By Wayne Witkowski
Gaping holes left by the spring graduations of running back Cole Rogers and quarterback/kicker Matt Mosquera need to be filled as Middletown High School South’s football team — the acclaimed No. 1 team in the state last season and reigning NJSIAA North Jersey, Section II, Group IV champion — launches it preseason Aug. 15.
The Eagles will prepare to play in a new division this season after being moved to Shore Conference B North. They’ve been playing in A North and now will line up against teams like Red Bank Catholic High School, who the Eagles open against on the road at 7 p.m. Sept. 9, and Ocean Township High School, the team they play in their home opener at 7 p.m. Sept. 16. Other league opponents include Brick Township High School, Wall High School and Manasquan High School.
Middletown High School North now becomes a division rival, and they’ll again square off in their regular-season finale on Thanksgiving.
Coach Steve Antonucci calls it the toughest schedule in years.
“It’s a pretty good one; a formidable one, especially the nonconference games with St. John Vianney [High School] and Rumson-Fair Haven [Regional High School], which has won three state championships in a row,” he said.
St. John Vianney lost in the Non-Public, Group III finals to DePaul Catholic High School after beating Red Bank Catholic in the semifinals.
Toms River High School North also is a nonconference opponent on the schedule.
Antonucci said the success of last season has stirred his players’ offseason commitment.
“The goal is to get back [to the state championship game],” Antonucci said. “We’ll try to overcome any complacency at the start of the season.”
Middletown South, scoring 41 points a game, had a lot of success finishing off drives in a 12-0 season that ended with a 35-7 blitz of Phillipsburg High School in the state championship game behind Rogers, who scored 24 touchdowns and rushed for 1,545 yards on the season. Mosquera threw for 1,336 yards and 18 touchdowns, but it was his kicking game that included making all three field goals and 51 of 54 extra points that Antonucci particularly cited.
“It’s a huge blow, particularly in the kicking game as an All-State kicker,” Antonucci said. “It gave us a huge advantage in games. There’s nobody close to that right now.”
Linebacker Dylan Rogers, the leader on defense, graduated. Another significant loss is leading receiver and trusty defensive player Tom Coffey.
But there are players who Antonucci says can tackle those major roles. James McCarthy rushed for 504 yards and 15 touchdowns, while Maxx Imsho will be one of the leaders on defense after he intercepted seven passes last year. He and Samson Dubay, another catalyst on defense, can run the ball. Kevin Higgins again figures to be a force at linebacker. All will be seniors this fall.
Mike Wilson and Bobby Burke, who will be seniors, and Adam Markman, a rising junior, make for a solid nucleus on the line.
Things will begin taking shape when the scrimmage schedule begins Aug. 20 with a long ride to Montvale for the Eagles to take on Saint Joseph Regional High School. There also is a scrimmage at home Aug. 26 against defending two-time Central Jersey, Group IV champion Jackson Memorial High school and a game-condition scrimmage at home Sept. 1 against Piscataway Township High School.
“We need to get off to a fast start. That will tell us a lot about ourselves,” Antonucci said. “It will be a real telltale that will tell us what type of team we have.”
Offensive line coach Nick Trezza is the lone newcomer to the coaching staff that welcomes back Joe O’Connor as offensive coordinator, Al Bigos as defensive coordinator, Steve Roberts as defensive coach, R.J. Read as quarterback coach, Joe Pusso as defensive back coach and Joe Mirault as defensive line coach.
