By Matthew Rocco
The 2015 football season was a tough one for Long Branch High School, which has long been a force to be reckoned with in the Shore Conference. With a new campaign about to begin, the Green Wave hope to regain that status with a roster that gained a lot of experience last year.
A young Long Branch squad went 3-7 last year, marking the program’s first losing season since 2010. The Green Wave have more veteran leadership to lean on this time around, and it starts with quarterback Juwan Wilkins.
Wilkins, a junior, ended the 2015 season as the Green Wave’s primary signal-caller. He completed 30 of 52 pass attempts, amassing 332 passing yards for the season. Long Branch is counting on Wilkins to lead an offense that also features senior running back Keith Cooper, who ran for 961 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.
Cooper is one member of a talented group of running backs. Shawn Gonzaga is a wildcard who could give the Green Wave a boost on the ground. Gonzaga is new to the team after transferring from Texas. In a preseason scrimmage against Manasquan High School, he scored one of Long Branch’s two touchdowns on an 8-yard run.
The Green Wave have more returning starters in junior T.J. Fosque, a wide receiver, and junior Kaymar Mimes, who is back after playing tight end last season.
Long Branch must overcome some turnover on the offensive and defensive lines, where the team was senior-heavy in 2015.
A difficult schedule awaits the Green Wave in a strengthened Shore Conference B North Division, so the team will need to be on top of its game. Middletown High School North and crosstown rival Middletown High School South, which went 12-0 last season, have joined the division for 2016. Long Branch will also play Manasquan, Ocean Township High School, Red Bank Catholic High School and Wall High School in divisional games.
Two of Long Branch’s non-divisional games will come against Freehold High School and Red Bank Regional High School in the final two weeks of the season.
Looking ahead to the NJSIAA tournament, Long Branch is competing for a spot in the North Jersey, Section II, Group IV playoffs. The team was moved into the section before last season.
The Green Wave open the season Sept. 10 on the road against Manasquan. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
For their home opener, the Green Wave will host Colts Neck High School Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
