A recent trip down to Rev. James J. Keenan, S.J. Field in downtown Jersey City recently found a host of things going on, some of which was football related, but most of it was construction equipment and crews and what have you.
The home of the St. Peter’s Prep football team right off Grand Street resembled the way most of downtown Jersey City appears these days, looking like something right out of a Bob the Builder cartoon. It was as if Prep didn’t want to get left out of the construction boom that is all over the city.
The end result will be the William O. Perkins III Center, a.k.a. “The Perk,” named after the generous benefactor Guy Perkins, the Prep graduate and former grid standout who plunked down $1.5 million to help build the three-story office building/training center directly adjacent to Keenan Field.
You have to give major kudos to the construction company that won the bidding process and got to build “The Perk,” because that group, Beyer Blinder Belle of New York, and Fields Development Group of Hoboken, is actually flying through the construction. Ground was broken on the project just last February and now the school’s football team will be ready to move into their new home by the time the Marauders return from their trip to Ireland.
That’s right, the Marauders are actually kicking off their 2016 season across the pond in Dublin as part of the American Football Showcase.
In fact, as you read this, the Marauders are in Dublin and making plans for their return trip home after having faced Blessed Trinity of Atlanta in their season opener at Aviva Stadium Friday afternoon.
It marks the first time that high school teams have taken part of the cultural phenomenon known as American football in the United Kingdom. So the Marauders will own the distinction of being the first high school team from New Jersey to have played a regular season game overseas.
So it’s a new era for Prep football _ a new place to start the season and a brand new facility to come home to.
The Marauders were 8-3 last season in the first year after winning the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 4 state championship and the mythical overall state title as the No. 1-ranked team in New Jersey from a host of different organizations, including NJ.com.
It was a wild season, as the Marauders played an unprecedented eight home games at Caven Point Cochrane Stadium on the Ed “Faa” Ford Memorial Sports Complex.
The Marauders went through a few growing pains last season, as young players matured as the season went on.
Now, many of that cast of characters has returned for this season, bolstering the Marauders’ chances down the road.
“We do have so many kids back,” said Marauders head coach Rich Hansen. “We’re trying to use that as a launching point. The kids all gained valuable experience last year and shared a lot of issues. They learned how to fight, how to struggle and how to recover. That’s great for a young player who gets a chance to redeem himself. Bottom line is that the kids still have to perform at a high level. They put themselves in the position to be at the high level because of the program.”
Another new item this season is the formation of the New Jersey Super Football Conference, which is now the largest high school football organization in the country.
Gone are the days competing for a Hudson County championship, so the Marauders leave the HCIAL having captured the last 15 straight county titles.
The Marauders are now in the Super Football Conference United A Division, which sounds like they’re now flying the friendly skies. In the same division are perennial state Parochial powerhouses like Paramus Catholic, Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco Prep and Seton Hall Prep. The Marauders also have crossover games with powers St. Joseph of Montvale and DePaul.
So it’s a totally new era _ new facility, new league, new schedule.
The Marauders also have something else new. It’s called a quarterback battle. Returning incumbent and Hudson Reporter All-Area honoree Johnathan Lewis (6-4, 220) has a Rutgers scholarship in hand, but the senior is not the lone signal caller in camp. Sophomore Maasai Maynor (5-10, 180) has been giving Lewis everything he has _ and more.
“They’ve been in quite a battle,” Hansen said. “We haven’t decided yet. John has the experience and has performed pretty well in the past. Maasai is an exceptional athlete. We’re fortunate to have both. It’s enabled us to expand our entire package and utilize both.”
The Marauders are also deep at running back, with senior Zamir Mickens (6-0, 180) leading the way. Mickens was the Marauders’ leading rusher last season.
Senior Damion Abrams (5-11, 240) is someone else who will get his share of carries, as will senior Dakari Falconer (5-11, 175).
The wide receiver contingent is also filled with returning veterans, like senior Masaki Aerts (6-0, 190), senior Jorge Portorreal (5-10, 170 and already committed to Lehigh University), senior Mitchell Jones (6-6, 210), junior Shayne Simon (6-1, 215) and junior Brendan Ekwughalu (6-0, 200). All five will be scholarship football players when all is said and done.
The blocking backs are two players with familiar last names to New York Giants football fans. Senior Benji Mowatt (6-3, 235) and sophomore R.J. Oben (6-3, 215) are in the Marauders’ backfield. Benji Mowatt, headed to Penn, is the nephew of former Giants tight end Zeke Mowatt. R.J. Oben is the son of former Giants offensive tackle Roman Oben.
The offensive line features senior Ben Petrula (6-5, 320) at tackle. Petrula is off to Boston College next fall. Junior Andrew Chiurazzi (6-2, 270) is the other tackle, but junior Brady Smith (6-4, 250) and sophomore Elijah White (6-2, 280) are pushing for playing time.
The guards are senior Bill Woltmann (6-0, 260) and junior Max Telamaque (6-1, 265) with senior Harley Montero (6-2, 275) at center.
Defensively, the Marauders feature the talented Ademilola twins, namely junior Justin Ademilola (6-3, 235) at defensive end and Jayson Ademilola (6-3, 280) at defensive tackle. Both earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors last year and will get their fair share of scholarship offers this season.
Mowatt is a defensive end, with sophomore Chris Stultz (6-2, 320) at defensive tackle. The outside linebackers are Simon (moved up from the secondary), Abrams and senior Alijah St. Vil (5-10, 230).
Portorreal returns at cornerback, where he is joined by juniors Cam Blair (6-1, 170) and Max McIntosh (6-0, 170). Senior Cam Clarke (5-10, 170) and senior John McAndrew (5-10, 170) are the safeties, but Simon can move back there if needed. Senior John Yurey (5-10, 220) is still recovering from knee surgery, but will move to linebacker when healthy. Junior Marcus Bagley (6-0, 170) is another defensive back.
After the Marauders return from Ireland, they have a week off and then take on the Peddie School. Gone are the days of the pushover contests against outmanned Hudson County teams, although Lincoln will take on the Marauders at Rutgers in October.
“The biggest change for us is who we have on the schedule,” Hansen said. “I think we have a good team. We have the chance to be a good team. The schedule keeps us more engaged. The new facility is awesome and that’s the next great step. We’re ecstatic to be able to do these things.”
And win in December. That would be nice as well.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com