NJ football preview: What to watch in Big Central Conference American Silver Division
With kickoff for the 2023 football season set for Aug. 25, storylines abound in the Big Central Conference. Here's a look at the league's American Silver Division squads and what to expect this fall as we continue our preseason coverage.
Phillipsburg
The Phillipsburg High School football team accomplished nearly everything it could last season – an 11-1 record, a Big Central Conference American Silver Division title, and a 35-14 romp over rival Easton on Thanksgiving that ended a six-game holiday series slide.
By the names returning, it looks like the Stateliners could match all of it and perhaps contend for the one thing they missed – a state title.
Seniors Cameron Bohal (WR/DB, the defensive MVP of the Easton game), Pat Day (OLB/WR), John Wargo (FB/DE), Kevin Burgess (WR/DB) and Caleb Rivera (RB/DE) and juniors Jett Genovese (QB) and Matthew Scerbo Jr. (WR/DB) all return after standout seasons.
But that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed.
“The expectations always are there,” said coach Frank Duffy, entering his eighth season at his alma mater with a 56-20 record. “On paper, it looks really good, and that’s great and all, but it presents new challenges. Guys now, who were young guys (last season) and got their feet wet, they have to understand decisions will be made based on what’s best for the team. When you have so many talented guys you have to manage that and make sure guys understand their roles. They might not get the ball as much as they want. But that’s ok as long as the team is winning.”
MORE BCC FOOTBALL PREVIEWS
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Genovese is stronger and more assertive at quarterback, Duff said. He threw for 1,380 yards and 13 touchdowns from the pro set. Seven were caught by the versatile Scerbo, who led the team with 37 catches and 476 yards.
Rivera (101-608-9) and Wargo (52-368-5) provide a strong 1-2 rushing attack behind the graduated Xavier Moore, who ran for 853 yards and 10 TDs.
The offensive line has senior center Benny Coury, senior right guard Joey Ross, senior right tackle Colin Higgins and junior Jack Regan.
Those players will also play defense, along with senior Grifton Friday-Johnson, another two-way player. Wargo and Rivera are the leaders of the 4-4 set and line up on the interior. Day is one of the linebackers. He was second on the team in tackles to the graduated Connor Hille. The secondary will have Scerbo, Burgess, Bohal and junior transfer Felix Matos, who comes in from Bergen Catholic. Matos will also play wide receiver. Another transfer- sophomore RB/DB Jah’quil Dooley - is a promising talent who played on East Orange’s freshman team last season.
Ridge
Big graduation losses are routine for Ridge, but it hasn’t stopped the Red Devils from seven consecutive playoff berths and four straight trips to the sectional semifinals. That will be the challenge again in 2023.
Eight starters and an all-state kicker were among coach Andy West’s graduation departures, including first-team All-State cornerback Adam Meiner, and two-time All-State kicker Asi Gudmundsson, along with two other all-conference players. And while replacing the star-studded group will be challenging, West said he’s used to it.
“It’s kind of rinse and repeat. Same story as usual,” said West, a Ridge graduate beginning his fourth season at the helm after a decade as an assistant. “We had a great group of guys go out the doors, but there’s a lot of guys that are eager to step up and take their turn and leave their own legacy. There’s a lot of new faces, from some perspective, but we’re super confident in the guys who are coming in.
“We’ve got a solid core of returning starters who are very good players, then it’s a lot of new guys around them.”
The offensive line returns a pair of senior starters in Chris Oliver and Tate Harrison, and senior Will Deady returns as the lead back, after rushing for 1,265 yards and 15 touchdowns, to go with 27 catches for 442 yards and two more scores en route to a first-team All-Conference selection last season. But the rest of the offense is brank new, beginning at the top.
Senior Ryan Olivo started at safety a year ago, and will again. He saw a lot of touches rushing and receiving in a backup role last year, but he gets the keys to the attack this season. The younger brother of graduated Red Devils superstar Mike Olivo, the first-time signal caller will pilot a unit that will feature plenty of other first-time starters, including senior Rooke Donohoe, a returning starter at linebacker who will start at tight end for the first time. Other first-time offensive starters include seniors Brady Wilson, Ivan Konovalov and Andrew Serluco, and juniors Ryan Swan, Aiden Stieglitz and Ryan Turner.
