High school football summer snapshot: Why Marlboro has fuel for 'big, pressure-packed' games
They were the kind of wins that can propel a high school football program forward. Particularly one like Marlboro, breathing the rarified air in upper regions of the Shore Conference for the first time in in a long time.
There was last season’s dramatic 17-14 victory at Manalapan as time expired, the Mustangs’ first win over their district foe since 1994. And a 21-17 win over Washington Township was their first NJSIAA playoff win since winning their lone state sectional championship 28 years earlier.
Now the Mustangs, 13-7 over the past two seasons, are trying to keep the momentum going.
“Those are obviously huge moments,” Marlboro coach Jason Dagato said. “Having those experiences, it’s good fuel for the fire. These kids want to get back to those kinds of games. Big, pressure-packed, important games. And there’s an understanding that nobody is going to hand it to you. You have to go get it.
“And it has given these kids some confidence that we can play. Even when the chips are down. We experienced a lot of adversity last year and you need to keep throwing punches.”
The biggest loss of all came when senior quarterback AJ Schwartz went down with a season-ending knee injury against Howell. Instead of going 4-0 for the first time since 1999, the Mustangs lost three straight, before rallying late in the season.
Now Marlboro pushes forward with some new opponents within the Freedom Division, including Southern, Middletown North and Lacey, who join Freedom holdovers Jackson Memorial and Howell.
The non-division schedule that includes area power Rumson-Fair Haven, St. John Vianney (in the Sept. 2 season opener) and Freehold Township.
“I take the fact that we’re playing Rumson as a compliment,” Dagato said. “Someone thought this looks like a good game, let’s put it on there. To me that’s a compliment. That’s going to be a super fun one, and test our program a little bit.
“The division is super competitive. It looks like everybody can beat everybody. There’s not a clear-cut favorite.”
High school football summer snapshots: 2023 Shore season previews, players to watch
Shore Conference Freedom Division
NJSIAA South Group 5
2022 RECORD: 6-4
COACH: Jason Dagato, 12th season, (30-67 career record).
Marlboro High School football: New faces seek same results
Many of the players who laid the foundation for the program’s recent rise have graduated. And losing the likes of Schwartz and Ryan Mendes, the Mustangs are faced with transitioning to a new group of seniors without missing a beat on the field.
“We’re trying to find new leadership,” Dagato said. “That is the challenge early on, getting the seniors to understand it’s their team now, and they need to set the tone for what we’re going to be, how were going to practice, how we’re going to play. And they have done a good job. We’ve had some very strong leadership graduate. But on the flip side, these guys learned from them and understand the roles they have to take over now, and they’ve put in a lot of great work.”
It’s also the first summer with quarterback Brayden Klein under center. Klein took over after Schwartz was injured and eventually led the team to three straight late-season wins, and put together the game-tying drive in the fourth quarter against Manalapan.
“It was a very difficult situation for him to step in like that,” Dagato said. “AJ was a fantastic football player and it was just a crushing moment, but we also knew we had Brayden had worked hard his sophomore and junior year waiting in the wings. And once he got his bearings and we got our bearings in terms of what we were asking him to do, he was playing well at the end of the season.”
Marlboro High School football: Top performers
Matt Cassidy, Sr., RB, ILB
Ran for 850 yards on 168 carries with 11 TDs, including 191 yards against Colts Neck, and is one of the Mustangs’ top defenders.
“He’s the heartbeat of the team,” Dagato said. “He’s the guy in practice who’s going 100 mph and that gets everybody else going. And he is one of those guys embracing that leadership role because he understands what it takes and that it is his team now.”
Anthony Tropeano, Sr., FB/ILB
Second on the team in tackles last year, while registering three sacks and picking off two passes.
“Anthony has been an absolute stalwart in the weight room,” Dagato said. “He’s a big, strong kid, and he’s the glue guy on defense who makes sure everyone is in the right spot.”
Nick Scaff, Sr., S/WR
Entering his third season as a starter in the defensive backfield, moving to safety after finishing with 50 tackles and three interceptions last season, picking two passes off in their state playoff victory.
“He excels at both spots. He’s a great athlete,” Degato said.
Luke Rubin, Sr., K/P
Among the Shore’s top kicking specialists, serving as the Mustangs’ kicker and punter.
“The kid had a great season last year. And he’s underrated as a punter,” Dagato said.
Marlboro High School football: Program Players
Brayden Klein, Sr., QB
Started the final six games last season.
Luke Houston, Jr., WR/DB
Stepped in at CB after Schwartz went down, and will start be a starting receiver this season as well.
Dan Alcide, Sr., WR/DB
Will be a two-way starter, after scoring five TDs as a junior, including four rushing.
Robert Kenyon, Sr., DT/OL
Starts on OL this season after stepping in at DT last season and anchoring the center of the line.
Lou Ogno, Sr., OL
Returning starter up front who anchors the line at center.
Jon Moskowich, Sr., OL
Gets the start at left tackle
Marlboro High School football: Names to know
Brave Haugh, Sr., TE
The 6-5 basketball player makes for intriguing target downfield.
Sam Hirsch, Sr., WR/KR
Speedster with big-play ability.
Mike Consolazio, Sr., FB/LB
Gets chance on offense and defense this season.
Slav Kostenko, Jr., OL/DL
At 6-5, 230, could be a force on the offensive line.
Mike Garcia, Sr., OL
Shifts to offensive line this season.
Marlboro High School football: Playoff history (3-2)
3 NJSIAA playoff appearances.
1 sectional championship (1994).
Marlboro High School football 2023 schedule
Sept. 2: St. John Vianney, 11 a.m.
Sept. 8: at Southern Regional, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15: at Howell, 6 p.m.
Sept. 23: Lacey, 12 p.m.
Sept. 29: at Freehold Twp., 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 7: Jackson Memorial, 12 p.m.
Oct. 13: at Rumson-Fair Haven, 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Middletown North, 12 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore football: Marlboro High School 2023 season preview
