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September 6, 2011 Volume-I / Issue-1 September 6, 2011 Volume-I / Issue-1 www.asmnorth.com Burning Questions Page 4 2011 Football Preview American Division Page 6 National Division Page 8 Independence Division Page 10 Freedom Division Page 12 NJAC Reclassification Page 15 Burning Questions Page 4 2011 Football Preview American Division Page 6 National Division Page 8 Independence Division Page 10 Freedom Division Page 12 NJAC Reclassification Page 15
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Page 1: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

S e p t e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 1V o l u m e - I / I s s u e - 1

S e p t e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 1V o l u m e - I / I s s u e - 1

www.asmnorth.com

Burning

Questions

Page 4

2011 Football

Preview

American

Division

Page 6

National

Division

Page 8

Independence

Division

Page 10

Freedom

Division

Page 12

NJAC

Reclassification

Page 15

Burning

Questions

Page 4

2011 Football

Preview

American

Division

Page 6

National

Division

Page 8

Independence

Division

Page 10

Freedom

Division

Page 12

NJAC

Reclassification

Page 15

Page 2: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

A multimedia company that

provides exciting and innovative coverage

to high school athletics in the Shore conference and

now the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference in order to

highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier

conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off

the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as

possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and

fans who support both the Shore Conference and Northwest Jersey Athletic

Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore media

and now All Shore media Northern Review is your main

source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference and Northwest Jersey

Athletic Conference.

All Shore media Web Site Features

Log on to www.allshoremedia.com and

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important games that the Shore Conference and the Northwest Jersey

Athletic Conference fans will be talking about. Catch up on the action

you might have missed and watch video clips of everything from the

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www.asmnorth.com Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1 ASmNorthern Review / 3

What am I holding in my hand?

We understand that this might be

a little confusing. So if you’re

feeling like Jessica Simpson

pondering a can of tunafish, we’re

here to help.

Here are the answers to some of

the questions that may be going

through your mind… and maybe a

few you didn’t think of yet.

So what is italready?

This is a publication dedicated to the

Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference,

comprising almost all of the high

schools in Morris and Sussex Counties,

and one in Warren (we didn’t forget

about Hackettstown). It’s all about the

teams, athletes, coaches and fans that

make the NJAC so great. In each issue

our goal is to bring you high-quality

writing and photography in a cutting-

edge, full-color format.

The newspaper is the product of a joint

venture between two organizations that

cover high school sports: Jersey Sports

Now, which has been covering part of

Morris County online for the past three

years, and All Shore Media, which produces

a newspaper and website covering the Shore

Conference.

Our overall coverage of the NJAC will also include a

new website. Visit www.allsportsmedianorthernreview.com

(or asmnorth.com for short) to see more articles, plus game

scores and league standings, and exciting video highlights of

local games.

How often does the newspapercome out?

Our plan is to produce an issue of the newspaper every two weeks

when school is in session. At f i rs t , the paper wil l come out a l i t t le

less f requent ly as we t ransi t ion into this new

enterpr ise . The next issue wil l be publ ished near

the end of September.

this must just be a freeteaser. You’re going tostart charging for it,right?

Definitely not! The publication will always be

supported by advertisers and free to our readers. It

will be distributed to each NJAC school as well as

other locations within the NJAC area.

If you cannot get a hold of a physical copy of

the newspaper, you can also find an electronic

edition on our website. (We also expect to offer

a service to mail copies to those people who just

have to get their hands on each issue for a

reasonable fee.)

there’s a lot of footballcoverage, but whatabout other sports?

The ASM Northern Review will cover many

sports throughout the school year. However,

our resources are not unlimited, and we will

need to focus our efforts on the sports of

greatest interest to the community.

We will do what we can to cover other

sports and sports-related stories. We will also accept

outside submissions, so you can personally ensure a

certain event gets some coverage.

I run a local business. Can weadvertise with you?

We thought you’d never ask! Please contact Harry at (201) 294-5903 or e-

mail us at [email protected] to inquire. Also, if you have any

other questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

Something NeW For the NJACBy Paul Mencher – ASM Northern Review Managing Editor

Cover Photos by: Louis Bellucci & Paul Swenson

C o v e r d e s i g n e d b y : Ste v en M e ye r

Page 4: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

ill PoPe Johnsucceed in the

sPread?For four decades you could

count on one thing when youplayed Pope John: the Lions

would run all day. Under NewJersey’s record-holder for coaching

wins, Vic Paternostro, Pope John wasmaster of the ground game.

But that’s all changing now that BrianCarlson is the new head coach. Carlsonmade the switch to the spread offense andeven hired a guru of that wide-openattack as his offensive coordinator.

It’s a dramatic change, and one thatthe Lions had only a few months toimplement. Pope John definitely hasthe talent, and looked good duringthe pre-season, but there could besome hiccups as it adjusts to thenew system. The Lions hopes anysuch difficulties don’t preventthem from winning a thirdstraight National Division

title.

For more on Pope Johnand the National Division,turn to page 8.

can randolPh run the

gauntlet once again?It was a dream season for Randolph in

2010. After an opening-day non-leaguedefeat, the Rams rolled off 11 straight wins tocapture division and sectional titles.

Randolph managed to make it through themeat grinder that is the NJAC AmericanDivision unscathed. But three teams camewithin a touchdown or less—Roxbury,Morristown and Delbarton—and all three ofthose squads appear ready to threaten the Rams’perch atop the league.

To boot, Randolph could meet Roxbury a secondtime in the North 1, Group IV playoffs now that theGaels have moved back up. The Rams lost a gooddeal of talent, but the cupboard is hardly bare, andthe battles between these teams promise to be epic.

For more on Randolph and the American Division,turn to page 6.

is Madison Poised for More

Perfection?The only NJAC team to post an undefeated

record in 2010 was Madison. The Dodgerswere an offensive juggernaut, surpassing40 points seven times and piling up awhopping total of 514 points.

Graduation took many of Madison’s keyplayers away, but the Dodgers still appear

to be a formidable team this year.Junior running back Justin

Goodwin will take over as theprimary offensive threat, and hasexperience on the line in front ofhim. And Madison can fill in thegaps with players from its

undefeated junior varsity squad.

The Dodgers appear to be thefavorites again both within the

division and in North 2, Group II. Buta repeat is hardly a given, with several

teams waiting to pounce if Madisonfalters.

For more on Madison and the FreedomDivision, turn to page 12.

can anyone stoP

Mountain lakes?Believe it or not, Mountain Lakeswasn’t always an invincible force insmall-school North Jersey football. Asrecently as 2005 the Herd went “only”6-4. And back in the early 1980’sthey actually experienced severallosing seasons.

But you’ll forgive members of theNJAC Independence Division for

their skepticism. All they’ve seen inthe last two years is victory aftervictory for Mountain Lakes, often bylopsided scores, but sometimes indramatic fashion.

