TEAM PREVIEW: Manasquan
2016 In Review: The Warriors were 10-2, winning the Central Jersey Group 2 title by beating Bernards after beating Roselle and Johnson. They scored 312 points for a 26.0 average, while allowing 194 for a 16.17 average. Wims included Middletown North, Red Bank Catholic, and Barnegat, while their losses were to Wall and Middletown South.
Departures: OL Nick Pierro - East Stroudsburg, TE/DE Adam Schreck - West Chester for football and baseball, WR/DB Damaso Jaime - Navy Prep School, FB/LB Tommy Meyer - Salisbury, OL Ben Barry - Middlebury, QB Jerry Maher - Rowan, LB Jack Mallett - Dennison (Oh.) for lacrosse, WR/DB Kyle LeBlanc - Loyola (Md.) for lacrosse
Offense: Manasquan runs a multiple I and returns two starters and two who either started or played. The quarterback is senior Tommy Antonucci (5-foot-9, 185), who started defensively last year. Returning at tailback is junior Connor Morgan (5-foot-10, 200) and he will be paired with junior Canyon Birch (5-foot-8, 180), who played often in support of Morgan. This year both will be in the same backfield.
At wide receiver, junior James Pendergist (6-foot-1, 180) started some early games, but missed much of the season with an injury. The other wide receiver will be a committee of juniors Riley Callahan (5-foot-11, 170) and Rashid Tuddles (5-foot-11, 175). Tight end is between juniors Jack Fabean (6-foot-0, 175) and Anders Scala (6-foot-1, 180).
The lone returning starter to the line is senior guard Evan Hilla (5-foot-10, 215). One tackle will be junior Art Foreman (6-foot-2, 230), while the other guard will be junior Mike LaPointe (5-foot-10, 190). At center is junior Alec Wells (5-foot-10, 220) and the frontrunner for the other tackle spot is senior Sean Anderson (5-foot-9, 180). In the mix to play somewhere along the line is junior Andrew Miller (6-foot-1, 180).
Defense: The Warriors employ a 4-3 and return three starters. Hilla returns at one end, with Anderson manning the other side. Rotating in will be Scala. The tackles aer Foreman and Wells.
The middle linebacker will be fabean, while LaPointe plays the strong side and senior James Mele (6-foot-1, 190) will play the weak side. Morgan, sophomore Tom Shaughnessy (6-foot-1, 175), and sophomore Charlie Sawitski (6-foot-2, 190) will rotate in.
Antonucci is back on the corner and Pendergist is back at safety. Birch will be the other safety, while the opposite corner currently has a committee of Callahan, Tuddles, and junior Matt Lyon (5-foot-8, 170).
Special Teams: Pendergist will be the kicker and Antonucci returns at punter. The return men will be Pendergist, Morgan, and Birch.
Schedule:
Friday, 9/8, at Long Branch, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/16, Woodbridge at home, 1 PM
Friday, 9/22, at Middletown South, 7 PM
Saturday, 9/30, Barnegat at home, 1 PM
10/6-7 Bye Week
Friday, 10/13, at Ocean, 7 PM
Saturday, 10/21, Middletown North at home, 1 PM
Friday, 10/27, at Matawan, 7 PM
Saturday, 11/4, Red bank Catholic at home, 2 PM
Thursday, 11/23, at Wall, 11 AM
Concerns: Inexperience across the board with only eight seniors on the roster. Luckily, the kids coming back are good athletes.
Recruiting: The seniors are the D3 variety. Antonucci may play baseball somewhere.
They have a strong junior class, with Pendergist being a very good athlete. Birch will play lacrosse, possibly at Army or Michigan. Morgan is a very good high school football player.
Coach’s Comments: “We have to replace 18 of 22 starters. So far, we see a lot of competitiveness. We do return some good skill players and we will build around them.” - Head Coach Jay Price
