The New Egypt High School football team has not had much time to ponder its 35-0 Central Jersey Group I state playoff semifinal loss to Dunellen High School on Nov. 19 as it prepares for its 10 a.m. Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, season finale at home against Bordentown.
New Egypt High School’s Pascal Dieujuste tries to break free from the hold of Dunellen defenders during the second half of an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I state playoff game on Nov. 19 in Plumsted Township. The visiting Destroyers defeated the Warriors, 35-0. ERIC SUCAR staff Not only will the Warriors look to finish a memorable season on a positive note, but a victory in the West Jersey Football League inter-divisional game will give the Warriors the most victories in a season in their relatively short history.
New Egypt (7-3), which was held scoreless in all three of its losses, has history on its side, bouncing back from its other two losses this season with victories.
The Warriors came away injury-free from their drubbing at the hands of the Destroyers from Middlesex County.
“This [Bordentown] is a big game, and we can’t lose our focus after a big playoff game that was very intense,” said coach Luke Sinkhorn, whose team already accomplished some distinctions this season by earning its first home playoff game and first playoff victory in history on Nov. 12, 21-14, over a Florence team that it lost to, 21-0, a week before.
The Warriors have beaten four of the common opponents they and Bordentown have played, including a resounding victory over an Allentown squad that defeated Bordentown, 14-12.
The Thanksgiving clash in Plumsted will be the final game for six senior starters, five of whom play both ways.
“We’ll be taking a big hit on the line,” Sinkhorn said of the seniors.
Two-way starters include tri-captains Rigo Morfin at guard and linebacker, Dylan Wills at quarterback and safety, and Lyle German at center and defensive end, as well as Pascal Dieujuste at slotback and defensive tackle, and two-way tackle Aaron Reed. The other senior starter is offensive tackle Sean Reynolds.
The players believe the chance to set a school record for victories in a season is enough incentive to leave behind the bitter taste of the state playoff loss.
“We’ll absolutely bounce back,” said Morfin. “We’re having a good, hard week of practice, but a short week. Usually we lift on Monday, but we’ll be practicing. This is the best season we’ve had since I’ve been here, and everybody is pumped to get the eighth win, not just the seniors.”
“Dunellen was tough to prepare for and showed some different things on offense that we were not used to. Bordentown has more formations that we know,” said Sinkhorn. “They are very tough defensively and held most of their opponents down.”
Sinkhorn said the Warriors will need more out of their offense that was held to less than 100 yards by Dunellen, with halfback Jamel Smith managing only 17 yards.
“We didn’t get the ball enough to Jamel, but they [Dunellen] held the ball,” said Sinkhorn.
But the coach credited his team for staying in range in the first half. New Egypt had its deepest threat to Dunellen’s 35-yard line when it was stopped on downs and the Destroyers drove quickly downfield, scoring on a 10-yard pass to push their lead to 14-0.
“We didn’t play as a team. We got away from that,” said Morfin.
Along with Smith, Sinkhorn expects to have a good nucleus of players returning in 2011, aside from his linemen.
Ken Massa, whom Sinkhorn praised for turning in a strong defensive effort at linebacker against Dunellen along with Morfin, also plays wide receiver.
Also returning is Dylan Horner at wide receiver, defensive back and kicker, and Tyler Dietrich, who Sinkhorn said “will be big next year” at running back and linebacker. He also is impressed with sophomore Levin Mason, who plays running back and linebacker, and freshman Kurt Frimel as a two-way lineman.