By Ken Weingartner, Sports Writer
It always helps to have an “Ace” in the hole.
For the South Brunswick High football team, it’s senior Dan “Ace” Acevedo.
Acevedo is the team’s leading receiver, with six catches for 226 yards – an average of 37.7 yards per reception. Of his first four catches, three went for touchdowns. In last week’s 27-17 win over East Brunswick, he hauled in two passes for 52 yards. Both converted third downs, keeping alive scoring drives.
”Dan has done an incredible job for us,” Vikings coach Rick Mantz said about Acevedo, who plays safety on defense. “He adjusts on a ball better than any player that I have ever coached and what has impressed us most about him this year has been his work ethic and his unselfishness. He is one of the best blockers on the team and is responsible for many of our long runs and TD runs.
”He also runs great routes everyday and can catch anything thrown near him. He is a special player.”
Last year, Acevedo had 15 catches for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
Playing in an option-oriented offense limits the Vikings passing – they average 36 rushes and seven passes per game – but Acevedo is fine with it.
”I would like to get the ball as much as I can, but I have faith in Coach Mantz and the staff,” Acevedo said. “I trust what they’re doing. I’m happy. All that matters is winning.”
South Brunswick is 4-0 heading into Friday’s game at winless J.P. Stevens. At the midway point in the chase to qualify for the postseason, the Vikings are No. 1 in power points in Central Jersey Group IV. South Brunswick leads Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division rival Sayreville by two points. The two meet in Monmouth Junction on Oct. 17.
”We could go all the way. We can only beat ourselves,” Acevedo said. “This team could be amazing. We could go 12-0; take it all the way to a championship.”
Last week, the Vikings trailed 10-0 at halftime, but rallied with 27 unanswered points. South Brunswick gained 279 yards in the second half, compared to 13 in the first.
”The first half wasn’t pretty. We came out a little flat and people were messing up assignments,” Acevedo said. “In the second half everyone got pumped up. After the first drive (of the third quarter) everything got going from there.”