The Herd graduated most of itsstarters from last year, but as usual,there is a squadron of readyreplacements. Every coach in thedivision sees the Herd as the favoritesonce again, but last year MountainLakes got several scares. So it’snot crazy to imagine someonewalking off the field a winneragainst the Herd this season.

For more on Mountain Lakesand the Independence Division,turn to page 10.

Which other neW

coach Will have the

greatest iMPact?

Much of the attention went to thehistoric coaching change at Pope John.But five other NJAC schools also startthe season with new men patrolling thesideline.

Two interesting situations to watchare at Montville, where Jim Delaneyreplaces longtime coach GerryGallagher, and at Boonton, whereGallagher’s son Bryan gets his first headcoaching job (and brings his dad alongas an assistant).

Todd Callaghan and Steve Rabbittinherit challenging situations atWhippany Park and Newton, respectively,while Bill Percey takes over at High Pointafter Delaney’s departure following one ofthe school’s best seasons ever.

Randolph’s A.J. Garcia

R a n d o l p h P h o t o b y :

P a ul S w e n so nw w w . p h o t o s b y s w e n s . z e n f o l i o . c o m

M o u n t a i n L a k e s P h o t o b y :

L o u i s Be l l u cc i

4 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

By Paul Mencher – ASM Northern Review Managing Editor

Mountain Lakes’s Chris O'Rourke #66

Page 5: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 5

Page 6: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

6 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

Randolph – The sight was certainly similar, a

Randolph ball carrier breaking a tackle, then another and

streaking down the sidelines like Rams players did many

times during last year’s championship run.

Now, that season has long passed and even though

Randolph emerged from its first three-team scrimmage

of 2011 in dominating fashion, Joe

Lusardi certainly wasn’t fooled. He

knows there’s a lot of work ahead and

what a grind the NJAC’s American

Division can be.

“The conference is

like the black and blue --

you get beaten up,’’

Lusardi said. “We will

see. I think we’re all

about the same. Nobody

knows anything until the

games are played.’’

The quality of opponents and

experienced coaches in the division

makes posting a winning season feel like

tip-toeing through a minefield. Injuries

in particular can derail a once-promising

campaign. Last year’s Rams were

fortunate to have injuries in spots where

quality replacements were on hand.

“If you don’t have depth, it hurts,’’ Lusardi said.

“That’s one thing we had last year --depth. We lost a

starting fullback and a starting linebacker and I was able

to put the second guy in there and we were terrific,

terrific.’’

Dominic Capalbo, last year’s back up for quarterback

Chris Westenhiser, has been given the keys to drive the

Rams’ offense.

“It’s time for him,’’ Lusardi said. “He ran all the scout

teams last year. He did a great job mimicking the other

teams. He came into his own. He’s really been a solid

leader for us. He has a very good arm and he’s a good

runner also. He’s different from the quarterbacks in the

past because he’s only 5-foot-8.’’

If the new quarterback plays with a bit of a chip on

his shoulder pad, it’s understandable.

“I hear it all the time and I just take it as motivation,’’

Capalbo said. “I personally don’t know what it feels like

to be tall. I’m just happy to be what I am.’’

He will direct a team that has a very clear picture of

what they want to accomplish and how they can do it.

“This year we’re sticking with the same formula as

last year,’’ senior back A. J. Garcia said. “We run the

same plays. Last year, we ran one defense the entire year

and no one could stop it. We know what it takes to get to

the top. It takes hard work, dedication and playing as a

unit to get there.’’

Garcia, Aaron Harris and James Gangemi all have

speed and toughness and will have opportunities to

carry the ball. All eyes will be on Garcia, a two-year

starter at linebacker, who may emerge as the most

dominating defensive player in the area when the dust

clears from the 2011 season.

“He’s very gifted,’’ Lusardi said. “He’s probably

our best athlete. He does things easier than others.

He’s a student of the game.

He studies with the filmwork

and reading. He just seems to

love the game and when you

get a kid like that -- you

know he’s different.’’

If anyone should get past

Garcia, they will have

trouble shaking Harris who

has improved tremendously

in the offseason.

“He grew in the spring and

he ran track,’’ Garcia said.

“He played linebacker last

year but with his

athleticism we moved

him to corner and

he’s been shutting

down people in our

7 on 7s.’’

The line is

coming

along

well,

too. Two-way tackle Brendan

Mahan (6-foot-5, 305) is getting

serious D1 consideration.

Another experienced lineman,

Bill Medve, loves the way the

Rams are coming together.

“We will make mistakes but

we’re just going to keep

pushing ourselves until we

achieve perfection,’’ Medve

said. “For us last year is just a

standard. It’s a bar that’s been

set and we want to go above it.’’

It’s a tall order. If Randolph has an

advantage over its division rivals due to

last year’s championship season, it is

because the Rams have a model for

success and understand the hard

work needed to achieve their goals.

“I think we have a nice solid

team,’’ Lusardi said. “I’m not

saying we don’t miss the kids

from last year because they did

a terrific job and they are

special kids in my heart. Last

year ’s team had great

leadership, and hopefully if

these kids learn from that,

they will do just as

well.’’

Delbarton – Is the Green Wave ready to roll?

Delbarton (5-5, 4-3 American) should benefit from last

year’s youth and inexperience. They have eight returning

offensive starters and six or seven returning defensive

starters from last year’s squad

The experience starts with John Shaffer at quarterback.

The dynamic athlete threw for over 1,000 yards in an

offense that doesn’t necessarily have to pass the ball. The

Green Wave has a variety of talented backs including

Jamie White, who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a

sophomore, bullish fullback Eric Fajardo, and Steven

DeLosa, a quicky, shifty runner who excels at catching

the ball out of the backfield.

Tight end Cole Riccardi is also a key target while Dan

Alvine and Will Reynolds are among the more

experienced blockers. Defensively, linebackers Dennis

Bencsko and Chris Soulas will bear watching. Bencsko

has a nose for the ball with more than 100 tackles in his

junior year. Soulas also displays exceptional speed and

toughness. Peter Bergh, Robert Thomas, Will Reynolds,

Rob Fajardo and Matt Killian are also among the

players to watch on a team that is primed to

step up.

mendham – A sprinkling of starters

from both offense and defense have

graduated but some consider the

Minutemen (4-6, 2-5 American)

to be a team that might

surprise in a very tough

division. One solid returnee

is senior quarterback Matt

Crowe who threw nearly

1,000 yards last season.

Crowe has a good group

of targets to throw to

ranging from fleet

junior Mike La Sorsa

to talented 6-foot-4

tight end Matt

Flanagan.

The Minutemen are still pretty young

with only an eight-man senior class,

but they have strong junior and

sophomore classes gaining in

experience and anxious to prove

themselves at the varsity level.

morris Knolls – When it comes to earlyseason predictions Golden Eagles’ coach BillRegan doesn’t show his hand. There have been toomany seasons where unlikely players haveemerged to become key performers in his veeroffense.

