LHS captains optimistic about grid season

By Rich Fisher, The Packet Group
   The Lawrence High football team lost some outstanding talent from last year’s 7-3 team, sending three players to Division I colleges.
   But this year’s captains are not too worried about it.
   ”We definitely have guys to replace them,” said senior linebacker Shane Hickey. “Especially in leadership potential. We’ve got a lot of kids that are stepping up this year and becoming leaders that you wouldn’t assume would happen. We definitely have guys to fill their shoes and hopefully do better than those guys.”
   Senior tight end/fullback/defensive tackle K.B. Barksdale feels it will all start up front.
   ”Our strength will be our O-line and our D-line,” Barksdale said. “They’ve been in the weight room countless hours. They’re going to put that together and that will be our biggest strength.”
   Those linemen include Ed Carrington, Eric Bridgewater and Donovan Morris on offense, and Donovan Hamilton, Fritz Mineus and Antwan Ellerbe on defense. The offensive line won’t have Keith Sherman to block for anymore, but junior Jihad Bryant exploded on the varsity scene with over 900 yards last season and should be one of Mercer County’s top backs.
   Another key player will be quarterback/wide receiver Charlie Morreale, who is athletic as they come.
   ”Hopefully we get to the playoffs again and hopefully win one this time,” said Hickey, as the Cards have lost six straight state games. “We’re just looking forward to working hard this whole entire season, just pushing ourselves, mentally and physically no matter how hard it is and how tough it is to be the best team. We will just work as hard as we can to get there.”
   The Cards won’t have to wait long for their first measuring stick as they open against powerful Notre Dame in the battle for Lawrence Township bragging rights.
   There’s not much time for hype to this year, as opposed to last season when both teams met with glittering records. But that makes no difference to the players.
   ”It’s a rivalry,” Hickey said. “We’re going in there in our season opener against a team we love to play against. I think it’s going to be a good fight between us.”
   ”We want to play them first just so we can let out all the intensity,” Barksdale said. “All the fire from training camp, all that heat, we want to let it out on them early.”
   The game is this Saturday, 2 p.m., at Lawrence. It is a non-division game, as the Cards are now in the Valley Division of the new West Jersey Football League along with Hamilton, Nottingham, Steinert and Hightstown.