Donohoe (LB), Oliver (DL), Deady (S) and Olivo (S) are the returning starters on defense and will be looked toward to lead the way on that side of the ball. Stieglitz and senior Ryan Silva will handle the kicking.
Hillsborough
A year ago, Hillsborough was getting things ramped back up after a perfect season, having lost a ton of stellar talent to graduation and not really knowing what to expect from 2022. Now, after answering some of those questions and enjoying a 5-4 playoff season, one that included winning five of their first six games, there’s a lot of optimism in Raiders’ camp headed into 2023.
Coach Kevin Carty Jr. knows he lost some good seniors from last year’s team, including second-team All-Conference lineman Christian Quandt, but also has a ton back, with some promising newcomers coming in, especially upfront, which not only makes for a talented and mostly experienced starting lineup, but also some very good depth.
“Many of our offensive players — especially our line — are juniors who will likely be very good players,” he said. “For us to have the season we want, we need them to be good right now.”
Among them is junior quarterback Alex Reiling, who took over the starting job late last season -- a big, strong, smart player, Carty said, who is ready for a big year and has really improved physically in the offseason. He’ll be joined in the backfield by junior returner Jackson Jankowicz coming off an impressive rookie year.
Junior newcomer Chimmy Ozokpor has a chance to be a very exciting tight end, Carty said, as he highlights what the coach said is a very deep receiving corps that also includes senior returner James Ruh, as well as seniors Hudson Ruh, Dan Allen and Nick Santa Barbara, as well as promising junior Roberto Santiago and classmate Andrew Advani.
Junior Matthew Bleemer is the lone returning starter on the offensive line, He’s joined, to start the year, but junior guards Xander Borowski and Garrett Meyer, senior tackle Jon Mickelsen, and junior tackle Joey Battoglia.
Carty said he expects his defense to be a strength, led by three-year starter and second-team All-Conference honoree Jonathan Lobelo and senior veteran Shayne Powell (12). They head a very physical linebacker group that also includes Meyer, Ozokpor and fellow junior Michael Bynes. The secondary should also be very deep and athletic, the coach said, with senior three-year letterwinner Tyler VanCleef, Hudson Ruh, Jankowicz, Santa Barbara, Advan and senior Jake Battagliese.
Bridgewater-Raritan
Bridgewater-Raritan will have a new head coach for the second time in as many years, as DJ Catalano takes the helm from Rick Mantz, who departed after one season. Catalano, a Montgomery grad, who began his coaching career at his alma mater in 2012, adding stints at Rutgers University, as well as Neptune, Randolph and Somerville, served as an assistant at BR last year,. He said there’s been an emphasis on developing leaders and toughness this offseason after last fall’s 4-6 campaign.
The Panthers did lose some key guys to graduation, including third-team All-Conference pick Colin Kurdyla, but the coach feels he has some good returning players and some exciting newcomers, and the team has a strong foundation. He is excited to see how the team's leadership and toughness translate on the field,
“In order for us to be successful, our team needs to stay healthy and play with relentless effort,” Catalano said. “We'll face adversity during the season, it's inevitable. It will be important for us rely on our mental toughness in order to focus on the task at hand.
Senior Jack Bray, who split time at quarterback last season, enters 2023 as the No. 1 starter, and will pilot an attack that will feature senior receivers Dane Sorensen, Collin Woodring and Joe Locrotondo, and senior tight end Matt Baxter. Seniors Cameron Kurdyla and Tommy Larsen are joined by junior newcomer Jack Schroeder in leading the offensive line.
Senior linebacker Joe Spirra, senior lineman James McDermott and senior safeties Anthony Confalone and Logan Krizan will be key on defense.
Hunterdon Central
Hunterdon Central took a big step in the right direction last season, posting its winningest campaign in five years. And while the Red Devils do suffer some key graduation losses, including first-team All-Area and second-team All-Conference receiver Trevor Fisch, there’s a nice core group of returners back and some promising underclassmen, coach Casey Ransone said.