Despite a tough quarterback competition,experienced senior Mike Stango is expected

to direct the run-oriented attack. Oneathlete that has come through in thepast is running back/linebacker CodyGreenhagen. The tough, hard-nosed

athlete has proven hisdependability on both sides of

2011 Football Preview:American DivisionB y M a r k K i t c h i n – S t a f f W r i t e r

FoR ADVeRtISINg INFoRmAtIoNContact : Harry L itsis 201-294-5903 harrypr int [email protected]

Randolph's Aaron Harris

Delbarton's QB John Shaffer

C o n t i n u e d o n n e x t p a g e

Page 7: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

the ball. Nick Patterson will also run the ball as theGolden Eagles look to establish field position andgrind out the yardage.

Dave Navon anchors the lines at center and nose tackle,while tackles Germaine Eluemunor and Jordan Beffertshould also step up to help Morris Knolls (2-8, 1-6American) to a better season.

morris Hills – After last year’s 3-7 campaign (1-6 inNational) the Scarlet Knights are anxious to burst over the.500 mark. And Morris Hills has some weapons returning.Elusive back Eric Turner rushed for more than 800 yardsand five touchdowns last season. Junior Kyle Corry andsenior Mike Sternlich should also have roles in a verycapable backfield.

There is a spirited quarterback battle between junior

Mike McCormack and freshman Willie Hanson.

Linemen Chuck Foster and Evan Staikos will play

important roles in a fast developing line on the Scarlet

Knights’ Delaware Wing-T.

The defense often switches between four and five-man

fronts making the secondary play of Turner and Chris

Castillo all the more important. Morris Hills will have to

deal with a vexing three-week stretch in which they will

play Pope John, Montville and High Point, all programs

that have new coaches.

morristown – There’s a good chance that the

Colonials (8-4, 4-3 American) will throw the ball a little

bit more this year. Brian Billak is the early favorite at

quarterback. He’s a 6-foot-5 athlete that can see over

linemen and make good decisions. Some of his pitches

will go to tailback Zac Carter who has excellent speed.

Morristown’s returnees on the line include

center/defensive end Ryan Flynn. The 6-foot, 210-pound

athlete is as steady as they come. The Colonials will

throw a couple of new wrinkles in on defense but with

only three returning starters, plenty of athletes will be

asked to step up as they try to build off their surprising

run to a sectional title last fall.

Parsippany Hills – The Vikings like QB Tyler

Simms who got some experience in a pair of games last

year. Receiver Danny Hardwick can really fly and will be

one of the players in Simms’ sights. The success of

Parsippany Hills (2-8, 1-6 American) depends upon the

development of the linemen.

Big things are expected of Louis Garcia and 6-foot-4,

310-pound Naujee Davis. If they step up, the Vikings will

see that improvement. Parsippany Hills will continue its

blitzing 3-5 defense. The

Vikings love to use their

speed to fire off the line

and make their opponents

scramble.

Roxbury – At the

beginning of every

football game for the last

four years, Angelo

Mangiro stood next to

Roxbury coach Cosmo

Lorusso at the 50-yard line

as the national anthem

played on. To say that the

Gaels (6-4, 3-4 American)

will miss the imposing

figure who now suits up

for Penn State is an

understatement.

“You don’t get a chance

to coach someone like him

everyday,’’ Lorusso said.

“You miss his leadership

and you appreciate everything he did for us.’’

Despite missing Mangiro, there is a different mood on

this year’s Roxbury team. “I’m excited.’’ Lorusso said.

“They know they have to depend on each other and that is

what we are preaching.’’

The Gaels are young but have some experienced

players to depend on. Kyle Adams, a 260-pound two-

way lineman, will serve as an anchor for a line that will

have to jell in a hurry. They will protect senior Brandon

Riefberg or junior Kyle Young, who are having a spirited

quarterback competition while running the Wing-T

attack. Gritty junior back Donald Panciello will be a key

target and Ryan Michaels and Chris Collucci will also

lend a hand.

West morris – How can the

Wolfpack (7-3, 6-1 American) possibly

replace their outstanding quarterback

Tom Cabarle? “I have no idea,’’ Coach

Kevin Hennelly said. “But we have a

couple of lettermen coming back who

are going to help us.’’

Cabarle accounted for over 1,700 yards

of offense and led Morris County in

scoring with 25 touchdowns. Backs Joe

DeBiasse and Jason Mackewicz may not

match Cabarle’s output on their own but

should be able to provide West Morris

with a capable offensive lift. They are

quick, strong athletes that saw plenty of

time as sophomores. Guard Chris

Carfaro, tackle Rob Hughes and tight

end Shawn Barnes will also provide a

foundation for the young West Morris

squad to build upon.

www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 7

P h o t o s b y :

Pa u l Sw en sonw w w . p h o t o s b y s w e n s . z e n f o l i o . c o m

Roxbury’s LB/RB Donald Panciello

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8 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

Pope John – Brian Carlson just couldn’t resist. The

new Pope John coach was running a goal line drill during a

recent practice when one of his quarterbacks fired the

football his way. Carlson picked off the pass and started

running the ball back upfield. The unexpected move drew

whoops and laughter from the rest of the Lions as they

moved onto a different drill.

Should teams expect the unexpected against Pope John?

Time will tell if the new look, up-tempo Lions will be

better or worse under new leadership but they will

definitely be different. Former coach Vic Paternostro’s

43-year legacy is carved in granite as far New Jersey high

school football is concerned.

Carlson, a former Kean University head coach, has come

over after being an assistant at nationally recognized Don

Bosco Prep last season. He will not be following in the same

mold. Discarding the Lions’ old smash mouth, run-oriented

style in favor of the spread offense makes that official.

“I’m happy with the kids,’’Carlson said. “They’ve picked upthe offense. It’s a lot differentthan what was done in the past uphere. We have some really goodathletes. We’re doing well at thequarterback spot. The energy isgreat so I’m really happy with theway we’ve progressed so far.’’

The spread is a no-huddle offense run out of the shotgun

formation. Players will use a combination of wristbands,

hand signals and cue cards to recognize which play to run. In

sun, rain or snow the center and quarterback are expected to

execute the snap flawlessly. It’s all new to the players but it

looks like they love it.

“It’s not as tough as I thought it was going to be,’’ senior

lineman Mike Bunero said. “I was a little skeptical but I got

right into it.’’

For a speedy back like Cory Bell, the spread offense is an

answer to his prayers.

“I love it especially since I’m a running back,’’ Bell said.

“It works to my advantage. It opens up holes. It spreads out

the defense and isolates them so your speed backs and fast

players gain more of an advantage.’’

Bell and sophomore Noah Brown have explosive quickness

and should be able to make plays once they get their hands on

the ball. It should be fun for the Lions’ offense once the

players are comfortable enough to run it and execute their

blocks properly.

Tom Sanzer, a sophomore, has an early edge over a

competing classmate in the quarterback battle, although swift

senior Johnny Holden will also take over in some packages.

