After playing a predominantly easy schedule, thanks to the constraints of the old HCIAA regulations, for over a decade, the St. Peter’s Prep football team will take on a host of challenges in the regular season that begin next Sunday at Rutgers Stadium.
When the Marauders take on nationally-ranked St. Joseph’s Prep of Philadelphia to kick off the 2009 campaign, it will be just the precipice of what is easily Prep’s toughest regular season slate in the school’s rich and storied history.
This year, the Marauders don’t have to wait until the state playoffs to lock horns with all the Parochial school giants in New Jersey, facing all three of the Bergen County superpowers, namely Bergen Catholic, St. Joseph of Montvale and yes, the dreaded Ironmen of Don Bosco Prep in the regular season.
“There is excitement knowing that we’re playing this schedule,” said veteran Prep head coach Rich Hansen, who begins his 22nd season as the Marauders’ mentor. “We know that it’s a challenge, a great challenge. But we also know that if we can compete, then it’s going to be great for our program. It’s where we need to be. Anything less would not be doing the program justice. I think it’s also the way it should be. We should be playing the best.”
So the Marauders can no longer be accused of having a patsy schedule. Let’s face facts. The Hudson County schools have not really provided much of a threat to the Marauders in the past decade, considering that it was in 2000 that the Marauders last lost a single game to a Hudson County foe and a year before that since they dropped a game inside the HCIAA. The local winning streak now stands at an ungodly 76 straight.
“I think in recent years it’s been because we’ve been very good,” Hansen said of the local dominance. “We had a pretty good roster of players. But it wasn’t like we had no competition. Hoboken had good teams. North Bergen had good teams. Bayonne was state-ranked one year. It’s just that we were really talented. But we were tied to the league and had to play those games.”
And many of those games in recent years were complete one-sided disasters and so thoroughly non-competitive.
“This now gives us a chance to step it up a little,” said Hansen, who last year became the all-time leader in coaching victories at Grand and Warren. “It’s what high school football is supposed to be. It’s a great opportunity to start our season at a phenomenal facility like Rutgers and play teams like BC, St. Joe’s and Bosco. It’s incredibly exciting. We’re getting to play the best teams in New Jersey and not a lot of people can say that. But I think we have the talent that can match the schedule. We’re not going to fodder for anyone. We look at ourselves in the mirror and believe that we can win all 12 games. It’s not going to be easy, but we want to be No. 1 in the state and it’s a great goal for us.”
The Marauders certainly have a ton of size up front and have the skilled players behind that line.
Senior Raphael Ortiz (6-3, 210) is the starter at quarterback, after having split the time as the Marauders’ signal caller last year. Now, it’s Ortiz’ job. He threw for 800 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago.
“He can wail the ball,” Hansen said. “He’s a good decision maker. It’s his ball this year and he has the chance to show what he can do.”
The Marauders have incredible speed in the backfield, led by junior Savon Huggins (6-0, 195), who has shown flashes of brilliance throughout his first two seasons (including a 77-yard touchdown run on his first varsity carry as a freshman) and now gets a chance to truly shine.
“Savon has a unique combination of power and speed,” Hansen said. “He’s worked on some things in the off-season and he’s learned a lot. He’s very fast into the hole and has excellent strength. He has a chance to be a great one. If he plays within the design, the sky’s the limit.”
Junior Sheldon Royster (6-1, 185) is another talented speed burner who will see his share of time in the Marauder backfield this season.
“Sheldon is more of a raw back,” Hansen said. “He’s like a wild stallion that we’re trying to show the ropes. Any time Sheldon touches the ball, he could be lights out.”
Royster is the son of former Lincoln High School standout Shelly Archie, who was a dominant running back for the Lions in the late 1980s.
Sophomore Jared Crayton (6-0, 190) is another talented running back who will be in the mix.
“Jared has a load of potential,” Hansen said.
The fullback slot will be filled by one of three players, either senior Tim Flannery (5-10, 215), junior James Lancellotti (5-10, 190) or junior Denzel Thomas (6-0, 225).
Senior Corey Davis (5-9, 180), perhaps the best all-around talent in the jammed pack of talented Marauders, has been moved from running back to flanker this season.
“He played a little out there last year and we decided to leave him out there,” Hansen said of Davis. “But we have to find a way to have at least five plays designed for Corey Davis. It’s up to us to devise the ways to get him the ball, because he’s a game breaker.”
Senior Brandon Dolaghan (5-10, 180), junior Joe Vescey (6-2, 170), senior Mark Lioi (5-10, 180) and a pair of talented sophomores, Najee Glass (6-0, 170) and Hudson Catholic transfer J.R. Robinson (5-11, 180) are all in the mix at receiver. Senior Kevin Innis (6-0, 225) and junior James Fox (6-2, 195) are sharing time at tight end.
The offensive line is clearly one of the biggest in Prep history and may rank as one of the biggest offensive lines ever to play high school football in New Jersey. Senior Jake Kaufman (6-8, 320) and junior Keith Lumpkin (6-8, 270) are definitely the biggest bookend tackles in the state. Senior Anthony Wilkins (6-4, 350) is the biggest guard alive. Most NFL rosters don’t possess such size. Kaufman and Wilkins are both getting considerable Division I college offers.
Senior Alan Stickno (6-1, 260) returns to the starting guard slot he occupied last year. The center duties will be shared by senior Dillon Ormiston (6-1, 255) and senior Darren Pardo (6-2, 230).
“All of these kids played some there last year and basically had a baptism by fire,” Hansen said. “They’ve done a great job of becoming better football players. They get off the ball better and move better. They’re more athletic.”
And as everyone knows, there’s no substitute for size and you certainly can’t teach size. The Marauders are blessed with it.
Defensively, the Marauders will play a host of people at outside linebacker, like Keith Cummings (6-1, 200), A.J. Dobson (6-1, 235), junior Dan Lesce (6-0, 210), Thomas and Fox, who has been a pleasant surprise.
The defensive tackles are senior Chike Gomez (6-0, 280) and junior Dane Longa (5-11, 275), who had a fine sophomore year last year.
Stickno, Lumpkin, Pardo and junior Blake Shapshinsky (6-2, 235) will see time at defensive end. Innis returns to his slot at linebacker. Senior Gianni McLaughlin (5-10, 210) played some big games at linebacker late in the 2008 season. Lancellotti and sophomore Tony Pfumi (5-10, 170) will also see time at linebacker.
Davis, who has earned All-Area honors the last two years at cornerback, looks to make it a third straight season at the position. Huggins will also play cornerback, along with sophomore Brandon Napoleon (5-11, 175), the son of former St. Joseph of the Palisades star Eugene. The younger Napoleon is also the quarterback of the future. Royster is the free safety, with promsing sophomore D.J. Singleton (6-1, 180) at strong safety.
Inspirational senior Ducarmel Hyacynthe (5-4, 165) will see time in the defensive backfield, along with senior Tevin Manning (6-2, 180).
It’s safe to say that the Marauders are deep, talented, quick and big – a team with very few flaws.
“It’s a tribute to the kids who have worked their tails off to become football players,” Hansen said. “We need to stay healthy. We need to keep an even keel. We can’t afford to lose two games like we did to start last year, because it’s hard to come back from that. We have to be tough and consistent.
Added Hansen, “We were very humbled by what happened last year [the Marauders finished 8-3]. We shouldn’t let that happen again.”
Only time will tell. See you in December.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.