Heading the list of returners is junior quarterback RJ Hart, a third-team All-Area signal caller who threw for 1,559 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 232 yards and two more scores. His emergence a year ago had a lot to do with the Red Devils’ rise. And while Fisch’s loss will hurt, Hart has some nice weapons at his disposal, including senior receiver Connor Gray and classmate Jacob Saus at running back. Junior newcomer Xavier Arteaga should also have an impact in the backfield, with senior returner Evan Amato moving up into a bigger role at receiver. Senior rookie Jarrod Koon is also expected to contribute catching passes.
Seniors Jack Heide, LJ Walther and newcomer Mark Moton will lead the way on both sides of the line, with junior returner Quintin Fisher expected to be a key O-lineman. Saus, Amato and Gray are also expected to be playmakers on defense.
Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus.
BCC AMERICAN SILVER TEAMS AT A GLANCE
BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN PANTHERS
Head coach: DJ Catalano, first season
Assistants: Joe Cahill (OC), Pat Manna (DC/STC), Kyle Paustian (OL/DL), Vinny DiStefano (OL/DL), Brett Stibitz (RB/CB), Sean Nunn (OL/DL), Wasyel Danysh (WR).
State classification: North Group 5
League: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
Colors: Silver and black
Offensive formation: Wishbone
Defensive formation: Multiple
2022 results (4-6 overall, 1-3 in BCC American Silver)
at Passaic Tech, L 32-7
at Union, W 7-6
Hillsborough, L 17-6
Hunterdon Central, W 14-7
Watchung Hills, L 38-14
Ridge, L 35-0
Phillipsburg, L 28-13
Elizabeth, W 17-13
Old Bridge, W 34-0
Westfield, L 28-7 in playoffs
2023 schedule
8/25-Edison, 7 p.m.
9/2-Union, 7 p.m.
9/9-at Hillsborough, 7 p.m.
9/16-Hunterdon Central, 7 p.m.
9/22-at Watchung Hills, 7 p.m.
9/30-at Ridge, 7 p.m.
10/7-vs. Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.
10/14-Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
10/21-at Old Bridge, 7 p.m.
HILLSBOROUGH RAIDERS
Head coach: Kevin Carty Jr., 13th season (71-50 Hillsborough, 105-67 overall).
Assistants: Rocco Mazzagatti (DC), Don Adams (OL), Wayne Briggs (LB), Vince Coviello (STC/RBs), Kevin Carty Sr (Vol. offense), Patrick DeNapoli (TE), PJ Jankowicz (WR/DB), Justin Balunsat (freshmen), Tim O’Sullivan (freshmen).
State classification: South Group 5
League: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
Colors: Red and gold
Offensive formation: Multiple spread
Defensive formation: Multiple 4-4
2022 results (5-4 overall, 3-1 in BCC American Silver)
East Brunswick, W 42-6
Bridgewater-Raritan, W 17-6
Ridge, 21-11
Phillipsburg, L 34-0
Union, W 14-6
Hunterdon Central, W 29-15
Somerville, L 35-14
Westfield, L 17-12
Edison L 10-7 in playoffs
2023 schedule
8/25-at South Brunswick, 6 p.m.
9/1-at East Brunswick, 7 p.m.
9/9-Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.
9/16-at Ridge, 7 p.m.
9/23-vs. Phillipsburg at Rutgers, noon
9/30-at Union, 7 p.m.
10/7-at Hunterdon Central, 7 p.m.
10/14-Somerville, 7 p.m.
10/22-Westfield, 7 p.m.
HUNTERDON CENTRAL RED DEVILS
Head coach: Casey Ransone, seventh season (18-37 at Central, 44-50 overall)
Assistants: Conall Joyce (OC), Tom Bill (DC), Mike Vergalito (STC/LB/RB), Jim Meert (OL), Mark Wroblewski (DL), Rob Martucci (WR) Tyler Wrable (TE/DL), Ethen Aquino (DB), Joe Capasso (head freshmen), Marty Dowling (freshmen), Logan Brodsky (freshmen), Steve Saus (freshmen).
