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NJ high school football preview: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

simeon pincus and andy mendlowitz, mycentraljersey.com
·14 min read

After about two decades of struggles, the Manville High School football team has been working its way back to a state of relevance over the past six or seven seasons. And it reached heights the program hasn’t seen in more than half a century last year, going 8-2 and enjoying its winningest campaign since going undefeated in 1968.

But the 2023 version looks a lot different than the club that hosted just the second playoff game in program history and won its first conference title a season ago. Head coach Pat Gorbatuk, who spent the past 12 years building Manville football back to respectability, has been promoted to athletic director, handing the keys to the program to a longtime assistant, while 19 of 22 starters from the 2022 team walked the graduation aisle last June.

Now, the question is whether the defending Freedom Silver Division champion Mustangs can retain their high level of competitiveness, or will the inexperienced club need to go through another round of growing pains.

Dave Markowitch, a Manville alum and former Mustangs football player, baseball player and wrestler who grappled in college, takes over as the head coach after spending the past 12 seasons as an assistant. And while the new skipper will certainly put his spin on things, the good news for the guys stepping up into varsity roles for the first time is they won’t need to learn an entirely new way of doing things.

“I never really thought I’d be the head football coach, but once it opened up – especially because it opened up so late – it was only fair to the kids to say I’ll take this job and let’s go to work,” said Markowitch. “I told the kids when we met in May, it’s going to be my flavor, but we’re not changing much. Structure of practice is the same and the way we’re running the program is very similar. So, I don’t think there’s much adjustment for the kids. It’s keeping the train on the tracks and doing what we got to do.”

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First-team all-conference honoree Shawn Purcell leads the list of graduated standouts, as he takes his 1,601 total yards from scrimmage and 29 TDs, as well as his presence in the defensive secondary to Rutgers. Manville returns just one two-way player in junior fullback/linebacker Na’quavere Thomas and one other starter in sophomore Josh D’Ambrosio, who played linebacker as a freshman, but will now add quarterback to his resume, replacing graduated Danny Wildgoose.

The rest of the club is made up of last year’s young part-timers and a host of youngsters seeing the varsity field for the first time. The offense, for example, will feature just two seniors, but six sophomores.

So far, so good.

“These kids show up every day with their hard hats on,” Markowitch said. “They’re working as hard as they possibly can so we can be as good as possible. They’re doing an outstanding job of controlling what they can control, showing up and going to work. It’s been a really good (camp). But we’re very, very inexperienced. Most of our team has never played a varsity football game. But they’re wide-eyed and willing to learn and doing the best to do that.”

D’Ambrosio starts under center, and the coach said he’s a mature sophomore who, like several of the Mustangs’ youngsters, is very physically developed for his age. He is as smart as they come, Markowitch said, not only in the classroom but on the field, also. Thomas will provide leadership and experience, in addition to the type of production that netted him a first-team All-Area selection last year.

They’re joined in the backfield by sophomore halfback Isaiah Bennett, who Markowitch said is a hard-working throwback, a yes-sir, no-sir kind of kid that, if he makes a mistake, you coach him up to fix it and the next rep is correct and he never makes that mistake again. The coach said if they can get any kind of blocking for him, he’s going to do extremely well. Senior Jimmy Conover (SE) and sophomores Collin Shimp (TE) and Jayden Watson (HB) will also be key to the attack. Senior left tackle Peter Philipsheck, who saw spot duty last year, will anchor the offensive line.

Linebackers Thomas — a two-year starter — and Shimp lead the defense, with junior DE Armondo Lazzeri leading the defensive line. Conover heads the secondary at safety, with Bennett expecting to make an impact at corner.

“The kids’ goals are to compete for the division,” Markowitch said. “Our leadership group met and they believe they can. I think, if we can get our younger kids on board fast, we’ll be in ballgames.

“I don’t know if our season is going to be measured in wins and losses, so to speak. It’s going to be measured in how we respond to the situation we’re in.”

