Mustangs enjoy 7-on-7 experience

Team begins official preseason Aug. 13

By: Rudy Brandl
   
   The little fish in a pond filled with sharks and sea monsters proved it could swim.
   That’s how the Manville High football players felt in their four trips to the 7-on-7 mini-camp sessions at Montgomery High in July. Competing against the likes of Group 4 powers Hunterdon Central and Franklin and rising Group 3 program Montgomery, the Mustangs held their own.
   Considering MHS won’t be facing many teams that can match the talent of those big schools, third-year head coach Brett Stibitz has reason to feel good entering the official start of preseason camp next Monday. Stibitz wondered how his boys would fare as the only Group 1 school in a loaded field of scholastic football giants but came away feeling proud.
   "I’m very pleased," Stibitz said. "We looked a little sluggish on the first day but we scored at least one touchdown against every team. We put two in against Hunterdon Central’s first team."
   Senior Brian Rock and incoming freshman Mike Hopkins scored touchdowns against Hunterdon Central, the Flemington-based Group 4 power that has competed in the NJSIAA playoffs many times and won several sectional title. The only Central Manville will face in the regular season is Newark Central, a team the Mustangs have handled the last two years.
   Manville has used these mini-camps to bolster its offense since Stibitz took charge of the program. They are designed to enhance the development of the skill players, especially quarterbacks and wide receivers on offense and corner backs and safeties on defense. The Mustangs had 21 players participate in the sessions.
   Stibitz was impressed by the performance of senior Anthony Palovick, who tops the MHS depth chart at quarterback heading into the 2007 season. New quarterbacks always benefit from these sessions because they get a chance to throw more passes than they might attempt in a full scholastic season. Palovick’s solid effort might make Stibitz want to open up the offense a little bit more.
   "He was very smart and he did a nice job," Stibitz said. "He hit the short passes and was right on target with the longer ones. I knew he had a good arm, but he surprised me a little bit with his accuracy."
   Palovick led an offense that included running backs Rock, Mike Bezik and Josh Michalowski, wide receivers Ankur Patel, Angelo Bell and Hopkins, tight ends Ryan Janikowski and Brendan Nurnberger and centers Dennis Petrone and Billy Mazzucca. David Olmsted and Hopkins also took some reps at quarterback.
   Stibitz rotated several players in at linebacker on the defense, which was led by Glen Hall, who will also be the varsity team’s starting fullback. Since fullbacks aren’t used in the 7-on-7 format, Hall did most of his work on the defensive side.
   Other MHS players contributing on defense included linebackers Angel Ortiz and Mazzucca and defensive backs Bezik, Hopkins, Michalowski, Olmsted, Rock and Bell. Bezik made two interceptions to lead the secondary.
   About half of the 41 players on the MHS roster participated in the 7-on-7 camps, including a few newcomers. Stibitz, who has 28 players returning from last year’s 6-4 squad, liked what he saw from some of the younger players.
   Hopkins and Bell showed some good stuff and could emerge as two stars of the future. Palovick and Rock enjoyed their first opportunity to be the offensive leaders taking over for graduated senior starters. Everyone got a chance to execute some plays before the official start of the preseason.
   "It’s a backyard pickup game," Stibitz said. "They’re all good teams just throwing the ball around. It’s great for the kids. They had a blast. It’s a great opportunity for the kids. It’s a great learning tool."