After spending the better part of the last decade trying to reach the pinnacle of New Jersey high school football, namely a state championship at Giants Stadium, the Patriots of Secaucus High School finally got a chance to taste a little of the spotlight at the magnificent Mecca just over the Route 3 bridge and across the Hackensack River last year.
There was only one downside to the Patriots’ pilgrimage to Mecca.
“We got there, but we didn’t win,” said Charlie Voorhees, who begins his 12th season as the Patriots’ head coach. “But how great was that? We got a police and fire escort to Giants Stadium. We had the entire town excited. But we didn’t win.”
The Patriots won their first 11 games of 2009, only to fall hard to Cedar Grove, 30-14, in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I championship game last December.
“I think like in anything in life, when you can lose, you can either sit and cry about it or you can move on,” Voorhees said. “You can either get too high or too low. We didn’t just smell the roses from just being there. But to be honest, it did linger for a while. We had to recover from it.
Added Voorhees, “But we went right back to work. A week after that game, we were back in the weight room, getting ready to get back there again. We went right back to work. That’s it. We were there. But every year is a new year and we’re working to patch the pieces again. We have a lot of guys back who made that trip and knew what it was like. We also have some holes to fill. We’re still working on it. Once we get our swagger back, we’ll be fine.”
The Patriots return junior Sean Egan (5-9, 180) at quarterback. A year ago, Egan was thrust into the starting quarterback role midway through the season due to injury. It was trial-by-fire for Egan, who handled it well.
“He made only one bad throw all year,” Voorhees said. “When he started performing for us and began to feel comfortable, he became a special player.”
Senior fullback Eddie Delgado (6-1, 190) is already a special player and a proven one at that. Delgado earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors last season, rushing for better than 1,000 yards and scoring 15 touchdowns.
Delgado is a year older, a year bigger and stronger and hopefully a year better.
“He’s bigger than most people realize,” Voorhees said. “He knows what it takes to be a good high school running back. We’re hoping he has another big season.”
The Patriots have a lot of depth in the backfield, with senior Matt Roman (5-10, 200) and a trio of juniors, namely Nick Schaffer (5-9, 180), Casey Quinones (509, 165) and Dom Rizzo (6-0, 185), sharing the halfback duties.
Senior Matt Traynor (6-0, 190) returns to his starting position at wide receiver.
“He has big play ability,” Voorhees said of Traynor. “No doubt, I think some college is going to give him an opportunity to play.”
The other wide receiver is senior Al Krause (5-7, 180).
Senior Niko Petruzzella (5-8, 180), who was the team’s starting quarterback last season before he suffered the season-ending knee injury, opening the door for Egan, is now playing tight end.
“He is still getting reps [repetitions] at quarterback,” Voorhees said. “Everyone is rooting for Niko.”
Senior Rich Rivera (5-10, 180) will also see time at tight end.
The offensive line features a lot of size and strength for a Group I school.
Leading the way is senior tackle Nick Gjoni (6-5, 320), who is a three-year starter. Gjoni has been getting looks from some colleges and has a chance to be a scholarship player.
Gjoni is joined at tackle by another returning starter in senior Evan Rodriguez (6-1, 300), who is no relation to the former North Bergen standout with the same name; former Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Year, currently playing tight end at Temple.
Senior Justin Meyer (6-0, 280) is the center, with three players, seniors Matt Pagnano (6-1, 220), senior Sal Peralta (6-0, 220) and junior Tom Kessler (6-1, 210) sharing time at guard. Pagnano was the team’s starter at tight end last year.
The Patriots will utilize a 3-4 defensive formation, putting Gjoni at nose guard, with Peralta and Rodriguez at defensive end. Senior Joe Schoendorf (5-10, 210) will also get time at defensive end.
Roman returns at outside linebacker, where he started a year ago, along with Pagnano. Schaffer, Kessler, Rivera, senior Mike Fragliossi (6-1, 200) and junior Tom Roselli (6-0, 170) sharing time at inside linebacker.
Krause, Delgado and Egan will share the cornerback duties, with Traynor and Rizzo sharing time at safety along with senior John Lynch (6-1, 160).
The Patriots will open their 2010 season this weekend with a trip to Manchester Regional in North Haledon. They will take on the challenge of trying to stop highly regarded running back Taques Franklin, who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 250 pounds and runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash.
The Patriots play a tougher schedule this season, something Voorhees embraces.
“I think it’s fantastic,” Voorhees said. “Every time [Secaucus athletic director] Stan Fryczynski kept coming back with a better schedule, I was excited. Let’s go play the best. We’re excited. I like this team and when we get this team to jell together, we can see how could we can be. It should be a fun season.”
One that should end in December once again. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.