State of the Program: Parsippany football building off successful foundation
The Parsippany football team doesn't have a long history of success. But the Red Hawks' 2019 season, when they reached a NJSIAA sectional final, will serve as an inspiration again this fall – with head coach Jason Hurta back at the helm.His son Jared, a former Red Hawks offensive lineman and linebacker and current William Paterson senior, will be around as another living reminder of the glory days.
A former Parsippany football player, Jason Hurta is in his eighth season over two stints at head coach. He is also a special-education teacher, working with Parsippany High School students with multiple disabilities.
Offensive coordinator Anthony Pizzuta is a math teacher at Memorial Middle School in Fair Lawn. Defensive coordinator Bob Merle is an assistant principal at Morris Hills. But the other five Parsippany coaches are in the building, a presence that will help enforce team policies.
"We want to make high school football the most enjoyable experience, but they need to be leaders in the high school," Hurta said. "We talk about life skills every day, reminding them of things that are going to help them outside of school. They probably think I'm old and crotchety sometimes, but there's always a reason why they're doing something."
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Tradition
In 2019, Parsippany had its first winning season since 1998. The Red Hawks reached the NJSIAA North 1 Group 2 final, falling to Lyndhurst. It was just their second appearance in a sectional championship and the first since a 26-0 loss to Phillipsburg in 1977.
Parsippany has never won a sectional title.
"The way we did things (in 2019), that's the exact same way we're doing it again," Hurta said. "It's building off that foundation. We build on that, and see where we go."
Challenge
With turnout in the mid-40s, the challenges will be having enough healthy players capable of appearing in varsity games – and trying to get a JV program together.
The Parsippany PAL's youth football program vanished after the 2019 season, so prospective athletes are coming up as Little Vikings, coached by the crosstown rivals from Parsippany Hills.
There were only three future Red Hawks when Hurta visited a late-season practice. But there's hope for the future. Parsippany High School Principal Melissa Carucci organized an open house for eighth-grade parents, and the football players were able to recruit more incoming students.
Hurta had 14 freshmen at summer workouts, more than double last year's class. He hopes to have JV games for the first time in years.
"These kids are coming to practice, committing their time, doing all the right things to try and get on the field," Hurta said. "Sometimes the varsity games are so intense and so competitive, they don't have that opportunity. I want them to experience the game. That's our biggest goal this year."
Expectations
Parsippany hopes to return to the playoffs this fall. But Hurta's true goal is to rely on experienced returnees – including 16 seniors and a large junior class – to show progress each week.
That starts with scrimmages: Belleville on Aug. 16 and Morris Hills on Aug. 18. They may be joint practices, with officials watching as, say, Parsippany's receivers go up against the Scarlet Knights' defensive backs. The key is to be prepared to host Sussex Tech on Aug. 25, unlike last year when the Red Hawks were already dealing with injuries.
Parsippany opened last fall with a 25-13 road loss, something Hurta hopes not to repeat.
"It's going to be real controlled," he said of the scrimmages. "We want to get some live action in, but we want to be healthy enough for Week Zero. I want to be at full strength when we go against Sussex Tech."
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2023 schedule
Aug. 25: Sussex Tech
Sept. 8: at Whippany Park
Sept. 15: North Warren
Sept. 22: Boonton
Sept. 29: Pequannock
Oct. 6: Dumont
Oct. 16: at Kittatinny
Oct. 22: Kinnelon
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ football 2023 preview: Parsippany builds off successful foundation
