The idea almost seems too unthinkable for words.
But here goes: The Snyder High School football team won five games in 2015.
Yeah, it’s true. The Tigers went 5-5, the highest win total for the school in more than 20 years. The head coach, former St. Peter’s College standout and Lincoln assistant Ray Marshall was named Hudson Reporter Coach of the Year.
Now, it’s a year later and Marshall knows the expectations are much higher.
“Kids want to play now,” Marshall said. “We have transfers wanting to come in. It used to be that no one was knocking down the door to come to Snyder. People used to see if we would fall flat on our faces.”
Marshall is waiting to silence the doubters.
“People want to know was it a fluke,” Marshall said. “They say, ‘Was Snyder for real?’ They expect a lot now. I do feel we have to quiet the skeptics. I think we’ve already proved that we’re not a doormat anymore. The kids believe in that. They’re not going into games thinking that they’re going to lose. They’re positive. They expect to win.”
Added Marshall, “Now they have a lot of energy. They come ready to play. Everyone is eager and hungry. Everyone is pushing each other. It’s a positive feeling.”
Leading the way for the positive thinking Tigers is sophomore Jahleel Baker (5-11, 170). Baker is so talented that he supplanted the starting quarterback from a year ago, Titus Whitehead, from his signal calling position.
“He’s had a great camp,” Marshall said of Baker. “He’s light years ahead of himself. He’s taking charge. He throws the ball well and runs well. I’m expecting big things from him.”
The top returnee is senior Nolan Burns (6-2, 215), who took the world by storm in the middle of last season. Burns was not playing because his mother wanted him to concentrate on his grades. When Burns proved that he could handle the academic workload at Infinity Charter School, then his mother let him play football. It was the third week of the season.
Burns exploded onto the scene, collecting two games of 250 yards or more. He eventually ended up with more than 1,000 yards and a spot on the Hudson Reporter All-Area Football Team. Imagine a running back from Snyder earning All-Area? Over the last quarter century, that idea was simply implausible.
“The sky’s the limit for him,” Marshall said of Burns. “He runs the ball very hard. He’s an honors student, so he’s getting more college looks.”
Count on Burns to be a scholarship player by the end of the season.
Sophomore Azhaun Dingle (6-0, 180) is another talented running back. Dingle is a transfer from Bayonne High, but he’s eligible to play right away for the Tigers.
“He’s been the surprise of camp,” Marshall said. “He’s fast and shifty. He also has perfect hands coming out of the backfield.”
The wide receiver corps is also very talented, led by juniors Nasir Smith (6-2, 185) and the aforementioned Whitehead (5-11, 180), who has transferred his talents to pass catching, his original position.
“It’s his natural position,” Marshall said of Whitehead. “He was begging me all last year to play wide receiver.”
The tight end is senior Devin Faulkner (6-0, 215), who had a fine season last spring playing baseball for University Charter.
The offensive line features a ton of experience, led by four-year starter Charles Ransom (5-11, 230), whose father was a standout athlete at Dickinson in the 1990s. Ransom plays tackle, as does fellow senior Jerard Johnson (6-0, 205).
Pierre St. Louis (6-1, 325) is every ounce of a senior guard, where St. Louis is joined by senior Andrew Duncan (6-1, 265). There is no way that any Hudson County school can match that size at guard.
Junior Demetrio Vasquez (5-10, 250) is the center. This Snyder offensive line is larger than life. If they are half as good as they are big, they will cause serious problems up front all season.
The Tigers will use a 4-2-5 alignment defensively, with Faulkner and senior Darren Phanord-Riche (5-11, 205) at defensive end and Ransom and Duncan at defensive tackle.
“I’m glad to have them back,” Marshall said. “They’re good football players.”
Burns returns at linebacker, along with junior Isaiah McCord (5-11, 190).
Senior Elijah Graham (5-9, 165) is the one corner, along with junior Gary Carter (5-9, 165). Of course, there’s no relation between this Gary Carter and the Hall of Fame baseball catcher who once played for the Mets and died of brain cancer in 2012.
Senior Idris Givens (6-11, 165) is the rover back, with Samjoe Nesmith (6-1, 190) at one safety along with Whitehead, who earned Hudson Reporter All-Area honors at safety.
The Tigers open the 2016 campaign with a game against Northern Valley Demarest at Caven Point Cochrane Field next Friday at 7 p.m.
So are Marshall and the Tigers ready for the challenge of a new schedule, playing in the New Jersey Super Football Conference and not facing the traditional Hudson County foes?
It’s weird to see Snyder facing teams like Ramapo, Paramus and Tenafly, but that’s the schedule.
“I’m treating this year as a coming out party for us,” Marshall said. “As a coach, I’ve been living in the shadows of Hamp [Lincoln coach Robert Hampton]. This is the year where people say that I’m a good coach.” – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com