Football looks to return to RU
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Jeff Riemann had already burst on the scene last year, catching 11 touchdown passes as the West Windsor-Plainsboro South football team reached the Central Jersey Group IV championship game.
Max Merkovitz was on the scene last year, but in a limited role that saw him catch just eight passes.
Jack Dennehy spent most of his time behind the scenes, playing sparingly as a reserve and catching two passes.
This year, all three are stealing scenes as a group of receivers that have to rival any in the state. They’ve given quarterback Connor Farrell an arsenal of weapons that have helped him throw for 2,418 yards and 25 touchdowns this season.
All three will be on the field in key roles when the Pirates host Sayreville Saturday at 1 p.m. in the CJ IV semifinals. On the line is a return trip to the CJ IV championship game at Rutgers.
”They’re three different guys that I think we use well,” WW-P South coach Todd Smith said. “They all bring something different to the table. Max has awesome hands and is a great route runner. He’s not going to blow you away with his blazing speed, so he uses his hands and ability to run routes. Jeff has the kind of speed where people play 10 yards off him and he still has the ability to run by them. And Jack is a combination of both. He has great hands, he’s tall and he has good speed.”
The 6-foot-5 Dennehy leads the group with 37 catches this season, 13 of which have gone for touchdowns. He has caught a touchdown pass in eight of the Pirates’ 10 games this season and is averaging just under 20 yards per catch.
”It all seems pretty normal now because we’ve been doing it for so long,” said Dennehy, the least experienced of the group coming into the season. “We started back in the beginning of the summer, so it is routine for me now. It’s great to have guys like Connor and Jeff to look up to.
”I played a little last year when Max or Jeff were not playing. Last year I was really skinny and not as fast or experienced. I think the experience I have gained this year has really helped me.”
Riemann is the steady one in the group, he’s caught 21 passes this year, eight of which have been for touchdowns. He’s also the big-play receiver in the group, averaging 28.8 yards per catch.
”It’s been awesome,” Riemann said of being part of such a talented group of receivers. “The fact that they’re a great group of guys makes it even better. Everyone enjoys doing what they are doing and I think that is why we’ve had a lot of success. Connor just keeps getting better and with three receivers like we have, it is tough to keep up with us.
”Last year was our first year with the spread offense and we did a good job. Some of the guys graduated but we’ve had other guys step in and do a great job on the offensive line. And Jack has come in and done a great job.”
Merkovitz was a third receiver for the Pirates last year. This year he’s moved inside and been a starter at tight end, where he has caught 27 passes (13 in the last two games) and been a solid blocker.
”It’s pretty exciting,” Merkovitz said. “The first part of the season, Jeff and Jack were doing their thing and getting open and scoring touchdowns. I moved to tight end this year and it is a little different. Normally when you’re split out and blocking the guys are not as big as they are when you’re at tight end.
”You can’t score every play. But if you can do something to help someone else score, it is just as good a feeling as when I receive a catch. You’re just always trying to help the offense out.”
He scored his first touchdown of the season last week against Middletown North and hopes to be able to help the Pirates get back to Rutgers again this year.
”I put on a good bit of weight,” Merkovitz said. “After the game at Rutgers last year we took two weeks off and then we were right back in the weight room. Coach Smith told me I’d be moving to tight end and that I needed to hit the weights.”
On Saturday, the three players who have combined for 85 catches and 22 touchdowns will be doing their thing. And that includes some pretty good downfield blocking as well.
”Since Day One, our receivers coach, Coach (Bob) Schurtz has emphasized blocking and how we can make a 15-yard after the back gets past the line into a long touchdown run,” Dennehy said.
Added Riemann: “Coach Schurtz focuses so much on the blocking. We have a great bunch of offensive linemen and if the runners gets through the line then it is our job to help block enough to get the touchdown.”