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South Hunterdon

South Hunterdon has been rolling the past two years, following up a 7-2 campaign in 2021 with a 6-3 record last season. The Eagles did lose some top-level performers to graduation, including second-team all-conference WR/DB Brayden Hinman, who also returned five kicks for touchdowns last year, along with quarterback Tanner McCaffery and veteran RB/DE Bode Dunn. But South Hunterdon boasts plenty of returning experience and a lineup where everyone got at least a couple of starts last year, though some will be filling new roles.

Senior Anthony Venettone takes over under center and will command an attack that will feature junior backs Edward Cooper and Ryan Rampel, and senior receivers Garret Swayhoover, Ryder Manfready and Aaron Zalescik. Juniors Ty Dunn and Thomas Breuer, and seniors Quinn Field and Charles Nemeth will be key on the offensive line. Linebackers Swayhoover, Manfready and Cooper key the defense.

Belvidere

After an injury-riddled season, featuring as many as nine underclassmen in the lineup at a time, Belvidere is hoping the lumps the club took last year en route to a winless season pays dividends, with a nice group of battle-tested varsity talent now returning.

While the County Seaters did graduate six seniors, including second-team All-Area RB/DB Gavin Chamberlain, there are some accomplished guys back, in addition to a group of sophomores and juniors who should benefit from last year’s growing pains. Coach Jordan Schreffler said his squad hit the weight room hard in the offseason, and, he said, they have not only matured physically but mentally, as well.

“Last year we had a habit of panicking and giving up the minute something didn’t go our way,” said the second-year head coach, who will rely on senior Chris Mourry, and juniors Kyle Blew, Mason Chamberlain and Brayden Stefan, to handle the leadership. “We chalked it up to inexperience and being so young. These guys have a next-play mentality. Get over it and move on.”

Blew enters the season as the starting quarterback after a few snaps there last year. He’s joined by junior receivers Mason Chamberlain, Anthony Rivera and Luke Tipton, tight end Cale Exley, with Stefan and freshman Elijah White expected to lead the way in the backfield.

Mourry, senior Will Thomas and sophomore Brayden Duckworth will anchor the offensive line, while Stefan leads the defense at linebacker. Sophomore offensive lineman and linebacker Geoffery Young is also expected to make an impact.

Middlesex

Those new X's and O’s are like learning to speak a foreign language for the first time. Veteran coach Philip McGuane installed a new offense, defense and special teams when he took over at Middlesex last season.

“So, it was really a lot of foreign language going on,” McGuane said. “It’s one thing if you maybe switch up the offense, you switch up the defense, but they had to go through a whole overhaul of all three. This year, it’s just like they took that Babbel course where you learn a language. Now it makes sense to them.”

The players eventually cracked the code in a 4-6 season and now the preseason is a lot smoother all-around noted McGuane, who is South Plainfield’s all-time wins leader after his stint there from 1994 to 2011.

Junior quarterback/defensive back Dom Parenti returns to run the Delaware Wing-T offense for the second season. He showed versatility with 459 passing yards and 359 rushing yards on a team-high 91 carries. Junior Ricky Fittin (OLB) led the Blue Jays with 371 rushing yards (87 carries).

Middlesex returns experienced linemen in seniors Nick Jamieson (OT/DL), Dan Kannaley (TE/DE), Cam Robinson (OT/DE), Dakota Clark (OG/DE) and Brian Mattox (OT/DE/K), as well as junior Joey Lawler (OG/LB). The Blue Jays graduated Mehki Parks (526 yards from scrimmage) and Jacob Platten (370 rushing yards), but return experience in Joe Johnson (Sr., WR/DB) and juniors Jax Jarvis (RB/DB) and Jack Killian (RB/LB).

Top newcomers looking to make an impact include Connor Martin (Sr., OL/DL), juniors Sean Downes (WR/OLB), Jonathan Hines (RB/OLB), Jayden Santiago (OG/DE), Tre White (RB/DB) Julien DeCampos (OG/DL) and sophomores Tyler Sneddon (OG/LB), Aidan Bush (RB/OLB) and Sean Hughes (C/LB).

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Dunellen

Fans throughout the conference likely spit out their coffee and did a double take when looking at last year’s box score of Dunellen’s 43-42 overtime loss to Middlesex.

