Excuse Mike Ryan, J.P. Stevens High School football coach, for being excited about his team’s 39-16 season-opening win over Marlboro last Friday. The Hawks were winless a year ago, Ryan’s first as coach, and the victory, albeit against one of the lower-echelon Shore Conference teams, has him hoping the win will be the catalyst that turns around the team’s fortunes.
Formerly one of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s perennial powers (six state titles since the current playoff setup), Stevens has fallen on hard times and last registered a winning season in 2003 (6-4). In fact, the points registered against Marlboro were the most since 2004.
The Marlboro Mustangs have also experienced challenges putting together wins, thus a more realistic evaluation comes Friday night when the Hawks visit Woodbridge (1- 0). The Barrons posted a 30-12 victory over Old Bridge in their opener Friday night and are a team with experience, a tangible that
Stevens doesn’t possess.
“We’re in the second year of the program with a team that is young and inexperienced,” says Ryan. “Our schedule is always tough, top to bottom, and we’ll experience growing pains, I’m sure. Only by working hard, week in and week out, will we get closer to our goals. We will approach each game as an opportunity to move the program forward.”
JPS will do so with a pair of junior backs, Dahmill Bowles (6-2, 195) and Jared Mincey (5-10, 170), who sparkled in the Marlboro victory. Bowles led the way in rushing with 126 yards and scored twice. Mincey ran for 84 yards and also scored a pair of touchdowns. Two other scores came from sophomore Chiebuka Chukwuneke (5-8, 160), one of which was a 69-yard return of the second-half kickoff. The Hawks had trailed, 8-6, at halftime.
The quarterback chores fall on yet another junior, Dario Brzozowski (5-9, 160). Nick Pinho (6-0, 220, junior) handles the fullback duties. Ethan Jeffries (5-9, 170, senior, captain) also sees action at running back.
The wide receivers are Kalil Wynn (6-1, 185, senior, captain) and Cody Mignella (6-0, 155, senior, captain), and the tight end is Nico Condito (6-2, 245, senior, captain).
The offensive line features Rocco Pavese (5-9, 230, junior) at center. At the guards are Vinnie Aurelio (5-10, 205, junior) and Ron Koval (5-10, 160, junior), and at the tackles are Tim Daly (6-5, 235, senior) and Mark Kendrick (6-0, 290, senior, captain).
On defense is a mix of experience and young faces. Rocco Pavese (5-9, 230, junior) and Kendrick start at tackle, and Brandon Ahmed (6-2, 190, senior) and Condito are the ends. Condito registered two fumble recoveries in the Marlboro victory. Behind the line are Mignella, Nick Pinho (6-0, 220, junior) and Dylan Marino (5-9, 170, sophomore) at the linebacker spots.
In the defensive backfield are Jeffries, Mincey, Wynn and Bowles. Ace Townsend (6-2, 230, senior) handles the punting while the kicking duties are split between Nick Quaglieri (6-0, 160, senior) and Matt Minor (5-9, 160, junior).
“Since I took over, I began a program based on what we call the ‘Big Three,’ ” said Ryan, who teaches health and physical education at the high school. “We preach to our players to first be the best students they can be. Then we focus on them being good citizens in our community, especially when it comes to volunteer efforts. If they follow through with those two, then the last one, working toward contributing to the team on the field, will happen.”
Ryan understands that bringing JPS back to its glory days is a road filled with potholes.
“I recognize playing in the GMC Red Division is a challenge,” he says. “But I’ve been encouraged by our players’ dedication to what we’re striving for. Our motto has been ‘Anew team with a new look and attitude.’ ”