By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer
In just a matter of days, after winning the District 18 championship and getting eliminated in the section tournament, seven of the 12-year-old players from that Brick American Little League team were back on the field, getting ready for a run at another championship.
Practices for the Brick Memorial Mustangs Junior Midgets football team got under way last month. There was no rest either for head coach Steve Nash whose Little League 9-year-olds played in the District 18 championship just two days earlier.
Nash, who coached the same Mustangs Junior Midgets a year earlier, and his players had a little extra bounce and swagger at the start of football practice after a memorable 14-1 campaign a year earlier. That run started with an 8-0 loss to Pinelands, but the Mustangs never lost again all the way to a thrilling triple-overtime championship victory over Howell. Jason Jones caught the winning touchdown pass from Steve Zrowka, who threw 21 touchdown passes that season. There also was a rock-solid defense that allowed only five touchdowns and recorded nine shutouts last year.
In the semifinal game, Jones caught a touchdown pass and Bill Nash kicked the winning two-point conversion, which hit the crossbar and tumbled through as the Mustangs beat cross-town rival the Brick Dragons 21-20.
"People still talk to Billy about that when he walks into stores," said his father Steve. "We’re rivals with the Dragons but we respect each other. They’re good guys and they have good kids."
Players from the Little League championship team have even more to brag about as they prepare for their Aug. 30 opener against the Toms River Indians at Veterans Memorial Field starting at 6 p.m. Those players include Zrowka, Brian Staub, Bill Nash, Mike Kiley and Matt O’Brien. Two other Little Leaguers, Jose Ramos and Anthony Piezzo, did not play on the Mustangs last season.
"It’s been pretty amazing," said coach Nash as his team prepared for its eight-game schedule.
"The biggest thing is their heart and character. It’s been unbelievable as they come together as a team. And they hang out together."
The Mustangs Midgets aren’t the only ones going into the season with fond memories of past success. Mike DiGuilmi’s Junior Pee Wee Green 10-year-old team was unbeaten last fall in the Mighty Mites Division.
The other six teams in the league include three in the Mighty Mites — the Mustangs Green, coached by John Corsio, Anthony Fontana’s Mustangs White and Ken Cooke’s Mustangs Gold — as well as Ed Kenmure’s Junior Pee Wee Mustangs White, Brian Duckworth’s Pee Wee Mustangs in the 11-year-old division and Steve Barry’s Mustangs Midgets 13s.
The eight teams compete in the newly realigned league’s A South Division.
For the Junior Midget Mustangs, competition includes the Toms River Indians and Angels teams, the Brick Dragons, Wall, Jackson South, Marlboro, Freehold and Howell, which will be an interesting game when the Mustangs play them again this season.
The Junior Midgets Mustangs have a full scrimmage at 6 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Park against the Jackson North Jaguars. They come off a wild 25-25 scrimmage tie with East Brunswick last Saturday in which Kiley scored four touchdowns.
Although coach Nash felt the backfield enjoyed great balance last year, at this point his son Bill "looks to be the best. He’s starting to run like his brother, Dave, whom I also coached."
Kiley doubles defensively at linebacker.
The coach also spoke proudly of the fact that 14 of his players are Pop Warner national all-Americans, an academic honor for players who achieve a certain average in school.
Nash said Kiley and 12 other players will carry much of the team’s hopes for this season, including Jones; Zrowka, who also plays at safety; Staub, who is a wingback and cornerback; tight end-defensive end Piezzo; split end-defensive end O’Brien; wide receiver and safety Ramos; and center and middle guard Bill Nash and his brother J.T., the fullback and inside linebacker.
There’s also DaJan Reid, a tailback and linebacker last season who grew so big that he moves to the line at offensive guard and defensive tackle. Paul Jackson at fullback and Phil Sigona at offensive tackle show a lot of promise. while Sean Canali at inside linebacker is one of a group of newcomers that Nash feels will make some big contributions. Canali played for the township’s recreation team in the Hudson County League last season.