scheme. The B-North title is up for grabs and the Big Red will be in the middle of it.

7-Colts Neck(9-2) It was a dream season in Cougar land last year. It was their best season in school history and took them to the semifinals of the States. While most of the offense has graduated, the defense returns many players, and that’s what will keep the Cougars in the top ten this year. One of the returning offensive stars does return and that’s Anthony Gargiulo, who ran for 1300 yds. and scored 12 TDs. Gargiulo is an outstanding player to build a new offense around. He also is great on defense and will be an all-around leader as a senior. Head Coach Greg LaCava, coming off a summer victory as HC of the Monmouth all-stars, has established a good program at CN, so expect the Cougars to be tough again this year.

8- Toms River South(4-6) I may be going out on a limb with the Indians, but I believe they will make a run in the A-South. They have speed to kill and return a variety of game breakers on offense. Let’s start with the QB, Tymere Berry. The junior runs the flex bone offense to perfection and is a threat to score whenever he keeps it. When he doesn’t keep it Otis Kearney Jr. can get a pitch or handoff and take it to the house. Khaleel Green is also dangerous in an explosive backfield. At the wide out spot is all around good athlete Russell Messler, who although an all-shore baseball player, can play with the pigskin also. He also is a pretty good kicker. I haven’t even mentioned what could be the best all-around Indian—Darrius Hart. At 6’2” 210 lbs. Hart is a man playing a boys game. Now with all these skill players, the Indians must block up front and that’s where the problem may be. Also the defense is suspect but with Ron Signorino Sr helping on that side of the ball, you have to be crazy not to think they will get better each week. Sig Sr is the best at what he does and there isn’t anyone who does it better. Many very successful head coaches and assistant coaches have learned their defensive football from Sig. (Put me on that list.) Our first game of the week takes us to Central Reg. who host the Indians on Friday Sept 12th at 7pm.

9-Shore Reg.(9-3) 2012 took the Blue Devils to the finals in CJ Group 1 where they lost a heartbreaker to Florence HS in double OT. QB Matt Muh returns from that team to lead Shore on offense this year. One of the last teams around to still run the Wing T, Point Beach being another, the Blue Devils will put much on the back of Muh, a 6’4” 215 lb QB. As with many of the small schools in the Shore, they lost many athletes and some of the new players must step up to the varsity and grow up quickly. They open with very tough Rumson at home this Thursday. HC Mark Costantino has the Blue Devil program thinking championship once again.

10-Southern Reg.(9-3) Another program on the up-swing is the Rams. Getting to the finals was a big learning experience for the Rams last year. Although they lost to a very good undefeated Williamstown team, many players gained valuable experience in that game. One of those players who returns could be the most highly recruited athlete in the

Shore-Mike Gesicki. At 6’6” 230 lbs. Gesicki has multiple offers(22 at last count) from just about every big time college in the nation. He has not made a decision yet and Mike has had to shut his phone off to get some sleep. Stay tuned for his choice, which should come mid-season. There are some parts that have to be re-tooled in 2013, but Chuck Donohue will take his 226 wins into 2013 and have the Rams ready in the A-South.

Others that were considered:

Brick(3-7) Carmine Sclafani transfer from TR North and guess what-he brought his head coach with him-Chip LaBarca Jr.

Point Beach(10-1) Dream season ended in disappointment last year.

Neptune(9-3) Always dangerous.

St J V(6-4) Billy DeMato at QB is a good one.

Mon Don(6-4) Many transfers to go along with QB Vinny Grasso will make Griffs competitive.