By: Ken Weingartner
The tests begin now for the South Brunswick High football team.
And senior linebacker Aaron Preacher knows what it will take to pass this course straight A’s.
Preacher, one of the team’s captains, said the Vikings will need to bring their "A" game to be successful against the remainder of the squad’s schedule.
South Brunswick, which improved to 4-0 with a 27-6 win over Perth Amboy last week, faces four of the top teams in Middlesex County during the month of October. That stretch starts Friday when the Vikings visit Old Bridge.
"This feels great," Preacher said about the 4-0 start, which last left the Vikings leading Central Jersey Group IV football teams with 35 power points. "We haven’t done this since our freshman year. For years we’ve been saying wait until we’re seniors. We’ll do it again."
South Brunswick has never started a varsity season 5-0. The Vikes were 4-0 in 1977, the only year it reached the playoffs, and in 1996. A tie against Highland Park snapped the school’s unbeaten streak in 1977 and a 27-20 loss to Colonia ended the run in 1996.
Old Bridge is 1-3, with its losses coming to Sayreville, Piscataway and J.P. Stevens teams that are a combined 10-1. And guess who the Vikings face after Old Bridge? How about Sayreville, Piscataway and Stevens.
The games most likely will play a large role in deciding the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division championship.
"I seriously think we’re one of the best teams in the county," Preacher said. "We’ve got to keep bring our A game. As long as we bring our A game, we’re contenders, definitely.
"We can’t slip up," he added. "The next four or five teams on the schedule will eat at every mistake. We’ve got to come hard."
For most of the season, the Vikings’ defense has brought its A game. Or at least A-minus. South Brunswick has given up 67 points this season, with nearly half those coming in a game against East Brunswick and a dozen being yielded by the offense.
The Vikes forced eight turnovers, including a school-record six interceptions, in a win over Edison a game in which the defense put 14 points on the board itself with an interception return, fumble return and safety.
Against Perth Amboy, the Vikings gave up just 161 yards total offense and forced three turnovers, including two fumble recoveries by Sean Papp. Preacher said the defense’s performance at East Brunswick was a motivating factor.
"That was a slap in the face," said Preacher, who had an interception against Perth Amboy. "We got a little cocky with East Brunswick. We’ve got to play hard. We’ve got to play everybody like they’re the best team we’re going to play."
Against Perth Amboy, Steve Ferrara led the way with 129 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Ferrara leads Middlesex County in scoring with 66 points.
Senior tight end Joe Heiser hauled in a 75-yard TD pass from sophomore quarterback Brad Casalvieri and Evan Mahoney added a 9-yard scoring run. The Vikings ran the ball 50 times for 238 yards.
"We were just having success running power at them," SB coach John Coppola said. "We didn’t feel a need to mix things up. We thought they were wearing down later, and that we could take advantage of that. Physically, we matched up well."
It probably was a good omen when Heiser caught his TD pass, considering teammates have labeled him "rock hands." It was Heiser’s only reception of the night, but gave the Vikings a 14-0 lead just 2:42 prior to halftime.
Heiser had the ball bounce off his hands before pinning it against his facemask to make the catch.
"After I caught the ball, I was hoping just don’t get caught," said a grinning Heiser, who on the TD play had gotten behind the Perth Amboy secondary and hauled in the pass near midfield.
"We ran that pattern earlier and noticed from above that he was left pretty open," Coppola said. "He’s always telling us he’s open," he added with a laugh.
The Vikings hope the laughter continues.
"The next few weeks will tell the story," Coppola said. "We’re at the midpoint of the season and we’ve got to regroup and focus on the division and trying to qualify for the playoffs. Anything can happen."
Especially if the Vikings bring their A game.

