Two years ago, the Weehawken football program was in the throes of a hideous 41-game losing streak, spanning more than five years.
Now, those horrific days are such a part of the past. Forgotten. Gone. Not even thought about.
In fact, after last year’s 7-3 season – the best in the history of the high school – the Indians can actually start thinking about the school’s first-ever state playoff berth. It’s an idea that would have been a totally unrealistic pipe dream three years ago, but not any more. Although head coach Mike Guasconi doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself in the positive thought process.
“We’re trying to keep the same mental approach,” said Guasconi, the former North Bergen assistant coach who begins his third year at Weehawken. “We’re trying to avoid getting overconfident. We’re just hoping for a winning season. We have a good group back, with 14 seniors. When you have that many seniors, they realize this is it. There is no next year. They have the chance to do something that has never been done before, so it’s something that we’ve used as a motivational factor.”
Guasconi added, “We have a bunch of kids who have been together for three years and now expect to win.” Expecting to win. In Weehawken. Yes, some things have definitely changed over the years.
And that’s the attitude that the Indians planned to take into their 2000 season opener this weekend against Wallington.
Ironically, Wallington is coached by Dennis Hard, who is currently a teacher in the Weehawken school system and once served as the head coach of the Indians.
Leaders
Leading the group of returnees is senior fullback Nadyr Albri, who rushed for 1,100 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last year, although Albri has been slowed somewhat in the preseason by a groin pull.
“I’m a little worried about it,” Guasconi said. “He hasn’t responded well to treatment. We’ll have to watch it.” If the Indians are going to make a run at the state playoffs, they will need a big season from senior quarterback Fernando Fuentes, who passed for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Fuentes, who is also a baseball standout, was the Most Valuable Player of the Gold Helmet Football Camp that the Indians attended this summer.
“The biggest thing he needs to be is consistent,” Guasconi said of Fuentes. “I want him to get to the point where he’s the same player every game. He’s a great athlete and has all the physical tools.”
The Indians also have some talent at halfback in senior Peter Martinez and sophomore Wilson Veras. The wingback is junior Vic Barone. The Indians also possess depth at the receiver position in senior Anthony Rendine, junior Kevin McLaughlin and sophomore Alex Montanile, who is also the team’s backup quarterback. Senior Ed Fermin returns at tight end for his third season as a varsity starter.
The offensive line is also very strong and experienced. Senior Mike Maione, one of the school’s best student athletes, returns for his third year as a starter as well. Harold Maldonado, Miguel Nieves and Miguel Hernandez will man the guard positions.
Senior Paul Vetter, who has received some scholarship feelers from such schools as Pittsburgh and West Virginia, will serve as an offensive lineman. John Paz is the other tackle. He’s a student at High Tech High School in North Bergen but is able to play football at Weehawken because he is a resident of the township. “He’s one of them,” Guasconi said. “They all work well together. John is also a very bright kid.”
Defensively, the Indians will look to Fermin at defensive end, who earned All-Bergen County Scholastic League honors last year. Vetter, Maione and Maldonado will play on the defensive line, along with senior Kevin Caraballo and senior Dan Flemming.
Albri and Barone are the team’s linebackers, with McLaughlin and Veras at the cornerbacks and Montanile and Martinez at safety.
“I know that there are a lot of teams in the league that are anxious to play us,” Guasconi said. “It’s a very competitive league and I doubt very highly that we’re going to be able to sneak up on anyone.”