League: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
Colors: Red and black
Offensive formation: Spread
Defensive formation: 4-3
2022 results (4-6 overall, 0-4 in BCC American Silver)
North Hunterdon, L 29-8
Piscataway, W 17-0
Elizabeth, W 28-21
Bridgewater-Raritan, L 14-7
Ridge, L 35-7
Phillipsburg, L 21-7
Hillsborough, L 29-15
Franklin, W 45-13
Perth Amboy, W 27-7
North Brunswick, L 45-31 in playoff opener
2023 schedule
8/25-at North Hunterdon, 7 p.m.
9/1-Piscataway, 7 p.m.
9/8-at Elizabeth, 7 p.m.
9/14-at Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.
9/22-Ridge, 7 p.m.
9/29-at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.
10/6-Hillsborough, 7 p.m.
10/13-at Franklin, 7 p.m.
10/20-Perth Amboy, 7 p.m.
PHILLIPSBURG STATELINERS
Head coach: Frank Duffy, eighth season (57-17)
Assistants: Chris Hull (OC), Scott Kish (DB), Ian Decker (RB), Mark Bigelli (OL), Rich Guman (STC/S), Ed Puccio (DL), Kevin Smith (TE), Sam Hull (DE), Bryce McClain (DE), Tim Slack (LB), Bruce Morgan (K/P), Jim Marinelli (OL), Juan Garcia (QB), Chris Labatch (RB/LB), Dan Fisher (freshmen), Jason Hutchinson (freshmen), Bobby Paulus (freshmen).
State classification: North Group 5
League: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
Colors: Maroon and white
Offensive formation: Pro
Defensive formation: 4-4
2022 results (11-1 overall, 4-0 in BCC American Silver, division champ)
Sayreville, W 14-7
Ridge, W 28-10
North Hunterdon, W 48-21
Hillsborough, W 34-0
Hunterdon Central, W 21-7
Bridgewater-Raritan, W 28-13
Union, W 42-14
East Brunswick, W 28-0
Elizabeth, W 49-13 in playoff opener
Paterson Eastside, W 37-6 in sectional semi
West Orange, L 28-7 in North 2 Group 5 final
Easton, W 35-14
2023 schedule
9/1-Sayreville, 7 p.m.
9/8-Ridge, 7 p.m.
9/14-at North Hunterdon, 6 p.m.
9/24-vs. Hillsborough at Rutgers, noon
9/29-Hunterdon Central, 7 p.m.
10/6-vs. Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.
10/13-at Union, 7 p.m.
10/20-East Brunswick, 7 p.m.
11/23-vs. Easton @Lafayette College, 10:30 a.m.
RIDGE RED DEVILS
Head coach: Andy West, third season (20-8)
Assistants: Jeff Sutherland (DC), Brian McCarthy (STC), Chase Vena, Joe Lipinski, Matt Giordano, AJ Peterpaul, Tom Blackwell, Ben Donaghy (freshmen HC), Tyler Brandt (freshmen).
State classification: North Group 4
League: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
Colors: Green and white
Offensive formation: Wing-T
Defensive formation: 3-4
2022 results (7-3 overall, 2-2 in BCC American Silver)
Monroe, W 48-0
Phillipsburg, L 28-10
Hillsborough, L 21-11
Hunterdon Central, W 35-7
Bridgewater-Raritan, W 35-0
South Brunswick, W 24-7
Westfield, W 31-3
Union, W 21-0
Roxbury, W 52-7 in playoff opener
Ramapo, L 34-27 in sectional semi
2023 schedule
8/31-at Monroe, 6 p.m.
9/8-at Phillipsburg, 7 p.m.
9/14-Hillsborough, 7 p.m.
9/22-at Hunterdon Central, 7 p.m.
9/29-Bridgewater-Raritan, 7 p.m.
10/6-South Brunswick, 7 p.m.
10/14-at Westfield, 2 p.m.
10/20-Union, 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Football preview: Big Central Conference American Silver Division
