Losing a plethora of talented players to graduation, including a bunch that moved on to play college football, is one thing.
But when you lose a host of others to injury before you play a single game the following season, well, you have the recipe for troubled times.
That’s the scenario that the perennially powerful Hoboken High School football program faces this season. Head coach Lou Taglieri, who began his fifth season as the leader of the Red Wings, knows that this season represents his biggest challenge to date.
“It’s always tough when you lose not just the amount of players we lost, but the quality,” said Taglieri, who guided the Red Wings to the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group I title game last year before falling to Verona. “We lost players to major colleges [Isaac Holmes to Rutgers, Bernardo Nunez to Pitt] and a bunch of others to junior college. They’re gone now and we have to go with what we have.”
Taglieri said that he didn’t have to teach the new players about the history and tradition of Hoboken football.
“They all grew up in the town and watched the other teams perform well and win championships,” Taglieri said. “They know what’s expected of them. They should have the same type of pride. They know that they have Hoboken across their chests and that there’s a level of expectation.”
However, as the season opener drew closer, Taglieri realized that he was fielding an inexperienced team that was about to become even more inexperienced.
“We were going into the year with a very young team, but then the kids we were counting on got injured,” Taglieri said. “And it wasn’t a bunch of mild injuries, like sprained ankles and such. No, these kids had sprained knees and torn ligaments. Most of them are now gone and we’re playing freshmen at key positions. It’s unheard of here. They all suffered major injuries, so our freshmen now have to grow up really quick. Reality has definitely struck. We are a Group I school. It’s set in.”
The Red Wings’ starting offensive line now features two freshmen and a sophomore. Center Andrew Mullins (5-10, 240) and guard Aaron Kirchoff (6-1, 245) are freshmen. Guard Devin Lawrence (5-11, 220) is a sophomore. Talk about getting thrown to the wolves. The rest of the line right now is comprised of junior tackles Jalen Haynes (6-2, 230) and Devon Verdeen (6-0, 210). “They’ve been asked to learn quickly,” Taglieri said. “But it’s never easy dealing with young kids up front.”
The quarterback is senior Justin Arocho (5-10, 170), the latest in a line of talented Arocho brothers. Justin Arocho saw limited time as the backup quarterback last year and now he gets to run the show on his own.
“He’s surviving back there,” Taglieri said. “He throws real well, so we’re spreading our receivers out to see what they can do.”
The halfback duties are being shared by a pair of seniors, namely Travis Rivera (5-9, 180) and Tony Sweeney (5-10, 175).
The fullback, which is the featured back in the Red Wings’ Delaware Wing-T offense, is junior Jason Montalvo (5-11, 170), who has all the potential to be a great one. Montalvo scored both of his team’s touchdowns in the Red Wings’ 46-16 loss to Sparta last weekend.
Juniors Daquan Stewart (6-0, 170) and Damon Haley (5-11, 175) are sharing time at wide receiver. Junior Chris Morales (5-11, 185) is the tight end.
Defensively, many of the same offensive personnel turn around, with Haynes featured at defensive end, along with junior Michael Mumford (6-0, 210). Freshman Kirchoff will be at one defensive tackle, along with sophomore Anthony Ortega (6-1, 240).
Rivera returns to the linebacker corps that he played with last year. Morales and Montalvo will be the other linebackers, but Montalvo is new to playing defense.
Sweeney and junior Jeffrey Ferguson (5-8, 165) are the cornerbacks, with Stewart and Haley at safety.
Although the Red Wings already have a loss and face a very formidable and familiar foe in Cedar Grove this weekend, Taglieri is hopeful that his team’s chances turn in coming weeks against Snyder, St. Anthony and Kittatinny, before facing a very good Lincoln team in four weeks.
“We just have to keep healthy and gain experience,” Taglieri said. “We just have to survive, then get ready for the next one. I think we’re at the point where we have to find something positive each and every snap. We’re using these games as building blocks toward the future. But hopefully, for now, we can become more competitive.” – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.