High school football summer snapshot: Team that shocked the Shore with improvement wants more
The improved results on the football field for Pinelands Regional High School shocked the Shore Conference a year ago.
An emphasis on a smashmouth approach had a lot to do with it, Wildcats’ coach John Tierney said.
“When you wake up on a Saturday morning, you’ll know you played a game of football when you play Pinelands,” Tierney said. “We’re gonna be physical. We’re gonna run the ball and we’re not gonna give up on plays.”
Pinelands finished with a 7-4 record after going 2-8 the previous year – only Ocean Township with a step up to an 8-1 record from 2-8 completed a steeper climb.
However, Ocean has been a division champion or co-champion 16 times in the past. Pinelands has no such history. The breakthrough year marked the first time Pinelands posted a winning record since 2004 and it was the first seven-win campaign since 1991.
If another step forward is going to take place, it’ll have to be accomplished without graduated quarterback Ryan Allen, who passed for 1,265 yards and 14 touchdowns. Junior Ty Kline and senior Frankie Gargione are the candidates to replace Allen.
High school football summer snapshots: 2023 Shore season previews, players to watch
Senior wideout/defensive back Mike Frawley says he expects the change to be seamless.
“Rinse and repeat. It doesn’t matter who is under center, I feel I can go out and ball regardless,” said Frawley, who had 41 catches for 742 yards with 10 touchdowns.
Frawley at DB also had three interceptions.
“Great defense - we really proved ourselves last year, and I take a lot of pride in that,” he said
In his second year as head coach of the program, Tierney said there’s been an upbeat atmosphere at home on game day.
“Nobody's ever expected much of Pinelands. I think for the first time, it's like, how do you handle that pressure to win more because you're supposed to win,” Tierney said. “We went 7-4 last year and now we’re supposed to repeat that. We handled adversity really well last year.”
Shore Conference Liberty Division
NJSIAA South Group 3
2022 RECORD: 7-4, 2-3
COACH: John Tierney, 2nd season
OL support for Jaimin Parkinson
As a sophomore Jaimin Parkinson ran for 1,059 yards with 14 touchdowns, hitting for 100 yards six times including a season-high 227 yards with four touchdowns against Lakewood.
Tierney said this year’s offensive line – which includes standout junior Anthony Aguanno, a two-way lineman whose 51 tackles last year is No. 2 among returning players - is looking bigger and better than ever.
“Now our offensive line was pretty good last year, but we will be better this year,” Tierney said. “Our offensive line is bigger than I am on average, and I am a big individual.”
“We have a whole team back, we lost a few seniors, but we’re still the same team,” Frawley said. “I just want to go out there and compete and win. It doesn’t matter what I do, it matters what all my guys go out there and do.”
Pinelands Regional High School football: Top performers
Jaimin Parkinson, Jr., RB/LB
Parkinson was the Shore Conference’s sixth-leading rusher. He’s 5-10, 190.
Mike Frawley, Sr., WR/DB
A true two-way player, Frawley run middle-distance races on the track team – which he says helps his football cardio. “We’re going to find ways to get him the ball. The key is to find Mike in space,” Tierney said.
Pinelands Regional High School football: Program players
Liam Villinger, Sr., WR/DB
Liam was the third-leading tackler in the Shore Conference last season totaling 138. He’s a veteran on defense and can find open spots in the pass game when given looks.
Anthony Aguanno, Jr., OL/DL
Anthony brings back athleticism on defense and had three fumble recoveries. He is also a wrestler for Pinelands.
Pinelands Regional High School football: Names to know
Eric Kobilnyk, So., RB/LB
Making an impact as a freshman, this Pinelands wrestler returns power on both sides of the ball. Defensively he racked up 71 tackles and a pair of sacks. He will be a chess piece in the run game for Pinelands as they figure out the pass game early on.
Shane Gordon, Jr., RB/LB
As a three-sport athlete, playing baseball and wrestling for Pinelands, the athletic junior gives receiving options off the block. He had 61 receiving yards off three looks last season.
Ethan Woods, Sr., TE/DL/K
If Pinelands scores 6, chances are Ethan will tack on the extra point. He was 21-of-28 in PAT kicks, going a perfect 10-of-10 in the final three games of last season.
Pinelands Regional High School football: Playoff history (1-2)
Playoff appearances: 2
Section titles: 0
In 2022 Pinelands appeared in the South Group 3 NJSIAA Regional Invitational Tournament for non-playoff qualifiers and defeated Triton 35-33 and Barnegat 21-15 before losing to Wall 35-14 in the final.
Pinelands Regional High School football 2023 schedule
Aug. 31: At Point Pleasant Beach, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8: At Neptune, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: Central Regional 6 p.m.
Sept. 22: Toms River East, 6 p.m.
Sept. 29: At Matawan Regional, 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6: At Toms River South, 6 p.m.
Oct. 13: Barnegat, 6 p.m.
Oct. 20: Monmouth Regional, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore football: Pinelands Regional High School 2023 preview
