Lou Zampella begins his third season as the head football coach at his alma mater, Hudson Catholic, and Zampella feels that he has his best team to date.
“It’s the most talented team that we’ve had since I’ve been the head coach,” said Zampella, who guided the Hawks to a 5-5 record and a berth in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 2 state playoffs. “We have some potential, but we have to get the job done.”
Zampella features a young roster filled with sophomores, but he feels that the year experience gained last year will help the Hawks mature this season.
“I think it helps tremendously,” said Zampella, who was a standout football player at the school, came back to serve as a defensive coordinator and then took over as head coach three seasons ago. “They really weren’t in many situations like they were last year. It was a whole new environment, playing high school football. It’s a totally new level. But I think going through that experience will pay dividends this season.”
Leading the Hawks will be junior quarterback Malcolm Stewart (5-7, 165). Stewart gained a ton of experience last season.
“He’s the epitome of a team player,” said Zampella, who may turn to either senior Tyler Herzlich (6-1, 225) or Marist transfer Marcus Dunn, a 5-11, 185-pound junior, later in the season. “Malcolm is the kind of kid everyone wants to have on their team, because he keeps working hard. He puts the team on his back and leads them. He’s had some success at the position. He’s just a talented player.”
Herzlich has the physical capabilities and Dunn has to sit out the first month due to the NJSIAA transfer rules, so it’s Stewart’s job as the Hawks prepare to open the season against South Philadelphia next week.
The Hawks will run a spread offense this year with one running back and four wide receivers.
The reason for the one-back attack is simple. Sophomore Shyiem Simmons returns. Simmons (6-1, 215) was nothing short of spectacular as a freshman, earning Hudson Reporter All-Area honors.
“Simmons looks real good in the preseason,” Zampella said. “He’s bigger, stronger and faster.”
Simmons had close to 1,000 yards last year. If he stays healthy, he will easily get over that plateau.
Another talented sophomore is Khashawn Decker (5-8, 170), who can line up in the backfield or as a slot receiver.
“He’s the fastest player I’ve ever coached,” Zampella said of Decker. “He can flat out fly. He will be on the field a lot. We have to get him the ball in open space.”
The other receivers include returning starter Dawud Battle, a 5-10, 170-pound senior, as well as juniors Jonathan Barber (5-6, 155) and Stephon Andrews (5-11, 180) and freshman Courtney Johnson (6-2, 170).
Johnson is the real deal and certainly a player to watch.
The offensive line features returning starter Isaiah Thornton (6-2, 235), a senior tackle. Senior Thomas Slippe (5-11, 205) moves outside to tight end. It would have been too easy to write that Thomas slipped outside, so we won’t do it.
Promising junior Solomon McDougall (6-3, 285) is the other tackle. McDougall is considered to be a big-time college prospect.
Junior Angel Leon (5-10, 245) is seeing time at offensive tackle as well.
The guards are juniors Kamau Laguerre (6-0, 220) and Alfredo Vera (5-11, 245), with junior Nick Giordano (5-11, 255) at center. The Hawks have some decent size up front. If the line develops, the Hawks could be very dangerous.
Defensively, the Hawks will utilize a 4-3 formation, with Slippe and Laguerre at defensive end, McDougall causing a whole bunch of havoc at defensive tackle, along with Thornton.
The linebackers feature Simmons at outside linebacker, with Vera and talented junior Steven Harper (6-3, 220) on the inside. Harper is another transfer from Marist, where he earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors as a sophomore. Harper also has to sit the first month
Getting a talent such as Harper is a major coup for the Hawks – and a bad loss to coach Juan Rivera and the Royal Knights, who were devastated by transfers.
Seniors Deondre McNeil (5-11, 215) and Ricky Muhammad (5-10, 185) are also in the mix at linebacker.
The cornerbacks are senior Raevone Floyd-Bennett (5-6, 150) and Decker.
Andrews, Stewart and juniors Javeon Ensley (6-2, 180) and Terrell Bush (5-9, 170) are all in the hunt for playing time at safety.
So the potential is there. So is the talent. Zampella said that he’s happy to open the season on the road in South Philadelphia.
“I think it’s good for the kids to have a road trip like that,” Zampella said. “We get on the bus, take a two-hour bus trip and play someone new. It can only help if we get to the state playoffs. We can prepare ourselves now to get off a bus after spending two hours on it and play. We started to do that last year in the playoffs and now we’re starting off the year that way.”
Zampella likes his team.
“I like the makeup of the team,” Zampella said. “There are a lot of young kids, but they have experience. Syhiem has to be the leader of the back there. Overall, we need to do a better job with our leadership.”
But count on the Hawks being a playoff team again this fall. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.