State of the Program: Passaic Tech football picking up where it left off
For years, North Jersey football fans have known that Passaic Tech was a giant just waiting to break loose.
In 2022, it happened.
The Bulldogs had an uneven regular season, finishing 11-3, but found a higher gear in the playoffs, reaching the first-ever Group 5 state title game before losing to Toms River North 31-7 at Rutgers.
Veteran coach Matt Demarest looks back at last season with pride, but also one that came with a valuable lesson.
“Last year, Toms River North was a better team than us because they were a team that finished,” said Demarest. “Our goal now is to finish drives, finish the drills, finish everything we have to do… if we can do that…”
Demarest leaves the thought hanging, but if the Bulldogs can finish, they will finish as the best public school team in North Jersey.
Passaic Tech returns starting quarterback Makao Taylor, two of North Jersey’s premier recruits in twins Trashon and Travon Dye (both Syracuse commits) and a line led by Owen Wescott.
“I think we have the pieces,” Demarest said. “Now it’s about replacing the graduates and filling the holes. Every year you have disappointments and surprises, but you need more surprises than disappointments to be good, last year that’s what we had.”
The tradition
Passaic Tech has won four sectional titles (1998, 2001, 2015 and 2022), and have won seven division titles under Demarest, who started in 2012.
With its large student body, Passaic Tech has one of the loudest environments for home games on campus plus the enormous inflatable bulldog (Bartolo) to run through to start games.
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The challenge
Scoring points. For all it’s offensive talent, the offense struggled at times last year, only topping 30 points twice in 14 games, and only scoring a single touchdown in the Group 5 final.
With Taylor back under center the Bulldogs offense should be smoother. He didn’t start for Passaic Tech last year until the playoffs started, a gamble that paid off.
“He’s the guy,” Demarest said. “He has the best arm talent. The kids believe in him. He had a real good summer in 7 on 7s. He has the talent, now it’s about building the team around him. The big thing about having a quarterback back is that’s one less piece that you have to worry about in the preseason. We can put emphasis on how we can help him instead of developing him.”
The schedule sees the Bulldogs take on the usual local Group 5 powers, including Ridgewood and Eastside, which both beat Passaic Tech in the regular season.
Expectations
No team has more expectations entering 2023 than Passaic Tech. The Bulldogs have depth, they have playmakers, and they have experience.
The defense will be strong and fast. If the offense can find an identity – Passaic Tech has so many weapons sometimes it feels like it takes them a while to settle on something – they’ll be the best big public school team in North Jersey.
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2023 schedule
Aug. 25: at Lenape, 5 p.m.
Sept. 2: vs. Union City at Hinchliffe Stadium, 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 8: vs. Passaic, 6 p.m.
Sept. 14: vs. West Orange, 6 p.m.
Sept. 22: at Ridgewood, 6 p.m.
Sept. 29: vs. Columbia, 6 p.m.
Oct. 6: vs. Clifton, 6 p.m.
Oct. 13: vs. East Orange, 6 p.m.
Oct. 19: at Eastside, at Hinchliffe Stadium, 6 p.m.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Passaic Tech PCTI NJ football picking up where it left off