The Lions have big sophomore and freshman classes

providing a terrific amount of depth and the chance for most

of their athletes to play one way and stay fresh. In their 4-2

defense many eyes will be on the tallest player on the field --

6-foot-6, 250-pound Malachi Moore. Moore, who has a

verbal agreement with Boston College, saw the differences

between coaching philosophies right away.

“Coach P is a great coach and a great man,’’ Moore

said. “The main thing this year is we are going from old

school to new school. Everything last year was basic and

it worked. Now were just focusing on the spread. I don’t

think anyone has seen the spread up in Sussex County and

we’re fine with that.’’

Moore is a tough player to move in the trenches. He can fill

a hole and stop a running back in his tracks with a single step.

His long arms can tip and bat down passes as well as block

field goal tries.

“He can be an explosive kid on defense,’’ Carlson said.

“We’re trying to make him go one way (strictly defense) and

learn his craft. He can be a big, big playmaker for us. He’s a

go get ’em kid and we’re excited about seeing him play.’’

2011 Football Preview:National DivisionB y M a r k K i t c h i n – S t a f f W r i t e r

Pope John’s HC Brian CarlsonC o n t i n u e d o n n e x t p a g e

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www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 9

The Lions have a good mix of players with experience

including Bunero, linebackers Matt Iulani and Randy May

and cornerback Anthony Smith, and free safety Holden

returning to play key positions. The system is new to them on

both side of the ball but once the Lions get used to it the

results might be stunning.

“We’re up tempo,’’ Carlson said. “We’re going to take

some chances. We’re not going to worry about making

mistakes. We want to pressure the opponent from the get-go.

“The kids have great energy. They are high tempo like we

are. We’re physical and we’re fast. We preach the three E’s

from day one: Energy, Effort and Execution. I think the

energy and the effort are there. We just have to work on the

execution.’’

High Point – There will be some new faces wearing

Wildcats’ uniforms this year. High Point (8-3, 6-1 in

National) will continue on with Bill Percey as its new

head coach.

The three-year assistant at High Point will reportedly will

make few changes and keep the “Flexbone’’ attack that has

made the Wildcats winners the last two seasons including an

8-3 mark last year. What may affect High Point more though

is losing 18 seniors including several key athletes (such as

Billy Smith and Austin Caldwell) from last year’s squad that

reached the sectional semifinals for only the second time in

school history.

Jefferson – The Falcons (4-6, 2-5 in National) have

plenty of skill people back. As a freshman J. R. Reese was a

revelation. He threw for over 600 yards and ran for 300 more

in Jefferson’s multiple set. He also has the

advantage of handing off to Steve

Strumolo for even more yardage.

Coming off a knee injury his

sophomore year, Strumolo rushed

for over 1,000 yards and shows

signs of continuing that

form his senior season.

John Kampas and

Devin Sanchez will

also carry the ball

when they are not

setting up blocks.

How the Falcons

do in the

trenches will

determine the

efficiency of the

offense.

Linebacker Kampas also

plays a crucial role in the

team’s 5-2 defense. He had

an amazing number of tackles last season. An active

secondary of Dylan Pickard, Evan Rapp and Danny

Brown can help, too.

montville – The Gerry Gallagher era is over and Jim

Delaney is the new coach of the Mustangs (4-6, 2-5 in

National). The former High Point coach registered a 13-8

mark the last two seasons with the Wildcats. His ability to

mesh his philosophies with this year’s Montville team will

determine where this squad will be headed.

Learning on the fly is not easy but Delaney believes in his

players. “We’re light years ahead of where we were in my

second year at High Point,’’ Delaney said midway through

preseason. The “Flexbone’’ attack is a surprisingly inventive

three back system that is not hard for players to learn but

takes time to execute properly. It calls for whoever is running

the offense to have good judgment. “It doesn’t have to be the

best athlete,’’ Delaney said. “But he’s the player that makes

the best decisions.’’

Repetition will be the key for the players on the offensive

end. Dave Liebowitz, John Kaplan and Paul Giannoglou are

among the linemen learning how to block for the new

schemes.

morris Hills – After last year’s 3-7 campaign (1-6 in

National) the Scarlet Knights are anxious to burst over the

.500 mark. And Morris Hills has some weapons returning.

Elusive back Eric Turner rushed for more

than 800 yards and five touchdowns

last season. Junior Kyle Corry

and senior Mike Sternlich

should also have roles in a

very capable backfield.

There is a spirited

quarterback battle between

junior Mike McCormack

and freshman Willie

Hanson. Linemen

Chuck Foster and

Evan Staikos will

play important roles

in a fast developing

line on the Scarlet

Knights’ Delaware

Wing-T.

The defense often

switches between four and

five-man fronts making

the secondary play of

Turner and Chris Castillo

all the more important.

Morris Hills will have to

deal with a vexing three-

week stretch in which they will

play Pope John, Montville and High Point, all programs that

have new coaches.

mount olive – Youth and inexperience on the offensive

line will force the Marauders (5-5, 4-3 in National) to

scramble on the attack. Garrett Schneider can both run and

pass enough to direct Mount Olive’s Pro-I sets. He also has

talented receivers Nick Saporito and sophomore Justin

Maskimow to fire at.

Fullback Justin Mancini and tight end Nick Behrens (6-4,

190) also provide some offensive weapons. On defense the

experience in the 5-2 is in the secondary with Saporito,

Mancini and Alec Poles roaming the field. The Marauders

reached the sectional playoffs last year, but in order to return,

some inexperienced players will need to step up.

Sparta – Much of the Spartans’ strength is in the tackles

with 6-foot-6, 310-pound Chad Mavety and 6-foot-4, 235-

pound Chris Panten giving quarterback Ryan Hutchinson

room to operate. Will Smith is expected to pick up the slack

in the running game but his defensive prowess is just as

appreciated at inside linebacker where he made 65 tackles

and numerous sacks and fumble recoveries.

Evan Costello, Anthony DePalma and Ryan Sisco will also be

counted on to lend their experience on a team with some holes to

fill after coming off a .500 (5-5, 4-3 in National) season.

Vernon – The Vikings (4-6, 2-5 in National) will have

difficulty replacing last year’s outstanding QB Matt Soltes.

However, they do have 20 seniors on this year’s squad and a

vast amount of varsity experience on the offensive and

defensive lines.

The new quarterback is senior Chris Rourke who backed up

Soltes last year. The 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete can run and

pass and is prized for his decision making. He should have

plenty of time to put Vernon’s offense in motion.

Adam Smith (3-year starting tackle), John Griffin (3-year

guard), James Schreck (2-year center) and Scott Ruppel (2-

year tackle) have worked together longer than any group of

linemen in Morris or Sussex County. They will be opening up

many of their holes for Chris Gonzalez, a hard nosed,

punishing fullback, who also has three years of experience.