Then-sophomore Chiekezie Ogbuewu rushed for 369 yards and six touchdowns on 32 carries –talk about a breakout game. Ogbuewu not only introduced himself as a fledgling star in the game, but it was also a snapshot of the Destroyers’ program.

Dunellen, typically having among the lowest enrollments for a public football school and a roster in the 20s, simply shows up and plays gritty ball, win or lose. That’s been a staple of Dave DeNapoli as he enters his 28th season as head coach for the team in the “Railroad Town."

That’s unlikely to change, especially with players like Ogbuewu. The wingback rushed for 1,090 yards on 129 carries (8.4 ypc) with 13 TDs and he added an 85-yard kick return for a score, a 37-yard receiving TD and eight two-point conversions. He also plays linebacker.

The centerpiece of the double-wing offense is flanked by plenty of experience. Two-year starter Aiden Sangiray (Sr., WB/FB/LB) is also a leader on defense with seniors Desmond Condit (FB/DE) and Elijah Duplesis Brown (RB/DB) having varsity snaps. Junior quarterback Mark Stein (DB) returns after seeing time last season.

They’ll be protected by returning linemen Jason Scott (Sr., OG/DE), Luke Pettersen (Jr., OT/DE), Luke Shealey (Jr., C/LB), Dalan Hopper (Sr., OT/DT), Henry Sanabria (Sr., OT/DT) and Danny Watts (Jr., TE/DT).

Kevin Roberts (Jr., OG/DT) and sophomore Jamael Davis (WB/DB) are candidates for breakout seasons. Other players looking to have impacts are Aaron Renavitz (Sr., TE/DE) and sophomores Christian Perry (TE/DT), Zahmir Dixon (OT/DT) and Jackson Portik (C/LB).

Simeon Pincus has been covering NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincus@GannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter @SimeonPincus.

Andy Mendlowitz can be reached at AMendlowitz@NJPressMedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Andy_Mendlowitz

BCC FREEDOM SILVER TEAMS AT A GLANCE

BELVIDERE COUNTY SEATERS

  • Head coach: Jordon Schreffler, second season

  • Assistants: Jeff Kolodziejczyk (DC), Corey Banghart (STC), Colin Mount (OL/DL), Michael Duckworth (OL/DL). Elliot White (WR/DB/QB), Nick Mourry (OL/DL), Dan Hill (QB/DB).

  • State classification: North Group 1

  • League: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

  • Colors: Red and white

  • Offensive formation: Spread

  • Defensive formation: 5-2

2022 results (0-9 overall, 0-4 in BCC Freedom Silver Division)

  • Spotswood, L 21-18

  • South Hunterdon, L 40-7

  • Dunellen, L 51-13

  • Metuchen, L 29-14

  • Middlesex, L 37-12

  • Manville, L 39-6

  • North Warren, L 40-8

  • Roselle, L 35-0

  • Verona in Group 1 Invitational, L 56-6

2023 schedule

  • 8/25-Boonton, 6 p.m.

  • 9/1-Spotswood, 7 p.m.

  • 9/8-at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

  • 9/15-Dunellen, 7 p.m.

  • 9/23-at Metuchen, 1 p.m.

  • 9/29-at Middlesex, 7 p.m.

  • 10/6-Manville, 7 p.m.

  • 10/14-North Warren, 1:30 p.m.

  • 10/20-at Roselle, 6 p.m.

DUNELLEN DESTROYERS

  • Head coach: Dave DeNapoli, 28th season (119-131-1)

  • Assistants: Howie Horowitz, Connor Lindsay

  • State classification: South Group 1

  • League: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

  • Colors: Red and White

  • Offensive formation: Double Wing

  • Defensive formation: Split-4

2022 results (2-6 overall, 1-3 in BCC Freedom Silver)

  • Dayton, L 14-8

  • Highland Park, W 29-14

  • Belvidere, W 51-13

  • Middlesex, L 43-42 (OT)

  • Manville, L 27-0

  • South Hunterdon, L 43-0

  • Roselle Park, L 28-14

  • Brearley, L forfeit

2023 schedule

  • 9/1-Dayton, 7 p.m.

  • 9/8-at Highland Park, 7 p.m.

  • 9/15-at Belvidere, 7 p.m.

  • 9/21-Middlesex, 6 p.m.

