BY RICHARD JEROME
Staff Writer
Senior quarterback Markeith Dobbins (above) and senior tight end Josh Williams (l) are among the players back to lead the South River offense this season as the Rams look to make a return trip to the Central Jersey Group I playoffs. Autumn means just one thing in South River, and that’s another page of high school football tradition, another chance to add to the feats of Joe Theismann, Drew Pearson, Kenny Jackson and the long list of other greats who have helped define this town.
Coach Rich Marchesi’s Rams are coming off a 6-5 campaign, during which they made it to the second round of the state playoffs, before losing to Florence, 35-7. A rather different team takes the gridiron this season, and Marchesi, while always cautious, is optimistic.
“We have a new group with a new attitude,” he said. “We had a great preseason and we know where we need to go. The opening game against Carteret is huge, a very big test.”
Indeed it was. The Rams, who hadn’t defeated the Ramblers since 2001, fought off the heat as well as the opposition en route to a 34-27 victory last Saturday at South River. It was a dramatic contest, as Ram linebacker Matt DeZarlo protected a slim 28-27 fourth-period lead with less than two minutes to go, by stopping Carteret quarterback Byron Lewin’s two-point conversion run.
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Then SRHS iced the game when junior tailback Jarvis Crandell romped 53 yards to the end zone after a fake punt. That little bit of razzle dazzle topped off a marvelous game for the 5-11, 200-pounder, as he garnered 209 yards rushing with three TDs.
“We’re going to play a wide open game this season,” noted Marchesi. “We have a huge line, which is young, but learning all the time; we also have some big receivers and we’re gonna throw to them. Our quarterback, Markeith Dobbins (a 5-11, 180-pound senior) is doing a great job. He played 30 to 40 percent of the season last year, so he has experience. He also has a deep arm and he can scramble. Markeith has really been quite a nice surprise for us.”
As for the rest of the squad, senior tight end Josh Williams is one of those large pass-catchers, standing 6-4 and weighing in at 270 pounds. Also on that super-sized line are junior left tackle Lee Biernacki, who packs 308 pounds on a 6-6 frame; left guard Dan Litz, a 5-11, 265-pound junior; senior Justin Hortello (5-11, 250), right guard Ray Fodor, a 250-pounder who stands 5-10, and 265-pound Dan Kaminsky, a 6-2 senior.
Rounding out the offense are senior flanker Brandon Hodges (6-2, 190), spread end Kwasi Bell, a 6-2, 190-pound senior, and a whole group of players joining Crandell and Dobbins in the backfield. Two of these are sophomores-fullbacks Robert Benson, who weighs in at 170 and stands 5-9; and 5-10, 170-pound sophomore Mike Wilson. Dezarlo, the linebacker, is also in the fullback mix, while the tailbacks include returning senior Vince Mobley (5-11, 175) and a freshman, Steven Moore, who carries 175 pounds on his 5-10 physique.
As usual for a small school, there is a considerable bit of doubling up between the offensive and defensive units. Josh Williams is penciled in at defensive end, where he’s one of the finest performers in the county, along with and Brandon Hodges.
The tackles include Litz, Ray Fodor and Hortell. Mike Mucino, a 5-10, 240-pound junior, mans the nose guard position, and joining Dezarlo as linebackers are Crandell, Mike Wilson and Brian Fodor a 5-10, 190-pound junior.
Back in the secondary, Marchesi fields Tyler Christiano, a 6-1, 180-pound junior, at safety, along with quarterback Dobbins, who plays defensive halfback, and another back, senior Eric Seawright (5-9, 175). Kwasi Bell and Vince Mobley are also featured in the secondary.
Joining Marchesi on the coaching lines are a lot of familiar faces: Jim Mackiewicz, Mike Lepore, Matt Musante, Bob Young, Joe Young and Anthony Colon.
They’ll lead the Rams at John F. Kennedy of Iselin on Saturday.