By: centraljersey.com
The first three weeks of the season have been about as productive as it can get offensively for the West Windsor-Plainsboro High North football team.
After scoring 31 points in a season-opening win over Trenton, the Knights scored 27 in a loss to Notre Dame in their second game. On Saturday, North had its biggest offensive output of the season in a 50-20 win at Princeton.
Jaymar Anderson led the way with 329 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the Knights piled up 441 yards in rushing offense to improve to 2-1 on the season. Princeton fell to 0-3 with the loss.
"We’re fortunate that every year we have some speed here and there," said North coach Chris Casamento, whose team has certainly been able to overcome the graduation of leading rusher Sean Reed. "Tyrone (Parker) is another kid who can carry the load. (Chris) Banks, (Walter) Dunston, Juwan (Lee) they can all run the ball if we need it."
And the Knights are doing that running behind a strong offensive line. The group includes two returning starters in senior co-captains Vince Dicindio and Sam Korsen, as well as three players who saw time at the varsity level last year. Holden Palacios, Andrew Newman and Ralph Spetalnick each started a few games a year ago.
"We put a lot of work in during the offseason with weight training, especially the linemen," said Korsen, who starts on both sides of the ball for the Knights. "It also helps having Jaymar back there as well as the other backs, Tyrone and Chris Banks.
"We’re always going and always hitting. We could start to tell during training camp that we had a chance to be a pretty good line."
The Knights jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the opening quarter against Princeton, but then saw their lead cut to 10-7 on a touchdown by Princeton’s Eric Shorter. The Knights came right back with a 68-yard touchdown run by Anderson to make it 17-7 before Shorter scored again on a 57-yard pass reception from Alex Mitko. Banks scored on a one-yard run just before halftime to make it 24-14.
The third quarter was all Knights as Parker scored once and Anderson twice to make it a 32-14 lead. Parker added a touchdown for North and Princeton scored on a one-yard run by Ben Smallzman on the game’s final play.
"Our goal last year was to make the state playoffs," Korsen said. "I think by getting to that level of competition it really helped us. This year our goal is to win a championship.
"Our offense has been doing real well so far. It helps having three backs that can run the ball for you that are No. 1 backs on any other team. All three of them are very talented. And our defense has been playing well."
The Knights face a big test in their next game against Hamilton. But with some experience on the line and a stable of tough running backs, their confidence is high.
"We’ve got some experience across the ball," Casamento said. "Vince is a three-year starter for us. This was his 23rd start in a row. Korsen has started 13 in a row now. So that is good when you have those numbers with a couple of the guys.
"Our backs are running the ball well. Jaymar played a little bit last year. He started late in the season after he transferred in. He is so physical that he helped us win that Hamilton game even though he only had five carries in that game. When he came to us he was probably 160 pounds soaking wet. Now he’s a 6-1 kid who weighs 200-something pounds. He did an unbelievable job in the weight room. It’s a credit to his hard work."
And the hard work of the whole team has the Knights poised for their best season yet.
"They did work hard, especially in the winter and spring," Casamento said. "The first year I was here we had three kids who could bench 225 pounds. After that maybe 10-13 last and we’re over 20 now. It’s a huge difference." ***
WW-P South and the Hun School also emerged from the weekend with wins.
The Pirates topped Hightstown, 24-23, to improve to 2-1 on the season. Brian Schoenauer ran for a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner on a 41-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Hun topped Mercersburg, 48-0, to improve to 2-0 on the season. Dave Dudeck ran for two touchdowns and also threw a pair of touchdown passes in the win for the Raiders. Kylan Baker caught both of the touchdown passes from Dudeck. Julian Hayes ran for two touchdowns.