  • 9/29-at Manville, 7 p.m.

  • 10/6-South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

  • 10/13-at Roselle Park, 6 p.m.

  • 10/19-Brearley, 6 p.m.

MANVILLE MUSTANGS

  • Head coach: Dave Markowitch, first season

  • Assistants: Barry Kostibos (OC), Max Sidoli (ST), Jake Bentz, Nick Firth, John Bentz (Volunteer), Mike Knitowski (Volunteer).

  • State classification: South Group 1

  • League: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

  • Colors: Blue and gold

  • Offensive formation: Delaware Wing-T

  • Defensive formation: 4-4

2022 results (8-2 overall, 4-0 in BCC Freedom Silver, division champ)

  • Keyport, W 30-20

  • Brearley, L 34-20

  • Middlesex, W 21-14

  • Dayton, W 46-7

  • South Hunterdon, W 13-6

  • Dunellen, W 27-0

  • Belvidere, W 39-6

  • Highland Park, W 66-14

  • Bound Brook, W 51-0

  • Shore, L 23-16 in playoff opener

2023 schedule

  • 8/26-at Keyport, noon.

  • 9/1-at Brearley, 7 p.m.

  • 9/8-Middlesex, 7 p.m.

  • 9/14-Dayton, 7 p.m.

  • 9/22-at South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

  • 9/29-Dunellen, 7 p.m.

  • 10/6-at Belvidere, 7 p.m.

  • 10/13-at Highland Park, 7 p.m.

  • 10/20-Bound Brook, 7 p.m.

MIDDLESEX BLUE JAYS

  • Head coach: Phlip McGuane, second season (4-6)

  • Assistants: Ted Amo (DC); Jim Perry (special teams); Jim Davidson (RB/DB); Tony McGuane (WR/DB/K)

  • State classification: South Group 1

  • League: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

  • Colors: Blue and white

  • Offensive formation: Delaware Wing-T

  • Defensive formation: 8-man front

2022 results (4-6 overall, 2-2 in BCC Freedom Silver)

  • Bound Brook, W 27-0

  • Manville, L 21-14

  • South Hunterdon, L 21-0

  • Dunellen, W 43-42 (OT)

  • Belvidere, W 37-12

  • Roselle Park, W 7-0

  • Brearley, L 44-6

  • New Providence, L 26-6

  • Glen Ridge, L 34-14

  • Burlington City, L 30-14

2023 schedule

  • 9/1-at Bound Brook, 7 p.m.

  • 9/8-at Manville, 7 p.m.

  • 9/15-vs. South Hunterdon, 7 p.m.

  • 9/21-at Dunellen, 6 p.m.

  • 9/29-vs. Belvidere, 7 p.m.

  • 10/6-vs. Roselle Park, 7 p.m.

  • 10/13-at Brearley, 6 p.m.

  • 10/20-vs. New Providence, 7 p.m.

SOUTH HUNTERDON EAGLES

  • Head coach: Toby Jefferis, 14th season (59-68)

  • Assistants: Kyle Hart (DC, RB/LB), Thomas McCloughan (OL/DB), Brian Reiley (WR/DL).

  • State classification: South Group 1

  • League: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division

  • Colors: Blue and white

2022 results (6-3 overall, 3-1 in BCC Freedom Silver)

  • Roselle Park, W 42-8

  • Belvidere, W 40-7

  • Middlesex, W 21-0

  • Manville, L 0-13

  • Brearley, L 0-14

  • Dunellen, W 43-0

  • Dayton, W 40-7

  • New Hope-Solebury, W 28-0

  • Maple Shade, L 31-7 in playoff opener

2023 schedule

  • 8/25-Ewing, 7 p.m.

  • 9/1-at Roselle Park, 6 p.m.

  • 9/8-Belvidere, 7 p.m.

  • 9/15-at Middlesex, 7 p.m.

  • 9/22-Manville, 7 p.m.

  • 9/29-Brearley, 7 p.m.

  • 10/6-at Dunellen, 7 p.m.

  • 10/13-at Dayton, 7 p.m.

  • 10/20-at New Hope-Solebury, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ football preview: Big Central Conference Freedom Silver Division