The Hudson Catholic football team reached new heights in 2015, winning 10 games for the first time in school history, winning two games in the NJSIAA Non-Public Group 1&2 state playoffs for the first time ever and advancing to the state sectional title game for the second time in school history.
“It was great for our school and great for our program,” said head coach Lou Zampella, who begins his fifth season as the head coach of his alma mater. “We were able to raise the program up and get back to the finals.”
But Zampella knows that the job went unfinished, as the Hawks fell to perennial state playoff favorite St. Joseph of Hammonton, 19-6, in the title game at Rowan University last December.
“It’s a new year,” Zampella said. “We have new kids. It was great to get to that level, but we have to be hungry to finish the job and be the first team in our school’s history to win a state championship. We don’t want that feeling again.”
The Hawks suffered a huge blow when standout Syheim Simmons decided not to return to Hudson Catholic for his junior year. Simmons was Hudson Reporter All-Area in each of his freshman and sophomore years. Last year, Simmons rushed for 1,281 yards and 18 touchdowns. Losing Simmons is a devastating loss for the Hawks before the ball is teed up.
It’s one thing to lose a stud performer to injury. It’s another thing altogether when the main focus of your offense suddenly departs the school with no warning.
Zampella would rather not speak about Simmons.
“Simmons was a great player, but one player doesn’t make the program,” Zampella said. “We have younger kids who are good players who need to step it up. If they improve, then they could perhaps reach that level.”
Simmons already had NCAA Division I scholarship offers from places like Temple, Pitt and West Virginia. Many more were probably in store, considering he was only starting his junior year.
“It’s never easy to lose a player like him,” Zampella said. “It’s a big loss. It’s the best move for him.”
Zampella refused to reveal where Simmons was. It is rumored he moved out of state to the Atlanta area.
“I’m not going to get into the whereabouts of the kid,” Zampella said.
Sophomore Johnathan Bates (5-10, 175) will be asked to carry a lot of the load left with Simmons’ departure. Bates played most of the snaps at quarterback last year, but Simmons found himself calling the signals at times.
Senior Khashawn Decker (5-11, 180) is a talented two-way player for the Hawks. Decker earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors last year as a defensive back, but he’s a major threat with the ball in his hands.
“He’s going to have to be the workhorse now,” Zampella said of Decker.
Senior fullback Ibrahima Toure (6-0, 210) also returns. His role will be increased significantly with Simmons’ absence.
Then there’s sophomore Aziz Wilson (5-10, 200), who Zampella calls “the real deal.” Wilson is talented beyond comprehension and has caught the eye of New Jersey’s premier talent evaluator Dennis McCarthy, the West New York native.
So the Hawks have talent in their backfield.
Senior Courtney Johnson (6-3, 190) is a spectacular wide receiver. Senior Dashawn Muhammad (5-11, 185) is a more than capable slot receiver.
Seniors Marcus McElroy (6-0, 165) and Simeon Wright (5-10, 175) are also quality receivers in the Hawks’ Wing-T Spread approach.
Up front, the Hawks have some really big boys, like sophomore tackle Khaleem Lawson (6-1, 350) and junior tackle Kalif Hurt (6-2, 290).
Those weights are not misprints.
Junior Joshua Marcano (6-1, 220) is another tackle. Sophomore Curtis Raeford (5-9, 240) started at guard last year as a freshman. Junior Resheed Wallace (5-10, 265) returns to his starting guard slot. The center position is being shared currently between junior Kenneth “Niko” Jamison (5-10, 220) and freshman Anthony Jones (6-0, 215), who is going to be a very good football player.
Defensively, the Hawks line up in a 4-4 front.
The defensive ends are Marcano and senior Jemare Meadows (5-10, 185). Raeford and Anthony Jones are joined at defensive tackle by junior Rajohn Jones (5-10, 310 and no relation to Anthony).
Now, how many local high schools can boast of having three players weighing 300 pounds or more along their lines? The answer is none.
Muhammad and sophomore Hasan Domenick (5-10, 200) are the linebackers. Domenick’s father, also named Hasan, was a standout gridder at Dickinson during his heyday.
Toure is the inside linebacker, with Decker returning to his slot at cornerback, along with speedy senior Namir Green (5-6, 165) and junior Quinn Kieselowsky (6-0, 175), who is the backup quarterback and may see some action there.
Wilson and Wright are the starters at safety.
The Hawks opened last Saturday against Montclair Immaculate, facing a new schedule of teams in the New Jersey Super Football Conference.
“I like the makeup of this team,” Zampella said. “They are hard working, dedicated kids and they’re fun to coach.”
It should be interesting to see if the Hawks could match last year’s win total with a new schedule and without their stud running back.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com. You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com