Gonzalez is also a devastating tackler at linebacker. Matt

Wighard, Tyler Parrish and Tom Higginson are also

experienced returnees that contribute on both offensive and

defensive positions.

Mount Olive’s DB Nick Saporito

Sparta’s RB Will Smith

P h o t o s b y :

R o ber t H ar r i sw w w . r o b e r t h a r r i s . s m u g m u g . c o m

Page 10: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

10 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

In Hollywood, they call it typecasting. An actor

becomes known for a particular type of role, and finds it

exceedingly hard to break out of that mold.

Two years ago, when football competition began in

the NJAC’s Independence Division, the nine current

members of the league quickly fell into roles that really

haven’t changed since those first few games. As the

new season opens, is anyone ready to play against type?

Or will the 2011 season look like another sequel?

mountain Lakes – Gladly playing the lead

role once again is Mountain Lakes (10-1 overall, 8-0

Independence). The Herd remains the only NJAC team

not to lose to a league

opponent after claiming a

second straight division

title last year. Most of

last year’s key

contributors

graduated, but the

Mountain

Lakes

tradition of

huge turnouts

and program

loyalty makes

them a force for

another season.

Second-year

coach Darrell Fusco

has 72 players in the

top three grades, including an

astounding 26 seniors. Many of

those young men are just getting

their first chance to see

significant playing time.

“It’s tough for the kids theirjunior year,” Fusco says, “butthey know if they’re loyal to ourprogram their time will come.”

One such player is Pete Breslauer, the backup

quarterback last year who hopes to be under center this

season. The senior is battling with classmate Connor

Lang for the starting position.

Among returning starters, senior Danny Badolato has

seen time on defense since his sophomore season. Chris

O’Rourke played on the offensive line his junior year,

and Fusco says he will rely on him to be an anchor on

both sides of the ball this season.

Senior running back Dylan Muti is the top returning

player at the skill positions. “He made a lot of big

plays last year,” notes Fusco. “He was starting to

become a breakaway back, and in our offense that’s a

key.”

Not everything is status quo for the Herd, though, as

Mountain Lakes comes off a tough 23-21 loss in last

year’s sectional final against Wallington, which

ended a 35-game winning streak. “We coaches

talked about it all the time during the off-

season,” Fusco says. “But with the kids it’s

more about their opportunity to contribute to

the program this year. The ultimate goal is to

win the state title, but there’s not a lot of talk

about that right now.”

Butler and Pequannock have played the roles

of the division’s co-stars, even though both had

struggled mightily previously in the Northern

Hills Conference. Both hope to hold off the

up-and-coming teams to stay near the top in

2011.

Pequannock – After placing third each of

the last two years, Pequannock (6-3 overall, 6-2

Independence) hopes to move up a notch or two

this year. But the Panthers will have to overcome a

series of pre-season setbacks.

The biggest blow was the discovery of

contaminated dirt during prep work for the installation

of Pequannock’s new

artificial turf field. The

ensuing delays mean the

Panthers may have to play

all their games on the

road this year; at least two

home games are lost for

sure.

Injuries and illness to

three returning linemen

also disrupted

Pequannock’s training

camp. But the Panthers

still have many reasons

for optimism, led by

junior quarterback Luke

Foukas.

“His confidence level

right now is through the roof,” says Panthers coach Ed

Kopp. “His decision-making is 10 times better. That

kind of development is really exciting for us.”

While many of Pequannock’s top receivers graduated,

Foukas can still throw to senior R.J. DeGeorge, while

Anthony Rubino takes over as the starting tailback.

And once those injured linemen heal, they should be a

force as well. “We’re going to be a more physical

football team,” Kopp says. Last year, Pequannock wore

down late in several key games, something the coach

doesn’t expect to see this season.

And Kopp says his team had better be tough because

of the quality of the division. “It’s going to be a

battle,” he maintains. “If we finish towards the top of

the league we will be happy.”

Butler – Nearly every contributor from Butler’s (7-2

overall, 7-1 Independence) remarkable turnaround season

in 2009 is now gone; in fact, very few starters return even

from last year’s squad, with just two back on offense and

three on defense. But coach Jim Matsakis finds reason to

remain positive.

“We took a pounding (from graduation),” he says. “The

only comforting thing is that two years ago the same thing

happened.”

Matsakis has 13 seniors on this year’s outfit, although

many haven’t been starters in the past. “There’s not a lot

of experience. We’re hoping that about seven of them can

step up and do something. If they do, we’ll be OK.”

Junior Chris Heredia is expected to take over as the

quarterback in the Bulldogs’ wide-open attack. Matsakis

believes the former backup whose experience consists of

“holding the clipboard and holding the ball for kicks” is

ready to take charge.

2011 Football Preview:Independence DivisionBy Paul Mencher – ASM Northern Review Managing Editor

FoR ADVeRtISINg INFoRmAtIoNContact : Harry L itsis 201-294-5903 harrypr int [email protected]

C o n t i n u e d o n n e x t p a g ePequannock’s QB Luke Foukas

Butler’s RB Brandon Hurtt

Mountain Lakes’s RB Dylan Muti

Page 11: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 11

Two major contributors will be seniors Brandon Hurtt, a

starting linebacker last year who will also play running

back this season, and Mike Tenned, another experienced

defender who will be counted on at wideout for the

Bulldogs.

The Independence Division’s middle-of-the-pack

teams—Boonton, Dover, Hopatcong and Morris Catholic—

are aiming to break out of their supporting roles and

become stars in their own right. And each has hopes that

2011 could be their year.

Hopatcong – Many of the coaches in the divisionhave their eyes on Hopatcong (4-5 overall, 4-4Independence) this season, and for good reason. TheChiefs have a lot of talent and depth returning.

“We’re trying to take the next step this year,” says coachGary Andolena. “We’ve got to try to beat one of those (topthree teams) to do that.”

Leading the charge for the Chiefs is fullback/linebackerAustin Brown. The bruising but speedy senior has been astarter since his freshman year. “He’s a heck of a footballplayer and a heck of a leader,” says Andolena. “His motornever stops.”

Brown will have a lot of help toting the pigskin this year,with Feyi Olugbenga and Johann Lara among those whowill share the load. Andolena says the depth will keep hisrunning backs fresh throughout games.

Quarterback Ryan Clarke opened some eyes late lastseason when he replaced the injured starter and ledHopatcong to a win over Boonton. The sophomore has astrong arm, but it’s his size (Clarke is 6’4” and 195pounds) that really has opponents on alert.

On defense, “we have quite a few kids back, so weexpect to play on a high level,” Andolena states. Again,the Chiefs have enough depth that most starters won’t beasked to take part in every play.

Dover – Another team causing concern for the divisionleaders is Dover (4-6 overall, 4-4 Independence). TheTigers went 4-4 in the league last year and have someexplosive talent returning.

