Veteran Secaucus High School head football coach Charlie Voorhees is well aware that his program needs to improve after two uncharacteristic down seasons.
“It’s funny,” Voorhees said. “You go back and look and see that we’ve won only three games over the last two seasons. You evaluate what you did right and what you did wrong. I’m telling you that the last two years saved Secaucus football. We’re doing all we can do to keep the program going. The last two seasons have been tough, but they saved Secaucus football. We found a way to make it through. We are used to winning here. Now we can move forward.”
With that in mind, Voorhees will field perhaps the youngest lineup in the school’s history.
“We have only six seniors and seven juniors,” Voorhees said. “Everyone else is either a sophomore or a freshman. We’re excited about the opportunity to coach these young kids. There’s a lot of teaching going on.”
Voorhees is excited about the turn the program has made.
“The kids are improving every day,” Voorhees said. “I almost feel like I’m a teacher again. There are no guarantees when a team is this young.”
The quarterback job is currently being shared by sophomore Julian Rocco (5-8, 165) and freshman Matt Toman (6-2, 180).
“There’s a competition throughout,” Voorhees said of the battle between Rocco and Toman. “They’re both very good athletes and can play another position if they have to. They can play wide receiver, tight end or defensive back.”
When you have a small enrollment, each player is expected to play more than one position. So Rocco and Toman are learning to play other positions as well as quarterback.
The Patriots have a ton of competition going on in the backfield, with as many as six running backs getting the possibility to carry the ball.
The Schaffer twins, freshmen Tommy and Bobby (both 5-8 and 180) are in the backfield, along with senior Jaden Gonzalez (5-9, 170) and a trio of sophomores in Raequan Andrews (5-9, 170), Chuck Snyder (5-9, 170) and Derrick Fernandez (5-10, 165).
“We’re going to look like a hockey team,” Voorhees said. “You know, changing on the fly. People coming in and people going out. We can hopefully grow from this.”
Three players are fighting for time at wide receiver, namely seniors John Mastropietro (5-11, 170), Pedro Rodriguez (5-10, 155) and Thomas Devaney (5-8, 160).
The tight ends are seniors Taylan Iyik (6-2, 180) and Jose Colon (6-0, 180).
The offensive line features three-year starter Sammy Duran (6-2, 240) at guard, but the rest of the line is comprised of all inexperienced youngsters.
Sophomore Alejandro Barcena Vasquez (6-2, 275) and freshman Taylor Ambrosio (6-2, 280) are the tackles, with junior Gabriel Fayed (6-0, 225), sophomore Michael O’Donnell (5-10, 200) and freshman Alex Tejada (6-0, 200) all battling for playing time at the other guard slot.
Sophomore Hunter Pein (5-11, 185) is the returning starter at center, but he’s being pushed by freshman Nicholas Nardone (5-10, 200). Voorhees thinks Nardone is going to be a very good football player.
The Patriots utilize a 3-4 defensive set, with junior Cesar Quinones (5-10, 280) at nose guard with Tejada and Fayed at defensive end, but senior Anthony DeGirolamo (6-2, 260) also getting time there.
The outside linebackers are Colon and sophomore George Martinez (6-0, 180).
The running backs are all in the mix at inside linebacker, as well as Pein and Andrews, who played there last year.
The corners are Michael Flynn (5-10, 180) and freshman Kosei Hayshiea (5-10, 165), with Toman and Rocco at safety along with Mastropietro.
Voorhees likes the way his young team is coming of age.
“The goal is to get back to the state playoffs,” said Voorhees, who also doubles as the school’s athletic director. “That’s always the goal. Sometimes, it gets harder and harder depending upon the situation. But these kids go to work each and every day. They’re getting better every day and that’s the most important thing.”
The Patriots opened their season Thursday against North Arlington. – Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com