Sayreville expected to
be among GMC’s
elite teams once again
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer
FARRAH MAFFAI staff Junior tailback Shaune Thomas is one of several talented skill position players returning to the Sayreville Bombers this season, as they look to put together another stellar season and a run at a state title. A handful of veterans return as the Sayreville High School football team looks for another solid season.
Last season the Bombers racked up a 10-1 overall mark, but were upset in the first round of the NJSIAA NJ2 Group III playoffs by Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
Coach George Najjar’s offense was explosive a year ago, but this time out he said the attack will need to be “more efficient.”
As in the past few years, several Bombers will see duty on both sides of scrimmage.
The presence of senior Vinnie Otero and junior Shaune Thomas, both halfbacks, should certainly help in that regard. Both players saw significant action a year ago.
Najjar’s other backs include two juniors, Devin Holmes and Mike Velardi, a fullback. Corey Hammond is the QB. Tim Ballard and John Monaco line up at split end, and Herbert Nieves (6-1, 205) is the tight end.
The place-kicking prowess of Matt Kenny gives the Sayreville offense an added weapon.
The line includes returnee Jason Lefkowitz (6-3, 220) at center, tackles Peter Brereton (6-1, 200) and junior Taris Idak (6-0, 200), as well as guards Dan McCoid (5-11, 210) and sophomore Brad Pieters (5-9, 170).
“I don’t think we’ll be as wide open as last season,” Najjar said of his offense, “but I think we’ll be able to move the ball.”
On the other side of the line, opponents will look across at Brereton, Idak and Nick Greco (5-10, 220) at the tackles, and Holmes and Nieves at the ends.
Pieters, Velardi, Otero and Scott Monestine (5-10, 175) are the linebackers. Thomas, Monaco and Brandon Aich patrol the secondary. Thomas and Kenny will handle the punting chores.
“The key for our defense is aggressiveness,” Najjar said. “We need to be smart, execute well and get to the ball.”
Sayreville opens the season Friday at home against Hillsborough in a 7 p.m. start and will travel to Old Bridge on Sept. 18 for a 1 p.m. game against the Knights.
The GMC’s Red Division is loaded once again this year, with many arguing that is the most competitive division in the state. Along with the Bombers, Piscataway is being trumpeted as one of the elite public school teams in the state, and is coming off a season in which it won the North Jersey, Section W title in impressive fashion.
Old Bridge is another Red Division team that is expected to be more than competitive once again, and is looking to make a run at the division title, as is J.P. Stevens, who qualified for the state playoffs as well last year.
Then throw into the mix a very good Woodbridge Barrons team that should be improved over last year, and an East Brunswick squad that was better than its 4-6 record indicated last year, and returns everyone.
On top of that, South Brunswick is being called a potential “sleeper pick” due to the talent the Vikings are returning.
It all adds up to a tremendously challenging division, and what should be a brutally competitive season for Sayreville.
In years past you could circle certain games that looked like they would decide the division championship. This year, every game is circled.