“I think our skill positions are pretty good,” says coachMike White. At running back, sophomore George Scalleyreturns after a standout freshman season, and incombination with senior Pablo Gonzalez, forms possiblythe most dangerous duo in the division.

Senior Nick Saltarelli takes over at quarterback, and willhave a top target in Ryan Schaible. But White says muchdepends on his young offensive line, which lost three keystarters from last year.

Dover opens at home in a key game against Pequannock,and will debut its new artificial turf field. “It’s definitely abig improvement,” White says. “They did a really goodjob.”

Now the goal is to rise to the challenge of contendingwith the division’s top teams. “We’re trying to get overthat hump,” says White. “Hopefully we’re one of theteams that can shake it up.”

Boonton – Much of the buzz surrounding Boonton (4-6 overall, 4-4 Independence) has to do with the newcoaching regime. Former Montville assistant BryanGallagher is a first-time head coach, but few expect him tostruggle with the transition. After all, his father is thewidely-respected Gerry Gallagher, who just retired asMontville’s head coach. Even better for the youngerGallagher, his dad agreed to serve as an assistant on hisnew staff.

“There was no convincing involved,” says BryanGallagher. “(My father) is the best friend I have in theworld. So when this came up he was ready to help out inwhatever way he can.”

Gallagher will bring Montville’s traditional Wing-Tattack to Boonton, but because the Bombers played a

variation of the sameoffense, it’s not a majortransition for the players.He describes his defense as“aggressive, but preventingbig plays as much aspossible.”

In terms of personnel, theBombers lose their twobiggest playmakers from ayear ago. Senior TerranceGreen should replace EricFajardo at quarterback,while senior Mike Reid isone of three players likelyto see time at fullback,taking over for thegraduated Andrew Regan.Gallagher believes his teamis in good shape on thelines, led by seniors VinceCoiro and Pat Faust.

morris Catholic –(2-8 overall, 2-6Independence) sufferedthrough a season last yearin which the Crusaders sawlate leads get away timeand time again. CoachGreg Lusardi says his rundefense was the majorculprit, yet ironically, heexpects the same unit to beone of the Crusaders’ strongsuits this year.

“We have strength in thedefensive line,” Lusardisays, citing seniors MikePurcell and FrankCacciabeve in particular.“We have a pretty good

corps of linebackers too.”

Change is also afoot on offense. “We don’t have thatbig-play potential anymore,” says Lusardi. “Instead of 80-yard plays, this year we’re going to have to be moreconsistent.” Lusardi hopes for good things from thecombination of senior quarterback Brendan Wood and histwin brother Eric, a wide receiver. Senior Troy Weathersbywill be the Crusaders’ top running back.

Kinnelon and Whippany Park ended up at the bottom ofthe division the last two years, and will continue to searchfor the big break that will allow them to move up.

Kinnelon – ForKinnelon (3-7 overall,1-7 Independence) thelast taste of the brightlights was just threeyears ago, when theColts won seven gamesand reached the stateplayoffs. Coach KevinWhite sees reason foroptimism as he looks atthis year’s squad.

“We feel pretty goodabout our team speed,”he says. “In terms ofsize we think we lineup a little better thisyear. Traditionally,

when we’ve been able to match up along the lines we’vebeen successful.” Returning seniors Dan Elstien and MikePost, along with junior Troy Andretta, will be the main menin the trenches for Kinnelon.

Junior quarterback Sean Robbins, who’s been the startersince his first game as a freshman, is back to run the showagain. “He’s much more physical and assertive,” says White.“We have pretty high hopes for him.”

Chris Villante returns at running back, where the seniorshared time last year. The kicking game looks like asignificant strength for the Colts, with Elstien the punter andjunior Evan Argiriou doing the place-kicking.

Whippany Park – Coming off an extremelychallenging season, Whippany Park (0-9 overall, 0-8Independence) looks to turn the corner under new head coachTodd Callaghan. A very young Wildcats team simply couldnot compete last year, but Callaghan, the school’s softballcoach for the past five years, believes that can change.

“Our success isn’t going to be measured in wins andlosses,” Callaghan says. “I’d like to see us get a couple ofwins, but if we play a full four quarters competitively, thatwill be successful.”

Callaghan will implement a Wing-T offense and expectssenior fullback Nick Fano to be his primary ball-carrier. Hehopes to rotate a number of players in at the halfbackpositions, while junior Joe LoBracio will return asquarterback. Junior Nick Falkman will play tight end and bea key target in the passing game.

On defense, expect to see Whippany Park in a 5-2formation, with Fano leading the way from hislinebacker spot.

Despite the rough 2010 season, Callaghan says his teamcame in eager for the new campaign. “The numbers areup,” he says. “The kids are more than willing to changetheir approach.”

Overall, the cast may be largely the same, butIndependence Division 2011 looks like it could be ablockbuster.

M o u n t a i n L a k e s P h o t o s b y :

L ou is B e l l u c c i

B u t l e r P h o t o b y :

J im T urn erw w w . t u r n e r s p o r t s p h o t o s . c o m

Kinnelon’s QB Sean Robbins

Page 12: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

12 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

madison – All the teams in the Freedom Division

will be setting their sights on Madison after last year’s

12-0 state championship season. But if the rest of the

squad is just as competitive as cousins Michael and

Steven Finelli, the Dodgers have nothing to worry

about.

Overall, the team lost 15 seniors including 10

letterwinners, but that only encourages the Dodgers

scrapping for starting spots. It

doesn’t worry the Finellis

either. They spend more time

trying to outdo each other

rather than worrying about

any opponents. With them, it’s

personal.

“We both go at itevery day,’’ saidSteven Finelli,who insistshe’s thebetter guard.“It’s a lot offun. It’s a familything. It makes usbetter because itmakes us tryharder. We pusheach other as hardas we can.’’

It was Steven who got Michael

Finelli to start playing football

with him in the third grade. It

isn’t certain if he has lived to

regret it yet but the relationship is

certainly a tempestuous one at times.

“We’ve always been competitive,’’

Michael Finelli said. “We’ve always

played up levels. We’ve always gone one

on one with each other. Two days ago we

had our lineman competitions where it’s a one-

on-one block. Usually the competitions last for

a good 15-20 seconds, but we were going at it for

a good one minute, two minutes. We just push each other

so much.’’

Competition is what fuels the Dodgers’ camp this year

starting with the quarterbacks.

Carson Lassiter and Sean Bradley have similar skills

and attributes that will help them run facets of the

Madison offense.

“Carson Lassiter, is a junior, he’s a

big guy,’’ Michael Finelli said. “Sean

Bradley is a senior and a little

undersized but he doesn’t disappoint.

The other day he was running over

kids twice his size. He has a great

arm. He’s a real athletic kid. It’s a

good competition.’’

Another player who has grown

accustomed to running over people is

Justin Goodwin. As a sophomore, the

running back was a key figure in the

Dodgers’ exceptional season. He was

one of Morris County’s top scorers.

