By Jeff Appelblatt
The start of the high school football season is one of the most anticipated events when the thought of a new school year approaches.
All teams can’t deny they’re eager for the first kickoff of 2016. Every season is a chance for each student-athletes to show off the talent perhaps not shown the year before. And as for the teams — each one could only hope for a more successful campaign than the year prior.
Woodbridge High School lost the most important member of the team from 2015. Tracy Fudge, last year’s quarterback, completed 117 passes for 1,495 yards and 17 touchdowns while leading the Barrons to six wins in 10 chances. But while the Barrons have begun to practice for the 2016 season with new head coach Kevin Coleman leading the way, Fudge hopes his successful senior season with Woodbridge will translate to a good first year in Maryland at Stevenson University.
Coleman is ready to move on minus Fudge, even though Fudge made every one of Woodbridge’s 203 pass attempts last season.
“We’ve had a successful summertime so far,” Coleman said. The only guys listed as quarterbacks last season other than Fudge were Brandon Ramos, Isaiah Exposito and Jack Salazar. However, the three combined for no passes. And Exposito graduated alongside Fudge, so competition for this year’s main hurler narrowed a bit there.”
The most important pieces back from last season’s team are seniors Harry Rutkowski, Keshaun Henry, Marquan Payne and Quaasim Glover.
Last year, Rutkowski was responsible for kicking field goals and extra points. Henry, meanwhile, led the ground game. He entered the end zone four times while rushing for 586 yards. The four trips into scoring territory didn’t include the two times he carried the ball in following touchdowns for 2-point conversions. Payne was a defender and had 25 tackles. Glover was also an essential defender. He took two interceptions back to scoring territory, and he had 10 tackles. But he was more important on the offensive side of the ball, catching 49 passes for 717 yards and scoring eight touchdowns last season.
“We lost four or five guys but charging forward, we’ll be fine,” Coleman said. “We’re going to be a gritty team.”
Junior Nick Nyers managed to tackle 25 last year as only a sophomore, so he’ll likely remain a large piece of the defensive line. Nyers is the son of last year’s head coach, Bill Nyers, who felt it necessary to retire because of health concerns.
As much as Coleman loves the idea of being a head coach rather than an assistant, he wasn’t ready to see Nyers go.
“I tried to talk him out of leaving [Woodbridge], but he said he needed to step down because of his health.” Woodbridge’s new leader said. “As much as I wanted him to stay, I couldn’t argue with his decision.”
Preparing the Barrons for their season opener Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. against crosstown rival Colonia High School, Coleman said he’s as ready as he is thanks to his years coaching alongside Nyers.
The two were on the same sideline at Plainfield High School, where Nyers was the head coach for six years, before the two were reunited in Woodbridge.
“Nyers prepared me for this,” Coleman said. “Coach Nyers was training me.”
Time will tell how prepared he and the Barrons are for the 2016 season, without the likes of Nyers and Fudge.
