Chargers excited about promise of new season
Spotswood team ready for showdown with South River on Saturday
DAWN MARIE SANNWALDT Spotswood High School head football coach John Fiore goes over some positioning with senior Doug Bonczek during a recent practice in Spotswood.
The Spotswood High School football team is off to a good start as it seeks to again qualify for the NJSIAA playoffs.
The Chargers, who defeated Sussex Tech 49-0 on Saturday, face a tough test this week against South river, which easily downed New Brunswick in its season-opener.
Nevertheless, Spotswood is coming off of a confidence-boosting showing. Fullback Kyle Harkins scored three touchdowns, including a 64-yard punt return, while running for 108 yards to lead the Spotswood offense. Nelson Stryker ran for 130 yards and scored a pair of TDs and sophomore quarterback Dan Osofsky added a pair of touchdown passes.
The Chargers got on the board early and often, with Harkins first touchdown coming in the first quarter to start things off. Following a safety, Spotswood’s Stryker caught a 51-yard TD pass from Osofsky, and Doug Monczek ran in from a yard out (kick failed) to give the Chargers an 18-0 lead after the first quarter.
DAWN MARIE SANNWALDT Spotswood running back Kyle Harkins breaks into the backfield during a recent practice in Spotswood.
In the second quarter, the Chargers continued to pile it on, with Harkins returning a punt 64 yards for a TD, and Osofsky running one in from 33 yards out. Add in a Stryker 67-yard TD run, and another from 14 yards out, and the Chargers’ scoring picture is complete.
Spotswood’s coach John Fiore was pleased with the offensive showing, particularly with the play of his new quarterback.
"Our running game was working well and I was particularly impressed with Danny [Osofsky]," coach John Fiore said. "He read the defenses well and audibled three times, two resulted in touchdowns and the other was a first down. That’s what you want to see in a young quarterback."
The strong offensive showing was a boost for the Chargers, who went 8-2 a year ago and won the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division for the first time, but whose graduated players accounted for 36 of the team’s 39 touchdowns a year ago.
Spotswood’s backfield, which is augmented by halfback Dustin Katcher and receivers Dave Demback, Chris Monaghan and Joe Bailey, also benefits from a strong, senior-dominated offensive line.
Linemen include center Tom Oliva (5-11, 225), guards Sal Sama (6-2, 225), Scott Hathaway (5-10, 200) and Matt Manfre (6-1, 235); and tackles Nick DeFalco (6-3, 225) and junior Frank Toth (6-3, 215).
Defensively, the Chargers depth minimizes the use of too many two-way players. DeFalco and junior Joe Geiger (6-0, 203) are the ends; and Hathaway and senior Dan Winant (5-10, 250) are the tackles, with junior Alex Fernandez (6-0, 220) at nose guard. Sama and junior Eric Haefner are the linebackers, Harkins is the strong safety, Katcher is the free safety, and senior Mike Alferi and junior Kyle Ust are the cornerbacks.
A year ago Spotswood competed in Group II, but is back in Group I this fall, where it is expected to compete with South River for division supremacy.
"We have a veteran line and our front seven defensively have been outstanding," Fiore, now in his second year at Spotswood, said. "Our guys are beginning to grasp the system so South River will be a good test for us. They’re the defending [Central Jersey] Group I champions and right now they’re clicking on all cylinders."
The Rams looked downright dominant in their 55-28 win over New Brunswick last week, as senior tailback Zach Earvin, one of the state’s top recruits, ran all over the Zebras for 169 yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns. The versatile Earvin also added a 86-yard kick return for a TD, and looked virtually unstoppable for most of the day.
But Spotswood has faced Earvin in the past, including last year’s game, a stunning Spotswood upset, and know how important he is to South River’s success.
But the Chargers muse also be weary of South River quarterback Mick Feaster, one of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s most efficient QBs, who seems poised to lead the Rams to another state title this season.
Saturday’s game is a big one for both teams, as it could go a long way towards deciding the eventual GMC Blue Division champion. Another win for Spotswood could catapult the team to a special season in Group I play.
Following the South River game, the Chargers will face Belvidere, Highland Park, Dunellen and St. Mary’s, before finishing off the regular season against Metuchen, Middlesex and Monroe.
From there, it’s state playoff time, and the Chargers have every intention of playing some additional games come November.