“He’s fast -- that’s the big thing,’’

Michael Finelli said. “He works hard,

in school, out of school, in the weight

room. Every time I see him. He’s

working hard and never goofing off,

just encouraging everyone else to be

better because he wants the same

thing. I have a hard time keeping up with him -- and I

have to block in front of him.’’

Picking up the slack from players like

Aaron Fant, Matt McHale, Martin Horn and

many others won’t be easy but the Dodgers

have a foundation to build upon.

Jesse Ruela joins the Finellis on the line.

Ben Anderson, Will Mattola, Matt

McDonald and Curtis Hubbard also

gained experience on the defense.

And then there are players that

Madison’s varsity opponents

have not even seen yet –

and may not want to.

“Our jayvee finished

undefeated last year,

too,’’ Michael Finelli

said. “Now that they

are on the big stage they

want to prove that they can fill in and

play with anybody.’’

Chatham –

The Cougars’ versatility should

help them this year. Coach Scott Morgenroth runs

Chatham (5-5 overall, 5-3 Freedom) on a platoon

system so plenty of athletes get in on the action. Two-

way lineman Nick Ball will be among the key players.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pound athlete can be a force and he

makes the line calls. Matt Babakian is another

experienced two-way lineman who will help the

Cougars upgrade their play in the trenches.

Colin Brown is a slick receiver and experienced

secondary man. Starting receiver Sam Faillia will

switch from catching to throwing passes as a

quarterback running the option. Overall, for the

Cougars it’s the more the merrier. Chatham employs a

lot of different packages to get their guys as much

experience as they can in as little time.

Hackettstown – The Tigers (4-6 overall, 3-5Freedom) will miss quick quarterback Chris Souders andwill look to others to run their spread offense.Hackettstown lost all but one starter on the offensive sideand hopes senior running back Ryan Tatarka can carrythe load. Center Alex Weingarten, the only returningstarter, keys the offensive line.

Carl Von Glahn takes over at quarterback; the seniorwas previously Hackettstown’s place kicker and bootedthe game-winning field goal last year against WarrenHills. Greg Castillo should be a key receiver for theTigers.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior nose guard JoeClarke is back as is senior linebacker Mark Grimes.Tatarka leads the secondary from his safety position.

Hanover Park – The Hornets (5-5 overall, 5-3Freedom) graduated 21 seniors last year leaving a lot ofjobs to fill. This is the second year that Hanover Park isrunning Coach Gerry Moore’s system.

Moore emphasizes an intense commitment in theoffseason, which was something they couldn’t quite take

advantage of last year because ofthe coaching switch. The

increased familiarity shouldbring a lot of the newvarsity players up tospeed in a hurry.

Strong blocks to buildaround include GiuseppeOttaiano, a steady, tough as

nails, two-waylineman and Steve

Colonello, amulti-talentedrunning

back/linebackerwho is alsocrucial to theteam’s kickinggame.

There areplenty of jobsto bedetermined

including thequarterbackposition where

juniors JimmySivolella and John

Cardovano werebattling to be the

starter.

Kittatinny –Year in and year

out, Jim Green’screw at

Kittatinny (2-8overall, 2-6

Freedom)has thereputation ofconsistentlygetting the mostout of their lineupregardless of theirrecord. That tradition willbe tested with this year’s youngteam.

2011 Football Preview:Freedom DivisionB y M a r k K i t c h i n – S t a f f W r i t e r

Chatham's Sam Faillia

Madison's RB Justin Goodwin

Madison’s lineman Steve Finelli

Madisoncelebrat ing their sect ional t i t le

C o n t i n u e d o n n e x t p a g e

Page 13: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 13

Kittatinny has only three returning starters on eachside of the ball. Many of the newcomers are part of astrong sophomore class that will be indoctrinated onthe varsity level. Their line will be anchored by three-year starter Adam Crisman (6-2, 275).

The arm of junior quarterback Kyle Potten will openup Kittatinny’s offense a little more than in pastseasons. The Cougars will also utilize their quicknessand aggressiveness to spark the young defense.

Lenape Valley – When it comes to consistency,

there is no program steadier in northwest New Jersey

than the Patriots (8-3 overall, 6-2 Freedom). The local

youth teams run the same types of offenses and

defenses as the varsity team and often with the same

terminology.

This year’s Lenape Valley squad will show

inexperience on the varsity level but should get up to

speed in a hurry because of that consistency. Coach

Don Smolyn likes his young crew even though they

have only three offensive starters and four defensive

starters returning.

Fullback Nick Rafferty returns as the team’s top

scorer. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete is a punishing

runner with more than 700 yards rushing last year.

Will Portington, who started at outside linebacker, can

be expected to carry it some.

Newton – New head coach Steve Rabbitt is

overhauling the Braves (3-7 overall, 1-7 Freedom). A

familiar face will be running the new Delaware Wing-

T offense. Two-year quarterback Zac Little, who had

free reign with the run-and-shoot system last year, will

now look to pick his spots with the more conventional

offense.

Developing longer, more consistent drives and

limiting mistakes will help Newton’s chances. One of

Little’s targets will be senior tight end Jimmy Papis.

The Braves can also rally around senior two-way

linemen Marc Jensen and Forrest Gysen.

Jensen and Papis will also have leadership roles in

the Braves’ 5-3 defense. Lack of depth is a perennial

problem with the Newton squad, so staying healthy is

of paramount importance.

Parsippany – The Red Hawks (2-8 overall, 0-8

Freedom) made big strides last year by breaking their

lengthy losing streak. Now they would like to post

some division wins as well.

Its double-wing offense helped Parsippany ground

out yardage and control the clock in its victories.

Corey Wallace will direct the run-oriented offense.

More familiarity with the system and some added

wrinkles to the playbook will make the Red Hawks an

interesting team to watch.

Returning back Tyler Wilhalme and Marcus Farrar, a

halfback who missed most of last season due to injury,

will also have more chances to run the ball. Tom

Cucchiara moves from center to guard and will help

guide the younger linemen. Linebacker Ryan Sheehan

and his teammates should have fun with the blitz

packages in the Red Hawks’ new 3-5 defense.

Wallkill Valley – The Rangers (6-4 overall, 6-2

Freedom) should continue the success they have

developed over the past couple of seasons under coach

Daryl Jones. Wallkill Valley runs a pro-set and

returning quarterback Brendan Drexler has enough

skills to continue the team’s positive results.

The Rangers will have to scramble to replace the

experience and toughness of running back tandem

Kevin Cook and Kaje Cowans, who led the team to its

first state playoff berth in 15 years where Wallkill

nearly knocked off eventual sectional champ Lakeland.

Junior Mike Buvis should contribute in the backfield

and junior Bobby Russel will be a key man on the

offensive line as well as defense.

