By Warren Rappleyea
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY VERONICA YANKOWSKI Old Bridge’s Steve Cooper, above, runs with the ball, while Dave DePalma (r) fires a pass during a recent scrimmage against Middletown North.
With a veteran presence in the skill positions, the Old Bridge High School football team will be looking to challenge for the top spot in the Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division.
"We’ve got a lot of newcomers, but we have a second-year quarterback in Dave DePalma and a talented runner in Joel Scarano," said coach Bob DeMarco, whose team opens Saturday at Colonia. "Our division is wide open this year and I think we can compete."
Last season the Knights went 8-3 overall, reaching the second round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs, where they were eliminated by eventual champion Piscataway after downing Manalapan in the opening round.
DePalma (6-1, 180) ran for 620 yards and scored 11 TDs while leading the Knights’ wishbone attack.
At halfback, Scarano (5-9, 170) rushed for 730 yards and six touchdowns. The rest of the Old Bridge backfield includes seniors Anthony Werner (5-8, 170), a halfback, and Nick Franza (5-10, 175), a fullback. In addition junior fullback Dan Martin (5-10, 165) and sophomore halfback Bryant McCombs (6-0, 165) will also see action.
The line is led by returning junior left guard Frank Lillis (6-2, 245). Old Bridge will have to do without center Charlie Fradella, another returning starter, who is out with a knee injury and will miss most of the season, DeMarco said. Senior Matt Fitzgerald (6-0, 235) has taken over the center spot.
The rest of the line includes seniors Dennis Kennedy (5-11, 225) and Rick Stevens (5-11, 230), who will alternate at right guard; and junior tackles Tyrell Connor (5-10, 180) and Aaron Owens (5-11, 190).
Senior Rob Allen (6-2, 245) and junior Matt Donaghue (5-11, 180) are the tight ends. Two six-foot seniors, Steve Johnson and Jeff Hemhauser, will be the split ends.
Old Bridge High School assistant coach Mike Roberts applauds his team’s performance during a recent scrimmage with Middletown North.
Allen and sophomore Jamar Figueroa (6-2, 220) are the defensive ends, with Kennedy and Stevens holding down the tackle slots. Senior Mike Donnelly (6-0, 180) and junior Steve Gyango (5-11, 185) are the outside linebackers, and sophomore Matt Donnelly (5-10, 180), Mike’s brother, is in the middle.
Senior Ron Green and Scarano will be the cornerbacks; junior John Hoernlein is at safety, and junior Steve Cooper and DePalma will split time at free safety.
For special teams, Werner will be the place-kicker and kick-off man, with junior Michael Federico handling the punting.
This Saturday’s game will be the first of several difficult challenges for a Knights team facing a grueling Red Division schedule. But DeMarco and his players are looking forward to getting on the field, and seeing how they measure up with the best the GMC has to offer.
"With so many new guys on our team, and in our division in general, I think it’s important to come out early and establish cohesion," DeMarco said. "We want to be that team. The guys know what to do, it’s just a matter of learning how to get it done at this level."