M a d i s o n P h o t o s b y :

P au l M u e l l e r

C h a t h a m / H a n o v e r P a r k P h o t o s b y :

Ala n M ag laq ueo f M C V P h ot ogr ap hy

w w w . m c h s s . n e t

Hanover Park's Giuseppe Ottaiano

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Page 14: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

14 / ASmNorthern Review Volume- I Issue-1 9 /6 / 1 1

FoR ADVeRtISINg INFoRmAtIoNContact : Harry L itsis 201-294-5903 harrypr int [email protected]

Page 15: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

www.asmnorth.com ASmNorthern Review / 15

While the NJAC heads into its third season

with its divisional lineup basically the same as a

year ago, a few of the conference’s schools will

be looking at significant changes when it comes

to state playoff time.

The NJSIAA’s annual group reclassification

shuffles the deck each year, as some schools

change groups based on fluctuations in the size

of their student bodies. Because of the method

the association uses, some schools can also

switch sections on an annual basis.

The NJSIAA actually has many classifications for

various sports; its general classification is now only

used for soccer, basketball, baseball, softball and

tennis. Here is a look at the significant changes for

NJAC schools for the 2011-12 school year:

general ClassificationOne school is seeing a double dose of change,

as it drops down a group and also changes

sections. Morristown, which was in North

Jersey Section 1, Group IV last year, will switch

to Group III and play in North Jersey Section 2.

Morristown struggled in most of the general

classification sports last year; the new section

would appear to be slightly easier.

The other NJAC school switching groups in

the overall classification is Vernon. A Group IV

school for more than two decades, Vernon will

drop down to Group III

this year thanks to a

sizeable dropoff in

student enrollment. On

the whole, the shift to

North 1, Group III would

seem to be a benefit to

the teams in the general

classification sports,

especially the Vikings’

basketball squads which

could almost never get

out of the first round in

Group IV.

Switching sections but

remaining in the same

group is Dover, which

shifts from North 2, Group

II to Section 1 this year.

The new section would

appear to be slightly

tougher, which isn’t great

news for the Tigers, who

didn’t make it past the first

round in any of the general

classification sports last

year.

No NJAC school is moving up in group size

this year, though Mount Olive came close,

falling just a handful of students short of

jumping into Group IV.

FootballVernon’s big change also carries over to the football

field, where it will now compete in North 1, Group

III. In this case, the move is not good news for the

Vikings. While

their old section

(N1, G4) features a

few solid teams,

including

defending

champion

Randolph, their

new section is one

of the toughest

public-school

brackets in the

entire state, led by

perennial powers

like Wayne Hills

and Ramapo.

Switching places

with Vernon is

Roxbury, which

moves back up to

North 1, Group IV

after being in

Group III last year. In an odd twist, the Gaels make

the move up despite a small decrease in student

population. Roxbury will be the

smallest school in N1, G4, but

would clearly appear to have a

better chance to make some noise

in the playoffs in its new bracket.

After three years in Group I for

football, Hopatcong will jump

back up to Group II this year.

The Chiefs did not make the

states in Group I, and qualifying

this year will also be tough. But

don’t forget that Hopatcong’s

two state titles both came in

North 1, Group II.

Another Sussex County team

will take Hopatcong’s place in

Group I, as Kittatinny moves down

to the smallest group for the first

time. Since a remarkable 10-1

season in 2007, the Cougars have not returned to the

playoffs; the switch probably won’t make it any easier

to break that streak.

Also dropping down for football

is Pequannock. The resurgent

Panthers made the state playoffs

each of the last two years in North

1, Group II, but will now compete

in Group I. The schools are

smaller, but are hardly pushovers,

and Pequannock may still need six

wins to qualify for the states. But

one would think the Panthers

should have a better chance of

competing for a sectional title in

their new group.

One NJAC school will switch

sections, as Parsippany moves from

North 2, Group II to North 1, Group

II. The two sections are similar in

strength, and the move shouldn’t

really impact the Red Hawks as

they attempt to build up their

program.

On the Non-Public front, the

NJSIAA will go back to four

brackets for the state playoffs after

combining the smallest two groups last year. Both

Morris Catholic and Morristown-Beard are designated

as Group I schools for football in 2011. South Jersey

powerhouse St. Joseph of Hammonton appears to be

the clear favorite to win that group title.

Field HockeyIn soccer’s World Cup they call it the

Group of Death—the one group that is

clearly tougher than any other. After a one-

year hiatus, field

hockey’s Section of

Doom is back

together. Madison

and Chatham, which

played last year in

North 2, Group II,

have shifted back to

North 1, Group II.

That puts the

defending Morris

County champions

(Chatham) and the

2009 Group II state

champs (Madison)

in a section that also

includes Sussex

County’s top

program, Newton,

and 14-time state

champions West

Essex.

Happy to escape the Section of Doom is

Pequannock, which moves down to Group I

this year. The Panthers struggled the last

couple of years, but if the program can regain

some of its traditional strength, Pequannock

could be a factor in N1, G1.

As in other sports, Vernon is on the move

in field hockey, dropping from Group IV to

Group III. The Vikings’ shift, along with

other changes, helps create an extremely

difficult section in North Jersey Section 2,

Group III. Defending North 1, Group III

champion West Morris makes the move, as

does Morristown. Those solid programs join

defending state champion Freehold Borough

and perennial contender Warren Hills in a

very tough bracket.

WrestlingLooking ahead to winter, North Jersey

Section 1, Group III loses one elite wrestling

program but gains another top team. High

Point drops to Group II this winter, but

Roxbury moves back into Section 1 after

winning the North 2, Group III title last year.

The Gaels are the immediate favorite to take

the section.

Meantime, High Point, the defending

Group III state champion, lost a number of

top athletes, but will still be strong, and

surely becomes the favorite in North 1,

Group II. While the Wildcats would have

been an underdog had they remained in

Group III, they must be considered a threat

for another state title in the lower group.

Also, Boonton, which missed out on a

sectional title by just a couple of points last

winter, gets a bad break as it moves out of

North 2, Group I. The Bombers will join the

very tough North 1, Group I section that

already includes Kittatinny, Newton,

Pequannock and other strong programs.

Reclassifications for some sports, like ice

hockey and lacrosse, have yet to be made

public.

NJAC ReclassificationBy Paul Mencher – ASM Northern Review Managing Editor

Vernon drops down to Group III, whichcould be good news for the girls'

basketball squad and other teams

M o r r i s t o w n w i l l k i c k o f f t h e n e w s c h o o l y e a r i n N o r t h 2 , G r o u p I I I i n m a n y s p o r t s l i k e g i r l s ' s o c c e r

R o x b u r y a n d R a n d o l p h c o u l d m e e t i n t h e f o o t b a l l s t a t ep l a y o f f s a f t e r t h e G a e l s m o v e d b a c k u p t o G r o u p I V

P h o t o s b y :

Pa u l Swe n s onwww.photosbyswens.zenfolio.com

P h o t o s b y :

R ob e rt Ha r r i swww.robertharris.smugmug.com

Page 16: All Sports Media Northern Review 9-6-2011

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